Written Answers Nos. 573-590
573. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which community welfare services remain readily accessible in all areas throughout County Kildare with particular reference to meeting out of hours and emergency needs in circumstances in which it is necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26921/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Welfare Services in County Kildare are administered by the Mid-Leinster Division (Naas, Newbridge, Athy and surrounding areas) and the Dublin Central Division (Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge, Kilcock and surrounding areas).
In the Mid-Leinster Division and Dublin Central Division areas, customers may contact the Community Welfare Service through their local Intreo Centre, by telephone or by post. For telephone enquiries, customers may leave a message with their contact details at any time. All telephone calls are responded to within one working day. Enquiries are followed up by appointments or home visits as appropriate.
Emergencies are responded to as they arise, a recent example being during Storm Emma and the subsequent serious snowfall when Community Welfare Officers, despite all Department offices being closed, maintained a mobile service for customers and responded to emergency situations such as provision of shelter, fuel supplies, etc.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
574. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to report on the findings of the review of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme and the proposed changes from the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26236/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing 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 (RIHL), was introduced on 1 February 2018.
Following the initial roll-out of the scheme, in April I met with the Chief Executives of the two main agencies involved in the implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency, and I requested that they address a number of issues to improve the operation of the scheme.
On foot of this engagement, some minor clarifying amendments have been made to the application form, while a number of additional FAQs have been added to the dedicated Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan website in order to further clarify issues for potential applicants. The on-line calculator on this website has also been amended in order to take the cost of mortgage protection insurance into account. This will therefore give potential applicants a clearer indication of the amount that they could be eligible to borrow under the scheme.
My Department will continue to clarify issues that arise around the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, as necessary, as is the case with any other scheme. I have not asked for a formal review of the scheme at this stage, nor do I believe that one is necessary, given the positive response to it to date. This is evident from the almost 1,500 loan applications submitted by local authorities to the Housing Agency, for assessment, as of the end of May.
575. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1046 of 20 March 2018, if a separated person who is remaining in the family home can potentially qualify for a loan under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme to refinance a mortgage to give effect to the removal of the person's former spouse from the mortgage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26258/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my reply to Question No. 1046 of 20 March 2018, which sets out the limited circumstances that would apply where a separated or divorced person who is not a first-time buyer could qualify to apply for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan (RIHL), the circumstances of the individual outlined in the Deputy’s question would not appear to meet the criteria to apply for a loan under this scheme.
576. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications to date under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the number and value of approvals to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Agency provides a central support service for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme by assessing valid loan applications that are made to the local authorities and make recommendations to the authorities as to whether loans should be offered to applicants. I have asked the Agency to centrally compile figures of the numbers of applications that it has assessed.
The most recent figures, as at the end of May, indicate that the Agency has received a total of 1,499 applications for assessment from local authorities, 1,150 of which were deemed to be valid. Of these valid applications, 876 have been assessed and 52% of the valid applications that have been assessed by the Agency have been recommended for approval.
The average loan amount for applications recommended for approval was €189,133.
It is subsequently a matter for the relevant local authority credit committee to ultimately determine whether a loan application is approved, having regard to the Agency's recommendation.
577. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if emergency funding will be made available to the older person and disability housing adaptation grant section of Louth County Council in order to deal with the extremely long waiting lists; his plans to restructure this funding strand for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26276/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced funding of €66.25 million nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. This includes €1,498,067 for Louth County Council comprising Exchequer funding of €1,198,454 and €299,613 from the local authority, which represents an increase of €293,388 over the 2017 funding.
Details of the 2018 allocations to all local authorities are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/special-housing-needs/minister-english-announces-eu6625-million-funding-improve-homes-older.
Each local authority, including Louth, receives an overall allocation for the three grant schemes that make up the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Responsibility for the apportionment between the schemes is a matter for each authority. The funding is carefully managed by my Department so that any underspends can be re-distributed to local authorities where demand and activity is high.
My main focus in terms of these grants has been to secure increases in funding, as has been achieved successfully in recent years, including for 2018. In addition, the funding is now being allocated more in line with population and this saw Louth County Council, in 2018, receive a higher than average increase in funding.
578. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the fund that was allocated using the proceeds of the sale of An Bord Gáis; when the special vehicle for housing was deemed not possible; if it is specifically being used for housing; the specific assets from the sale that were ring fenced for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26295/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrior to the publication of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, it was planned to establish a financial vehicle to facilitate the aggregation of private investment into a fund for subsequent lending as project finance. The intention was that this investment would be off-balance sheet and in Budget 2015, the Government announced that €400m of public investment would be made available, including the proceeds from the sale of Bord Gáis, to provide 2,000 homes. The objective was that this investment could leverage private sector finance from the EIB, ISIF, pension funds, credit unions and other financial institutions.
A structured, formal process was put in place to facilitate engagement with these bodies. A body called the Social Housing Investment Proposals Clearing House Group was established in 2015 to examine and consider proposals and to meet with the companies, groups and institutions involved. However, despite a detailed investigation of options to use the available funding in this way, including a high level of engagement with potential social housing providers and potential financiers of social housing, no new model that would, of itself, be capable of providing and/or financing social housing on an off-balance sheet basis could be identified that would be capable of utilising the available funding.
In response to this outcome, it was decided to modify the original commitment in relation to the €400m funding to provide €10m per annum, indexed for inflation, over a longer period (20 years), which could be used to secure the development of a pilot affordable rental scheme, as envisaged in Rebuilding Ireland. Provision was made for €10 million to be allocated to my Department's Vote in 2017.
Furthermore and taking account of the work and analysis of the Clearing House Group, it was considered that it would be more constructive to use the existing social housing funding and support mechanisms and, where appropriate, make adjustments to those mechanisms, in order to provide a framework with more realistic prospects of harnessing private investment in an off-balance sheet manner.
This approach resulted in the design of an alternative delivery mechanism, the Enhanced Long-term Leasing Social Housing Scheme, which was launched on 31 January 2018. Funding is in place to support the delivery of this new scheme and the principal objective of the scheme is to encourage larger levels of private investment in social housing, while ensuring that the resulting leasing arrangement is off-balance sheet in respect of Government expenditure. The scheme is targeted at new build or new to the market properties to be delivered at scale and will complement the existing long-term leasing arrangements, which will continue to be available for leasing existing properties.
In respect of the commitment to develop an affordable rental model, this is now being progressed through an initial pilot project in Dublin, based on a cost rental model, where local authorities can release the value of their land, and also access funding for enabling infrastructure, to reduce the construction costs of providing such rental units and facilitate the delivery of the optimal number of affordable homes to rent for low- to moderate-income households, as part of mixed-tenure developments. Lands held by local authorities, particularly in urban areas where there are high rental costs and significant housing demand, are being identified for cost rental projects, including a large-scale cost rental site in Dublin city, details of which I expect to announce shortly.
579. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the financial supports available to members of local authorities to carry out their role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26336/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe financial supports available to elected members of local authorities to assist them in carrying out their statutory functions are provided for under the Local Government (Expenses of Local Authority Members) Regulations 2014-2017, given effect with the consent of the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform under section 142 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended.
My Department has issued directions to local authorities concerning the range of supports that are available to elected members under the Regulations and the terms and conditions that apply. The most recent directions, issued on 31 January 2018, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/lg_01-2018_appendix_i_expenses_and_allowances_for_elected_members.pdf.
To ensure that financial supports provided to elected members remain fit for purpose into the future I have agreed with my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, that an independent person will be appointed to carry out a full review of the role of elected members of local authorities, as well as the remuneration and other supports provided to assist them in carrying out their duties. The review will be undertaken in consultation with elected members and their representative organisations and a report providing a full update on the review's progress will be prepared before the end of the year.
580. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Part 8 local authority social housing units that have been built in counties Longford and Westmeath in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [26348/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe local authority homes that have been built in counties Longford and Westmeath in 2016 and 2017 are set out in the Social Housing Construction Status Report which is published on a quarterly basis. That report contains information on all new social housing construction, both that contracted by the local authorities and that being advanced by AHBs in agreement with the authorities.
The report covering the period up to the end of Quarter 4 2017 was published on 19 April 2018 and is available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2017/. The report is also available on Ireland's Open Data Portal at the following link: https://data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2017 which provides the information in a reusable format. The report covering the period to the end of quarter 1 of 2018 is being complied and will be available shortly.
My Department also publishes a wide range of statistical information in relation to housing, including the number of houses that have been built, acquired or leased by local authorities. Those statistics are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Details relating to delivery in each quarter of 2018 will be published as soon as the statistics are gathered and validated.
581. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount paid per project to a company (details supplied) since 1 January 2016 to date by year, amount and project name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26393/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department places advertisements with Mediavest, who are on Lot 3 of the Media Strategy Planning and Buying Framework, following a tender process run by the Office of Government Procurement. The following is the list of payments made to Mediavest by my Department from 2016 to date.
|
Year |
Amount |
Project |
|
2016 |
€671.74 |
Planning Policy |
|
2016 |
€7,693.86 |
Marine Strategy |
|
2016 |
€3,168.32 |
Planning Policy |
|
2016 |
€15,237.29 |
Draft Register of Electors Awareness Campaign |
|
2016 |
€20,283.74 |
Constituency Commission |
|
2016 |
€50,011.98 |
General Election |
|
2016 |
€1,652.90 |
Planning Policy |
|
2016 |
€4,905.47 |
Maritime Spatial Planning |
|
2017 |
€3,462.00 |
Rebuilding Ireland Rental Market & AHB Reg Section |
|
2017 |
€4,881.86 |
Water Quality - Nitrates Regulations |
|
2017 |
€6,468.80 |
Water Quality- River Basin Management |
|
2017 |
€3,715.10 |
Marine Planning & Foreshore - Microbeads |
|
2017 |
€4,880.01 |
EIA Public Consultation |
|
2017 |
€2,707.48 |
Housing Assistance Payment & Current Programme - Repair & Leasing |
|
2017 |
€4,023.12 |
Constituency commission reminder |
|
2017 |
€4,582.07 |
Dog Breeding |
|
2017 |
€22,572.48 |
Ireland 2040 (NPF) |
|
2017 |
€22,747.36 |
Ireland 2040 (NPF) |
|
2017 |
€20,405.55 |
Ireland 2040 (NPF) |
|
2017 |
€4,747.70 |
Ireland 2040 (NPF) |
|
2017 |
€7,479.05 |
Register Awareness campaign |
|
2017 |
€8,438.65 |
4th Action Nitrates Programme |
|
2017 |
€44,515.28 |
Extension of deadline for submissions for Ireland 2040 |
|
2017 |
€11,024.00 |
Library Strategy 2018-22 |
|
2018 |
€1,687.82 |
Transfer of Functions |
|
2018 |
€43,078.09 |
Inviting submissions to Boundary Committees |
|
2018 |
€5,307.73 |
Public consultations on Hinkley Point |
582. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the report of the Drogheda Boundary Commission review has been formally adopted; if Louth and Meath county councils have formally entered into a service-level agreement based on the recommendations of the review to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26441/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIssues in relation to the boundary between counties Louth and Meath at Drogheda, and other areas which were subject to recent boundary reviews, are being addressed in the context of proposals on local government pursuant to the Programme for a Partnership Government. I have been engaging in that regard with Government and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government, and I intend to announce proposals on completion of this process.
Regarding agreements between the local authorities, while the Drogheda Boundary Review Committee Report did not recommend an extension of the local authority boundary, it called for more enhanced co-operation between Louth and Meath County Councils. There are already many instances of successful practical working relationships between the councils which continue to be built upon through cross boundary co-operation.
The proposals which I will be announcing will ensure that effective joint arrangements are in place in all cases to address cross-boundary issues.
583. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of public consultations held by his Department or by a State agency under the remit of his Department; the number of replies received per consultation; and the cost of each consultation in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [26464/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation on the public consultations held by my Department and the number of replies received per consultation is set out in the second table. Work carried out by staff in my Department in relation to public consultations forms part of the Department’s staff costs and is not itemised separately. Information in relation to the external costs that are sometimes associated with public consultations, e.g., venue hire or printing costs, is not routinely collated in my Department. However, where this information has been identified, it is set out in column four of the table.
Information in relation to public consultations held by agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. Arrangements have been put in place by each agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email addresses for each agency under my Department's remit are provided in the following table:
|
Agency |
Email address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
Ervia, Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie. |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
Question: To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the number of public consultations held by his Department or by a State agency under the remit of his Department; the number of replies received per consultation; and the cost of each consultation in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form.
