Written Answers Nos. 370-381
370. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will intervene in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9875/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions, and as Minister, I have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the implementation of the scheme. The Board may be contacted by phone at Lo call 1890 252842 or by email to info@pyriteboard.ie.
371. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the moneys which have been allocated to the pyrite remediation scheme for 2017; the amount of this which has been spent in 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9876/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. 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 addition, applicants under the scheme must be able to demonstrate to the Board that they have no practicable options, other than under the scheme, to secure the remediation of their homes.
A sum of €22 million was announced under Budget 2017 to fund the operation of the pyrite remediation scheme in 2017 of which €3.1 million has already been drawn-down by the Housing Agency. This allocation will build on the 553 dwellings already remediated under the scheme and is a clear signal of the continuing importance attached by Government to addressing the issue of significant pyritic damage in private dwellings. It is envisaged that an additional 400 dwellings will be either remediated or under remediation by end 2017.
372. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the large amount of finance that local authorities currently have in their Part V funds; and if he has given any direction to local authorities on the use of this significant pool of funding. [9960/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that local authorities have, historically, received funds as a means of satisfying the requirements of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, an option which is now no longer available to developers. These funds must be used by local authorities for housing purposes; this could include improvement works; once-off works to local authority dwellings, that might include radon remediation, or extensions/adaptations; and co-funding of improvement works programmes for which exchequer funding is also provided, such as housing adaptations for people with disabilities and elderly people. As the housing stock and the priorities of each local authority may vary, they have discretion to apply this funding in line with their own priorities.
This funding complements the wider funding that is available through Exchequer programmes and which has been significantly increased under Rebuilding Ireland, with some €5.35 billion available to support delivery of social housing by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies. In that context, taking account of the results of the latest Statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments conducted in late 2016, new social housing delivery targets for local authorities for the period beyond 2017 will be set in Q2 this year and, in that context, the use by local authorities of available Part V funds to support their housing programmes will be considered further.
373. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to bring all local authority owned rental property up to an acceptable energy rating standard (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9974/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. Funding of some €107 million has been provided from 2013 to end-2016 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 57,000 local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020.
The insulation retrofitting programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 commenced in 2013 and is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties, while Phase 2 of the programme - which has been piloted in Fingal and Westmeath County Councils - will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction. Phase 2 will be formally rolled out to all local authorities this year.
Based on the most recent information from local authorities, it is estimated that there are in the region of 23,000 and 28,000 homes requiring Phase 1 and 2 works respectively. My Department will, shortly, be asking local authorities to submit details of their work proposals and related funding requirements for this Programme in 2017.
374. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to replace the current local authority rates system with a fairer and equitable system of local taxation on commercial properties and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9975/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation pursuant to the Valuation Act s 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
Commercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities. The principle of local authorities levying rates based on an independent valuation is well established and I have no plans to change this. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. I have asked my Department to develop proposals for the preparation of a consolidated Rates Bill to modernise and consolidate the legislation in this area. I hope to bring proposals in this area to Government shortly.
Under Part 5 of the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 the Commissioner of Valuation is conducting a revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties throughout the State. The purpose of a revaluation is to achieve more consistent and up-to-date valuations for rating purposes. The Valuation Acts come under the aegis of the Minister for Justice and Equality.
375. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of new local authority social housing builds and units either built or purchased by the local authorities within County Donegal between each of the years 2009 to 2016 respectively and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9976/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of properties constructed, purchased and leased by all local authorities, to include Donegal County Council, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Information on quarter four of 2016 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly. Preliminary figures show that in relation to the acquisition of houses and apartments, Donegal County Council acquired 37 additional homes for social housing use in 2016 and to date in 2017, funding has been provided for the acquisition of 25 further units.
376. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount collected each year since 2009 in respect of the non-principal private residence charge in tabular form; the number of persons who paid the charge each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10067/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. The self-assessed charge is set at €200 per annum. It is a matter for an owner to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the Charge and any late payment fees applicable. Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect Non-Principal Private Residence Charges and late payment fees due to it and all Charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned.
The Non-Principal Private Residence Charge has raised in excess of €556 m to date over its five years of operation. Proceeds from the charge are retained by local authorities and are used for the provision of local services.
Table - Amount of NPPR revenue and number of NPPRs paid per liability date 2009 to 2013
|
|
2009 - € |
2010 - € |
2011 - € |
2012 - € |
2013 - € |
|
Amount of NPPR revenue |
124,1 70,127 |
120,08 9,252 |
111,49 5,967 |
105,46 7,061 |
94,7 95,108 |
|
Number of NPPRs |
367,152 |
371,982 |
378,951 |
397,873 |
400,862 |
377. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the settlement size should the non-rural houses rate apply to the social housing capital investment-unit cost ceilings circular for the incremental purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10073/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 484 of 2015) sets down the terms and conditions of operation of the scheme. Local authorities were also issued with a detailed guidance document, “Incremental Tenant Purchase Scheme 2016 Existing Local Authority Houses”.
Section 10 of the 2015 Regulations deals with the purchase price and states that the purchase price shall be determined as the greater of;
(a) the relevant market value of the house, or,
(b) 50 per cent of the estimated cost to the housing authority of providing, on the same site as the house being purchased and in accordance with prevailing national building standards and design policies for local authority housing, a house designed to accommodate a household in the same class that the house being purchased was designed for, and such estimated cost shall include, among other matters, the cost of site acquisition, legal and other professional fees.
Section 8 of the guidance document issued to authorities advises that the authority should compare the relevant market value of the house to the amount calculated as half of the most recent all-in unit cost notified to the authority by the Department for providing a rural or non-rural house, as the case may be, of a class that would accommodate a household in the same class as that for which the house being purchased was designed. As per housing circular 42/2016, dated 14 October 2016, all local authorities have been notified of the most recent all-in unit cost for their areas.
It is therefore a matter for the local authority to determine the applicable all-in unit cost for the house/ area, rural or non-rural, in line with the costings issued to them by my Department.
378. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of all ocean energy related foreshore lease and foreshore licence applications from 2000 to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10082/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table details applications for all offshore renewable projects for the period in question:
|
Project |
Resource Type |
Date of Receipt |
Status |
|
Arklow-Banks Wicklow |
Wind |
29 June 2001 |
Lease Granted |
|
Codling-1-Banks Wicklow |
Wind |
30 September 2002 |
Lease Granted |
|
Oriel Louth |
Wind |
19 February 2007 |
Lease Application on hold |
|
FST Sceirde Galway |
Wind |
15 May 2008 |
Lease Application on hold |
|
Codling-II-Banks Wicklow |
Wind |
25 March 2009 |
Lease Application on hold |
|
Kish-Banks Dublin/Wicklow |
Wind |
02 June 2009 |
Lease Application on hold |
|
Bray-Banks Wicklow |
Wind |
02 June 2009 |
Lease Application on hold |
|
Gaelectric Louth/Meath (Investigation) |
Wind |
20 June 2011 |
Site Investigation Ministerial Approval |
|
Marine.Institute Smartbay Galway |
Wave |
10 January 2005 |
Lease Granted |
|
Pandion Ocean Energy Ltd. (Investigation) Mayo |
Wave |
September 2009 |
Site Investigation Consultation |
|
Westwave Clare (Investigation) |
Wave |
04 March 2011 |
Site Investigation licence Granted |
|
Westwave Mayo (Investigation) |
Wave |
04 March 2011 |
Site Investigation licence Granted |
|
SEAI-AMETS Mayo |
Wave |
23 December 2011 |
Lease Granted |
|
CETO Wave Energy Ireland Ltd. (Investigation) Clare |
Wave |
1 June 2012 |
Licence Granted |
|
Marine.Institute Smartbay(cabling) Galway |
Wave |
29 April 2013 |
Licence Granted |
|
Irish Wave Energy Developers.Assoc. (Investigation) Mayo |
Wave |
27 November 2015 |
Application MLVC Assessment Completed |
|
Marine. Institute Smartbay (1 year lease extension) Galway |
Wave |
01 March 2016 |
Lease Granted |
|
Marine.Institute Smartbay (lease.application) Galway |
Wave/Wind/ Tidal |
12 February 2016 |
Application MLVC Assessment in Progress |
Consideration of foreshore applications for offshore energy developments, other than for site investigation works and Demonstration Projects, was placed on hold by my Department pending the publication of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources published the OREDP in February 2014. All applications for offshore energy developments currently on hold in my Department will need to be reviewed in the context of the implementation of the plan and other relevant policy developments.
