Tuesday, 28 Nov 2017

Written Answers Nos. 677-700

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals

Ceisteanna (677)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

677. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50652/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st September 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 07th November 2017 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for 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.

Question No. 678 answered with Question No. 661.

Foireann Roinne

Ceisteanna (679, 680)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

679. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Gnóthaí Fostaíochta agus Coimirce Sóisialaí cén líon iomlán foirne atá fostaithe ina Roinn faoi láthair; cé mhéid post atá daingnithe nó aitheanta ag an Roinn (i scéim teanga, nó ar aon bhealach eile) mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo; cé mhéid duine atá ann ag a bhfuil líofacht i nGaeilge agus atá ag feidhmiú sna poist sin atá daingnithe no aitheanta mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo; an bhfuil sí beartaithe ag an tráth seo aon phost eile de chuid na Roinne a aithint mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge. [50681/17]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

680. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Gnóthaí Fostaíochta agus Coimirce Sóisialaí cé mhéid folúntas a líonadh ina Roinn ó thús na bliana seo; cé mhéid de na folúntais sin a bhain le poist a bhí sainaitheanta mar phoist a raibh Gaeilge riachtanach ina leith; cé mhéid folúntas atá le líonadh faoi láthair agus cé mhéid de na folúntais siúd atá sainaitheanta mar fholúntais a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo. [50698/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 680 together.

Tá mo Roinn tiomanta do sheirbhís do chustaiméirí ar ardchaighdeán a sholáthar i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Tá Scéim Teanga 2015 - 2018 na Roinne i bhfeidhm ón 16 Márta 2015 agus beidh feidhm léi ar feadh tréimhse trí bliana nó go dtí go ndeimhneoidh an tAire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta Scéim nua. Tá an Scéim sin, ina leagtar síos tiomantais na Roinne do sheirbhís do chustaiméirí i nGaeilge agus a thugann eolas faoi na seirbhísí atá ar fáil trí Ghaeilge, foilsithe ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne www.welfare.ie.

Táim sásta go bhfuil dóthain foirne againn in áiteanna i láthair na huaire chun freagra a thabhairt ar iarratais chun seirbhísí na Roinne a sheachadadh trí Ghaeilge. I gcás ina dtagann folúntas chun cinn in áit ina bhfuil gá le feidhm dhátheangach, féachann mo Roinn leis an bhfolúntas sin a líonadh ó phainéil arna mbunú ag an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí.

Tá cuntas sa tábla thíos ar an bhfaisnéis atá á lorg ag an Teachta Dála:

An Roinn Gnóthaí Fostaíochta agus Coimirce Sóisialaí	Iomlán
Foireann reatha	6382
Poist a líonadh in 2017	444
Poist a líonadh in 2017 áit ar aithníodh líofacht sa Ghaeilge mar riachtanas	2
Folúntais le líonadh faoi láthair	176
Folúntais atá le líonadh faoi láthair áit ar aithníodh líofacht sa Ghaeilge mar riachtanas	1

Mortgage Lending

Ceisteanna (681)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

681. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount that was loaned in mortgages for newly built homes over the past 25 to 30 years. [50237/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Certain data on loan approvals and payments in respect of new homes for the years 1970 to 2006 and 2007 to 2016 are available on my Department’s website. Due to a change in data sources for lending institution information, loan payments data up to and including 2006 are not directly comparable to the information from 2007 onwards. The data from 2007 onwards relates to loan payments by the Banking Payments Federation of Ireland and local authorities. Data prior to 2006 was sourced directly from lending agencies and local authorities and included an unquantifiable element of mortgage re-financing.  

This data can be found at the following weblink under the loan payments heading:

www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/mortgage-market-statistics.

Wind Energy Guidelines

Ceisteanna (682, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 713)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

682. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the regulations that pertain to industrial style wind farm developments will be implemented; if these regulations will take account of the concerns regarding flicker, separation distance, height of turbines being proposed and the effect on rural landscapes including the impact upon the local heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50308/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

705. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the evidence base and reasoning that has been used to arrive at a setback distance figure of four times the tip height from residential property with respect to visual amenity as set out at key aspect 2 in the preferred draft approach of the targeted review of the wind energy development guidelines 2006 published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50240/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

706. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the legislative basis and specific statutory provisions under which circular letters Pl20 2013 and Pl05 2017 are issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50241/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

707. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if circular letters Pl20 2013 and Pl05 2017 are advisory in nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50242/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

708. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if statutory authority attributable to circular letters Pl20 2013 and Pl05 2017 is solely underpinned by the section 28 guidelines to which they refer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50243/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

709. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the policy and or objective in the wind energy development guidelines 2006 including specific references; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50244/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

710. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has been informed of the recent position subsequent to April 2014 by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the proposed renewable energy export policy and development framework that is referenced in circular letter PL 20 2013 and endorsed by circular letter PL 05 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50245/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

713. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the wind energy development guidelines 2006 have been subject to strategic environmental assessment in line with requirements under the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50248/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 682, 705 to 710, inclusive, and 713 together.

The Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan and development management processes. The Guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for such developments. The policy context, including renewable energy policy, for the Guidelines is set out in section 1.2 of Chapter 1.

The 2006 Guidelines were not subject to a strategic environmental assessment (SEA).  As the Deputy will be aware, a focused review of the 2006 Guidelines is currently underway.

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: www.housing.gov.ie/planning/guidelines/wind-energy/coveney-and-naughten-announce-key-development-review-wind-energy-development-guidelines.

It is important to mention that, as part of the overall review, and having regard to the recent ECJ Judgement in a case relating to the Belgian/Wallonian wind energy guidelines, it is proposed to undertake a SEA of the proposed revisions to the 2006 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.

It is estimated that the SEA process will take approximately 9 months and tendering to engage the necessary expertise to carry out that process is well advanced.  In light of the SEA requirements, it is expected that the Guidelines will not be finalised and come into effect until 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.

With regard to the proposed setback distance requirements in the "preferred draft approach", which are based on international examples, these are primarily proposed for visual amenity purposes so that the setting of an appropriate setback in any planning determination takes account of turbine size, while also taking account of other factors such as site design and layout, the scale of the project and its effects on the topography and landscape of the area. Furthermore, the "preferred draft approach" requirements in relation to setback distance will also be subject to the need to separately comply with the proposed noise limits in the "preferred draft approach".

My Department issues periodic advice and guidance by way of circular letters to planning authorities on a range of planning related issues.  General Departmental circulars do not have a statutory basis as compared to the Planning Acts, Regulations made under the Acts or any Ministerial Guidelines, Directives or Directions issued under the Acts. 

However, Departmental circulars, which are generally advisory in nature, are used as a means for providing information to planning authorities in relation to various legislative provisions and requirements, to outline and clarify Government or Department policy, and to provide practical advice on the implementation of the planning code and general planning matters, with a view to ensuring consistency in approach and implementation by all local authorities. 

In addition, under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as Minister, I am empowered to issue guidelines to planning authorities as may be required.  Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 and must apply any specific planning policy requirements therein in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts.

My Department issued circular letter PL 20/2013 on 20 December 2013, the purpose of which was to advise that, in light of developing relevant national policy reviews, local authorities should defer amending their existing Development Plan policies in relation to wind energy and renewable energy generally as part of either the normal cyclical six-yearly review or plan variation processes.

On 3 August 2017, my Department issued circular letter PL 05/2017 which reiterated the advice in previous circular letter PL 20/2013 and provided an update on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.  However, its primary purpose was to issue new Ministerial section 28 Interim Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Statutory Plans, Renewable Energy and Climate Change, entitled Interim Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Statutory Plans, Renewable Energy and Climate Change – July 2017, with a focus on the administrative procedures which should be carried out, and the national policies relating to renewable energy and wind energy that regard should be taken of, in the adoption or variation of statutory development plans.

Traveller Accommodation

Ceisteanna (683)

Pat Buckley

Ceist:

683. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2016 and 2017 Cork County Council drew down none of the money allocated for Traveller accommodation despite a clear need for new developments including in the case of persons (details supplied). [50489/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and 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. 

The current round of TAPs were adopted in 2014, with the five-year rolling programmes running from 2014 to 2018.  These programmes provide a road map for local authority investment priorities over the period.  The allocations and recoupment profiles for capital Traveller accommodation projects can vary across housing authorities given the local priorities, circumstances and project timelines as set out in the TAPs.  

Accommodation for Travellers is provided across a range of options, including standard local authority, private rented accommodation assisted by the housing authority or voluntary organisations, Traveller-specific accommodation and through their own resources.  It is open to Travellers to opt for any form of accommodation, including Traveller-specific accommodation, and local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes are intended to reflect these preferences. My Department provides 100% capital funding for Traveller-specific accommodation and also provides funding for accommodation related supports to operate in tandem with the capital programme.

Local authorities submit funding proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments on an annual basis, which are assessed on a case-by-case basis in my Department in advance of allocations being made.  In addition, further funding may be considered by my Department throughout the year, also on a case by case basis, in the light of progress across the programme generally. 

