Written Answers Nos. 1603-1618
1603. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the number of applications that have been processed and approved under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme since it was launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16347/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1604. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out in tabular form by county the number of applications received and approved under the Rebuilding Ireland scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16348/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1623. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the number of applicants for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the number of successful applicants; the value of loans distributed to date for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16631/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1603, 1604 and 1623 together.
Following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, a new loan offering, known as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, was introduced on 1 February 2018.
As with the previous local authority home loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a local authority product and loan applications are made directly to the local authority in whose area the property proposed for purchase is situated. My Department does not collect information on the number of enquiries to local authorities regarding the loan, the number of complete loan applications received by local authorities, or the reasons as to why a loan application may be declined.
As is currently the case, my Department will continue to publish information on the overall number and value of (1) local authority loan approvals and (2) local authority loan drawdowns on its website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity.
This information is currently updated to end Q3 2017; it is anticipated that Q4 data will be published shortly.
1606. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline his plans to review the income thresholds under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme for couples (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16350/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt continues to be the case under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which was introduced on 1 February 2018, as with the previous local authority House Purchase Loan, that single applicants applying for the loan must not be earning more than €50,000 gross per annum and the combined income of joint applicants must not be greater than €75,000 gross per annum. This is to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources. I have no plans to review these income limits at present.
The option for borrowers with incomes in excess of the income limits set for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is to seek housing finance from a commercial lender.
1607. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the steps being taken by his Department to ensure the opening of a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16359/18]
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 homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any service directly, but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless services.
Under the ‘Section 10’ funding arrangements in place between my Department and housing authorities, Exchequer funding is provided on a regional basis, whereby it is delegated to a lead-authority in each region. Decisions on the organisation and range of accommodation services to be provided are a matter for the individual housing authorities in consultation with the statutory Management Group of the relevant regional Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum, and my Department has no function in relation to such operational decisions.
Responsibility for policy development in relation to addiction and rehabilitation issues rests with the Minister for Health and the delivery of services in this regard is managed through the Health Service Executive. In relation to the facility referred to, these services fall into this category and the funding for these services is, therefore, a matter for the HSE in the first instance.
I am advised that the HSE has been liaising directly with the organisation referred to, who in turn have been liaising with the relevant local authority on the matter.
1608. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the position regarding assistance to owners of houses who do not comply with fire safety standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. It is important to note that while my Department has overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining an effective regulatory framework for building standards and building control, it has no general statutory role in resolving defects in privately owned buildings, including dwellings, nor does it have a budget for such matters. In this regard, it is incumbent on the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials to face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate action to provide remedies for the affected homeowners.
Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations, including Part B (Fire Safety), rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Acts and who are independent in the use of their statutory powers.
In August 2017, I published a Framework for Enhancing Fire Safety in Dwellings, which is intended to be used as a guide by the owners and occupants of dwellings where fire safety deficiencies have been identified, or are a cause for concern. The Framework is also of assistance to professional advisors both in developing strategies to improve fire safety and in developing strategies to enable continued occupation in advance of undertaking the necessary works to ensure compliance with the relevant Building Regulations. The framework is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/framework_for_enhancing_fire_safety_in_dwellings.pdf.
It should be noted that in response to the many building failures that emerged in the last decade, my Department has been advancing a building control reform agenda in order to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the building regulations in the construction sector. This agenda includes: the introduction of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification; working closely with the Local Government Management Agency on the oversight and governance of the local authority Building Control System to improve its effectiveness; and progressing primary legislation, the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017.
1609. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when funding regarding the local infrastructure housing activation fund will be made available in view of the fact that south County Kildare needs funding for a new bridge. [16381/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding of transport infrastructure in general is a matter within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads, it is a matter for each respective local authority.
The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a key element of Pillar 3 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness. The objective of the Fund is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand for housing. The types of infrastructure being provided can include roads, bridges, diversion of powerlines, drainage works as well as public amenities.
Funding is only available under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund in respect of enabling infrastructure which activates or accelerates housing development and which is in accordance with the qualifying criteria set down in the call for proposals. It is not a substitute for the normal funding methods for transport infrastructure.
