Parliamentary questions

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

112. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of his Department's review of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and its review of exemptions for educational and community buildings as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; the details on the stated need to consider environmental assessment reporting before finalisation; when the interim planning regulations will be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7684/21]

Local Authority Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

113. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to legislate to encourage the uptake of life cycle assessment and-or to promote such assessments through green public procurement in future public housing developments. [7689/21]

Exploration Licences

Eoin Ó Broin

80. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications for open area exploration licences and licensing options received by his Department over the past five years; and the decision by his Department regarding each application in tabular form. [6819/21]

Exploration Licences

Eoin Ó Broin

81. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of offshore oil and gas exploration licences that are currently open by the date each application was received in tabular form. [6820/21]

Exploration Licences

Eoin Ó Broin

82. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications for extension to offshore oil and gas licensing terms received in his Department by month that the application was received and the decision by his Department in tabular form. [6821/21]

Exploration Licences

Eoin Ó Broin

83. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to make details regarding applications for oil and gas exploration public on his Department’s website; and if it will be updated monthly. [6822/21]

Housing Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

292. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commission the Housing Agency or another appropriate body to undertake a comparative study of housing and apartment construction and professional fee costs in the public and private sector to determine the reason for the recent significant increase in costs in a number of social housing tenders in Dublin City Council. [6510/21]

Homelessness Strategy

Eoin Ó Broin

293. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the policy of Dublin City Council and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive of removing tents being used by persons sleeping rough in Dublin City and when removing these tents to remove and destroy the person belongings of the persons sleeping rough; and if he will request Dublin City Council to discontinue this practice. [6511/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

294. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the recent significant rise in tender prices for social housing developments in Dublin City Council; and if he will examine the use of multi-annual framework agreements and breaking up larger development sites into tenders for enabling works and sub-lots of social housing within the social housing developments to increase competition and ensure value for money for the taxpayer in the delivery of social housing. [6512/21]

Water Services

Eoin Ó Broin

306. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the creation of the single utility for water services and the drafting of a White Paper on the future of the utilities' SLA with local authorities including the Government's intentions on whether Irish Water will become a non-commercial semi-State company and whether the Government plans to hold a referendum on the public ownership of water services. [6541/21]

County Development Plans

Eoin Ó Broin

325. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in issuing the updated county development plan guidance and the methodology for the housing demand needs assessment to local authorities; his views on whether this delay will have a negative impact on those local authorities that are at an advanced stage in their development plan review; and when both the plan guidelines and the housing demand needs assessment methodology will be complete and issued to local authorities. [6942/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Eoin Ó Broin

338. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department in responding to the collective complaint brought to the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg regarding conditions in local authority properties; and the breakdown of those costs by type including legal fees, communications, research and any other category that may be relevant. [7133/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Eoin Ó Broin

512. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an extension of employment on a community employment scheme will be facilitated for a person (details supplied) given continued occupational focus would be greatly beneficial to the person. [7166/21]

Planning Issues

Eoin Ó Broin

82. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the strategic housing development planning process deadline beyond its current expiry date of February 2022; and the preparations he has put in place to restore or reform the planning process post-February 2022. [6303/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

83. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing leases funded through his Department to investors availing of the international investment programme; and the annual cost of these leases for each year since such leases commenced. [6304/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

84. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the implementation of the nZEB regulations for residential developments in social and private housing; and the engagement he has had with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to ensure full compliance with these important regulations. [6305/21]

Rent Supplement Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

133. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement claimants on 31 December 2020, by local authority area; the average cost of a claim in each area; and the cost per week and in total for 2020. [6306/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

37. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the savings made by the EEOS by type of customer, that is, commercial, private and energy poverty; and the social impact analysis and the average efficiency gain per customer, that is, average depth of retrofit. [5993/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

38. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the impact of the EEOS on customer bills. [5995/21]

Energy Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

39. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an annual update on the implementation on the Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty was made between 2016 and 2019; if so, if a copy will be provided; and if not, the reason. [5996/21]

Energy Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

40. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the social policy and public service reform division received annual progress updates from Ministers responsible for energy poverty between 2016 and 2019; if so, if a copy of same will be provided; and if not, the reason. [5997/21]

Energy Efficiency

Eoin Ó Broin

213. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage of the 2014-2020 cohesion policy funds for energy efficiency in buildings that have been spent. [5994/21]

Famine Artefacts

Eoin Ó Broin

250. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to create a permanent exhibition remembering An Gorta Mór. [5799/21]

Departmental Functions

Eoin Ó Broin

280. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the functions of the built environment advisory unit within his Department; the number of staff; the role of each; the work the unit undertakes with regard to the promotion of building standards including informing the building industry and building control authorities of the current building regulations and the updating of those regulations; if the unit has functions or powers to inspect construction sites; and if so, the basis and purpose. [5433/21]

Construction Industry Register Ireland

Eoin Ó Broin

281. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the failure of successive Governments to place the construction industry register on a statutory footing; his further views on whether this failure affects the strength of the 2014 building control reforms; and if a commitment will be given to introducing the Bill at second stage in 2021. [5434/21]

