Written Answers Nos. 596-614
596. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to set out the number of persons who have had sanctions imposed on their payments in the context of the JobPath scheme since inception to date in 2017; the number of persons disqualified from receiving payments for the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49258/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment.
The service commenced operations in mid-2015, and reached full State-wide delivery of the service in July 2016.
In order to qualify for a jobseeker payment, a person must meet certain conditions, including the requirement to be available for, capable of and genuinely seeking full-time work. A range of sanctions, including disqualification, closure or disallowance of the jobseeker claim, may be imposed where a client fails to meet the stated conditions. A jobseeker claim may be reviewed at any time in order to establish continued entitlement.
Additionally, in relation to activation services, legislation provides that further sanctions/penalties in the form of reduced payments may be imposed by a Deciding Officer where clients fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures. Activation measures include the requirement to attend group or individual meetings with case officers and/or avail of suitable education, training or development opportunities, or specified employment programmes, which are considered appropriate to a person’s circumstances.
Where a person continues to fail, without good cause, to comply with activation measures, while on a penalty rate, he/she may be disqualified from receiving the personal rate of payment. The normal rate of payment may be reinstated at any time, if the jobseeker complies, as requested, with activation measures.
It is important to note that the rules and processes for the application of a reduced rate of payment are the same across all of the Department’s activation services, whether they are delivered directly by the Department’s own Intreo service or through its contracted services such as the Local Employment Service (LES) or JobPath service.
Only a departmental official - and not contractor’s staff - can make a decision to apply a reduced rate of payment. Contractors have no role in the decision making process. The process with regard to such decisions includes written/verbal warnings from a departmental official and an opportunity for the jobseeker to re-engage with the services prior to the application of a reduced payment rate.
Up to the end of October 2017 approximately 9,000, or 6.9% of the total 129,000 clients who engaged with the JobPath service between July 2015 and October 2017 have had, at some point, a penalty rate applied to their payment: some of these clients may have had the penalty rate applied after finishing their engagement period with the JobPath service, so the actual numbers who have had a penalty rate applied while with the JobPath service will be lower.
To be clear, the application of penalty rates is entirely a matter for my department and officials involved will take into account all relevant factors including where appropriate non-engagement with externally provided activation services. In this regard, while I am happy to advise the Deputy on penalty rates applied to those who have engaged with the JobPath service, the factors to be considered in applying a penalty rate precludes me from making a definitive statement that the sole context involved would have been non engagement with JobPath.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
597. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [49327/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 18 September 2017.
The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
598. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to set out the savings to the State annually when access to a sick leave payment changed from three days to six days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49333/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra599. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline her plans to make changes to the number of days off work required for a person to access a sick leave payment in view of the fact that the current situation leaves a person exposed in the event of sickness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49334/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together.
The projected full-year annual savings of extending the number of “waiting days” for Illness Benefit from three to six was €22 million when the measure was introduced in 2014.
I have no current plans to change the number of waiting days further. In the event that a person experiences financial difficulty during the waiting period, he/she may apply for the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme through the local Intreo service.
600. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to explain the reason a person's actual PRSI contributions in the year the person reaches 66 years of age are excluded in the calculation of yearly average PRSI contributions for the purposes of the State pension, contributory; the benefit the person receives for those contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49370/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraState pension (contributory) entitlement is calculated by the ‘yearly average’ system, where the total number of contributions paid or credited is divided by the number of years of the person’s insurance record. The maximum rate of pension is payable where a person has a yearly average of at least 48, and there are banded entitlements below that.
In calculating the yearly average, the number of full-rate contributions paid and/or credited is counted up to the end of the tax/contribution year before reaching pension age (66), and this total is divided by the number of tax/contribution years in their record up to that point. For example, if someone’s record was from 1972, and they turned 66 on 1 July 2016, it would be the contributions they paid or were credited in the period to 31 December 2015, divided by 44 years (i.e. every year from 1972 to 2015). Taking the subsequent period into account to calculate the yearly average could only increase their contributions by a maximum of 26 contributions, and if their yearly average was already higher than that, this would have the effect of reducing their yearly average, rather than increasing it, as the amended total would be divided by 45. Given the fact that in most cases, this would result in a lower rather than a higher yearly average, it is to most people’s advantage that the rule should apply as it does now.
However, the Deputy should note that the contributions can still be used to satisfy other pension conditions (notably the requirement to have a minimum of 520 contributions paid to qualify for State pension contributory).
It should be remembered that PRSI does not just fund the State pension contributory and enable people to qualify for that payment, but also working age benefits before they retire.
