Written Answers Nos. 503-518
503. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the actions he has taken to date to address the problem of mica affected households since the report was published, particularly for the thousands of households affected by mica including over 500 council houses in County Donegal; when he plans to establish a redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47715/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo.
The panel had the following terms of reference:
(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv) To submit a report within six months.
On 13 June 2017, the report of the Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations.
My Department has already taken action to implement recommendations 1 and 2, as priorities.
With regard to Recommendation 1, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Technical Committee, established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 2017 and has held several further meetings in recent weeks. The standardised protocol will inform the course of action in relation to remedial works for all affected householders.
With regard to Recommendation 2, my Department has been in contact with Engineers Ireland in regard to the establishment of a register of competent engineers for homeowner/affected parties’ reference. Engineers Ireland have provided assurance that they will collaborate with the Department, the NSAI and others on measures to establish such a register.
During July this year, I visited Donegal and Mayo and met with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, elected members and officials of the local authorities and other interested parties. In addition, and in light of the information contained in the report, I am currently considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in the two counties.
504. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to put in place new planning guidelines on the development of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind power and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47734/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy predecessor as Minister, in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, announced an emerging "preferred draft approach" to the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in June 2017. A copy of the announcement is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/guidelines/wind-energy/coveney-and-naughten-announce-key-development-review-wind-energy-development-guidelines.
As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) will be undertaken on the "proposed draft approach" to the revised Guidelines before they come into effect. This is in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, the SEA Directive. SEA is a process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process.
It is envisaged that the SEA process will take approximately 9 months and tendering to engage consultants to carry out that process is currently underway. In light of the SEA requirements, it is expected that the Guidelines will not be finalised and come into effect until the first half of 2018. In the meantime, the current Guidelines remain in force.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts.
In relation to solar farms, there are no specific planning guidelines in place. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Under the Planning and Development Act, each planning authority's development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure, including energy facilities, and many local authorities have developed renewable energy strategies for their areas in this context.
In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the local development plan, any submissions or observations received and relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including any relevant guidelines issued by my Department. Planning authorities must then make their own decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
I am satisfied that the planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning permission applications for solar farm developments. However, the matter will be kept under review, in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, and his Department - which leads on renewable energy policy - in the context of the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy, published in December 2015, the development of a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, as well as the finalisation of a new support scheme for renewable electricity by that Department, expected in 2018.
505. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a group water scheme subsidy funding for 2016 and 2017 will be made available to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47752/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has devolved the administration of subsidy payments to Group Water Schemes to the local authorities, namely, Kerry County Council in the case of the schemes concerned. It is my understanding, from enquiries made with the Council, that application by these group water schemes for subsidy payments are currently being examined and will be dealt with by the Council as quickly as possible.
506. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will provide a copy of the complete guidelines under which local authorities operate the housing assistance payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47756/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support provided by all local authorities. The HAP Shared Services Centre (HAP SSC) collects rents from all HAP tenants and makes all HAP rental payments to landlords on behalf of the relevant local authorities.
There are minimal barriers to setting up HAP. In order to support eligible households immediately, which is a key principle of the HAP scheme and in order to remove barriers to the commencement of HAP support, landlords self-certify that they are tax compliant and that their property is in such a lettable condition that it meets the statutory requirements for rented accommodation as part of the HAP application process. Landlords are also informed and agree that the data they have supplied on the HAP Application Form will be shared with other public bodies, including the Revenue Commissioners, for the purpose of the prevention or detection of fraud.
The HAP SSC also manages the tax compliance element of the scheme on behalf of the relevant local authorities. Accordingly, the HAP SSC must follow the tax compliance requirements set down in the provisions of the scheme and the general tax requirements of all public bodies as provided for under the Taxes Consolidation Acts.
Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for the HAP scheme and contains the statutory provisions for the payment of HAP to a landlord by a housing authority for the rent of qualifying households. Section 39 provides for the payment of housing assistance in respect of qualified households and sets out the principal features of the scheme, including that the landlord must comply with the conditions set out in section 42, including demonstrating tax compliance.
Under section 42(2) of the 2014 Act the landlord must be tax compliant. It is therefore a statutory requirement that a landlord must give a PPSN number or tax reference and a current tax clearance certificate or evidence of tax compliance. In this regard, individuals receiving rental income, including HAP payments, should contact Revenue to ensure that they are tax compliant and/ or to apply for tax clearance.
Separate requirements are provided for under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 as amended, which requires that no payments may be made by a public body, including a local authority, totalling €10,000 or more in a 12 month period to an individual, company or other body without providing evidence of current tax compliance.