While my Department does not get involved in the case of individual households, which are a matter for the relevant housing authority, in this case Cork County Council, it is of course a matter of concern when funds available to any local authorities for traveller accommodation are not drawn down. In that regard, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to establishing a special working group to audit the current delivery and implementation of local authorities’ Traveller Accommodation Programmes and consult with stakeholders on key areas of concern. This commitment was underpinned in Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which provided for the commissioning by the Housing Agency, on behalf of my Department, of an expert, independent review of capital and current funding for Traveller-specific accommodation for the period 2000 to date, having regard to the targets contained in the local authority TAPs and actual units delivered, the current status of the accommodation funded and the funding provided for accommodation maintenance and other supports.

This report was finalised and submitted to the National Traveller Accommodation Committee (NTACC) for consideration at its meeting on 28 August 2017.  The NTACC is a statutorily-appointed Committee, comprising key stakeholders, including Traveller representative groups, to advise the Minister with responsibility in relation to Traveller accommodation matters.  On foot of its considerations of the report, the NTACC collectively agreed to advise me to establish an Expert Group to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation.  This is in keeping with the Programme for Partnership Government and I have agreed to proceed with the establishment of this Expert Group. 

I have also agreed that a review of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 should be part of the work of the Expert Group.  The composition, terms of reference and methodology of this Expert Group are currently being formulated with a view to it being in place as soon as possible. 

Local Authority Funding

Ceisteanna (684, 685)

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

684. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department will allocate more funding to Mountmellick following the recent flash flooding which has caused damage to homes, businesses and roads in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50623/17]

Micheál Martin

Ceist:

685. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department will allocate funding to Laois County Council for Mountmellick and other areas in County Laois following the recent flash flooding which has caused damage to homes businesses and roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50624/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 684 and 685 together.

Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities to cover the costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works associated with significant emergency events, including flooding. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in responding to severe weather emergencies and the fact that the costs of these unprogrammed activities cannot be met from within existing resources. 

My Department has written to all local authorities inviting them to submit claims for the recoupment of exceptional costs associated with the response to and clean-up following Ex-hurricane Ophelia, and is liaising with Laois County Council with regard to the recoupment of its exceptional response and clean-up costs associated with the flooding event in Mountmellick on 22 November.

Funding of repair of public infrastructure is undertaken by the relevant Department in line with its sectoral responsibility.  Capital costs associated with infrastructural damage, for example damage to the roads network and coastal protection infrastructure (where relevant), are not included therefore under the above arrangements. 

I am aware also that a number of emergency humanitarian support schemes have been put in place to assist households and small businesses affected by the recent flooding event in Laois.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection confirmed on 23 November that its Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is available to assist people in Laois whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. The scheme is means tested and assistance is not provided for losses which are covered by insurance or for commercial and business losses.

Financial support under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme is targeted initially at the immediate needs of those who may have been directly impacted by the flooding (such as clothing and food) with further support available (financial support for household items and structural repair) as the clean-up operations begin. More information on the Scheme is available at: www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Humanitarian-Assistance-Scheme.aspx.

In addition, the Department of Defence has activated an Emergency Humanitarian Scheme for small businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies, to be operated by the Irish Red Cross.  The scheme provides temporary emergency humanitarian support to small businesses that have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been impacted by flooding. It is intended as a contribution towards the costs of returning business premises to their pre-flood condition including the replacement of flooring, fixtures, fittings and damaged stock.  

The scheme is targeted at small businesses (up to 20 employees) and has two stages: the first stage commenced immediately and will provide a contribution of up to €5,000, depending on the scale of damage incurred. In the event that businesses have incurred significant damages above €5,000, the second stage will provide a means to seek further support. However, this will require a more detailed assessment.

Further information, including application forms and eligibility criteria, are available on the Irish Red Cross website, at:

www.redcross.ie/news-and-events/laois-humanitarian-support-scheme/.

Local Authority Boundaries

Ceisteanna (686)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

686. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the engagement he has had with the implementation group of the boundary between Cork city and county councils; and the position regarding the negotiations between the two local authorities. [49925/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I established the Cork Local Government Implementation Oversight Group to oversee arrangements for the alteration of the boundary between the respective areas of jurisdiction of Cork City Council and Cork County Council, in light of the recommendation in the report of the Cork Expert Advisory Group.

