Written Answers Nos. 210-218
210. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons who have made settlements in respect of the non-principal private residence tax; the amount raised; the number of persons who have been advised that they have an outstanding liability for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42270/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence.
The self-assessed charge was set at €200 per annum. Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect NPPR charges and any related late payment fees. Proceeds from the charge are retained by local authorities and contribute to the provision of local services.
The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) coordinates certain matters relating to the NPPR, acting on an agency basis on behalf of the local government sector. Based on data provided by the LGMA, I understand that €35,295,860 has been collected from the NPPR Charge in 2015 to date. My Department does not have any data relating to the number of persons who have made settlements or the number of persons advised of a potential outstanding liability for the Charge in 2015.
211. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address the lease evaluation of a community based non-profit sporting club (details supplied) in County Cork and explore the possibility of having it reduced, and of a single payment for a 35-year lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42057/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department wrote to Rosscarbery Rowing Club on 10 April 2015 detailing, inter alia, the valuation options available to the club for a 35-year foreshore lease. These options included either an annual rent or a one-off buyout payment and the club was requested to confirm its preferred valuation option.
A response is required from the club before the application can be further progressed.
212. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to current planning rules which allow for the exemption of small-scale domestic property extensions from acquiring planning permission prior to construction, if he will clarify if it is the case that this exemption does not extend to properties located within special areas of conservation, SAC; the options available to owners of such properties who are unaware of this, and who unknowingly proceed with a domestic extension without first obtaining planning permission; if the option of obtaining retention planning permission for such unauthorised developments is not available to owners of properties within an SAC; if he will consider amending existing legislation in order to allow for retention planning permission to be granted to property owners in such incidences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42063/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, all development, unless specifically exempted under the Acts or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Article 6 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, set out certain classes of development which are exempt from planning permission requirements.
Class 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption from planning permission for the extension of a house, by the construction or erection of an extension (including a conservatory) to the rear of the house or by the conversion for use as part of the house of any garage, store, shed or other similar structure attached to the rear or to the side of the house. This exemption applies where the house has not been extended previously, and where the floor area of any such extension does not exceed 40 square metres. The exemption is subject to compliance with a number of other conditions and limitations and also any general restrictions on exemptions.
Section 4(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that development shall not be exempted development if an environmental impact assessment or an appropriate assessment of the development is required in accordance with relevant EU Directive requirements. Furthermore, section 34(12) of the Act specifically provides that applications for retention permission may not be accepted in relation to applications which would have required an environmental impact assessment or an appropriate assessment, or would have required a determination as to whether an environmental impact assessment or an appropriate assessment was required.
There are clear legal obligations on property owners to observe both national and EU law prior to the commencement of development on designated European sites. I have no plans to amend or set aside the existing legislative requirements in this regard.
213. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will revert to this Deputy on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42080/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.
In any event, in responding to representations to my office about specific water and waste water projects, Deputies are informed that these are matters for Irish Water and are referred to the specific arrangements that Irish Water have in place for dealing with queries from Oireachtas members. I do not make representations to Irish Water on behalf of Deputies.
214. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an application submitted to his Department under the expressions of interest for recreation projects 2015 will be finalised for a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42131/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recently invited Expressions of Interest from a variety of organisations, agencies and groups who would wish to seek funding for the development, enhancement and maintenance of recreational Infrastructure projects should funding become available to the Department.
This initiative has generated a considerable amount of interest and my Department is currently carrying out a detailed assessment of each expression of interest received, including the project referred to in the Question. This assessment process, which I envisage will be completed shortly, will allow projects to be prioritised for any funding which is made available.
215. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an application submitted to his Department under the expressions of interest for recreation projects 2015 will be finalised for a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42132/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recently invited Expressions of Interest from a variety of organisations, agencies and groups who would wish to seek funding for the development, enhancement and maintenance of recreational Infrastructure projects should funding become available to the Department.
This initiative has generated a considerable amount of interest and my Department is currently carrying out a detailed assessment of each expression of interest received, including the project referred to in the Question. This assessment process, which I envisage will be completed shortly, will allow projects to be prioritised for any funding which is made available.
216. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of residential units here owned by local authorities and by voluntary housing partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42259/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. Data on local authority housing stock (which incorporates owned housing stock with accommodation provided under the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Social Housing Leasing Initiative) are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls, by clicking ‘LA rented units by area 2003’ under the Social Housing Supports contents.
As indicated in the Government’s Social Housing Strategy published in November 2014, Approved Housing Bodies (previously known as Voluntary Housing Associations or Housing Co-operatives) manage approximately 27,000 houses. The number of units provided and financed via the Voluntary and Co-operative Housing schemes is available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls, by clicking ‘Affordable and other social housing summary 1991 to date’ under the Housing Supports contents.
217. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of shared ownership arrangements which are currently in place with local authorities, the total value of loans outstanding for this category of home ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42267/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra218. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of shared ownership arrangements with local authorities which are in arrears; if a process is in place for dealing with such arrears cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42268/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together.
My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages and a breakdown of those in arrears ; however, the data does not provide a specific breakdown in respect of shared ownership mortgages. The statistics on local authority mortgage arrears generally are available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15295,en.xls by clicking “Mortgage Data/Arrears in Local Authorities” under the Housing Loans contents. Local authority estimates suggest that approximately 16,500 loans issued under the Shared Ownership Schemes, of which approximately 4,000 loans remain outstanding with an estimated value of €577m.
The Central Bank’s Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears requires all mortgage lenders to ensure that it has in place a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) as a framework for handling such cases. My Department introduced guidelines for local authorities in 2012 and, subsequently, issued revised guidelines in June 2014. These guidelines, Dealing with Mortgage Arrears – A Guide for Local Authorities , are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,30943,en.pdf.
A Mortgage to Rent scheme, specifically for local authority mortgage borrowers, is available as part of the MARP arrangements. The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent scheme and the wider operation of MARP within local authorities are kept under regular review by my Department.
In cases of acute mortgage distress, homeowners also have the option of seeking to avail of the legal process now also in place to deal with personal insolvency. The most important step any household in arrears can take is to engage early with the Arrears Support Unit of the local authority. Solutions are available and advice should be sought as early as possible.