While the HAP SSC will continue to seek evidence of tax compliance from a landlord, they may continue to pay them after the 5 months threshold has been reached; however, they cannot pay them after the €10,000 threshold has been reached. The HAP SSC works with landlords on a daily basis to assist them in meeting their requirements under the scheme, including in relation to tax compliance, and it does not constitute a difficulty in the management of the scheme.
507. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the draft national planning framework is not available in Irish to date; when it will be available in Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47784/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland 2040 – Our Plan, the Draft National Planning Framework, sets a new long-term strategic planning and investment context for Ireland over the next 20 years.
The Draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document was published for public consultation on 27 September up to and including, 12 noon on Friday, 10 November.
Due to unexpected delays in translation and production services that were engaged in the translation of the 42,000 word draft consultation document into Irish, it was unfortunately not possible to publish an Irish version of the document during this final consultation period. However, an Irish version will be made available shortly. An Irish version of the final NPF to be approved by Government in due course will also be published at that time.
508. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the counties in which pyrite has been located; the way in which a person who suspects their home may have a pyrite problem can access information in cases in which this might be an issue in quarries in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47810/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn independent Pyrite Panel was established in September 2011 to explore options for a resolution to the problems caused by the presence of pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material which had manifested in dwellings in a number of local authority areas.
The Panel undertook a desktop study, in conjunction with a stakeholder consultation, to establish certain facts in relation to the potential exposure of pyrite in dwellings. The information was gathered from a number of sources including local authorities, structural guarantee providers, representatives of homeowners, private builders, construction professionals and public representatives and was cross referenced to verify, as far as practicable, its validity.
Seventy four estates were identified to the Pyrite Panel, as possibly having pyrite. At the time of the Report of the Pyrite Panel (June 2012), all of these estates were located in the five local authority areas of Dublin City, Fingal, Kildare, Meath and Offaly, although two estates were subsequently identified in 2014 as having pyrite problems, one each in the administrative areas of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council.
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 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 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.
The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. Further information on pyrite and the scheme are available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The Board may be contacted by phone at Lo call 1890 252842 or by email to info@pyriteboard.ie or alternatively at oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie.
509. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will have legislation in place to deal with wind turbine applications; if in the absence of this legislation, the 2006 guidelines are being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47876/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wind Energy Development Guidelines were issued in 2006 to planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. My predecessor as Minister, in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment announced an emerging "preferred draft approach" to the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in June 2017. A copy of the announcement is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/guidelines/wind-energy/coveney-and-naughten-announce-key-development-review-wind-energy-development-guidelines.
As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) will be undertaken on the "proposed draft approach" to the revised Guidelines before they come into effect. This is in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, the SEA Directive. SEA is a process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process.
It is envisaged that the SEA process will take approximately 9 months and tendering to engage consultants to carry out that process is currently underway. In light of the SEA requirements, it is expected that the revised Guidelines will not be finalised and come into effect until the first half of 2018. In the meantime, the current Guidelines remain in force.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. New legislation is not required to give effect to the new guidelines.
510. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding in place to help local authorities deal with vacant housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47882/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Voids Programme was introduced in 2014 by my Department to provide support to local authorities in preparing vacant social houses for re-letting as speedily as possible. This funding is available as an additional support over and above what local authorities provide themselves towards such works.
Between 2014 and 2016, my Department provided funding of some €1.45m to Cavan and Monaghan County Councils to assist in returning 157 vacant social houses to productive use. A further allocation of over €745,000 has been allocated to Cavan and Monaghan County Councils in 2017 to undertake the refurbishment of further vacant social houses.
In addition to local authorities being able to avail of funding provided under my Department's social housing capital investment programme to acquire, as well as construct, housing, a number of specific initiatives, such as the Repair and Leasing Scheme and the Buy and Renew Scheme, have also been introduced to support efforts by local authorities to engage with property owners with a view to bringing vacant residential property back into use for social housing purposes. My Department will continue to actively engage with any proposals brought forward by either Cavan or Monaghan County Councils in this regard.
In relation to the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) specifically, this is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for rental purposes. Subject to the suitability of the property for social housing and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of undertaking the necessary repairs to a property up to a maximum of €40,000 will be met up-front by the local authority or an approved housing body (AHB).
Data for Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council, based on the first full six months of activity of the scheme at end-September 2017, are set out in the table below. While no Agreements to Lease have been signed to date in the two counties concerned, the process of finalising units is under way and I expect a number of agreements will be signed shortly.
