Written Answers Nos. 31-39
31. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the increase planned in the number of new-build social housing units in 2016 and 2017 compared with the numbers announced by the previous Minister. [28722/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll local authority areas already have targets in respect of social housing delivery out to 2017 arising from the Social Housing Strategy 2020; those delivery targets have involved a combination of building, purchase and leasing schemes and good progress has been made to date on these, in particular in kick-starting a new pipeline of local authority and approved housing body construction projects and making targeted acquisitions to achieve early delivery.
Reflecting the increased targets of Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, new individual targets will be issued which will be based on the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2016. The Assessment process is now well advanced and will provide updated figures of national housing need which will allow for social housing delivery and resources to be aligned with the up-to-date priority housing needs locally. Following completion of the Assessments process by year end, I expect to be in a position to notify local authorities of their revised targets very early in 2017.
The kick-starting of delivery under the Social Housing Strategy had seen a substantial new set of social housing projects launched, with almost €680 million allocated for over 3,900 social housing new builds, turnkey developments and acquisitions. Since those announcements, I have continued to approve further additional projects and details of these latest approvals will be provided shortly on my Department’s website.
While we await the completion of the Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2016, my Department is continuing to work actively with local authorities and with approved housing bodies in the development and approval of new projects. On a day-to-day basis, projects are being planned and developed and I am keen that they are advanced as soon as possible. I have assured the local authorities that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard. I am pleased, also, to see the increasing number of such projects that are now starting on site and advancing through construction.
33. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has considered a proposal by the credit union movement to fund social housing; if consideration has been given to changing the current regulatory framework to facilitate such a funding mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28479/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra48. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the negotiations between the Irish League of Credit Unions, the Central Bank, the Department of Finance and his Department since 1 June 2016 on the ILCU's offer of €2 billion to facilitate the building of social housing. [28422/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 48 together.
The agreed Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the potential role that credit unions can play in housing finance and supports the efforts of the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing. The Programme further provides that we will investigate with all stakeholders how credit unions can support the delivery of social housing.
The Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness emphasises the need to look at new ways of funding social housing delivery, in particular the need to provide structural, funding and policy supports to increase delivery of social housing by Approved Housing Bodies. In that context, it states that support will be provided to an Irish Council for Social Housing/sector led new special purpose vehicle, involving investors which could potentially include the credit union movement.
The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) has also set out a proposed means by which funding could be provided by credit unions to Approved Housing Bodies for the development of social housing. My Department has met with the ILCU on a number of occasions to address technical aspects of its proposal.
The Central Bank commenced a number of new regulations for credit unions on 1 January 2016. Prior to their commencement, following careful consideration, the Central Bank made a number of modifications, including to Regulation 25(2), which makes reference to the fact that the Central Bank may prescribe, in accordance with section 43 of the Credit Union Act 1997, further classes of investments for credit unions which may include investments in projects of a public nature. The effect of these modifications is that regulation 25(2) now provides that investment in projects of a public nature can include, but is not limited to, investments in social housing projects.
I acknowledge the modifications made by the Central Bank and the willingness of credit unions to actively seek a role in financing the delivery of social housing.
Conscious of the independence of the Central Bank in its regulatory role in respect of credit unions, bilateral engagement has taken place between my Department and the Department of Finance to consider the potential regulatory and legislative implications of credit union involvement in the social housing sector. My Department and the Department of Finance met with the Central Bank on 21 April 2016 to provide information of a technical nature in relation to social housing funding arrangements. This was with a view to assisting the Central Bank in understanding how these arrangements operate, as it deals with issues arising from proposals put forward for credit union investment in social housing.
My Department received an update from the Irish League of Credit Unions on its progress on 31 May 2016 and responded on 1 June 2016. Since then, my Department has met with representatives from the ILCU on two occasions, during July and August 2016.
Ultimately, the funding mechanisms required will have to be put in place in the first instance by the ILCU itself, with the support of its members and with the agreement of the Central Bank. My Department will continue to contribute to this process by providing necessary technical advice and support.
34. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of money being provided to the expert commission on water charges; and if the money is coming from existing departmental funds or additional funds secured from Government. [28698/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 576, 626 and 627 of 16 September 2016 which sets out the position in this matter. The position remains unchanged.
35. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made on action 2.9 of pillar 2 of Rebuilding Ireland; the way the housing delivery office in his Department will monitor progress on the building of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28427/16]
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 to view at http://rebuildingireland.ie/.
As part of the Plan, a new dedicated Housing Delivery Office has already been established within my Department, as provided for under Action 2.9 of the Plan, to support the accelerated delivery of some of these key ambitious private and social housing elements of the plan.
Working with the broader Department and with other key agencies, the Office will support the roll-out of complex projects, including identifying and resolving barriers to delivery and will monitor progress of sites as they progress. The Office will provide leadership and a focused capacity to drive development on identified key pathfinder sites and other priority initiatives that have a proven capability to quickly deliver a significant scaling-up of new homes, in conjunction with local authorities and other stakeholders.
36. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which he proposes to follow good planning practices in order to ensure the provision of good quality housing alongside adequate services and recreational provision, thereby creating a suitable and supportive environment in which to rear families with consequent benefits for a stable and growing society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28693/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I indicated in the reply to Question No. 39 of 24 May 2016, the creation of strong communities is at the heart of good planning.