|
Year |
Title of Public Consultation |
No. of Replies Received |
External Costs |
|
2011 |
Public Consultation on Review of Part L (Dwellings) |
60 |
0 |
|
2011 |
Public Consultation on the Review of Part A (Structure) of the Building Regulations |
14 |
0 |
|
2011 |
Public Consultation on the Review of Part K (Stairways, Ladders, Ramps and Guards) of the Building Regulations |
6 |
0 |
|
2011 |
Public Consultation - Draft Retail Planning Guidelines |
102 |
0 |
|
2012 |
Public Consultation on Draft Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012 |
503 |
0 |
|
2012 |
Public Consultation - Draft Local Area Plan Guidelines |
41 |
0 |
|
2012 |
Public Consultation on the Draft Development Contribution Guidelines for Planning Authorities (June 2012 - September 2012) |
55 |
0 |
|
2012 |
Consultation on Water Sector Reform |
c. 280 |
0 |
|
2013 |
Wind Energy Guidelines Focused Review |
540 |
3,203 |
|
2013 |
Public Consultation - Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Article 19 |
8 |
0 |
|
2013 |
A New Planning and Consent Architecture for Development in the Marine Area |
57 |
4,330 |
|
2013 |
Draft European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment)(Foreshore) Regulations and Draft European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Planning and Development) Regulations |
4 |
4,390 |
|
2013 |
Public Consultation on Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme |
30 |
4,405 |
|
2013 |
Public Consultation on Draft European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 |
5 |
0 |
|
2013 |
Public Consultation on the Review of Part D (Materials and Workmanship) of the Building Regulations |
4 |
0 |
|
2014 |
Consultation on the Timetable and Work Programme for the Development of the Second Cycle River Basin Management Plans |
22 |
924 |
|
2014 |
Licensing of Outdoor Music Events – Review of Legislative Framework |
52 |
8,350 |
|
2014 |
Public Consultation on Irish Language Scheme 2013-2016 |
4 |
740 |
|
2014 |
Call for Submissions - Statement of Strategy 2015 - 2017 |
0 |
0 |
|
2014 |
Proposed Water Charges Policy Direction to Commission for Energy Regulation 2014 |
21 |
0 |
|
2014 |
Planning Application Process and Procedures/Development Management Guidelines 2007 |
62 |
3,302 |
|
2014 |
Wind Energy Guidelines Focused Review: Draft statutory guidelines |
c. 7500 |
4,898 |
|
2014 |
The National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee - Call for Submissions |
4 |
0 |
|
2014 |
Proposed Amendment to Part E (Sound) of the Building Regulations |
11 |
0 |
|
2014 |
Consultation Process on the General Scheme of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2014 |
21 |
0 |
|
2015 |
Organisational review of an Bord Pleanála |
113 |
2,531 |
|
2015 |
Significant Water Management Issues in Ireland |
46 |
10,470 |
|
2015 |
Review of Building Control Regulations following 12 months of operating under S.I. No. 9 of 2014 (statutory certification of design and construction) |
171 |
0 |
|
2015 |
Proposed Amendments to Technical Guidance Document H – Drainage and Wastewater Disposal |
15 |
0 |
|
2016 |
Public consultation on a draft Code of Practice for Fire Safety in New and Existing Community Dwelling Houses |
22 |
0 |
|
2016 |
Public Consultation on the Review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations 2016 |
28 |
0 |
|
2016 |
Public Consultation - Marine Strategy Framework Directive – Programme of Measures Phase (Article 13) |
93 |
8,447 |
|
2016 |
Public Consultation on Irish Language Scheme 2017-2019 |
0 |
737 |
|
2016 |
Public Consultation – A Strategy for the Rented Sector |
375 |
4,882 |
|
2016 |
Call for Submissions: Statement of Strategy 2016 – 2019 |
52 |
0 |
|
2016 |
Draft Guidelines on Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 |
18 |
0 |
|
2016 |
Consultation on draft Regulations to transpose the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive into Irish law |
34 |
4,905 |
|
2016 |
Call for nominees to an expert commission on domestic public water services |
18 |
0 |
|
2017 |
Design Standards for New Apartments - Guidelines for Planning Authorities - Draft Update (Dec. 2017) |
63 |
0 |
|
2017 |
Draft fourth Nitrates Action Programme: Public Consultation on Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment |
15 |
8,439 |
|
2017 |
Housing Economics Research Programme - Invitation for Research Topic Suggestions |
10 |
0 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on Ireland 2040 – Our Plan – Issues and Choices |
3303 |
124,753 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on Ireland 2040 – Our Plan: National Planning Framework - Draft |
1059 |
74,666 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation – A Review of the Rent Predictability Measure |
74 |
0 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme |
28 |
4,882.00 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on Review of Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness |
122 |
0 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on the draft River Basin Management Plans for Ireland 2018-2021 |
938 |
6,469 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on the proposal to legislate for the prohibition of microbeads in certain products |
3030 |
3,715 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on the Review of Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy for Buildings other than Dwellings) 2017 |
70 |
0 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on the review of the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 |
40 |
0 |
|
2017 |
Public Consultation on the transposition of Directive 2014/52/EU: Environmental Impact Assessment |
36 |
4,880 |
|
2018 |
Public Consultation on the Review of Local Electoral Areas |
445 |
0 |
|
2018 |
Public Consultation - Draft Water Services Guidelines |