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Local Authority |
Number of applications received under RLS |
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Cavan County Council |
19 |
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Monaghan County Council |
9 |
Finally, under the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness - Rebuilding Ireland, an Acquisitions Fund of €70m, which is a revolving fund operated by the Housing Agency, has been established with the objective of acquiring 1,600 units nationally over the period to 2020 for social housing use. The Housing Agency is actively engaged with banks and investment companies in relation to its acquisitions programme. Once properties have been offered for consideration to the Agency by banks or investment companies, the Agency co-ordinates with local authorities regarding their local social housing requirements. When purchased by the Agency, these units are then predominantly sold on to approved housing bodies who seek nominations of prospective tenants from the local authorities.
511. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will respond to issues raised in correspondence from a person (details supplied); the way in which his Department responded to the declaration of the status red alert weather warning for its own employees and to the public generally; the protocols now in place for future status red alert weather warnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47931/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn its role as Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather events, my Department is concerned to ensure that public safety messages are disseminated as effectively as possible and are aimed at the communities or sectors that are considered to be vulnerable for the particular circumstances of the emergency. Appropriate safety messaging is developed and delivered by each sector of Government in light of experience and its own perceived needs. A programme of intensive safety messaging was implemented in advance of and during Storm Ophelia on foot of the Red Level Weather Warning issued by Met Éireann.
The two main queries raised in the correspondence referred to in the Question concern the rules or guidelines in place for employers regarding responses to Red Level Weather Warnings and the guidance that was issued to employers, to the self-employed, and to those working in the public sector regarding work related travel on 16 October 2017 during Storm Ophelia.
These issues fall under the remit of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in respect of the private sector and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the public sector. My Department will be engaging with both these Departments to request that they consider the issues raised and provide material for inclusion in the report to Government on Storm Ophelia which is currently being prepared.
In view of the Red Level weather warning, on 13 October 2017, my Department, through its National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management activated its procedures for responding to a severe weather event.
On the morning of 15 October 2017 a decision was taken to close Departmental offices located in counties for which Red Level weather warnings applied at that time. That evening, in light of updated weather warnings received from Met Éireann, my Department decided that its Headquarters at the Custom House would be substantially closed on 16 October. All contactable Dublin based staff were subsequently informed that, while the building would be open, only essential personnel would be required to attend.
The response to Storm Ophelia is currently being reviewed. A report is being prepared which will be submitted to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning for its attention before being submitted for the consideration of Government in January 2018.
512. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department has been contacted by an organisation (details supplied), a union and large multinationals regarding their concerns about the housing crisis, rent availability and affordability for employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47951/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThrough submissions received by my Department during the public consultation element of the recent review of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, and through direct engagement with the organisations referred to in the Question, including my participation at a number of meetings of the Labour Employer Economic Forum on 4 and 27 September 2017, I am aware of the concerns raised by employer and union interests in relation to the housing supply challenge, and their support and desire to see investment plans and reforms that will improve overall housing supply, with a particular focus on increased social and affordable housing, as well as full implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan.
For its part, the Government recognises the serious challenge we face in terms of housing which has been made a top priority through the development and implementation of Rebuilding Ireland. The Government reinforced its commitment to delivering on housing through the allocation of very significant funding under Budget 2018. In total, I have secured €1.9 billion for housing next year, an increase of €600 million, or 46%, on 2017. This represents an increase of 62% on the capital side to build new social homes and 35% on the current side to support homelessness, as well as supporting households into new social housing tenancies.
Looking beyond 2018, I have secured an extra €500 million for capital investment in social housing in the years 2019 to 2021, allowing the Rebuilding Ireland social housing target to be increased from 47,000 to 50,000 homes.
Under the Action Plan, we have set clear, measurable and ambitious targets to, among other things, double the annual level of new homes to 25,000 by 2020; deliver an additional 50,000 social housing units in the period to 2021; and meet the housing needs of some 87,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment.
We are already seeing some encouraging trends and outcomes from this increased investment and focus. Over 19,000 new social housing solutions were provided in 2016, with a further 21,000 such supports to be delivered in 2017. Planning permissions and construction site commencements are both showing significant growth on 2016 trends, signalling that increased supply is coming on stream.
While house prices are continuing to rise, reflecting the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand, particularly in Dublin and the other urban areas where pressure is greatest, there has been some moderation in rent inflation, following the introduction of rent pressure zones earlier this year.
Notwithstanding this wide-ranging platform of action, significant challenges remain and, one year on from Rebuilding Ireland’s publication, I initiated a focused review of the Action Plan. A number of themed initiatives have already been announced as part of the review, including new and enhanced commitments in relation to social housing and homelessness, an enhanced regulatory role for the Residential Tenancies Board as well as additional legislative and other measures to strengthen the protections available to tenants and landlords to ensure a sustainable rental sector.
