Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 30 Jan 2018

Written Answers Nos. 624-643

Housing Estates

Ceisteanna (624)

Declan Breathnach

Ceist:

624. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of a report in relation to the national taking in charge initiative; his plans to help estates that had valid applications for taking in charge by provision of a further funding stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3944/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The taking-in-charge of housing estates is a matter for the relevant local authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

In an attempt to enhance learning and systems development and to accelerate the taking-in-charge process, my Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016. The Initiative was set up on a time-bound basis in order to better understand and stimulate the taking-in-charge process, due to the backlog of estates waiting to be taken in charge.

Under the terms of the NTICI, which was underpinned by €10m in funding, developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in a call for funding proposals. €7.7 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments, containing some 13,400 units.

While the NTICI was not intended as a rolling funding programme for taking estates in charge but provided instead a focused examination of the issues involved, building on the lessons learned through this programme, I expect that the initiative will contribute to further streamlining of the taking-in-charge process, through for example synergies with capital works by Irish Water.

A report on the 2016 NTICI is currently being finalised by my Department which will help to inform future taking-in-charge plans. It is envisaged that the report will be published in Q1 2018.

Mortgage Lending

Ceisteanna (625, 626)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

625. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the mechanism for approving loans under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the body that will be underwriting the loans; the body that will be deciding funding to buy the loans; if this will be through local authorities; the body that will be dealing with persons that fall into arrears; the mechanisms in place to deal with arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3948/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

626. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount being provided for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the source of the funding; if it is being borrowed from international markets; if it will form part of the national debt; the mechanisms in place to allocate the loan funding to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3949/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together.

Following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, I am introducing a new loan offering, known as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, with effect from 1 February 2018. The new loan will enable credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range.  The low rate of fixed interest associated with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not have otherwise been able to afford at a higher interest rate.

The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) has raised €200 million from a variety of sources, on a fixed rate basis for periods out to thirty years maturity. Based on the pricing achieved, local authorities can offer a first tranche of fixed rate annuity finance to eligible borrowers at rates of 2.0% and 2.25% per annum, for twenty five and thirty years, respectively, up to an aggregate maximum of €200 million. The funding is not allocated to individual local authorities but rather will be drawn down by local authorities from the HFA to match fund their lending under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. 

Local authority borrowing from the HFA, that is on-lent to the borrower, is not considered spending by General Government as the borrowing is offset by the financial asset held by the local authority, i.e. the loan to the end borrower. 

For the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, the Housing Agency will continue to provide a central underwriting and support service to all local authorities, staffed by appropriately skilled personnel, including qualified underwriters.  This central service will assess loan applications and report back to the local authorities on the applicant’s ability to repay a loan.  All loan applications will be assessed in accordance with the financial criteria set out in the statutory Credit Policy underpinning the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.  The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its credit committee. The local authority must satisfy itself on the financial risk it is undertaking in respect of each loan and must adhere to the requirements of the credit policy.

As has been the case since the introduction of house purchase lending by local authorities, default risk continues to lie with the local authorities, as lenders and as final decision makers on all applications.  Where arrears arise, the local authority will follow the established Local Authority Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) framework for handling mortgage arrears cases.  Local authority borrowers are encouraged to engage with their local authority at the earliest opportunity if they are having difficulty making loan repayments.  Information in relation to the Local Authority MARP and the help available to borrowers is available on my Department's website at the following link:

http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad%2C30943%2Cen.pdf.

A Mortgage to Rent scheme, specifically for local authority mortgage borrowers, is available as part of the MARP arrangements. The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent scheme and the wider operation of MARP within local authorities are kept under regular review by my Department.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (627)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

627. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount that has been paid in grants to Galway and Mayo County Councils in each of the years 2009 to 2017 in respect of housing aid for older people grants, housing adaptation grants for people with a disability and mobility aids grants or their previously named equivalent payments, by payment and year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3976/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Information on Exchequer funding provided by my Department to each local authority, including Galway and Mayo, for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, is available on my Department’s website for the years 2009 to 2016 at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.  Information in respect of 2017 delivery will be added when it is available from all local authorities and validated.

