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Thursday, 8 Mar 2018

Written Answers Nos. 622-646

Commercial Rates

Ceisteanna (622, 623, 624)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

622. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the commercial rates incentive schemes for each local authority, including those categorised as general or special, currently offered in tabular form. [10829/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Burton

Ceist:

623. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the eligibility requirements for all commercial rates incentive schemes, including those categorised as general or special, by local authority in tabular form. [10830/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joan Burton

Ceist:

624. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the timeframe for the promised commercial rates modernisation legislation. [10831/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 622 to 624, inclusive, together.

Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.  The Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility for valuation matters.  The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property determined by the Valuation Office to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function.

Under the provisions of the Local Government (Rates) Act 1970, a rating authority may make and carry out a scheme, providing for the waiver by the authority of all or a portion of commercial rates due by ratepayers in respect of a specified class or classes of property. The making of such a scheme is subject to the consent of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. No rate waiver schemes have been consented to in respect of commercial property.

Some local authorities have introduced locally designed business incentive schemes which promote the use of vacant commercial property.  Such schemes rely upon Part 9 of the Local Government Act 2001 which provides that the functions of local authorities include providing grants, loans guarantees or other financial aid to promote the interests of the local community, including economic interests.  Unlike rates waiver schemes, no Ministerial sanction is required for the setting up of these schemes.

Commercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities.  However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century.  Many of the provisions are outdated and not suitable for business trends in the modern era.  My Department has developed legislative proposals to modernise and consolidate the legislation governing commercial rates.  Among the measures included in the General Scheme of the Bill are provisions to allow a local authority to introduce rates alleviation schemes to support the implementation of policy objectives, including: local economic and community plans; objectives contained in Development Plans and Local Area Plans; and national planning policies.

The Government last year approved the drafting of a Rates Bill. The General Scheme of the Bill is currently with the Attorney General’s office for drafting, with a view to its introduction as soon as possible.

Housing Assistance Payment Administration

Ceisteanna (625)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

625. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to amend the current housing assistance payment model in order to speed up the process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10872/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need is eligible for HAP. The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provide that subject to conditions, a housing authority shall deal with such an application within a period of 12 weeks.

Local authorities will prioritise housing needs assessments for those in greatest need and average waiting times are significantly shorter than the statutory maximum in many areas.

Under the HAP scheme, eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector. My Department does not hold details on the processing times for HAP applications or payments. The earliest date a HAP payment will issue to a landlord is the date a complete and valid HAP application has been received by the local authority. Limerick City and County Council provide a highly effective transactional shared service on behalf of all HAP local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is then processed by the HAP SSC. On average, HAP applications are processed by the HAP Shared Service Centre within 1 working day of receipt. Any rental payment arising for a given month will then be made to a landlord on the last Wednesday of that month.

More than 33,700 households are currently in receipt of HAP support. My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of the HAP scheme and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

National Planning Framework

Ceisteanna (626)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

626. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if carbon reduction and fuel poverty proofing has been carried out to prioritise investments outlined in the national planning framework, NPF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Planning Framework (NPF), published together with the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 on 16 February 2018, sets out an ambitious high-level national vision for Ireland for 2040 and provides the framework and principles to manage future population and economic growth over the next 20 years, catering for around 1 million extra people, 660,000 extra jobs and 550,000 extra homes.

The NPF is underpinned and was informed by a comprehensive analytical, public participation and environmental assessment-based approach. The evidence base underpinning the NPF and its finalisation after the publication of the consultation draft includes the ESRI Research study, titled Prospects for Irish Regions and Counties: Scenarios and Implications, which is available on the ESRI's website at the following link: http://www.esri.ie/publications/prospects-for-irish-regions-and-counties-scenarios-and-implications/.

Finalisation of the NPF was also necessarily informed by the extensive public consultation process conducted at draft stage, which included over 1,000 submissions, formal engagements with the Oireachtas and interaction with key stakeholders. Crucially, the NPF was also informed by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), with the SEA statement including a screening of changes made between the publication of the public consultation draft and the final Framework as published by the Government.

The NPF has dedicated a section to Resource Efficiency and Transition to a Low Carbon Economy and includes a specific National Policy Objective to "Reduce our carbon footprint by integrating climate action into the planning system in support of national targets for climate policy mitigation and adaptation objectives, as well as targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions".