The group submitted an interim implementation plan in September 2017 as requested by Government and indicated that a report on the boundary issue would be submitted by year end. The Chairman of the Group has confirmed to my Department that this work is proceeding in accordance with their terms of reference and I understand that the executive of both Cork local authorities are engaging as part of this process. I have had no direct engagement with the three members of the Group and I await their report which I will consider in due course.

Appointments to State Boards Data

Ceisteanna (687, 693)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

687. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of vacancies in each State board under the aegis of his Department, in tabular form. [49939/17]

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

693. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the names of persons he has appointed to each State board under the aegis of his Department that have not come from the Public Appointments Service list of suitable candidates, in tabular form. [50001/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 and 693 together.

Details in relation to the membership of State Boards under the aegis of my Department, including the dates of appointment and mechanisms of appointment, are available on the Department’s website at the following link:

www.housing.gov.ie/corporate/transparency-data/appointments-state-boards/appointments-declg-state-boards.

In the case of certain appointments to State Boards, statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate. In addition, in the case of a number of Boards, not all of the appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister, and in some situations appointments are made by the Minister with the consent of another Minister. Furthermore, appointments to An Bord Pleanála are of a full-time executive nature and are governed by statutory processes.

 A “unitary board structure” is in place for Ervia and its subsidiaries, Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland.  An overarching non-executive board has overall responsibility and accountability for the performance of the Ervia Group. The Boards of the two principal Ervia subsidiaries, Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland, are executive-only boards.

The Public Appointments Service portal www.stateboards.ie offers a single dedicated point of contact to all Government Departments, as a support to the existing State Board appointment procedures.  This service provides a mechanism for Departments to advertise board vacancies and it gives prospective candidates an opportunity to register their general interest in a position on a State Board and to be alerted to upcoming vacancies.  This process for appointments to State Boards includes an assessment of the skills and competencies required to be a member of the relevant Board.

A process is underway to fill a vacancy in An Bord Pleanála and a further Board member position which can be added to the Board's complement under its governing legislation.  There is also potential for a further member to be appointed to the Board of the Housing Agency.

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

Ceisteanna (688)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

688. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the supports he has put in place to enable the development of residentially zoned lands in the Dublin 15 area of Fingal County Council to the south of the Dunboyne railway line at Barnhill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49947/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The first call for proposals under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was issued to all local authorities in August 2016 and 34 projects received preliminary approval in March 2017.

Fingal County Council submitted four projects under the call in October 2016, including a distributor road in Donabate, an access road in Oldtown/Mooretown, road updgrade, wetlands and park in Baldoyle Stapolin and a distributor road in Barnhill. Funding was approved for three of these projects in the amount of €26.58m.  However, while the Barnhill project was assessed as meriting funding, it was not possible to include this project in the March 2017 approvals, within the overall limited level of funding available.  

As part of Budget 2018, I announced an additional €50 million funding which will be available for a second LIHAF call and which will again be subject to matching funding of 25% by local authorities. This capital funding will facilitate the provision of more public infrastructure to unlock further sites and activate more housing supply.  

A further call for proposals under LIHAF is likely early in 2018 and it will be open to all local authorities to submit new projects or resubmit previous unsuccessful projects for consideration at that time.

Water Services Funding

Ceisteanna (689)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

689. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for the ongoing review of funding supports for group water schemes; the length of time the review will take; the lead official in his Department working on the review; the organisations and persons that have been consulted to date; the opportunities available to individual group water schemes or interested third parties to engage with the consultation. [49952/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

In its report published in April 2017, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services recommended that that the principles of equity of treatment and equivalent financial support be applied equally between households using public water services and those availing of private water services. It recommended that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government conduct a review, in coordination with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and other relevant stakeholders, to quantify what additional investment is required to equalise treatment between households. It recommended that following such a review, identified investment be provided.

As an initial step in reviewing the supports available to the rural water community my Department is currently in discussions with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes, the representative body for the group water sector, on the future subsidy levels for group water schemes.  I expect this review to be concluded shortly in order to allow for any subsidy changes to be introduced from 1 January 2018.

Separate to the initial review of group water scheme subsidy levels, I intend to establish a working group, chaired at Assistant Secretary level, to conduct a wider review of investment needs and rural water services, focusing on issues such as governance, supervision and monitoring of the sector, and capital investment requirements.  I would expect that this Group will engage widely with relevant stakeholders and will aim to complete its work by mid-2018.

