Written Answers Nos. 2662-2681
2662. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the recent announcement that Irish Water is targeting savings of €70 million further to the Government decision to separate Irish Water from its parent company, Ervia, in order that it becomes a publicly owned utility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33405/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2663. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to separate Irish Water from Ervia and allow for Irish Water to be independent; the process of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33406/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2664. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he informed Ervia regarding his proposed changes to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33407/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2696. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to separate Irish Water from Ervia; the way in which this will be done; the anticipated timeline; the engagement that has been held or is planned with staff representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33822/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2662 to 2664, inclusive, and 2696 together.
There has been a common understanding with Ervia from the outset of the establishment of Irish Water that flexibility needed to be maintained should the Government decide at a future date that Irish Water should become a stand-alone public water utility. This view was expressly stated in the Shareholders' Expectation letters which issued to Ervia on 13 January 2016 and on 21 February 2018. The Government recently decided that Irish Water would become a stand-alone publicly owned, commercial, regulated utility, separated from the Ervia Group during 2023. A number of issues were taken into account in coming to this decision, but ultimately it was based on what is in the best long-term interests of the water and gas sectors. The decision also reflected the need to enhance the accountability of Irish Water in the light of the level of State funding it receives.
I contacted the Chair of the Ervia Board immediately following the Government meeting on 12 July 2018 and informed him about the decision and this was followed by a letter to him on 16 July 2018. In that letter, I noted that I will be requesting Ervia to prepare a plan for separation which ensures that momentum is not lost on transformation plans for Irish Water or investment plans for Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland as envisaged under the National Development Plan. This separation plan will need to ensure that there is stability during the transformation phase and no distraction to the work on major investments.
Engagement with staff and their representatives on the Government's decision on separating Irish Water and the proposed separation plan is a matter for Ervia, GNI and Irish Water.
In relation to the Irish Water transformation programme, the Government did not make any decisions about the transformation process and the proposed ending of the Service Level Agreements between Irish Water and local authorities. These matters are being addressed in the present dialogue process that the Workplace Relations Commission is facilitating at my request. My Department has appraised the parties involved in this dialogue, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, about the Government's decision on separating Irish Water and the proposed separation plan. It is estimated that the transformation programme proposed by Ervia/Irish Water will lead to savings of some €70m per annum.
2665. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of vacant properties that have been renovated in the first six months of 2018, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33408/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority. The Voids Programme, introduced in 2014 by my Department, provides additional support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. The purpose of the Voids Programme is to ensure that vacant units are actively targeted, with a view to minimising the turnaround and re-let time of these units and return them to use in an energy efficient condition.
The exchequer funding provided by the Department under these programmes is to support the return of vacant units to productive use and available for re-letting in an energy efficient condition at a reasonable cost. This funding is available as an additional support over and above what local authorities provide themselves towards such work . While my Department, under the voids programme, provides a measure of funding to local authorities to assist them in bringing vacant local authority housing stock back to productive use, it is a matter for individual local authorities to determine whether and when they refurbish a property. Between 2014 and 2017, some 9,227 vacant units have been returned to productive use under the voids programme. At end quarter 1 2018, a further 108 vacant units had been returned to productive use under this programme.
Earlier this year, local authorities submitted to my Department details of their work proposals and related funding requirements for the voids programme in 2018. My Department is continuing to engage on an ongoing basis with local authorities with a view to progressing measures to bring as many vacant and underutilised properties as possible back into use.
2666. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for the new housing agency; if he has received legal advice on same on mandatory purchasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33409/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraProject Ireland 2040, published in February 2018, signals a significant policy shift towards securing more compact and sustainable urban and rural development, which requires significantly more effective land management in key development areas. Against that background, it is proposed to establish a National Regeneration and Development Agency to assist in ensuring a more effective approach to strategic land management, particularly in terms of publicly owned land.
The Agency will act as a national centre of expertise, working with and supporting local authorities, public bodies and other interests, to harness public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider investment and to achieve compact, sustainable growth, with a particular emphasis on complex regeneration projects and the provision of affordable housing.
My Department received preliminary advice from the Attorney General's Office in relation to the broad parameters to be taken into account in establishing the Agency. Detailed arrangements in relation to the functions, powers and mechanisms and legislative arrangements for the establishment and operations of the Agency, including what powers it may have in relation to land acquisition, are currently being developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with a view to their early finalisation.
