Written Answers Nos. 604 - 623
604. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of local property tax which was allocated to Dublin City Council in 2015 and 2016; if he has satisfied himself that this money is being spent efficiently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25384/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Government’s decisions in relation to local retention of Local Property Tax (LPT), my Department notified Dublin City Council of revised LPT allocations of €53,728,544 and €50,661,430 for 2015 and 2016, respectively. These allocations take into account the passing of resolutions by the elected members to reduce the basic rate of LPT by 15% in each year. As a result of the local retention of LPT, Dublin City Council, along with a number of other local authorities, received a greater level of LPT funding in 2015 and 2016 compared to the level of funding received from General Purpose Grants in 2014.
Accordingly, in 2015, Dublin City Council was required to self-fund some services in Housing and Roads areas to the value of €46,928,249, thereby replacing Central Government funding for some of these services. In 2016, the self-funding requirement was €43,861,135.
It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. It is therefore a matter for Dublin City Council to decide how to spend the remainder of the LPT allocation in this context. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority.
The LPT allocations to Dublin City Council along with details of allocations in each local authority area are published, as a matter of course, on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/chargestaxes/local-property-tax/local-property-tax.
605. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the landlords that his Department or bodies under his aegis paid rent to in each of the past three years; and the sums paid in each case. [25416/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, premises and sites occupied by my Department are rented or leased by the Office of Public Works, rather than directly by my Department. Details relating to premises and sites currently rented directly by Met Éireann are set out in the table.
|
Location |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 YTD |
Landlord |
|
Dublin Airport |
€119,885.02 |
€64,673.32 |
€64,678.26 |
€64,678.26 |
Dublin Airport Authority |
|
Shannon Airport |
€201,151.19 |
€81,278.67 |
€188,390.22 |
€80,437.61 |
Shannon Airport Authority |
|
Cork Airport |
€0.00 |
€97,265.26 |
€23,505.76 |
€11,752.88 |
Dublin Airport Authority |
|
Valentia Observatory Instrument Station |
€1,000.00 |
€500.00 |
€500.00 |
€0.00 |
James Stretton |
|
Valentia Observatory Instrument Station |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€1,400.00 |
€0.00 |
John O'Shea |
|
Total |
€322,036.21 |
€243,717.25 |
€278,474.24 |
€156,868.75 |
|
It should be noted that these premises are also used for the placement of meteorological equipment as well as staff accommodation. My Department also shares with other Government Departments the rent and ancillary costs of a premises occupied by Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.
Details in relation to properties rented by bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned.
607. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of new posts that have been sanctioned by his Department in 2016 to facilitate local authorities to recruit staff such as architects and project managers in order that the number of social housing projects to be delivered can be increased to address the acute shortage of supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25441/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the publication of the Social Housing Strategy in November 2014, and indeed prior to its publication, my Department has been engaged with local authorities, with a view to ensuring their capacity and preparedness for delivery of social housing targets to 2020. This engagement continues on an ongoing basis to ensure that local authorities are resourced to deliver on the targets contained in Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.
To date i n 2016, my Department sanctioned recruitment of 77 housing related posts. These posts included a range of professional, technical and administrative staff including but not limited to technicians, engineers, project managers, housing welfare officers, building inspectors, clerks of works and administrative officers.
608. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, 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 discussed the slow take-up of the scheme with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25442/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date one new project has been approved to proceed under the single-stage approval process for social housing construction schemes with a budget of less than €2m and up to 15 housing units. A number of other proposals, that may be advanced using this approach, are currently being discussed between local authorities and my Department, as part of the informal consultation that happens at technical level in the development of new construction proposals. I expect this will lead to further take-up on this initiative over time. I have had a number of discussions with local authorities on a range of housing issues, both with individual councils - including elected members and officials - and with gatherings of chief executives. These discussions have included ideas to accelerate delivery of new housing and 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. The standard approval process has been further streamlined and as it runs in parallel to the design and planning of projects by local authorities, it is a beneficial option for local authorities to avail of. My Department has also further improved communication regarding approval processes which has included information seminars attended by over 300 staff of local authorities and approved housing bodies, supported by additional resources which have been assigned to my Department’s housing function.