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Ceisteanna (628)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

628. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new local authority first-time buyer loans issued in 2017; and the value of these loans. [3975/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Information on the number and value of local authority house purchase loans, issued from 2011 to Q3 2017, is available on my Department's website at the following weblink:

http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity. 

 Data in relation to Q4 2017 will be published on the website when finalised in due course.

Fines Data

Ceisteanna (629)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

629. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount collected in parking fines in 2016 and 2017 by local authority and municipality in tabular form; the way in which moneys collected regarding parking fines is used and-or distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4075/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Annual Financial Statement (AFS) of each local authority provides an analysis of their income from goods and services; these financial statements are produced at the local authority level and are not broken down to municipal district level.

Appendix 4 to the AFS (Analysis of Income from Goods and Services) records Parking Fines/Charges as a single figure and does not separately identify the elements. The 2016 income figures (the most recent year for which audited financial statements are available) are set out in the table below.

The purpose for which this income is used is a matter for the elected members of the local authority. Elected members have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget. Accordingly, it is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.

 

2016 AFS Audited

Local Authority

Parking Fines/Charges €

Carlow Co Co

427,800

Cavan Co Co

646,425

Clare Co Co

1,292,173

Cork Co Co

8,533,755

Cork City Council

1,646,184

Donegal Co Co

973,919

Dublin City Council

37,055,355

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Co Co

6,782,791

Fingal Co Co

1,846,002

Galway Co Co

3,705,276

Galway City Council

750,825

Kerry Co Co

3,299,605

Kildare Co Co

1,790,798

Kilkenny Co Co

2,147,535

Laois Co Co

503,893

Leitrim Co Co

13,215

Limerick City & Co Co

2,020,084

Longford Co Co

809,157

Louth Co Co

2,137,467

Mayo Co Co

1,994,261

Meath Co Co

1,540,680

Monaghan Co Co

682,389

Offaly Co Co

706,571

Roscommon Co Co

0

Sligo Co Co

1,509,465

South Dublin Co Co

738,741

Tipperary Co Co

2,980,443

Waterford City & Co Co

2,343,173

Westmeath Co Co

1,836,924

Wexford Co Co

3,056,349

Wicklow Co Co

2,065,411

Total

95,836,668

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Ceisteanna (630)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

630. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be provided to 68 houses from two housing estates (details supplied) in County Kildare that are without central heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4082/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including heating systems and the achievement of energy efficiency, is a matter for each relevant local authority, and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources.

My Department operates certain funding programmes to support local authorities in the development and improvement of social housing, including improving energy efficiency.  Over the years 2004 to 2009, this included support for local authorities to carry out an extensive central heating upgrade programme in social housing, which saw the installation of central heating, and associated energy efficiency measures, in 27,750 such dwellings, at a cost to the exchequer of €140 million.

It should be noted that my Department is not currently operating any programme to install heating systems in existing social houses. However, local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. The Energy Efficiency Retrofitting programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties, while Phase 2 of the programme, which has been piloted in both Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction. Heating upgrades will be considered in future phases of the Programme. In the meantime, if a local authority identifies a tenanted dwelling, which requires a specific and urgent energy efficiency upgrade, especially in those dwellings which accommodate elderly people and people with disabilities, then a special case can be made to my Department to have these works funded.

I understand that Kildare County Council is currently in contact with the residents of both housing developments referred to by the Deputy and are consulting with them to assess the most appropriate course of action to address the issues arising.

Residential Tenancies Board

Ceisteanna (631)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

631. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the difference in the tenancy rights of a tenant in a local authority property, a tenant in a housing association property and a tenant in a private rented property, respectively; the reason these rights differ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4120/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 prescribe the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords in both the private rented sector and the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.

