Written Answers Nos. 623-631
623. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to release funding to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for the refurbishment of a group of maisonettes which are almost entirely unoccupied at St. Laurence's Park, Stillorgan, County Dublin. [41769/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no proposals for funding from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for the refurbishment of a group of maisonettes in St. Laurence's Park in Stillorgan, County Dublin at this time.
The council recently submitted draft proposals to my Department for the development of social housing and a library on the site and the council are required to carry out a cost-benefit analysis for the scheme before it can be progressed.
624. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the significant amount of bureaucracy confronting local authorities that wish to construct housing (details supplied); if this process has been simplified over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41770/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial housing projects funded by my Department, like all Government Capital construction projects, must comply with the Government’s Capital Works Management Framework, CWMF, the objectives of which are to ensure greater cost certainty, better value for money and financial accountability during all stages of project delivery.
While my Department must comply with the CWMF, we also have a key focus on speedy delivery of social housing construction projects. Accordingly, arrangements have been made to streamline the nine points of review under the CWMF to just four points at which individual proposals are reviewed. There is not a requirement to seek new approvals for projects several times over; rather, projects are reviewed at four key points (e.g. at initial appraisal stage and subsequently, at final tendering). Where project designs and, in particular, costs are consistent, the reviews by my Department are straightforward and completed on a timely basis. This process allows local authorities to forward design proposals and costings to my Department sequentially, as they advance the projects through their own planning work.
My Department also has regular informal technical dialogue with all local authorities to resolve issues with projects, which allows for projects to be moved from concept to completion as efficiently as possible. My Department's role in reviewing projects represents a small minority only of the time taken in advancing a social housing build project onto site. Furthermore, the time taken for approvals will always depend on the quality and completeness of the initial proposal, the scale and complexity of individual projects and on the avoidance where possible of cost escalations in projects.
As well as streamlining the approvals process under the CWMF and enhancing the direct technical dialogue between my Department and the local authorities, under Rebuilding Ireland we have undertaken a review of the project approvals process for social housing, which is available at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/install/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Social-Housing_Approval-Processes-Procedures-Review-1.pdf.
The recommendations of this Review include better "pre-approval" communications on construction proposals, using opportunities to combine project approval stages and setting targets on projects for turnaround times for approval. These recommendations are being implemented by my Department and local authorities, and a working group, comprising representatives of local authorities and my Department, will soon finalise new project approval and development timelines for both my Department and for the local authorities.
Additionally, my Department is working with local authorities to encourage greater take-up of the available options under both "Design and Build contracts" through the Rapid Delivery Framework set up by the Office of Government Procurement and, for smaller projects (less than 15 units and less than €2 million), greater use of the available single-stage approval process which may suit less complex projects.
625. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has requested local authorities to develop their own migrant integration strategies as envisaged by the national migrant integration strategy published by the Department of Justice and Equality earlier in 2017. [41802/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra626. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if additional funding under a programme his Department oversees has been provided to local authorities and local community groups in areas in which refugees have been resettled under the refugee protection programme; and if so, the amount of funding allocated by local authority and community group. [41803/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together.
Under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, an operational sub-group under the auspices of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, IRPP, Taskforce, composed of all relevant Departments of State and other bodies such as representatives of local authorities and the Irish Red Cross, was established to support the process of housing the families referred to by the Deputy. This sub-group is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality.
Arrangements are being put in place at local authority level across the country to support the housing of these refugees, including through the Housing Assistance Payment, HAP, Scheme. Such housing solutions are being funded from the €5.35 billion approved by Government under Rebuilding Ireland. It should be noted that a range of other supports are also being made available at local level to support the integration of the families concerned into their new communities. My Department does not have a funding programme for local community groups in areas in which refugees have been resettled.
627. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the significant inequity that exists in his departmental funding of local authorities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41812/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a wide variety of central Government funding streams to local authorities, with transfers coming from a wide range of Departments and Offices, not solely from my Department, for a variety of purposes. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to local authorities, while others are routed through departmental agencies. Some elements of funding are project-specific, giving rise to significant changes in funding from one year to another, depending on a project's progression.
The Comptroller and Auditor General, C&AG, reports on the central Government funding of local authorities as part of his annual report, which provides an overview of the funds flowing from and through central government sources to local authorities and the purposes for which funds have been provided. The most recent report is available on the website of the C&AG at the following link: http://www.audgen.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/annualreports/2016/Report/En/Chapter8.pdf.
