Written Answers Nos. 454-471
454. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to identify the presence of lead water pipes in County Wicklow; and the programme of work in place to deal with any lead pipes found. [7290/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I nor my Department have any responsibility for, or role in relation to, the identification, management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services and water services infrastructure including water supply pipes or drainage pipes extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private property. The identification of lead in public water mains is therefore a matter for Irish Water. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets required quality standards. Responsibility for identifying and replacing lead pipes or fittings within the property boundary therefore rests with the property owner.
On 9 June 2015, I announced a Government-approved National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The Strategy was prepared by my Department and the Department of Health in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA. The roles and responsibilities of the various public and private stakeholders are set out in the Strategy, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library.
As part of the Strategy, I have established a new grant scheme to assist low income households to replace lead pipes in their homes. Full details of the scheme, which is administered by the local authorities, is available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/water/water-quality/lead-drinking-water/lead-drinking-water.
455. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that Wicklow County Council is requiring all elected representatives to provide a signed waiver form from constituents in order to make representations on their behalf in relation to housing and planning issues; the rationale for this practice; if he is aware of the massive difficulty this poses for local councillors and Teachtaí Dála in properly representing their constituents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7291/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government have responsibility for policy and legislation in respect of the local government system, local authorities are independent corporate entities with responsibility under law for the performance of relevant functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. The detailed arrangements implemented by local authorities in respect of their dealings with public representatives when they are acting in a representational role on behalf of others are a matter for the authorities themselves. I have no function in this regard.
456. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to make an additional allocation for homeless services in the four midland counties, given only 1.5% of the total budget for the homeless goes to the region and the increased demands on services. [7307/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides current funding, under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, to housing authorities towards the cost of providing accommodation and related services for homeless persons. Housing authorities also provide funding from their own resources and under Section 10 housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of any service they are funding. Funding in respect of homeless services is made available on a regional basis. Westmeath County Council is the lead authority for the Midlands Region, which also encompasses Laois, Longford and Offaly.
In 2015, a formal allocation of €794,972 issued from my Department in respect of the Midlands Region. A further payment of €11,023 issued to the Midlands Region towards the end of 2015, in respect of previously unforeseen costs associated with the utilisation of emergency accommodation, bringing total Exchequer funding to the region to €805,995. While the 2016 allocations are currently being finalised, the funding needs of the various regions are kept under review on an on-going basis, taking account of known and emerging costs of services, and my Department has provided reassurance to Westmeath County Council in this regard.
457. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures in place to prevent incidents of pollution by Irish Water; how stringent are these measures; how often the implementation of these measures are inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7342/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels for public water services including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, including the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure. All discharges to the aquatic environment from sewerage systems owned, managed and operated by Irish Water require a waste water discharge licence or certificate of authorisation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Irish Water is required to apply to the EPA for a licence or certificate of authorisation and the authorisation process provides for the EPA to place stringent conditions on the operation of such discharges to ensure that potential effects on the receiving water bodies are strictly limited and controlled.
The EPA is also the statutory body for investigating complaints of pollution and for the enforcement of environmental legislation in Ireland. Details of all prosecutions taken by the Agency for pollution incidents and details of the Agency’s enforcement activities are published on the Agency’s website (www.epa.ie). Neither I, nor my Department, have any role in monitoring or supervising the delivery of water services or any pollution incidents arising therefrom.
458. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding commercial tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7343/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMotor tax is based on the construction and use of a vehicle. In order to qualify for the commercial rate of motor tax, a vehicle must be constructed or adapted for use as a goods vehicle and used solely for the conveyance of goods in the course of trade or business.
Licensing authorities have an obligation under Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing)(Amendment) Regulations 1992 to be satisfied that a vehicle is correctly taxed and it is thus open to a motor tax office to seek supporting documentation when commercial motor tax is being applied for. Such documentation may include a certificate of commercial insurance or evidence of registration for VAT purposes or, at the discretion of the licensing authority concerned, any other appropriate documentation that would indicate that the applicant is in trade or business. It is up to the individual concerned to provide whatever evidence is required by the licensing authority in order for it to be satisfied that the applicant is entitled to the commercial rate of motor tax, which is effectively a concessionary rate.
459. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress to date on the taking in charge of developments with stand alone treatment plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7357/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have made €10m available to be used in 2016 to fund a new National Taking in Charge Initiative that will assist local authorities in developing new approaches to addressing housing estates, including those with developer-provided water services infrastructure that, for various reasons, have not been taken in charge to date.
The initiative will involve the following:
(1) Provision by my Department of an indicative level of funding for local authorities to assist in developing demonstration projects and new working methods in tackling legacy estates.
(2) Funding will reflect both (a) the scale of estates not taken in charge and (b) the extent of developer provided water services infrastructure to be addressed, on the understanding that the Exchequer support is for 2016 only and will not create Exchequer liabilities beyond 2016.
(3) Submission by the local authorities of implementation proposals for the approval of my Department, to utilise the funding, establish demonstration projects, identify longer term funding sources and address the backlog of applications for taking in charge on hand.
(4) Publication of a national database of residential estates not taken in charge as a baseline for future action.
(5) Taking account of the experience gained from the 2016 initiative, to issue guidance to authorities on their further development of prioritised plans for taking in charge of estates from 2017 onwards, taking account of resources available through the initiative in the short term as supplemented by other funding sources in the medium to longer term.
The experience gained through the initiative in 2016 and associated demonstration projects is intended to establish a co-ordinated taking in charge programme to progressively address the issue on a multi-annual basis, in the light of available local authority, Irish Water, bond and other funding sources and the general government financial position.
I intend to advise each local authority of the indicative level of funding proposed to be made available to them in the very near future, after which they will be invited to submit proposals to be assessed by an advisory steering group.
Consideration of the submissions put forward by the local authorities on the basis of the provisional funding levels available will be weighted towards those local authorities that demonstrate a high level of collaborative problem solving and leveraging of complementary funding from developer, bond provider, receiver or other sources.
460. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applicants awaiting housing assistance in each county here in January 2016, January 2015, January 2014 and January 2013, in tabular form; the average waiting time for the provision of social housing within each county in the case of single one-bed applicants, two-bed applicants, three-bed applicants and four-bed applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7376/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra461. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average waiting time for the provision of social housing within each county here for single one-bed applicants, two-bed applicants, three-bed applicants and four-bed applicants in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7377/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 461 together.
The oversight and management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations.
My Department does not collate the data sought on an on-going basis. The numbers and household breakdown on housing waiting lists in individual local authorities are subject to on-going fluctuation as households are allocated housing and new households are added to the list.
The results of the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments carried out as at 7 May 2013 provided details on the number of households on waiting lists in each housing authority area, including the length of time spent by households on each housing authority list. Only those households which have been assessed as being eligible and in need of such support following the carrying out of the prescribed application process by the relevant housing authority are placed on the list. The results are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting list numbers. Further summaries of social housing assessments will be carried out on an annual basis from this year and will provide up-to-date and comprehensive data on the numbers of households qualified for social housing support on an on-going basis.
462. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the provision of social housing in County Waterford, how many new properties were built or purchased in County Waterford in 2015; how many properties it is planned to build or purchase over the next five years and at what cost; his views on whether this is sufficient to meet the growing demand for social housing in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April last year, as part of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, I announced over €1.5 billion in funding allocations in respect of social housing to be provided by all local authorities for the period out to 2017 via a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes. Those allocations and associated targets for each local authority, including Waterford, are available on my Department’s website at the following link:http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/minsters-kelly-coffey-announce-eu15-billion-social-housing-targets-local.
Following this notification of targets, I made announcements for substantial new social housing projects in May 2015, in July 2015 and in January 2016. Between these three announcements, almost €680 million has been allocated for over 3,900 social housing new builds, turnkey developments and acquisitions. Details of these project approvals, including those for Waterford, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,42225,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/ministers-kelly-coffey-announce-further-1000-social-housing-units .
