Thursday, 7 Dec 2017

Written Answers Nos. 287-296

Homelessness Strategy

Ceisteanna (287)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the degree to which he can directly, and through the aegis of the various local authorities in the greater Dublin area, address the homelessness issue and ensure persons sleeping rough become the responsibility of a single agency with the power to identify appropriate housing of a temporary nature at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52529/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

In the Dublin Region, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive operates across the four housing authorities, as a shared service to coordinate on homeless issues from a housing authority perspective and to liaise with the other stakeholders and partner organisations. Furthermore, I recently established a new Homelessness Inter-Agency Group, chaired by a former Secretary General, to examine how homeless services might be delivered in a more coherent and joined-up way across the various Government departments and agencies.

Government policy on homelessness recognises the provision of long-term secure housing, with support as needed to ensure sustainable tenancies, as the key solution to ending homelessness.

While all homeless people have a need for stable housing, homelessness is a complex issue and a variety of other supports and interventions can be required to meet individual needs. Indeed, many homeless persons, in particular those engaged in rough sleeping, have complex health and social care needs, including in relation to addiction and mental health issues, that require care and supports beyond the simple provision of accommodation via the housing authority. Consequently a multi-agency approach is considered necessary to successfully address rough sleeping. The work of the new Homeless Inter-Agency Group, which I established, will be key in supporting this approach.

Housing-led initiatives are critical in this regard, providing direct access to housing and to the intensive health, addiction and personal supports required for people who are homeless and have complex needs to maintain their tenancies. Arising from last September’s Housing Summit, I indicated that a National Director of Housing First, with specialist expertise, would be appointed and that the housing first approach would be expanded beyond Dublin to the other main urban areas. The recruitment process for that position is now underway and the newly appointed Director of Housing First will be responsible for:

- coordinating and driving a national, cross-Government housing-led approach to homelessness;

- supporting regional and local delivery of housing-led approaches; and

- overseeing the achievement of the housing-led targets in Rebuilding Ireland.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (288)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the extent to which the actual housing need can be determined by reference to the number of families currently on local authority housing lists in the greater Dublin area and the number of new applicants coming onto such lists arising from property repossessions by lenders, venture capital funds and third-party unregulated entities generally displacing families in rented accommodation; if steps will be taken to stem the flow by way of modular and rapid-build housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52530/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each housing authority area are provided in the statutory summary of social housing assessments, which are now being carried out an annual basis.

The most recently published statutory summary of social housing assessments relates to the assessment carried out in 2016. This records the number of households on all local authority waiting lists, as at 21 September 2016. The results show that there were 91,600 households deemed qualified for, and in need of social housing support. 39% of all households qualified for social housing support are in the four Dublin Housing Authorities, over half (56%) of whom are in the Dublin City Council area.

As the Deputy will be aware, under Rebuilding Ireland, a total of 50,000 new social housing homes will be delivered out to 2021 and an additional 80,000 new households will be supported under the Housing Assistance Payment scheme. These tenancies will support and meet the needs of households on waiting lists across the country, including Dublin.

My Department is encouraging the use of rapid build methodologies, including modular build, for accelerated delivery of social housing units generally. The question of utilising rapid build methodologies and other innovative construction technologies, including modular is, ultimately, a matter for consideration by each local authority and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB's) in the context of individual projects. Utilising innovative construction technologies can accelerate housing provision, as timeframes are considerably less than for traditional build.

In December last year, the Government introduced limits on rent increases in designated Rent Pressure Zones, those areas of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The measure was introduced to slow the increase in rents which is a significant driver of increasing homelessness. The coverage of the Rent Pressure Zones is substantial. Nearly 57% of all registered rental properties, involving approximately 180,000 tenancies, are currently in designated areas.

In addition, we will shortly introduce the requirement for landlords to notify the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) when issuing a notice terminating a tenancy. Where this happens, the RTB will contact the affected tenant and provide them with the relevant contacts for homelessness prevention services in their area.

My Department also funds tenant advice and homelessness prevention services provided by Threshold. The Department has made a total of more than €800,000 available to Threshold in 2017 and plans to provide a similar level of support in 2018.

My Department and I will continue to work with local authorities and AHB's to accelerate the delivery of all housing, including rapid build, in order to tackle the current housing waiting lists and to deliver homes, as quickly as possible, to those who need them.

