Written Answers Nos. 603-622
603. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the regulations on the allocation of council houses on medical grounds; the regulations on the prioritisation of persons with disabilities and those with medical issues that are not considered to be disabilities for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41377/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation of social housing support is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. Section 22 of the Act requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
As such, it is a matter for each housing authority to decide on the type of support to be allocated to individual households. As Minister, I am precluded by the 2009 Act from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by housing authorities in the allocation of particular dwellings.
604. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he will take to introduce affordable housing in order to allow persons on middle incomes the prospect of gaining a foothold on the property ladder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41428/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra611. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce a new rent-to-buy scheme for those seeking to purchase a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41525/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra616. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when an affordable housing scheme will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41620/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 604, 611 and 616 together.
The Government recognises the housing affordability pressures faced by many households, particularly in certain parts of the country. It is for this reason that the overarching objective of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is to increase the supply of new homes to 25,000 per annum by 2020. In particular, the aim is to increase the supply of high-quality social and affordable homes, as quickly as possible, in areas where demand is greatest.
Recent housing activity reports, available on, www.rebuildingireland.ie, show that strong supply-side measures being implemented under Rebuilding Ireland are beginning to have a positive impact, with all output indicators showing positive upward trends, including a strong supply programme of almost 700 social housing construction projects that will deliver over 11,000 homes at various stages of the approval process. The Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report for Quarter 2 2017 can be accessed at: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-schemes-2017/.
However, it is crucial that we continue to build on this momentum and focus on supply, particularly on the supply of homes at more affordable price points. In terms of affordability, low- to moderate-income households, renting in and around our cities, may struggle to secure suitable and affordable housing.
In this regard, as signalled previously, as part of the targeted review process of Rebuilding Ireland, I am focusing in particular on issues of housing supply and affordability, building on the measures already being advanced under the Action Plan. I expect this work to be completed shortly and I am considering the potential role of new initiatives around affordable housing policy. I expect to be in a position to announce measures in this regard in the coming weeks.
605. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether reconstituting derelict public buildings as apartments such as the former Our Lady's Hospital in Ennis might make a useful contribution to dealing with the social housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41464/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness has put in place the funding resources to accelerate the delivery of social housing for all local authorities. Critically, €5.35 billion in Exchequer investment has been secured to support its implementation and to deliver 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.
This level of national funding to implement Rebuilding Ireland's targets means that funding is available to all local authorities to advance their housing delivery. Within the overall 21,000 social housing solutions targeted for delivery this year, some 4,500 of these will be delivered through new builds, acquisitions and refurbishments and a significant proportion of these will involve new construction.
With regard to vacant property specifically, there are a number of measures under Pillar 5 of Rebuilding Ireland that are aimed at reinforcing the Government's commitment to the area of urban regeneration by promoting the re-use of vacant housing stock for social housing purposes. These measures include:
- the Repair and Lease Initiative, which provides funding to the owners of vacant properties for their refurbishment and subsequent long-term leasing to local authorities for social housing purposes;
- the Buy and Renew Scheme, which facilitates local authorities to purchase and renew housing units in need of remediation and make them available for social housing use; and
- the purchase, by the Housing Agency, of vacant buy-to-let properties on the portfolios of financial institutions and investors for social housing use.
Moreover, I have established a dedicated Empty Homes Unit in my Department to drive and coordinate actions at central and local government levels and to support local authorities in their actions to bring vacant properties and homes back into use. I have asked all local authority Chief Executives to designate vacant homes officers in each of their respective local authorities to examine Census 2016 and other data on vacant homes in their areas and identify, through a Vacant Homes Action Plan, priority “vacant hot-spot” areas and properties that can be quickly brought back into use.
Furthermore, a dedicated website, www.vacanthomes.ie, has been developed by Mayo County Council on behalf of the local government sector, as a central portal for individuals to anonymously log possible vacant properties and alert local authorities who can then follow up with the owners to see whether the house can be re-used quickly. The website will also provide some useful information for property owners on how to bring their house back into use.
With regard to the former hospital mentioned in the question, Our Lady's Hospital in Ennis, and the potential to reconstitute it as apartments for social housing use, I understand that the site is now in private ownership. My Department continues, however, to work with all State bodies to ensure, where appropriate, housing is delivered from State-owned sites that are available for housing development.
606. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the dispute resolution procedures undertaken by the Residential Tenancies Board in each of the past five years, in tabular form; the outcome in each case; if cases are still ongoing; if so, the reason for the dispute; the duration of each dispute procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41471/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the dispute resolution procedures undertaken by the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, their outcomes, reasons for disputes and duration of disputes are available in the RTB Annual Reports, which are available on the Board's website at: http://www.rtb.ie/media-research/publications/annual-reports.