I am keen that local authorities advance these projects as soon as possible and have assured them that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard.
In 2015, social housing construction projects were completed in Waterford at Chairman’s Arch/Cathedral Square and St. John’s College. While such construction projects are being advanced, acquisitions of new and second-hand houses and apartments remain an effective means of meeting immediate social housing need and information on the acquisitions undertaken last year by Waterford City & County Council is published on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), my Department, together with local authorities, can support AHBs to construct, purchase or lease housing units and make them available for social housing. The housing units are secured under long-term leases/availability arrangements between local authorities, AHBs and private property owners. A total of 14 social housing units were delivered under the programme in the administrative area of Waterford City and County Council in 2015. To date, a total of 187 units have been delivered in Waterford since the SHCEP programme began including 36 AHB constructed units which recently became operational. In addition, a total of 41 units have received funding approval under the programme and will be delivered in Waterford over the course of the next two years. 21 of these are new units that will be purchased by AHBs with assistance from my Department’s Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and made available to Waterford City and County Council under long-term lease arrangements funded by SHCEP.
463. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an updated list of housing units that have been demolished by the implementation of the Limerick regeneration framework implementation plan; the number of units that have been constructed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7396/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan was adopted in 2014 and provides a roadmap for the physical, social and economic regeneration of the four regeneration areas in Limerick over the coming years. The Plan identifies those strategic demolitions required to deliver appropriate housing in these areas, as well as construction projects to advance its goals. Since the adoption of the Plan, I understand that 144 houses have been demolished by Limerick City and County Council in the areas concerned. I understand also that 108 Units have been constructed, 94 units are currently under construction and construction is due to commence on a further 53 units shortly. The next two years will see a significant ramping up of build activity in the Limerick Regeneration areas.
464. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 has been amended to remove the €400 per annum dog licence fee exemption for hunting groups and, if so, the steps being taken to ensure payment. [7417/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 46 of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 seeks to amend certain provisions of the Control of Dogs Acts, which inadvertently exempted certain bodies, including hunting groups, from the dog licensing requirements. Accordingly, once commenced, section 46 of the 2015 Act will reinstate the requirement for these bodies to hold a licence.
I have delayed commencing the relevant legislative provisions to date to ensure that those bodies that may be affected by the change have adequate notice of the reinstated legislative requirements.
465. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the additional resources being allocated for local authorities to assist the implementation of the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7419/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are now over 8,500 households in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the scheme has been rolled out to all categories of households in 19 local authority areas. The Dublin Region Homelessness Executive (DRHE) is also managing a HAP Homeless Pilot for the four Dublin local authorities.
Budget 2016 has increased the funding for the HAP scheme to €47.7 million in 2016, in order to meet the continuing costs of existing HAP households, and the costs of an additional 10,000 households to be supported by HAP in 2016. The majority of this funding is to support on-going rent payments to landlords in respect of existing HAP households and the cost of additional HAP tenancies as households find accommodation through the scheme during the year.
The primary administrative support to HAP local authorities is the central transactional shared service being provided by Limerick City and County Council to all local authorities operating the HAP scheme. This shared service is responsible for a range of functions including monthly payments to landlords and the collection of weekly differential rent from tenants and provides a range of efficiencies to the operation of the scheme.
Each Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. My Department works closely with all local authorities and all have been invited to submit staffing sanction requests to facilitate the delivery of the Social Housing Strategy. Each staffing sanction request is examined on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. To date 55 HAP related posts have been sanctioned by my Department in response to staffing requests from HAP local authorities and the shared service centre provided by Limerick City and County Council.
In order to cover staffing and administrative costs arising due to the operation of the HAP scheme in their area, local authorities are provided with an administrative payment of €150 per household supported as they are set up under the HAP scheme. In 2015, some €993,000 was paid by my Department in such HAP administration costs to local authorities. Local authorities will be able to make claims on a similar basis for 2016.
