Written Answers Nos. 517-531
517. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the launch of the homelessness strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46773/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am assuming the Question is referring to the Action Plan to Address Homelessness arising from the special Summit on Homelessness which I hosted on 4 December 2014. That Summit reaffirmed the Government's commitment to end involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. A number of actions arising from the Summit were considered at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform on 8 December and were then formalised into an Action Plan to Address Homelessness which was noted by the Government at its meeting on 9 December 2014. A copy of this action plan is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.
Progress in implementing this plan is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform and a copy of the most recent progress report is also available on my Department’s website at the link provided above.
In addition to those actions which constitute an immediate response to the issue of rough sleeping in Dublin, actions have been identified which tackle the more systemic issues, classified under the three categories of the ‘housing-led’ approach. There is enough accommodation available for all those sleeping rough so that no one needs to sleep rough unless they choose to do so. The number and availability of emergency beds is being monitored closely by Dublin City Council and further beds will be brought on stream should the need arise.
Where a homeless person does not want to be placed in emergency accommodation, the Housing First intake street team will refer the person to the newly established Nite Café which is now fully operational. The Nite Café links in with the new Transport with support services for those sleeping rough as an integral part of the Housing First service. This initiative transports homeless persons to emergency accommodation and provides them with the necessary health and care supports in conjunction with other State providers.
The long-term solution to homelessness is to increase the supply of homes. In November 2014, I launched the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020. This six-year strategy sets out to provide 35,000 new social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion and restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing through, inter alia, a resumption of direct building on a significant scale by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
518. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of late payment charge-dwellings under the Water Services Bill 2014, when that late payment charge comes into effect if a customer has not entered into a payment plan with Irish Water. [3563/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers.
Section 4 of the Water Services Act 2014, which was enacted on 28 December 2014, provides where a customer has not paid any water charges within a period of 12 months after the issuing of the first demand and has not entered into, or is not complying with, a payment plan with Irish Water, a late payment fee shall be charged by Irish Water, for each year the charges remain unpaid.
The late payment fees that will apply are €30 for a dwelling occupied by not more than one adult and €60 for an unoccupied dwelling or a dwelling occupied by two or more adults.
519. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 918 of 14 January 2015 if local authority rents will increase from current rates following the introduction of the new local authority differential rent framework. [3565/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra520. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 920 of 14 January 2015, the action he will take in the event a majority of elected representatives of a local authority vote against the implementation of the new differential rent framework and retain the existing arrangements. [3566/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 520 together.
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 916, 917, 918, 919 and 920 of 14 January 2015, in which I stated that “ The introduction of the rent framework will mean that, on the expiry of the 2 year transitional period, the amount of rent payable by some households may be lower in some cases, and higher in others, than the rent currently payable under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. ” I cannot be more specific at this stage as the necessary Regulations prescribing the matters to be included by housing authorities in their section 31 rent schemes have not yet been made.
I also stated in the reply that I expect that the elected members of each housing authority will make a rent scheme in compliance with the law. I do not propose to speculate about the fulfilment, or otherwise, by individual councils of a reserved function under the Housing Acts.
521. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the engagement that has taken place between his Department and the community alert organisation in respect of proposed changes to the seniors alert scheme; his plans to bring forward changes to the scheme; if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3575/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.
My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.
Pobal’s management and administrative services for the Scheme includes an invitation to tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. The tender process, which is being led by Pobal, is almost complete. Following on from this, a panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas. As the market for the equipment is well established, it was neither necessary nor appropriate to engage in consultations with the market on the matter prior to the tender process.
This new approach will reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme, who provide an excellent service for the elderly. It will enable the groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the Scheme, namely to support and interact with the elderly in the local community.
522. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of social housing built in 2009 and each subsequent year, including plans for 2015. [3583/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics. It includes data on the number of units provided directly by local authorities and approved housing bodies (under the voluntary and co-operative heading), broken down by year. The statistics requested are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls by clicking “Social Housing Outputs” under the Social Housing Supports heading.
I expect that, nationally, some 7,400 new social housing units will be provided under a range of initiatives for 2015.
523. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans regarding regulation of certain home heating (details supplied). [3584/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of gas and electricity heating installers is undertaken by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I am not aware of any plans for the establishment of a state regulatory body for the installation of other fuels along the lines suggested.
