Written Answers Nos. 240 - 263
240. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding for a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19186/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraKerry County Council has included the Group Water Scheme in question in its application to my Department for funding under the new Rural Water Multi-Annual Funding Programme for the period 2016 to 2018. My Department is currently considering local authorities' bids for funding and allocations to authorities for funding under the new programme will be provided shortly.
241. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the use of bin tags in houses that are unable to have wheelie bins will be affected by the new waste management legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19203/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra253. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in the context of his discussions with waste collection companies, he will allow areas that currently include bag collection to continue to do so until there is a resolution to the issue of high standing charges as that charge is generally incorporated into the price of the bag and many elderly persons put bags out infrequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19529/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra264. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide an exemption for existing waste collection customers who pay by a tag system for their refuse collection but who are now being treated as first-time customers and are being subjected to a service charge and a pay-by-weight system despite the fact that the pay-by-weight charges have been frozen for 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19657/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra278. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that users of the tag on the bag system of waste management who are not weekly users will not be required to pay a service charge along with the tag lift charge under new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19781/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 241, 253, 264 and 278 together.
It is widely recognised that there are difficulties associated with the collection of household waste in bags, including:
- littering caused by ripped bags;
- health and safety issues for collectors, where sharp objects are placed in bags;
- litter caused by fly-tipping on streets/areas, where bag collections take place;
- little or no segregation of recyclable or food waste; and
- inability to gather data on waste collected for statistical and environmental reporting purposes.
As a result of such problematic issues, I am aware of at least one local authority which has already (through bye-laws) removed the option for householders to present household waste in bags for collection.
With the above in mind, and the planned introduction of pay-by-weight charging which cannot be easily applied to bags, a decision was taken in April 2015 to phase-out the use of bags for household waste collection, where ‘wheelie bins’ could be accommodated.
My Department, in consultation with local authorities, has set criteria to be applied nationally with a view to phasing out bags, with the exception of areas where it is not practical to use ‘wheelie bins’. Local authorities have been requested to designate areas as not being suitable for wheelie bin collections (i.e. designate areas which should remain on bag collections) and are working through this process.
In brief, the criteria for undertaking the exercise to designate ‘bag collection areas’ are as follows:
- No space within the boundary of the property (front, rear or side) to store 3 bins.
- Physical features which make it difficult to move a bin to the front edge of the property or nearest boundary for presentation, e.g. steep gradient and or steps (the advice of a Roads Engineer should be sought) or that would present an unreasonable difficulty.
- The area (e.g. street) is too narrow for a refuse collection vehicle to access properties and the nearest Designated Collection Point or suitable presentation point is greater than 100m from the property (again, the advice of a Roads Engineer should be sought on this issue).
- Where the Local Authority is notified of exceptional circumstances by a householder / resident and the Local Authority certifies same.
Many local authorities have now completed the process of designating areas where bag collections may continue, if applicable, and should be contacted for further information.
It is important to note that while pay by weight is not being introduced on a mandatory basis, it is open to collectors to charge on a pay-by-weight basis, as many already do. Approximately 20% of households are already on a pay-by-weight charge of some form and are happy with that service.
The issue of households who have moved from bags to bins in the context of the current agreements will be discussed with industry this week. Notwithstanding the difficulties associated with trying to accommodate customers who use bags and in respect of whom the collector has no data on last year’s weights or usage, I am confident that a reasonable and fair solution will be found to address this issue.
242. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount allocated to the mortgage to rent scheme, per year, since the scheme was introduced in 2012; and the amount of this allocation that has been spent per year since 2012, in tabular form. [19253/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two Mortgage to Rent (MTR) schemes funded by my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LAMTR ). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, which also enables the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (AHB MTR ).
My Department makes financial support available to AHBs to fund MTR transactions using capital advanced through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF). The CALF facility is exclusively available to AHBs to assist them in accessing private finance or Housing Agency Finance to purchase MTR units. Included in a recent package of amendments to the AHB MTR scheme was an increase in the ceiling of support available under CALF for AHB MTR cases from 30% to 40%. Under the LA MTR scheme, my Department recoups the full acquisition cost to local authorities.
Both schemes assist families with income difficulties whose mortgages are unsustainable, and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. Both schemes are part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of the mortgage arrears resolution process.
