Written Answers Nos. 297-306
297. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which planning procedures can be expedited to facilitate the building of extra local authority houses with particular reference to the need to make a serious impact on the numbers on local authority waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52539/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 amended section 179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, relating to the arrangements for the approval by local authorities of their own development proposals, often referred to as the Part 8 process. This amendment required a supporting amendment to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2015, which was provided for in the Planning and Development (Strategic Housing Development) Regulations 2017.
Under the new arrangements, which came into operation with effect from 3 July 2017, the maximum timeframe for the determination of local authority-owned development proposals is now 20 weeks from the date of issue of the proposals for public consultation by the Chief Executive, whereas previously there was no maximum timeframe.
These reforms provide greater certainty for local authorities around the decision timelines associated with the various steps in the approval process of such own-development proposals, including proposals for social housing projects and infrastructure servicing both public and private development.
298. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department has offered the option of modular housing to the various local authorities which currently have long housing waiting lists; the uptake in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52540/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working closely with all local authorities in relation to increasing and accelerating the delivery of a range of social housing programmes and supports, including rapid build homes. There has been significant pressure to ramp-up rapid build delivery, which local authorities have been responding to positively.
As the Deputy will be aware, rapid delivery housing comprises the delivery of housing developments within a programme, which shows overall time savings, compared with traditional build programmes. To assist in accelerating social housing delivery, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), in January 2017, established a Framework Agreement with 12 Design and Build contractors for the provision of rapid delivery housing. This Framework Agreement is available to all local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) to use for social housing projects and provides an easy access route to contractors, who have passed a suitability assessment stage and are specialist providers who are well placed to supply rapid delivery housing. Clearly, the Framework Agreement will save time on design, procurement and on the construction of social housing and aids achievement of the targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland.
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 (AHBs) in the context of individual projects. My Department is, however, strongly encouraging the use of rapid build methodologies, including modular build, where suitable for accelerated delivery of social housing units and considerable progress is being made, with well in excess of 500 rapid build units advancing at this stage and I intend to publish a list of all new rapid build projects early in the New Year.
My Department has held information sessions with Local Authorities and AHBs to alert them to the possibilities of modular/rapid delivery, and familiarise them with the product and the process, with a further information session scheduled later this month, including a visit for local authorities and AHBs to a rapid delivery scheme under construction. We will continue to work with local authorities and AHBs 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.
299. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which the number of families deemed homeless in County Kildare are likely to obtain accommodation in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52541/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra300. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homeless persons in County Kildare that have been offered and have received accommodation from the local authority in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52542/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra301. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families rehoused by Kildare County Council in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52543/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take questions Nos. 299 to 301, inclusive, together.
Kildare County Council, along with all other local authorities, is being funded to increase significantly its delivery of social housing as part of Rebuilding Ireland. In Budget 2018, I secured €1.9 billion for housing programmes next year, a 46% increase over 2017. It will support the housing needs of 25,500 households. I have also secured additional investment for the Rebuilding Ireland overall social housing target to increase from 47,000 to 50,000 homes, with the total funding growing from €5.35 billion to over €6 billion.
An important aspect of this delivery is new social housing construction and details of all the projects under that programme are now published quarterly. The latest report, setting out the position at end Q3 2017, is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/housing-construction-report-q3/.
This report shows a sizeable construction portfolio for County Kildare, delivering over 343 new social homes. In addition, since the end of Quarter 3, a further three new social housing construction projects, with 95 new homes, have been approved for the Kildare.
As well as the permanent accommodation solutions that are being put in place, we have also funded a new family-focused supported temporary accommodation facility in Athy, where the Council and the Peter McVerry Trust have delivered good quality, supported accommodation for 7 families who were experiencing homelessness.
In tandem with the construction programme, all local authorities have been undertaking the targeted acquisition of properties for immediate social housing use and so far this year, Kildare County Council has purchased over 90 such new social homes. Approved housing bodies (AHBs) are also very active in delivery in Kildare, as can be seen with the 87 new homes approved through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility in 2017. AHBs also delivered a further 100 new homes during 2016/17 for priority groups on the Kildare social housing waiting list through the Capital Assistance Scheme.
The remediation and re-letting of vacant social homes has also continued and between 2014 and the end of this year, around 100 social houses in Kildare will have been returned to productive use through the programme of funding support from my Department.
The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme is also supporting local authorities and AHBs for the long term leasing of houses and apartments from private owners and developers for social housing use. Currently, there are around 375 operational units under this programme in Kildare.
Over 1,300 households are also being supported currently through the HAP scheme in Kildare. This will continue to provide a flexible housing support for addressing the housing needs of households presenting as homeless to Kildare County Council.
All of these additional social homes that have been already delivered in Kildare, or will be brought on stream as projects are completed, are allocated by the Council in accordance with section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations. Such allocations are a matter for the Council and accordingly, my Department does not hold information regarding their precise allocation.
302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which facilities are available to meet the housing needs of the indigenous rural population by way of ensuring an adequate number of houses in keeping with good planning principles to facilitate in so far as is possible the indigenous needs of those living in rural areas thereby reducing the impact on housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52544/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing our housing shortage and homelessness crisis is the Government's number one priority. The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is focused on increasing and accelerating housing delivery, across all tenures. The funding earmarked for the social housing element of the Action Plan was increased from €5.35 billion to over €6 billion in Budget 2018.
With regard to rural housing, it is a matter for each local authority to determine the nature, location and relative priority of individual social housing projects. In submitting proposals for funding to my Department in respect of new social housing projects, local authorities and approved housing bodies may include proposals for social housing projects in rural areas, where they have identified and prioritised such need.
