Written Answers Nos. 2761-2780
2761. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of vacant properties; the number suitable for social housing; the number that have been considered for acquisition by local authorities by authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35062/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to residential vacancy levels, a certain amount of high level data is available from Census 2016 which indicated a national residential vacancy figure of 183,312, significantly down from the previous figure of 230,056 dwellings in 2011. However, it must be acknowledged that this figure is only a snapshot at a point in time and it includes properties that were temporarily vacant at the time of the Census, such as properties either for sale or for rent and properties that were not available for occupation, such as where probate or other issues arose.
My Department has been working to develop improved tools to monitor long-term vacancy and to better understand the reasons behind it. In addition, local authorities have been doing on-the-ground exercises to look at vacancy and initial information suggests that the vacancy levels in urban areas are in fact very low.
More work needs to be done in this area and my Department has put in place a Vacant Homes Unit (VHU) to work on these issues with the aim of driving and co-ordinating actions at central and local government levels and supporting local authorities in their actions. The VHU works with other stakeholders such as the Central Statistics Office, the local government sector and the Housing Agency to improve the range and usefulness of the data available around vacant homes. The key focus is to enable local authorities to quickly identify vacancy hotspots, particularly in areas where there is a high demand for homes, and which have vacant or under-utilised houses that are capable of being brought back into use.
One of the actions currently being undertaken is a pilot survey of residential vacancy in six local authority areas, which is targeted towards areas that have been identified as being more likely to contain vacant units. The data from the pilot survey will be analysed to better understand the reasons behind vacancy and to inform potential new policy measures, as well as being used at local level to provide each local authority with information about houses that may be capable of being brought back into use. If the pilot survey proves successful, the approach will be considered for roll out to other local authorities.
I have also provided initial funding to enable local authorities to establish Vacant Homes Offices, staffed by Vacant Homes Officers who will be available to deal with queries from members of the public in respect of private residential vacant properties in their administrative area and who will be able to work on establishing a pipeline of vacant houses which can be either acquired for social housing or encouraged to be brought back into use for private housing. A list of Vacant Homes Officers and their contact details is available on my Department’s website at www.housing.gov.ie/housing/home-ownership/vacant-homes/vacant-homes. Local authorities have also produced Vacant Homes Action Plans for their administrative areas, setting out goals and targets to show how they intend to deal with levels of vacancy.
My Department continues to develop and review policy measures with the aim of encouraging and enabling privately-owned vacant homes to be brought back into use, whether for use as social housing or to the private rented market. These schemes include the Repair and Leasing Scheme, the Buy and Renew Scheme, the Housing Agency's active engagement with banks and investment companies to use its €70 million revolving Acquisitions Fund to acquire some 1,600 units over the period to 2020 for social housing use, as well as ongoing engagement between the Housing Agency, local authorities and NAMA to identify properties that may be potentially available for social housing.
2762. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the full cost of emergency accommodation in 2015, 2016, 2017 and projected for 2018 and 2019 by local authority and type of emergency accommodation, that is, hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation, hostels and family hubs. [35063/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of any funded service from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements that apply. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services are a matter for those authorities.
Exchequer funding is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. The table below set outs the funding recouped to housing authorities on a regional basis for the years 2015 to 2018 (to date);
Funding under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988
|
Region |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 to date |
|
Dublin |
€48,270,201 |
€68,627,075 |
€83,616,643 |
€54,483,247 |
|
Mid-East |
€1,716,245 |
€2,746,651 |
€3,092,923 |
€600,000 |
|
Midland |
€805,995 |
€1,109,748 |
€1,467,615 |
€502,128 |
|
Mid-West |
€3,499,898 |
€3,500,000 |
€3,906,686 |
€2,000,000 |
|
North-East |
€996,849 |
€1,493,336 |
€2,762,845 |
€357,520 |
|
North-West |
€387,643 |
€411,946 |
€450,000 |
€214,522 |
|
South-East |
€2,394,619 |
€3,041,840 |
€3,444,510 |
€1,250,000 |
|
South-West |
€5,000,686 |
€5,375,609 |
€6,703,444 |
€1,225,241 |
|
West |
€1,698,834 |
€2,370,295 |
€3,791,334 |
€845,894 |
Financial reports from each of the regions, setting out expenditure on the various homeless services in each region, are published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/node/5498.
