Paul Murphy
Ceist:41. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which housing will be managed in view of the ending of the Cabinet committee on housing. [39676/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (41)
Freagraí scríofa
Following the recent streamlining of the Cabinet Committee structures and the establishment of new Committees, the new Cabinet Committee "D" covers a range of policy areas including housing, climate action, infrastructure investment and delivery and the National Planning Framework. This Committee, which is chaired by An Taoiseach, will provide political oversight of the Government's ambitious agenda to deal with housing and homelessness issues.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness sets out the priority actions that the Government is taking. It is an iterative Plan and has evolved as actions are completed and new measures are added. Since its publication in July 2016, the Government’s attention has been firmly focused on delivery. Implementation of Rebuilding Ireland is being advanced across a number of Departments, under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee and supporting arrangements involving senior officials of all relevant Departments.
Within my own Department, a group of relevant officials, chaired by the Secretary General, monitors progress on an ongoing basis. Working Group structures under each of the Action Plan's five Pillars have also been put in place. In addition, to ensure broader consultation and engagement with delivery agents and stakeholders, an Oversight Group and a Project Board have been established.
Since taking up office, I have met with all key housing stakeholders to discuss their views on the ongoing implementation of Rebuilding Ireland and further actions being considered as part of the targeted review of the Action Plan, which is now largely concluded. Implementation of the Action Plan, including all new and enhanced actions agreed as part of the current review process, will continue to receive priority attention within my Department, and will be overseen on an ongoing basis by the Cabinet Committee.
Questions Nos. 42 and 43 answered with Question No. 18.
Question No. 44 answered with Question No. 31.
Social and Affordable Housing Data
Ceisteanna (45)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:45. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the social housing targets for 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45251/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
To support and accelerate the delivery of social housing as set out in Rebuilding Ireland, the necessary funding is in place, with a greater emphasis now being placed on direct build activity for local authorities and approved housing bodies.
In Budget 2018, I secured €1.9 billion for housing programmes, representing a 46% increase over 2017. This investment will ensure that the housing needs of 25,500 households will be met next year, over 4,400 more than in 2017.
In addition to this significant increase for 2018, I also secured a further €500 million for investment in social housing over the period 2019 – 2021. This additional funding will allow for an increase in the overall level of social housing to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies by a further 3,000 homes.
The overall target for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland has increased from 47,000 to 50,000 homes, with the total funding investment increasing from €5.35 billion to over €6 billion. The breakdown of this 50,000 target between the main programme areas of build, acquisition and leasing, for each year of Rebuilding Ireland, is set out in the following table.
The Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Schemes are also to contribute significantly towards meeting housing needs over the course of Rebuilding Ireland. The targets for both schemes for each year 2016 to 2021 are also set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Build |
Acquisition |
Leasing |
RAS |
HAP |
|
2016 |
2,260 |
1,755 |
225 |
1,000 |
12,000 |
|
2017 |
3,200 |
1,250 |
600 |
1,000 |
15,000 |
|
2018 |
4,969 |
900 |
2,000 |
600 |
17,000 |
|
2019 |
6,385 |
1,025 |
2,130 |
600 |
16,760 |
|
2020 |
7,716 |
800 |
2,631 |
600 |
13,000 |
|
2021 |
8,907 |
800 |
2,450 |
|
10,000 |
|
|
33,437 |
6,530 |
10,036 |
3,800 |
83,760 |
Land Availability
Ceisteanna (46)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:46. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if all public land zoned for housing will remain public land into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45305/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is very important that publicly owned land is harnessed in the most effective manner possible to secure the best outcomes for communities and the country as a whole.
With regard to local authority owned lands that are zoned for housing, progression of development proposals for such lands, whether directly or in partnership with other interests, such as Approved Housing Bodies or other housing providers, are matters for the relevant local authority in the first instance in accordance with housing, planning and local government legislation.
More widely, the active management of the publicly owned housing land bank is part of a range of actions being progressed under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, designed to accelerate and increase housing output.
On 27 April 2017, details of some 1,700 hectares of land in local authority and Housing Agency ownership were published on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map, with the potential to deliver some 42,500 homes nationally. These sites can be viewed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/ .
