Written Answers Nos. 2135-2161
2135. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff employed in her Department and in each State agency under the aegis of her Department, by county, in tabular form. [29256/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of permanent staff employed by my Department and its agencies (Pensions Authority and Citizen’s Information Board) by county at 1 June 2017 is set out in the following table:
Department of Social Protection
Staff Serving by County
|
COUNTY |
POSTS |
PEOPLE |
|
Carlow |
54.70 |
58 |
|
Cavan |
48.74 |
54 |
|
Clare |
81.88 |
88 |
|
Cork |
372.29 |
401 |
|
Donegal |
460.60 |
486 |
|
Dublin |
2069.60 |
2204 |
|
Galway |
180.91 |
193 |
|
Kerry |
134.07 |
144 |
|
Kildare |
86.24 |
90 |
|
Kilkenny |
58.20 |
62 |
|
Laois |
36.76 |
39 |
|
Leitrim |
187.22 |
197 |
|
Limerick |
186.13 |
190 |
|
Longford |
415.64 |
434 |
|
Louth |
226.71 |
248 |
|
Mayo |
116.22 |
123 |
|
Meath |
57.10 |
58 |
|
Monaghan |
43.83 |
47 |
|
Offaly |
72.06 |
75 |
|
Roscommon |
81.16 |
88 |
|
Sligo |
543.07 |
585 |
|
Tipperary |
105.80 |
111 |
|
Waterford |
163.62 |
177 |
|
Westmeath |
100.80 |
111 |
|
Wexford |
88.20 |
93 |
|
Wicklow |
77.55 |
81 |
|
Grand Total |
6049.11 |
6437 |
In addition to the above, there are 463 Temporary Clerical Officers currently employed in my Department to cover the Shorter Working Year Scheme, long term absences, and to administer the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Scheme and the Public Service Card.
Citizens Information Board
Staff Serving by County
|
County |
Staff Numbers |
|
Dublin |
44 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Cork |
7 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
|
Galway |
3 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Louth |
2 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
6 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
73 |
Pensions Authority
Staff Serving by County
|
COUNTY |
POSTS |
PEOPLE |
|
Dublin |
53.50 |
54 |
All staff in the Pensions Authority are based in Dublin.
2136. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will end the penalising of persons that can only afford to pay car tax in three-month or six-month instalments, in view of the fact that the annual price for car tax if paid over four three month periods is approximately 10% more expensive than paying car tax in one annual instalment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26520/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMotor tax is payable on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates applicable for the half-yearly and quarterly options are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. These relativities have remained generally consistent since the 1960's.
The differential takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices and the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, which operates the online motor tax system, as well as the resultant administrative costs and printing costs that arise, including the issuing of renewal notices. Each quarterly renewal of motor tax follows the same administrative procedures as the annual renewal process. Consequently, renewing on a quarterly basis generates four times the workload of an annual renewal for the equivalent period.
Based on the number of transactions in 2016, the annual cost of abolishing the additional charge associated with the half-yearly and quarterly options would be in the order of €55.3m. The loss of income that would arise from changing these arrangements would have a negative impact on the total collected via motor tax and would have to be borne elsewhere in the motor tax system or through the taxation system generally; any such change could, therefore, only be considered in a Budgetary context.
I have no plans currently to review the basis for paying motor tax on a half-yearly or quarterly basis.
2137. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the annual savings achieved each year since the implementation of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, which allowed for the abolition of town and borough councils, in tabular form. [26544/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2138. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the annual savings achieved each year for each town council abolished or amalgamated under the Local Government Reform Act 2014. [26545/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2137 and 2138 together.
The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government indicated that it would be reasonable to project a target for overall savings in the range €15 to €20 million per annum relative to 2010 expenditure figures as potentially achievable from changes in sub-county governance when the new arrangements bedded down. Savings arose from the elimination of parallel structures including on costs associated with supporting 80 separate corporate organisations and the related duplication of functions and processes with the county council, and with the achievement of greater economies of scale and efficiencies within counties.