Water Services Funding

Ceisteanna (690)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

690. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding his Department provides to a group (details supplied) on an annual basis since the group was established. [49953/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Funding is provided through my Department's Rural Water Programme to the National Federation of Group Water Schemes to support their work within the group water sector. The funding provided to the Federation since its formation in 1998 is set out in the table hereunder. Following a routine internal audit in 2013 which highlighted the accumulation of cash surpluses by the Federation, reduced funding was provided in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Funding levels to the Federation are being progressively restored since 2016.

Year	Amount
1998	€126,973.81
1999	€317,434.52
2000	€317,434.52
2001	€327,404.23
2002	€441,147.73
2003	€506,066.31
2004	€507,895.23
2005	€507,895.23
2006	€507,895.23
2007	€509,892.23
2008	€507,895.23
2009	€507,895.23
2010	€507,895.23
2011	€507,895.23
2012	€450,000.00
2013	€256,251.23
2014	€56,252.06
2015	€58,414.28
2016	€366,168.48
2017 (to 24   November 2017)	€272,216.29
Total	€7,560,922.30

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Ceisteanna (691)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

691. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the capital investment by his Department in individual group water schemes in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [49954/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

My Department’s Rural Water Programme, prior to 2016, provided capital funding to group water schemes through a series of funding measures based on block grants. The block grants were made annually to local authorities who administer the programme on behalf of my Department. These block grants, enabling capital works to group water schemes, were made under the following measures of the programme:

- Measure 1 – Quality Deficient Group Water Schemes

- Measure 2 – Water Conservation – Network Upgrades

- Measure 3 – New Group Water Schemes

- Measure 4 – Specific Source Protection Works

- Measure 5 – Capital Replacement Works.

Details of the amounts recouped to the relevant local authorities under these measures are outlined in the tables below for the years 2014 and 2015. Details of funding for individual group water schemes are available from the relevant local authorities.

The 2014 payments to local authorities under Measures 1-5 of the Rural Water Programme are outlined in the table below.

Local Authority	Measure 1	Measure 2	Measure 3	Measure 4	Measure 5	Total
Carlow		€405,923.27		€7,650.00	€10,290.00	€423,863.27
Cavan		€550,000.00		€25,500.00	€13,173.47	€588,673.47
Clare	€33,651.00					€33,651.00
Cork	€85,863.79	€81,311.00				€167,174.79
Donegal	€113,708.01	€30,329.80				€144,037.81
Galway	€702,646.68	€464,970.03		€51,000.00		€1,218,616.71
Kerry	€492,539.63			€5,100.00		€497,639.63
Kildare	€3,448.99					€3,448.99
Kilkenny	€217,418.82	€93,323.09			€24,636.38	€335,378.29
Laois	€266,072.38	€183,143.13	€16,317.40	€12,750.00	€10,291.02	€488,573.93
Leitrim	€0.00	€150,920.38		€2,550.00		€153,470.38
Limerick	€550,557.93	€134,199.44		€28,050.00	€194,561.56	€907,368.93
Longford	€144,681.18		€3,554.70	€5,100.00		€153,335.88
Louth	€133,117.18	€84,554.55	€826.31			€218,498.04
Mayo	€1,125,625.53	€417,170.92		€45,900.00		€1,588,696.45
Meath	€0.00				€37,065.25	€37,065.25
Monaghan	€12,000.00	€594,721.11		€5,099.98		€611,821.09
North Tipperary	€21,642.45	€454,504.78				€476,147.23
Offaly	€56,000.00	€398,621.92				€454,621.92
Roscommon	€1,125,070.16	€387,953.22		€17,850.00		€1,530,873.38
Sligo	€609,863.19					€609,863.19
South Tipperary	€0.00	€108,144.20		€2,550.00		€110,694.20
Waterford	€55,889.36					€55,889.36
Westmeath	€38,331.16	€27,449.89	€21,635.57	€2,550.00		€89,966.62
Wexford	€0.00			€12,750.00	€11,726.93	€24,476.93
Wicklow	€127,598.00	€11,653.50		€10,200.00	€10,291.02	€159,742.52
Total	€5,915,725.44	€4,578,894.23	€42,333.98	€234,599.98	€312,035.63	€11,083,589.26

The 2015 payments to local authorities under Measures 1-5 of the Rural Water Programme are outlined in the table below.

