Written Answers Nos. 87-110
88. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress being made in Cork city in accommodating 55 Traveller persons in emergency accommodation arising from the damage done to their dwellings during Storm Ophelia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4555/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and also have responsibility for 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.
In relation to any damage arising from events such as storm Ophelia, it is a matter for each housing authority to assess any damage caused to Traveller-specific accommodation in their area. As part of the capital funding supports provided by my Department, funding of 50% is provided to housing authorities for the purchase of emergency replacement mobiles. An emergency in this respect is an unanticipated event, such as storm damage, that would render a caravan/mobile uninhabitable or dangerous to live in. This scheme relates to authorised local authority sites only. Any request from housing authorities for such funding is considered promptly by my Department.
I can confirm that funding for 19 mobiles was provided by my Department to Cork City Council in December 2017. Cork City Council has informed my Department that the replacement of additional units is now also being considered. Any further requests for funding of additional units will, of course, be considered by my Department.
89. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the issues raised in the submission by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly will be given consideration in the preparation of the national planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4531/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the potential of smaller towns to expand to enable population growth and provide for increased economic activity will be ensured and not constrained by the national planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4532/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 119 together.
The National Planning Framework (NPF), titled Ireland 2040 - Our Plan, will set a new long-term strategic planning and investment context for Ireland over the next 20 years. It will outline a high-level, national vision for Ireland for 2040 and will provide the framework and principles to manage future population and economic growth over the next 20 years (catering for 1 million extra people, 600,000 extra jobs and over 500,000 extra homes).
The forthcoming NPF is about empowering all areas to play their distinct roles in securing overall optimal national and regional development, and sets out a growth strategy to help achieve this. In doing so, the NPF presents a long-term framework that sets out how Ireland can move away from the ‘business as usual’ pattern of development.
In setting out a context for targeting future growth, the Framework does not seek to cap or limit the potential of places but to enable a co-ordinated and plan-led, rather than development-led, approach to their progression. The NPF identifies the need for a strategic strengthening of Ireland’s overall urban structure, building on the recently published ESRI research paper, entitled Prospects for Irish Regions and Counties: Scenarios and Implications .
Importantly, where a settlement is not specifically identified or referenced in the Framework, there is no intention to preclude such settlements from future growth or investment. Such issues will be further considered at a regional scale as part of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and at the local scale as part of the City and County Development Plan process and Local Economic and Community Plans, consistent with the general targeted pattern of development of the NPF.
Furthermore, the general targeted pattern of development and growth under the NPF does not mean that individual settlements or rural areas cannot exceed the targeted rate of growth, rather that not every place can exceed the targeted growth rate, which needs to be balanced on a regional and county basis.
My Department has engaged regularly with the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) throughout all stages of the preparation of the NPF, as well as with a wide range of other stakeholders. Over 1,000 submissions were received by my Department in the context of the draft NPF and all of these submissions, including the matters raised by the NWRA, will be considered in completing the final NPF.
91. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the proposed national quality standards framework for emergency accommodation; the ongoing inspections of private and voluntary sector emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4585/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. This includes operational issues such as ensuring that contracted services are delivered in a professional manner, that inspections take place and that homeless families/individuals can report issues to the relevant authority.
In this regard, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has been overseeing the development of a quality standards framework, coordinating this work in consultation with an advisory group, which includes representation from various housing authorities, service providers, Tusla, clients and other stakeholders, with a view to having the finalised standards adopted on a national basis by individual housing authorities. The draft standards have been piloted in a number of selected services across the country and positive feedback has been received.
I understand that the DRHE is preparing a final draft quality standards framework for formal submission to my Department. On receipt of this, along with any recommendations with regard to implementation from the DRHE and the advisory group, I will give consideration to how such standards could be applied on a national basis by housing authorities.
93. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether it is appropriate that those on the housing assistance payment, HAP, transfer list in local authorities are not counted as still having a housing need despite the insecurity of their tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4421/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently more than 32,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP.
Following the commencement of the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, HAP is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. However, acknowledging that households on the waiting list who avail of HAP might have expectations that they would receive a more traditional form of social housing support, Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list.
Local authorities were also directed that HAP recipients who apply to go on the transfer list, should get full credit for the time they spent on the waiting list and be placed on the transfer list with no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list.