However, it is not valid to measure the outcome of mergers solely in terms of expenditure reduction, because the gains from local authority unification can be applied and reflected in various ways. For example, resources previously absorbed in administrative processes and services which are freed up by merger can, instead, be used for more productive purposes such as improved services and promotion of economic development. Similarly, cost savings achieved could be applied to enhancing services. These are matters for decision by the elected council in each case. Any reorganisation of this scale involves cost (for example IT systems) but these are largely one-off and will be heavily outweighed by lasting savings and benefits.
Moreover, comparison of costs between years would be distorted by significant changes that have occurred in local authority functions and activities separately from the structural reorganisation process. For example, local authorities have taken on significant new functions in the areas of enterprise, economic development and community development, and levels of activity have increased significantly in areas such as housing and planning. It is not possible, therefore, to provide meaningful data in the form requested.
2139. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to problems with the traffic light system used to assess homes affected by pyrite by the Pyrite Resolution Board; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that home owners of homes assessed as amber are unable to sell their homes in view of the fact banks will not give mortgages for pyrite affected homes and buyers are reluctant to purchase pyrite affected homes; his plans to resolve this problem; the position regarding the review of the scheme undertaken by the National Standards Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26596/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2140. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will examine a case concerning persons (details supplied) who have been unable to sell their pyrite affected home after it was assessed as amber by the Pyrite Resolution Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26597/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2139 and 2140 together.
The Report of the Pyrite Panel (June 2012) recommended a categorisation system as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works in recognition of the expensive and intrusive nature of pyrite remediation and the unpredictability of pyritic heave. The independent Pyrite Panel was clear in its view that only dwellings with significant damage due to pyritic heave (i.e. red category) should be remediated and that it would be unreasonable to expect dwellings not exhibiting such damage to be remediated. Dwellings which have no significant damage but have reactive pyrite in the hardcore material (i.e. amber category) should be monitored and only remediated if they display significant damage due to pyritic heave. This remains the position with regard to dwellings, which do not display significant pyritic damage.
In response to this recommendation, I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and Categorisation was published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland in late January 2013, and provides the means by which dwellings, which may be affected by pyrite can be tested and categorised. In broad terms, the national standard sets out a two-step process to facilitate the testing and categorisation of dwellings.
The first step requires that a Building Condition Assessment be carried out; this comprises a desktop study and a visual non-invasive internal and external inspection of a dwelling to establish the presence or absence of visible damage that is consistent with pyritic heave and to quantify the extent and significance of such damage in that dwelling. Damage ratings of 0, 1 or 2 can be assigned to a dwelling under this process.
The second step involves the sampling and testing of the sub-floor hardcore material and is informed by the assignment of the Damage Condition Rating under the Building Condition Assessment process. At the conclusion of this two-step process, buildings may be categorised under I.S. 398-1:2013 into four categories which are broadly consistent with the traffic light system that was used by the Pyrite Panel as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works.
The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme by the Pyrite Resolution Board for certain dwellings affected by significant pyrite damage. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website (www.pyriteboard.ie).
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. It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. There are no proposals to amend the eligibility criteria.
In late 2015, the National Standards Authority of Ireland commenced a review of I.S. 398-1:2013 in the light of practical experience since the standard was first introduced in January 2013. The standard is being updated and revised to reflect the on-site experiences and evidence gathered by technical experts, such as engineers, geologists, professionals providing sampling and testing services and other technical experts, who have been using the standard over the past four years. A public consultation on the revision of I.S. 398-1:2013, took place in late 2016. My Department understands that it is anticipated that the revised standard will be published later this year.
2141. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the monthly totals of housing units for which local authorities have received planning permission commencement notices in each of the past 12 months, by local authority, in tabular form. [26603/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2142. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the monthly totals of housing units for which local authorities have received certificates of compliance on completion in each of the past 12 months, by local authority, in tabular form. [26604/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2141 and 2142 together.
It is important to note that the building control function of each Local Authority pursuant to the Building Control Act 1990, as amended, is separate and distinct from the planning function of each Local Authority under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
Local Authorities in their capacity as Building Control Authorities are required to keep certain information pertaining to building works that come under the Building Control Regulations 1997-2015 on a statutory register, including particulars in relation to Commencement Notices and Certificates of Compliance on Completion. The Building Control Management System (BCMS) is centrally hosted by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of the 31 Local Authorities and has enabled this information to be hosted on a central nationwide register, readily available and updated quarterly at https://www.localgov.ie/en/link-type/bcms.
