Written Answers Nos. 442-455
442. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the housing insulation or energy efficiency grants his Department is supporting for social housing tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18760/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. The aim of the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme is the improvement of 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.
The Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 commenced in 2013 and is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties while Phase 2 of the Programme, which has been piloted in both Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction. Funding may also be provided under Phase 2 to upgrade poorly performing windows and doors in specific circumstances.
Funding of some €115.7 million has been provided from 2013 to the end of 2017 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in almost 64,000 local authority homes.
The Voids Programme introduced by my Department in 2014, also provides funding for energy efficiency works to local authority housing. During the period 2014 to 2017, works were carried out on 7,433 units under this Programme supported by funding of €34.5m from my Department.
In 2018, funding of €35 million is available for energy efficiency works under both programmes. The main focus of the available funding for the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme will be on the completion of the remaining Phase 1 works and formally rolling out Phase 2. My Department will, shortly, be asking local authorities to submit details of their work proposals and related funding requirements for this Programme in 2018.
443. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the options available to support a person buying a second home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18581/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is firmly focused on increasing supply and the priority for Government attention is to support those in society with the greatest housing access and affordability challenges. In that context, the focus is on meeting the housing needs of those in the lower income categories, particularly those in need of social housing supports and other households that are most challenged from an affordability perspective, particularly first-time buyers. The significant progress being made in these areas is outlined on the Rebuilding Ireland website at www.rebuildingireland.ie.
In addition, the Government has taken a number of steps to assist homeowners who wish to 'up-size' from the starter home they purchased but find themselves in negative equity. In appropriate cases, the Central Bank is allowing banks to provide new mortgages to people to move home, even if the homeowner is currently experiencing negative equity. In addition, housing loans for borrowers in negative equity, who wish to obtain a mortgage for a new property, are not included within the scope of the Loan to Value limits.
444. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1619 of 17 April 2018, the number of the 1,700 ha owned by local authorities that have been used for social or affordable residential units since July 2016; the number of residential units that have been constructed on the lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18622/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra445. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps that have been taken since July 2016 to facilitate the construction of social or affordable residential units on State-owned land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18623/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 445 together.
The development of any residential land in housing authority ownership is in the first instance a matter for the local authority concerned, including its elected members. I want to see local authorities realise new social and affordable homes from their lands without delay, with particular emphasis on prioritising those sites with the greatest potential to deliver housing at scale, in the short to medium term.
The active management of the publicly owned housing land bank is part of a range of complementary actions being progressed under the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, designed to accelerate and increase housing output. Details of some 1,700 hectares of land in local authority and Housing Agency ownership have been published on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map as available at
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
To date, State-led residential construction has been primarily to help meet the needs of households in the lowest income brackets, i.e. for social housing. With increased investment to deliver 50,000 new social homes by 2021, the significant expansion of the social housing build programme is evident in the Quarter 4 2017 Social Housing Construction Status Report, which was published on 19 April. The programme includes 850 schemes (or phases) at the end of last year, delivering over 13,400 homes, a very substantial increase on the 8,430 homes in the programme a year earlier. At end 2017, 2,512 social housing homes were completed, with another 3,650 under construction and a further 1,912 homes about to go on site, with the remaining 5,300 progressing through the various stages of planning, design and procurement. The full report can be accessed at
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2017/ .
The social housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme, provides for an investment of €300 million and is expected to deliver 1,500 social housing units in total, via three bundles. The first bundle comprises six PPP sites, delivering over 500 units in the Greater Dublin Area. Two of the sites are located in Dublin City, with one each in South Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Louth. The second bundle, comprising eight PPP sites, will deliver over 450 units across the country. Three of the sites are located in County Cork, with one each in the cities of Galway and Waterford, and further sites in Counties Clare, Kildare and Roscommon. Sites for the third bundle are currently being identified and will be announced in the coming months.
Work is ongoing to update the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map to reflect the relevant elements of the Q4 2017 Social Housing Construction Status Report and the PPP Programme and details will be published on the Map, at the link referred to above, once finalised.
I have now advised all local authorities of their minimum Social Housing Targets both for 2018 and also for the multi-annual period to 2021, details of which can be accessed on my Department's website at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordable/minister-murphy-publishes-quarter-4-2017-social-housing.
In relation to the delivery of affordable homes, I am providing funding of €25 million, over 2018 and 2019, to unlock local authority-owned lands specifically for affordable homes to buy or rent. I intend to issue a call for proposals shortly in this regard. Overall, 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 full range of initiatives are rolled out.