In addition, Project Ireland 2040 provides for €22bn investment in climate action related policies and policy initiatives and implementation of the NPF principles, taking account of wider considerations such as carbon reduction and fuel poverty, are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

Ceisteanna (627)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

627. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if changes are envisaged in respect of the allocation of local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, following the publication of the national planning framework, NPF; if so, the date and the way in which this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10878/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As part of Budget 2018, I announced that an additional €50 million Exchequer funding will be available for a second LIHAF call. As was the case in the original LIHAF call, this will be subject to matching funding by local authorities, where my Department will provide 75% Exchequer funding, with the Local Authorities themselves providing 25% matching funding. This will bring overall LIHAF funding under both calls to €266 million.

My Department is currently finalising a call for proposals under phase 2 of LIHAF.  It is envisaged that the criteria for this round of funding will take account of the National Planning Framework priorities but the core objective of building key strategic infrastructure to release lands for housing development will remain the same.

It is expected that the call for proposals will issue to local authorities towards the end of March.  It will be open to all local authorities to submit new projects or resubmit previous projects for consideration at that time.  Following assessment and selection of successful projects, it is expected that these LIHAF 2 projects would commence towards the end of 2018.

National Planning Framework

Ceisteanna (628)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

628. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if planning authorities will be asked to revise their development plans to reflect the new situation in view of the recent publication of the national planning framework, NPF; if not, the date on which this will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10879/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following publication of the National Planning Framework (NPF), on 16 February, my Department issued Circular Letter FPS 02/2018 to all local authorities informing them of the legal status of the Framework.

In this context planning authorities were informed that pending any additional statutory provision, the NPF constitutes national planning policy in accordance with Section 2 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and all other related provisions of the Act, including, in particular, Sections 9, 10, 22, 23, 37 and 143.

Currently, local authority development plan timeframes vary, depending on when they were last reviewed and adopted which, in the context of the NPF and subsequent Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs), means that some plans might have reviews underway and completed just before the NPF and the RSESs take effect. Accordingly, it could be a number of years before the relevant development plans at national, regional and local level become properly aligned and consistent with one another.

In this regard, it is proposed that a process of alignment between national, regional and local development plans will be provided for through amendments to the current statutory timeframes for local authority development plan reviews. Essentially, it is proposed that any reviews which have been initiated and are currently underway will be paused so that they can take account of emerging statistical and evidential input from forthcoming RSESs once these new regional strategies are in place. This alignment will not be achieved in a manageable or timely manner if current Development Plans continue to be subject to separate review at very different intervals over a rolling 6-year period.

In order to achieve effective implementation, it is therefore proposed that City and County Development Plans be more closely aligned with the NPF and subsequent regional strategies, having regard to the early 2019 timescale for completion of the regional strategies.

In recognition of the critical role that the local government sector will have in the ongoing implementation of the Framework, my Department is currently running a series of workshops to ensure that those local authority officials involved in planning matters are fully informed in relation to the content of the Framework as we move into the implementation phase.

Approved Housing Bodies

Ceisteanna (629)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

629. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the annual returns for approved housing bodies are provided to his Department; if so, the number in surplus; the surplus in 2016 and 2017; if the funds may be reinvested in new housing units; if so, if approval is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10884/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The financial oversight of Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) is currently conducted through the Voluntary Regulation Code (VRC), Building for the Future: A Voluntary Regulation Code for Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland (2013), and the 2015 Financial Reporting Standard.

All the larger, Tier 3 AHBs comply with the Code and the financial standard, which is overseen by the Interim Regulation Committee (IRC), which is based in the Housing Agency.  This arrangement is a prelude to the establishment of a statutory regulator to oversee the effective governance, financial management and performance of the AHB sector. My Department is currently drafting the legislation to set up this new statutory regime.

Annual financial returns for the larger and developing AHBs which are signed up to the Code are submitted to the Regulation Office which undertakes an assessment of the financial position of those AHBs. The 2016 assessment process for all AHBs is currently in progress.  Financial Statements for year end-2017 for all AHBs (and companies) are not required by the Companies Registration Office until September 2018.  The AHBs are private entities within their own right and therefore where a Body has an operating surplus, the Board of the AHB has the responsibility for oversight and decision-making powers on whether to re-invest in new housing and other financial decision.

