Written Answers Nos. 2682-2702
2682. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of the €2 billion urban regeneration and development fund that was drawn down in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33664/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 30 May 2018, An Taoiseach, along with myself and relevant Ministers, announced €4 billion in funds available under Project Ireland 2040 for rural development, urban regeneration, climate action and technological innovation, the details of which can be found on-line at the following link:
https://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/News/Government_launches_four_funds_for_rural_development_urban_regeneration_climate_action_innovation.html.
The announcement includes the establishment of a €2 billion Fund for urban regeneration and development purposes, focusing on cities and towns in excess of 10,000 in population. The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) will secure more compact, sustainable growth in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban centres.
My Department has responsibility for implementing the URDF, which has an allocation of €2 billion over the 10-year period of the National Development Plan (NDP) to 2027, with an overall Exchequer allocation of €550 million earmarked for the Fund up to the end of 2022. The first tranche of €100 million will be available for expenditure in 2019. Accordingly, no funding has been drawn down to date.
The URDF will be a competitive, bid-based programme, that will operate on a multi-annual basis over the period to 2027. The first call for proposals under the URDF is now live and will run until end-September 2018. Proposals are required to demonstrate that they will be:
- Innovative and transformational urban regeneration projects;
- Public-sector led and with the option of community and/or private sector partners;
- Matched by at least 25% direct funding from other public and/or private sources;
- Involve a minimum bid of €2m;
- A catalyst for development that would not otherwise occur; and
- Likely to leverage significant further public and private sector investment.
Detailed information on the URDF and the application process can be viewed at the following links: www.gov.ie/urdf and www.npf.ie.
2684. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the working group on rental standards; the budget allocation, target setting and performance monitoring for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33666/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, set out a series of measures to be introduced to ensure the quality of private rental accommodation by strengthening the applicable standards and improving the inspection and enforcement systems.
The Rental Strategy recognises the need for additional resources to be provided to local authorities to aid increased inspections of properties and ensure greater compliance with the Regulations. Provision has been made for an additional €2.5m funding in 2018, with the intention of providing further increases each year in the period to 2021 to facilitate a targeted inspection coverage of 25% of rental properties annually.
My Department is engaging with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), the City and County Management Association (CCMA) and individual local authorities to agree annual targets and to develop and implement best practice and standardisation of approaches across the sector. Ring-fenced funding and annual targets for inspection and compliance will be identified from 2018 onwards in agreement with local authorities.
My Department wrote to each Chief Executive earlier this year, outlining the reforms and improvements envisioned for rental properties under the Strategy, as well as annual inspection targets and requested each local authority to prepare an implementation plan to achieve these, including details in terms of staffing, resource and other needs that will be required to deliver these targets.
Individual LA Implementation Plans have now been received and are currently being examined, prior to engaging directly with the local authorities concerned with a view to finalising the plans and assisting with implementation and delivery.
An overarching Working Group on Rental Standards has been established with a further 3 sub-groups envisaged to make recommendations on the specific areas of Human Resources, Training and ICT.
2685. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rapid build housing units that have been constructed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33667/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2710. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rapid build homes that have been completed and occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33841/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2685 and 2710 together.
Under Rebuilding Ireland, a total of 240 homes have been completed to date using the rapid delivery framework. There are currently some 26 further rapid delivery schemes, due to yield up to 768 social homes, at various stages of advancement, 213 of which are scheduled for delivery in 2018.
While the framework, or indeed off-site construction, may not be suitable for all developments or sites, my Department continues to encourage and support local authorities and AHBs to consider the rapid delivery mechanism in the interest of accelerated delivery. In this regard my Department has organised information seminars for local authorities, as well as visits to rapid delivery projects under construction. Local authorities have been asked to consider, in particular, schemes which are suitable for early commencement, particularly in terms of their approved planning status.
In addition, Dublin City Council is developing a volumetric rapid build housing programme of apartment developments. This could yield in excess of 700 homes and my Department is working very closely with the Council to prioritise some of the larger apartment schemes, given the current demand.
Updated details in relation to the programme of rapid build projects are included in each Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which are published on a quarterly basis on the Rebuilding Ireland website; the most recently available report sets out the position as at end Q1 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-q1-2018/.
My Department will continue to work with local authorities to maximise delivery and harness appropriate opportunities to deliver on additional build units over the course of the Rebuilding Ireland Plan, including through rapid delivery schemes.
Please note that the allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for the housing authority concerned, in accordance with the authority’s allocation scheme made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011.