In order to ensure a consistent and comprehensive approach to the development of these lands, all local authorities have been requested to prepare Strategic Development and Management Plans for housing lands in their ownership, with particular emphasis on prioritising those sites that are already serviced and with the most potential to deliver housing at scale, in the short to medium term.
In the first instance, the final development model for each site, including the tenure mix, will be the subject of careful consideration by the local authority concerned, including its elected members.
My Department is continuing to work with all local authorities and State bodies to ensure that housing is delivered from appropriately located and publicly owned sites to meet our current and future housing requirements.
Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund
Ceisteanna (47)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:47. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which he envisages the affordability requirement of LIHAF funding being delivered across the country and in Dublin in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45299/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The primary objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to stimulate and accelerate the early supply of housing in urban areas with large demand, by opening up these lands with key enabling public infrastructure that would otherwise not be provided in the short term. The resulting increase in supply on both private and public lands is key to tackling price and affordability as the lack of supply is one of the main factors currently inflating house prices.
As required under the LIHAF scheme's criteria and conditions, local authorities were asked, inter alia, to obtain commitments from housing providers on associated sites in relation to housing delivery timelines and cost reductions. Local authorities were asked to ensure that an agreed cost reduction was included in the agreements on the approved sites to ensure that there is a proportionate dividend for the State’s investment in infrastructure.
Local authorities have used a range of mechanisms to meet the affordability commitment, tailored to the individual circumstances of each proposal. In some instances, the local authority itself owns the lands and consequently has a high degree of control in terms of ensuring delivery of a portion of units at affordable prices and on those sites, local authorities will be providing extra social housing over and above the 10% required under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Where land is owned privately, providers of housing have entered into an undertaking with local authorities where, in recognition of the early delivery of the necessary public infrastructure, those providers have undertaken that housing will be delivered in accordance within an aligned timeframe of construction and with agreed cost reductions to be taken off the market price. This can be an agreed cost reduction across all units or a larger cost reduction across a specified number of units.
I have asked the Dublin local authorities to seek to provide as much affordability as possible on related sites. However, under the criteria originally set out in LIHAF, the expectation is that cost reductions will be delivered to make housing more affordable than would otherwise be the case, as opposed to requiring that housing be priced under a certain ceiling. The cost of building in Dublin is high relative to other parts of the country, driven primarily by high land costs and the viability of private developments would have been affected by any unrealistic ceilings or price capping, whereas the approach being taken is designed to promote supply, while achieving a cost reduction that is proportionate to the investment in public infrastructure and provides a benefit in terms of both the overall market effect of increased supply. In certain cases, the cost reductions will be aggregated and spread over a smaller number of units to deliver a greater cost reduction and, in those cases, those units will be targeted at key societal groups that may be impacted or priced out of the market.
To date, I have signed grant agreements for 22 of the 34 proposals which received preliminary approval and I will shortly publish further details regarding the approved LIHAF projects on my Department’s website.
Irish Water Staff
Ceisteanna (48)
Mick Barry
Ceist:48. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the original service level agreements between local authorities and Irish Water that would have retained the services of local authority waterworks personnel to Irish Water up to 2026 have been amended; if local authority waterworks personnel will be asked to transfer to Irish Water within the next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45286/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The Water Services Strategic Plan - A Plan for the Future of Water Services (WSSP), which was published in October 2015, set out strategic objectives for the delivery of water services for 25 years up to 2040. The WSSP committed to the preparation of Business Plans by Irish Water to set out targets for delivery of efficiencies in operational and capital expenditure and performance targets consistent with the delivery of the objectives of the WSSP.
The Irish Water Business Plan - Transforming Water Services in Ireland to 2021 was published in late 2015. It set the priorities for the utility to 2021 and underpins the transformation plan for the water sector to a single utility model. The plan was considered by Government and was approved subject to budgetary and regulatory review. The Water Services Bill 2017 contains provisions for the establishment of a Water Advisory Body (WAB). The WAB is being established to advise on measures needed to improve the transparency and accountability of Irish Water. The body will report on a quarterly basis to an Oireachtas Committee on the performance of Irish Water on the implementation of its business plan.