Traffic Wardens Data

Ceisteanna (630)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

630. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of school traffic wardens employed nationally by county or local authority; if funding has been made available for extra wardens in view of the expansion of the Luas project across the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10885/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is responsible for workforce planning for the local government sector, including monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities; however, the data gathered does not provide details in terms of the number of school traffic wardens employed nationally by county or local authority. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.

The funding for extra wardens in view of the expansion of the Luas project across the Dublin region is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Land Issues

Ceisteanna (631)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

631. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the updated position from the regional assemblies with respect to the amount of residentially zoned land; if the 41,788 hectares of land that existed following the passing of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 reduced to 11,000 hectares; if not, the amount it was reduced by; the land that has been subsequently been rezoned residential in subsequent cities and counties and LAPs; the amount of residentially zoned land that is available with and without planning permission by location; the estimated number of housing units that could be constructed on the available land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10897/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department, in conjunction with local authority planning departments, published a Residential Land Availability Survey in February 2015 of all lands zoned for residential development in statutory local authority development plans and local area plans across Ireland.

A summary of the findings, including a breakdown of the results by local authority and nationally in table 3 on page 3 of the report, is available at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad%2C40214%2Cen.pdf

The survey determined, as of 31 March 2014, the location and quantity of lands, whether owned privately or by the local authority, that may be regarded as being undeveloped and available for residential development purposes in each local authority area, and identified as being the highest priority for development.

The aggregate area of such lands amounts to 17,434 hectares which, given a range of densities appropriate to whether the lands are in small villages or in larger towns and cities and as determined by the relevant local authorities, could enable the construction of an estimated 415,000 dwellings.

In addition, under the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Programme on Housing and Homelessness, an on-line Housing Land Map was launched by my Department which aims to provide users with details of residentially zoned lands, local authority owned and Land Aggregation Scheme sites, as well as other publicly owned sites with potential for housing development and active private housing construction sites in the Dublin region. It represents a vital initial step in shaping and informing the new State Housing Land Management Strategy being developed under the National Planning Framework, which signals a significant policy shift towards securing more compact and sustainable urban and rural development, including the establishment of a National Regeneration and Development Agency to assist in ensuring a more effective approach to strategic land management, particularly in terms of publicly owned land.  The Agency will act as a national centre of expertise, working with and supporting local authorities, public bodies and other interests, to harness public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider investment and to achieve compact, sustainable growth, with a particular focus on complex regeneration projects.

Regeneration Projects

Ceisteanna (632, 633, 634)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

632. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding allocated to County Louth under the regeneration programme since its commencement. [10937/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

633. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding that has been drawn down each year by Louth County Council under the regeneration programme since its inception. [10938/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

634. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of houses built each year in County Louth under the regeneration programme since its inception. [10939/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 632 to 634, inclusive, together.

Under the regeneration programme in Dundalk, some €6 million has been invested to date on the delivery of 14 new social housing homes and the retrofitting of over 100 houses. In addition, Louth County Council has improved the streetscape with lighting and landscaping.

Plans are currently being advanced by the Council for the next phase of regeneration with an estimated cost in excess of €4m, which will deliver 22 social housing homes, when completed.

Approved Housing Bodies

Ceisteanna (635)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

635. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if approved housing bodies are reclassified by Eurostat; the level of new departmental oversight this reclassification will lead to; and if his Department will have oversight over issues such as funding and staffing approval. [10952/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware, in December 2017 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) made a decision that 14 of the 16 largest Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) examined (i.e. those with 300+ homes in their property portfolios) in the initial phase of the review should be re-classified as falling within the public sector, under the broad local government classification.

This decision was sent to Eurostat, the EU Statistical Office, for their consideration and ultimate determination and the CSO received confirmation of their consenting decision on 5 March 2018.

A Working Group involving officials from my Department, the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Housing Agency, and the Housing Finance Agency, will be established shortly to consider fully the implications of this decision. This will include assessing the need for any additional oversight of the AHB sector, given the change in classification.

It should be noted that, to qualify for approval as an Approved Housing Body, these organisations are required to be either a Limited Company, or Society registered or a Trust incorporated under the Charities Acts and are therefore private entities within their own right. Their boards decide their own strategic and management priorities, deal with staffing and resource issues and make decisions on entering contracts, taking out loans and bearing the risk of developing new projects.