The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities. The setting of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and as such is a matter for the elected members.
95. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he will take to protect the interests of the households at a location (details supplied) that face the threat of homelessness arising from the notice to quit they received from a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4554/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSecurity of tenure provisions under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 apply once a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling for a continuous period of 6 months, with no notice of termination having been served during that time. Section 34 provides that a landlord must state a reason for the termination in any notice served. The reason must be one of those set out in section 34, for example, that vacant possession is required for substantial refurbishment of the dwelling.
Notice periods for the termination of a tenancy by the landlord vary, depending on the duration of the tenancy, but periods of up to 224 days are required.
If a landlord is terminating the tenancy on the grounds that he or she intends to substantially refurbish or renovate the dwelling in a way that requires the dwelling to be vacated for that purpose, the notice of termination must include a statement;
(a) specifying the nature of the intended works and providing a copy of any related planning permission. Where planning permission is not required, the notice or statement must specify the name of the contractor and the proposed dates for the works.
(b) that the landlord is required to offer to the tenant a tenancy of the dwelling if it becomes available for re-letting within a period of 6 months, subject to certain conditions.
On 23 November 2017, the RTB published a comprehensive set of guidelines on what constitutes substantial refurbishment or renovation for the purposes of a section 34 ground for tenancy termination. The guidelines are available on the RTB website:
Changes in Exemptions in Rent Pressure Zones
I have asked my Department to keep under review whether there is value in placing these guidelines on a statutory footing.
97. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of the 1,757 voids returned to stock in 2017 that had a tenant at the beginning of 2017. [4583/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the voids programme is to ensure that vacant units are actively targeted and returned to productive use as quickly as possible, particularly homes that would likely remain vacant for a significant period of time because of the cost of the works required. Funding these refurbishments and bringing such units back into active use means that households, who would otherwise not have been housed, can actually be accommodated.
My Department does not collate data on the letting history of properties submitted for refurbishment under the voids programme and therefore the information sought is not available in my Department.
99. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the capacity for social housing development in the Howth, Malahide, Swords and Balbriggan areas, with specific reference to the locality of each proposed development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4348/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness has put in place the funding required to accelerate the delivery of social housing across all local authority areas. €6 billion in exchequer investment has been secured to support its implementation and to deliver 50,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.
The bringing forward of specific social housing developments is a matter for individual local authorities, having regard to the specific housing needs identified in their area. Housing needs are identified by the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments, the most recent results of which were published earlier this month by my Department and outline the level of housing need across all local authorities as at 28 June 2017.
In relation to social housing developments, the latest status report for social housing construction projects, as at end Q3 2017, contains key information on current social housing construction activity in all local authority areas. The Q3 2017 report details 772 schemes recently completed, on site, or undergoing planning, design or procurement, which will deliver some 12,300 homes. The Report is available on my Department's website at the following weblink:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/quarter-3-social-housing-construction-status-report/ .
The Report includes details of the significant level of activity being undertaken by Fingal County Council in conjunction with Approved Housing Bodies across 34 projects, which will deliver in the region of 850 homes. Some of these projects are located in the specific areas identified.
In addition to the provision of adequate funding, the availability of suitable lands for development is key to ensuring the delivery of sufficient housing supply and it is therefore crucial that the State's housing land bank is developed as soon as possible. To this end, details of some 1,700 hectares of land in local authority and Housing Agency ownership were published on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map, with these lands having the potential to deliver some 42,500 homes nationally. The map also includes details of some 300 hectares of land in ownership of other State or semi-State bodies, with the potential to deliver a further 7,500 homes. All of the mapped sites, including sites notified by Fingal County Council, can be viewed at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
All local authorities have been requested to prepare Strategic Development and Management Plans for residential lands in their ownership to ensure they are brought forward for development at the earliest opportunity. The Plans, including that submitted by Fingal County Council, are currently being reviewed by my Department. It is my intention to publish all the plans in due course.
In the context of his new role in driving and co-ordinating housing delivery, my colleague, Minister of State Damien English, will chair the State Land Management and Development Group, whose key role will be to drive delivery of housing from the local authority and broader State land bank. The work programme of the Group will include engagement with all local authorities, including Fingal County Council, to discuss their plans for the development of public lands in their areas.
101. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that those provisions in the Electoral Acts in regard to donations to third parties for political purposes are fit for purpose. [4487/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra109. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to amend the Electoral Acts to address the difficulties identified by the Standards in Public Office Commission in regard to supervising the provisions of the Acts regarding third parties. [4486/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 109 together.
The Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for dealing with political donations and sets out the regulatory regime covering a wide range of issues such as the funding of political parties; the reimbursement of election expenses; the establishment of election expenditure limits; the disclosure of election expenditure; the setting of limits on permissible donations; the prohibition of certain donations; the disclosure of donations and the registration of third parties who accept donations given for political purposes which exceed €100. The Act also provides for the independent supervision of this regime by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO).
In this regard, I understand that SIPO has published guidelines to inform third parties of their obligations under the Act which can be accessed on their website
http://www.sipo.ie/en/guidelines/explanatory-notes/explanatory-notes-for-third-parties/explanatory-note-for-third-parties.pdf.
Ultimately, the onus is on each third party to adhere to their obligations under the Act.
The concerns raised by a number of the civil society groups in relation to the requirements on third parties are being further examined and considered within my Department having regard to experience, including previous reports from SIPO, with the implementation of Part IV of the Electoral Act 1997.
I have no proposals to amend the Electoral Acts in relation to foreign donations at this point in time. However, electoral law, including the provisions of the Electoral Act 1997, is subject to ongoing review in order to ensure that a robust and modern legal framework is maintained as a cornerstone in support of the operation of our democratic system.
102. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social homes it is planned to develop in conjunction with Meath County Council in the full and total land bank of State owned lands at Farganstown, Navan, County Meath. [4544/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department approved overall funding of €5.68 million for Meath County Council, under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), for the provision of an access road at the site in Farganstown, Navan, Co. Meath. This will enable the construction of some 400 homes, both social and private, on the associated private and state owned sites.
My Department has approved further funding of €11.2 million for the construction of 42 social housing homes on the State owned site at Farganstown. In addition, there will be a further additional social housing return to the State in terms of the required Part V homes secured from the private site.
Meath County Council have confirmed that there is capacity to provide a further 1,200 housing units at Farganstown, which will be progressed once water and waste water infrastructure is in place post 2021. My Department will be rolling out phase 2 of the LIHAF scheme over the coming months. It will be open to Meath County Council to apply for further funding for the Farganstown site, in view of the infrastructural requirements arising for future development.
103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the demand for co-operative housing in Galway city and county; if so, the status of plans for the provision of co-operative housing in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4453/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises that housing affordability is a major issue for some households in parts of the country, including Galway. While initiatives introduced to date are having a positive impact and will have a greater impact in time, the need for further targeted measures is recognised.
For this reason, on 22 January, I announced a package of initiatives to help alleviate affordability pressures faced by households, particularly in areas of high housing demand and high accommodation costs. The measures are designed to enable low- to moderate-income households that do not qualify for social housing supports, to purchase or rent homes, particularly in Dublin, Galway, Cork and other major urban areas. Close cooperation between local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies and/or housing co-operatives is clearly envisaged within the suite of measures announced.
The new measures included the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, an Affordable Purchase Scheme and an Affordable Rental Scheme. Further details on this suite of initiatives are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/min-murphys-statement-on-affordable-homes/.
The delivery of affordable housing will rely on the State developing the full potential of its residential land bank. All local authority Chief Executives have been requested to submit proposals, by mid-February, for the delivery of additional affordable housing in their areas. In addition, a Residential Land Management and Development Group has been established and will play a key role in driving delivery as speedily as possible. The Group will meet with all local authorities, including the two Galway Councils, to explore the most appropriate approaches in individual local authority areas, including the potential for collaborative engagements with Approved Housing Bodies.
104. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the report held by his Department on allegations of planning corruption on County Donegal; when this report will be published; and the actions he plans to take arising from the report. [4587/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 24 January 2018, which sets out the position in this matter.
105. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the new tenant purchase scheme will be launched; the mortgage approval process associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4547/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will introduce measures to allow families that do not have a minimum earned income of €15,000 per annum to purchase their homes under the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4339/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 115 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
The financing of any house sold under the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is a separate matter from the eligibility criteria for the scheme. If the tenant is deemed eligible under the scheme, he or she may fund the purchase of a house from one, or a combination, of his / her own resources or a mortgage provided by a financial institution or a local authority house purchase loan.