The first call for proposals under LIHAF was issued to all local authorities in August 2016. Kildare County Council submitted 7 proposals in respect of Naas, Kildare, Maynooth, Newbridge, Celbridge, Leixlip and Sallins. Kildare County Council received approval for the proposals at Maynooth, Naas and Sallins, which have an aggregate allocation of €21.4 million.
As part of Budget 2018, I announced that an additional €50 million Exchequer funding will be available for a second LIHAF call, to be made shortly. It will be open to all local authorities, including Kildare, to submit new projects or resubmit previous projects for consideration at that time, provided they meet the criteria for the Fund.
1610. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline his plans to provide funding to extend the Clane ring road, County Kildare in view of the increased number of housing units being developed in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16386/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding of transport infrastructure in general is a matter within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads, it is a matter for each respective local authority.
The Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is a key element of Pillar 3 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness. The objective of the Fund is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand for housing. The types of infrastructure being provided can include roads, bridges, diversion of powerlines, drainage works as well as public amenities.
The first call for proposals under LIHAF was issued to all local authorities in August 2016. Kildare County Council submitted 7 proposals in respect of Naas, Kildare, Maynooth, Newbridge, Celbridge, Leixlip and Sallins. Kildare County Council received approval for the proposals at Maynooth, Naas and Sallins, which have an aggregate Exchequer allocation of €21.4 million. No proposal was received in respect of extending the Clane Ring Road at that time.
As part of Budget 2018, I announced that an additional €50 million Exchequer funding will be available for a second LIHAF call, with a further €17 million to be contributed by local authorities. I anticipate that there will be a further call for proposals under phase 2 of LIHAF shortly. It will be open to all local authorities, including Kildare County Council, to submit new projects or resubmit previous projects for consideration at that time, provided they meet the criteria for the Fund.
1611. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in his Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16433/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two Temporary Clerical Officers employed in my Department. Both are employed on three month contracts with the option to extend for two additional three month periods subject to business needs. Both were recruited through a competition run by the Public Appointments Service and, in line with the terms and conditions of the competition, the assignments are to temporary positions only with no entitlement to a permanent position.
1612. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a copy of the credit policy 2018 which is used in respect of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme will be provided; the reason the credit policy is not publicly available in order that persons can understand the criteria by which their applications are being assessed under the scheme; the reason he has requested that this information not be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16440/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Credit Policy 2018, which has been in operation since 1 February 2018, was issued in accordance with the Housing (Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans) Regulations 2018, which set out the regulatory framework for the operation of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme. This document replaces the credit policy that was in place for the local authority lending schemes that were replaced by the new home loan scheme.
The revised credit policy is designed as an internal document to provide written guidance to local authorities for the processing of loan applications and the making of loans under the Regulations. Decisions by local authorities as to whether to advance a loan to an individual are taken on a case-by-case basis within the criteria as set out in the credit policy.
The scheme enables local authorities to act as lenders of last resort to individuals who cannot access a mortgage from a commercial lender in order to purchase a home. As such, the policy is a commercially sensitive document, as would be the case with any other lender. Therefore, it would not be in the public interest to publish it, as this would conflict with the economic interests of the State, and could seriously compromise the ability of local authorities to lend in an effective manner or otherwise impair their functions in this regard.
On this basis, I intend to continue the policy which has been in place in relation to credit policies that governed previous local authority loan schemes, and treat it as confidential.
1613. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to explain the reason for the delay in publishing the revised local authority social housing construction targets; if they will be published; and, if so, when they will be published. [16455/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1615. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to explain the reason for the delay in publishing the quarter 1 2018 social housing construction pipeline report; if this report will be published; and if so, when it will be published. [16457/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1613 and 1615 together.
At the second Housing Summit, held in January of this year, I asked each local authority Chief Executive to furnish a report, confirming and setting out how their local authority intended to deliver on its social housing targets over the coming years.
My Department has reviewed these returns, re-calibrated 2018 targets for each local authority having regard to the overall national ambition and also housing capacity at local level. I will be publishing the outcome of this exercise shortly, which will include details of individual local authority social housing targets for build, acquisition and leasing over the course of 2018-2021.