2686. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding that has been drawn down through the local infrastructure housing activation fund in 2018; the number of drawdown requests that have been submitted; the number of requests being processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33668/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is to increase housing supply through enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges and parks. Thirty infrastructure projects were approved for funding through LIHAF in 2017 and these projects will typically have design, planning, tendering and construction phases for the public infrastructure concerned.
Local authorities can draw down the funding allocated to their projects at any stage, once the project cost has been incurred. My Department invited draw down requests for expenditure incurred in Q1 2018 in April and has paid out almost €700,000 in funding for that period in respect of 14 projects.
My Department invited funding draw-down requests in July from local authorities for expenditure incurred in Q2 2018 and the period for submission of those requests is still open, with three funding requests currently being processed.
The relatively low level of the draw-down to date by local authorities reflects the stages which these infrastructure projects are currently at. The expenditure incurred during the design, planning and tendering stages is significantly lower than that at the construction stage so a major increase in draw-down will arise as projects progress through construction.
While I am anxious for the infrastructure and the housing to be delivered as fast as possible, I recognise that local authorities must observe proper design, planning and tendering procedures. My Department will continue to monitor progress on these sites and ensure that every effort is made to secure the timely delivery of the infrastructure involved.
2687. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to the capital assistance scheme in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33669/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails in respect of funding expended on the Capital Assistance Scheme, as requested by the Deputy, are set out in the table. These amounts include both the exchequer provision for this programme and an element of self-funding by Local Authorities.
|
2015 Spend (Exchequer + LPT Self-Funding) €m |
2016 Spend (Exchequer + LPT Self-Funding) €m |
2017 Spend (Exchequer + LPT Self-Funding) €m |
2018 (Exchequer + LPT Self-Funding) (Spend to 19/07/2018) €m |
|
|
Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) |
38.01 |
37.03 |
54.99 |
28.10 |
2688. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the draft policy statement on housing options for older persons will be published by his Department and the Department of Health's multiagency steering group on housing accommodation for older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33670/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, is currently exploring policy options including supporting housing/housing with care so that older people have a wider range of housing options and choices available to them. A cross Department/Agency steering group chaired by this Department and comprising the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, the Housing Agency and other key stakeholders was established in 2017 to consider the issues and provide guidance on drafting a joint Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Department of Health policy statement on housing options for older people. The draft statement is currently being finalised and I expect to be in a position to publish it shortly.
This will be a first step in the broader process of seeking to ensure that older people are provided with appropriate accommodation options that are suited to their needs. The policy statement will set out a framework by which the Government can facilitate housing, including housing with care, for older people having regard to current demographics and looking at best practice models. The aim is to ensure that people can grow old and live in a community of their choosing, with dignity and independence.
2689. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of vacant units returned to the housing stock for each local authority in 2017; the amount of funding allocated to each local authority for same in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33671/18]
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.
During 2017, my Department provided €24,698,067 to local authorities to enable them to bring 1757 vacant properties back to productive use. Without substantial refurbishment under construction contracts, these social homes would have been left vacant and in turn would not be part of the active social housing stock. The units returned to use and the funding provided by my Department to each local authority for 2017 are set out as follows:
|
Local Authority |
Units Returned in 2017 |
Funding 2017 |
|
Carlow |
8 |
€91,750 |
|
Cavan |
31 |
€303,112 |
|
Clare |
47 |
€966,203 |
|
Cork City |
81 |
€1,485,357 |
|
Cork County |
48 |
€1,130,977 |
|
Donegal |
168 |
€1,866,898 |
|
Dublin City |
543 |
€8,520,549 |
|
Fingal |
121 |
€1,329,300 |
|
South Dublin |
87 |
€718,446 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
31 |
€283,531 |
|
Galway City |
11 |
€124,150 |
|
Galway County |
37 |
€401,159 |
|
Kerry |
90 |
€1,101,143 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
€205,960 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
€307,749 |
|
Laois |
4 |
€33,170 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
€0 |
|
Limerick |
13 |
€215,520 |
|
Longford |
0 |
€0 |
|
Louth |
7 |
€83,518 |
|
Mayo |
22 |
€261,986 |
|
Meath |
52 |
€768,005 |
|
Monaghan |
38 |
€505,254 |
|
Offaly |
7 |
€107,792 |
|
Roscommon |
3 |
€44,324 |
|
Sligo |
40 |
€909,395 |
|
Tipperary |
107 |
€1,324,604 |
|
Waterford |
52 |
€574,309 |
|
Westmeath |
40 |
€329,113 |
|
Wexford |
34 |
€428,015 |
|
Wicklow |
11 |
€276,778 |
|
Total |
1,757 |
€24,698,067 |
2690. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a system will be introduced to ensure information on the details of land owned by approved housing bodies is obtained and made available in view of the fact the regulation office of the Housing Agency does not collect same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33697/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs), approved in accordance with section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, are independent not-for-profit organisations that provide and manage housing for people with a housing need. AHBs can be limited companies, societies or trusts. In order to be approved, it is also a requirement that their memorandum and articles of association include provisions prohibiting the distribution of any surplus, profit, bonus or dividend to members and requiring the assets of the body be applied solely towards its objectives and that, in the event of winding up or dissolution of the company, any remaining property must be transferred to another body having objectives similar to the objectives of the AHB. These requirements are designed to protect the interests of the State and tenants of AHB properties.