The purpose of the BCMS is as an IT enabler, set up to facilitate building control authorities, building owners, builders and construction professionals in discharging their separate responsibilities under the Building Control Act 1990. The system provides a common platform for clear and consistent administration of building control matters across the local authority sector.
My Department is not involved in the day to day operation of this system. However, it collates and publishes a range of housing and planning statistics, including information on Commencement Notices, which are available on the Department's website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-building-and-private-rented/construction-activity-starts.
2143. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 213 of 28 March 2017, if he is in receipt of a report (details supplied) from Galway City Council; and the process he plans to follow and the timeframe involved. [26625/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 1 June 2017, my Department received a detailed report from the Chief Executive of Galway City Council into the matters raised in the submission concerned made with reference to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.
The Department will require a period of time - estimated at 6 weeks from the date of receipt of the report - to consider its contents and appropriate next steps.
The correspondent was informed of this course of action on 2 June.
2144. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the rural water programme 2016 to 2018 is open to applications from group sewerage schemes; if not, the expected date it is envisaged group water projects can apply for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26656/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018 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. The programme provides for the funding of demonstration Group Sewerage Schemes, through Measure 4(d), where clustering of households on individual septic tanks is not a viable option, particularly from an environmental perspective.
Local authorities were invited in January 2016 to submit bids under the programme. The invitation envisaged no more than two demonstration group sewerage projects being brought forward under the measure in any one year of the three year programme. The demonstration projects will allow my Department, over the course of the programme, to determine the appropriate enduring funding levels and relationship with the current grant scheme.
As new demonstration group sewerage schemes have been identified for the duration of the programme, and as only two demonstration projects can be advanced in any given year, my Department does not propose to modify the programme at this point. My Department will give consideration to the scope of the measure under the programme from 2019 onwards having regard to the implementation of the existing Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018. My Department will also be giving wider consideration to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services as it relates to the rural water programme.
2145. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when funding will be allocated to a group sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26657/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2146. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when funding will be allocated to a group sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26658/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2145 and 2146 together.
My Department's new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016 - 2018 includes funding of group sewerage schemes, through Measure 4(d), where clustering of households on individual septic tanks is not a viable option, particularly from an environmental perspective.
Local authorities were invited in January 2016 to submit bids under the programme. The invitation envisaged no more than two demonstration group sewerage schemes being brought forward under the measure in any one year of the three year programme. The demonstration project will allow my Department, over the course of the programme, to determine the appropriate enduring funding levels and relationship with the current grant scheme. Proposed Group Sewerage Schemes for both Cloonturk and Fawn were included by Leitrim County Council in its bids under the measure. In total, 83 bids were received from 17 local authorities requesting funding under this measure.
An Expert Panel was convened by my Department to examine the 2016 bids from local authorities for projects under a number of the programme's measures, including measure 4(d) and to make recommendations to the Department on funding. The Panel recommended a priority list of demonstration schemes under this measure to my Department which accepted the recommendations in full when approving the rural water allocations for 2016. The priority list recommended by the Panel did not include the proposed Cloonturk and Fawn schemes.
As only two demonstration projects can be advanced in any given year and a priority list of new demonstration group sewerage schemes has already been identified for the duration of the programme, there is currently no scope for any additional schemes.
A copy of the Expert Panel's report and consideration of all proposals under the programme is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues.
2147. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the funding applications of Meath County Council for social housing developments at locations (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26665/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has recently received proposals from Meath County Council for the funding of social housing developments in the locations concerned. These proposals are currently being assessed by my Department's technical staff, who will be in contact with Meath County Council on the matter shortly.
2148. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when it is envisaged that Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas from County Cork will meet with the CEO of Cork County Council under section 237A of the Local Government Act 2001. [26676/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003 set out statutory provisions for local authorities and their dealings with members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Section 12 of the Regulations requires that the Chief Executive, together with the Cathaoirleach, of each local authority meets at least annually with local Oireachtas members as a group. This provision aims to facilitate good communication and provide an opportunity for local authorities to update Oireachtas members, in their role as public representatives, on local developments.