Budget 2018 provides for a national Exchequer allocation of €116 million for the provision of homeless services. Funding for 2019 will be determined as part of the annual estimates process.
2763. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the annual spend for 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the projected spend for 2018 and 2019 on leasing, housing assistance payment and rental accommodation scheme agreements between local authorities and landlords by authority and type of agreement; and the number of these arrangements that are direct transfers from rent allowance arrangements. [35065/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe three current expenditure funded housing schemes – the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) - are critical components of the accelerated delivery of social housing envisaged under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
The annual cost of the three schemes to the Exchequer is made up of the continuing cost of supporting the tenancies and contracts in place at the end of the previous year, and the additional cost of the new tenancies and contracts supported over the course of the year to which the allocation relates.
SHCEP supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the long term leasing of houses and apartments from private owners, developers and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Properties made available under the programme are used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists.
Details on the number of SHCEP agreements supported by my Department in 2015, 2016 and 2017 are published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Expenditure in respect of SHCEP for the years 2015-2017, broken down by local authority, is detailed in the following table. €114.586m has been allocated to SHCEP in 2018.
At the end of Q2 2018, there were 37,751 active tenancies being supported by the HAP scheme in the 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, in each local authority area from when the scheme began in 2014 to end 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 Exchequer outturns for the HAP scheme in 2015, 2016 and 2017 were €15.64m, €57.7m and €152.697m, respectively. Under Budget 2018, Exchequer funding of €301.336m is being made available for the HAP scheme this year.
Limerick City and County Council provides a HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but rather recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC.
RAS places responsibility on local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. In the period since RAS commenced in 2005 to the end of December 2017, some 60,338 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options. Of this number 34,493 were housed directly under RAS. Data for the years 2011 to 2016 on the number and cost of tenancies funded under the RAS scheme, broken down by local authority, 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 number of RAS tenancies in place at the end of 2017 was 19,755 and expenditure on the scheme in 2017 was just under €143m. €134.338m has been allocated to RAS in 2018.
The 2019 budgetary provision for specific housing programmes will be determined in the context of the forthcoming estimates process.
Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) Expenditure paid to Local Authorities in 2015, 2016 and 2017
|
Local Authority |
2015* |
2016 |
2017 |
|
CARLOW |
530,205 |
585,327 |
1,302,249 |
|
CAVAN |
64,493 |
196,193 |
428,427 |
|
CLARE |
882,570 |
1,595,479 |
1,989,287 |
|
CORK CITY |
1,107,646 |
1,771,180 |
2,219,141 |
|
CORK COUNTY |
3,712,136 |
4,203,863 |
4,522,657 |
|
DONEGAL |
1,248,328 |
1,067,305 |
2,076,634 |
|
DUBLIN CITY |
7,388,093 |
10,345,395 |
14,840,312 |
|
DUN LAOGHAIRE/RATHDOWN |
1,768,110 |
2,094,115 |
4,597,875 |
|
FINGAL |
3,385,519 |
4,666,247 |
6,547,004 |
|
GALWAY CITY |
1,607,240 |
2,315,093 |
3,589,992 |
|
GALWAY COUNTY |
385,394 |
346,807 |
833,507 |
|
KERRY |
668,351 |
935,162 |
2,106,983 |
|
KILDARE |
1,550,610 |
1,430,712 |
3,634,286 |
|
KILKENNY |
737,465 |
740,649 |
908,544 |
|
LAOIS |
585,566 |
1,190,925 |
1,511,241 |
|
LEITRIM |
9,093 |
65,473 |
77,468 |
|
LIMERICK |
270,920 |
504,557 |
719,490 |
|
LONGFORD |
147,813 |
356,011 |
515,178 |
|
LOUTH |
2,646,597 |
3,046,688 |
3,610,161 |
|
MAYO |
790,964 |
856,278 |
945,590 |
|
MEATH |
1,211,043 |
1,138,730 |
2,754,186 |
|
MONAGHAN |
2,262 |
44,782 |
168,962 |
|
OFFALY |
943,158 |
1,358,477 |
1,957,083 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
25,901 |
33,549 |
34,590 |
|
SLIGO |
278,926 |
340,996 |
349,787 |
|
SOUTH DUBLIN |
5,631,522 |
6,245,168 |
12,861,316 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1,742,186 |
1629455 |
2,597,202 |
|
WATERFORD |
691,391 |
1,078,131 |
1,306,809 |
|
WESTMEATH |
1,128,189 |
2,006,539 |
1,714,383 |
|
WEXFORD |
689,804 |
1,228,254 |
1,910,528 |
|
WICKLOW |
318,744 |
576,482 |
938,929 |
|
TOTAL |
42,150,239 |
53,997,022 |
83,569,801 |
* The 2015 expenditure figure of €42m include offsets of €7.8m against local authorities' RAS Reserve
2766. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether An Bord Pleanála requires reform in view of the frequency with which inspectors' decisions are overturned by the board, the length of time taken for some deliberations and the limited detail provided to the public in respect of discussion by the board relating to an approval or refusal. [35081/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the establishment of An Bord Pleanála in 1977, planning legislation has clearly assigned final responsibility for decisions on planning appeals to the Board and not to inspectors preparing reports and making recommendations to the Board.