Notwithstanding the assessment by the CSO, the Government still sees an important role for the voluntary housing sector in contributing to delivery of social housing under Rebuilding Ireland, and intends to press ahead with the ambitious plans to use all mechanisms and schemes, including through the AHB sector, to ensure that we maintain our planned momentum towards meeting the 50,000 Rebuilding Ireland social housing target.

Local Authority Staff Data

Ceisteanna (636)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

636. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of council staff in west County Cork excluding administrative staff for each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10998/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is responsible for workforce planning for the local government sector, including monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities; however, the data gathered does not provide a breakdown in respect of the number of council staff in west County Cork excluding administrative staff. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.

High-level staffing numbers for the local authority sector are available on the Public Service Numbers Databank which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following link: http://databank.per.gov.ie/, providing access to information from 1980 onwards.

Seaweed Harvesting Licences

Ceisteanna (637, 638, 639)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

637. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of operational licences for seaweed harvesting; of those, the number held by companies; the number not held by companies; the persons or body that hold the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10999/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

638. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications for seaweed harvesting by companies that are on hold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11000/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

639. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the monitoring regime in place in relation to the two seaweed harvesting licences granted since 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11001/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 to 639, inclusive, together.

Of the 17 applications to harvest seaweed on hands, 13 are from named companies. There are 3 licences in place, details of which, including any monitoring arrangements, can be found at the following links:

http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/raheen-environmental-limited

http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/bioatlantis-ltd

http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/cork-co-cl-1

Planning Issues

Ceisteanna (640)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

640. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the information and relevant documentation supporting the appropriate assessment screening determination that the proposed 35 year foreshore lease planning application to construct an offshore electricity generating station on Galway Bay meets the threshold of being considered likely not to have significant effects on the European sites considered in the foreshore lease planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11037/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department, as the Competent Authority, is required to undertake an Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening in order to determine whether proposed works require a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) under the EU Habitats Directive.  The AA Screening Report for the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Test Site (FS006566) can be viewed on my Department's website under the Determination subfolder by selecting the following application link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/foreshore-applications/application-documents/mlvc_report_-_appendix_b_-_aa_report.pdf.

Environmental Impact Statements

Ceisteanna (641)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

641. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the information and relevant documentation supporting the environmental impact statement screening determination that an EIS is not required for the proposed project in the foreshore lease planning application (details supplied) on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11038/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In order to determine whether proposed works are of a class that would require a mandatory Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, my Department, as the Competent Authority, is required to undertake an EIA Screening. The EIA Screening Report for the Galway Bay Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site (FS006566) can be viewed on my Department's website under the Determination subfolder by selecting the following application link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/foreshore-applications/application-documents/mlvc_report_-_appendix_a_-_eis_screening_document.pdf. As set out in the screening report, the application documentation together with related submissions were taken into account in the determination decision.

Local Authority Housing

Ceisteanna (642)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

642. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the timeframe for bringing forward the new national rental scheme for local authority tenants. [11097/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Considerable work has been carried out by my Department in developing a draft national differential rents framework, which will harmonise the approach taken to the setting of local authority rents, including income disregards. The introduction of a rent framework may mean that the amount of rent payable by some households may be subject to change in some cases. This work is now being examined further in the light of the broader commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, to review the disparate systems of differential rent for social housing in place across local authorities. The overall objective is to ensure that housing supports are fair and sustainable, prioritise those on lowest incomes and avoid creating social welfare traps that may prevent people from either returning to work or to the private housing market.

I expect that the review will be completed shortly.

Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (643)

Pat Casey

Ceist:

643. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to address the anomaly whereby tenants on the RAS scheme cannot transfer to HAP even though there is a shortage of RAS units and social houses while at the same time HAP units may be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11098/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

There are more than 50,000 households currently having their housing needs met via the Housing Assistance Payment scheme (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). A key principle of the HAP scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, which best suits their needs in their area of choice. This is distinct from RAS, which is a different type of social housing support, where the tenant may not always find their own accommodation and instead are allocated a dwelling in accordance with Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Unlike HAP, where a RAS tenancy is ending, the local authority retains the responsibility to source further accommodation for that household.