My Department wrote to each Chief Executive in December 2016 to request that they review the arrangements in place for engaging with Oireachtas members so as to ensure that the obligations under the Regulations, including those related to communications and timeframes, are being complied with in a satisfactory manner.
Local authorities are independent statutory bodies in the performance of their functions. As such, the scheduling of the annual meeting with Oireachtas members is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, in this case Cork County Council.
2149. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of households per county which are in receipt of the housing assistance payment; the number of landlords and agents currently participating in the HAP scheme per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26687/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2150. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of landlords and agents per county that have rejected housing assistance payment tenancies since the scheme's introduction but that previously accepted tenants in receipt of rent supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26688/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2151. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to incidents whereby landlords have expressed an unwillingness and reluctance to participate in the housing assistance payment scheme due to the requirements and obligations placed on them as part of the programme; the steps he is taking to ensure that persons in receipt of HAP are not being unfairly discriminated against by landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26689/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2152. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the costs incurred by his Department to date in the training of staff; the costs incurred in the setting up of office operations as part of the housing assistance payment shared services centre in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26690/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2149 to 2152, inclusive, together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently more than 22,000 households in receipt of HAP, including 7,000 households that were previously supported by Rent Supplement. There are currently more than 17,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the HAP scheme.
My Department publishes a breakdown of the additional households supported by HAP by each local authority every quarter. This breakdown also includes the number of Rent Supplement transfers and new applicants. A breakdown of the number of households supported in each local authority area at the end of Q1 2017 is available on my Department's website. Further details can be found at the following weblink: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
In relation to the number of landlords and agents currently participating in the scheme, my Department does not collate this data. However, the HAP Shared Services Centre makes HAP payments to over 17,000 separate landlords and agents who may have more than one property under the scheme.
Under the HAP scheme, there are terms and conditions for both a HAP supported tenant and a landlord, in order for HAP to be paid. Both parties also have to provide information in order for a local authority to process an application for HAP. The legislative basis for HAP is provided in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As HAP support is funded by the Exchequer, with €153m provided for in 2017, it is important that the scheme's terms and conditions operate to ensure that this money is paid to the legitimate owner of the dwelling concerned; that the dwelling concerned meets the legislative requirements governing the minimum standards for rented accommodation (which all landlords have a legal obligation to ensure); and that the landlord is fulfilling their obligations under Revenue's legislation.
HAP provides landlords with many advantages including that the landlord does not have to collect rent, payments are made electronically directly to the landlords on the tenant's behalf, landlords who rent to tenants in receipt of HAP may avail of increased tax relief and changes in a tenant's employment circumstances do not affect the HAP payments made to the landlord. With more than 300 new households, landlords and agents engaging with the scheme each week, including those transferring from Rent Supplement, it is clear that HAP is operating well for both landlords and tenants.
A landlord or an agent acting on behalf of a landlord is not legally obliged to enter into a tenancy agreement with a HAP recipient. However, since 1 January 2016, a person cannot be discriminated against when renting because they are in receipt of certain payments, including HAP, so landlords can no longer state when advertising accommodation that HAP is not accepted. If a person feels that they have been discriminated against by a landlord or their agent, they can make a complaint under the Equal Status Acts to the Workplace Relations Commission. Further information is available on the Commission's website, https://www.workplacerelations.ie.
Details on the number of landlords and agents that have rejected HAP supported tenancies is not available in my Department.
