Written Answers Nos. 1568-1584
1568. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will extend voting rights to Irish citizens living abroad; the consideration given to this matter to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15874/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the evolving needs of Irish society and its relationship with the wider Irish diaspora, the Government agreed in March 2017 to accept in principle the main recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution that Irish citizens resident outside the State, including citizens resident in Northern Ireland, should have the right to vote at presidential elections and that a referendum would be held to seek to amend the Constitution to give effect to this.
In order to inform public discourse on this significant policy change, an Options Paper was published on 22 March 2017 by my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Options Paper sets out a broad range of options for the extension of voting rights, international comparisons, the estimated costs involved and related resource issues as well as many of the legal, policy, administrative and logistical challenges associated with extending voting rights to Irish citizens resident outside the State.
In addition, the Options Paper provided a basis for the discussion on voting rights which took place at the second Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin on 5 May 2017. This second Forum attracted significant attention with more than 220 individuals, representing over 150 organisations, attending over the two day period. The outcome of the discussions at the Forum will also inform the Government’s decision on a preferred option to be put to the people in a referendum.
The Government announced on 26 September 2017 that it has agreed indicative dates for the holding of referendums in 2018 and 2019, subject to the timely passage of Constitution Amendment Bills by each House of the Oireachtas. Included in the list is the proposed referendum on extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State which it is intended will be held on the date of the local and European elections in late May / early June 2019.
My Department will, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, bring forward an appropriate Constitution Amendment Bill on extending the franchise at Presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State in good time for the holding of the referendum. The extension of voting rights at other elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State is not under consideration at present.
1570. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he is taking to address the growing problem of access to the rental market for older persons in view of the fact that monthly rents have risen above the average contributory State pension rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15910/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, recommended the introduction of a Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising and where households have greatest difficulties in finding accommodation they can afford. The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 provided for the Rent Predictability Measure and for areas designated as Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs), where rents can now only rise by a maximum of 4% annually for a period of 3 years.
The Residential Tenancies Board’s latest quarterly Rent Index Report for Q4 2017, which was published last month, shows reductions in the rate of rental inflation across both national and Dublin rents. The slowdown in the quarterly growth rate in Dublin rents to 1.1% in Q4 2017 is particularly noteworthy, bringing the annualised growth rate over 2017 to 5.2%, a drop from 8% calculated in the 12 months to Q3 2017 and the lowest annual rental growth rate in Dublin since 2013. This latest Quarterly Index provides evidence that the introduction of the RPZs, in December 2016, is having a positive effect on rent inflation.
Rebuilding Ireland aims to ensure that older people have a range of housing choices available to them and there is an overall commitment to examine the potential of targeted schemes to meet differing housing needs. Social housing supports are provided to households through the private sector under schemes such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and by the leasing of properties from private owners by local authorities and AHBs, funded under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP).
Leasing is used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists and leased properties are allocated to tenants, in accordance with the relevant local authority’s allocation scheme. RAS is a targeted scheme that allows households to transfer from rent supplement to social housing if they have been in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or more. RAS tenants can find their own private rental accommodation or a local authority can source that accommodation for them. HAP provides fast, flexible housing support to households in an area of their choice. A key principle of the HAP scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector. Under these schemes, local authorities or AHBs make a monthly payment to the landlord, subject to conditions, on the tenant’s behalf. In return, the tenant pays a contribution towards their rent to the local authority or AHB concerned. This contribution is based on the household income and ability to pay. These options are available to all people who qualify for social housing support.
The provision and allocation of social housing are matters for individual local authorities in accordance with their allocation schemes. Planning authorities are required, under section 94 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, to include a housing strategy in their development plans which must outline the authorities’ plans for the existing and future housing needs of the population of their areas. The strategy must include provisions to ensure that a mixture of house types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of the different categories of households including the special requirements of older people and people with disabilities.
1571. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans and proposed outputs for public housing for older persons with supports; when such housing will be delivered; the locations in which they will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15911/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1575. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of senior social housing units available per county in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; his plans to increase availability of such units according to demographic needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15915/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1571 and 1575 together.
My Department is committed to supporting older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible, as this has the best outcomes both for the individual and for society as a whole.
The Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan aims to ensure that older people have a range of housing choices available to them and there is an overall commitment to examine the potential of targeted schemes to meet differing housing needs. To this end, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, is developing policy options for supported housing/housing with care so that older people have a wider range of accommodation choices available to them, options that will enable them to choose accommodation that is appropriate and suited to their needs. A joint policy statement on Housing for Older People is being finalised and is expected to be published shortly.
