Wednesday, 4 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 39 - 46

Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation

Ceisteanna (39)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

39. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views in relation to the fact that, despite what was originally stated when the Pyrite Resolution Board was established, that properties with a BCA rating of 1, or 1 with progression, will not now be remediated under the scheme; and his further views on the matter, in view of the fact that it will result in the worst of all worlds, with persons stuck in the property without any prospect of being able to sell and move on; and the way he proposes to deal with this issue. [8865/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board to oversee the development and implementation of a pyrite remediation scheme for certain dwellings affected by significant pyrite damage. The Report of the independent Pyrite Panel (July 2012) provides the framework for the pyrite remediation scheme and the eligibility criteria are reflective of the conclusions and recommendations of that report.

The scheme, which was first published by the Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the report of the independent Pyrite Panel and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act. One of the eligibility criteria under the scheme is that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. There are no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.

Dwellings with a Damage Condition Rating of 1, or a 1 with progression, do not qualify under the scheme although some may be considered for inclusion at a later stage if the Board is satisfied that exceptional circumstances apply in accordance with the provisions of section 17 of the Act. My Department also understands that, in a number of cases, dwellings which had a Damage Condition Rating of 1 when their Building Condition Assessments were first completed have now progressed to a Damage Condition Rating of 2; these dwellings have now been included in the pyrite remediation scheme.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (40)

Dessie Ellis

Ceist:

40. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the delivery of the new social housing builds, and refurbishments, as well as the arrangements for additional units through social leasing, the rental accommodation scheme and housing assistance payments, as promised for 2015 in the Government's Housing Strategy 2020; and if he will provide projected figures for the end of the first quarter of 2015. [9106/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Question No 1 on today’s Order Paper. The 7,400 new social housing units to be provided in 2015 are broken down as follows:

- 1,400 units to be built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies;

- 3,000 units under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative;

- 1,000 vacant local authority units will be returned to use; and,

- 2,000 new Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units.

In addition, a further 8,400 households will be assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

Control of Dogs

Ceisteanna (41)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

41. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that have been put in place by his Department to ensure that dogs in the care of local authorities are adequately cared for, and that outsourced companies or institutions that take care of dogs in the control of local authorities have appropriate supervision and regulation to ensure a high level of animal care; and his views on reports from animal rights campaigners of overcrowding in dog pounds. [9104/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Animal health and welfare policy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, the provisions of which apply to all animals including those in dog pounds.

I am not aware of any reports of systemic issues of overcrowding in dog pounds.

Private Rented Accommodation Standards

Ceisteanna (42)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

42. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the rental housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8875/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The private rented sector is an important element of the housing market, with the proportion of households in the sector almost doubling in the period 2006-2011. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants including in relation to rent, security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 is currently before the Oireachtas and will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, inter alia, for:

- the inclusion of the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004;

- the introduction of a new procedure to deal with non-payment of rent;

- the introduction of a tenancy deposit protection scheme.

The Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil, together with Second Stage in the Seanad. Legislative provisions for the deposit protection scheme, together with other amendments, are currently being drafted and it is my intention to introduce these amendments at Committee Stage of the Bill in the Seanad shortly.

The Government published the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014. The strategy provides the basis for a concerted and coordinated approach to social housing provision and contains an action plan with detailed objectives and timelines. It includes a commitment to developing a national policy on the private rented sector aimed at increasing investment in and supporting the supply of, good quality, secure and affordable accommodation in the sector.

The PRTB published two major reports on the sector in 2014 and these reports, together with a forthcoming National Economic and Social Council (NESC) report on the development of the private rented sector, will be important inputs to the process of considering possible further policy and legislative initiatives.

Housing Issues

Ceisteanna (43)

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

43. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on introducing a comprehensive housing strategy that addresses the housing challenges that prevail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9107/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I am fully aware of the many challenges facing both the private and public housing sectors. Increasing housing supply is a critical issue and that is why, in May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 - A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. While the Strategy’s overarching objective is to put the construction sector as a whole on a sustainable footing, it sets out a strategic approach to the provision of housing, through the delivery of specific, time-bound actions. My Department is the lead Department for a range of actions, in the areas of housing and planning.

A key action delivered by my Department under Construction 2020, was the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform in November 2014. Social housing is a key priority for the Government, as evidenced by the publication of the Strategy and the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for social housing in Budget 2015.

The Social Housing Strategy sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. Importantly, the Strategy restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing.

The targeted social housing provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.

Planning Issues

Ceisteanna (44)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

44. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will carry out a review of the current planning regulations, where State-funded third parties will lodge appeals to An Bord Pleanála in respect of planning applications which have been assessed by the local authority in compliance with local, regional and national planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8867/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

An appeal mechanism is a fundamental feature of the planning system: the applicant and any person who makes a submission on a planning application may appeal the decision of a planning authority to An Bord Pleanála, the independent statutory appeals board. An Bord Pleanála, in determining an appeal, reviews the entire case having regard to the same matters as the planning authority was required to have regard to in the first instance. As it is required to, the Board reaches its own determination on the matter, in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

While the provisions of the Planning and Development Acts and Regulations are generally kept under review in my Department, I have no plans to amend the legislation to restrict the right of appeal, or to limit the rights of third parties to participate in the planning process, which have been an integral part of the modern planning code since its inception in 1963.

Water Services Funding

Ceisteanna (45)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

45. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on reports that local authorities will incur an estimated €40 million expenditure due to the delayed transfer of water treatment plants from county councils to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9018/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Question No 4 on today’s Order Paper. Local authorities no longer incur any expenditure on water services assets. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for operating and maintaining all water services assets and so it is Irish Water that is responsible for all such expenditure. Irish Water plans to invest over €400m in water infrastructure (excluding metering) in 2015.

Local Authority Staff

Ceisteanna (46)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he can approve increased staffing levels throughout the local authorities, with a view to meeting the challenge of the extra workload arising from the housing situation; the extent to which any such augmentation has been made available to Kildare County Council, and other local authorities with similar requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9065/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

On 4 February 2015, I announced that my Department, in conjunction with the Department for Public Expenditure & Reform, has approved approximately 200 staff for local authorities, in order to support the implementation of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. The type of posts involved include Architects, Engineers, Planners, Surveyors, Housing Officers and Craftsmen, at varying grades. Local Authorities, including Kildare County Council, are currently in the process of assessing their technical and administrative resource requirements to deliver both the Housing Capital Programmes and also the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme. My Department has approved 7 housing related posts for Kildare County Council since October 2014.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for Chief Executives, in the first instance, to ensure that the appropriate service levels are maintained.

My Department continues to work closely with Kildare County Council and other local authorities in relation to their staffing requirements for housing.