My own Department has a wide business agenda including providing necessary housing supports. In order to deliver on this agenda, my Department allocates significant resources to a variety of organisations, including local authorities. In this context, across all schemes and funding sources, my Department provided a total of €31.5 million to Galway County Council in 2015 and €33.5 million in 2016.
If the Deputy wishes to put down a more specific question I will endeavour to provide the information sought.
628. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that tenants of Part 5 houses are not discriminated against in engaging in utilising the incremental purchase scheme. [41824/17]
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.
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.
629. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps that have been taken on the provision of an affordable housing scheme for the Poolbeg SDZ as agreed by his Department; the discussions that have taken place with Dublin City Council regarding same; and the discussions that have taken place with developers on the progress on developing such a scheme. [41828/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2016, the Government designated Poolbeg West as a Strategic Development Zone, SDZ, because of its potential to deliver a large proportion of the extra homes needed in the centre of Dublin.
The next step in realising the potential of the SDZ was the publication for consultation by Dublin City Council of a detailed planning scheme for the area. The council prepared a draft planning scheme which was considered by their elected members in May 2017. In its role as a statutory consultee for that process, my Department highlighted the importance of the planning scheme addressing a variety of housing needs, including social housing and those of other households seeking to accommodate themselves through private housing.
On this basis, the council proposed a material amendment to the Planning Scheme in relation to the social/affordable, mixed-tenure housing, details of which were on display until mid-July. As a statutory consultee, my Department made further observations in this regard. The Planning Scheme was approved by Dublin City Council on 2 October and I am committed to working with the Council to deliver these social and affordable units on what is a key site for the sustainable development of Dublin city.
On foot of the material amendment, 900 of 3,500 new homes on the SDZ lands will be delivered as social/affordable units. The arrangements agreed as part of the planning scheme are not part of any new national affordable housing scheme but were developed in response to the specific context of the SDZ.
Of the 900 units referred to, 350 (10% of the overall total) will be delivered as social housing in accordance with the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). It is intended that an agreement, with confirmed funding, will be entered into between the city council, the receiver and my Department, prior to commencement of development, for a further 550 new homes, the majority of which will be housing earmarked for affordable rental, with the balance provided as social housing with a particular focus on housing for older people.
630. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the authority that polices council by-laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41829/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 199 of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities have the power to make bye-laws in relation to the use, operation, protection, regulation or management of any land, services or any other matter provided by or under their control.
By-laws are enforced by authorised persons. An authorised person means a person authorised in writing by a local authority under section 204 of the Act or a member of An Garda Síochána. An authorised person may request any person who appears to be contravening or to have contravened a provision of a bye-law to refrain from such activity and may remove any person failing to comply with such a request.
There is a broad suite of other Oireachtas enactments that also empower local authorities to make by-laws in respect of policy areas that fall outside the remit of my own Department, e.g. the Road Traffic Acts. By-laws made under other enactments would be enforced in accordance with the relevant provisions set out in the enabling legislation.
631. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of the 2005 rural planning guidelines will be completed; if it will take cognisance of the Court of Justice of the European Union decision in respect of Belgian authorities which significantly curtailed the ability of local and national governments to restrict the categories of person that might be eligible to build in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41922/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 ECJ Court ruling in the Flemish Decree case, a working group, comprising representatives from my Department and planning authorities, was established to review and, where necessary, recommend changes 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 the relevant provisions of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union. The group has met on three occasions to date.
On conclusion of the Working Group's deliberations, my Department will engage further with the European Commission on proposed changes to be made to the 2005 guidelines, which I expect to be finalised later this year. The revised guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which requires planning authorities, and where appropriate An Bord Pleanála, to have regard to planning guidelines in the performance of their statutory functions under the Planning Acts.
Circular letter PL 2/2017, which issued on 31 May 2017, advised planning authorities that, pending the conclusion of the above-mentioned review process and until advised otherwise by my Department, the existing 2005 guidelines remain in place and any amendments to rural housing policies in existing development plans should be deferred. The Circular letter is available to view on my Department's website at the following link:http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/category/planning/sub-type/circular/type/publications?query=PL+2%2F2017&=Apply.