I understand from my Department’s regular and ongoing interactions with AHBs that most of these organisations do not have significant amounts of undeveloped lands within their own control, but rely on collaborative arrangements with local authorities to deliver social housing homes and sheltered accommodation on publicly owned lands or enter into agreements with private landowners and developers to deliver turnkey developments for similar uses. In the context of developing the new legislative proposals to establish a statutory regulator for the AHB sector, I will be making provision to enable the regulator to oversee the functions and performance of the voluntary housing sector, including statutory requirements regarding the submission of annual accounts which would include details of assets held by each Body.
2691. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and name of the groups he met each month to date in 2018 that fall under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33713/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission, an independent body, is the Registrar of Lobbying. The Act is designed to provide information to the public about who is lobbying whom about what. It also provides for the establishment and maintenance of a register of persons who carry on lobbying activities and for a code of conduct relating to carrying on lobbying activities.
The Registrar has pointed out that lobbying is an essential part of the democratic process, which enables or facilitates citizens and organisations to make their views on public policy and public services known to politicians and public servants. Where lobbying activities defined under the Act with designated public officials are being engaged in by lobbyists, then the Act requires that the lobbyists involved must provide information at regular intervals about their lobbying activities to the Standards in Public Office Commission. The Standards in Public Office Commission has established an easily searchable and free to use online register of lobbying at www.lobbying.ie.
2692. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the public health role of the chief executive of a local authority in a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33729/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for environmental health matters rests with the Department of Health. That Department has advised that, under the applicable legislation, responsibility for keeping land or property rodent free lies with the owner or occupier of the land or property. In the case of the details supplied, the role of the chief executive of a local authority would be to ensure that the local authority, as owner or occupier of property, is in compliance with the law.
If an authorised officer of the HSE is of the opinion that the occupier of any land has failed to take such steps as are required, a notice may be served on the occupier requiring him to take the steps prescribed in the notice within a specified timeframe or the HSE may enter the land and take the steps that are necessary and reasonably practicable for the purpose of destroying the rats and mice on the land or of preventing the land from becoming infested with rats and mice, and may recover any reasonable expenses incurred from the occupier as a civil debt.
2693. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when members of the fire and rescue service across the State will receive 1916 commemorative medals. [33779/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of fire services in local authority areas is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy and through a range of service development programmes.
The issuing of 1916 – 2016 Commemorative medals was a commitment in ‘A Programme for Partnership Government’ for the Defence Forces, and therefore did not include staff in local authority Fire Services. However, my Department is commissioning medals in recognition of the role played by staff working in the Fire Services in relation to the 1916 commemorations. It is envisaged that all Fire Services staff serving in April 2016 will be eligible to receive the medal.
A tender process is being undertaken as part of procurement and my Department will be in contact with all Fire Authorities in relation to this matter directly.
2694. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a response will issue to the proposal from an association (details supplied) to establish an expert review panel to extend the retirement age of retained firefighters. [33780/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational research indicates that the retirement age of 55 is the optimum age to ensure that fire-fighters are capable of satisfactorily performing the tasks expected of them. The retirement age of 55 years of age was introduced because of health and safety considerations related to the job. Since the enactment of the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 1989, underpinned by subsequent legislation, each fire authority, as an employer, has a statutory duty to avoid placing employees at risk.
A full time firefighter is statutorily required to retire at age 55 under the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. This retirement age is set at 55 due to the physically demanding nature of the fire-fighter role.
The retirement age for retained fire fighters is 55 with an extended period to age 58 subject to a formal application process including a compulsory medical assessment.
A collective agreement was reached between the Local Government Management Services Board and the trade unions involved (SIPTU and ATGWU) in November 2002. This collective agreement provided, inter alia, for the appointment of an Expert Group which in turn would advise as to the retirement age for retained firefighters. The Expert Group's Report on Retirement Age recommended that the retirement age for retained firefighters remain at 55, with provision for an annual extension, subject to medical assessment, up to 58 years of age. Following the report of the Expert Group published in April 2003, a circular was issued by my Department in November 2003 setting out the age requirements in relation to retained firefighters in line with the Expert Report.