The Confidence and Supply Arrangement in support of the minority Government has confirmed the retention of Irish Water as a single national utility in public ownership, responsible for the delivery of water and waste water services.
Since 2013, working through Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the local authorities, Irish Water has made significant progress in establishing the utility capability, which has included investing over €2 billion in the system to date. Over the past year, significant design phase work has been undertaken on the development of a transformation plan, in line with the Business Plan objectives. Flowing from this, I have been informed by Ervia (which has responsibility for Irish Water), that they consider that the public water system will benefit significantly by greater integration of operations into the single utility. Consequently, the Ervia Board has agreed in principle not to renew the SLAs beyond 2025 when they are due to end, and to move to a full integrated public utility operations model. The Water Services Acts already provide the necessary protections for terms and conditions, and pensions, of local authority staff working under the SLAs in such circumstances. It is the intention of Ervia to work with local authorities to manage this change within the life of the current Business Plan (i.e. by end of 2021).
A process of engagement with local authorities on the proposed next steps on the transformation plan has now commenced. The SLAs between Irish Water and local authorities have not been amended and remain in place until such time as an alternative is agreed.
Traveller Accommodation
Ceisteanna (49)
Mick Barry
Ceist:49. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if emergency measures will be put in place to properly accommodate Travellers in Spring Lane, County Cork, and other sites that have been storm damaged. [45287/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and also have responsibility for the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
In relation to any damage incurred by events such as storm Ophelia, it is a matter for each housing authority to assess any damage caused to Traveller-specific accommodation in their area. I understand that Cork City Council are currently liaising with the residents at Spring Lane in this regard. As part of the capital funding supports provided by my Department, funding of 50% is provided to housing authorities for the purchase of ‘Emergency Replacement Mobiles’. An emergency in this respect is an unanticipated event, such as storm damage, that would render a caravan/mobile uninhabitable or dangerous to live in. This scheme relates to authorised local authority sites only. Any request from housing authorities for such funding will be urgently considered.
In response to Storm Ophelia, my Department recently issued a reminder to all housing authorities on the availability of this scheme.
Homelessness Strategy
Ceisteanna (50)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:50. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if each family in family hubs has received a Leap card for the 2017/2018 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43444/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Arising from the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, my Department is funding an initiative to provide homeless families, residing in hotel accommodation and family hubs in the Dublin Region, with access to free public transport for essential school journeys.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is overseeing implementation of this initiative and, working in partnership the National Transport Authority, has put arrangements in place for the provision of such leap cards to homeless families under this initiative. Given that the Leap cards have an inbuilt value-limit, the cards are being made available to homeless families on an ongoing basis throughout the academic year, via Focus Ireland’s State-funded Family Homelessness Action Teams.
Social and Affordable Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (51)
Mick Wallace
Ceist:51. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the lack of affordable housing being supplied; if the affordable housing scheme which was abolished in 2011 will be reintroduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45292/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer to the reply to Question No. 618 of 17 October 2017, which sets out the position in this matter.
Septic Tank Grants
Ceisteanna (52)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:52. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the low take-up of the domestic septic tank grant; and his plans for broadening the qualifying criteria for the grant. [45232/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grant scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to require repair or upgrading. The grant scheme ensures that the limited financial resources available are targeted towards householders, particularly those on lower incomes, who incur expenditure directly as a result of the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.
The Regulations provide that, subject to the applicant meeting all qualification criteria, a local authority may pay a grant to a person who is required, following an inspection, to undertake repairs or upgrades to, or replacement of, a septic tank or other domestic waste water treatment system. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-quality/domestic-waste-water-systemsseptic-tanks/domestic-waste-water-treatment-0.
Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the grant under the aforementioned Regulations and who wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced pursuant to Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI Scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including the repair or replacement of septic tanks. The Scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on the Revenue Commissioners' website at www.revenue.ie.
Applications for grant aid in respect of remediation works are submitted to, and processed by, the local authorities who then seek recoupment of the amounts paid from my Department. Details of the grant amounts recouped by my Department to local authorities since the scheme was introduced in 2013 are published on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/dwwts_grants_paid_2014-2017_1.pdf.