In relation to social housing construction activity in general, my Department publishes comprehensive status reports on a quarterly basis, of social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas, showing details such as their locations and a range of information relating to their advancement. The most recent of these reports covers the period up to the end of quarter 3 of 2017. It includes information on the delivery of over 12,000 new social housing homes, which are currently approved and progressing through planning, design, and construction, or have been completed in 2016 and to the end of quarter 3 of 2017. The report can be accessed at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/housing-construction-report-q3/.
I am keen that they advance all of these projects as soon as possible and have assured them that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard.
In relation to the development of rural areas, the Deputy will be aware that the Action Plan for Rural Development, published on 23 January 2017, takes a whole-of-Government approach, led by my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development, to the economic and social development of rural Ireland and will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of rural initiatives across Government Departments and other public bodies.
303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the variation between the annual rate of rent inflation for the Greystones and Drogheda local electoral areas for the first, second and third quarters of 2016 reported in the assessment undertaken by the Residential Tenancies Board on rent pressure zones in January 2017 and March 2017 respectively; the figures subsequently reported in the assessment for the same period in the assessment carried out in September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52557/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a Rent Pressure Zone. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to establish whether or not it meets the criteria for designation and to report to the Minister on whether the area should be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone.
On foot of proposals from the Housing Agency, and in accordance with section 24A(2) of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended), the Director of the RTB was requested to make a report as to whether the Local Electoral Area of Greystones met the criteria for designation as a Rent Pressure Zone in January and September of this year and whether the Local Electoral Area of Drogheda met the criteria for designation as a Rent Pressure Zone in March and September of this year.
The reports received from the RTB in relation to the designation of rent pressure zones, are available on the website of the RTB at the following link:
https://www.rtb.ie/rent-pressure-zones/rent-pressure-zone-reports.
The assessments contained in the Rent Zone Reports are undertaken by the RTB in the performance of their functions under the Act. Some of the reports state that there may be revisions to the figures in relation to earlier quarters, due to retrospective or late registrations, as all of the RTB rent data is based on tenancy registrations.
Further details on the RTB Rent Zone Report methodology can be obtained from the RTB. On the request of the Clerk of the Dáil, arrangements have been 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 have set up a dedicated email address for this purpose at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie .
304. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the contingency plans in place to protect persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as temperatures drop; when the winter initiative measures will be in place; the progress that has been made in opening up unused homes for families and persons that are homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt last September's Housing Summit, I emphasised the need for all housing authorities to have sufficient capacity in emergency accommodation and to have appropriate facilities in place for every person sleeping rough, on any night of the week.
I instructed the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, at that time, to set about ensuring the delivery of 200 additional permanent emergency beds by Christmas, in a range of new facilities across the city. 50 of the 200 permanent beds are now in place and the remaining 150 emergency beds will be brought into use over the coming days, with all being in place by mid-December.
As the weather becomes colder, my Department has also been working with local authorities to ensure that their Cold Weather Initiatives are in place. These arrangements ensure that additional temporary beds can be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities for singles and couples, who need them during periods of cold weather.
In addition to the 200 new permanent beds that will be in place over the coming two weeks in Dublin, there are also more than 50 temporary beds in place, if required during the cold weather. In Cork, there are an additional 25 temporary beds in place, while in Galway an additional 34 temporary beds are in place. In Limerick, an additional 10 temporary beds are in place and in Waterford 9 additional temporary beds are also in place.
The long-term solution to the current homeless crisis is, clearly, to increase the supply of homes for those who need them. This includes opening up vacant homes for families and persons on social housing waiting lists. Under Rebuilding Ireland, 50,000 new social housing homes will be delivered over the period to 2021, supported by €6 billion in funding.
A key mechanism for dealing with homeless individuals is through the Housing First Programme, which supports homeless individuals move from emergency accommodation to independent living. 180 tenancies have been established under this Programme to date.
This programme is being prioritised and it is expected that a National Director of Housing First will be appointed shortly to drive the programme. This post will be critical in supporting those who sleep rough or reside in hostel accommodation to enter into independent living arrangements.
305. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a ainmneofar comhaltaí ar Bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta ag tógáil san áireamh an phráinn a bhaineann leis seo ó tharla nach féidir aon chruinniú den bhord a eagrú go dtí go n-ainmneofar na comhaltaí agus ó tharla go bhfuil tograí coinnithe siar dá bharr. [52369/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá an próiseas chun bord nua a cheapadh do Údarás na Gaeltachta nach mór thart. Tá ainmniúchán gach Comhairle Contae atá ábhartha faighte (Dún na nGall, Maigh Eo, Gaillimh agus Ciarraí) agus tá socruithe idir lámha ag an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí (PAS) chun na hiarratais a fuarthas a bhreithniú faoi réir na ndea-chleachtas cuí.
Nuair a bheidh sé sin déanta an tseachtain seo chugainn, cuirfidh an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí liosta d'iarratasóirí cáilithe ar aghaidh chugam chun críche breithnithe agus fógrófar comhdhéanamh an bhoird nua go poiblí ar shuíomh idirlín mo Roinne chomh luath agus is féidir ina dhiaidh sin.
Agus an bord nua ceaptha, beidh sé de chúram ar Údarás na Gaeltachta na socruithe a dhéanamh dá chéad chruinniú.
306. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil deontais ar fáil ó Údarás na Gaeltachta chun caoi a chur ar bháid thraidisiúnta; má tá, cén cineál cúnaimh atá ar fáil. [52370/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuigtear dom, tar éis an scéal a bheith fiosraithe, nach bhfuil aon scéim ag Údarás na Gaeltachta faoina bhféadfaí cabhair airgid a fháil chun athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar bháid thraidisiúnta.