With regards to costs incurred by my Department to date in the training of staff, these costs are not broken down in this way and are not available. However, my Department, together with the HAP Shared Service Centre and the Housing Agency, undertook an extensive training programme for local authorities, which has proven an important contributing factor to the successful rollout of the scheme. In terms of the costs incurred in the setting up of the office operations as part of the HAP Shared Service Centre in Limerick, the total cost since the scheme commenced to date is €3.124m. This includes staff costs, investment costs and other operational funding requirements. The Centre provides an efficient and effective transactional service on behalf of every local authority in the country, and the investment made represents good value for money.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of HAP and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programmes outlined under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
2153. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the year in which the needs and resources model was adopted for the purposes of the distribution of the general purposes grants to local authorities; if in deciding that no local authority would lose financially in the context of moving from general purposes grant to LPT, if the needs and resources of all local authorities were reassessed; if not, the way in which new needs are accommodated; his plans to carry out a general assessment of needs and resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26694/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Needs and Resources Model was developed and first used in 2000 to assist in the determination of the allocation of General Purpose Grants (GPGs) to local authorities from the Local Government Fund. The aim of the model was to bring about equalisation between local authorities over time so that each would have sufficient resources, from a combination of central grants and local income, to provide a reasonable level of services to their customers.
Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another as a result of their size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources, which means calculating an appropriate distribution of these grants has been complex. A number of factors were taken into account as relevant, including the overall funding available for local authorities, the estimated cost to each authority of providing a reasonable level of service to their customers, the income each authority should generate from local sources and the necessity to provide each authority with a baseline allocation to support its financial stability.
Local retention of Local Property Tax (LPT) began in 2015 and is now established as an essential source of funding for the local government sector, which reduces reliance on central funding. In accordance with decisions taken by Government regarding the distribution of LPT funding, every local authority has a minimum level of funding available to it known as the LPT baseline. The LPT funding baseline in 2017 is linked to previous GPG amounts and Pension Related Deductions retained by authorities in 2014.
The 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. Central Government funding of local authorities similarly presents a complex picture, with transfers, both current and capital, coming from a range of Departments and Offices, 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.
Notwithstanding the constrained fiscal situation generally, I am satisfied that the current overall funding model enables local authorities to support an appropriate level of service provision across the State. My Department keeps the overall funding system under review and works with all local authorities to ensure the local government sector can meet existing and emerging challenges.
Matters relating to LPT allocation methods and equalisation for future years will be reviewed as necessary and appropriate.
2154. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of his Department's report into the fire at Milford Manor, Newbridge, County Kildare; the timeframe for finishing the report; the expected recommendations; and the publication date of same. [26709/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2212. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the report into fire safety at a location (details supplied) undertaken by his Department in September 2015 will be completed; and the timeframe for publishing same. [27738/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2154 and 2212 together.
In July 2015, the then Minister directed that a review be undertaken by an independent fire expert to develop a framework for general application, in the interest of supporting owners and residents living in developments where concerns regarding non-compliance with fire safety requirements arise. A steering group was convened to oversee the review.
The independent fire safety expert has completed his review and a report on the matter has been received by my Department. The report remains under consideration pending clarification of a number of issues at which point it is intended that the arrangements necessary for publication will be made.
2155. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there are planning guidelines in place relating to the development of crematoriums here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26715/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe establishment and operation of crematoria are subject to controls under planning, environmental protection and air pollution legislation.
There are no planning guidelines related specifically to the development of crematoria.
2156. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has access to a register of land banks in the greater Dublin area; the type of companies that hold these land banks; his plans to create such a register if one does not exist in order to tackle the deficit in land available for residential development in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26721/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2172. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the workings and expected yield of a reported levy of 3% of land value which will be included in budget 2018. [27120/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra2190. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has examined proposals to further sanction the non-use or hoarding of residentially zoned land; his views on whether the vacant site levy is unlikely to be an effective sanction against land hoarding; and his further views on whether the process of identifying and entering vacant sites onto the vacant site registrar is too cumbersome and unlikely to be effective as demonstrated by the low number of vacant properties that have been entered onto these registers to date. [27317/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2156, 2172 and 2190 together.
The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017, and to issue annual notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June 2018 in respect of vacant sites on the register on 1 January 2018. The levy will be applied by planning authorities, commencing on 1 January 2019 in respect of sites which were vacant and on the vacant site register during the year 2018 and will subsequently be applied on an annual basis thereafter, as long as a site remains on the vacant site register in the preceding year.