I do hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
601. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the position regarding the provision of a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors; when she expects this issue to be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49371/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) scheme supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector. The State is not responsible for funding pension arrangements for such employees even where the companies in question are reliant on State funding. It is open to individuals to make provision for a pension by way of PRSA which all employers are obliged to facilitate.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the issue of CE supervisors’ pension provision is currently being examined by a Community Sector High Level Forum, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department is represented on this group, as are IMPACT, SIPTU, Pobal and other relevant Government Departments. I understand their work is ongoing and that the Forum is due to meet again on 23 November 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
602. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to set out the number of private companies that have access to social protection personal files and-or records of citizens in the context of the public services card; if she will provide a list of those companies; the reason each company has access to those records or files; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49380/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, private companies do not have access to social protection data.
Section 263 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (as amended) sets out the legal basis for the issuance and use of the Public Services Card (PSC). Use of the PSC is restricted to public service bodies specified in law (known as specified bodies) and their agents (i.e., organisations working on their behalf or performing one of their public functions under contract).
Section 262 of the Act provides that Public Service Identity data (i.e. the personal data held on the PSC) can only be used by a specified body or its agent for authenticating the identity of an individual with whom it has a transaction and in performing its public functions insofar as those functions relate to the person concerned.
While it is a matter for each specified body how the legislation is implemented for individual services, each of them and their agents are, in all cases, required to process and store data in accordance with the Data Protection Acts.
In the context of services provided by my own Department:
- the PSC is produced in Ireland by an Irish-registered company called BCS. It was a condition of the award of contract that all data and related services provision and operation be provided on-site in Ireland and subject to the jurisdiction of the Irish courts. Once PSCs are personalised (i.e., the data is put on the card), the data used to so personalise them is not retained by BCS but is destroyed as an automatic part of the personalisation process in accordance with advice provided by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
- An Post is the only private organisation that reads the magnetic stripe on the PSC for the purposes of accessing the PPS Number. The PPS number is used by the Post Office to make welfare payments to customers in post offices.
- The Free Travel version of the PSC contains a contactless chip. This contactless chip allows the card to be used across the National Transport Authority’s Integrated Ticketing System commonly known as LEAP. The application is designed to only interact with a ticketing system reader deployed by the National Transport Authority. No personal information on a customer is made available to any transport operator either inside or outside of the jurisdiction when the Public Services Card is used to interact with the ticketing system.
I hope this clarifies the matter for Deputy.
603. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a payment will issue for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49390/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a successful appeal, this lady has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 14 December 2016. The first payment will be made to her chosen payment method on 29 November 2017.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
604. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49391/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
605. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in respect of a disability allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49392/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a successful appeal, this gentleman has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 1 February 2017. The first payment will be made to his chosen payment method on 22 November 2017.
Arrears of payment due, issued by cheque to this gentleman on 16 November 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
606. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to state the expected start date of the public consultation process on wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48710/17]
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 public consultation as part of the SEA process will be undertaken in early 2018.
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.
607. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the number of persons under 18 years of age with severe physical disabilities who are living in the family home in which the family is in receipt of HAP or RAS payments in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48758/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 518 of 14 of November 2017 if persons with a social housing need remain entitled to RAS; if local authorities have a statutory obligation to approve a person for RAS once a landlord who is willing to enter the RAS has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49329/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra643. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 518 of 14 November 2017 if the €134 million provided in budget 2018 to support a further 600 new transfers under RAS is for new RAS tenancies or for tenancies transferring out of RAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49330/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra644. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 518 of 14 November 2017 if all sections of the legislation underpinning RAS have been commenced; the legal entitlement of persons in need of social housing support to access RAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49331/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra645. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the differences between RAS tenancies post-1 April 2011 and HAP tenancies; the differences between RAS tenancies that were in place prior to 1 April 2011 and HAP tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49332/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 642 to 645, inclusive, together.
Section 229 of the Local Government Act 2001(as amended) provides local authorities with the statutory authority to enter into a contract with any person in respect of any matter arising in relation to the functions of the local authority. This provision allows local authorities to enter into contracts with property owners in order to secure properties for use as social housing support. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 gives legislative recognition to rental accommodation availability agreements as a form of social housing support. Consequently, since 1 April 2011, all Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) tenants are considered to be in receipt of social housing support and should not generally remain on housing waiting lists for new applicants for social housing.
Chapter 4 of Part 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, relating to rental accommodation arrangements, has not been commenced to date because its commencement requires that section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended, is commenced. Section 31, which provides for the introduction of a national framework for social housing rents, has not been commenced. 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. These proposals were 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. The review will be completed shortly.
In recognition that pre-2011 RAS tenants may have had reasonable expectations in regard to retaining access to traditional local authority rented accommodation, guidance issued by the Housing Agency in 2011 recommended that there should be a special transfer pathway provided for such RAS tenants to other forms of social housing support. The arrangement effectively allows these households to be designated as a ‘transfer’ applicant and to maintain their position for allocation as they had on the main waiting list. Post 2011 RAS tenant may seek a transfer to other forms of Social Housing Support in the normal manner.
