Written Answers Nos. 471-482
471. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the criteria used to allocate funding to local authorities for housing; the allocations to each local authority in 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19923/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding is provided to local authorities under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment programme, to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments. Arising from the Social Housing Strategy, targets and provisional funding allocations were notified to each local authority from 2015 out to end-2017. These targets are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/minsters-kelly-coffey-announce-eu15-billion-social-housing-targets-local. Now, with the increased national targets under Rebuilding Ireland, increased targets beyond 2017 will be set for all local authorities. These will be based on the results of the most recent statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments, published in late 2016, so that delivery and resources can be aligned with the up-to-date priority housing needs locally. I anticipate these new targets for individual local authorities will be finalised later in Q2 2017.
In relation to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), this is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. HAP is a flexible and immediate housing support that allows households to find accommodation suitable to their needs in an area of their choice. While individual allocations are not made to local authorities under the scheme, Budget 2017 has increased funding for HAP from a provisional outturn of €57 million in 2016 to an Exchequer allocation of €152.7 million in 2017. This level of support is currently providing housing support to 20,700 households across all local authority areas, with more than 315 additional households being supported by the scheme each week. Rebuilding Ireland has set a target of supporting 15,000 additional households through HAP in 2017.
I have published a comprehensive status list of social housing schemes that are advancing nationwide, which can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-developments/. This status report lists the 504 approved social housing construction projects and their locations and contains a range of information relating to their advancement, including those delivered in 2016 and those progressing through planning, design and construction. Funding is provided to local authorities in line with their advancement of projects through construction. Accordingly, the level of funding that was provided in 2016 and to be provided in 2017 to local authorities for their social housing delivery activity is directly linked to the scale of delivery they achieve on these projects. I am keen that these projects are advanced as soon as possible and have assured local authorities that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.
472. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the criteria used to allocate funding to local authorities for water services; the allocation to each local authority in 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19924/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI presume the Question is referring to allocations to each local authority in 2016 and to date in 2017 under my Department’s new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018 which was developed through a working group of key stakeholders involving local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes as well as my Department.
Under the new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016 - 2018 there are six different funding measures as follows:
- Measure 1 - Environmental and public health compliance (group water sector): The measure is aimed at improving water quality in existing Group Water Schemes so that they can achieve compliance with the parameters of the Drinking Water Regulations, 2014.
- Measure 2 - Enhancement of existing schemes (group water sector): This measure supports projects to make Group Water Schemes more efficient in their operation (e.g. water conservation, network upgrades and source protection).
- Measure 3 - Rural development (group water sector): This measure supports social and economic development in rural towns and villages and their hinterlands by providing new group water schemes where public water supply schemes or private wells are not an option.
- Measure 4 – Transition of group schemes to Public Water and Waste Water Sector (Irish Water): This measure enables group water and sewerage schemes, where they wish to do so and with agreement of Irish Water, transition to the public water and waste water sector.
- Measure 5 - Innovation and Research: This measure is aimed at issues in the rural water sector which, given the major transition of water services in Ireland, require new and innovative approaches.
- Measure 6 - Individual wells and on-site wastewater treatment systems (septic tanks): This measure is aimed at allowing householders that are dependent on these services to obtain funding support for their improvement.
While 2016 marked the first year in transitioning to a new multi-annual funding framework, the new programme also marks a move to scheme/project specific allocations, rather than reliance on block grants, the object of which is to provide enhanced funding certainty for priority investment needs in the rural water sector.
An Expert Panel was convened by my Department to examine the 2016 bids from local authorities under a number of the programme’s measures, namely, Measure 1 (in respect of some sub-measures only) and Measures 3, 4 and 5. The Panel prepared a report on its consideration of the bids received under these measures. My Department accepted the recommendations of the Panel in full in making funding allocations in 2016 to local authorities. A copy of the Panel’s report which includes the evaluation criteria used to recommend schemes/projects under the programme for these measures, is available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues.
Funding to local authorities under Measure 1 (excluding sub-measures examined by the Panel) and Measure 2 were a block grant, as in previous years, with the amounts based on a combination of factors, in particular the bid amount, and the extent of, and issues with, group water schemes in the authority area.
There are no specific allocations for funding under Measure 6 as it is demand-led.
The table sets out the allocations to each county in 2016 under the programme.
|
Local Authority |
Amount allocated in 2016 |
|
Carlow |
€53,000 |
|
Cavan |
€363,500 |
|
Clare |
€410,100 |
|
Cork |
€434,000 |
|
Donegal |
€390,100 |
|
Galway |
€2,617,040 |
|
Kerry |
€692,550 |
|
Kildare |
€86,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
€269,000 |
|
Laois |
€387,250 |
|
Leitrim |
€238,675 |
|
Limerick |
€595,100 |
|
Longford |
€60,000 |
|
Louth |
€235,075 |
|
Mayo |
€5,678,800 |
|
Meath |
€208,000 |
|
Monaghan |
€404,710 |
|
Offaly |
€204,150 |
|
Roscommon |
€608,000 |
|
Sligo |
€191,650 |
|
Tipperary |
€308,165 |
|
Waterford |
€50,000 |
|
Westmeath |
€25,400 |
|
Wexford |
€206,015 |
|
Wicklow |
€154,000 |
|
Total |
€14,870,280 |
Local authorities will be shortly invited to submit bids under the programme for 2017 following which funding allocations will be made.
473. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is considering revising the way local authorities are funded in view of the fact that there appears to be an imbalance in the way smaller councils are funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19927/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government.
The monetary amount of each income source to local authorities in the years 2010 - 2015 is set out in Table 1 while Table 2 sets out each revenue income source as a proportion of the total. Table 3 sets out the total capital income over the same period.