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (289, 294)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the extent to which each of the local authorities in the greater Dublin area can indicate the likely number of new housing starts or new houses available for renting which are likely to become available in the next two to three months; his views on whether emergency powers are required to address issues in relation to the crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52531/17]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

294. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the efforts to deal with the acute and increasing housing requirement throughout the greater Dublin area will be accelerated; if in the context of his discussions with the relevant local authorities, he can identify specifically the degree to which the housing need is being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52536/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 294 together.

In relation to the number of new housing starts or new houses that will become available for renting, over the coming period, the housing activity reports, which are available on my Department’s website, show that 19,246 new homes were granted planning permission in the 12 months to end-June 2017, an increase of 49% over the same period last year. Commencement notices are up by 37%, with notices for 17,151 new homes nationwide submitted in the year to end- October. Estimates from most economic and property commentators suggest that over 18,000 new homes will be built this year, a substantial increase on the 2016 figure of around 15,000 new homes. Clearly, all relevant indicators – including planning permissions, construction commencement notices and connections to the ESB grid - are showing very significant upward trends in home-building activity.

While my Department publishes data on total housing commencements, it does not break these down into local authority build and non-local authority build. With particular regard to the needs of those on housing waiting lists, including those in the greater Dublin area, under Rebuilding Ireland, 50,000 social housing homes will be delivered through build, rapid build, refurbishment, acquisition and leasing over the period 2016 to 2021, alongside an accelerated roll-out of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme to meet the needs of some 80,000 households.

In recognition of the serious challenges we face in terms of housing, the Government has prioritised the development and implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. There is already strong evidence that the focus on increasing and accelerating housing supply in Rebuilding Ireland is yielding results. In 2016, the housing needs of over 19,000 households were met through a range of social housing programmes, supported by expenditure of over €935 million. A further €1.4 billion is being provided in 2017, to meet the housing needs of 21,000 households, a target which I am confident will be exceeded.

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 to advance projects through the process in a timely manner.

My Department will continue to engage actively with all local authorities, including all four Dublin authorities, to deliver social housing through all available avenues, with a particular emphasis on additional construction projects. I am satisfied that delivery on the range of targets in Rebuilding Ireland provides a strong platform for meeting the needs of those individuals and families on social housing waiting lists, including those in the greater Dublin area, and those experiencing homelessness.

Local Authority Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (290)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

290. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if subsidised serviced sites will be made available to families on local authority housing waiting lists in the greater Dublin area with particular reference to addressing the need of that group that cannot obtain a local authority mortgage on the basis on insufficient income and cannot get onto the local authority waiting lists on the basis on excessive income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52532/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I understand that the Deputy is referring to households who on income grounds, do not qualify for social housing and who also are deemed ineligible for a local authority mortgage.

In relation to sites for affordable housing that would assist the households the Deputy refers to, on 10 July 2017, I attended the hand-over ceremony for the first five of 49 affordable homes delivered by the Ó Cualann Co-Housing Alliance in Ballymun. These homes were built on a site provided by Dublin City Council, at a price well below the open market selling price. I was impressed with what I saw and since then, I have met with O'Cualann’s representatives to discuss how the homes delivered in Ballymun can be delivered at greater scale. My Department has also arranged meetings involving O’Cualann, Dublin City Council and the Irish Council for Social Housing.

It is precisely for the purpose of scaling up delivery of this type of affordable housing that I am providing funding of €25 million, over 2018 and 2019. The funding will be made available to unlock local authority-owned lands specifically for affordable housing, using models such as this which have already proven to be successful but are now needed at greater scale. It is estimated that over 650 such new affordable homes could be facilitated under the new scheme.

I understand that, working with Dublin City Council, AIB and industry professionals, Ó Cualann delivered new 2-, 3- and 4-bed, A2 rated, quality homes with sales prices ranging from €140,000 to €220,000. Importantly, in terms of the model used, the Council provided serviced “ready to go” sites at very low cost, facilitating the affordable delivery and ultimate sales prices of the homes.

My Department is meeting with the Dublin local authorities this week to discuss how the new scheme will operate, and I expect to be in a position to issue a call for proposals on this matter in early 2018.

Local Authority Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (291, 292)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

291. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an assessment has been done of the applicants for local authority housing in the greater Dublin area with a view to identification of those families anxious to purpose their own homes by way of private services sites; if a scheme will be put in place to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52533/17]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

292. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline his views on the possibility in the greater Dublin area in cases in which some persons may be able to provide the local authority with a site, might have their housing needs met by way of provision of a local authority house on such sites thereby contributing to the housing stock, meeting their housing needs and ensuring that every avenue is explored to address the housing emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52534/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together.