My Department’s position of not accepting new Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) applications other than those for site investigation and demonstration projects will remain in force for the foreseeable future.
379. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 per hour for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayment of salaries to staff of my Department is made in line with pay scales approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. If a minimum payment of €11.50 an hour were introduced, the additional costs for my Department are estimated to be in the region of €6,000 (not including Employer’s PRSI). This figure reduces as and when the staff concerned progress along an incremental scale.
In so far as agencies under my Department's aegis are concerned, arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is as follows:
|
Agency |
Email address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
Ervia, Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Irish Water Safety |
oireachtas@iws.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie . |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
380. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the latest rental price report by a company (details supplied) for the last quarter of 2016, which noted the average cost of renting is at the highest level on record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10156/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the action his Department is taking to tackle the annual rate of rental inflation of 14.5% in Dublin, as reported in the latest rental price report by a company (details supplied) for the last quarter of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10157/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together.
The most effective way to reduce and stabilise rents in the long-term, and benefit the entire sector, is to increase supply and accelerate delivery of housing for the private and social rented sectors. Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, aims to increase and accelerate housing delivery across all tenures to help individuals and families meet their housing needs. It sets out over 80 actions that the Government is taking through new policy, new legislation and innovative Budgetary measures to achieve that aim.
Pillar 4 of the Action Plan committed to development of a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector and this was delivered, with the publication of the Strategy for the Rental Sector , which identifies high and rapidly rising rents as the key driver of accommodation insecurity for tenants and a factor in the termination of tenancies. To address this situation, the Strategy introduced a Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where the imbalance between demand and supply of rental accommodation is driving rent levels upwards most acutely.
The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 gave effect to, and provided for the immediate implementation of, the Rent Predictability Measure. Areas of the country satisfying the statutory criteria will be designated as Rent Pressure Zones and rent increases in those areas are generally capped at 4% per annum for a period of 3 years. The measure was introduced with immediate effect in the four Dublin Local Authority areas and in Cork City. A further 12 Local Electoral Areas were designated as Rent Pressure Zones on 27 January 2017.
It is important to note that the latest report referred to in the Questions relates to rent price inflation in the period prior to the introduction of the Rent Predictability measures and the Rent Pressure Zones. The data in the report underline the need for and the relevance of the Government's measures.
The provisions limiting rent increases in rent pressure zones apply both at the commencement of a tenancy and at each rent review. In addition, at the beginning of a tenancy, there is a statutory obligation on a landlord in a rent pressure zone to provide a tenant with details of the rent under the previous tenancy of the dwelling, together with a statement as to how the new rent has been calculated. The purpose of this provision is to allow a tenant to ensure that their rent complies with the legislation. The existing prohibition on charging a rent above market rent continues to apply in all areas.
The Act provides that in confirming whether or not the criteria have been met, the information relating to the area concerned must be determined by the information used to compile the RTB Rent Index quarterly report. Statistics in the report referred to in the Question are based on asking rents for those properties which are advertised on that company's website, as opposed to the RTB figures which are based on rents paid in all registered tenancies.
