Written Answers Nos 295-306
295. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an interested party can establish the identity of the owner of a residential property to raise an issue affecting the interested party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13485/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department does not hold the data referred to in the question, the Property Registration Authority records the names and addresses of every registered land owner. The folios of the Land Register are a public record and can be accessed at www.landdirect.ie.
296. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if it is ensured that all properties in respect of which housing assistance payment is being paid are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13486/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended, regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
The Act provides that landlords must apply to register the tenancy of a dwelling with the RTB within one month of the commencement of the tenancy. The RTB actively pursues landlords for non-registration. Failure to register tenancies can result in prosecution with fines of up to €4,000 and/or six months imprisonment.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Shared Service Centre (SSC) provides a highly effective transactional service on behalf of Local Authorities, including data-sharing with the RTB in relation to active HAP tenancies. This enables the RTB to ensure compliance with the national tenancy registration system.
The 2004 Act applies to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy, subject to a limited number of exceptions. The dwellings to which the Act does not apply are set out in section 3(2) of the Act. Where the owner of a dwelling, residing in that dwelling, lets a room, that letting is not considered to be a tenancy within the meaning of the Residential Tenancies Act.
HAP support is available to tenants in rent a room scheme arrangements. In these cases, the RTB does not have any function and there is no registration requirement.
297. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to address the issue of single persons on the housing list for many years with no immediate prospect of receiving a council house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13280/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with its allocation scheme made in accordance with section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations. This legislation requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households. Under the 2009 Act, a household is defined as a person living alone, or two or more persons, who in the opinion of the local authority concerned, have a reasonable requirement to live together.
As such, it is a matter for each local authority to decide on the type of support to be allocated to individual households. As Minister, I am precluded by the 2009 Act from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the allocation of particular dwellings.
In addition to traditional local authority housing, social housing support is also provided through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Under HAP, local authorities will make a monthly payment to a landlord, subject to terms and conditions including rent limits, on a HAP tenant’s behalf. In return, the HAP tenant pays a weekly contribution towards the rent to the local authority. This ‘rent contribution’ is based on the household income. It is calculated in the same way as the rent paid by a tenant of a local authority owned property.
HAP provides fast, flexible housing support to households in an area of their choice. Individuals with a housing need who in the past were reluctant to avail of full time work as they would lose their Rent Supplement support, can now move to HAP, avail of full-time work and retain their housing support, with an adjustment in their differential rent. There are currently more than 34,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP.
Under Rebuilding Ireland, I have made it clear to local authorities that the delivery of social housing supports must be focussed on and consistent with housing need as measured by the now annual Summary of Social Housing Assessment (SSHA) process. Given that the largest percentage of households in need of support are now single person households, this clearly means that the provision of one and two-bedroom dwellings has to be increased in many locations in the coming periods. My Department is working actively with local authorities to increase these types of dwellings and the recently published guidelines for apartments will also help in this regard.
The implementation of Rebuilding Ireland is well underway and significant progress is being made. This was evident in the Social Housing Output indicative figures published in January 2018, showing that nearly 26,000 households had their social housing need met in 2017.
It should be noted that the targets set under Rebuilding Ireland were carefully set against the reality of deliverables. Of the overall target of meeting the needs of 137,000 households by 2021, just under 45,000 households have had their social housing need met by the end of year 2 of the Plan, some 33% of those targeted. More details can be accessed through the Social Housing Delivery 2017 Report (January 2018), which is available on my Department's website at link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/2017-social-housing-output-figures-published/.
298. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will meet with a cross-party delegation from the Inishowen Municipal District of Donegal County Council to discuss Government funding for the rebuilding of Swan Park, Buncrana, County Donegal destroyed by the August 2017 floods along with the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Minister of State for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the islands. [13291/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday 22 August 2017 an extreme pluvial rainfall event occurred in Donegal which caused extensive damage and disruption, particularly to the community in the Inishowen Peninsula area. The response to the brief period of flooding was led by Donegal County Council and supported by a range of agencies. Although the flooding event ended quickly, considerable efforts were undertaken, again led by Donegal County Council with the support of relevant agencies and Government Departments, to clean up and restore infrastructure and to assist those affected by the floods.
Funding for repair of public infrastructure is undertaken by the relevant Department(s) in line with sectoral responsibilities. Each Government Department liaises directly with local authorities in relation to funding of repairs and restoration being carried out through the local government system.
Since 2009, my Department has made financial support available to assist local authorities in meeting the costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works associated with significant severe weather emergency events. This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of activities carried out by local authorities in responding to these types of emergencies and the fact that the costs of these un-programmed activities cannot be met from within existing resources.
Following receipt of a request from Donegal County Council for funding of €1.729m, my Department recouped that sum in full to the Council on 15 December 2017 under the arrangements for response and clean-up costs in relation to the flooding in the Inishowen peninsula in August 2017. The funding of repair to public parks, including Swan Park, Buncrana, does not fall under the remit of my Department's scheme.
299. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will introduce revised rural housing regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13406/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in my reply to Questions Numbers 667 and 679 of 8 March 2018, 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 representatives 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, as amended, 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 Commission on the matter, with a view to issuing a further circular letter to planning authorities as soon as possible, setting out revisions to the 2005 Guidelines that take account of the relevant ECJ judgment.
300. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment, HAP, recipients in County Tipperary; the annual value for each year since its inception in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13450/18]
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 over 34,000 households in receipt of HAP and over 20,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. HAP was rolled out in Tipperary on 29 June 2015 and the total numbers of active HAP tenancies at end 2017 was 1,633.
A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, in each local authority area since HAP was introduced and up to the end of Quarter 3 2017, is available on my Department's website at the following link:http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
I intend to publish Quarter 4 2017 data shortly on the website.
The average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme in each of the years since the introduction of the scheme and the annualised cost of the average monthly rent paid to landlords under HAP for Tipperary County Council is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Total HAP tenancies set-up |
Average monthly payment paid to landlords under the HAP scheme at year end |
Annualised cost* of the average monthly payment paid to landlords under the HAP scheme |
|
2015 |
188 |
€437 |
€5,244 |
|
2016 |
929 |
€454 |
€5,448 |
|
2017 |
829 |
€471 |
€5,652 |
*The annualised cost is calculated on the basis that the average cost at year end was paid every month for twelve months.
301. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of investment in the Irish language and the islands both within and outside Gaeltacht areas under the National Development Plan 2018-2027; and if such funding will be inclusive or separate to funding committed under the rural regeneration and development fund in the plan. [13345/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that as part of National Development Plan 2018-2027 total funding of €178 million is earmarked for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands over the life of the plan.
This figure represents an increase of €78m over the lifetime of the plan on the baseline annual expenditure of approximately €10m currently being provided for this budget line and is separate from the funding commitment contained in the plan in relation to rural regeneration.
The NDP includes a commitment to increase, on an incremental basis, the capital allocation to Údarás na Gaeltachta from the 2018 base level of €7m to €12m annually.
A decision on the timeframe for implementation of this increase will be made in the context of the normal annual estimates process. All expenditure proposals under the NDP are also subject to evaluation in line with the Public Spending Code.
302. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of investment in Údarás na Gaeltachta under the National Development Plan 2018-2027; the annual funding over the duration of the plan in tabular form; and if such funding will be inclusive or separate to funding committed to under the rural regeneration and development fund in the plan. [13346/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that as part of National Development Plan 2018-2027 total funding of €178 million is earmarked for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands over the life of the plan.
This figure represents an increase of €78m over the lifetime of the plan on the baseline annual expenditure of approximately €10m currently being provided for this budget line and is separate from the funding commitment contained in the plan in relation to rural regeneration.
The NDP includes a commitment to increase, on an incremental basis, the capital allocation to Údarás na Gaeltachta from the 2018 base level of €7m to €12m annually.
A decision on the timeframe for implementation of this increase will be made in the context of the normal annual estimates process. All expenditure proposals under the NDP are also subject to evaluation in line with the Public Spending Code.
303. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a funding allocation for An Foras Teanga for both Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency from the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland materialised in 2017 and in 2018 in accordance with the budget share previously approved by the North-South Ministerial Council in view of the fact that the Northern Ireland Executive has not been in operation. [13353/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agreed position in regard to budgets approved by the North South Ministerial Council is that Foras na Gaeilge is co-funded on the basis of 75% from my Department and 25% from the Department for Communities, while the Ulster-Scots Agency is co-funded on the basis of 25% from my Department and 75% from the Department for Communities.
I can confirm that the Department for Communities provided matched funding to Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency in 2017 in accordance with these agreed co-funding ratios and that this continues to be the position in 2018.
304. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the annual honorarium awarded to the Irish fiction laureate and the laureate na nóg. [13469/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Laureate for Irish Fiction 2018–2021 is Sebastian Barry and the Laureate na nÓg 2016-2018 is PJ Lynch. These honoraria are a matter for the Arts Council which under the Arts Act 2003 is statutorily independent in relation to its funding and executive decisions. I have no function in the selection of or awards in this matter.
305. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the Scéim na mBóithre Áise will be reintroduced in view of the condition of roads in Gaeltacht areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13502/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the maintenance of roads, including roads in Gaeltacht areas, lies with the relevant local authorities.
Scéim na mBóithre Áise, through which funding was previously provided by my Department to local authorities for the upgrade of qualifying access roads in Gaeltacht areas is not in operation at this time and there are no plans at present to reactivate the scheme.
306. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the sources of grant aid available to carry out essential structural works on a heritage building (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13503/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFinancial support is provided by my Department for the conservation and preservation of heritage structures in a number of ways.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) assists with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts or located within Architectural Conservation Areas.
The scheme funds a significant number of labour-intensive, small scale conservation projects across the country and supports employment for skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment.
The Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) supports conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. The Fund encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure protected structures which might otherwise be lost.
The BHIS and SRF are both administered by the local authorities. Details of both schemes are available on all local authority websites and on my Department’s website.
The 2018 application dates for both of the schemes have now passed and projects approved for funding will be announced shortly. My Department remains in contact with local authorities throughout the year to ensure the best use of funding, including by reallocating unused funding where, for example, projects do not go ahead.
In the context of a particular building, especially one which is on the Record of Protected Structures, the best advice for the owner may be to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer or Heritage Officer in their local authority who will be able to advise on the various types of funding available to assist with the building.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually, having regard to competing priorities for limited resources. Grant schemes for 2018 are advertised by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie.