The combined allocation for both schemes is set out in the following table, with the appropriate expenditure for each year. While the AHB MTR scheme was launched in June 2012 no expenditure was incurred that year. The LA MTR scheme commenced as a pilot in 2013 in Westmeath County and Dublin City Councils and rolled out nationally in February 2014.
In 2015, savings from other capital subheads were used to provide additional funding to meet the demand for the LA MTR scheme. In 2016, the MTR allocation increased by 70% to €17m. Final 2016 MTR expenditure will be published in due course. As part of the Government’s forthcoming Action Plan for Housing, my Department will examine how Mortgage to Rent can be improved to ensure that more households in distress can avail of the scheme.
|
Year |
MTR allocation |
LA MTR Expenditure |
AHB MTR Expenditure |
Total MTR expenditure |
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
2013 |
12 ,000,000 |
1,572,683 |
226,567 |
1,799,250 |
|
2014 |
7 ,000,000 |
6,515,133 |
381,098 |
6,896,231 |
|
2015 |
10 ,000,000 |
14,815,417 |
780,131 |
15,595,548 |
|
2016 |
17 ,000,000 |
166,517 |
147,122 |
313,639 |
243. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that a person's home is remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19278/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra244. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that the home of a person (details supplied) is remediated under the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19336/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.
The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with section 8 of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions and I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website (www.pyriteboard.ie). The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2.
My Department 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.
While dwellings with Damage Condition Ratings of 1 do not qualify under the scheme, some may be considered in accordance with the exceptional circumstance provisions set out in section 17 of the Act. Section 17 provides that exceptional circumstances may apply where:
- failure to include a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 1 in the scheme may result in damage to a dwelling which is being remediated under the scheme, or
- pyrite remediation work is causing or may cause damage to the dwelling with the Damage Condition Rating of 1.
Where a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 1 adjoins a dwelling with a Damage Condition Rating of 2, the Housing Agency will be notified and will consider if exceptional circumstances apply when the Remedial Works Plan is being drawn up; the Board will be informed of any recommendation for a decision in the matter.
246. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a mortgage to rent case for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19409/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme (AHB-mortgage-to-rent) an AHB can acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.
To be eligible for the scheme a household must have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process and agree to the voluntary surrender of their home. In general the mortgage must be in negative equity with some cases of positive equity considered on a case by case basis. The household must also be deemed eligible for social housing.
Once a case comes within the criteria and the householder has provided consent to the lender to share information, the Housing Agency seeks an AHB to complete the transaction and prepares a submission to my Department for funding approval.
In relation to the specific case raised, I understand from the Housing Agency that it is awaiting a survey of the property from the AHB to ascertain both the condition of the property and to identify any repairs required. Once the survey is completed, the AHB will consider the findings of the survey and will revert to the Housing Agency. The Housing Agency can then submit a funding request to my Department if appropriate.
My Department frequently emphasises, to all parties concerned, the necessity for MTR cases to be dealt with in an efficient and timely manner.
247. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a company (details supplied) is in breach of consumer protection legislation and-or the customer charter for household waste collection by automatically opting customers into its pay-by-weight system unless the customer contacts the company themselves by 1 August 2016 to state that they wish to opt out and avail of the 12-month price freeze announced by Government; if the company gave customers sufficient information regarding their options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19447/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have stated publicly that I am unhappy with the arrangement whereby a waste collector would require existing customers to move automatically to pay by weight as opposed to being left on their current plan and given the choice to ‘opt-in’ to pay by weight. I do not believe that this approach is consistent with the spirit of the agreement that I reached with the industry last month.
I have also been clear that the operation of the price freeze by the industry will be closely monitored, indicating that, if there was evidence of the agreement being breached, I would look at whether further legislative measures were necessary to enforce it. Furthermore, the compliance of the industry and its effectiveness in co-operating and implementing these new arrangements are likely to feature within the overall review of the functioning of this waste collection industry.
I have mandated officials from my Department to meet representatives of the waste industry early this week, at which a range of issues concerning the consistent implementation of the agreement will be discussed.
248. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total debts of each local authority to date, in tabular form. [19449/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra249. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to identify and address unsustainable debt problems in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19450/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.