In relation to housing affordability, as I have previously signalled, the Government recognises the housing affordability pressures faced by many households, particularly in certain parts of the country, and as such housing affordability has been examined across a range of interconnected policy areas in the context of the ongoing focused review of Rebuilding Ireland. This work will build on measures already in place to enable the provision of affordable homes, to buy or rent, including planning reforms, such as the fast-track planning approval process for large developments of scale; reduced and reformed development contributions; rent caps in specific Rent Pressure Zones; and further amendments to apartment planning guidelines to allow for more cost-effective and affordable apartment development for our city centres.
Budget 2018 has made provision for new funding of €25 million, to be provided over 2018 and 2019, aimed at unlocking local authority owned land specifically in order to deliver affordable housing on those sites. My Department is currently drawing up the criteria for access to this scheme, to be announced in the coming weeks, along with further affordability measures.
I believe that this Government's commitment to tackling housing has been clearly demonstrated in terms of the delivery on Rebuilding Ireland and the resources that have been allocated. My focus and that of all delivery agents will remain firmly on implementation and delivery to maintain and accelerate social housing delivery and wider housing output.
513. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures his Department is taking to collect data on the price of non-agricultural land; when he expects this information to be available for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47952/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department does not hold the data referred to in the question, the Property Registration Authority of Ireland records the names and addresses of every registered land owner. The index is kept in respect of each county and can be accessed at www.landdirect.ie.
Furthermore, information regarding the consideration paid and the details of the transfer of lands is maintained by the Revenue Commissioners, from stamp duty returns filed relating to the transfer of land, via their e-Stamping System.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the filer must indicate if the land falls within any of the following categories:
- Site only
- Agricultural land
- Non-Agricultural land
- New Commercial / Industrial Premises
- Second-hand Commercial / Industrial Premises.
In the context of the current housing supply shortage, the Government recognises the pressing need to ensure that land, in urban areas in particular, that is suitable for the development of housing is not held back by developers. A range of measures are being implemented under the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan to ensure that such land is brought forward for development at the earliest opportunity.
The vacant site levy, provided for in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, is designed to incentivise the development of vacant and under-utilised sites in urban areas for housing and regeneration purposes. A 3% levy becomes liable for payment on such lands from January 2018. As announced in Budget 2018, the 3% levy rate which applies in the first year of the vacant site appearing on the register will be increased to 7% in year 2 and subsequent years, resulting in an effective vacant site levy of 10% over the first two years. Any levy outstanding will remain a charge on the land concerned until paid and therefore there will be a cumulative effect associated with not activating a site for development.
Furthermore, in order to address the issue of the hoarding of residentially zoned land, a number of amendments have been tabled to the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which is currently at Dáil Report Stage. The amendments proposed are collectively aimed at tightening up existing provisions to ensure that extensions of duration of planning permissions cannot be granted where substantial development work has not been carried out during the initial life of the permission, with a particular focus on housing developments.
In addition, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform has recently signalled his intention to introduce a stamp duty refund scheme for certain qualifying development land, details of which will be introduced by way of a Report Stage amendment to the Finance Bill.
Rebuilding Ireland attaches a particular priority to using publicly owned lands for the delivery of housing as quickly as possible, supported by the acceleration in Exchequer-funded social housing and the delivery of more homes for sale and rent at lower and more affordable price points. All local authority housing sites and an initial set of broader State-owned sites have now been mapped and can be accessed at: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
Local authorities and the Housing Agency are now preparing strategic development plans for the prioritised development of these sites.
514. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of land owned by each local authority that could be developed; the amount of time each piece of land has been vacant or undeveloped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47954/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Local Authority Accounting in Ireland Code of Practice and Accounting Regulations, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/accounting_code_of_practice_january_2017_final.pdf.
A local authority is required to record its assets, including land assets, in the Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) when it is probable that the future economic benefits will flow to the local authority, and the asset has a cost or value that can be measured reliably.
Moreover, 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.
To this end, 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/. Local authorities are also required to confirm and update the data on a quarterly basis to ensure that the data held on this mapping database is fully up to date.
In order to ensure a consistent and comprehensive approach to the development of these publicly owned 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 with the most potential to deliver housing at scale, in the short to medium term. My Department has requested those local authorities that have yet to submit their plans, to do so without delay.
It is my intention that, when all the plans have been reviewed and finalised, they will be made available publicly, both on the dedicated Rebuilding Ireland website as well as the website of the relevant local authority.