23 |
0 |
|
2018 |
Transboundary Environmental Public Consultation - Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Plant, UK |
41 |
88,309 |
|
2018 |
Public Consultation on Water Services Policy Statement |
15 |
0 |
|
2018 |
Public Consultation on the Review of Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy for Dwellings) NZEB 2018 and Part F Ventilation |
64 |
0 |
584. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of unfinished developments that were exempt from local property tax, LPT, in 2013; the number that are now liable for LPT; if an audit by county of these developments has been undertaken since 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26485/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLead policy responsibility in relation to Local Property Tax is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
However, section 10 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 provided that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government may prescribe a list of unfinished housing developments to which an exemption from the local property tax applies. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities, utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey 2012. The survey was carried out over the course of Summer 2012.
Only developments (and parts of developments) that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included in the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. These Regulations applied to 421 developments, or approximately 5,100 homes, which remain exempt from LPT.
In February 2018, my Department published the 2017 Annual Progress Report on Unfinished Housing Developments, which are regarded as developments not substantially complete in the context of the scope of works envisaged under the relevant planning permission. The report is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/unfinished_housing_developments_-_2017_annual_progress_report_0.pdf.
As outlined in that report, the number of unfinished housing developments has reduced by 91% from around 3,000 developments in 2010 to 256 developments in 2017. In addition, the report shows that 74% of Local Authority areas now contain less than 10 unfinished developments, with four local authority areas having no occupied unfinished developments.
The number of developments, and dwellings deemed as 'unfinished', was recorded as part of the 2017 National Housing Developments Survey and figures at a county level are available at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/initiative_to_accelerate_taking_in_charge_of_residential_estates_-_initial_list_0.pdf.
I expect that the number of developments to be taken in charge will further reduce over time and I will shortly be publishing updated figures, alongside the report on the National Taking in Charge Initiative (NTICI), which will include findings and recommendations from the NTICI process.
585. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has reviewed the housing mobility grant payment limit in view of the rising costs of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26516/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe terms and conditions governing the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme, including the payment limits, were reviewed in 2013/14 and I have no plans at this point for a further review. My main focus in respect of these grants is to spread their benefits by further increasing the funding available. This is what has been done for 2018, with an increase of some 11% over the 2017 allocation, bringing the overall available funding to €66.25m nationally.
The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme provides grants of up to €6,000 to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. In the event that the required works exceed that payment limit, assistance may be provided under the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability scheme, which provides grants of up to €30,000 to assist people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out.
586. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding plans to regulate the short-term letting sector. [26526/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Action 18 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector, my Department established a Working Group, involving representatives of all major public stakeholders with a policy interest in short-term lettings, to develop guidance in relation to planning applications, changes of use relating to short-term lettings and to examine the need for new regulatory arrangements.
The proposals under consideration by the Working Group, which has met on six occasions to date, have been aimed at facilitating short-term letting of accommodation within permanent residences, known as home-sharing, while protecting existing stock of residential property in areas of high demand, safeguarding neighbourhood amenity and consumer protection, and generating revenue to address any negative externalities of short-term letting.
The Working Group completed guidance for local authorities on planning applications relating to short-term lettings and my Department issued a circular on the matter last October. The circular is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/circular_pl10_aph3_2017.pdf.
The Group has since been focused on developing proposals for an appropriate comprehensive regulatory approach for short-term tourism-related lettings as well as identifying amendments to relevant legislation as may be necessary to give effect to such a regulatory regime.
The report of the Working Group has now been submitted to my Department and I expect to complete my consideration of it without delay.
587. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of his plans to secure the reclassification of approved housing bodies, AHBs, as non-Government sector; the details of all meetings held with the AHB sector; the details of all meetings with the Department of Finance; his plans to reverse the recent EUROSTAT reclassification of the AHB sector; and if it is policy to secure the reclassification without undermining the voluntary and not for profit ethos of the AHB sector. [26527/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, in April the Minister for Finance published the Draft Stability Programme Update for 2018. This included an analysis of the financial impact of the EUROSTAT decision to reclassify the majority of Tier 3 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) as part of the local government sector. This was an important first step in the Government's assessment as to the impact of the EUROSTAT decision. The Department of Finance is now undertaking an analysis of the implications for General Government Expenditure and General Government Debt up to 2021. My Department continues to engage with the Department of Finance in relation to this work.
Following the completion of the initial analysis, which has defined the scope of the financial implications of this decision for the Exchequer, my Department also held discussions with the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure that AHBs can continue to fulfil their full potential in the delivery of the targets set out in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
My Department is also engaging with the AHB sector and has had constructive discussions with it on the issue. I understand that the sector itself has engaged its own research on the matter and my Department is evaluating that research, as part of its ongoing consideration on the issue. I understand that the AHB representative bodies have indicated that they intend to submit further proposals to my Department concerning possible suggested ways forward, and these will be evaluated as soon as they are submitted. I remain fully committed to continuing to work with the AHB sector to assess the options available to create the necessary conditions to allow this classification decision to be revisited in the future.
As previously noted, the Government continues to see a central role for the voluntary housing sector in contributing to delivery of social housing under Rebuilding Ireland. It is committed to using all mechanisms and schemes, including through the AHB sector, to ensure that we maintain the momentum towards meeting the ambitious 50,000 social housing target under the Action Plan.
588. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the work of the data working group and its plans to produce an agreed methodology for counting new home construction. [26528/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Data Analytics Group was set up in May 2017 to investigate the need for improvements to data across the area of all pillars of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness. To date its efforts have been focussed on Pillars 3 and 5 of Rebuilding Ireland, “Build more homes” and “Utilise existing housing stock”. A key consideration for the group is the provision of timely and detailed data to assess the numbers of new homes becoming available to meet housing demand.
In parallel to the work of the group, my Department initiated a process of discussions with the ESB and the Central Statistics Office to identify if the CSO could provide a more detailed disaggregation of the ESB data set. The Central Statistics Office has particular powers arising from the Statistics Acts and also has a wide breadth of other data sets at its disposal, including but not limited to the results of Census. The CSO can combine data from these various sources to create a new and much more detailed dataset for analysis and reporting.
Arising from this process the Central Statistics Office published a new measure of New Dwelling Completions on June 14th and I welcome the additional clarity that this has brought to this issue and the evidence it provides that Rebuilding Ireland is working to significantly increase the numbers of new homes available for use since its introduction.
The Housing Data Analytics Group will be considering the new CSO report at its next meeting and will continue its consideration of other initiatives in respect of housing statistics more generally.
589. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to previous parliamentary questions, if he will make available an unredacted copy of the report submitted by Galway City Council relative to the case of a person (details supplied); if the protected disclosure submitted by the person is being examined by an independent person outside of and unconnected to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26590/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my reply to Question No. 197 of 2 May 2018, my Department's assessment of both the submission made with reference to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 by the individual concerned and Galway City Council’s report in response to that submission, is now concluded.
As I informed the individual concerned in writing on 18 May 2018, the legal advice of the Office of the Attorney General in relation to my Department’s assessment is being sought with a view to informing the appropriate next steps.
My Department will be in contact with the individual concerned once the outcome of that process is complete.
590. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loan applications received by each local authority; the number of these which have been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26596/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs with the previous local authority home loan offerings, loan applications under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan are made directly to the local authority in whose area the property proposed for purchase is situated. My Department therefore does not directly collect information on the number of enquiries to local authorities regarding the loan or the number of loan applications received by local authorities.
As is currently the case, my Department will continue to publish information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Information up to Q3 2017 is available on the Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity, and this information will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional data is compiled.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses valid loan applications that are made to the local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities as to whether loans should be offered to applicants. I have asked the Agency to centrally compile figures of the numbers of applications that it has assessed.
The most recent figures, as at the end of May, indicate that the Agency had received a total of 1,499 applications for assessment from local authorities, 1,150 of which were deemed to be valid. Of these valid applications, 876 have been assessed and 52% of the valid applications that have been assessed by the Agency have been recommended for approval.
Each local authority must have in place a credit committee which makes the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations and having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
