Robert Dowds
Ceist:177. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of families on the housing list in each of the local authorities (details supplied). [45364/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWritten Answers Nos. 177-186
177. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of families on the housing list in each of the local authorities (details supplied). [45364/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of private rented accommodation units that are available in each of the local authorities (details supplied). [45365/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which private landlords are excluding families on local authority housing lists from consideration for housing in each of the local authorities (details supplied). [45366/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together.
My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authority waiting lists as this figure fluctuates continuously as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support.
In May 2013 under Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, all housing authorities were directed to provide a summary report of social housing assessments carried out in their areas and the data submitted by housing authorities are currently being analysed. A report on the assessment findings will be published by the Housing Agency in the near future. The report will provide an important insight into the level of need for social housing support across the country. As this is the first summary of housing assessments to be carried out under the 2009 Act, the results will not be directly comparable with previous statutory needs assessments.
Although my Department publishes a wide range of housing related statistics, it does not hold information on the number of private rented dwellings that are available to let. Information on registered tenancies by county and by Dublin postcode district is available from the Private Residential Tenancies Board at www.prtb.ie but again this does not address availability.
As regards the extent to which private landlords are excluding families on local authority housing lists from consideration for housing , my Department is not aware of any research or studies that have been conducted in this area.
180. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether there is a growing housing crisis in the greater Dublin area especially for those on council housing lists; the extent of the problem and the way he will emerge from this problem. [45367/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI directed all housing authorities to prepare a summary of social housing assessments carried out in their areas as at 7 May 2013. The data submitted by housing authorities are currently being analysed and once verified will be collated and a report published by the Housing Agency. This information will provide an important insight into the level and type of need for social housing support across the country.
The current assessment is the first to be carried out since the commencement of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations on 1 April 2011, which introduced a standardised system for assessing applicants for social housing support, including revised basis of need criteria. The results will not therefore be directly comparable to the results of the last assessment carried out, as at 31 March 2011, which found that there were 98,318 households on local authority waiting lists. The full results of this assessment are available on my Department's website www.environ.ie and the Housing Agency's website www.housing.ie.
The Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this, it is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing conditions and explore the full range of solutions to address housing needs.
Delivery of social housing continues to be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing, and the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms to increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. In addition, my Department and the Housing Agency are engaged with NAMA to ensure continued delivery of housing units for social purposes.
In spite of the current challenging circumstances, almost 70% of the budget for the Department will go directly to support housing in 2014 with an investment of over half a billion on a range of programmes. Meeting social housing need within the available resources will necessitate smarter and more innovative approaches in order to maximise output. In 2014, I will continue to focus the available resources towards the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors of the community.
181. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review legislation regarding commercial vehicle tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45374/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the motor tax system is kept under regular review. The position for many years has been that in order to be taxed as a goods vehicle, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for that purpose and must be used solely in the course of trade or business. Under section 2 of the Finance (Excise Duties) Vehicles Act 1952, if a vehicle is used in a manner that would attract motor tax at a higher rate, tax becomes payable at that rate. Accordingly , if a goods vehicle is used in a private capacity it must, like all other private vehicles, be taxed at the appropriate private rate of motor tax.
182. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons with landlines connected to personal panic alarms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45378/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages and assists the community's support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of people over 65 years of age. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.
The aim of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to support independent living for those over 65 who live alone or who live with a person who is also over 65 years of age and of limited means. A key element of the Scheme is the provision of funding for a socially monitored alarm which supports this independence. My Department has only approved applications for personal monitored alarms connected to a landline. From 2003 to date, in excess of 80,000 beneficiaries have received grants under the scheme.
183. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by county of the local government fund general purpose grant allocations and final draw-downs in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. [45400/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeneral purpose grants are my Department's contribution towards meeting the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers.
The information requested is set out in the tables below which detail the total general purpose grant allocations and final general purpose grant payments from the Local Government Fund for all local authorities in each county. The allocations for 2010 and 2011 reflect income from pension related deductions which was collected and retained by local authorities.