The St Michael’s Estate site in Inchicore, Dublin 8 has been identified for a "housing with support" pilot project under Rebuilding Ireland, which will deliver 52 living with care homes. This project offers the opportunity for an Approved Housing Body (AHB), in this case Circle AHB, who are collaborating with Alone, to design, build and operate a unique development which is intended to set a new standard for the future of housing provision for older people and act as an exemplar for others to follow. The homes are due for completion in 2020.
The housing with support model to be provided brings together a range of services and supports - principally relating to housing, community, social and care needs. It seeks to provide an appropriate physical and supportive environment that enables older people to live full lives in their own homes within their own community. The overall aim of this project is to develop a new model of housing for older people where the key components, physical environment and care supports are provided on site, integrated into the community, and are designed with older people at the centre. The project has been approved for funding of almost €15 million under my Department's Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) with a contribution of €450,000 from the Department of Health towards additional communal facilities for the residents. The Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides 100% funding to an AHB for the provision of accommodation for people requiring specific categories of accommodation, including older people.
Exchequer funding is also provided by my Department to local authorities for the delivery of social housing projects, including projects that incorporate housing for older people. In addition, the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability provide a range of grants for improvement works or adaptations to houses in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes. Funding is also provided under the Disabled Persons Grants (DPG) scheme to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the existing social housing stock to meet the needs of older local authority tenants and people with a disability.
The provision and allocation of social housing are matters for individual local authorities in accordance with their allocation schemes. Accordingly, my Department does not collect data from local authorities on their allocations to individual categories of applicant. However, planning authorities are required, under section 94 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, to include a housing strategy in their development plans which must outline the authorities’ plans for the existing and future housing needs of the population of their areas. The strategy must include provisions to ensure that a mixture of house types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of the different categories of households including the special requirements of older people and people with disabilities. Housing strategies must also have regard to relevant policies or objectives of the Government.
In addition, I wrote to all local authorities in January this year in relation to their overall social housing delivery targets out to 2021 under Rebuilding Ireland. Specifically my letter indicated that the delivery of social housing should be consistent with housing need as identified in the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments over the period, which will facilitate addressing this particular demographic need.
1572. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the grant funding for housing adaptations will be returned to 2010 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15912/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the social benefit accruing from the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, particularly in terms of facilitating the continued independent living by older people and people with a disability in their own homes. This is also recognised in the Programme for a Partnership Government and as a consequence, funding for these schemes has been increased year on year since 2014 with the 2017 funding allocation of €60.5m - comprising €48.8m Exchequer funding and €12.1m from local authority resources - being an increase of some 6% on the previous year.
I have further increased the funding for the schemes in 2018 to a total of €66.25m. The exchequer funding this year totals €53m, an increase of 11% on the 2017 figure, with the balance from the local authorities. Further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years in the context of the range of housing supports and provision being made under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
1573. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applicants for grant funding for housing adaptations in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of these applications approved and rejected, respectively, in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15913/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department allocates funding to local authorities, firstly, towards the cost of adaptations and extensions to social housing to meet the needs of tenants with a disability and, secondly, towards the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, in respect of private houses. The detailed administration of the grants, including the assessment and approval of grants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authorities, who prioritise applications on the basis of medical need and on the urgency and necessity of the identified works. My Department does not hold information in relation to the number of applications for grant funding or the number of these applications which were approved or rejected.
Information on these grant schemes, including the numbers of grants funded per annum and the funding provided to each local authority, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
1574. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when legislation will be brought forward for the implementation of longer-term leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15914/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private rented sector. The Acts apply to tenancies of up to 35 years in duration. I consider a 35-year lease to be a long-term lease and I have no plans to alter the current application of the Act in this regard.
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.
Under Action 7 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, the Government is committed to encouraging longer-term letting by amending the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations to allow for unfurnished lettings in the case of long leases, with the objective of providing incentives to landlords who offer long term leases. Draft revised Regulations in this regard are at an advanced stage of preparation.
The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 extended the term of Part 4 tenancies from 4 to 6 years as a first step in the move to tenancies of indefinite duration, which is being considered in the context of proposed legislative change later this year.
1576. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason persons who purchased a house under the affordable housing scheme are unable in practice to switch the mortgage from one lender to another (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15938/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPurchasers of dwellings under previous affordable housing schemes, including dwellings sold by way of shared ownership at less than market value, have a clawback charge placed on the property. The primary purpose of the clawback regime was to prevent short-term profit-taking on the resale of affordable homes. As such, it should, therefore, only have effect in the event of the house being sold. However, as a result of the way in which the clawback legislative arrangements are structured, they have an impact on affordable homeowners wishing to switch mortgage provider or take out an equity release “top-up” mortgage. This arises because of the time-sensitive manner in which charges on property apply.