With the commencement of the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is considered to be a social housing support. Ministerial Directions were issued during the pilot phase of the scheme to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP tenants could avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list. With the completion of the HAP roll-out and the ending of the scheme’s pilot phase on 1 March 2017, a further Ministerial Direction was issued, instructing local authorities to continue to offer HAP tenants access to other forms of social housing through the transfer list. The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their scheme of letting priorities. The setting of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and, as such, is a matter for the elected members.
The assessment of applications for social housing support, and management of the lists of qualified households, including the recording of data on the number of applications refused, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. The assessment of individual applicants for social housing support is a matter for the individual local authority, and each application is examined on a case by case basis. It is a matter for the local authority to determine the housing solution that best meets the needs of the applicant, while taking into account the resources and type of housing available to the authority. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme and the Rental Accommodation Scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of support for that household. My Department does not have a breakdown of the number of households supported by RAS or HAP which include people with disabilities.
My Department has made resources available under a range of schemes to local authorities which allow them to seek the most appropriate housing solution available to meet the housing needs of those households presenting. In a situation where a tenant has been deemed eligible for RAS, and the landlord (providing the property meets the necessary standards, is registered with the RTB and is tax compliant etc.) is also willing to enter a RAS agreement, there is no obstacle to the authority progressing such an application.
I have provided €134.3 million in Budget 2018 to support the cost of RAS. Monies are provided on an Exchequer neutral basis to meet the costs of persons transferring from the Rent Supplement (RS) Scheme to the RAS. This funding will go towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies in 2018 and the ongoing costs of the 19,900 RAS contracts estimated to be in place at end 2017.
I continue to keep the RAS and HAP schemes under review. However, I am generally satisfied with the operation of both schemes and I see them as important tools in meeting the ambitious targets set under Rebuilding Ireland.
608. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the number of applicants to date for the domestic wastewater treatment scheme for domestic septic tanks, as announced by the previous Government in 2013; the number of grants that were approved for individual applications in County Donegal; the number that are awaiting approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49051/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. Details of grants paid for domestic wastewater systems (including septic tanks) from January 2014 to November, 2017 are published on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/septic_tanks_grants_paid_2014-2017_14_nov_2017.pdf.
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.
As can be seen from the aforementioned figures, the total number of grants approved for individual applications in Co. Donegal was six in 2015 with a total amount of €15,281.26 paid in grants. There are no applications presently awaiting approval for Co. Donegal.
609. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline his plans to amend legislation on planning applications for companies that have been shown to engage in tax avoidance or poor building practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49151/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, enables planning authorities to refuse - subject to certain limitations - planning applications by any person who has not previously complied with a planning permission, with conditions attached to a permission, or who has previously carried out unauthorised development.
In the context of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 which is presently progressing through the Oireachtas, I have proposed a number of amendments to further strengthen the provisions of the 2000 Act. In this regard, section 11 of the Bill, as amended during consideration by the Dáil Select Committee, proposes to amend section 34 of the 2000 Act to require planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála, in deciding on planning applications and appeals, to have regard to previous developments by the applicant which have not been satisfactorily completed and also to any previous convictions against the applicant for non-compliance with the 2000 Act, the Building Control Act 2007 or the Fire Services Act 1981.
I have also tabled for consideration during the current Dáil Report Stage of the Bill an amendment to further strengthen the existing section 35 provisions on past performance to enable planning authorities to refuse planning permission in respect of proposed new developments, where a person has previously operated under a particular company name which has left estates unfinished and who subsequently applies for planning permission for a new development under a different company name.
As the overall purpose of the 2000 Act is to provide for proper planning and sustainable development and protection of the environment, it would not be appropriate to amend the Act to require planning authorities or the Board to have regard to matters outside the scope of the planning code, such as an applicant’s record of tax compliance, when deciding on planning applications and appeals.
610. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the national rent scheme will be introduced to County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48739/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the setting of social housing rents is a matter for each individual local authority.
Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, as amended, provided for the introduction of a national framework for social housing rents. 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. These proposals were 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. This review will be completed shortly.
611. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline his plans for the introduction of a new affordable housing scheme to assist those on modest incomes to buy a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48741/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra627. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the options available for affordable housing for persons not eligible for social housing; the way in which to access these options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49025/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra629. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline his plans to introduce an affordable housing scheme; the timeframe for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49046/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 611, 627 and 629 together.