Table 1 - General purpose grant allocations by County from the Local Government Fund 2010 to 2013
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
- |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
Carlow |
13,052,513 |
11,659,271 |
9,865,448 |
9,826,750 |
Cavan |
19,057,097 |
17,268,005 |
14,854,931 |
14,745,113 |
Clare |
16,913,007 |
15,338,891 |
12,372,506 |
12,159,289 |
Cork |
80,062,339 |
71,568,486 |
56,166,379 |
53,795,875 |
Donegal |
41,482,713 |
38,610,158 |
32,869,501 |
32,667,843 |
Dublin |
177,483,982 |
158,221,861 |
118,005,053 |
113,290,760 |
Galway |
45,483,346 |
41,164,039 |
34,775,191 |
33,796,527 |
Kerry |
31,155,831 |
28,201,886 |
23,073,286 |
22,238,923 |
Kildare |
27,741,406 |
25,950,930 |
21,822,765 |
22,244,748 |
Kilkenny |
21,101,616 |
19,087,909 |
16,379,600 |
16,309,147 |
Laois |
16,823,589 |
15,143,352 |
13,189,788 |
13,070,064 |
Leitrim |
14,489,435 |
13,479,217 |
11,809,261 |
11,952,743 |
Limerick |
34,319,130 |
30,994,565 |
25,651,934 |
25,933,791 |
Longford |
15,005,245 |
13,862,073 |
12,126,650 |
12,318,890 |
Louth |
21,514,636 |
19,284,802 |
15,928,387 |
15,502,375 |
Mayo |
38,527,684 |
35,138,739 |
30,415,727 |
30,134,270 |
Meath |
28,946,385 |
26,950,195 |
22,864,713 |
22,472,343 |
Monaghan |
17,469,505 |
16,104,582 |
14,022,824 |
13,983,408 |
Offaly |
17,404,185 |
15,934,486 |
13,711,364 |
13,564,713 |
Roscommon |
20,110,463 |
18,490,254 |
15,967,965 |
15,828,208 |
Sligo |
19,283,451 |
17,894,726 |
15,659,616 |
15,584,848 |
Tipperary |
48,545,024 |
44,157,076 |
38,229,570 |
37,971,172 |
Waterford |
30,521,544 |
28,149,265 |
23,820,851 |
24,264,808 |
Westmeath |
21,797,165 |
20,082,314 |
17,313,127 |
17,287,004 |
Wexford |
25,060,333 |
23,081,588 |
19,708,352 |
19,217,103 |
Wicklow |
26,648,377 |
24,181,327 |
20,395,212 |
19,839,289 |
Table 2 - General purpose grant payments by County from the Local Government Fund 2010 to 2013
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
- |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
Carlow |
11,921,250 |
10,817,411 |
9,609,458 |
9,826,750 |
Cavan |
17,655,857 |
15,988,124 |
14,450,581 |
14,745,113 |
Clare |
14,473,283 |
12,902,124 |
12,336,865 |
12,159,289 |
Cork |
66,552,694 |
61,095,683 |
54,956,413 |
53,963,353 |
Donegal |
37,761,835 |
35,462,317 |
31,616,582 |
32,822,572 |
Dublin |
140,534,617 |
128,137,487 |
116,233,737 |
113,375,580 |
Galway |
41,023,771 |
37,242,344 |
34,026,884 |
33,796,527 |
Kerry |
27,337,324 |
25,037,960 |
22,755,081 |
22,238,923 |
Kildare |
24,628,985 |
23,372,951 |
21,328,091 |
22,244,748 |
Kilkenny |
19,343,430 |
17,432,726 |
15,990,212 |
16,309,147 |
Laois |
15,583,946 |
13,819,010 |
12,752,890 |
13,136,013 |
Leitrim |
13,588,994 |
12,480,094 |
11,597,455 |
11,952,743 |
Limerick |
30,352,884 |
27,240,686 |
25,098,628 |
25,933,791 |
Longford |
13,852,495 |
12,993,934 |
11,808,277 |
12,318,890 |
Louth |
19,243,211 |
17,284,945 |
15,616,952 |
15,548,027 |
Mayo |
34,877,551 |
32,810,065 |
29,899,530 |
30,134,270 |
Meath |
26,795,657 |
24,459,917 |
22,309,091 |
22,580,768 |
Monaghan |
15,955,495 |
15,167,470 |
13,541,630 |
13,983,408 |
Offaly |
16,119,274 |
14,497,447 |
13,345,006 |
13,686,361 |
Roscommon |
18,508,006 |
17,051,277 |
15,521,073 |
15,828,208 |
Sligo |
17,653,955 |
16,186,298 |
15,403,304 |
15,584,848 |
Tipperary |
44,800,579 |
41,098,307 |
37,415,561 |
37,971,172 |
Waterford |
27,321,845 |
25,615,689 |
23,264,415 |
24,264,808 |
Westmeath |
20,206,571 |
18,717,046 |
16,936,827 |
17,287,004 |
Wexford |
22,376,390 |
21,127,486 |
19,155,737 |
19,217,103 |
Wicklow |
24,314,451 |
21,723,093 |
20,136,035 |
19,839,289 |
184. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county breakdown of the local government fund general purpose grant allocations in 2014. [45401/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra185. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the mechanism that will be used to equalise revenue across local authority areas in 2014 following the full introduction of the property tax. [45402/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the time frame for the introduction of variable property tax rates in local authorities; and when local authorities will retain 80% of revenue collected. [45403/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 186, inclusive, together.
The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014 the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local authorities from the Fund. In addition, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector will have a considerable impact on local authority financing.
The Government has indicated an intention to move to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. The establishment of Irish Water presents local government with significant organisational and financial challenges in 2014 and, in this context, it has been necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the Local Property Tax to be retained in each local authority until 2015. This approach allows maximum flexibility in allocating Local Property Tax in 2014 with the priority to support those local authorities with weaker funding bases. The 2014 Local Government Fund General Purpose Grants will be announced in due course.
Under section 20 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, a local authority may, as a reserved function , resolve to vary the rate of the Local Property Tax within its functional area by a maximum of +/-15%. This power will be available to local authorities effective from 2015, as the relevant sections of the Act will come into operation on 1 July 2014.
Section 20 of the Act requires that, in varying the rate, a local authority must take account of its financial position, its income and expenditure , and of the financial effect of the varied rate on the economy of its functional area, including on those persons who will be liable to pay the Local Property Tax. Section 20 also provides that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government may make regulations, including in respect of public consultation requirements prior to the variation of the rate of the Tax. I will give consideration to the making of such regulations in advance of the coming into operation of section 20 of the 2012 Act.
I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and therefore a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision-making concerning service provision - in particular, the inclusion of the local variation mechanism from 2015 will further increase the autonomy of local authorities; and a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.