As part of a further process review currently underway, consideration will be given to potential steps that may support greater use of the single-stage approval process.
609. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he commenced the audit of vacant houses and apartments as announced in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness; the way in which the audit will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25444/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 5.1 of the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland undertakes to develop a National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy by 2017. To this end, the Housing Agency is currently establishing a working group that will inform the Strategy, and the group will include senior representatives from my Department, from local authorities and from approved housing bodies (AHBs). My Department and the Housing Agency are liaising with local authorities and with the Central Statistics Office in order to obtain a better understanding of the numbers, characteristics and reasons why homes are vacant. A number of local authorities have commenced, or are planning to commence, pilot programmes to identify vacant homes and bring them back into use; these pilot programmes will inform the Strategy. In addition, the Strategy will be informed by international best practice and experience, and research is also being undertaken in this area.
610. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has completed research and his views on the effect of the activities of an organisation (details supplied) on the availability of houses and apartments for rent, particularly in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25446/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn publishing Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government has set out a practical and readily implementable set of actions to create a functioning and sustainable housing system. The Plan is available at the website www.rebuildingireland.ie. The Plan is divided into five pillars, with each targeting a specific area of the housing system for attention.
Pillar 4 of the Plan, which deals with the Rental Sector, commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the sector in Q4 2016. The strategy will be structured around 4 key areas: security, standards, supply and services. In terms of supply, the strategy will focus on maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in additional supply. All issues that affect the availability of dwellings in the rental market will be considered during the development of the strategy.
In addition, the Plan commits to the introduction of a new affordable rental scheme to enhance the capacity of the private rented sector to provide quality and affordable accommodation for households currently paying a disproportionate amount of disposable income on rent. The objective of this scheme will be to provide long-term affordable accommodation for low to moderate income key-worker households in urban areas of high demand and provide an economic incentive to increase supply of rental accommodation. The actions under Pillar 4 also include a commitment to examine standards, costs and feasibility of Build-to-Rent on a large scale, and commission research on ways in which further investment might be encouraged.
The overarching objective of the strategy will be to increase supply and support the development of a stable, strong and viable rental sector offering true choice for households, investment opportunities for providers and reflecting the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.
611. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of car tax collected from pre-2008 registered cars in 2015; the amount of tax collected regarding cars registered since that year; the number of cars included in the pre-2008 and post-2008 figures respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25454/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraGross motor tax receipts for 2015 for pre-2008 private vehicles were €673.3m and the receipts for post-2008 vehicles were €248.2m. There were 1,170,226 vehicles taxed on the basis of engine capacity (i.e. the basis of charging for pre-2008 cars) at 31 December 2015 and 814,904 taxed on the basis of CO2 emissions.
612. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to establish an electoral boundary commission in order to review the local authority electoral boundaries for the 2019 Local Elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25463/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent review of local electoral areas was carried out from November 2012 to May 2013 by a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee established under the Local Government Act 1991. The recommendations of that committee were implemented through 30 Statutory Instruments made in January 2014.
Unlike the position for Dáil and European Parliament constituencies, there is no constitutional or legislative requirement for the revision of local electoral areas.
There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to consider reducing the size of the local electoral areas; this will be examined in the preparation of a report for Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability.
613. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the the status of the establishment of the new constituency commission. [20906/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraImmediately following the publication of the preliminary results of Census 2016 by the Central Statistics Office on 14 July 2016, and in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 1997, I made an Order establishing a Constituency Commission to review Dáil and European Parliament constituencies.
The function of the Constituency Commission is to make a report on the constituencies for the election of members of the Dáil and the members of the European Parliament having regard to Article 16 of the Constitution and to the terms of reference set out in section 6(2) of the Electoral Act 1997.
The Commission is required to report to the Chairperson of the Dáil no later than three months after the publication by the Central Statistics Office of the final Census results, which are expected in March 2017.
614. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is aware that there are long delays in processing HAP applications in Sligo County Council due to staff shortages; if he will allocate additional resources to Sligo County Council on the same basis as the recent allocation of funding for general road operatives; if he is aware that persons are currently being made homeless in County Sligo due to these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25567/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach 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 housing services. 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.