Local Authority	Measure 1	Measure 2	Measure 3	Measure 4	Measure 5	Total
Carlow		€150,645.84				€150,645.84
Cavan		€496,668.65		€5,100.00	€581,671.00	€1,083,439.65
Clare	€103,405.69	€147,228.80	€2,607.92	€7,650.00		€260,892.41
Cork	€147,926.00	€350,892.00	€25,902.64	€30,600.00		€555,320.64
Donegal	€22,917.19	€54,469.07		€5,100.00		€82,486.26
Galway	€1,441,411.27	€900,449.94		€10,200.00		€2,352,061.21
Kerry	€198,695.18		€13,338.72			€212,033.90
Kildare	€25,034.71	€81,175.27		€7,650.00		€113,859.98
Kilkenny	€298,011.22	€117,889.57		€15,300.00		€431,200.79
Laois	€233,751.46	€201,953.41				€435,704.87
Leitrim	€4,658.23	€59,527.69				€64,185.92
Limerick	€236,167.14	€388,521.50		€2,550.00	€96,765.07	€724,003.71
Longford			€36,663.81			€36,663.81
Louth		€182,896.24				€182,896.24
Mayo	€763,609.83	€810,256.23				€1,573,866.06
Meath		€203,856.85		€2,550.00		€206,406.85
Monaghan	€249,999.99	€487,499.44				€737,499.43
Offaly		€407,519.00				€407,519.00
Roscommon	€447,309.90	€192,696.57		€7,850.00		€647,856.47
Sligo	€249,219.40	€38,637.95		€17,850.00		€305,707.35
Tipperary	€92,954.74	€366,192.01				€459,146.75
Waterford		€55,099.90	€2,814.23			€57,914.13
Westmeath		€22,984.32				€22,984.32
Wexford		€305,497.50				€305,497.50
Wicklow	€25,875.70			€7,650.00		€33,525.70
Total	€4,540,947.65	€6,022,557.75	€81,327.32	€120,050.00	€678,436.07	€11,443,318.79

In 2016, my Department introduced a multi-annual approach to funding the Rural Water Programme. This new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016–2018 is transitioning from block grants to a scheme based funding approach under the programme. My Department recoups capital funding to local authorities who continue to administer the programme on behalf of the Department. My Department is working towards collating expenditure on both a measure and individual scheme basis from 2018 onwards.

Individual scheme and block based grant funding for group water schemes were made under the following measures of the new programme:

- Measure 1 - Environmental and public health compliance (group water sector)

- Measure 2 - Enhancement of existing schemes (group water sector)

- Measure 3 - Rural development (group water sector)

- Measure 4 - Transition of group schemes (water and waste water) to public water sector (Irish Water)

- Measure 5 - Innovation and Research.

Measure 1 is transitioning to an individual scheme based approach in 2017 (with some remaining block grants). Measures 3, 4 and 5 are scheme based from 2016. Measure 2 continues to be a block grant based approach.

Details of the expenditure by the relevant local authorities under these measures are outlined in the tables below for the years 2016 and 2017 (to 27/11/2017). Details of funding for individual group water schemes are available from the relevant local authorities.

The 2016 payments to local authorities under Measures 1-5 of the Rural Water Programme are outlined in the table below.

Local Authority	Measure 1	Measure 2	Measure 3	Measure 4	Measure 5	Total
Carlow	€0.00	€53,606.68		€0.00	€0.00	€53,606.68
Cavan	€2,875.74	€315,550.36		€0.00	€2,500.00	€320,926.10
Clare	€41,268.60	€187,454.80		€0.00	€0.00	€228,723.40
Cork	€35,664.07	€112,518.68		€174,902.51	€0.00	€323,085.26
Donegal	€4,629.17	€0.00		€1,993.83	€0.00	€6,623.00
Galway	€111,885.66	€991,013.96		€8,884.69	€2,610.01	€1,114,394.32
Kerry	€0.00	€0.00		€117,322.81	€0.00	€117,322.81
Kildare	€0.00	€43,979.74		€0.00	€0.00	€43,979.74
Kilkenny	€42,348.30	€120,046.48		€0.00	€0.00	€162,394.78
Laois	€65,124.85	€179,115.44	€1,771.20	€173,843.04	€5,198.85	€425,053.38
Leitrim	€0.00	€84,803.11		€5,163.60	€0.00	€89,966.71
Limerick	€21,444.86	€119,938.59		€0.00	€0.00	€141,383.45
Longford	€20,464.05	€0.00	€14,883.36	€0.00	€0.00	€35,347.41
Louth	€2,000.00	€172,851.32		€0.00	€58,075.00	€232,926.32
Mayo	€3,632,867.48	€775,142.82	€269,734.60	€142,887.41	€0.00	€4,820,632.31
Meath	€0.00	€212,761.57		€0.00	€0.00	€212,761.57
Monaghan	€36,245.95	€417,450.63		€0.00	€7,210.00	€460,906.58
Offaly	€167,424.00	€100,681.50		€0.00	€0.00	€268,105.50
Roscommon	€145,944.13	€254,622.85		€0.00	€0.00	€400,566.98
Sligo	€0.00	€7,650.00		€1,897.79	€0.00	€9,547.79
Tipperary	€130,756.56	€298,972.16	€15,300.00	€0.00	€6,849.99	€451,878.71
Waterford	€41,330.86	€0.00		€0.00	€0.00	€41,330.86
Westmeath	€9,499.95	€0.00		€10,962.37	€0.00	€20,462.32
Wexford	€0.00	€178,615.98		€0.00	€5,475.86	€184,091.84
Wicklow	€14,165.00	€99,014.65		€0.00	€0.00	€113,179.65
Total	€4,525,939.23	€4,725,791.32	€301,689.16	€637,858.05	€87,919.71	€10,279,197.47