Local authorities have a number of options available to them in meeting social housing needs, and these include the provision of low cost sites to persons qualified for social housing support on which they would build their own homes. Another option which could be utilised by a local authority, where it considers it appropriate, is the transfer of a site from a person qualified for social housing to the local authority, and the building of a social house on the site by the local authority, to be tenanted by the person who transferred the site.

I am not aware that an assessment as referred to by the Deputy has been carried by the local authorities in the Greater Dublin area. However, it is of course open to any person who is qualified for social housing support to make any particular proposal to the relevant local authority, for their consideration, in connection with the provision or acquisition of a site.

Local Authority Housing Funding

Ceisteanna (293)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

293. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the funding available to each of the local authorities in the greater Dublin area for housing purposes in 2016 and 2017; the amount spent in 2016 and to date in 2017 in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52535/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The information sought in respect of funding provided for capital and current housing programmes to each of the local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area in 2016 and to date in 2017, is set out in the following table. The data includes amounts self-funded by these local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts.

There is no precise amount of funding notified to individual local authorities for the delivery of housing in a particular year as my Department provides funding to local authorities as social housing projects are advanced.

Local Authority	2016 Capital Expenditure - €m	2016 Current Expenditure - €m	2017 Capital Expenditure - €m	2017 Current Expenditure - €m
Dublin City Council	122.78	107.19	111.61	127.47
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council	15.93	11.59	22.96	13.05
Fingal County Council	20.35	14.53	39.83	14.62
South Dublin County Council	21.64	31.14	21.79	26.32
Kildare County Council	28.25	13.58	34.82	13.84
Wicklow County Council	8.32	6.64	4.16	5.46
Meath County Council	22.5	5.23	14.25	5.4

Question No. 294 answered with Question No. 289.

Vacant Properties

Ceisteanna (295)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

295. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the number of vacant local authority housing units that have been identified by the local authorities in the greater Dublin area; if a particular reason has been identified which might contribute to the delay in making such houses available to persons; the steps he has taken to date in this regard; the steps likely to be taken in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52537/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Information on the number of vacant county council stock at any given time is not collected by my Department, as occupancy and vacancy of social housing changes continuously. This is as would be expected where there are approximately 130,000 such homes with tenancies that are subject to change.

My Department has been providing strong funding support to all local authorities to undertake remediation work to vacant social housing units and to re-let such housing, as soon as possible. The Voids Programme, introduced by my Department in 2014, is aimed at minimising the turnaround and re-let time of vacant units and returning them to use in a very energy efficient condition.

Accordingly, there is no particular reason for delays to arise in making social homes available in the greater Dublin area and since 2014, almost €100 m in exchequer funding has been made available nationally by my Department, with over 8,000 homes remediated and returned to use. I am satisfied that all local authorities appreciate the need to quickly remediate and re-let social homes that become vacant in an area of need.

Homelessness Strategy

Ceisteanna (296)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

296. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if, in the context of the present housing emergency, he plans emergency measures to address the issue in view of the number of families technically homeless, living in unfit conditions, living in overcrowded conditions and sharing with families and friends, some in undesirable situations and for prolonged periods in emergency housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52538/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

The most recently published statutory summary of social housing assessments relates to the assessment carried out in 2016. This records the number of households on all local authority waiting lists, as at 21 September 2016. The results of the 2016 summary show that there were 91,600 households deemed qualified for, and in need of social housing support. I expect the results of the 2017 assessment to be published shortly.

With particular regard to the needs of those on housing waiting lists and the households and families referred to by the Deputy, under Rebuilding Ireland, 50,000 social housing homes will be delivered through build, refurbishment, acquisition and leasing over the period 2016 to 2021, alongside an accelerated roll-out of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme to meet the needs of some 80,000 households.

There is already strong evidence that the focus on increasing and accelerating housing supply in Rebuilding Ireland is yielding results. In 2016, the housing needs of over 19,000 households were met through a range of social housing programmes, supported by expenditure of over €935 million. A further €1.4 billion is being provided in 2017, to meet the housing needs of in excess of 21,000 new households, a target which I am confident will be exceeded.

I am satisfied that the delivery on the range of targets in Rebuilding Ireland provides a strong platform for meeting the needs of those individuals and families on social housing waiting lists and those experiencing homelessness.