The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant local authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, local authorities include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.
In determining reckonable income, the income of all tenants of the house, including adult children that are joint tenants, is included, as is the income of the spouse, civil partner or other partner / co-habitant of a tenant who lives in the house with them, thus ensuring the appropriate level of discount is applied to the purchase price.
It was for reasons of ensuring the sustainability of the scheme, that the minimum income was introduced. This was in order to demonstrate an applicant had an income of a long-term and sustainable nature, to ensure that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.
In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which took place in 2017 and saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
The review is now complete and a full report setting out findings and recommendations has been prepared. I expect to be in a position to publish the outcome of the review shortly.
106. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homes that were completed in County Laois in 2017 by Laois County Council; and the target for same in the coming years for County Laois. [4534/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 15 January last, I published indicative national figures for social housing output for 2017. These are available at the following link on my Department's website: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/social-housing-delivery-2017-ministers-statement.
Following completion of the necessary validation process, the full breakdown of this delivery for 2017, including by local authority area, will be published on my Department's website. In the meantime, details in respect of delivery up to the end of quarter 3 of 2017 are currently published and available at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
In relation to targets for further delivery, I discussed these at a second Housing Summit, which I held last week, with the Chief Executives of each of the 31 Local Authorities and I will be publishing targets, for delivery out to 2021, in the coming weeks.
108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority houses commenced and or built by each local authority in 2017; the way in which the number related to the number of eligible persons on a waiting list of the local authorities in question; the extent to which the number will be increased in 2018; the extent to which it is expected to reduce the number on the waiting lists in each local authorities in 2018; his plans for an accelerated building programme to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4603/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified and on waiting lists for social housing support in each local authority area, are set out in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments. The most recent summary, which was carried out in 2017, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists, as at 28 June 2017 and can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link.
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2017.pdf.
The 2017 summary, which was published recently, shows that 85,799 households were assessed as being qualified for and in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 5,801 households or 6.3% compared to the 2016 summary.
In terms of meeting the need of households on waiting lists across the country, Rebuilding Ireland set ambitious targets for social housing delivery and there is an accelerated delivery programme in place for 2018 and the years beyond. Last year, I secured an additional €500 million during Budget 2018 negotiations, to increase the social housing delivery ambition from 47,000 to 50,000 social housing homes by end 2021. Combined with the target to deliver just under 88,000 tenancies under the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Schemes, this means that we will meet the needs of just under 138,000 individuals and families over the lifetime of the Rebuilding Ireland plan.
I recently published details of the 2017 provisional social housing outputs in 2017. During last year, just under 26,000 households had their social housing need met, well ahead of the target of just over 21,000. Details are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/2017-social-housing-output-figures-published/.
It should be noted that to date under Rebuilding Ireland, just under 45,000 households have had their social housing need met. Indeed, I recently published details of the social housing delivery ambition to 2021 against the delivery achieved at end 2017; this information is available at the following weblink:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-progress-vs-targets-2016-2021/.
In relation to social housing construction activity, my Department publishes comprehensive status reports on a quarterly basis, in relation to 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 were 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 also showed that there were over 3,600 new homes on site and under construction and a further 2,000 new homes with approval to appoint contractors and move onto the construction phase. The report can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/quarter-3-social-housing-construction-status-report/.
In relation to the Deputy's query regarding delivery in 2018, the table below sets out the main programmes of social housing delivery for 2018.
|
Delivery Method |
2018 Targets |
|
Build |
4,969 |
|
Acquisitions |
900 |
|
Leasing |
2,000 |
|
RAS |
600 |
|
HAP |
17,000 |
|
Total |
25,469 |
It should be noted that at the second Housing Summit, held on January 22nd, I asked each Local Authority Chief Executive to furnish a report by mid-February, confirming and setting out how their Local Authority will deliver on its social housing targets over the coming years. It is my intention that the targets will be published as soon as possible thereafter, and progress made by each local authority in terms of delivery against these targets will then be published on an ongoing basis, providing greater accountability and driving delivery.