My Department will continue to work with all local authorities, the Housing Agency and State bodies to ensure that, where appropriate, housing is delivered from publicly owned sites that are strategically located, serviced and available for development.
515. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the most recent estimate of the number of persons and families on homeless, housing and transfer lists in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council by housing area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47956/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) for which results are available was carried out as at 21 September 2016, providing details on the number of households that qualify for social housing support in each local authority. The full results of the 2016 Summary are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2016.pdf.
My Department is finalising the results of the 2017 SSHA and I expect that the data will be ready for publication within the next few weeks.
Official homeless reports are published on my Department's website on a monthly basis and can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). These reports capture details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities.
My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authority housing transfer lists. The management of these lists is a matter for individual local authorities and the numbers fluctuate continually as, for example, households are granted transfers, in accordance with an authority’s allocation scheme, to take up other accommodation options.
516. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units, including new build, purchased and tenancy vacancies of planned new homes, to be delivered by the housing departments of Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in timeframes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48007/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 over the lifetime of the plan.
With the increased national targets under Rebuilding Ireland, and the recent Budget 2018 increase to €1.9 billion in funding for housing programmes next year, increased national targets beyond 2017 will be issued to local authorities shortly. These will be based on the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments, a count of the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority.
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. This is evident in the most recent Status Report for Social Housing Construction Projects, which showed at end Q2 2017, some 11,000 new social homes at various stages of progress nationally. The Status Report is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-schemes-2017/.
In addition, my Department has put in place new targeted timelines for social housing construction projects that set out the optimum timeframe from initial project concept through to design, planning, procurement and mobilisation of contractor on site. The Programme puts an onus on all stakeholders - my Department, the local Authorities and the Approved Housing Bodies - to advance projects through the process in a timely manner.
My Department will continue to engage actively with all local authorities, including Dublin City and Fingal County Councils, to deliver social housing through all available avenues, with a particular emphasis on additional construction projects.
517. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of HAP tenancies expected in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in timeframes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48008/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra518. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of RAS tenancies expected in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in timeframes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48009/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together.
There are currently some 50,000 households nationally having their housing needs met via the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, and some 40,000 landlords or agents in receipt of HAP and RAS payments. These schemes provide social housing support for households already living in the private rental sector and for households who require long-term assistance with their housing needs, by allowing them to increase their income without the risk of losing their housing support. Under Rent Supplement, these households would lose their housing support payment, therefore putting their housing security at risk. On average, 346 new households are supported by HAP each week, and the Rebuilding Ireland 2017 target of supporting 15,000 additional households with the scheme has already been exceeded.
The following table sets out the new households supported by HAP and RAS in 2017 based on the most recent data available. It also sets out the households supported by HAP each week on average in 2017. The equivalent HAP numbers for the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE), which operates the Homeless HAP scheme across all Dublin local authority areas including Dublin City and Fingal, are also provided.
|
Authority |
RAS@ 30/9/17 |
HAP @ 13/11/17 |
HAP Weekly rate @ 13/11/17 |
|
Authority |
RAS@ 30/9/17 |
HAP @ 13/11/17 |
Average newly supported tenancies per week @ 13/11/17 |
|
DCC |
43 |
841* |
23 |
|
Fingal |
51 |
376* |
10 |
|
DRHE |
n/a |
1506 |
33 |
*HAP became operational in DCC and Fingal on 1 March 2017.
Budget 2018 has increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme by €149m to €301 million in order to meet the continuing costs of existing households and the costs of meeting the additional 17,000 households, targeted under Rebuilding Ireland, to be supported by HAP in 2018. The 2018 targets have been carefully projected and acknowledge the length of time the scheme has been established in each local authority, as well as the transfer of an increasing number of households from rent supplement to HAP. Current data indicates that around one third of new households receiving HAP for the first time have transferred from rent supplement. Overall, I expect this proportion to increase incrementally throughout 2018 and my Department will be working closely with local authorities and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to ensure that this target is met. This will facilitate a greater number of households who are currently living in private rented accommodation to receive more secure support in meeting their housing costs, and also allow them to increase their income without the risk of losing that support.
In 2018, funding of €134 million has been provided in order to support a further 600 new transfers under RAS and also to meet the ongoing cost of 19,900 households supported under the scheme. RAS remains an important social housing delivery mechanism; however the anticipated decreasing number of annual transfers from rent supplement to RAS is indicative of the increasing number of transfers from rent supplement to HAP.
I am satisfied with the operation and resourcing of HAP and RAS, and I am confident that the targets set under Rebuilding Ireland will be met.