The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 which will be commenced shortly will allow purchasers under the new Affordable Dwelling Purchase arrangements to re-mortgage or top-up their mortgage without triggering the clawback. The Act, however, does not provide this facility retrospectively for purchasers under previous affordable housing or shared ownership arrangements. I have requested my Department to arrange to have the provisions necessary to address this matter included in the first appropriate legislative vehicle that becomes available.
1577. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the penalties which will apply and the formula in this regard for calculating such a penalty, in circumstances in which a person takes out a Rebuilding Ireland home loan fixed rate offer in the event he or she sells his or her property after a period of time or wish to switch his or her loan to a commercial lender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15940/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan enables 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 otherwise have been able to afford at a higher interest rate.
During the period of a fixed-rate mortgage, persons may be liable for a breakage fee if they switch to a variable rate or pay off all or part of their mortgage early. A breakage fee will only apply if, at the time of breakage, the costs of funds to the local authority at the prevailing market rate, result in the local authority incurring a loss in repaying its loans to the Housing Finance Agency.
The details in relation to this, including the formula to be applied in such a case, are on the Rebuilding Ireland homeloan website at http://rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie/faq/.
1578. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications under the mortgage to rent scheme that have been completed each year since its introduction; the steps he plans to take to make this option more attractive to persons with unsustainable mortgage arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15950/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme, including the number of completed transactions. This information is available on the Agency's website at the following link:
https://www.housingagency.ie/our-services/housing-supply-services/mortgage-to-rent.aspx.
Following a Review of the MTR Scheme, published on 8 February 2017, a range of amendments to the eligibility criteria and administration of the MTR scheme came into effect to enable more properties to qualify and to make the scheme more flexible and accessible to borrowers. The Review, which is available at http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/changes-in-mortgage-to-rent-scheme/, explored the impediments to participation in the scheme and recommended a number of actions to make the scheme work better for borrowers. My Department and the Housing Agency are working with all stakeholders to ensure that the actions set out in the Review are being effectively implemented to benefit a greater number of households. I am providing an additional €5m for the AHB MTR scheme in 2018, which will support at least 250 additional cases to be completed by AHBs working together with lenders using the MTR scheme.
The MTR Review also concluded that the current financial model of the scheme may not, in its current configuration, be capable of delivering the scale of successful cases that could benefit from the scheme over time. In order to test the operability of alternative funding models for the scheme, the Housing Agency initiated a call for Expressions of Interest from bodies interested in participating in a new MTR pilot scheme. Two submissions were received by the Housing Agency in response to the Expressions of Interest request. One of these submissions has been deemed to meet the EOI criteria and the proposer will now participate in the new MTR Pilot Scheme on delivering at least 50 cases in 2018. Discussions are currently on-going with the other entity. Subject to the successful progress towards delivery of these initial cases under the Pilot Scheme, consideration will be given to delivering further numbers of MTR cases using this alternatively funded long-term lease model.
1580. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the bidding system for local authority housing has not been introduced in Sligo County Council to date; if a system such as that in operation in the UK will be introduced in County Sligo; his views on the fact that in 2017, 50% of the 203 housing offers made were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16003/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation of social housing support is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. Section 22 of the 2009 Act 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 and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
On 30th September 2016, the Social Housing Allocation (Amendment) Regulations 2016 were made, which required that all local authorities must, if they had not already done so, provide for Choice Based Letting (CBL) as a potential method of allocation in their allocation schemes by 31 December 2016.
Where a local authority, having included a provision on CBL in its allocation scheme, decides to operate a CBL scheme, it must implement it in accordance with Regulations 6 – 11 of the 2011 Regulations. Decisions on which properties are to be included under a CBL scheme is a matter for individual authorities.
My Department is committed to monitoring the roll-out of CBL across all Local Authorities, and undertook a survey in the last quarter of 2017 to determine the uptake and impact of CBL. Of the local authorities who have implemented it, the majority said that CBL has had a positive impact on how they allocate dwellings.
Following a survey undertaken by my Department in December 2017, 16 local authorities including Sligo County Council indicated they are currently operating a choice based lettings model as part of their allocation scheme. A further two have indicated their intention to implement a pilot CBL scheme in the near future.
My Department will continue to liaise with local authorities during 2018 with a view to ensuring that CBL is implemented, as widely as possible, across the country given the benefits it can offer tenants and local authorities alike.
The position in relation to the refusal by households of offers of social housing tenancies is set down in Regulation 12 of the Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011, made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.
Under Regulation 12, a household that refuses two reasonable offers of such tenancies in any twelve-month period, other than an offer made under the CBL procedure, will not receive any further offers from any local authority for a period of one year from the date of the second refusal and the latter period is not subsequently reckonable for the purposes of determining the household’s relative priority for another social housing tenancy.