With effect from 7 April 2016, the remit of the Residential Tenancies Acts was applied, through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, to dwellings let by AHBs to social tenants. The tenancy rights of social tenants in the AHB sector are now aligned with those of private tenants in the private residential rental sector.

The Residential Tenancies Acts provide, inter alia, for:

- security of tenure;

- access to RTB dispute resolution procedures; and

- binding obligations on landlords to, inter alia, register all tenancies, keep dwellings in good repair and allow peaceful occupation.

The application of the Residential Tenancies Acts to the local authority housing sector was carefully considered during the drafting of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015.  Unlike AHB tenancies, social housing provided by local authorities is governed by an extensive legislative code which is set out in the Housing Acts 1966-2015. This Code provides extensively for the rights and obligations of local authorities and their tenants. The legislation recognises the democratic nature of local government by assigning certain housing functions to the elected members. In addition, local government legislation, more generally, provides for significant roles for the elected members in overseeing the work of the local authority executive.

Against that background, I have no plans at this stage to extend the application of the Residential Tenancies Acts to the local authority sector.

Planning Guidelines

Ceisteanna (632)

Declan Breathnach

Ceist:

632. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to amend the planning laws to force local authorities to abide by the EU treaty and end the locals only restriction on one-off housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4125/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the Flemish Decree case, a Working Group, comprising senior officials from my Department and planning authorities, was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, with a view to ensuring that rural housing policies and objectives contained in county development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The Working Group concluded its deliberations in September 2017 and my Department is now engaging with the European Commission on the matter, with a view to issuing revised Guidelines to planning authorities as soon as practicable after the National Planning Framework is finalised and published. 

Planning authorities were advised in May 2017 that they should not amend rural housing policies in their development plans until the Guidelines have been revised.  The relevant Circular letter is available to view on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/pl_02-2017_sustainable_rural_housing_guidelines_for_planning_authorities_2005_-_local_need.pdf.

Housing Assistance Payment Data

Ceisteanna (633)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

633. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the proposed or completed roll-out of the housing assistance payment in each local authority by county and date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4166/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a key Government priority and the accelerated roll-out of the scheme on a national basis was an important early action for completion under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

HAP was rolled out in 4 waves between September 2014 and March 2017. The nationwide roll-out of the scheme was completed with its introduction, on 1 March 2017, to the administrative areas of Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. This means that eligible households in all 31 local authorities can now avail of the HAP scheme.

HAP provides fast, flexible housing support to households in an area of their choice and is actively meeting the social housing needs of over 32,000 individuals and families.

The table provides the relevant rollout dates on a Local Authority basis:

HAP Wave 1

Introduced

Limerick City & County

15-Sep-14

Waterford City & County

15-Sep-14

Cork County

15-Sep-14

Kilkenny

01-Oct-14

Louth

01-Oct-14

Monaghan

01-Oct-14

South Dublin

01-Oct-14

South Dublin   (Homeless HAP)

18-Dec-14

Dublin City (Homeless HAP)

18-Dec-14

Fingal (Homeless HAP)

18-Dec-14

DLR (Homeless HAP)

18-Dec-14

 

 

HAP Wave 2

Introduced

Donegal

25-May-15

Offaly

15-Jun-15

Carlow

29-Jun-15

Clare

29-Jun-15

Tipperary

29-Jun-15

Cork City

29-Jun-15

Galway County

16-Nov-15

Sligo

16-Nov-15

Mayo

16-Nov-15

Meath

02-Nov-15

Kildare

02-Nov-15

Galway City

01-Feb-16

 

 

HAP Wave 3

Introduced

Cavan

01-Dec-16

Kerry

01-Dec-16

Laois

01-Dec-16

Leitrim

01-Dec-16

Longford

01-Dec-16

Roscommon

01-Dec-16

Westmeath

01-Dec-16

Wexford

01-Dec-16

Wicklow

01-Dec-16

 

 

HAP Wave 4

Introduced

Dublin City

01-Mar-17

Fingal

01-Mar-17

DLR

01-Mar-17

Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report

Ceisteanna (634)

James Browne

Ceist:

634. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the maximum number of municipal district members for each municipal district under the terms of reference for local electoral boundary committee number 2 set up under the 2018 review of local electoral areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4203/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I established two Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees on 13 December 2017 to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas.  They are tasked with reporting to me within six months. 