Local Authority Functions

Eoin Ó Broin

282. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation to each local authority for their building control functions in each of the years 2013 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of staff employed in each local authority funded through this budget allocation; and the mechanisms in place within his Department to ensure that building control authorities are adequately resourced, trained and conducting onsite inspections to fulfil both the spirit and the letter of the 2014 building control reforms in tabular form. [5435/21]

Water Services

Eoin Ó Broin

295. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the move towards the creation of a single water utility; and if legislation will be forthcoming from his Department in 2021 on this matter. [5681/21]

Local Authority Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

296. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the last national conditions survey of local authority social housing stock took place; the findings of the survey; the action taken since to address the findings of the survey; and when the next survey is due. [5684/21]

Local Authority Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

297. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to facilitate greater tenant participation in community development, empowerment and estate management within local authority housing estates. [5686/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Eoin Ó Broin

816. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department in responding to the collective complaint brought to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg regarding conditions in local authority properties; and the breakdown of those costs by type, including legal fees, communications, research and any other category that may be relevant. [5685/21]

Health and Social Care Professionals

Eoin Ó Broin

854. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 694 of 27 January 2021, the reason the South African dentistry qualification is not comparable to Irish and European dentistry under the respective qualification frameworks. [5853/21]

Fuel Poverty

Eoin Ó Broin

907. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if the impacts of energy poverty on health are monitored by his Department. [5992/21]

Building Regulations

Eoin Ó Broin

96. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to address the issues of embedded carbon construction through revisions to building regulations, planning laws and in social and affordable housing developments funded by his Department; and if he has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) on the issue of embedded carbon in construction. [4724/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

99. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the 35 social housing projects that have used the one stage approval process; the location of these projects; the number of units in each project; and the cost of each project, in tabular form. [4800/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

100. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing projects that have accessed the one stage approval process since the cap was increased to €6 million that would otherwise have accessed that process; and the number of units of accommodation in these projects. [4801/21]

Home Tuition Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

152. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if an application for home tuition funding by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin has been approved; and when the family will be notified of the decision. [4643/21]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

256. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the number of properties tied up in the fair deal scheme; and the number of these homes that are currently vacant. [4728/21]

Central Statistics Office

Eoin Ó Broin

1. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach when he expects the project with the CSO to be complete to establish indicators for energy poverty. [3608/21]

Departmental Consultations

Eoin Ó Broin

32. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the consultation results are publicly available on the website of his Department for each public consultation held by his Department or by a State agency under the remit of his Department over the past ten years; if the consultation discussion documents are publicly available on the website; if the consultation replies are published on the website; and if he will provide a link in regard to cases in which they are published and the reason in cases in which they are not published in tabular form. [3605/21]

Electricity Grid

Eoin Ó Broin

33. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the cause of the recent electricity shortages and amber alerts; and if the increased demand from data centres has been taken into account. [3606/21]

Turf Cutting

Eoin Ó Broin

34. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has information to show to the extent to which domestic turf cutting mitigates energy poverty; and the measures taken to alleviate energy poverty specifically. [3607/21]

Home Building Finance Ireland

Eoin Ó Broin

183. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance the status of the work of Home Building Finance Ireland; the number of loans offered; the size of the loans; the recipients of the loans; the number of housing units to be delivered by each loan; the number of units commenced to date; the number of units completed to date; and the projected commencement and completion dates for all housing units funded by Home Building Finance Ireland. [3576/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

297. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average construction and all-in development cost of social housing tender approvals for local authorities (details supplied) in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and the items included in the construction costs and the non-construction costs in tabular form. [3569/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

298. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the new serviced sites fund limit per unit of accommodation as agreed in December 2020. [3570/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

299. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the delivery of social and affordable housing in Poolbeg strategic development zone, SDZ; his views on whether the failure of his Department to purchase land within the SDZ will make the delivery of these homes more difficult or more expensive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3571/21]

Housing Policy

Eoin Ó Broin

300. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the programme for Government commitment to establish a commission on housing; the proposed members of the commission; the terms of reference of the commission; the duration of same; the engagement of the commission with Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3572/21]

Homeless Persons Data

Eoin Ó Broin

301. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the report he commissioned into the deaths of persons experiencing homelessness; when the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3573/21]

Housing Provision

Eoin Ó Broin

302. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the problem of private sector mortgage-to-rent providers outbidding not-for-profit mortgage-to-rent providers in the acquisition of homes from mortgage holders in mortgage distress with the consequence of increasing the cost to the State of these properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3574/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Eoin Ó Broin

303. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the serviced sites fund allocation for a social and affordable housing project (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and the restructuring of the EIB loan finance being discussed or that has been agreed by his Department with Dublin City Council. [3575/21]

Shared Ownership Scheme

Eoin Ó Broin

306. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Dublin City Council issues loans under the shared ownership scheme of 2003 to 2010 greater than the amounts permitted both in terms of the overall lending caps and the loan to income limits; if this matter was ever examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3628/21]