Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:283. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rental accommodation scheme, RAS, tenancies in place; and the annual cost of these tenancies. [41056/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing Data
Ceisteanna (283, 284, 285)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:284. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies in place; and the annual cost of these tenancies. [41057/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEoin Ó Broin
Ceist:285. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing current expenditure programme, SCHEP, tenancies in which properties are owned by private landlords; and the annual cost of these tenancies. [41058/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 to 285, inclusive, together.
There are currently more than 27,000 households supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme across the State and it is anticipated that the Exchequer funding for 2017 of €152.7 million will be fully expended on the operation of the scheme at year's end.
At the end of 2016 local authorities reported that there were 20,306 Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) tenancies in place, with a 2016 outturn for the scheme of just under €131 million. Exchequer funding of €134m has been allocated to RAS in 2017, which is expected to be expended in full. The most recent data regarding the number of tenancies funded under the RAS and HAP schemes, broken down by local authority 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.
The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Units under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Part V and the NAMA Special Purpose Vehicle (NARPS).
The following table sets out the source of units under the SHCEP scheme in 2016. By end 2016, a total number of 8,366 units were supported and operational under SHCEP, with 1,358 units becoming operational in 2016. Using the total number of units operational at year end and the full cost of the scheme in 2016, the average annual cost per unit would be €6,454 per unit. The annualised cost of the average monthly cost per unit under SHCEP in 2016 is estimated at €7,551 per unit. Data recorded in relation to units under the SHCEP scheme is on a cumulative basis allowing for fluctuation of units coming in and out of the scheme.
It is anticipated that the Exchequer funding for 2017 of almost €84 million will be fully expended on the operation of the scheme at year end. It is not possible at this point in the year to determine what proportion of that funding will be expended on properties leased from private owners.
|
Source category |
No. of units end 2016 |
Annual cost end 2016 at €6,454 per unit |
Annual cost Q4 2016 at €7,551 per unit |
|
AHB Build including Turn-Key |
353 |
€2,278,382 |
€2,665,630 |
|
AHB Acquisition |
1,175 |
€7,583,850 |
€8,872,848 |
|
AHB MTR (Acquisition but recorded as lease) |
178 |
€1,148,873 |
€1,344,142 |
|
AHB Lease from private owner |
457 |
€2,949,633 |
€3,450,972 |
|
LA lease from private owner (incl. USA and Part V) |
5,432 |
€35,059,975 |
€41,018,988 |
|
AHB Lease from NAMA SPV |
719 |
€4,640,670 |
€5,429,428 |
|
LA Lease from NAMA SPV |
52 |
€335,626 |
€392,671 |
|
8,366 |
€53,997,008 |
€63,174,678 |
Question No. 286 answered with Question No. 281.
Planning Issues
Ceisteanna (287, 288)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:287. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he or his departmental officials have carried out an assessment on whether there will be an impact on the operations of the Naval Service and the Air Corps at Ringaskiddy harbour if an incinerator (details supplied) is allowed to go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41095/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMicheál Martin
Ceist:288. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he or his departmental officials made a submission to An Bord Pleanála regarding the planning permission sought for an incinerator (details supplied) in Ringaskiddy, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41096/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.
The Department of Defence, following consultation with the Air Corps and the Naval Service, in May 2016 made an oral submission to an Bord Pleanála regarding the proposed development of the waste to energy facility in Ringaskiddy. The submission identified two areas of concern, the proximity of the incinerator stack to Haulbowline and the possible difficulties in the evacuation of the island if necessitated by an incident at the incinerator facility.
The Defence Forces advised that the proximity of the stack of the waste-to-energy facility to the helicopter approach paths of Haulbowline Naval Base and Spike Island is a matter of concern due to the fact that this stack will be emitting significant amounts of exhaust gases and is seen by the Department as a potential hazard as it may in certain conditions render approaches by Air Corps helicopters into and out of Haulbowline Island as unsafe.
The second area of concern is due to the fact that Haulbowline Island is accessed by a bridge which is connected to the Ringaskiddy Road. The proposed incinerator is to be built adjacent to this road, before Haulbowline. Therefore, in the event of any accident at the incinerator, road access to and from Haulbowline is threatened. This could in some instances hinder the operation of the Naval Base or in the event of a major incident necessitating local area evacuation, the evacuation of Haulbowline would be denied.
The planning application on the building of an incinerator in Ringaskiddy remains under consideration by An Bord Pleanála. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.
Naval Service Expenditure
Ceisteanna (289)
Clare Daly
Ceist:289. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 815 of 20 September 2017, the cost of the trip, including fuel, pay and allowances, for the crew of the ship in view of the fact the ship was not available to carry out its duties here, for example, fishery protection while it was on this trip to London. [41155/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As I outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 815 of 20 September 2017, the Naval Service vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett attended the biannual Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London earlier this month. The attendance of LÉ Samuel Beckett at the event, which ran from Tuesday 12 September 2017 to Friday 15 September 2017, was an opportunity to portray, to a wide audience, the considerable level of commitment and investment made in recent years towards protecting and safeguarding Irish territorial waters, by showcasing the success of the Offshore Patrol Vessel design and build capabilities.
LÉ Samuel Beckett departed the Naval Base in Haulbowline on 8 September, and carried out fishery protection and maritime surveillance duties while in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) en route to the UK. The vessel was berthed alongside the DSEI exhibition centre from 10 September until 16 September, when she departed London for Haulbowline, carrying out further fishery protection and maritime surveillance duties within the EEZ while en route to Cork. The estimated fuel costs for the duration are €56,600.
LÉ Samuel Beckett had a crew complement of 49 personnel comprising officers and other ranks while berthed alongside the exhibition centre. The estimated pay and allowances associated with these crew numbers in respect of the visit are €57,000 calculated on a pro-rata basis. The Deputy should note that these pay and allowances do not represent an additional cost arising from the attendance of the ship at the DSEI, as this cost would have arisen regardless.