Committee No. 1 is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations on all areas outside of Dublin, other than Cork and Galway.  Its tasks also include reviewing local electoral areas in Limerick City and County and Waterford City and County.  The Terms of Reference of this Committee provide that it should take account of certain proposals in relation to the configuration of Municipal Districts.  The number of members of a Municipal District shall not be less than six, save in exceptional circumstances, for example, related to population, in which case it shall not be less than five.  There is no maximum number of members provided for. 

Committee No. 2 is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations on the division of Dublin City, and the counties of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin.  There are no proposals in relation to Municipal Districts in the Terms of Reference of this Committee.

Mortgage Lending

Ceisteanna (635)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

635. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the first-time buyers scheme is in addition to the existing council home loan or replacing it; if so, the new deposit required; if divorced or separated persons will be considered under the scheme if the family home has been sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4220/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, I am introducing, from 1 February 2018, a new loan offering, known as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.  The new loan, which replaces the existing House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, will enable credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. The low rate of fixed interest associated with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not have otherwise been able to afford at a higher interest rate.

The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan offers a maximum loan to value (LTV) of up to 90% of market value of the property that can be purchased or self-built up to €320,000 in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, and €250,000 in the rest of the country.  Accordingly, applicants must have a deposit equivalent to 10% of the market value of the property.  The LTV and deposit requirements are in accordance with the Central Bank prudential lending guidelines.

As with  the previous local authority loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first time buyers only.  This is to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources.  Applicants who are separated or divorced may be treated as first-time buyers if they meet certain conditions including: 

- they are separated or divorced under a court order or by a separation agreement;

- the property being purchased is the first property since leaving the family home;

- they have left the family home and retain no interest in it;

- the other party has remained in the family home.

The option currently available for non-first time buyers is to seek home loan facilities from one of the commercial lending institutions.

Detailed information on the new mortgage is available on the dedicated www.rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie website, from the information centre at 051 349720, or directly from local authorities.

Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report

Ceisteanna (636)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

636. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if persons that wish to make a submission in relation to local electoral area boundaries in Cork city and county should submit their views to the local electoral area boundary committee or if there will be a separate process in view of the fact that the issue of the Cork city and county boundary is not yet finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4222/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I established two Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees on 13 December 2017 to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas.  They are tasked with reporting to me within six months. 

The Committees are independent in the performance of their functions.  However, I understand that the Committees have invited submissions, and the closing date for making a submission is 19 February 2018.  Further information is available at www.boundarycommittee.ie and any queries can be directed to boundarycommittee@housing.gov.ie

In relation to Cork, it is my intention that reconfigured Local Electoral Areas for Cork City and County Councils will be ready for the 2019 local elections and I intend to make the appropriate arrangements in due course, informed by the work of the Cork Implementation Oversight Group. 

When the Committee is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations in relation to Cork it will be open to them to invite submissions as part of their deliberations.

River Basin Management Plans

Ceisteanna (637)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

637. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of submissions received in relation to the river basin management plan; if a submission was received from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4394/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Three processes of public consultation have been held in relation to the second-cycle River Basin Management Plan. These processes are an important part of the river basin management planning process, highlighting matters of public concern and shaping the policies and measures formulated by my Department and related public bodies.

A public consultation on Significant Water Management Issues (SWMI) took place from June 2015 to December 2015. A total of 46 responses to the SWMI consultation were received, and the key issues raised were included in the draft Plan, published in February 2017.