Planning authorities are empowered to apply an annual vacant site levy of 3% of the market value of vacant sites, exceeding 0.5 hectares in area - with reduced or zero rates of levy applying in specific circumstances – which, in the planning authority’s opinion, were vacant or idle in the preceding year, in areas identified by the planning authority in its development plan or local area plan for residential or regeneration development. The 3% rate of vacant site levy is consistent with the rate applied to derelict sites under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and is considered reasonable, without being over-punitive, for the purposes of incentivising the activation of such sites for residential or regeneration purposes.
It is also worth noting that all levies due on an individual site will remain a charge on the land concerned until all outstanding levies due are paid. Accordingly, under the vacant site levy provisions, there will be a cumulative effect associated with not activating a site for development purposes for each year that a site remains vacant or idle.
The proceeds of the levy raised on vacant sites will be used by planning authorities for the provision of housing and urban regeneration development in the local area in which vacant sites are located. No more than 10% of the levy monies received by planning authorities may be used on their collection and administration costs. At this time, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the annual levies that may be raised by planning authorities in the implementation of the levy.
My Department issued general guidance to planning authorities on the implementation of the vacant site levy in July 2016, by way of Circular Letter PL 7/2016, entitled Implementation of the Vacant Site Levy, which is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/pl_072016_guidance_on_implementation_of_the_vacant_site_levy.pdf.
Planning authorities are presently engaging in the necessary preparatory work, prior to the application of the levy with effect from January 2019 in respect of sites identified on the register in 2018. As required under the Act, this includes the identification of specific vacant sites for entry on the register as well as the registered owners of the sites in question along with undertaking a site valuation. Vacant site registers were established in January 2017 by planning authorities and the registers will be populated as the preparatory work progresses during the year. My Department will monitor the implementation of the levy by local authorities to ensure that it is being fully utilised, in line with its intended purpose going forward.
With regard to addressing the issue of the hoarding of residentially zoned land, I have tabled a number of amendments to the provisions relating to the extension of duration of planning permissions in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which is currently at Dáil Report Stage. The amendments proposed are collectively aimed at tightening up the provisions in relation to the extension of duration of planning permissions and ensuring that extensions of duration, without commencing substantial development, will no longer be facilitated.
My Department does not hold information on the ownership of land banks in the Greater Dublin Area or elsewhere. However, it is envisaged that the vacant site registers currently being developed will provide additional information - including ownership details - on key sites which have been identified by local authorities for housing and urban regeneration purposes. The Department’s www.myplan.ie web browser holds a comprehensive amount of relevant publicly accessible information in relation to zoned land, including a repository of lands which are residentially zoned and which have been prioritised for development in the phasing/release programmes of the relevant local authorities. This mapping initiative is an important free resource for those involved in planning and other related disciplines. My Department will continue to develop and improve it so that it gives a more centralised land and housing activity map-based system for public and private housing.
With regard to the provision of housing on State-owned lands, I published on 27 April 2017 the first phase of the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map, as committed to under Action 3.5 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. This is a vital initial step in the new State Housing Land Management Strategy being developed within the context of the new National Planning Framework - "Ireland 2040: Our Plan". The map is the result of a significant amount of work carried out by my Department, local authorities, the Housing Agency and other State and semi-State bodies. The datasets published on the map include details of over 700 local authority and Housing Agency-owned sites, totalling some 1,700 hectares, including location and size, as well as 30 sites (comprising some 200 hectares) owned by State or semi-State Bodies, situated in major urban centres. Some 350 hectares of this land is in the Dublin region. The map also shows the locations of 144 active private construction sites, encompassing some 5,200 new dwellings, which are under construction in the Dublin region.
The map is freely accessible on an interactive portal at http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/ and data on sites can be extracted in a number of forms, including on a local authority basis.
2157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if persons on the transfer lists are included in the count for those on the housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26729/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) is to capture the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need is not being met, in order to better understand the level of need for such support.
Under the annual SSHA process, all housing authorities are required to review certain households who are on their housing list but who are not in receipt of housing support. This is to ensure that the details of the applicant households are up to date and accurate and that they remain eligible for, and in need of, social housing support in accordance with the criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 as amended by the Social Housing Assessment (Amendment) Regulations 2016.