While additional staffing resources have been made available to some local authorities operating HAP where required, the primary administrative support provided is the central transactional shared service delivered by Limerick City and County Council to all local authorities operating HAP. This administrative structure created under the HAP scheme has meant that local authorities have been able to provide a significant additional housing support, while allowing their housing staff to focus on meeting social housing need through other schemes, such as the RAS which also allows eligible households to source their own accommodation.
To date in 2016, 134 households have been supported by HAP in the administrative area of Sligo County Council, with an average of 4 tenancies being set up per week in 2016. My Department will continue to monitor the implementation of the HAP scheme by Sligo County Council.
615. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total amount of spending on the provision of social and affordable housing units, including details of all increases or decreases on an annual basis for each of the years since 2013 to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25581/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation regarding the annual Estimates of public expenditure, including the amounts allocated to Housing programmes on an annual basis, is available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at the following link: http://www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/.
The table sets out the outturn figures for housing expenditure, broken down by capital and current, for the period 2013 to 2015. In relation to 2016, the table contains the budgeted amount for the current year.
In respect of 2016, expenditure to date on housing services is almost €407 million, which includes €83.7 million, which has been self-funded by local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts.
Housing Expenditure 2013-2015 and 2016 Budget
|
Year |
Current €M |
Capital €M |
Total €M |
Year on Year % increase |
|
2013 |
284,750 |
295,165 |
579,915 |
- |
|
2014 |
285.694 |
299.636 |
585,330 |
1% |
|
2015 |
330.950 |
430.491 |
761.441* |
30% |
|
2016 |
405.171 |
528.108 |
933.279** |
23% |
*Includes €125.1m self-funded by certain local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts.
**Includes €112.3m to be self-funded by local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts.
616. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if progress has been made regarding enhanced redundancy for persons (details supplied). [25605/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no role in the internal operations of any private organisations and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage. In relation to the details supplied, my Department has been engaged in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and with the Attorney General’s Office in relation to the legal issues arising. Consideration of the matter will be finalised in light of the outcome of these consultations.
617. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position and timeframe regarding the provision of 20 social housing units in Killarney (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25642/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe advancement of the social housing construction project at The Park, Killarney, County Kerry, which is to deliver a total of 20 new homes, is a matter in the first instance for Kerry County Council. Funding approval-in-principle was given by my Department for the project in May 2015 and pre-tender designs were also approved by my Department in April 2016. I look forward to Kerry County Council’s advancement of the tender competition for the construction project as soon as possible.
619. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide details as to the intentions of an application (details supplied) and the expected benefits to the State of this licence being granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25684/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application to carry out a bathymetry survey and localised site investigation work was received from the named company in March 2016. The principal objective of the proposed works is to identify a feasible and safe route for a cable system design, deployment, survivability and subsequent maintenance of a sub-sea fibre optic cable. The application is currently at consultation phase and will come before me for determination in due course. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
620. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total cost in 2017 and full year cost of abolishing water charges. [25719/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf domestic water charges were abolished, Irish Water and the Group Water sector would require additional funding to substitute for the loss of revenue from domestic customers. The estimated additional revenue requirement in 2017 would be €240.5m. The redeployment of the Water Conservation Grant as subvention to Irish Water would provide savings of €110m to offset these additional costs.
621. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the names of organisations entitled to claim an exemption from An Bord Pleanála planning appeal fees; the number of occasions in 2014, 2015 and in 2016 to date on which these organisations have sought this exemption; the amount of money that each organisation has saved through this exemption, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25721/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 144 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the determination of fees payable to the An Bord Pleanála (the Board). The Board may set its own fees, subject to the approval of the Minister, except where fee changes are in line with the Consumer Price Index. The Board must give notice of any new fees that apply. Section 144 also empowers the Board to provide for the payment of different fees in relation to difference classes or descriptions of matters, for the exemption from the payment of fees, and for the waiver, remission or refund, in whole or in part, of fees in specified circumstances. An Bord Pleanála’s current fee structure is available on its website at http://www.pleanala.ie/news/newfees.pdf
The fee structure provides for a reduced fee to apply for making an appeal or referral and for the exemption from the fee for making a submission or observation by certain specified bodies. A list of these bodies is set out in the table.