In 2017, the number of inspectors’ recommendations not generally accepted in the final decisions made by the Board was 202 (or 12.6%) of the overall number of cases decided by the Board in that year, compared to 244 (or 14.8%) in 2016. This information, and other related statistics, are publically available in An Bord Pleanála's Annual Reports which can be accessed on the following link: www.pleanala.ie/publications/index.htm.
Under section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, An Bord Pleanála has a statutory objective to determine planning appeals within 18 weeks. Where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of the particular complexities of a case or the requirement to hold an oral hearing), it will inform the parties of the reasons for this, and will indicate when it intends to make its decision.
An Bord Pleanála is required by section 34(10) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to state the main reasons and considerations on which its decisions on planning appeals are based, including reasons for the imposition of any conditions. The Board is also required to indicate the main reasons for not accepting any recommendation to grant or refuse permission by an inspector engaged by it to report on a planning case.
The main reasons and considerations, referred to above, are stated on the face of the Board decision order in each case and also on the Board direction sheet which precedes the making and signing of the formal Board order and records the outcome of the Board meeting at which the relevant case was discussed and decided. These documents are publicly available for inspection on the website of An Bord Pleanála and at its offices within 3 days following the making of the Board decision.
2767. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of proposals (details supplied) over the 2011 to 2018 period, annually, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35145/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
YEAR |
No. of Relevant Legislative Proposals |
RIA Undertaken |
RIA Published |
|
2011 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
|
2012 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
|
2013 |
9 |
4 |
4 |
|
2014 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
|
2015 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
2016 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
2017 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
|
2018 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
TOTAL |
42 |
26 |
24 |
|
Year |
Proposal |
RIA Yes/No |
RIA Published Yes/No |
|
2011 |
Draft Building Regulations (Part K Amendment) Regulations 2011 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2011 |
Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 |
No |
No |
|
2011 |
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2011 |
Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 |
No |
No |
|
2011 |
European Communities (Technical Specifications for the Chemical Analysis and Monitoring of Water Status) Regulations 2011 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2011 |
Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2011 |
No |
No |
|
2011 |
Foreshore Regulations 2011 |
No |
No |
|
2011 |
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2012 |
Building Regulations (Part A Amendment ) Regulations 2012 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2012 |
Building Regulations (Part J Amendment) Regulations 2012 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2012 |
Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2012 |
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 |
No |
No |
|
2012 |
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2012 |
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012 |
No |
No |
|
2012 |
Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2013 |
Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013 |
No |
No |
|
2013 |
Building Regulations (Part D Amendment) Regulations 2013 and European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2013 |
European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2013 |
Local Government Bill 2013 |
No |
No |
|
2013 |
Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2013 |
Water Services Bill 2013 |
No |
No |
|
2013 |
Water Services (No. 2 Bill) 2013 |
No |
No |
|
2013 |
Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013 |
No |
No |
|
2013 |
Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Bill 2013 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2014 |
Building Regulations (Part E Amendment) Regulations 2014 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2014 |
Electoral (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2014 |
No |
No |
|
2014 |
Electoral (Amendment) (No.4) Bill 2014 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2014 |
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 |
No |
No |
|
2015 |
Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015 |
No |
No |
|
2015 |
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015 |
Yes |
No |
|
2015 |
Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2015 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2015 |
Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2016 |
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 |
No |
No |
|
2016 |
Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2016 |
Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2017 |
Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) Regulations 2017 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2017 |
Building Regulations (Part L - Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Dwellings Amendment) Regulations 2017 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2017 |
Building Regulations (Part L - Conservation of Fuel and Energy- Buildings other than Dwellings Amendment) Regulations 2017 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2017 |
Water Services Bill 2017 |
No |
No |
|
2018 |
Building Regulations (Part L Amendment) Regulations 2018 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2018 |
Building Regulations (Part F Amendment) Regulations 2018 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2018 |
Local Government Bill 2018 |
Yes |
No |
2768. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 8 May 2018, when he or his predecessor decided not to implement action 20 of the national radon control strategy, namely, to amend the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations to address radon; and the reason therefor. [35186/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, recognises that quality rental accommodation is critical to the success and sustainability of the residential rental sector and its attractiveness as a long-term accommodation option for households.