It is a matter for each local authority to manage its own finances in a prudent and sustainable manner. Under the Local Government Act 2001, a decision to borrow money is a reserved function of the elected members of a local authority. Section 106 of the Act provides that, in order to undertake borrowing, local authorities must obtain the sanction of the appropriate Minister. Local authorities applying to my Department for loan sanction are required, as a pre-condition to borrowing, to ensure that they achieve balanced revenue and capital accounts and to demonstrate how the loan will be serviced by the authority. My Department has not classified the borrowings of any local authority as unsustainable nor has any authority indicated to my Department that they believe their borrowings to be unsustainable.
The total loans payable by each local authority at end 2014 based on audited Annual Financial Statements are as follows:
|
Local Authority |
2014 Loans outstanding € |
|
Carlow County Council |
45,857,903 |
|
Cavan County Council |
18,592,834 |
|
Clare County Council |
97,548,382 |
|
Cork City Council |
148,194,542 |
|
Cork County Council |
426,497,964 |
|
Donegal County Council |
136,795,154 |
|
Dublin City Council |
637,703,649 |
|
DLR County Council |
150,679,876 |
|
Fingal County Council |
416,064,917 |
|
Galway City Council |
81,637,737 |
|
Galway County Council |
53,108,775 |
|
Kerry County Council |
85,054,498 |
|
Kildare County Council |
125,499,719 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
39,919,413 |
|
Laois County Council |
114,750,225 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
7,393,563 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
79,148,544 |
|
Longford County Council |
41,103,418 |
|
Louth County Council |
157,187,491 |
|
Mayo County Council |
119,928,557 |
|
Meath County Council |
88,374,283 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
23,561,705 |
|
Offaly County Council |
65,815,150 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
15,977,008 |
|
Sligo County Council |
105,508,672 |
|
Sth Dublin County Council |
228,705,121 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
111,209,345 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
130,067,420 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
84,093,101 |
|
Wexford County Council |
137,619,278 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
91,089,894 |
|
Total Loan Book |
4,064,688,138 |
250. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider extending the homeless housing assistance payment scheme pilot to other cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19524/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 4 July 2016, 467 homeless households, referred by the homeless units, including the Homeless HAP Pilot Scheme being managed by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, are being supported by the HAP scheme in the following local authority areas:
|
HAP Local Authority |
Number of HAP households referred from Homeless Units |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Clare |
2 |
|
Cork City |
1 |
|
Cork County |
8 |
|
Dublin City |
266 |
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown |
1 |
|
Fingal |
25 |
|
Galway City |
1 |
|
Galway County |
3 |
|
Kildare |
12 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
|
Limerick City and County |
13 |
|
Louth |
27 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
15 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
|
South Dublin |
28 |
|
Tipperary |
10 |
|
Waterford |
27 |
|
Total |
467 |
The recent increases to rent limits under both the HAP and Rent Supplement Schemes, together with the flexibility and discretion that has now been made available to local authorities operating HAP, will prove to be significant tools in alleviating the pressure experienced by families in the rented sector, while other longer term housing measures are put in place. These changes will help households to remain in their existing homes while also providing sufficient flexibility to enable people to source accommodation in a constrained rental market.
My Department will continue to carefully monitor the impact of the recent revision of the HAP maximum rent limits and the ongoing operation and rollout of the HAP scheme, including the Homeless HAP pilot.
251. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of approvals that have been given to local authorities under the streamlining process for funding whereby developments of social housing with 15 units or less or of under €2 million in cost entail only a single funding submission; if he has discussed this process with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19526/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new arrangement was introduced on a pilot basis in January 2016 to facilitate a further streamlining of funding approvals for social housing construction projects that have an all-in budget of less than €2m and up to 15 housing units. This new arrangement is optional and local authorities can, if they so wish, submit project costings over the course of planning for a project and avail of the standard four-stage funding approval process. The standard approval process runs in parallel to the design and planning of projects by local authorities and therefore, will continue to be a beneficial option for local authorities to avail of.
No formal proposals have been made to date by local authorities under the new single-stage approval arrangement and consequently, no approvals have issued. As part of the informal consultation that happens at technical level in the development of a new construction proposal, some local authorities are examining the use of the single-stage approval arrangement.
While it will ultimately be a choice for each local authority to make on a case by case basis as to whether they utilise the single-stage approval arrangement, I would also emphasise the actions that have been taken to improve all approval arrangements on social housing construction projects. This has included information seminars attended by over 300 staff of local authorities and approved housing bodies and additional resources assigned to my Department’s housing function.
252. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority mortgage loans that have been approved through local authority schemes, including the home choice loan scheme, in 2015 and to date in 2016; his views on the fact that loans administered by local authorities can play a greater role in accessing mortgages for middle income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19527/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main house purchase loan currently available from local authorities is the standard annuity mortgage, targeted at lower income first time buyers. The relevant terms and conditions applying to local authority housing loans are set out in the following regulations – the Housing (Home Choice Loan) Regulations 2009 – available at http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/si/544/made/en/print - and the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 – available at http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/si/408/made/en/print.
To support local authorities in operating their housing loan schemes in a consistent and efficient manner, the Housing Agency provides a central underwriting service to local authorities. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the relevant statutory Credit Policy that underpins the scheme.
The information requested in relation to new loans advanced by local authorities in 2015 is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity by clicking on the link entitled, “LA loans paid by year 1976 to date”. Information on new loans advanced by local authorities to date in 2016 is not yet available; the Q1 2016 statistics are being finalised and will be published on my Department’s website as soon as possible.
I will continue to keep the operation of the local authority housing loan schemes under review.
254. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the length of time it takes for his Department to complete and make the necessary payment to a local authority in respect of property purchased under the Part V condition of a planning application and on receipt of the application from the respective local authority. [19542/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart V provisions are a key component of the range of delivery mechanisms required to achieve the targets set out in the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020. One of the objectives of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 is to streamline and enhance the operation of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and increase the level of social housing provided as an integral part of new housing developments. Under these revised arrangements, there are a number of options open to a planning applicant and a local authority in agreeing arrangements to fulfil a Part V obligation:
- the transfer of ownership of land, subject to the planning permission application, to a local authority for the provision of social housing;
- the building and transfer of ownership to the local authority, or persons nominated, of completed social housing units on the land, subject to the planning permission application;
- the transfer of ownership to the local authority, or persons nominated, of completed social housing units on other land, not subject to the planning permission;
- a long term leasing arrangement; and
- a combination of these options above is also permitted.
In the case of purchases of social housing units funded by my Department, payment is made on completion of the standard drawdown request submitted by a local authority. My Department is in ongoing contact with individual local authorities in respect of their social housing delivery arrangements and funding requirements.
255. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased by each local authority and the number paid for by the State since January 2015, in tabular form. [19545/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table sets out the funding provided by my Department to local authorities for the acquisition of new and previously owned houses and apartments for social housing from 2015 to end June 2016. This includes direct purchases, purchases under Part V arrangements and the delivery of turnkey projects. Some local authorities also fund acquisitions from their own resources such as local property tax receipts and that spending is not reflected in the table. In relation to 2016, while not all local authorities have drawn down funding from my Department up to this point, all are pursuing the acquisition of new and previously owned housing and apartments
|
Local Authority |
2015 |
2016 to end June |
|
Carlow County Council |
€929,075 |
€0 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€835,739 |
€197,900 |
|
Clare County Council |
€2,189,831 |
€0 |
|
Cork County Council |
€1,986,691 |
€0 |
|
Cork City Council |
€18,980,853 |
€0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Co |
€425,474 |
€0 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€1,944,766 |
€401,706 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€11,249,798.75 |
€0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€17,948,978 |
€0 |
|
Galway County Council |
€570,198 |
€915,091 |
|
Galway City Council |
€730,676 |
€0 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€4,117,222 |
€0 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€11,259,500 |
€6,654,968 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€3,452,059.40 |
€0 |
|
Laois County Council |
€3,014,346 |
€164,941 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€218,890 |
€76,125 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Longford County Council |
€97,942 |
€0 |
|
Louth County Council |
€3,910,326 |
€1,513,872.50 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€796,646 |
€719,652 |
|
Meath County Council |
€4,227,836 |
€1,180,048.20 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€1,038,308 |
€0 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€840,426 |
€23,994 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€562,638 |
€0 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€2,520,968 |
€777,471 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€5,803,070 |
€ 835,486 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
€476,920 |
€295,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€403,323 |
€0 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€1,703,856.50 |
€0 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€2,038,393.19 |
€0 |
It should be noted that details on the numbers of social housing units purchased across all local authorities are published on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Data in respect of quarter 1 of 2016 are currently being collated and will be published shortly. However, preliminary outputs for the period indicate that over 200 units have been completed by local authorities, through either construction or acquisition of units under my Department’s local authority housing programme.
256. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the remediation works under the pyrite remediation scheme will commence at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19566/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra257. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the remediation works under the pyrite remediation scheme will commence at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19567/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together.
The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with section 8 of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions and I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme.
The latest figures available to me indicate that approximately 1,234 applications have been received by the Pyrite Resolution Board of which 944 have been approved for inclusion in the scheme as follows:
- 341 are at remedial works planning stage,
- 134 are at tender/tender analysis,
- 119 are under remediation, and
- 350 are complete.
To be eligible to apply under the scheme, dwellings must have Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2.
Ultimately, the Board, together with the Housing Agency, will arrange for all eligible dwellings to be remediated to a high standard and at no additional cost to the affected homeowners. Remediation works will continue to be carried out at the earliest possible opportunity having regard to the existing demands of the scheme and the optimum use of available resources.
258. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to change the net income limits for social housing applicant households. [19568/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of income needed to provide for a household's basic needs plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.
I am satisfied that the current income limits generally provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. However, these limits will be considered in the context of the review of social housing assessment procedures currently being undertaken by my Department, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda outlined in the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
259. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is assessing payments under the disability allowance scheme and the family income supplement scheme for rent purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19582/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002. It is a matter for local authorities, when assessing individual households, to consider whether rents payable are in accordance with the authority’s rent scheme. Therefore, decisions on whether or not to disregard either a proportion of income or particular sources of income for the purposes of calculating rents are matters for each individual local authority to consider in accordance with their own rent scheme.
Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, not yet commenced, provides for the introduction of a national differential rents framework that will harmonise local authority rent levels, while retaining some discretion for individual authorities to set rents in their own areas. My Department is currently refining its proposals for such a framework, which will include a standard method of calculation of income for the purpose of the setting of rent.
260. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when works on a building (details supplied) will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19588/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe advancement through design, planning and construction of the social housing project at Carrickmacross, County Monaghan to deliver 7 new units of accommodation is a matter in the first instance for Monaghan County Council and the approved housing body Respond.
I understand that the project is currently under construction and targeted to be completed in quarter 1 of 2017.
261. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff employed in his Department's archive unit in each of the years 2010 to 2015 and 2016 to date, in tabular form; his plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archive Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19615/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of staff employed in my Department’s archives unit in each of the years is set out in the following table. Appropriate training is provided to staff who are undertaking archival functions including the examination of records for referral to the National Archives.
The number of staff employed in my Department’s Archives Unit will be kept under review in the context of any additional National Archive obligations that may arise from amendments to the National Archives Act 1986. Any additional training required on foot of such changes will also be arranged, as appropriate.
|
Year |
No. Of Staff Employed |
|
2010 |
1 |
|
2011 |
1 |
|
2012 |
1 |
|
2013 |
1 |
|
2014 |
2 |
|
2015 |
3 |
262. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for a referendum on lowering the voting age to 16 years of age, given no reference was made to it in the programme for Government. [19650/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Programme for A Partnership Government proposes that a number of referendums be held, these include referendums on:
- Article 41.2.1 of the constitution regarding a “woman’s life within the home”;
- The question of amending Article 40.6.1°(i) of the Constitution to remove the offence of blasphemy;
- Ireland’s participation in the Universal Patent Court; and
- Giving the Office of the Ceann Comhairle constitutional standing.
There are no immediate plans to hold a referendum on lowering the voting age.
263. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he envisions an electoral commission in the lifetime of the Government or if he has a proposed timeline or target date for establishment of an electoral commission. [19651/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2015, on the basis of a consultation paper prepared by my Department, and at the invitation of the then Minister, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht undertook a public consultation process on the establishment of an electoral commission. The Committee published a report on the consultation in January 2016. This report contains a series of recommendations regarding the establishment of an electoral commission, including functions which should be assigned to it; independence, membership and accountability mechanisms; and the establishment process. The report will inform the implementation of the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government on establishing an electoral commission. I am not in a position at this point to indicate a definitive timeline for the establishment of an electoral commission, which will bring a fundamentally changed approach to the management and administration of elections and will require detailed consideration and analysis prior to legislating for its establishment; the matter is, however, currently under consideration in my Department.
