Written Answers Nos. 226-240
226. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the publication of rural housing guidelines in view of the European Court of Justice ruling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21660/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans and a timeframe for the review of the rural planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21601/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 228 together.
Arising from the 2013 Judgement of the European Court of Justice referred to, my Department is currently engaged in consultations with planning authorities regarding potential modifications required to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, with a view to ensuring that rural housing policies and objectives contained in county development plans comply with Article 43 (Freedom of Movement of People) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
A Working Group, comprising officials from planning authorities and my Department, has been established to review and revise the guidelines and is due to hold its first meeting this month. On conclusion of this review, my Department will be engaging with the European Commission on proposed changes to the Guidelines, with a view to issuing updated Guidelines to planning authorities on the matter in due course. When finalised, in the second half of 2017, the revised guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Under the provisions of the Act, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts.
227. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority rented dwellings in 2015 directly rented by the local authority, managed by a housing agency or under HAP. [21691/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table provides data on the total number of dwellings let by local authorities and the number of active Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies at end 2015:
|
- |
Total Number |
|
Dwellings directly let by local authorities |
137,937 |
|
HAP tenancies |
5,853 |
In relation to homes provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), there are 546 AHBs in Ireland, ranging from small voluntary-led, community-based organisations to large-scale national organisations. Together these bodies provide in excess of 30,000 social homes. It is a matter for individual local authorities to engage with AHBs in relation to letting properties.
229. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government , further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 25 January 2017, the number of households on the mortgage to rent scheme, by local authority; the number of applications pending approval; the number of applications rejected in 2017; the grounds for rejection; if his Department's review of the scheme is now available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21622/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions in 2012, a total of 3,672 cases have been submitted under the scheme to the end of March 2017. Of the 3,672 cases submitted, 2,816 were ineligible or terminated during the process. Of the remaining cases submitted, 235 have been completed and the remaining 621 are being actively progressed.
The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme, including the number of cases that have been terminated and the reasons for same and a breakdown of cases per County. This information is available on the Agency's website at the following link:
https://www.housingagency.ie/our-services/housing-supply-services/mortgage-to-rent.aspx .
The reasons why a case has not progressed are varied and can depend on the lender, the property, the household and the ability of the AHB sector to increase their involvement in the scheme.
I published a Review of the Mortgage to Rent Scheme for borrowers of commercial private lending institutions on 8 February 2017 which contains a number of actions to make the MTR process quicker, more transparent, easier to navigate for borrowers and ultimately, more accessible to more households in mortgage distress. The Review is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/install/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Review-of-the-Mortgage-to-Rent-Scheme-February-2017.pdf.
My Department and the Housing Agency have begun implementing each of the actions set out in the Review and I am confident that these changes will make a significant impact to those households who can benefit from access to the scheme.
230. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the main headings of his proposals to reform the system of commercial rates; if there is a timeframe for the introduction of the legislation required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21748/17]
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 under the Valuation Acts 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. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. Many of the provisions are outdated and not suitable for business trends in the modern era. My Department has developed legislative proposals to modernise and consolidate the legislation governing commercial rates. The main issues being addressed in the General Scheme include; the consolidation of over 20 separate pieces of legislation dealing with commercial rates into a single enactment; improved enforcement powers for local authorities to collect rates; provisions to allow the local authority to introduce rates alleviation schemes to support national and local policy objectives; and provisions for temporary abatement for vacant premises.
In this regard, the Government approved the drafting of a Rates Bill at its meeting on 11 April 2017. These proposals will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny in due course, the outcome of which will be considered in the detailed drafting of the legislation, which will be advanced as quickly as possible.
231. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the county council administrative boundary of counties Kilkenny and Waterford corresponds with their county boundary. [21774/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statutory provisions relating to local government areas and local authorities are set out at sections 10 and 11 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended.
Section 11 provides that the administrative area of each local authority is the relevant county, city, or city and county, as set out in Schedule 5 to the Act, including County Kilkenny in the case of Kilkenny County Council, and Waterford City and County in the case of Waterford City and County Council.
232. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government , further to his statement of 3 April 2017 which suggested the need for new management solutions to be put in place to facilitate the cohesive expansion of Waterford city which will include areas of south Kilkenny, if this will mean a new joint Waterford/ Kilkenny management structure for the area in question and not an administrative boundary change. [21775/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will change the administrative boundary as per the commentary of Senator Paudie Coffey on a radio station (details supplied). [21782/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 239 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 474 of 2 May 2017. As stated, I 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.
233. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government , further to his stated ambition for Waterford city to double in size by 2040, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a strategic plan in place, adopted by both Kilkenny and Waterford local authorities, to provide for Waterford city to double in size, with 42% of the planned growth provided for in Kilkenny. [21776/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether Kilkenny County Council has not in any way impeded the growth of Waterford city, in view of the fact all of Kilkenny's plans correspond with the adopted Planning Land Use and Transport Strategy, PLUTS. [21777/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as the lead authority and the gateway city of the south-east region, Waterford has ignored Kilkenny's many requests to set up the implementation group to progress implementation of the Planning Land Use and Transport Strategy, PLUTS. [21778/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra236. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Waterford County Council, despite giving assurances to the south-east region authority as far back as 2012 that it would meet its obligations under the national retail planning guidelines published by his department to prepare a joint retail strategy, has not convened meetings with the adjoining authority to progress preparation of the strategy. [21779/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra237. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will use his powers under the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Local Government Act 2001 as referenced by the boundary committee, and put the Planning Land Use and Transport Strategy, PLUTS, and or its successor on a statutory footing or require a joint plan be prepared and adopted by both authorities. [21780/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra238. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the five local authorities in the south east have endorsed a joint submission to the national planning framework for the south east Waterford city east and that all five local authorities in the region share the same objectives in relation to the growth of Waterford city and the priorities to deliver same. [21781/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 238, inclusive, together.
As part of the preparation of the new National Planning Framework (NPF), entitled Ireland 2040: Our Plan, extensive pre-draft public consultation has been conducted on the Issues and Choices paper, published on 2 February, which attracted over 3,300 submissions, including a joint submission from the five local authorities in the south east region to which the Deputy refers. Their submission and others received highlight the enhanced role that the development of Waterford city should play in a wider national context.
My Department is currently reviewing all relevant submissions to inform the preparation of the draft NPF for further consideration by Government in the coming months before being formally circulated for formal consultation over the Summer, with the aim of finalising the Framework before the end of the year, as I have previously outlined.
In relation to the implementation issues raised by the Deputy with regard to the non-statutory Planning Land Use and Transport Strategy (PLUTS) for Waterford and the initiation of a regional retail strategy for Waterford and its environs, as recommended in the Planning Guidelines on Retail Planning, issued by the then Minister in April 2012, I understand that previous efforts to prepare a joint retail strategy between Waterford County Council, Waterford City Council and Kilkenny County Council did not progress due to a lack of agreement between the parties.
With regard to the issues raised by the Deputy in relation to the broader strategic positioning of Waterford and the roles of the relevant local authorities in activating the potential of the city through collaborative efforts, my Department is aware of the level of ambition in current statutory plans, which aim for a city population of 80,000 persons rather than the 100,000 people suggested by the Deputy and I can confirm that the importance of Waterford in regional and national terms has been well recognised by my Department and by Government. For example, the North Quays in Waterford have been designated as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) in 2016, only the second SDZ designated outside Dublin.
In addition, the Government's Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 has committed to providing investment for certain enabling works in key areas. The next stage of the SDZ process will be the publication of a draft planning scheme for public consultation which I am expecting later this year. Through this designation and the subsequent planning scheme, there is a unique opportunity to unlock the considerable potential of the North Quays to drive significant economic development within the heart of Waterford City.
The SDZ designation, coupled to the recent announcement of €4 million ERDF funding for urban regeneration projects within the City and previous National Development Plan funded investment in the M9 motorway, public transport upgrades and water services infrastructure, demonstrates the commitment by Government to activating the potential of Waterford and other regional cities and this will be further elaborated on in the forthcoming National Planning Framework. I believe that a shared funding commitment by both Waterford City and County Council and Kilkenny County Council to local infrastructure enhancements to projects such as the SDZ will be a key enabler.
Building on the broader national level investment context both in previous years and into the future as well as the National Planning Framework, I believe that we must now examine all potential mechanisms to bring the relevant stakeholders, including local authorities, together to put in place the strategic local planning and infrastructure delivery and funding mechanisms necessary to properly harness the under-utilised development potential in Waterford, now that key national enablers for its development such as access have been substantially improved. I have also indicated that I will be addressing relevant local government issues in the report to be submitted to Government and the Oireachtas under the Programme for Partnership Government in mid-2017.
Finally, in relation to my powers under the Planning Act to bring local authorities together in respect of their forward planning functions and the question raised by the Deputy in relation to putting the PLUTS on a statutory footing, there is no requirement for the Minister to do so. Indeed, the appropriate fora for the adoption of such PLUTS within a statutory context are the relevant local authorities, through the inclusion of such commitments as policy in their respective Development Plans. More widely, these are also matters more properly addressed in the context of the implementation aspects of the National Planning Framework, whose progression is a major priority for my Department and Government later this year.
Question No. 239 answered with Question No. 232.
240. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the detail of the process involved and the legislation which covers the process for changing the administrative boundary of a county council. [21783/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question 259 14 February 2017. The legislation governing local authority boundary alterations is set out in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991. As specified in section 31(1)(a) of the Act, alterations of the boundaries between local authorities may be made by Ministerial Order, but any such Order would require approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