A key commitment in the Strategy was to review the regulations governing minimum standards in rented accommodation, to bring them into line with modern requirements. That review has been completed and on 27 January 2017, the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017 were signed.
The purpose of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017 is to provide a basic standard for decent, safe and secure accommodation. These Regulations focus on tenant safety and include new measures covering heating appliances, carbon monoxide and window safety. With very limited exemptions, these apply to local authority and voluntary housing units as well as private rented residential accommodation.
All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the regulations. Responsibility for enforcement rests with the relevant local authority.
Policy measures relating to radon detection and remediation are primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. While the issue was considered during the preparation of the 2017 Regulations, at this stage, I have no plans to amend the regulations to introduce mandatory radon testing in rented accommodation. I will however keep the matter under review, in consultation with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
2769. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to encourage active travel in line with the national obesity policy and plan. [35190/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing a healthy and safe working environment and to improving the quality of working life of staff through the integration of wellbeing in work activities and practices.
Following the launch of the Department's new People Strategy, WELL (Wellbeing, Engagement, Learning & Development and Leadership), earlier this month, well-being activities will be coordinated and further supported. It is also proposed to develop new programmes and policies that promote healthy lifestyles and ensure that staff have the opportunity to maintain a high level of physical and mental health. Our strategy sets out a number of objectives including:
- the development of a range of policies and programmes that promote healthy lifestyle choices;
- supporting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of staff; and
- becoming Civil Service leaders in employee wellbeing.
The new Strategy works to the framework and action plan as set out in the Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 to 2025.
In addition, my Department’s Workplace Travel Plan (WTP) aims to encourage greater staff use of sustainable transport options when travelling to and from work, and to ensure that, where practicable, staff opt for sustainable transport options when conducting business on behalf of the Department. This includes –
- encouraging a change of attitudes and behaviours, where possible, around travel options to and from work,
- reducing the reliance on the car as a means of transport to and from work, particularly in the Greater Dublin Area, and promoting, where possible, the healthier, sustainable options of walking or cycling for all or part of the journey, and
- facilitating staff to participate in the Cycle to Work scheme and where practical providing bicycle rack and showering facilities.
2770. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the actions he has taken and plans to take in regard to the large-scale illegal extraction of peat for horticultural use in view of the data on unauthorised and unlicensed peat extraction gathered by University College Cork commissioned by an organisation (details supplied) with funding from his Department. [35193/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, it is primarily a matter for the planning authorities concerned to take any enforcement action required in relation to alleged unauthorised peat extraction development in their administrative area that is identified in the study to which the Question refers. These authorities provided information to my Department arising from the study and are, therefore, aware of the sites on which the unauthorised development is alleged to have taken place.
My Department is actively progressing the drafting of European Union Regulations with a view to putting in place as speedily as possible a robust and effective legislative underpinning for a proposed new regulatory system for the large-scale peat extraction sector. Under the new system, the Environmental Protection Agency will be required to carry out environmental impact assessment as part of its examination of licence applications for peat extraction on sites of 30 hectares or more, and such activity will be exempted from the requirement to obtain planning permission. The draft regulations have been the subject of focused stakeholder input from relevant Government Departments and State bodies, industry representatives and environmental groups. Consultations are continuing with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the EPA with a view to finalising the draft regulations for signature as soon as possible.