2667. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider using the new powers available under the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 to revoke a planning permission in the case of An Bord Pleanála's recent decision to grant permission to a company (details supplied) for an incinerator in Ringaskiddy, County Cork in view of the submission made by the Department of Defence during the planning process regarding the impact the development would have on the operation of the Naval Service headquarters at Haulbowline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33442/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 was signed into law by the President on 19 July 2018, the relevant provision which amends section 44 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, has yet to be commenced and therefore these powers are not yet available to be used.
Notwithstanding the matter and timing of commencement, the Deputy should note that the newly inserted section 44A will require that the Minister may only consider making an order revoking or modifying a grant of planning permission upon the request of the Minister for Justice & Equality, the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade or the Minister for Defence and with the approval of the Government. Furthermore, the Minister must be satisfied that the carrying out of the development, to which the grant of permission relates, is likely to be harmful to the security or defence of the State, or the State’s relations with other states, and the revocation or modification concerned is necessary in the public interest.
2668. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost to provide a home to each person on local authority homeless lists, excluding the use of the private rental market in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33512/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2669. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost to provide a home to each person who has been on a local authority social housing waiting list for over five years, excluding use of the private rental market in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33513/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2764. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost to provide a home to every person on local authority homeless lists, that is, excluding use of the private rental market in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35066/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2668, 2669 and 2764 together.
The cost of delivering additional social housing homes is largely dependent on a range of key variables, such as the specific needs of the individual or family household on the local authority waiting list, including those on homeless lists and the location and size of property required and any additional wrap around services that might be required in particular cases. Housing needs assessment is a statutory function of a local authority and while my Department collects statistical information from local authorities on waiting lists, we do not hold the level of information required, including household composition, to provide the estimated cost of providing a home to each person on the local authority waiting list for five years or more, or to each person on the homeless list.
Delivering in a real and substantial way, that will have long-term impact on housing lists, needs to take a multitude of factors into consideration. Increasing build capacity takes not only financial investment, but time, so any action needs to consider short, medium and long-term solutions, harnessing the capacity of what is available while building the stock in parallel.
It is for that reason that the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan involves a blended approach, €6 billion being invested in a multi-annual, broadly based action plan which seeks to, inter alia, deliver an additional 50,000 social housing units in the period 2016 to 2021; and meet the housing needs of an additional 87,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and the Rental Accommodation Scheme.
The Plan recognises the need for blended delivery, accessing the immediate availability of existing properties through acquisition or leasing arrangements, with a particular focus on harnessing the capacity of vacant properties, while at the same time facilitating local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to significantly enhance their own build programmes. A review of the Plan in 2017 recognised the need for an even greater emphasis on direct building of social housing than was envisaged and additional capital funding was secured under Budget 2018 to make this happen, bringing the overall Budget from €5.35 to €6 billion.
Since 2016, over 12,700 built, bought or long-term leased homes have been delivered, in addition to a further 32,000 flexible housing solutions under HAP and RAS. That means that some 45,000 households have had their housing needs met over the first two years of Rebuilding Ireland.
The significant expansion of the social housing build programme is evident in outputs for 2017, and also in the significant pipeline of future activity that continues to be developed. At end Q1 2018 just under 15,000 additional new build social homes were at varying stages of advancement under the Rebuilding Ireland programme.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, together with initiatives announced on foot of the targeted review of progress which was undertaken last year, as well as additional measures announced under Budget 2018, provides a robust framework for addressing the housing and homelessness challenges we face. The focus will remain firmly on implementation and delivery to ensure that the range of objectives and targets set are achieved.
2670. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated annual cost to build 20,000 new social and affordable homes per year for five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33514/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2765. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average cost of building council housing on publicly owned land that is fully serviced. [35064/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2670 and 2765 together.
The cost of constructing new social homes is dependent on a range of variables, such as the location, the scale of the development and the size of the homes involved.
My Department analyses data from tendered social housing schemes and based on this, the information below set out the average costs arising across the local authority areas for different house types/sizes. From this, the cost of delivering various quantum of housing over different periods, based on present costs, can be calculated.