Dublin City Council already has two sites, at O'Devaney Gardens and Oscar Traynor Road, being procured on the basis of a 30% social; 20% affordable purchase and 50% private market housing mix. Dublin City Council is progressing the procurement of these sites as a top priority. In total, the two sites will deliver over 1,200 new build homes. Around 240 will be available for affordable purchase. South Dublin County Council is also progressing one of its major sites, capable of yielding almost 1,000 new homes, at Kilcarberry in Clondalkin, on a 30% social and 70% private mix.
446. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if, following a High Court judgment (details supplied), he will remove his predecessor's public statement of 24 April 2013 from his Department's website. [18647/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to my reply to Question No. 609 of 20 February 2018, which sets out the position in this matter.
447. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if local authorities are obliged to comply with the EPA guidelines for wastewater treatment when purchasing a one-off home for their tenants in the open countryside; if local authorities are obliged to ensure the wastewater treatment system of a one-off home is sufficient for the proposed occupancy of the home; the course of action available if the local authority knowingly breaches EPA guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18661/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities have a general responsibility for the monitoring, management and improvement of water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the statutory body for investigating complaints of pollution and for the enforcement, both directly and through oversight of local authorities, of environmental legislation in Ireland.
The design and installation of wastewater treatment systems for single houses is addressed in the EPA Code of Practice in respect of Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (2009). In January 2010, my Department issued comprehensive guidance to all planning authorities regarding the implementation of the EPA’s 2009 Code. The Circular is available to view on my Department’s website. It is Circular Letter PSSP1/10.
Part H (Drainage and Wastewater Disposal) of the Building Regulations and its accompanying Technical Guidance Document H (TGD H 2010) were published in the latter half of 2010 to reflect the relevant parts of the EPA’s Code of Practice. It was amended in 2016 to reference Standard Recommendation 66 which contains the national requirements for products tested to the European standards EN 12566 series and which was developed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) in conjunction with my Department. TGD H 2016 further stipulates that the design and commissioning of wastewater treatment systems should be carried out and/or supervised by a suitably qualified person and that the owner of the building should be provided with sufficient, clear and comprehensive information on any continuing maintenance required to facilitate the effective operation of the system in order to protect human health and the environment.
I consider that the legal requirements of Part H of the Building Regulations as amended in 2016, including the requirement that wastewater treatment systems be designed and commissioned by a suitably qualified person, is sufficient to ensure appropriate protection in this matter.
In addition, under Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007, as amended, all owners of domestic wastewater treatment systems are required to register their systems with the water services authority in whose functional area the systems are located. The legislation provides that when selling the property, the vendor is required to furnish the purchaser of the property with a Certificate of Registration on completion of the sale. This certificate will confirm that the domestic wastewater treatment system has been registered. The purchaser is obliged under Section 70D(2) to notify the relevant water services authority, on completion of the sale, of the change of ownership so that the water services authority can update its register of domestic waste water treatment systems accordingly.
448. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) raised in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18674/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2016 the Oireachtas voted to suspend domestic water charges. An Expert Commission was established to report on the funding of domestic public water services in Ireland and to provide recommendations on a sustainable long-term funding model for domestic water and wastewater services. This Expert Commission reported in November 2016.
A special Oireachtas committee then examined these recommendations, mainly in public session, and gave its recommendations in April 2017.
The Oireachtas voted in support of the recommendations made by the special Oireachtas Committee, also in April 2017. The overall outcome of this process is that the funding of normal domestic water usage will now be met through central government funding. Domestic users who use excessive amounts of water above an agreed threshold will be charged for the excess amount to ensure that water resources are used efficiently and not wasted.
These provisions have now been legislated for in the Water Services Act 2017, and are reflected in the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 which I published on 17 April 2018.
A copy of the River Basin Management Plan may be viewed on my Department's website at the following link
http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-quality/river-basin-management-plans/river-basin-management-plan-2018-2021/ .
449. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the strategic development zone around lands at Ireland West Airport, Knock; if development is restricted to the aviation industry; if so, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18762/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 30 May 2017, the Government designated 284 hectares lands at Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) under Section 166 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
As outlined in the SDZ Designation Order, the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Designation of Strategic Development Zone: Ireland West Airport Knock) Order 2017, developments within the SDZ may include:
(a) commercial activities, including the development of infrastructure to support aviation including air cargo logistics facilities, aircraft hangars, maintenance and repair facilities, and airline and flight services;
(b) the provision of hotel and conference facilities;
(c) the development of any commercial or employment activity that, in the opinion of Mayo County Council, having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of its local authority area, requires to be located within the SDZ and cannot be reasonably accommodated at any other location elsewhere in County Mayo, outside of the SDZ, or in the area of any of the other local authorities in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly Area; and
(d) the provision of supporting transport infrastructure.
The Order is available at the following link: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/si/266/made/en/print.
