Written Answers Nos. 283-300
283. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to streamline the guidelines for planning the construction of solar energy farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17471/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority, with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Under the Planning and Development Act, each planning authority's development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure, including energy facilities, and many local authorities have developed renewable energy strategies for their areas in this context.
In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the local development plan, any submissions or observations received and relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including any relevant guidelines issued by my Department. Planning authorities must then make their own decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
I am satisfied that the planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning permission applications for solar farm developments. However, the matter will be kept under review, in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, and his Department - which leads on renewable energy policy - in the context of the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy, published in December 2015, the development of a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, as well as the finalisation of a new support scheme for renewable electricity by that Department, expected in late 2017.
284. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for local authority mortgages for house extensions in situations in which it would cater for overcrowding or in which it would satisfy housing needs for those on the housing waiting list; the measures under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17468/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two local authority house purchase loan offerings available to lower income first-time buyers from local authorities. Both loan offerings, the standard annuity mortgage and the Home Choice Loan, are directed at first-time buyers unable to secure adequate loan finance from a bank or building society and who wish to purchase a new or second hand property or build their own home. To ensure effective targeting of limited resources, local authority loan finance continues to be available to first-time buyers only for the purpose of purchasing or building a home.
My Department does, however, fund a range of housing supports for persons with a disability, living in both privately-owned housing and local authority housing. The Disabled Person Grant Scheme provides funds to local authorities to undertake adaptations and extensions to homes to meet the needs of local authority tenants with a disability, or to address serious overcrowding. The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for Older People and People with a Disability is also delivered by local authorities with funding from my Department. It assists other people and people with a disability in private houses to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. There are no restrictions on the type of disability covered by the schemes and the administration of the available funding is a matter for the local authorities based on their assessment of priority and need at the time.
I continue to keep all local authority mortgage lending under review.
285. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for persons that purchased starter homes and have now outgrown them due to family size; the measures being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (July 2016), which is available at the following link, http://rebuildingireland.ie/install/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Rebuilding-Ireland_Action-Plan.pdf, is focused on increasing supply, across all tenures, to achieve total housing output of at least 25,000 homes per year by 2021 and beyond, effectively doubling the output of 12,600 homes recorded in 2015.
While still at an early stage of implementation, there is already strong evidence that the focus on increasing and accelerating housing supply in Rebuilding Ireland is starting to work. The latest residential commencements and completions data show that house-building activity is continuing to strengthen. Completions for the 12-month period to end January 2017 stood at 15,256 homes, an 18% increase year on year. Likewise, commencement notices for 13,334 new homes were submitted in the twelve month period to end January 2017, up 44% year on year.
Importantly, at the end of 2016, there were 144 active sites in the Dublin region, which will deliver approximately 5,500 new homes. My expectation is that some 18,000 homes will be completed nationally this year.
While increasing supply, we also want to increase choice for all segments of the housing system including, inter alia, first-time buyers, renters, students, older people and indeed expanding families wishing to trade up. The various housing segments are of course interlinked and interactive.
An important feature of the new supply is the development of key State-owned sites in the major urban areas, where demand is greatest. The Dublin local authorities are all well advanced in bringing large-scale sites forward for mixed tenure housing with projects advancing that can deliver circa 3,000 mixed tenure homes in Dublin. The final model for each site is the subject of careful consideration by the local authority concerned, the elected members included, who are best placed to know and provide for the housing need in their area.
In bringing proposals forward, local authorities are cognisant of the need to provide housing across the spectrum. In this regard, in providing more choice for older people, perhaps living alone, to trade down to a more manageable sized home, this should provide more opportunities for those families seeking to trade up to larger homes. My Department is actively engaging with local authorities bringing forward such proposals.
Identification and development of key sites in the major urban areas where demand is greatest and the recent announcement of €226 million of enabling infrastructure investment to facilitate construction of some 23,000 homes by 2021 are further initiatives that will significantly boost supply.
In addition, to reduce the risk and impact of future housing cycles, under Pillar 4 of Rebuilding Ireland I published the Strategy for the Rental Sector (December 2016) to promote a well-developed rental market as a genuine alternative to ownership. While many households may continue to strive to buy rather than rent, I want to ensure that a real option to rent exists. A more developed rental market will also help moderate the property cycle and reduce household exposure to house price fluctuations.
The Government has also taken a number of steps to assist homeowners who wish to 'up-size' from the starter home they purchased but find themselves in negative equity. In appropriate cases, the Central Bank is allowing banks to provide new mortgages to people to move home, even if the homeowner is currently experiencing negative equity. In addition, housing loans for borrowers in negative equity, who wish to obtain a mortgage for a new property, are not included within the scope of the LTV limits.
Through the range of actions currently being progressed through Rebuilding Ireland to increase the supply of homes across all tenures, the Government has created the conditions required for the restoration of a more sustainable and normally functioning housing market, capable of providing homes, at affordable price points to buy or rent, where and when they are needed for all segments of the housing system.
286. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of applicants for social housing, per dwelling type, for the four Dublin local authorities; the average waiting times to be housed; if this information will be included in the statistics section of his Department's website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17516/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra287. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of applicants on the social housing transfer list, per dwelling type, for the four Dublin local authorities; the average waiting times to be transferred; if this information will be included in the statistics section of his Department's website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17517/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra288. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of applicants with priority for social housing, per dwelling type, for the four Dublin local authorities; the average waiting times to be housed; if this information will be included in the statistics section of his Department's website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17518/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to answer Questions Nos. 286 to 288, inclusive, together.
The results of the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments carried out as at 21 September 2016 provide details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority and whose housing need was not being met on that date.
The 2016 results provide a breakdown by each housing authority across a range of categories, including by household composition and length of time spent by households on the record of qualified households. The results are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2016.pdf
Based on the results from the 2016 Summary, the average times spent, in terms of the median and mean values, by households on the record of qualified households as at 21 September 2016 are as follows:
|
Housing Authority |
Mean time spent on List |
Median time spent on list |
|
Dublin City Council |
5 years |
4 years & 4 months |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
5 years & 1 month |
4 years & 5 months |
|
Fingal County Council |
5 years & 1 month |
5 years & 1 month |
|
South Dublin County Council |
4 years & 10 months |
4 years & 8 months |
|
All Housing Authorities |
4 years & 5 months |
3 years & 9 months |
The Summary of Social Housing Assessments is now being undertaken on an annual basis and my Department will consider publication of data on average waiting times as part of the summary process in the future.
My Department does not hold the information sought on the number of households on local authorities’ housing transfer lists or on the priority awarded to qualified households. The management of transfer lists is a matter for individual housing authorities and the numbers fluctuate continually as, for example, households are granted transfers in accordance with an authority’s allocation scheme to take up other accommodation options.
Decisions as to the priority to be awarded to individual households in the allocation of dwellings are a matter for the housing authority concerned, having regard to section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011. This legislation requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households in receipt of such support that have been approved for a transfer to another dwelling provided by a local authority or approved housing body.
289. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing assistance payments, HAP, tenancies per county; the length of time that each HAP tenancy has been in place; the type of dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17519/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently over 20,000 households being supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, including the number of Rent Supplement Transfers, in each local authority area at 31 December 2016 is 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.
A breakdown of households supported by HAP within each local authority area at end of Q1 2017 will be published on my Department’s website shortly.
HAP supported tenancies are agreed between the landlord and the tenant; the local authority is not a party to the tenancy and has no role in its agreement. There is no limitation placed by the scheme on the length of tenancy that can be supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). However, as with other private rental tenancies, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) governs the relationship between landlord and tenant and the length of the tenancy is a matter that must be agreed between the landlord and tenant in that context. My Department does not hold information in relation to the length of individual tenancies or on the type of dwellings sourced by HAP tenants. A summary of the household classes supported by the HAP scheme at 31 December 2016 is set out below:
- Single/Single Sharing - 32%
- Couple/Couple Sharing - 4%
- Lone Parent with Children - 39%
- Couple with Children - 25%
290. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of the 750 rapid build homes targeted for on-site commencement in 2017 in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan that have been commenced. [17537/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes. At the end of 2016, a total of 350 rapid build homes were advancing through various stages of delivery, including construction, with 22 rapid build homes being delivered and occupied in 2016. Work is underway at advancing a further 650 rapid build homes in 2017, with another 500 units to be delivered in 2018.
In relation to the 350 rapid build homes that are advancing, the following are the 11 projects concerned:
- George’s Place, Dun Laoghaire - 12 homes
- St. Aidan’s, Brookfield - 71 homes
- Poppintree, Ballymun - 22 homes
- Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot - 24 homes
- Mourne Road, Drimnagh - 30 homes
- St. Helena’s, Finglas - 39 homes
- Belcamp,Dublin 17 - 38 homes
- Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot - 52 homes
- Woodbank, Rathvilly - 18 homes
- Wellview, Mulhuddart - 20 homes
- Pinewood, Balbriggan - 24 homes
Of these projects, the following are currently on site and are due for completion this year:
- St.Helena’s Finglas, 39 Houses
- Mourne Road Drimnagh, 30 Houses
- Cherry Orchard, 24 Houses
- Belcamp, 38 Houses
- Wellview, 20 Houses.
It should be noted that Dublin City Council is in negotiation with the contractors in order to accelerate delivery and ensure a phased handover of these rapid build homes. The next phase of 70 rapid build homes will commence in Dublin City with the award of contracts in May 2017, with work then commencing on site.
I expect further projects, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area, to be brought forward shortly.
291. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the guidelines for the qualification criteria for specific instances houses from local authorities; the cases in which a sole applicant can be considered for a special instance house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17541/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter for each local authority to determine the nature, location and relative priority of individual social housing projects. In submitting proposals for funding to my Department in respect of new social housing projects, local authorities may include proposals for single social houses in rural areas where they have identified and prioritised such need.
Local authorities now have substantial pipelines of new social housing projects, ranging from larger scale developments to smaller scale projects, details of which have been published and are available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-developments/. I am keen that they advance all of these as soon as possible and have assured them that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard.
292. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will review the tenant purchase scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17558/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.