Following publication of the draft Plan, my Department invited comments and submissions over a six month period to August 2017.  938 submissions were received in response.

The Local Authorities Water and Communities Office (LAWCO) was responsible for consulting on the draft RBMP with respect to local and regional issues and held community-level consultation over the same period. This process received 956 submissions.

A submission was received under the Department's draft River Basin Management Plan consultation which sets out the position of the group referred to.

My Department is currently considering all of the submissions received in the context of preparing the final River Basin Management Plan.

Pyrite Issues

Ceisteanna (638)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

638. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the developments that have taken place in respect of the establishment of a redress scheme for homeowners affected by pyrite in County Mayo in view of the 2017 publication of the expert panel report; if all affected homeowners in County Mayo have been identified and corresponded with in relation to the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo.

The panel had the following terms of reference:

(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;

(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;

(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and

(iv) To submit a report within six months.

On 13 June 2017, the report of the Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations which my Department are actively progressing with the relevant stakeholders.

My Department is prioritising the implementation of Recommendations 1 and 2.

With regard to Recommendation 1, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Technical Committee, established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 2017 and has held several further meetings since. The standardised protocol will inform the course of action in relation to remedial works for all affected householders. My Department understands from the NSAI that the Technical Committee is in the process of finalising the standardised protocol, which will be available for public consultation shortly.

With regard to Recommendation 2, my Department has been in contact with Engineers Ireland in relation to the establishment of a register of competent engineers for homeowners/affected parties’ reference.  Engineers Ireland have provided assurance that they will collaborate with the Department, the NSAI and others on measures to establish such a register.

In July 2017, I visited Donegal and Mayo and met with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, elected members and officials of the local authorities and other interested parties. 

On 18 December 2017, I again visited Donegal and met with key stakeholders to provide an update on the progress to date.  I made a similar visit to Mayo on 26 January 2018.

In addition, and in light of the information contained in the report,  I am currently considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in the two counties.

Residential Tenancies Board

Ceisteanna (639)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

639. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a landlord must register a tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board in circumstances in which the tenant is the landlord's daughter that is occupying the property under a tenancy and rental agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 prescribe the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Acts provide that landlords in the sector must apply to register a tenancy of a dwelling with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) within one month of the commencement of the tenancy.

The statutory obligation to register a tenancy applies irrespective of the existence of a family relationship between the parties to the tenancy agreement. The RTB actively pursues landlords for non-registration. Failure to register a tenancy can result in prosecution with fines of up to €4,000 and/or six months imprisonment. The RTB receives information from a number of sources including the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, local authorities and members of the public to facilitate registration enforcement and to help identify unregistered landlords. 

Where there is a dispute between a landlord and tenant in respect of a failure of either party to fulfil their obligations under the Acts, the dispute may be referred to the RTB for resolution.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (640, 641)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

640. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the new projects for delivering social housing which were approved by the clearing house process in 2015 that his Department has actively supported or pursued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4410/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

641. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for not permitting local authorities to engage in a pilot project with a social housing model (details supplied); his Department's rationale as to the reason a housing model is regarded as on balance sheet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4411/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 641 together.

As part of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, and the Social Housing Strategy 2020, a Social Housing Investment Proposals Clearing House Group (Clearing House Group) has been in place to engage with a number of developers, potential investors, financiers, and others who had expressed an interest in being involved in the provision or financing of social housing. 

The social housing model referred to in the Question was one of 24 received by the Clearing House Group, of which 6 were considered as potentially meeting the criteria.

A critical requirement in the consideration of proposals put forward to this Group was that any new funding model would be off-balance sheet or neutral in respect of the General Government Balance.  Advice was sought from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on the possibility of these proposals providing an off-balance sheet source of funding. Despite a high level of engagement with potential providers, ultimately none of the proposals met the criteria that would enable them to be considered off-balance sheet.