The 2017 payments to local authorities under Measures 1-5 of the Rural Water Programme (up to and including 27 November 2017) are outlined in the table below.

Local Authority	Measure 1	Measure 2	Measure 3	Measure 4	Measure 5	Total
Carlow		€73,374.42				€73,374.42
Cavan						€0.00
Clare		€90,330.31			€16,767.50	€107,097.81
Cork						€0.00
Donegal						€0.00
Galway	€294,642.39	€38,017.16		€10,909.15	€21,792.00	€365,360.70
Kerry	€4,256.25			€70,385.47		€74,641.72
Kildare						€0.00
Kilkenny		€21,184.67				€21,184.67
Laois	€7,113.05	€11,778.62		€166,740.39		€185,632.06
Leitrim				€4,034.78		€4,034.78
Limerick		€90,365.20				€90,365.20
Longford			€2,456.40	€7,430.40		€9,886.80
Louth						€0.00
Mayo	€3,258,646.90	€118,250.68	€277,595.78	€678,920.71	€59,313.97	€4,392,728.04
Meath		€66,353.48				€66,353.48
Monaghan		€135,350.42			€19,737.80	€155,088.22
Offaly	€12,500.00					€12,500.00
Roscommon	€31,294.58	€127,504.29				€158,798.87
Sligo	€38,258.07	€6,818.46				€45,076.53
Tipperary	€43,265.05	€143,915.98				€187,181.03
Waterford						€0.00
Westmeath						€0.00
Wexford						€0.00
Wicklow						€0.00
Total	€3,689,976.29	€923,243.69	€280,052.18	€938,420.90	€117,611.27	€5,949,304.33

Voluntary Housing Sector

Ceisteanna (692)

Pat Deering

Ceist:

692. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the registered voluntary housing associations; the amount spent on administration of these associations in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49973/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Under Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, housing authorities may provide assistance to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the provision and management of housing accommodation. As Minister, I am empowered to grant approved status to housing bodies for this purpose. AHBs are independent, not-for-profit organisations, which can also include housing co-operatives, which are housing organisations controlled by their members/tenants who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.

Information in relation to specific administration costs of these organisations is not held in my Department. The day-to-day administration and financial management of AHBs is a matter for their individual Boards.  I have no role in relation to such matters, nor does my Department collate data relating to the administration costs in AHBs.

To date, there are 547 bodies with approved status. The register of AHBs can be found on my Department's website at:

www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/voluntary-and-cooperative-housing/register-housing-bodies-approved-status.

The Housing (Regulation of Registered Housing Providers) Bill and the underlying policy, which was formulated in consultation with the sector, intends to establish a Regulator to oversee the effective governance, financial management and performance of voluntary and co-operative housing bodies.  My Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to finalise the text of the Bill with the aim of publication during the current Oireachtas session. Until such time as the legislation is enacted and the statutory system of regulation is put in place, the interim regulatory arrangements in operation since 2014 will remain in operation.

Question No. 693 answered with Question No. 687.

Voluntary Housing Sector

Ceisteanna (694)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

694. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to ensure the necessary actions are taken to allow a housing body to purchase properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50034/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I can confirm that Clúid Housing Association have received approval from my Department under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) to acquire 13 homes at the site concerned.  I understand from the local authority that the units are currently undergoing refurbishment works, which are due to be finished early in 2018. Once these works are complete, the approved housing body (AHB) will proceed to close the sale with the vendor.