Under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, which provides for HAP, a household in receipt of another form of social housing support, such as accommodation provided under the RAS, will not generally be eligible for HAP. Section 45 (5) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 does allow for the provision of HAP where a household is currently residing in another form of social housing support, except in emergency circumstances. The ending of a RAS tenancy does not fall within the meaning of an emergency, as prescribed by that section of the legislation.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. In order to provide greater equity of options between social housing tenants, and in light of the current private rental market, my Department is currently exploring how greater flexibility of movement between allocated social housing supports and HAP could be facilitated. This may require legislative change. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of HAP and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme outlined under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

Housing Grant Applications

Ceisteanna (644)

Michael Collins

Ceist:

644. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a homeowners income is taken into consideration when a person applies for a grant under the housing grant scheme if the home owner is not living in the same household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11120/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

For the purposes of the Housing Adaptation Grant schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, household income is calculated as the annual gross income of the registered property owner together with all household members over 18 (or over 23 if in full-time education) in the previous tax year.

Certain income is not taken into account, or is disregarded, in calculating household income, including €5,000 for each member of the household up to 18 years, Family Income Supplement, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance, if paid in respect of the person to whom the grant application relates.

A person living in a property they do not own can avail of the schemes, based on their own income, where they are renting the property and a tenancy agreement is in place. 

Applying a household means test is intended to spread the benefits of these grant schemes as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in their operation.  The schemes are therefore more sharply focused towards those with greatest needs.

Water Charges

Ceisteanna (645)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

645. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the special provision that will be made for those persons who suffer from health conditions which require heavy water usage such as Crohn's disease in view of reports that Irish Water is to start monitoring water usage from 2019 and begin billing for excessive usage thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11130/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Statutory provision for the exemption of customers of Irish Water from excessive use charges consequential to the medical need of a person ordinarily resident in the dwelling concerned has already been made under section 53F of the Water Services Act 2007 (as inserted by section 13 of the Water Services Act 2017). Having regard to this section, it is anticipated that the exemption will operate on the basis of an application to Irish Water outlining the increased demand for water services due to the medical need of the person concerned, supported, if required, by medical evidence.

In line with provisions contained within Section 53F(5) of the 2007 Act, regulations setting out the administrative arrangements to be followed by Irish Water and relevant customers where such cases of medical need arise, will be prepared by my Department later this year. It is anticipated that the first charges for excessive usage would not arise until 2019.

Approved Housing Bodies

Ceisteanna (646)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

646. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the annual grants that have been paid in each of the years 2015 to 2017 to approved housing bodies; the number of housing units involved with respect to each body in each year; the headings grants are paid under; the number of amalgamations that occurred in each of those years and the housing bodies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11132/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The detailed information sought is not fully available in the format requested. My Department is compiling the information which will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
There are a range of funding and delivery mechanisms available to local authorities to deliver social housing supports in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), i.e. through the Capital Assistance Scheme, the Capital Loans and Subsidy Scheme, the Communal Facilities Scheme, the Approved Housing Body Mortgage to Rent Scheme, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme. The funding under these programmes is provided directly to local authorities who, in turn, advance the funding to AHBs, as appropriate. It should be noted that CALF is a loan that is fully repayable with interest by the AHB at the end of the agreed period.
The funding provided to AHBs and the number of units delivered each year over the period 2015 to 2017 is set out in the table below. The funding includes amounts which were self-funded by certain local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts.
The number of units delivered in 2017 is provisional and subject to validation. It should also be noted that where social housing units are delivered through phased programmes, the actual delivery of units may not always arise in the same year as expenditure is incurred.

2015

2016

2017

Funding

€148.55m

€154.77m

€228.73m

Units Delivered

1,298

1,169

2,295 (provisional)

In addition to the units delivered above, the funding provided by my Department over the period in question also provided 5 communal facilities in housing schemes owned and managed by AHBs.
The oversight of AHBs is currently conducted through the Voluntary Regulation Code (VRC), Building for the Future, A Voluntary Regulation Code for Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland. At present, 250 AHBs are signed up to the VRC which is overseen by the Interim Regulation Committee (IRC), which is based in the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency. The Regulation Office has advised that it does not as a matter of course collect data in relation to amalgamations.
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