Consideration of the SDZ designation for IWAK was focused on maximising certainty in planning for development related to air services and supporting infrastructure, including development coupled to ancillary economic development opportunities drawn to this location that would not otherwise be drawn to other city/urban locations in the wider Northern and Western Regional Assembly region, such as Galway, Sligo or nearby towns. In this regard, while supporting appropriate economic development related to air services, the SDZ designation must ensure that any further commercial/enterprise uses be focused on those linked to the IWAK access role as an air transportation hub for the region. The designation must also focus economic/employment developments on proposals requiring an airport-related location and which cannot be located elsewhere.
It is understood that the specified development agency, in this case Mayo County Council, has commenced the preparation of a draft planning scheme in respect of the site, which is required to be prepared within two years of the date of the Order.
450. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of retained fire personnel who are due to retire in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18770/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the 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 retained fire personnel that are due to retire in 2018. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department, but may be obtained directly from the individual local authorities concerned.
451. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of staff engaged in the co-ordination and monitoring unit to assist local authorities and regional assemblies in the development of the housing needs demand assessment; the anticipated number by the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18791/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Planning Framework (NPF), published by Government in February 2018 under Project Ireland 2040, provides for a Housing Need Demand Assessment (HNDA) to be developed by each local authority, in a co-ordinated fashion, to support the preparation of wider statutory housing and core strategies as part of the relevant local authority development plans.
The HDNA approach is envisaged as a refinement of the existing processes as set out above and therefore does not require any new co-ordination and monitoring unit as suggested. The HNDA is to be undertaken by local authorities, with coordination through the Regional Assemblies, to ensure an effective response to cross-authority and assembly matters, for example in relation to metropolitan areas where city regions straddle two or more local authority areas. Building on their past experience in developing housing strategies and core strategies, local authorities will develop the new HDNA approach, drawing upon information on demographic, affordability and wider economic trends, coupled to the profile of the existing housing stock and its management.
Recognising the critical role that the local government sector will have in the ongoing implementation of the NPF, including the preparation of the HNDA, my Department has engaged in a series of workshops in recent weeks to ensure that the local authorities are fully informed and prepared in embarking on the HDNA process. I expect that this process will continue in the normal course, supported by the dissemination of any further advice and guidance as required.
452. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of support staff directly employed or seconded to each regional assembly in each of the years from 2014 to 2017, and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18792/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of regional assemblies employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in regional assemblies; however, the data gathered does not provide details in terms of the number of support staff directly employed or seconded to each assembly. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department but may be obtained directly from the regional assemblies.
The total number of staff employed in each regional assembly for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 is set out below. Figures for the first quarter of 2018 are being collected at present. In 2014 there were two regional assemblies, (1) Border, Midland and Western and (2) Southern and Eastern, which were dissolved and replaced in 2015 by 3 new Regional Assemblies, namely (1) Eastern and Midlands, (2) Northern and Western and (3) Southern.
|
Regional Assembly |
Border, Midland and Western |
Southern and Eastern |
Total |
|
2014 |
15 |
22 |
37 |
|
Regional Assembly |
Eastern and Midlands |
Northern and Western |
Southern |
Total |
|
2015 |
13 |
13 |
22 |
48 |
|
2016 |
15 |
16 |
24 |
55 |
|
2017 |
16 |
15 |
24 |
55 |
High-level staffing numbers for the local authority sector, including regional assemblies, 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. The figures for 2018 will be uploaded on this website as they become available.
453. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of plans to provide a new fire station to south County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18806/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
Donegal County Council, in partnership with my Department, has made substantial progress in modernising fire stations in County Donegal and has replaced 12 of the 15 fire stations following investment of some €11 million by my Department. The following towns in County Donegal are now served by modern fire stations with full facilities: Milford (1998); Buncrana (2000); Letterkenny (HQ) and An Fál Carrach (both in 2003); Carndonagh and Donegal Town (both in 2004); Killybegs (2005); An Clochán Liath, Glenties and Moville (all in 2007); and most recently Gaoth Dobhair and Stranorlar (2009). My Department has channelled significant investment to fire authorities over the last number of years and as a consequence, the high quality of Ireland’s fire service infrastructure is now widely acknowledged.
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on the current annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.
The provision of a new fire station in South Donegal has been the subject of discussions for a number of years. While a station is not included in the five year programme referred to above, my Department is liaising with Donegal County Council and has indicated clearly that it will consider a proposal for advancing a fire station project in the south of the county to finalise the fire station programme in Donegal. I understand that the Council is currently undertaking a process to inform a fire station proposal, with a view to its submission to my Department thereafter.