While it is not proposed to make any changes to the grant scheme at this time, my Department will shortly commence a review to quantify what additional investment is required to equalise treatment between those using public water services and those who do not (i.e those in group water schemes, with private wells and using septic tanks) as recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. This will include engagement with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and other stakeholders.
Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 13.
Approved Housing Bodies
Ceisteanna (54)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:54. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that AHBs have secured sites and funding to enable them to meet their revised new build targets for 2018 to 2021. [45345/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government has put in place the funding required to accelerate the delivery of social housing across all local authority areas. In Budget 2018, I secured €1.9 billion for housing programmes, a 46% increase over 2017. This investment will ensure that over 25,000 households will have their housing needs met next year.
In addition to the significant increase in funding for 2018, I also secured a further €500m for investment in social housing in 2019-2021. The investment secured will allow for an increase in the overall level of social housing to be delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) under Rebuilding Ireland by a further 3,000 homes, increasing the overall target for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland from 47,000 homes to 50,000, with the total funding envelope increasing from €5.35 billion to over €6 billion.
AHBs are tasked with making a significant contribution to the overall delivery of social housing in the years ahead, through a range of delivery mechanisms and funding programmes provided through local authorities and my Department, including the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF). As it stands, roughly one third of the new supply of social housing is predicted to be developed by AHBs in the period to 2021. Joint working and collaboration at local level between local authorities and AHBs is critical to achieving this ambition. There are already a number of mechanisms in place to assist AHBs to realise their potential and deliver on their commitments including the recent establishment by the Housing Agency of a dedicated AHB Services Unit.
My Department continues to support and work with local authorities to develop their major housing development sites. At this point, all the sites have been mapped on the Rebuilding Ireland website, and all local authorities are in the process of finalising and submitting strategic development plans for their respective land bank for review and further consideration. It is expected that opportunities for additional AHB partnerships will be identified as part of this process.
My Department publishes comprehensive status reports on a quarterly basis of all social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas, showing details such as their locations and a range of information relating to their advancement. The most recent of these reports covers the period up to the end of quarter 2 of 2017; it contains information on construction schemes right across the country delivering 11,000 new social homes - currently approved and progressing through planning, design, construction. The report, which can be accessed at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-construction-projects-report-2017/
This includes details of projects involving more than 4,500 new social houses to be delivered by AHBs.
In terms of access to land to underpin further delivery, clear engagement will be required between local authorities and AHBs in order to ensure that opportunities are taken to match available public lands with AHBs having capacity to bring forward projects. Local authorities are currently finalising management plans for the housing lands in their ownership, providing the vehicle for ensuring that such opportunities are realised. In addition, AHBs can continue to pursue projects through turnkey arrangements on private lands.
Nitrates Usage
Ceisteanna (55)
Danny Healy-Rae
Ceist:55. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason farmers in Northern Ireland can spread slurry for the entire year depending on ground conditions and weather in view of the fact that the entire island has similar land and weather conditions; the reason farmers here do not have the same conditions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45090/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014, as amended, give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The Nitrates Directive requires all member states to define set periods when the land application of fertiliser, including slurry, is not allowed and in Ireland the closed season commenced on 15 October.
The closed periods in Ireland were decided following extensive consultation and were discussed with farming bodies and the European Commission when Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme was introduced. The provisions of the Regulations are underpinned by scientific research and good agricultural practice. The most recent scientific studies carried out on a diverse range of farm and soil types as part of the on-going Agricultural Catchments Programme run by Teagasc has provided further evidence in support of the efficacy of the current closed periods in reducing nutrient losses to waters. A key message from the research is that there are disproportionately high nutrient losses to waters during the winter and the current closed period coincides with the time during which risks of incidental nutrient losses to water are highest. Farmers are advised to spread slurry early in the season when growth and nutrient uptake are at their peak.
Ireland is currently negotiating a new NAP with the European Commission and, while we are now at a critical juncture in those negotiations, I am hopeful of a positive outcome. Each member state's negotiations with the Commission take account of the particular circumstances in the individual member state and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details of the Nitrates Action Programme in Northern Ireland or in any other member state.