The "Net Need" is the total number of households on the record of qualified households (housing list) that are not currently in receipt of Social Housing Support. This figure is determined by removing duplicates, those households appearing on multiple lists in different authorities, and households already in receipt of Social Housing Support e.g. those in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment or those that have applied for a transfer. Households that are on a local authority's transfer list are in receipt on social housing support and therefore they are not included in the 'net need'.
2158. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the role of the National Building Agency, NBA; if the agency currently employs staff members; the number of board members currently appointed to the NBA; the name of each person; the most recent remuneration figures for board members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26736/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Building Agency Ltd. (NBA) was registered as a company in 1960 and was the subject of the National Building Agency Act in 1963. The Agency was a multi-disciplinary, professional design practice set up to provide a broad range of consultancy services to public authorities in support of varying policies of Government including housing, urban renewal, urban and rural planning as well as other construction related activities.
Following a review of functions of the Agency, the Affordable Homes Partnership and the Centre for Housing Research, the functions of those bodies were taken over by the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency. That Agency was initially established on an administrative basis in May 2010 and formally established by the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (Establishment) Order 2012 with effect from 1 August 2012. The National Building Agency ceased operating on 30 June 2011 and it is in the process of being wound up. It therefore has no employees.
Pending its dissolution, the Agency still has a Board with 4 members. They are Mr Rich Howlin as the Chairperson; Ms Bairbre Nic Aongusa, an Assistant Secretary in my Department; Mr John O’Connor, CEO of the Housing Agency; and Mr Peter Carey, Chief Executive of Kildare County Council. Mr Howlin, as Chairperson, received a fee of €2,130 in 2012. This was the last fee paid to Mr Howlin. No fees have been paid to the other members of the Board.
2159. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the tenant purchase scheme and persons having to provide proof of payment for Irish Water domestic bills to local authorities with their application; if he will amend this criteria for qualification for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26739/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses 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. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum, have been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year and have been allocated a house under a local authority allocation scheme.
The requirement to pay water charges is a condition under the scheme and is reflected in legislation. Section 3(A)(9) of the Water Services Act 2014 (inserted by Section 48 of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015) provides that a person who is a tenant of a dwelling let to him/her under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2014 and who proposes to purchase the dwelling shall before completion of the sale provide the local authority concerned with a certificate of discharge from Irish Water confirming that any charge under section 21 of the No. 2 Act 2013 in respect of the dwelling owed to Irish Water has been paid. The sale of the dwelling cannot proceed until a certificate of discharge in respect of the dwelling has been received from Irish Water.
The Oireachtas has approved the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services and I am committed to legislating on the recommendations. My Department is working on legislative proposals in line with the recommendations of the report, including in relation to the position of those who have paid and have not paid water charges.
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 Tenant Purchase 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 review is now complete and a full report setting out findings and recommendations has been prepared. Following consultation with relevant Departments on implementation arrangements, I expect that definitive proposals will be submitted to me very shortly.
2160. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will review the income ceiling for qualification on local authority housing lists in view of the fact those that do not qualify cannot qualify for home loans and have no security in their accommodation. [26750/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda originally set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020, a review of the income eligibility limits for social housing supports is scheduled to commence later this year.
2161. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has issued instructions to all local authorities to request that any non-Irish housing applicants be asked to provide proof that they do not own property in the country of their birth regardless of the number of years they have lived here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26751/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary purpose of social housing support is to assist the provision of suitable accommodation for households who have a housing need but do not have sufficient resources to secure accommodation from their own resources.
The 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations provide that a household is ineligible for social housing support if a household member owns alternative accommodation that the household could reasonably be expected to use to meet its housing needs, either by occupying it or by selling the accommodation and using the proceeds to secure other suitable accommodation. On foot of this provision, Part 11 of the prescribed social housing application form seeks information on property ownership in the State and abroad and this applies to all applicants for social housing support.
A household is required, under Regulation 11 of the 2011 Regulations, to provide to the housing authority such additional information, including documents and other particulars, as is sought by the authority for the purpose of verifying information relating to its application for social housing support.
It is a matter for the local authority to determine what is required in individual cases. My Department would expect that any information sought by a local authority in this regard would be appropriate, having regard to the circumstances of the household concerned.