However, I understand that industry stakeholders are developing both a training and registration scheme for the installers of oil and solid fuel heating systems. Part J of the Building Regulations sets out the statutory minimum requirements that apply to ensure the safe design and installation of heat producing appliances in dwellings. Following a full review, new Building Regulations (Part J Amendment) Regulations 2014 and a revised Technical Guidance Document (TGD J 2014) came into effect from 1 September 2014.
Part J/TGD J 2014 place a new emphasis on the engagement of competent contractors, the proper commissioning of systems and the obligation to provide information for owners on the system installed and any continuing maintenance required to ensure its safe and effective operation and avoid risk to health.
There are no proposals for the establishment of a state regulatory body for stove installers along the lines suggested. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), which comes under the remit of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is the lead agency in relation to the formulation of quality, design and safety standards for heating installations and it normally advances such work through the establishment of expert industry working groups.
I also understand that the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) established by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as a register of builders and contractors provides for participation in the register by heating and plumbing contractors.
While the CIRI register is a voluntary register at present, the Government has signalled its commitment to placing the register on a statutory footing. I expect that legislative proposals in that regard will be brought to Government in the first half of this year. in line with the Government’s commitment to have the necessary legislation in place during 2015. I have asked my Department to liaise with CIRI and the NSAI in relation to the development of the heating and plumbing element of the register.
524. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the role his Department is playing in driving e-Government strategy through better local Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3588/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government ICT Strategy Implementation Plan identifies priority ICT enabled projects for the sector in areas such as shared services and online services. The plan also identifies the need for enabling technologies and infrastructure which would be used across all of these projects. The local government sector has delivered major improvements in customer service, efficiency and effectiveness over the last number of years. This has been achieved by allowing customers to transact their business online, automating the interactions between local government and other public service organisations and by automating internal business processes to free up more staff to provide front line services.
Local authorities have enabled their customers, be they individual citizens or businesses, to search for information and transact their business online for many years.
Examples of this include :
- Local Government Portal to show the services available and portals at service level where appropriate, for example, a planning portal,
- Application forms available online,
- Online planning applications, via the Building Control and Management System (BCMS), are available in some local authorities and are being rolled out across all local authorities. This is an information technology-based system developed to facilitate the electronic administration of building control matters by Building Control Authorities,
- Online Payments (Household Charge, NPPR),
- Voter Registration (checktheregister.ie),
- Latest information on traffic, road works, planning etc,
- Register a fault (i.e. Fixyourstreet.ie),
- Social Media – providing information in new ways to the customer,
- Library Service - providing internet access for the public and providing access for the public to their own library services on line.
Local authorities share data and have integrated processes with other public service organisations in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness and so improve customer service either directly or indirectly.
Examples include:
- Local authorities provide timely information to my Department to support policy making based on the most current information
- Automated application and approval processes between local authorities and my Department
- Automated links with the Department of Social Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency , Irish Water, etc.
Local authorities have automated their own business processes to achieve efficiency and effectiveness and so improve customer service either directly or indirectly. Examples include the following:
- Employee self-service portal for payroll, HR and pension services.
- Business systems to automate all significant business processes. The MyPay system is a centralised payroll system currently being rolled out across all local authorities.
- Customer Relations Management systems to efficiently handle customer interactions.
- Social media and website to proactively provide information to customers.
Further improvements continue to be made in each of these areas and these are part of a strategy of continuous modernisation within the sector.
525. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the make-up of the board of An Bord Pleanála fully represents urban and rural interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3592/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that the membership of the Board of An Bord Pleanála shall comprise a Chairperson and up to 9 ordinary members. The processes for the appointment of the Chair person and the ordinary Board Members are set out under sections 105–107 of the Act and associated regulations. In relation to the position of Chairperson, the appointment is made by Government from candidates selected by an independent statutory selection committee. The composition of this committee is set out under section 105 of the Act and, where a vacancy arises, the committee is required to select a maximum of three suitable candidates from among those who compete in a publicly advertised open competition. The selection committee established for the purpose of the appointment of a Chairperson in accordance with the Act shall consist of:
- the President of the High Court,
- the Cathaoirleach of the General Council of County Councils,
- the Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government,
- the Chairperson of An Taisce – the National Trust of Ireland, and other specified parties.
The current Chairperson of the Board was appointed in May 2011 on foot of this process.