In further considering any proposal, my Department will have regard to established national priorities for funding in this area and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide, as well as the value for money offered by the proposal.
454. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce an affordable housing scheme for persons within certain income bands who cannot afford to buy a home privately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18824/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of more affordable homes, to buy or rent, is a major priority for Government, focusing in particular on the cities of Dublin, Galway and Cork, where people are facing the greatest affordability challenge. Recognising that people want a choice of affordable purchase and rental, depending on their stage of life and circumstances, we are progressing both.
On 22 January, I announced a package of initiatives to help alleviate affordability pressures faced by households, particularly in those areas of high housing demand and high accommodation costs. The measures announced include the establishment of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, the re-introduction of an affordable purchase scheme, and the introduction of cost rental projects. Further details on the suite of initiatives announced on 22 January can be found at
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/min-murphys-statement-on-affordable-homes/.
The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is designed to enable credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. The scheme is targeted at first-time buyers who have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. In order to be eligible for the scheme, single applicants must not be earning more than €50,000 per annum and the combined income of joint applicants must not be greater than €75,000 per annum.
In terms of affordable purchase, the new Scheme will be based on the relevant provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which will be commenced shortly, and enabling regulations which are in preparation. The income thresholds will be the same as for the home loan and other criteria will be set out in the regulations. The elected members of each local authority will be responsible for determining the order of priority to be accorded to eligible households, in line with the framework of the national scheme.
Dublin City Council already has two sites, at O'Devaney Gardens and Oscar Traynor Road, being procured on the basis of a 30% social, 20% affordable purchase and 50% private market housing mix. Dublin City Council is progressing the procurement of these sites as a top priority. In total, the two sites will deliver over 1,200 new build homes.
In addition, the Government is determined to make cost rental a major part of the Irish housing system, similar to the role it plays in many European countries. Under this approach, rents are set at levels to recover the construction costs and to facilitate the management and administration of developments, but with only a minimal profit margin included. A pilot project is currently being progressed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, at Enniskerry Road, Dundrum, in conjunction with the Housing Agency and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB), using land owned by the Agency. This pilot is providing very valuable learning to inform the wider roll-out. We are now working with the EIB and other stakeholders with a view to announcing the first major cost rental project in Dublin shortly, with a cost rental programme across Dublin and other cities to follow.
Importantly, the new measures announced in January of this year are specifically targeted at delivering more affordable homes from our State land bank in urban areas where affordability issues are greatest, and have the potential to deliver more than 3,000 new affordable homes to buy or rent initially, with a target delivery of at least 10,000 new affordable homes across all initiatives in the longer term.
Recognising that there may be enabling infrastructure requirements on some sites, I am also providing Exchequer funding of €25 million, over 2018 and 2019, as a key contribution towards the delivery of more affordable housing. Applications for this funding will be invited shortly.
455. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the efforts in place by his Department to allocate housing to the 76 housing applicants in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, who are on the housing list in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18847/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister, I am primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy and for the preparation of legislation in relation to housing nationally. The day-to-day operation of the social housing system is a matter for the relevant local authority. The 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 Act requires all housing 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.
Under the Housing Acts 1966 to 2009, I, as Minister, have no function in relation to the assessment of individual housing applications and the allocation of accommodation to eligible households, which are matters solely for housing authorities. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister’s power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions shall not be construed as enabling him or her to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned. More particularly, section 22(17) of the 2009 Act provides that the Minister’s statutory power to issue directions to a housing authority regarding the operation of its allocation scheme shall not be construed as enabling him or her to direct the allocation of a dwelling to a specific household.
In terms of meeting the need of households on waiting lists across the country, there are a range of social housing supports which qualified households may avail of in order to meet their housing needs. In addition to traditional social housing built and provided directly by local authorities, support is also provided via the private rental sector through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and through the voluntary sector via approved housing bodies.
Rebuilding Ireland set ambitious targets for social housing delivery. I have made it clear to local authorities that the delivery of social housing supports must be focussed on and consistent with their assessments of housing need, a process which now takes place on an annual basis.
Last year, an additional €500 million was secured during Budget 2018 negotiations, to increase the social housing delivery ambition from 47,000 to 50,000 social housing homes by end 2021. Combined with the target to deliver 88,000 tenancies under the HAP and RAS, this means that our total investment of €6 billion will meet the needs of over 138,000 individuals and families over the lifetime of the Rebuilding Ireland plan.
The implementation of Rebuilding Ireland is well underway and significant progress is being made with just under 45,000 households having had their social housing need met by the end of year 2 of the Plan, some 33% of those targeted. Details of output by local authority and by scheme are available on the statistics page of my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/1a1-sh-overview-ann-final_2018_v3_3.xlsx