The construction costs shown are reflective of building costs (including VAT) and also include normal site works and site development. All-in costs include cost of construction, land cost, professional fees, utility connections, site investigations/surveys, archaeology where appropriate, and contribution to public art. Abnormal costs are excluded from these figures.
|
1 bed |
2 bed (1 storey) |
2 bed (2 storey) |
3 bed |
4 bed |
1 bed Apt. |
2 bed Apt. |
3 bed Apt. |
|
|
Construction Costs |
€ 143,750 |
€ 149,576 |
€ 157,771 |
€ 167,224 |
€ 176,629 |
€ 150,918 |
€ 157,065 |
€ 173,953 |
|
All-in Costs |
€ 182,944 |
€ 189,644 |
€ 198,491 |
€ 209,106 |
€ 219,694 |
€ 192,068 |
€ 199,112 |
€ 218,818 |
2671. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of children under 18 years of age who have been residing in emergency accommodation in counties Laois and Offaly; the number who have been in residence for periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33537/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a monthly report on homelessness. The monthly report is based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The report captures details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities and can be accessed at the following link www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
While these reports identify the number of adults utilising State-funded emergency accommodation at the county level, details in relation to families and dependents is only available on a regional basis; consequently the specific data sought by the Deputy is not available in my Department and is a matter for the relevant housing authorities, in this case Laois and Offaly County Councils.
2672. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to commit 7% of all social housing stock in 2019 to the provision of appropriate housing for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33538/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2673. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units that are appropriate housing for persons with disabilities that are occupied, ready for occupation and in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33539/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2675. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the provision of housing for persons with disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33588/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2672, 2673 and 2675 together.
The planning, construction and allocation of local authority housing is a matter for individual local authorities. As such, it is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide whether or not to allocate a percentage of houses to people with disabilities. I have no function in relation to such decisions nor does my Department hold statistics on such allocations.
One of the key measures achieved in 2016 under the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD), which has been extended to 2020, was the establishment of Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) in all housing authority areas, to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with a disability at local level. These are chaired by Directors of Housing in each authority and include HSE and disability representative organisations. Each HDSG has prepared a local Strategic Plan for its own City/County area, to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging need over the next five years. These Plans, along with the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments, allow local authorities to plan more strategically for the housing needs of people with a disability and support the delivery of accommodation using all appropriate housing supply mechanisms. This is a more targeted and responsive way to meet actual need identified rather than designating a specific percentage or number of new social housing builds for people with disabilities, although it is open to local authorities to do this if they decide it is appropriate.
I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, particularly in terms of facilitating the continued independent living by older people and people with a disability in their own homes. This is also recognised in the Programme for a Partnership Government and as a consequence, funding for these schemes has been increased year on year since 2014, with the 2017 funding allocation of €60.5m - comprising €48.8m Exchequer funding and €12.1m from local authority resources - representing an increase of some 6% on the previous year.
I have further increased the funding for the schemes in 2018 to a total of €66.25m. The exchequer funding this year totals €53m, an increase of 11% on the 2017 figure, with the balance being provided by the local authorities. Further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years in the context of the range of housing supports under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
2674. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the criteria for persons applying for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme in view of the fact that some persons are experiencing difficulty or are following unclear advice regarding the scheme; the average timeframe in which persons are being informed that they have submitted a valid or invalid application, that is to say they receive notice that they are approved in principal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33587/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new 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. The scheme is established in accordance with the Housing (Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans) Regulations 2018 which set out the criteria for the eligibility for a loan.
As 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. 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. It is then a matter for each local authority's credit committee to make a decision on each application.
Regarding information on eligibility, a dedicated website - www.rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie - has been developed for the scheme. It contains details of the loan including eligibility requirements, interest rate options, and an online calculator for borrowers. The application form is available to download from this website, while it also provides details on how to make an application, relevant contact details for local authorities, and contact information for a call-centre which has been established to answer general queries. In addition, a series of Frequently Asked Questions is available on the website which provides additional detail for prospective borrowers on a range of issues relating to the loan. The Housing Agency also provides training for local authority staff to support them in administering the scheme.
As the scheme is operated by local authorities my Department does not collect information on the number of enquiries to local authorities regarding the loan or the number of loan applications received by local authorities or the length of time that local authorities take to process applications.
I requested the Housing Agency to compile monthly statistical reports on the numbers of applications that it receives centrally from local authorities. These include the average length of time taken by the Agency to assess applications before returning them to the relevant local authority, which as of the end of June, stands at 11 calendar days.