2771. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing schemes bought by charitable organisations in each of the four Dublin local authorities; the unit cost per dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35203/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) make an important contribution in social housing delivery, building on their track record in terms of both housing provision and management. Last year, the AHB sector delivered over 2,000 additional units for social housing use across the country and there is a strong delivery pipeline for 2018. This demonstrates the sector’s commitment to work in partnership with local authorities to deliver the Government's ambitious targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland.
My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics including the delivery of housing units by AHBs in the four Dublin local authorities and can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
With regard to information on costs, details in relation to the period involved is required in order to be able to collate and provide the information sought by the Deputy.
2772. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he sought legal advice on the senior counsel report to him on planning matters in County Donegal. [35205/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Review Into Certain Planning Matters In Respect Of Donegal County Council was received by my Department in June 2017.
Following initial analysis and assessment of the report’s findings and recommendations, including interaction with the Department’s own legal advisers and the Attorney General’s Office, a comprehensive set of queries and a request for advice was submitted to the Attorney General's Office in October, 2017. I expect a detailed response to all the matters raised in the very near future.
Once the Attorney’s advice is received and considered, a submission on the matter will be finalised for my consideration.
2773. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the breakdown by project for the capital allocation of €1,632 million in 2018 to his Vote group; the breakdown by project for the proposed allocation of €2,033 million in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35264/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the Gross Voted Capital Expenditure for 2018 (Estimate) for my Vote group by programme are set out in the following table:
|
VOTE |
PROGRAMME |
2018 Gross Voted Capital Expenditure (Estimate) €000 |
|
Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government |
A - HOUSING |
1,065,419 |
|
B - WATER SERVICES |
531,918 |
|
|
C - LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
9,942 |
|
|
D - PLANNING |
17,956 |
|
|
E - MET ÉIREANN |
5,750 |
|
|
Property Registration Authority |
A - MANAGE THE LAND REGISTRY AND THE REGISTRY OF DEEDS |
560 |
|
TOTAL |
1,631,545 |
Further information in relation to these Estimate provisions for 2018 are set out in Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available at www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/. Given the range of projects supported through these programmes, particularly in the areas of housing and water services, and the delegated authority to local authorities in relation to certain projects, it is not possible to provide a funding breakdown by specific individual projects.
The capital expenditure provision for my Department in 2019, as announced in Project Ireland 2040: National Development Plan 2018-2027 , is set out in the following table:
|
Capital Allocation 2019 |
2019 (€m) |
|
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government |
2,033 |
This funding provision, which includes increased funding of €402m for 2019, will be used to advance capital investment across a range of programme areas within my Department’s remit, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, estate regeneration, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, urban regeneration and development, water and wastewater services, and fire and emergency services. Details of specific allocations towards individual programmes will be finalised as part of the 2019 Estimates process, as normal.
2774. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons who have experienced homelessness since the pathway accommodation and support system, PASS, online database was brought into existence in homeless services as recorded on that database; the length of time those individuals have been homeless in years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35265/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. Monthly homelessness data reports are produced by housing authorities using the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS), the single integrated national data information system on State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements overseen by housing authorities. My Department collates this information into monthly national homeless reports, which are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data. While these monthly reports include a breakdown of adults based on accommodation type at regional level, the specific data requested by the Deputy are not available in my Department and are a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
2775. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social housing units built in 2017; the number projected to be built in 2018 and 2019, respectively; the number purchased by local authorities or other public bodies; the number delivered through approved housing bodes by local authority area in tabular form; and the number of units by number of bedrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35266/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017, 25,901 households had their housing need met, with some 7,095 of these properties delivered through the build/acquisition and long-term leasing mechanisms.
A total of 1,014 new build homes were delivered directly by local authorities. In addition, 761 new build homes were delivered by Approved Housing Bodies and a further 522 new build Part V homes were provided by local authorities and approved housing bodies, bringing to 2,297, the total of new build homes provided in 2017. Across the Acquisitions programme, 2,214 homes were delivered in 2017, with 1,454 delivered by local authorities and 760 by Approved Housing Bodies. A breakdown by local authority of all social housing output in 2017 is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/attachments/social_housing_output_overview_2017.xlsx.
The significant expansion of the social housing build programme is evident in the Quarter 1 2018 Social Housing Construction Status Report. The programme includes 930 schemes (or phases) at the end of last year, delivering almost 15,000 homes, a very substantial increase on the 10,072 homes in the programme a year earlier. The full report can be accessed at: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-q1-2018/.