The Government recognises the housing affordability pressures faced by households with low to moderate income, particularly in parts of the country where housing costs are highest. Therefore, housing affordability has been examined by my Department, in consultation with the Housing Agency, local authorities and other stakeholders as part of the targeted review of Rebuilding Ireland. The examination was carried out under the generally accepted premise that housing is deemed affordable where households, particularly low- or moderate-income households, are paying no more than a third of their disposable income on meeting their accommodation needs.
Through the Rebuilding Ireland programme, Government policy is clearly focused on increasing housing supply, particularly the supply of homes at more affordable price points. Recent housing activity reports, available on www.rebuildingireland.ie, show that strong supply-side measures introduced under Rebuilding Ireland are beginning to have a positive impact, with all output indicators showing positive upward trends:
- Planning permissions are up 49%: 19,246 new homes were granted planning permission in the year to end June;
- Commencement Notices are up by 49%: notices for 17,323 new homes nationwide were submitted in the year to end September; and
- ESB connections to the National Grid are up 26%, at 17,958 homes nationally in the year to end September, 8,177 of which are in the Greater Dublin Area.
Regarding those most challenged in terms of affordability, there were 91,600 households on the social housing waiting list in 2016. The Government is committed to meeting this need and that is why I have increased the overall target for new social housing delivery by 2021 under Rebuilding Ireland from 47,000 to 50,000 homes, with the total ring-fenced investment increasing from €5.35 billion to over €6 billion to 2021. In order to meet the overall social housing need, there is also a target to deliver 84,000 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies. Over 19,000 households had their needs met in 2016, with a further 21,000 such supports due to be delivered in 2017.
The Government is also committed to ensuring there is a supply of affordable homes. A range of measures have been taken, for example, planning reforms to provide flexibility to deliver viable housing schemes and apartment developments in the right locations, and the provision of funding to service housing lands through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), to deliver new homes that are more viable and more affordable than would otherwise be the case.
In Budget 2018, the Government has removed significant obstacles to building more homes, more quickly, and at more affordable prices by:
- Investing more in direct house-building by the State;
- Removing the Capital Gains Tax incentive to hold on to residential land;
- Escalating penalties for land hoarding; and
- Providing a new, more affordable finance vehicle for builders through House Building Finance Ireland (HBFI).
In addition, as announced in the Budget, I am providing funding of €25 million, over 2018 and 2019, to unlock local authority-owned lands specifically for affordable housing, using models such as co-operative housing initiatives which have already proven to be successful but are now needed at greater scale. The criteria for accessing this new fund are currently being considered by my Department and I expect to be in a position to announce details in the coming weeks.
612. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out by county the number of persons registered under the Residential Tenancies Board. [48759/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not hold or collate the data referred to by the Deputy in relation to the number of persons registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on a county basis.
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.
613. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the level of funding from the Residential Tenancies Board to Wicklow County Council in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [48760/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems.
On 1 July 2017, updated regulatory standards, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, came into effect. These Regulations focus on tenant safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. In August, my Department published a guidance document to assist and support local authorities in implementing the new Regulations.
All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority, supported by a dedicated stream of funding provided from a portion of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees, collected by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
Since the establishment of the RTB, over €34 million has been paid to local authorities to assist them in the performance of their functions under the Housing Acts, including the inspection of rented accommodation. Over 185,000 inspections were carried out during this period. The Department offers a subvention to local authorities to carry out inspection of properties under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations. Funding is currently dispersed on the basis of €100 per inspection carried out and €50 per follow-up inspection which achieves compliance.
Over the five years from 2010 to the end of 2014, a total of €442,115 was provided to Wicklow County Council for inspection purposes; €107,918 in 2010, €134,325 in 2011, €87,972 in 2012, €75,300 in 2013 and €36,600 in 2014. Pending the completion of ongoing engagement with Wicklow County Council in relation to its inspection and enforcement function, no funding has been provided to the Council in respect of 2015, 2016 or 2017.
614. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the purpose of bodies (details supplied); the reason each local authority is required to pay funds to these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48761/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) is a networking, policy development and training resource for the elected members of Ireland's local authorities. The Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) acts as a body for the representation of the interests of elected members of local authorities.
Section 225 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, provides that a local authority may hold membership of an association of local authorities. Section 226 of the Act provides that each elected member of a local authority may in his or her own right hold membership of LAMA. The Act provides that each local authority may make annual contributions to the funds of the AILG and LAMA. The decision to hold or to cease to hold membership of the AILG is a reserved function of the elected members of each local authority.
The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) was established under the Local Government Act 1991 (Regional Assemblies) (Establishment) Order 2014. The functions and powers of regional assemblies are as set out under Part 3 of the Order. Article 57(11) of the Order provides that the expenses of a regional assembly incurred in accordance with its adopted budget shall be refunded to the assembly by the constituent local authorities within its regional area and in proportion to the populations of their respective functional areas.