The process involved reconciliation and comparison with the 2017 social housing output and involved significant analysis of the construction pipeline currently in place, particularly the pipeline of projects on-site and due for delivery in 2018. Given the detail, and volume of projects involved, this exercise was necessarily time consuming.
The Q4 2017 Construction Status Report will be published shortly, along with the final 2017 Social Housing Output and the outcome of the targets exercise referred to above.
1614. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the reason for the delay in publishing the reports by the Housing Agency and his Department regarding construction sector costs; if both reports will be published; and, if so, when they will be published. [16456/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, my Department committed to undertaking a detailed analysis, in conjunction with the construction sector, to benchmark housing delivery input costs in Ireland, in order to facilitate an increased level of housing output.
To advance this work, a working group, chaired by my Department, was established specifically to review the delivery costs and viability for affordable residential developments in the domestic market. In parallel, the Housing Agency carried out a comparative analysis of international construction costs.
In addition, arising from the initial findings of the review of delivery costs and viability for affordable residential developments and in the interest of improving the viability of apartment development in our cities and towns, I established a working group, in October 2017, to undertake a focused review of the 2015 Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments – Guidelines for Planning Authorities. A cost analysis was carried out on the changes to the guidelines, which were published last month.
The groups working on the various reports have completed the three pieces of analysis and the individual reports involved: review of Delivery Costs and Viability for Affordable Residential Developments; cost analysis of the updated Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments, Guidelines for Planning Authorities; and comparison of Residential Construction Costs in Ireland to other European Countries. The reports were published by my Department on 12 April 2018 and are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/construction/minister-eoghan-murphy-publishes-analyses-cost-delivering.
1616. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to outline the status of the establishment of the expert group on the Traveller accommodation programmes. [16458/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, in 2017 the Housing Agency commissioned an expert, independent review of funding for traveller-specific accommodation to date. This review had regard to targets contained in the local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes and actual units delivered, the current status of accommodation funded and funding provided for accommodation maintenance and other supports.
Following its consideration of the review, the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee agreed to the establishment of an Expert Group to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation. The Committee has played a key role in determining the terms of reference for the Expert Group, which I understand are near finalisation. It is my intention to establish the group as soon as possible with a view to it concluding its work within a short timeframe. My Department will consider any recommendations made by the Expert Group to improve the delivery of Traveller accommodation nationally and to ensure that full use is made of the increasing level of funding available for investment in Traveller accommodation.
1617. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to set out the criteria used by his Department and local authorities to determine if applicants for the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF, required the funding from a project activation point of view; and if some of the projects awarded funding in the final 30 contracts would have proceeded in a similar timeframe without LIHAF funding. [16459/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site enabling infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to activate key development sites to bring forward housing quickly. The infrastructure will be built by Local Authorities and will be for the use of the general public.
All proposals for funding under LIHAF were evaluated and assessed in line with the criteria set out in Appendix 1 to the original Call for Proposals. These criteria were: Project Proposal and Link to Housing Delivery; Innovation and Collaboration; Strategic Fit; Financial Package and Prudence; and Delivery. The detailed criteria are available at www.rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf/.
In relation to the 30 approved projects, they have been approved for funding on the basis that the public infrastructure being provided will ensure that the delivery of housing on the associated development sites will be activated and accelerated.
When the proposals were submitted, the local authorities advised that there was a significant infrastructure blockage that would delay the development of housing. I am satisfied that the delivery of housing will, therefore, be significantly accelerated by removal of infrastructure blockages through up-front funding of enabling works as a result of LIHAF funding, particularly in those cases where the Local Authority involvement has contributed to overcoming complex issues such as multiple land ownerships and external access to development sites.
1618. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme will issue. [16600/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is operated directly by local authorities and the final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee. Decisions on all housing loan applications are made on a case-by-case basis. These decisions must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants.
As such, my Department has no role in the processing of individual applications. Therefore, in this instance, the applicant should contact their local authority directly for an update regarding their application.
Loan applicants who are dissatisfied with a loan application decision of a local authority Credit Committee may appeal that decision to the local authority. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority.