The appointment process for ordinary Board Members, set out in section 106 of the Act, provides that appointments shall be made by the Minister from nominees put forward by four representative panels of nominating bodies prescribed for this purpose.
The 37 organisations which make up these nominating panels are set out in Article 64 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. These bodies represent a broad cross-section of interests across society so that potential appointees are drawn from a representative group of people, with diverse backgrounds, with a view to ensuring that a balanced and comprehensive view can be reached on the issues with which the Board is or may be concerned. Each body in each nominating panel is invited to nominate suitable candidates for consideration for appointment to the Board.
In addition to the Chair person, there are currently eight ordinary members on the Board. In making the appointments of the ordinary Board members, cognisance is taken of the balance of skill sets and expertise required by Board members for the effective discharge of An Bord Pleanála’s complex and wide ranging functions.
I am satisfied that the current nomination and appointment process for the positions of Chairperson and ordinary Board members is fair and transparent and I have no plans to amend the arrangements at this point in time.
526. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the 35,000 target for so-called direct built housing for each of the years from 2015 to 2020; and if he will provide the respective figure for each year for built-acquired, leased and refurbishment. [3595/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of targets and timelines for delivery of social housing units are set out in tables 1 and 2 of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 , which is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,39622,en.pdf
The provision of 35,000 new social housing units under the Strategy is set out in two phases: Phase 1 targets the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units by the end of 2017 and phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, targets the delivery of 17,000 units.
Of the 35,000 units, I expect that 5,400 new social housing units will be delivered in 2015 through the following methods; 3,000 leasing, returning 1,000 vacant properties back to productive use ; and 1,400 units through direct build or acquisition by local authorities and approved housing bodies.
527. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress achieved with local authorities in reducing the rates burden on businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3600/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner of Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters. The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property determined by the Valuation Office to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function.
Local authorities are very aware of the demands placed on the business and commercial sector at this time, as well as the competitiveness issues this gives rise to. Local authorities have a leading role in creating a pro-enterprise supportive environment to generate new jobs and sustain existing ones. They are committed to local economic development, and are best placed to meet many of the needs of businesses in terms of infrastructure, local promotion and other key enabling measures.
In accordance with the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, my Department requested local authorities to exercise restraint in setting ARVs in recent years and they have responded positively in this regard. The average ARV adopted by local authorities nationally has decreased each year since 2010. The new structures of local government, including the establishment of municipal districts, have provided an opportunity to achieve a more coherent approach to rates and charges on a county-wide basis. In 2015 , local authorities have begun the process of harmonisation to cater for differences between ARVs of former towns and of counties. In the harmonisation process ratepayers will not pay any more in 2015 than they did in 2014. Any increase or decrease in rates liability due to harmonisation will be phased in after 2015 over a period of up to 10 years. I am also pleased to note that those local authorities which are not subject to the requirement to harmonise, due to already having one ARV for the whole of their administrative area, have either reduced the ARV for 2015 or kept it the same as 2014.
It is worth noting that analysis of the impact of rates on business costs is limited. What analysis is available concludes that commercial rates represent a small portion of overall business overheads compared to energy, rents, payroll and other inputs. The figures vary from sector to sector but research from Forfás, IBEC and local authorities all indicate that commercial rates are, on average, less than 5% of business costs.
I accept that the current rates burden, while not excessive overall, may be unfairly distributed in some cases. The revaluation process currently underway by the Valuation Office is re-balancing rates liabilities to ensure that the rates burden is more equitable and in line with changes in valuations across different classes of properties within counties.
528. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a register of all rented properties here; if not, if a register will be compiled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3620/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord/tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and the Act provides that landlords must apply to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to register the tenancy of a dwelling within one month of the commencement of the tenancy.
The published register lists the addresses of all tenancies registered with the PRTB. Details of the register on a county or, in the case of Dublin, a postcode basis are available on its website at https://portal.prtb.ie/public_registrations.aspx
529. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the fact that had the BC(A)R 2014 been introduced prior to the building boom in the 1990s to 2008, and been in effect during the boom, the regulations could not have prevented the pyrite disaster; the reason recommendation No. 18 of the Pyrite Panel, that the system of independent inspections carried out by the building control officers be strengthened, was not implemented in the BC(A)R 2014. [3622/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pyrite Panel, convened in September 2011, undertook a desktop study, in conjunction with stakeholder consultation, to establish facts in relation to the potential exposure to pyrite problems. The information was gathered from a number of sources, including local authorities, structural guarantee providers, representatives of homeowners, private builders, construction professionals and public representatives, and was cross referenced to verify, as far as practicable, its validity.