In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
The work of review is now complete and a full report setting out findings and recommendations is currently being finalised in my Department. The report will be submitted to me shortly and any changes to the terms and conditions of the scheme which are considered necessary based on the evidence gathered will be brought forward.
293. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17650/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra294. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will instruct Irish Water to review the policy inherited from Tipperary County Council in which every residence with more than two acres of land adjoining had a meter installed with a standing charge for non-domestic water regardless of use and in which the level of use is considerably less than the domestic allowance demonstrating no requirement for non-domestic use and thereby no liability to Irish Water for a standing charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17652/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Water metering is an operational matter for the utility and one in which I have no function.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
Furthermore, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has a statutory responsibility to provide a complaints resolution service to Irish Water customers who have an unresolved dispute with the utility. A Customer Care Team has been set up within the CER to deal directly with customers who have complaints. Further information about CER's complaints procedure is available on their website at http://www.cer.ie/customer-care/water/complaints.
295. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 on 1 March 2017, the details of the role, operation and membership of the MLVC in respect of a foreshore lease application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17689/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra296. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason no environmental impact statement was lodged with a 35-year foreshore lease application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17690/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra297. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a decision will be made regarding foreshore lease application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17691/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 to 297, inclusive, together.
The Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) is a multi-disciplinary standing committee which has provided scientific, technical and engineering advice on applications for foreshore consent for the past three decades.
The Chair of the MLVC is Mr Richard Cronin, Senior Adviser in my Department's Water and Marine Advisory Unit. Internal advisers within the Department’s Water and Marine Advisory Unit are appointed to their roles on the basis that they have the appropriate professional qualifications and experience commensurate with the Department’s role in foreshore consenting. I am satisfied that the MLVC, as constituted, has the requisite expertise to carry out its assessment of the application within the context of the applicable legislative framework (including Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment legislation).
A letter detailing the role and full membership of the MLVC for the purposes of assessing this application (details supplied) issued recently from my office to the Deputy.
With respect to the application as provided by the applicant, I can confirm that details of the application, including environmental reports and other supporting documentation submitted by the applicant, are available for viewing on the Department’s website at: http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/marine-institute-spiddal. The matter of the completeness of the documentation provided by the applicant forms part of the assessment of the application by the MLVC.
With respect to the progression of the application, my Department would expect to be in a position to progress the application to decision stage shortly. The Chair of the MLVC has recently confirmed that it will require a further period for the MLVC to complete its role in the assessment of the application and the submission of the final report.
298. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the bond that was required by the then Minister for Local Government in the context of planning permission for a facility (details supplied) remains in place; if so, if it can be called in to fulfil a requirement; if the bond was a cash bond; if not, the options available to deal with dereliction at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17706/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role, as Minister, in relation to the planning system is mainly to provide and update the legislative and policy guidance framework. The legislative framework comprises the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended.
Under planning legislation, the day-to-day operation of the planning system, including enforcement of planning control, is a matter for the relevant planning authority which can take action if a development does not have the required permission, or where the terms of a permission - including any requirements relating to bonds associated with a particular development - have not been met.
Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case, including an enforcement issue, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
299. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of times and dates he has met with the CEO or chairperson of every organisation under his remit since he took office, in tabular form. [17745/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought is provided in the following table. In addition to the meetings identified in the Table, certain of the individuals concerned may, as required, also have been in attendance at meetings which I held, including, for example, in relation to policy development/legislation. It should also be noted that my Department hosts an annual meeting of all Chairs/CEOs of the agencies under its aegis; the most recent meeting, chaired by the Secretary General, took place on 16 September 2016.
|
AGENCY |
CHAIRPERSON |
CEO |
||
|
No. of meetings |
Dates |
No. of meetings |
Dates |
No. of meetings |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
2 |
09/06/2016 15/11/2016 08/02/2017 |
2 |
09/06/2016 15/11/2016 08/02/2017 |
|
Ervia |
0 |
0 |
1* |
12/05/2016 |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
0* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
3 |
25/05/2016 16/09/2016 02/03/2017 |
4 |
25/05/2016 16/09/2016 10/10/2016 02/03/2017 |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
1 |
19/05/2016 |
2 |
19/05/2016 28/09/2016 |
|
Irish Water |
0* |
0 |
5 |
12/05/2016 02/11/2016 29/03/2017 30/03/2017 31/03/2017 |
|
Irish Water Safety Launch of Annual Report and IW Safety Awards |
2 |
22/08/2016 08/11/2016 |
2 |
22/08/2016 08/11/2016 |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
1 |
21/07/2016 |
1 |
21/07/2016 |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
1 |
07/12/2016 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Pobal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
1 |
30/08/2016 |
3 |
30/08/2016 09/11/2016 13/12/2016 |
* The CEO of Ervia is also Chairperson of Gas Networks and Irish Water. Policy responsibility in relation to Gas Networks Ireland rests with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment
300. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of times and dates he has met the chairman of the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. [17747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services is currently deliberating on the findings of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services. The Committee is chaired by Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh. Other than encounters arising by virtue of both myself and Senator Ó Céidigh being based in the Leinster House complex for much of the working week, I met formally with Senator Ó Céidigh on one occasion on 18 January 2017.