Table 1.
|
Revenue Income sources |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Goods & Services |
€1.52bn |
€1.482bn |
€1.352bn |
€1.38bn |
€1.394bn |
€1.304bn |
|
Commercial rates |
€1.43bn |
€1.449bn |
€1.497bn |
€1.494bn |
€1.5bn |
€1.496bn |
|
Income from local sources |
€2.95bn |
€2.931bn |
€2.849bn |
€2.874bn |
€2.894bn |
€2.8bn |
|
Grants & subsidies |
€1.225bn |
€1.195bn |
€939m |
€850m |
€871m |
€878m |
|
Other income* |
€923m |
€865m |
€791m |
€794m |
€355m |
€386m |
|
Income from external sources |
€2.148bn |
€2.06bn |
€1.73bn |
€1.644bn |
€1.226bn |
€1.264bn |
|
Total Income |
€5.098bn |
€4.991bn |
€4.579bn |
€4.518bn |
€4.12bn |
€4.064bn |
Table 2.
|
Revenue Income sources |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Goods & Services |
30% |
30% |
30% |
31% |
34% |
32% |
|
Commercial rates |
28% |
29% |
33% |
33% |
36% |
37% |
|
Income from local sources |
58% |
59% |
63% |
64% |
70% |
69% |
|
Grants & subsidies |
24% |
24% |
20% |
19% |
21% |
22% |
|
Other income* |
18% |
17% |
17% |
17% |
9% |
9% |
*Other income includes: the General Purpose Grants (GPG) which were paid to local authorities until 2014; Local Property Tax (LPT) allocations which commenced in 2015 and replaced GPGs; the County Charge which ceased in 2014 when local authorities and the former town councils merged; and Pension Related Deductions which local authorities retained as income from 2009 to 2015.
Table 3.
|
Capital Income |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
€2.898bn |
€2.516bn |
€1.805bn |
€1.396bn |
€1.154bn |
€1.311bn |
Central Government funding of local authorities similarly presents a complex picture, with transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and Offices, not solely from my Department, for a variety of purposes. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to local authorities, while others are routed through departmental agencies.
The Comptroller and Auditor General reports on the Central Government funding of local authorities as part of his Annual Report. This report provides an overview of the funds flowing from and through central government sources to local authorities and the purposes for which funds have been provided. The latest report, for 2015, is available at the following link:
http://www.audgen.gov.ie/viewdoc.aspfn=/documents/annualreports/2015/Report/En/Chapter4.pdf.
I am satisfied that the current funding model is enabling local authorities to meet an appropriate level of service provision across the State, from the most rural and sparsely populated to the large urban centres. As local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources, my Department does keep the funding system under constant review and works with all local authorities to ensure the local government sector can meet existing and emerging challenges.
474. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which the administrative structure to oversee the strategic development of parts of south Kilkenny and Waterford will function if all of the stakeholders including the general public will be consulted on the make-up and function of such a structure or authority; if public representatives will be involved; if the rates base for County Kilkenny will be affected; his plans to redirect funding sources such as rates from County Kilkenny to County Waterford or to the new authority; if legislation will be required to accommodate the envisioned changes; if the county boundary debate is now settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19944/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI will address all relevant issues arising from the boundary report on Waterford, and from other recent and forthcoming reports on local government arrangements, as part of an overall report on local government matters which I will be submitting to Government and the Oireachtas pursuant to the Programme for Partnership Government.
Work on the preparation of the report to Government and the Oireachtas is continuing and I expect it to be completed in mid-2017.
475. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will engage with the Irish League of Credit Unions to explore the possibility of a joint financial venture between his Department and the league to provide social housing that will offer an investment return to the credit unions and provide much needed housing units to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20069/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 for consideration, with all stakeholders, as to how credit unions can support the delivery of social housing.
The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) has 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 and the Department of Finance have met with the ILCU on a number of occasions to examine how credit unions can assist in the area of financing social housing delivery.
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 have met with the Central Bank 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.
Ultimately, the funding mechanisms required will have to be put in place in the first instance by the ILCU, with the support of their 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.
I acknowledge the willingness of credit unions to actively seek a role in financing the delivery of social housing. The potential scope for credit union involvement is being examined in developing the proposed new mortgage to rent pilot scheme arising from the review of the existing scheme published in February 2017. My colleague Minister of State English, and my Department, have met with credit union representatives to consult on the potential for their involvement in the proposed pilot scheme.
481. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of persons on the housing list in County Kerry; the number of persons on the housing list in each of the four municipal areas in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20105/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments. The most recent figures available are the results of the 2016 Summary which can be accessed 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.
The 2016 results show that there were 3,897 households on Kerry County Council’s record of qualified households as at 21 September 2016. The results do not provide a breakdown of the numbers for individual areas within the Council’s administrative area and my Department does not hold such detailed data.
482. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost to the State of Irish Water since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20106/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraState funding provided to Irish Water since its establishment in 2014 has been in the form of operating subvention, capital contribution and replacement revenue as follows:
|
State Funding of Irish Water |
2014 €m |
2015 €m |
2016 €m |
|
Operating Subvention |
439 |
399 |
479 |
|
Capital Contribution |
239 |
222 |
184 |
|
Replacement Revenue (in lieu of the suspension of domestic water charges) |
- |
- |
123 |
|
Working Capital Loan (converted to subvention in light of the suspension of domestic water charges) |
- |
- |
50 |
|
Total |
678 |
621 |
836 |
In addition to the above, a grant of €0.57m was provided to Irish Water in 2013 to fund the cost of a pilot study in relation to Phase 2 of the Water Metering Programme which was targeted at metering those properties that were not meterable in the Phase 1 Programme.
Separately, loan finance has been provided to Irish Water by the National Pension Reserve Fund/Irish Strategic Investment Fund.