The Report of the Pyrite Panel, which was published in July 2012, contained twenty four inter-related recommendations covering a wide range of issues which aimed to provide a framework for the resolution of the difficulties being faced by homeowners affected by pyritic heave and which aimed to reduce the risk of such a problem occurring into the future.
However, in its report, the Pyrite Panel clearly stated that it did not believe the State was responsible for the pyrite problem and concluded that, prior to the identification of pyritic heave, Ireland’s Building Regulations compared favourably with those in the UK and in other jurisdictions and were reflective of the knowledge and experience available at that time in Ireland. Nevertheless, to reduce the risk of such problems occurring into the future, recommendation number 18 recommended that -
- a mandatory certification system be developed for buildings to enhance the existing system of building control;
- the system of independent inspections carried out by building control authorities be strengthened to complement the proposed mandatory certification system; and
- the guidance to building control authorities be reviewed to allow for a more structured inspection process.
These recommendations have been met by the operation of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into effect on 1 March 2014, the development of the Building Control Management System (BCMS) and the guidance provided in the Framework for Building Control Authorities by the County and City Management Association.
530. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households nationally occupying accommodation rented directly from one of the 34 local authorities; the number of households occupying accommodation rented from an approved housing body or housing association; the number of units of local authority housing known to be vacant or unoccupied because they are in disrepair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3637/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics on our website and the total number of local authority housing units occupied can be found at the following link, under the area titled ‘LA rented units by area 2003+’ within the Social Housing Supports contents: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls .
This information does not cover households currently renting directly from Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). However, it is estimated that there are approximately 27,000 units of social housing in the AHB sector.
General statistics on local authority housing stock, including units that may be empty, are published annually by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are in respect of 2013 and are available at the following link: http://www.lgma.ie/en/service-indicators-local-authorities-2013
As part of a planned programme supported by my Department in 2014, there were over 2,300 vacant social housing units returned to productive use at a cost of €26.1 million. This issue will continue to be addressed in 2015, through funding made available under Budget 2015.
531. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for interim measures to deal with rising homelessness before the promised social housing is operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47081/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness was published in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.
This plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households within the next three years and mobilise the necessary supports. Progress in implementing the plan is reported quarterly through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform and a copy of the Quarter 3 of 2014 Progress Report is also available on my Department's website at the link provided above.
On 4 December 2014, I hosted a special Summit on Homelessness to reaffirm the Government's commitment to end involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. A number of actions arising from the Summit were considered at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform on 8 December and were then formalised into an Action Plan to Address Homelessness which was noted by the Government at its meeting on 9 December 2014. A copy of this action plan is available on my Department’s website at the aforementioned link provided. Progress in implementing this plan is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform and a copy of the most recent progress report is also available on my Department’s website at the aforementioned link.
In addition to those actions which constitute an immediate response to the issue of rough sleeping in Dublin, actions have been identified which tackle the more systemic issues, classified under the three categories of the ‘housing-led’ approach. There is enough accommodation available for all those sleeping rough so that no one needs to sleep rough unless they choose to do so. The number and availability of emergency beds is being monitored closely by Dublin City Council and further beds will be brought on stream should the need arise. Where a homeless person does not want to be placed in emergency accommodation, the Housing First intake street team will refer the person to the recently established Nite Café which is now fully operational. The Nite Café links in with the new transport support services for those sleeping rough as an integral part of the Housing First service. This initiative transports homeless persons to emergency accommodation and provides them with the necessary health and care supports in conjunction with other State providers.
The long-term solution to homelessness is to increase the supply of homes. In November 2014, I launched the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020. This six-year strategy sets out to provide 35,000 new social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion and restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing through, inter alia, a resumption of direct building on a significant scale by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
Additional funding for homeless services across the country in 2015 will ensure continued progress toward the achievement of the Government's target of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. My Department is currently considering the appropriate allocation of the 2015 homelessness budget so as to ensure that Section 10 homelessness funding contributes to meeting the needs in the various regions.