The Clerk of the Dáil has requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB has set up a dedicated email address for this purpose, at: OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
607. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the hardship experienced by non-Irish local authority housing applicants in cases in which they have to prove they do not own property in a country they have previously resided in; if information can be provided to applicants regarding the correct officers to contact for this information by state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41481/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary purpose of social housing support is to assist in 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 information 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
608. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of plans to provide incentives for the conversion of commercial properties into residential accommodation nationwide. [41489/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, includes a commitment to examine reclassifying and incentivising the use of underutilised or vacant areas over groundfloor premises in urban areas, for both residential and commercial use. A key objective of Pillar 5 of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, launched in July 2016, is to ensure that existing housing stock is used to the maximum degree possible and focuses on measures to use existing vacant stock to renew urban and rural areas.
Specifically, Action 5.9 of Rebuilding Ireland commits to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. This proposal is also incorporated in Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, launched in January 2017. My Department is currently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the planning regulations to give effect to this action and it is expected that draft regulations will be submitted for Oireachtas approval by end-October 2017.
Furthermore, a multi-disciplinary working group - including expertise in building regulations, fire safety in buildings, planning, design, heritage etc - led by my Department will be working to bring greater clarity to the regulatory requirements that apply and to advise both industry and local authorities to how best to facilitate the re-use or development of under-utilised older vacant buildings in the context of the regulatory requirements.
609. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of the €5 billion set aside for the financing of the construction of social homes that has been spent since the announcement of the Rebuilding Ireland action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41502/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA funding investment of €5.35 billion is being provided to support the implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which aims to deliver 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021. This level of investment ensures that funding is available to all local authorities to advance their social housing construction programme.
Social housing construction is funded under a range of different initiatives such as local authority construction, turnkey developments, rapid delivery, regeneration programmes and construction and turnkey developments by approved housing bodies. Since the publication of Rebuilding Ireland in July 2016, over €0.308 billion has been expended on social housing construction projects.
More broadly, a total of €0.935 billion was expended in 2016 on the implementation of the full range of housing programmes, which resulted in the delivery of social housing solutions for over 19,000 households. In Budget 2017, an increased investment of €1.3 billion was provided for housing, which is supporting the delivery of over 21,000 social housing solutions this year.
My Department now publishes, on a quarterly basis, a comprehensive status report of all social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas showing details such as their locations, a range of information relating to their advancement, including those delivered and those progressing through planning, design and construction. The most recent of these reports covers the period up to the end of Quarter 2 2017 and lists circa 700 approved social housing construction schemes, delivering over 11,000 units. The report can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-schemes-2017/.
Further project approvals are being added to the construction programme as projects are developed by local authorities and approved housing bodies. I am keen that all local authorities advance their social housing projects as speedily as possible and I have assured them that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard. Indeed, I announced recently that the available funding for social housing is to be reorientated further toward direct build projects. In 2018 alone, this will see the target of 3,000 newly built social housing units increase by almost 30% to 3,800 and this reorientation will continue over the life of Rebuilding Ireland to the end of 2021.
610. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the regulation of referendum spending in view of the advent of online advertising in which money can be spent from abroad to target particular groups of voters here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41524/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Electoral Act 1997 provides for the regulation of election spending and for the regulation of donations given for political purposes to election candidates, political parties and third parties as defined in the Act. Spending at referendums is not regulated by the Act.
The Standards in Public Office Commission has recommended that provision be made to require both third parties and political parties to disclose details of their sources of funding for, and expenditure incurred in, referendum campaigns. It is not likely, however, that amendment of the Electoral Acts to provide for this could provide for the Commission to have jurisdiction outside the State, for example on spending abroad on online advertising as described by the Deputy.
My Department is aware of international trends in the growth of online advertising over other more traditional forms of advertising and of the growing trend in the use of digital media in political campaigning. Developments internationally, including on regulating in this technically and legally complex area, will inform our considerations for any future amendment of the Electoral Acts including on spending at referendums.
612. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the final allocation of moneys will be made available to Limerick city and Limerick County Council in relation to large project work for a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Limerick. [41560/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department’s new Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018, there are six different funding measures. Measure 2 supports projects to make existing group water schemes more efficient in their operation (e.g. water conservation, network upgrades and source protection). Funding in 2017 under this measure is in the form of a block grant allocation to local authorities. Earlier this year, my Department invited local authorities to submit bids, for funding in 2017, under the programme, including for Measure 2.
Interim funding allocations under the measure for 2017, totalling just under €2.8 million, were made to local authorities in June. The interim allocation to Limerick city and Limerick County Council was just under €90,000. This interim allocation approach is to ensure programme momentum by facilitating local authorities to progress works while the bids are being examined.