Under Regulation 12(3) of the 2011 Regulations, an offer is deemed to be reasonable where the dwelling concerned would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the housing needs of the household and, except in an emergency, is located in an area of choice specified by the household.
The only exception to this is where a local authority makes an offer because of specified exceptional circumstances, including displacement because of fire, flood or other emergency, development, redevelopment and regeneration of an area or on exceptional and compassionate grounds. In these circumstances, the local authority concerned does not have to offer the household accommodation in their area of choice for it to be considered a reasonable offer.
My Department does not hold information on the allocation of, or refusal of offers of, social housing supports to households on the waiting list.
1581. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans and timeframe to establish an elected mayor with executive powers for the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16037/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of a broader range of local government reform measures aimed at strengthening local democracy. In response to this commitment, work on a policy report on local government leadership, including directly elected mayors for cities, is advancing in my Department.
This report will examine the range of functions that might be assigned to a directly elected mayor for cities, the geographic areas applicable, and the governance arrangements underpinning the role.
The intention is that, once approved by Government, the policy report will proceed to the Oireachtas for consideration.
1582. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to overhaul local government management structures in the four Dublin local authority areas in order to expedite the construction of social and affordable housing. [16038/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.
In this regard, the assignment of local authority staff to a particular function is a matter for the Chief Executive. My Department, however, works closely with all local authorities with regard to housing delivery and the implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, and all local authorities have been invited to submit staffing sanction requests to facilitate its delivery.
The issues of social and affordable housing are already firmly on the Government’s agenda and actively being pursued under a range of actions under Rebuilding Ireland, the implementation of which is well underway and making significant progress. Social Housing Output indicative figures published in January 2018 show that nearly 26,000 households had their social housing need met in 2017. These have now been validated and final figures will be published shortly. Together with the 19,000 social housing supports provided in year 1 of the Plan, this means that just under 45,000 households have had their housing need met by the end of year 2 of the Rebuilding Ireland Plan - that is 33% of those targeted under the Plan.
In relation to the delivery of affordable homes, initial estimates suggest that in the region of 3,000 new affordable homes can be made available through a range of schemes and initiatives, with the long-term ambition for some 10,000 additional affordable homes to be provided for sale or rent, as the initiatives are rolled out.
In relation to the local government structures in place in the four Dublin local authority areas, each of the local authorities concerned are working in a collaborative and co-ordinated manner. I will, of course, keep the matter under review.
1583. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to create a Dublin housing executive with executive powers and dynamic leadership to address the levels of homelessness in the capital in view of the exclusion of persons on lower income from affordable housing. [16039/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHomeless services are administered at regional level across the country.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) is provided by Dublin City Council as the lead statutory local authority in the response to homelessness in Dublin and adopts a shared service approach across South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. A statutory Management Group is in place for each region, comprised of representatives from the relevant housing authorities and the Health Service Executive. The Management Group is responsible for considering the need for homeless services and the planning, implementation, funding and co-ordination of such services. I have no plans to change these regional structures at this time.
The long-term solution to the current homeless crisis is, clearly, to increase the supply of homes for those who need them. Under Rebuilding Ireland, 50,000 new social housing homes will be delivered over the period to 2021, supported by €6 billion in funding.
1584. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether the Dublin region needs a housing tsar to lead a regional housing executive with wide executive powers to address the deteriorating housing situation in Dublin. [16040/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn direct response to the housing challenge and in order to support housing authorities deliver on their responsibilities and obligations, a number of dedicated structures have been put in place in the Dublin region and also nationally over the last number of years.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) is provided by Dublin City Council as the lead statutory local authority in the response to homelessness in Dublin and adopts a shared service approach across South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council. The DRHE is responsible for the planning, co-ordination and administration of funding in relation to the provision of quality services to people who are homeless in the Dublin area, and for the development of responses to prevent homelessness. The Executive works in partnership with a range of voluntary and statutory agencies and supports the Dublin Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum and Management Group.
A dedicated Housing Delivery Office (HDO) was also established within my Department in September 2017 to support local authorities, approved housing bodies and all stakeholders involved in the delivery of key elements of the ambitious private and social housing targets in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. The purpose of this office is to accelerate and monitor housing delivery, both private and social, on key sites, identify further mechanisms to accelerate delivery, and support the roll-out of complex construction projects, including identifying and resolving barriers to delivery.
I believe what is critical at this stage is to ensure that all of the structures already in place are aligned, co-ordinated and co-operating towards a shared vision. This includes my own Department, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency working with local authorities and approved housing bodies across the country. I am satisfied at this time that appropriate arrangements are in place to deliver much needed social and affordable homes in Dublin and across the country.