Among the factors that were identified to be required in order for a social housing proposal to remain off-balance sheet were that the private or institutional investor should finance 100% of the cost of purchasing or constructing residential units, including site cost, building or acquisition cost, professional fees, planning and design costs, legal and conveyance fees, and arrangement fees. In addition, the private or institutional investor must retain ownership of the property both during and after the term of the lease. As a result of the potential risk that this development would be counted as on-balance sheet, it was not possible for my Department or local authorities to further engage in this proposed model.

Taking into consideration the work and analysis of the Clearing House Group, it was felt that using and adapting the existing social housing funding and support mechanisms would instead provide a framework with more realistic prospects of harnessing private investment in an off balance sheet manner.

An alternative leasing structure has been developed that meets this off-balance sheet requirement. It will provide a new standardised leasing agreement and a centralised arrangement for engaging with potential investors and housing providers. These have been tested in order to ensure that there is no negative impact arising from how they are viewed and treated in respect of the State's General Government Balance. This new structure is due to be officially launched tomorrow by my colleague, Minister of State Damien English, and further details will be available in due course within the Call for Proposals process.

Irish Water

Ceisteanna (642)

James Browne

Ceist:

642. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when Irish Water will issue a discharge licence to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4426/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Discharge licences are an operational matter for the utility and I have no function in such matters.

Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

Public Private Partnerships Data

Ceisteanna (643)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

643. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the public private partnerships his department is currently engaged in; the name, cost and timeframe of each; the names of all private parties involved; the nature of each project in terms of design, build, maintain and so on, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4438/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Social Housing PPP Programme involves an investment with a capital value of €300 million.  It is to deliver 1,500 social housing units in total, via three bundles.

The first bundle, which comprises six PPP sites, will provide over 500 units in the Greater Dublin Area. Two of the sites are located in the Dublin City Council area with one each in the County Council areas of South Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth. A contract notice was published on 12 May 2017 in the Official Journal of the European Union and expressions of interest were submitted by five candidates. Based on a detailed evaluation of these submissions, the following three candidates have been shortlisted to tender-

- BAM PPP PGGM Cooperatie U.A;

- Comhar; and

- Torc Housing Partnership.

Details regarding these tenderers are available on the National Development Finance Agency website at http://www.ndfa.ie/social-housing-bundle-1-shortlist/ .

The second bundle, comprising eight PPP sites which are to provide over 450 units, was announced in June 2016.  Three of the sites are located in the Cork County Council area, with one each in  the Galway City Council, Waterford City & County Council, and Clare, Kildare and Roscommon County Council areas.

The identification and selection of sites for the third project bundle is at a preliminary stage.

Each individual bundle of sites takes an estimated 37-48 months to deliver in total, including planning, procurement and construction. It is expected that construction on the first bundle of sites will commence later this year, with units becoming available from 2019.  The timelines for construction and delivery of the second bundle of sites would be expected to follow some six to nine months after those for the first bundle.

The Social Housing PPP Programme is being delivered through the ‘availability’-based PPP model. Under this type of contract, the PPP project company as the private partner designs, builds, finances and maintains public buildings on sites provided by the State, in this case through the local authority. Payment is made by the State only once construction of the buildings is complete and the units are ready to house tenants. The payment comprises a monthly ‘availability’ and performance-based payment (or unitary charge) made over the term of the 25-year contract.

The amount of the availability payment is a bid item in the selection of the preferred tender. This means that when a bidder tenders for the PPP project, the level of monthly payment is considered in assessing the competing tenders.  As the Deputy will understand, given that the tender process is currently underway, and in order to ensure that the State receives value for money, these costings are of a commercially sensitive nature.

Land provided by the local authority is made available by way of a licence. Ownership of State land is not transferred to the private partner PPP company.

Tenants allocated to PPP units will be nominated by the local authority, in the normal manner, from the local authority social housing waiting list, in accordance with that local authority’s allocation scheme.  Each respective local authority therefore retains tenant nomination rights, and is to be the contractual landlord, with the same differential rent arrangements applying.

Barr
Roinn