The phased roll out of the HAP pilot scheme has proved to be an effective approach. In this context, my Department maintains regular contact with the pilot local authorities in order to learn from their experience of the scheme, and to address operational issues as they arise.
466. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry who have reported an issue to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7444/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhenever a person considers a noise to be so loud, so continuous, so repeated, of such duration or pitch or occurring at such times that it gives reasonable cause for annoyance, he or she can initiate action to deal with it, for example, by engaging with the individual causing the noise to come to some mutually acceptable understanding, or by contacting their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992.
Furthermore, section 108 of this Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The task of the District Court is to hear both sides of the case. Where it finds in a complainant’s favour, the Court can order the person or body making the noise to reduce it to a specified level, to limit it to specified times, or to cease altogether. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation.
A public information leaflet, A Guide to the Noise Regulations, outlining the procedural and legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/environment/noise/guide-noise-regulations.
467. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that Kildare County Council has a process of only replacing windows in elderly persons homes if there is money left in the budget at the end of the year and, despite an increased allocation in the 2016 housing maintenance budget, if they will be operating the same process for this year; if this practice is supported by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7445/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to assist older people to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out to private houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. At local level, the detailed administration and processing of these grants, including the assessment, prioritisation, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
Of the grants available, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People scheme are primarily aimed at older people. The latter scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting, etc.
On 5 February 2016, I announced total funding of €56.25 million for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. I have increased the level of funding available for the grants by some 10% in 2016. This funding will see over 8,000 homes receiving grant aid this year.
My Department also provides funding to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. All local authorities, including Kildare County Council, have been notified of initial funding provisions to allow work on this area to continue while proposals are assessed for full year allocations. I expect the level of funding for this activity to increase for 2016.
468. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the regional breakdown of all members appointed by the Government or him to State boards, agencies and bodies in 2015 and to date in 2016, broken down by agency and by regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7477/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails in relation to appointments made since 2015 to date are available on my Department’s website at the following link:http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/state_boards_database_march_2011_to_1_april_2016.xlsx.
In the case of certain appointments to State Boards, statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate. In addition, in the case of a number of boards, not all of the appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister, and in some situations appointments are made by the Minister with the consent of another Minister. Furthermore, appointments to An Bord Pleanála and to the Board of the Environmental Protection Agency are of a full-time executive nature and are governed by statutory processes.
The information requested in respect of appointments by region is not collated by my Department.
469. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a date has been set for a meeting between the expert panel and the affected homeowners in County Donegal and, if not, the reason; when the meeting will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7562/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks held its first meeting last week and, at that meeting, the panel agreed that it would arrange to meet with affected homeowners in Donegal in order to hear first-hand of the problems that have emerged in their homes. The panel would welcome all information that can be provided by affected homeowners which can assist them in their investigations in accordance with the terms of reference I announced late last year.
On behalf of the expert panel, my Department has recently written to the Mica Action Group, which represents many affected homeowners, to invite representatives to a meeting with the panel. It is proposed that the meeting will take place in Donegal in the second week of May subject to the agreement of the affected homeowners.
It is anticipated that the panel’s investigations will take in the order of six months to complete and will also require meetings with affected homeowners in Mayo as well as with public representatives, local authorities and a broad range of other parties in order to assist in establishing the nature of the problems in the affected dwellings in both counties.
470. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding allocated to each local authority for the refurbishment or regeneration of vacant social housing in each of the years from 2014 to 2015 and to date in 2016. [7638/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding provided by my Department to local authorities in 2014 and 2015 to support their work in dealing with vacant social housing units is set out in the following table. This funding is in addition to the work and resources that local authorities deploy themselves to deal with this issue, which arises because the repair and re-letting of vacant social houses has always been part of the ongoing work that local authorities carry out on their social housing stock as part of their responsibilities as housing authorities under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Funding is being provided by my Department as a continuation of the support for local authorities for this activity into 2016. However, full year allocations are awaiting the finalisation of lists of units by authorities. Once finalised, the funding position will be kept under review as the year progresses.