2676. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the working family payment is considered as income for the purposes of qualifying for local authority housing lists but is not considered as income for the purposes of qualifying for a mortgage under the Rebuilding Ireland mortgage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33630/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Support Household Means Policy sets out the manner in which housing authorities will assess the means of applicant households for the purpose of determining the household’s ability to provide accommodation from its own means and by extension its eligibility, or otherwise, for social housing support.
The determination of whether an applicant household meets the income criteria is based on a calculation of net income. Net income means that income tax, Universal Social Charge, pension-related deduction within the meaning of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, and PRSI are deducted from the relevant assessable gross income. The income of all persons aged 18 years and over included in a social housing application is assessed for the purposes of determining whether an applicant household meets the income requirements.
In general, all income is assessable including all social welfare payments received, except a specific list of payments that include for example child benefit, education grants, carer's allowance, payments under FAS schemes and fuel allowance. The Means Policy specifically states that Family Income Supplement (now known as Working Family Payment or WFP) is deemed to be income for the purposes of assessing eligibility for social housing. This is appropriate for assessing the level of social housing support that may be given, as such support is based on the means of the household seeking the support and may be subject to review if the circumstances of the household change.
The Social Housing Support Household Means Policy was developed in 2011 and is currently under review by my Department, with a view to assessing whether the approach taken is still appropriate in the current housing context and to ensure that household income is treated in a consistent manner across the social housing system.
With regard to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme, it is not, as a general rule, available to those in receipt of unemployment or other social welfare benefits. However, where there is a primary income of a waged or salaried nature, long-term State benefit payments may be considered. State benefit payments allowable are:
- State Pension (Contributory);
- State pension (Non-Contributory);
- Widow’s / Widower’s Pension;
- Blind Pension;
- Invalidity Pension; and
- Disability Allowance.
The reason that these payment are considered as assessable income for the scheme is that they are long-term payments. The inclusion of other social welfare payments, which are more short-term, would not be appropriate in determining a capacity of applicants to repay a loan over a period of up to 30 years, as is the case with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
The long-term nature of the social welfare payment must be confirmed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. All applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and are referred to the relevant local authority's Credit Committee for a final decision.
2677. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 952 of 10 July 2018, if he has requested additional work to be undertaken on the issue of assisting householders whose homes are unable to secure a green certificate due to the presence of pyrite but which are not included in the remediation scheme. [33642/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, e.g. such as pyrite in concrete blocks.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established, in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2017 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. I have no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.
The Report of the Pyrite Panel (June 2012) recommended a categorisation system as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works in recognition of the expensive and intrusive nature of pyrite remediation and the unpredictability of pyritic heave. The independent Pyrite Panel was clear in its view that only dwellings with significant damage due to pyritic heave should be remediated and that it would be unreasonable to expect dwellings not exhibiting such damage to be remediated.
Dwellings which have no significant damage but have reactive pyrite in the hardcore material should be monitored and only remediated if they display significant damage due to pyritic heave. This remains the position with regard to dwellings which do not display significant pyritic damage.
I have no plans to introduce additional supports to assist households beyond those who fall within the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, in the manner referred to.
2678. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of council-owned homes or approved housing body units that were allocated for persons with a disability in 2017; and the targets for 2018 and 2019. [33646/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe planning, construction and allocation of local authority housing (including approved housing body units) is a matter for individual local authorities. As such, it is entirely a matter for local authorities to decide whether or not to allocate a percentage of houses to people with disabilities. I have no function in relation to such decisions nor does my Department hold statistics on such allocations.
One of the key measures achieved in 2016 under the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD), which has been extended to 2020, was the establishment of Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) in all housing authority areas, to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with a disability at local level. These are chaired by Directors of Housing in each authority and include HSE and disability representative organisations. Each HDSG has prepared a local Strategic Plan for its own City/County area, to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging need over the next five years. These Plans, along with the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments, allow local authorities to plan more strategically for the housing needs of people with a disability and support the delivery of accommodation using all appropriate housing supply mechanisms.
2679. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average loan amount that has been approved in the Dublin region under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33661/18]
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 publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Information up to Q4 2017 is available on the Department's website at the following link: 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. As the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme was launched in February of this year information on it is not yet available.
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 on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and the most recent data, as at the end of June, indicate that the average loan amount recommended for approval under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for the four Dublin local authorities was €214,523.
