Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2018
350. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding that will be provided to Monaghan County Council for 2018 in respect of housing construction, purchase of houses, upgrading of existing housing stock and funding for housing grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17341/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra351. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding that will be provided to Cavan County Council for 2018 in respect of housing construction, purchase of houses, upgrading of existing housing stock and funding for housing grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17342/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together.
In respect of delivering new social housing homes, whether through construction, acquisition or other approaches, no precise advance allocation of funding is made to individual local authorities. Instead, funding is drawn down by the local authorities, in line with the level of advancement they make in delivering new social housing. In that regard, I have issued social housing delivery targets to all local authorities which, in the case of Monaghan and Cavan County Councils for build, acquisition and leasing from 2018-21, are 226 and 335 respectively - further information is available at the following weblink: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/. All local authorities, including Monaghan and Cavan, will be required to deliver against these targets and I have assured the Chief Executives that the funding is in place to support this delivery.
Funding is allocated on an annual basis in respect of a number of programmes to improve existing social housing stock. The Social Housing Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme improves energy efficiency and comfort levels in local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy efficiency targets for 2020. My Department will also shortly ask local authorities, including Monaghan and Cavan County Councils, to submit details of their 2018 work proposals and related funding requirements for this programme.
Notification of the 2018 funding allocations to local authorities will issue shortly in respect of the funding programmes for Adaptations and Extensions to Social Housing Stock (Disabled Persons Grants, Extensions and Improvement Works in Lieu) and for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is for private houses. Ahead of the specific 2018 allocations issuing, work under these programmes is continuing as local authorities can commit up to 65% of their 2017 allocation in approving applications for 2018. This interim funding provision comfortably allows local authorities to advance work under these programmes pending full year allocations for 2018 being confirmed shortly.
Finally my Department also provides funding to local authorities under the Voids Programme, to support their work in preparing vacant social homes for re-letting. In 2017, funding of €505,254 was provided to Monaghan County Council to return 38 vacant social homes to use while Cavan County Council received €303,112 to return 31 such homes to use. Local authorities, including Monaghan and Cavan, recently submitted the list of properties they wish to be included in the 2018 Voids Programme which are now being assessed and I expect to announce details shortly of their 2018 funding. Local authorities have been advised that they should not delay in carrying out the necessary refurbishment works on eligible units, while waiting for the assessment and allocations.