Final allocations under the measure for 2017, totalling just under €3.77 million, were made to local authorities last month. The final allocation to Limerick city and Limerick County Council was €140,000 (this includes the interim allocation).
The level of funding allocated to each local authority was derived based on my Department’s consideration of commitments to other measures under the programme, evaluation of the local authority’s bids and drawdown by local authorities last year. While specific schemes based on the bids (which included Kilfinny Group Water Scheme in the case of Limerick city and Limerick County Council) will have been considered in this context, the block grant allocations are not associated or linked to any specific scheme in any local authority.
It is a matter for Limerick city and Limerick County Council to consider applications from, and allocate this funding to, projects under this measure within their respective functional area.
Further consideration will be given to funding requests in 2018 under the measure.
613. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of requests within his Department from both Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council seeking approval for employing extra staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41605/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has one staffing sanction request from Dublin City Council and two staffing sanction requests from Fingal County Council respectively. All three requests are currently under consideration.
614. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he will implement to reform the commercial rates system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41615/17]
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. Details of the proposals have been sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee to invite them to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny.
615. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he plans to implement to ensure equitable treatment of householders on group water schemes and householders on public water supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41619/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services reported in April 2017 and its report was approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Committee recommended that the principles of equity of treatment and equivalent financial support should be applied equally between households on public water supplies and those in Group Schemes and those using individual water and waste water systems.
The Water Services Bill 2017 was published recently and the provisions in the Bill give effect to the recommendations of the Committee. My Department will shortly commence a review involving the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and other relevant stakeholders to advance the recommendation of the committee in relation to the quantification of investment required to equalise treatment between those availing of domestic water services from Irish Water and those availing of private services.
617. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider disregarding an increase for qualified child payments in calculating local authority and housing association differential rents as permitted under section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009; the estimated full year cost of such a change; if he will examine the methods used by local authorities and housing associations to calculate rent; and the status of his Department's framework for standardising or harmonising approaches to be adopted by local authorities in relation to various aspects of rent schemes and rent calculation. [41684/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities, as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002. It is a matter for local authorities, when assessing individual households, to consider whether rents payable are in accordance with the authority’s rent scheme. Therefore, decisions on whether or not to disregard either a proportion of income or particular sources of income for the purposes of calculating rents are matters for each individual local authority to consider in accordance with its own rent scheme.
Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 allows the Minister to make regulations in respect of various matters to be included in a rent scheme, including the sources of household income that may be assessed for the purpose of determining rent levels. Considerable work has been carried out by my Department in developing a draft framework for a harmonisation of the approach to be taken by local authorities in regard to various aspects of rent schemes. This includes providing for a common set of income disregards to be applied by all housing authorities in determining a household’s assessable income for rent calculation purposes. These proposals have been examined further in the light of the broader commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, to review the disparate systems of differential rents for social housing in place across local authorities to ensure that housing supports are fair and sustainable, prioritise those on lowest incomes and avoid creating social welfare traps that may prevent people from either returning to work or to the private housing market.
I expect the results of this review to be available shortly.
618. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units that have been constructed as part of plans (details supplied) since the original Limerick regeneration master plan in January 2008, in tabular form. [41692/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra619. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of units that are refurbishments of pre-existing structures (details supplied), in tabular form. [41693/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra620. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of units under construction (details supplied), in tabular form. [41694/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra621. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of units (details supplied) due to commence in 2017 and 2018, in tabular form. [41695/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra622. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units (details supplied) that have been refurbished under the thermal upgrade programme to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41696/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 618 to 622, inclusive, together.
The detailed advancement of housing and other works under the Limerick Regeneration Programme is a matter in the first instance for Limerick city and Limerick County Council. The table below sets out the council's regeneration numbers for housing units that have been completed, are in progress or are planned in relation to construction, significant refurbishment/remediation or are being upgraded via the "thermal upgrade" programme.
The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan, LRFIP, which was published in 2013, heralded a move away from demolitions and a prioritisation of the refurbishment option along with targeted, high-quality new housing construction and a continued focus on community and economic supports. Good progress is being made in implementing the LRFIP across the three pillars of regeneration (Physical, Social, and Economic); the table illustrates progress to date in respect of the physical improvement programme. A review of the LRFIP was published last year by the council and it showed some encouraging progress under the three pillars and maps out the next steps in its implementation. The review can be accessed at following link: https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/housing/regeneration/limerick-regeneration-framework-implementation-plan.
|
No of Housing Units |
|||
|
Status |
Completed |
In Progress |
Planned |
|
Constructed |
122 |
121 |
243* |
|
Refurbished |
351 |
23 |
N/A |
|
Thermal Upgrades |
437 |
216 |
767 |
* Includes 19 infill units at St Mary's Park which are due on site shortly.