CALF is available as a low interest loan provided by local authorities (and recouped by my Department) to AHBs. This funding allows AHBs access to early working capital (up to 30% of the relevant costs) for the purchase, construction or refurbishment of units which will then be made available for social housing purposes under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). Low interest rate borrowings are available to AHBs from the Housing Finance Agency and other private finance streams to support the financing of the balance. The AHB effectively uses the CALF approval for the capital injection of up to 30% and the ongoing commitment of lease income under the Payment and Availability Agreement to leverage the balance finance required. Once an AHB has secured the property and signed the Payment and Availability Agreement with the local authority, they use the lease income to service the borrowings.

Properties made available under the CALF scheme are used to accommodate households from the local authority waiting list.  Leased properties are allocated to tenants, in accordance with the relevant local authority's allocation scheme.

Homelessness Strategy

Ceisteanna (695, 696)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

695. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on issues identified in the reporting of homelessness statistics by local authorities, by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50047/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

696. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if statistical analysis has been conducted on homelessness figures reported by local authorities; if this analysis has been used to identify potential issues with reporting; if these issues have been identified; if these issues have been investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50048/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together.

Housing authorities submit reports to my Department on a monthly basis regarding the number of individuals utilising emergency accommodation arrangements that are funded by housing authorities; these official homeless reports are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.

The data included in these reports is produced by housing authorities using the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS).  PASS is used in all homeless accommodation services that are funded by housing authorities.  PASS was developed, and is maintained, by Dublin City Council as an integrated data information system and is provided as a national shared service.  PASS allows housing authorities to produce good quality, timely data in relation to homelessness and, in quantifying its ongoing dynamics, supports the development and implementation of appropriate policy.  The National PASS Office, within Dublin City Council, assists housing authorities on an ongoing basis with any technical issues they may have in relation to the operation and reporting of PASS.

If the Deputy provides more specific information in relation to the issues referred to, I will have the matters involved considered.

Ministerial Communications

Ceisteanna (697)

Stephen Donnelly

Ceist:

697. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has used a private email account to send or receive official documents or positions on Brexit; and if so, the details of this correspondence. [50062/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

In June of this year I received a copy of a press statement from the Government Press Office by email to my private email account, concerning the Taoiseach's visit to London to meet Prime Minister May to discuss, among other things, Brexit.  With the exception of the copying of that public communication, all official documentation in relation to Brexit is sent and received through email accounts maintained and managed by my Department's ICT unit.

Departmental Bodies Data

Ceisteanna (698)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

698. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the bodies under the aegis his Department in which his Department provides in excess of €1 million funding per annum to these bodies; the public funding received by these bodies; the bodies in which 50% or more of its income comes from public sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50118/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The information requested in respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department who have been allocated funding in excess of €1 million per annum from my Department in 2017 is set out in the following table.

Name of Body/Organisation	Estimated Funding in 2017 €m	50% funding from public sources - Yes/No
An Bord Pleanála	16.1	Yes
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	97.2	Yes
Residential Tenancies Board	2.8	No
Local Government Management Agency (LGMA)	5.2	Yes
Irish Water	1,200*	Yes

 *Includes capital contribution and funding in relation to the refund of water charges.

Emergency Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (699)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

699. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the practice of some local authorities of providing families that are homeless but have not met the requirements of housing circular 41/2012 with emergency accommodation on a night-by-night basis only; if his attention has been further drawn to a legal reason a local authority cannot provide emergency homeless accommodation to a family that does not meet the provision of housing circular 41/2012 for four consecutive nights or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50126/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for the housing authority concerned to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; Section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. Any person regarded as homeless may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment and be approved for social housing support; these arrangements give housing authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may present to them.

In order to qualify for social housing support, a household’s long-term housing need and eligibility must be determined by a housing authority through a social housing assessment under section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations. As social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need it is expected that any household applying for such support should have a long-term right to reside in the State.  Departmental Housing Circular 41/2012 sets out the appropriate criteria that housing authorities can use to accept someone as having a long-term right to reside, and therefore be eligible to apply to be assessed for social housing support.

Given that statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation rests with individual housing authorities, my Department has no role in relation to operational issues such as placements of particular individuals or families into emergency accommodation.  It is a matter for individual authorities to obtain legal advice as required in the execution of their statutory functions.

Housing Assistance Payment Data

Ceisteanna (700)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

700. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homeless HAP tenancies created in the first six months of 2017; the number of these used to prevent homelessness; and the number used to support individuals and families to exit section 10 funded homeless accommodation. [50127/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I am advised by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive that during the first six months of 2017 a total of 771 households entered Homeless HAP tenancies; of these, 519 were used to secure a tenancy prior to a homeless household entering emergency accommodation, and therefore are classified as preventative, with the remaining 252 therefore related to households exiting emergency accommodation.