|
- |
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
|
Local Authority |
Units returned |
Funding |
Units Returned |
Funding |
|
1 |
Carlow |
42 |
€325,111 |
28 |
€300,650 |
|
2 |
Cavan |
23 |
€349,137 |
28 |
€307,018 |
|
3 |
Clare |
65 |
€995,829 |
96 |
€1,472,533 |
|
4 |
Cork City |
212 |
€2,872,027 |
281 |
€4,522,819 |
|
5 |
Cork County |
155 |
€1,539,364 |
199 |
€2,091,578 |
|
6 |
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
5 |
€89,896 |
24 |
€262,768 |
|
7 |
Donegal |
167 |
€919,797 |
146 |
€1,003,576 |
|
8 |
Dublin City |
467 |
€6,163,464 |
787 |
€10,858,088 |
|
9 |
Fingal |
165 |
€1,938,780 |
139 |
€1,624,632 |
|
10 |
Galway City |
24 |
€474,050 |
25 |
€222,025 |
|
11 |
Galway County |
76 |
€958,263 |
59 |
€705,347 |
|
12 |
Kerry |
79 |
€718,938 |
103 |
€884,736 |
|
13 |
Kildare |
49 |
€503,463 |
20 |
€359,808 |
|
14 |
Kilkenny |
25 |
€484,430 |
23 |
€381,639 |
|
15 |
Laois |
43 |
€257,013 |
12 |
€61,228 |
|
16 |
Leitrim |
15 |
€229,072 |
9 |
€177,474 |
|
17 |
Limerick |
98 |
€915,969 |
52 |
€500,689 |
|
18 |
Longford |
16 |
€313,250 |
22 |
€426,535 |
|
19 |
Louth |
18 |
€113,620 |
21 |
€292,279 |
|
20 |
Mayo |
80 |
€464,508 |
86* |
€878,600 |
|
21 |
Meath |
59 |
€1,037,501 |
54 |
€855,565 |
|
22 |
Monaghan |
21 |
€92,751 |
13 |
€100,502 |
|
23 |
Offaly |
35 |
€514,000 |
55 |
€551,532 |
|
24 |
Roscommon |
34 |
€224,028 |
36 |
€258,773 |
|
25 |
Sligo |
29 |
€311,648 |
39 |
€439,924 |
|
26 |
South Dublin |
92 |
€627,408 |
27 |
€216,838 |
|
27 |
Tipperary |
86 |
€935,801 |
115 |
€1,299,180 |
|
28 |
Waterford |
42 |
€605,428 |
56 |
€488,724 |
|
29 |
Westmeath |
56 |
€396,518 |
74 |
€650,813 |
|
30 |
Wexford |
20 |
€316,307 |
24 |
€294,811 |
|
31 |
Wicklow |
35 |
€650,204 |
43 |
€857,499 |
|
TOTAL |
2333 |
€26,337,575 |
2696 |
€33,348,183 |
471. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there is a cap of €30,000 for local authority applications for funding for refurbishment of vacant social housing programmes to his Department. [7639/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe repair and re-letting of vacant social houses has always been part of the ongoing work that local authorities carry out on their social housing stock as part of their responsibilities as housing authorities under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. However, in 2014, in recognition of the need to address a build-up of vacant social houses, my Department introduced the current programme to support local authorities to return vacant social houses to productive use, with exchequer funding provided since then for some 5,000 such housing units at a cost of almost €60 million. This funding is provided to compliment the efforts that local authorities make from within their own resources.
The funding provided by my Department under the current exchequer-funded programme for the return of vacant social houses to productive use is up to €30,000 per unit, which is a strong level of funding support for the repair of a social housing unit. In fact, the average amount claimed under this programme is €12,000 per unit.
Alongside this programme, my Department has also recently implemented a new exchequer funding programme to support local authorities in remediating more seriously derelict social houses. Allocations to local authorities in respect of their proposals under this programme will be made shortly and it is expected that the average cost of remediation per unit will be in the region of €50,000.