In general, any changes proposed by either management or unions are negotiated using the established Industrial Relations processes. In this regard, the matter of increasing the retirement age for firefighters was included as part of recent discussions on a wide range of issues at the Workplace Relations Commission, between the Local Government Management Agency (representing the employers) and SIPTU.
I understand that these discussions are at a preliminary stage and therefore I am unable to give an indication as to when these discussions will be completed or the likely outcome.
2695. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homeless adults, families and dependants in Cork city and county; the number staying in hotels; the corresponding figures for the same date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33812/18]
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.
The table sets out the number of adults utilising State-funded emergency accommodation, including hotels, in Cork city and county in May 2017 and May 2018:
|
Local Authority |
May 2017 |
May 2018 |
|
Cork City Council |
261 |
299 |
|
Cork County Council |
8 |
15 |
Details in relation to families and dependents is only available on a regional basis; consequently the specific data relating to the numbers of families in hotels is not available in my Department and is a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
2697. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units, by local authority area, that have been acquired under the repair and leasing scheme since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33828/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant dwellings across Ireland.
The RLS is targeted at owners of vacant dwellings, who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their dwellings up to the required standard for rental property. Subject to the suitability of the dwelling for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an approved housing body (AHB).
At the end of 2017, a total of 820 applications had been received under the scheme. Local authorities were engaging with the property owners in relation to 573 properties, 31 agreements for lease had been signed and 9 homes had been delivered and tenanted. A detailed breakdown of the RLS scheme data up to end Q4 2017 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
The RLS data for end Q1 2018 is currently being collated and will be published shortly.
2698. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units, by local authority area, that have been purchased under the buy and renew scheme since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33829/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to local authorities to acquire a range of properties for social housing use. The properties involved can range from those in good condition to those that need remediation and may have been vacant. To ensure a local-led response to such work, responsibility for property acquisitions is delegated to local authorities.
The Buy & Renew Scheme facilitates local authorities to acquire and remediate vacant properties that may be suitable for social housing and latest information shows that funding approved by my Department to local authorities has supported the purchase and remediation of over 100 such homes under the scheme, as follows:
|
Local Authority |
Number of homes |
|
Carlow County Council |
3 |
|
Clare County Council |
7 |
|
Cork City Council |
2 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council |
12 |
|
Fingal County Council |
11 |
|
Kerry County Council |
12 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
16 |
|
Meath County Council |
14 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
16 |
|
Offaly County Council |
4 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
6 |
As with standard acquisitions, local authorities have delegated responsibility to utilise the Buy & Renew Scheme, as part of the blend of property acquisitions appropriate to their area, given housing need and the availability of properties of different types.
2699. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units that have been acquired under the housing agency vacant housing purchase initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33830/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Actions 1.1, 2.5 and 5.6 of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Housing Agency is actively engaging with banks and investment companies in relation to its acquisitions programme. An Acquisitions Fund of €70m, which is a revolving fund, has been established with the objective of acquiring some 1,600 units over the period to 2020 for social housing use.
As of 30 June 2018, the Agency had bids accepted on 645 properties. Contracts have been signed for 454 units and 404 of these purchases have closed. The process of selling properties on to Approved Housing Bodies is underway. As of 30 June 2018, the Agency had signed purchase option agreements for 238 properties with Approved Housing Bodies and these units are now under Caretaker Leases. To date, the onward sale of 132 units to AHBs have been completed in full and the Agency has received €27.7m from AHBs for these units to recycle back into the Acquisitions Fund.
2700. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment tenancies that are now in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33831/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2701. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment tenants who have requested that they be included on a local authority transfer list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33832/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2702. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households previously in a housing assistance payment supported tenancy that have obtained a local authority home as a result of being on the transfer list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33833/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2700 to 2702, inclusive, together.
At the end of Quarter 2, 2018, there were 37,751 active HAP tenancies in place of which 9,093 related to 2018 setups.
The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities. The setting of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and as such is a matter for the elected members. My Department does not collect data from Local Authorities with respect to the number of HAP tenants who request to be placed on the transfer list.
Local authorities have been directed that HAP recipients, who apply to go on the transfer list, should get full credit for the time they spent on the waiting list and be placed on the transfer list with no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list.
At the end of Quarter 2, 2018, 1,435 HAP tenancy exits related to transfer to other forms of social housing.