My Department has been advised by An Bord Pleanála that it does not hold information in relation to the application of reduced fees or exemptions from fees for specified bodies in the manner sought.
Bodies/Persons who Pay Reduced Fees for Making Appeals/Referrals and who are exempted from
fees when making a submission on an appeal under section 130
(a) A local or planning authority
(b) A body referred to in article 28 or 137 of the 2001 Regulations, as amended, i.e.
- A local or planning authority
- An Chomhairle Ealaíon
- Failte Ireland
- Shannon Free Airport Company Limited
- An Taisce
- Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs
- Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- The Heritage Council
- A regional authority
- Inland Fisheries Ireland
- Waterways Ireland
- Irish Aviation Authority
- An airport operator *
- CIE
- Railway Procurement Agency (RPA)
- The Railway Safety Commission
- National Roads Authority (NRA)
- National Transport Authority
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Minister for Justice and Law Reform
- Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
- Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Health Service Executive (HSE)
- The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)
- Údarás na Gaeltachta
- The Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
(c) The Royal Irish Academy
(d) A State Authority, i.e.
-A Minister of the Government
- The Commissioners of Public Works (OPW)
(e) A Transboundary State i.e. a member of the European Communities other than Ireland or a party to the Transboundary Convention
(f) A development agency, i.e.
- The Industrial Development Agency (Ireland)
- Enterprise Ireland
- The Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited
- Údarás na Gaeltachta
- The National Building Agency
- The Grangegorman Development Agency
- A local authority
- Any other person prescribed by the Minister for the purposes of Part IX of the 2000 Planning Act #
Notes:
* Applies to operators of licensed airports where the annual traffic is not less than one million passengers i.e. Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, at present.
# Under article 179 of the 2001 Planning Regulations, a regional authority in whose area a draft SDZ planning scheme is in, and a planning or local authority whose area is within or contiguous to the SDZ site(s) are prescribed for the purposes of section 169 of the Act.
622. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25728/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The primary purpose of the Act is to replace the system whereby a vehicle was declared off the road retrospectively with a system under which the vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. The system of making retrospective declarations had become a means of evasion of motor tax estimated to have cost some €50m annually. The Act provides that a vehicle can be declared off the road for a minimum period of three months and a maximum period of twelve months. Where the owner of a vehicle wishes to make a declaration of non-use, he or she must do so during the final month of an existing tax disc or a previously made declaration of non-use. The declaration can be made on-line at www.motortax.ie or through the local motor tax office, and there is no fee for doing so. The National Vehicle and Driver File, under the auspices of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, issues renewal notices at the beginning of the final month to remind motorists that a vehicle must be either taxed or declared off the road for a further period.
Where a declaration of non-use is not made in the final month of a tax disc or previously made declaration of non-use, a vehicle must be taxed for the minimum period provided for in motor tax legislation, which is three months in most cases, and annually in instances where the annual rate of tax is less than €119. A new declaration can then be made at any stage during the final month of the new motor tax disc if the vehicle is thereafter not going to be in use in a public place.
Where an application for motor tax is being made, the owner of the vehicle must produce to a licensing authority, if so requested by that authority, evidence of insurance in respect of the vehicle.
Exemptions are not provided for in individual cases; this is to protect the new arrangement allowing owners to declare a vehicle off the road after the expiry of a current declaration of non-use would be a retrograde step and would undermine the overall objective of the legislative change.
623. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is bringing forward any plans to facilitate the entry by Irish Water employees or their agents to private dwellings in order to be able to deal with waste water issues in pipes located on private property and deal with waste water blockages across individual homes and housing estates where pipes are located on private gardens and not public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25756/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water is responsible for water services infrastructure including water supply pipes or sewers extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private property.
Under sections 43 and 54 of the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for maintenance and replacement of any water or wastewater pipes, connections or distribution systems which are located within the boundary of a private property rests with the owner. This was the position that pertained prior to the establishment of Irish Water when individual local authorities held responsibility for public water services and infrastructure.
While the legal position is set out in the 2007 Act, my Department is engaging with Irish Water in order to set out clearly the responsibilities of Irish Water and property owners in relation to water supply and wastewater infrastructure.