The ten principles on which the planning system in Ireland is based are set out clearly in my Department’s Planning Policy Statement published in 2015. Principle No. 3, which is particularly relevant to the issue raised in the Question, states:
‘Planning is about creating communities and further developing existing communities in a sustainable manner by securing high quality urban design through the design, delivery and co-ordination of new development providing a good quality of life for all existing and future users of land and buildings.’
My Department has issued a number of Planning Guidelines aimed at ensuring that new housing development is well located and supported by the required infrastructure. Where planning authorities have not sufficiently taken account of these national guidelines, I have statutory power to direct a planning authority to amend a development plan under procedures set out in Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
At a practical level, these principles are articulated in development plans and local area plans which set the local context for the assessment of new residential development proposals. These statutory plans have evolved over recent years to become more sophisticated in identifying the supporting infrastructure, including community and recreational facilities, required to develop sustainable communities. At local area plan level, they now include measures to phase appropriate housing development in conjunction with the identified infrastructure to ensure the creation of high quality places for our citizens to live and work.
An example of the type of integrated planning which I seek to support is the Government decision to designate Poolbeg West in the Dublin Docklands as a Strategic Development Zone under section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Dublin City Council is preparing a comprehensive planning scheme for the planned development of these lands, including some 2,000 to 2,500 new homes, as well as supporting social, educational and recreational infrastructure. The process will be undertaken in full statutory consultation with the local community and other stakeholders involved.
37. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider a national building agency that would directly employ builders to spearhead a public housing building programme in view of the average nine-month timeline for the procurement and tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28690/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has published Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which is available at the website www.rebuildingireland.ie.
The Plan sets out a practical and implementable set of actions that aim to increase the supply of homes to 25,000 units per annum by 2020, thereby creating a functioning and sustainable housing system. This cross-Government plan is divided into five pillars, each targeting a specific area of the housing system for attention.
Pillar 2, for example, entitled Accelerate Social Housing, provides for a number of actions to increase the level and speed of delivery of social housing and other State supported housing. Significant funding of €5.35 billion is committed over the period of the plan, reflecting the increased level of ambition, to deliver 47,000 social housing units, through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, between now and 2021.
Pillar 3, entitled Build More Homes, has a key objective of increasing the output of private housing to meet demand at affordable prices. The range of actions are summarised in Appendix 1 of the Plan, and they include a new Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) with €200m in funding for infrastructure to facilitate housing provision at more affordable prices. The LIHAF is designed to relieve critical infrastructural blockages with the potential to open up lands and facilitate housing of the order of 15,000 to 20,000 homes by 2019.
In addition, a dedicated Housing Delivery Office has been established within my Department, along with a Housing Procurement Unit and a One-Stop-Shop for Approved Housing Bodies within the Housing Agency. These arrangements will support further streamlining and efficiency within the various approvals and procurement processes that are required in order to support the delivery of value for money for public funds.
The Government has just given approval for the priority drafting of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which will give early effect to a number of priority legislative commitments in Rebuilding Ireland - An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The Bill proposes a number of key measures including the introduction of temporary fast-track planning arrangements whereby planning applications for large-scale housing developments will be made directly to An Bord Pleanála and the streamlining of timelines for presenting and considering local authority own development proposals through the Part 8 processes, including social housing proposals. These measures will provide greater certainty in the planning system and facilitate the earlier provision of increased housing supply and help to address the current housing supply shortage situation.
I do not believe that setting up another body to deal with housing is either necessary or appropriate, particularly given the time and resources that would need to be developed for such an endeavour. My focus is firmly on the implementation of the actions set out in Rebuilding Ireland, with all stakeholders, including Government departments and agencies, local authorities, AHBs, voluntary bodies, and the construction sector, to achieve its ambitious goals.
38. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to relieve the rental market crisis in County Meath. [28477/16]
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 commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector in Q4 2016. The strategy will be structured around 4 key areas: security, standards, supply and services. In developing the strategy, it must be recognised that the rental market faces different challenges in different areas. For example, high rents and excess demand are features of the market in Dublin and parts of County Meath, whereas rents in many rural areas are lower and demand is weaker. These differences will be taken into account in the development of the strategy, which will lay out measures to address immediate issues affecting the supply, cost and accessibility of rental accommodation.
The strategy will also include measures to support the development of a viable and sustainable rental sector that can provide choice, quality, value and security for households and secure, attractive investment opportunities for rental providers.
39. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of families and persons presenting as homeless to local authorities who are refused access to emergency accommodation on the grounds that the local authority does not deem them to have a need for it; and if these data are not currently collected, if he will instruct local authorities to collect and provide these data on a monthly basis. [28703/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the relevant legislation it is a matter for housing authorities to determine if a person is to be regarded as homeless; a housing authority will not regard someone as homeless if there is accommodation available to the person that they can reasonably be expected to occupy, or if the housing authority considers that the person is able to provide accommodation from their own resources.
The official homelessness data reports produced by housing authorities on a monthly and quarterly basis are published on my Department's website as soon as these are available and can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
While the specific data sought in the Question is not currently collected, my Department is exploring with housing authorities whether the functionality of PASS can be enhanced to produce data such as that outlined in the Question.