In 2018, I expect to see nearly 26,000 households having their housing need met. I have advised all local authorities of their minimum social housing targets across build, acquisition and lease both for 2018 and also for the multi-annual period to 2021, details of which can be accessed on my Department's website at: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
In respect of build targets for 2018, a strong pipeline is already in place for local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to deliver on these targets. The 2018 build target is for the delivery of 4,969 additional social housing homes, including 3,819 local authority and Approved Housing Body build units. Since the end of the first quarter of 2018, projects have progressed further through the approval process and additional projects will also have been added to the pipeline.
Finally, data relating to overall social housing delivery across 2017 and Quarter 1 2018 Social Housing Delivery, across all local authorities, is published on my Department's website: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
2776. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment tenancies in 2017 and to date in 2018; the estimated full year number for 2018 and 2019; the cost in each year by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35267/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. HAP plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. There are currently more than 38,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and over 21,000 landlords and agents in receipt of HAP payments.
Budget 2018 has increased the exchequer funding for the HAP scheme from €149 million to €301 million in order to meet the continuing costs of existing households and the costs of meeting the additional 17,000 households, targeted under Rebuilding Ireland, to be supported by HAP in 2018.
In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but rather recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC.
At the end of Quarter 4 2017 there were 36,146 HAP tenancies set up. There were 17,916 tenancies set up during 2017. At the end of Quarter 2, 2018, there was a total of 45,229 HAP Tenancies set up, of which 9,083 were set up in 2018.
The targets for the number of HAP tenancies to be set up in 2018 and 2019 are 17,000 and 16,760, respectively.
2777. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rental accommodation scheme tenancies in 2017 and to date in 2018; the estimated full year number for 2018 and 2019; the cost in each year by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35268/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) introduced in 2005 placed responsibility on local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. RAS has provided a more structured, accommodation-based approach to the use of the private rented sector to meet long-term housing need, thereby eliminating dependence on temporary income support payments, i.e. rent supplement.
In the period since RAS commenced in 2005 to the end of December 2017, some 60,338 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options. Of this number 34,493 were housed directly under RAS. Data for the years 2011 to 2016 on the number and cost of tenancies funded under the RAS scheme, broken down by local authority, 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. Data for 2017 is currently being collated by my Department and will be published on my Department’s website in the coming weeks.
The number of RAS tenancies in place at the end of 2017 was 19,755 and expenditure on the scheme in 2017 was just under €143m. As of 31 May 2018, there are 19,388 tenancies supported under RAS at a cost of €42.7m. I have provided €134.3 million in Budget 2018 to support the cost of RAS and this funding will go towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies in 2018 and the ongoing cost of supporting continuing RAS contracts in place at the end of 2017.
It is not possible at this early stage to accurately predict the number of tenancies that will be supported by RAS at the end of 2018 and 2019 as numbers in RAS vary as contracts end, tenants move on to other properties, landlords join or withdraw from the scheme, new tenancies are allocated or vacancies in contracted units are filled. Furthermore, towards 2021 as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme continues to be rolled out nationally and replaces Rent Supplement completely, it is expected that more RAS tenancies will terminate than will commence. In order to reflect the expected decrease in households being housed through the RAS scheme in the coming 3 years, a national target of 600 new RAS transfers has been set for each of the next 3 years 2018-2020, totalling 1,800 new transfers. This is a reduction on the previous national RAS target of 2,000 for the period 2016/2017, which was achieved by local authorities.
The table below sets out the data available in relation to funding provided by my Department to local authorities in respect of RAS in 2016, 2017 and to the end of May 2018. Funding provided by my Department includes the continuing cost of contractual agreements made by local authorities with landlords under the scheme and the additional cost of new tenancies that are secured during that year.
|
Year |
RAS Tenancies at 31/12 |
RAS Expenditure |
|
2016 |
20,306 |
€130,998,165* |
|
2017 |
19,755 |
€142,837,782** |
|
2018 (to end May) |
19,388 |
€ 42,736,817 |
* An additional €13.9m in RAS recoupment claims was offset against local authority RAS Reserves in 2016
**An additional €1.38m in RAS recoupment claims was offset against local authority RAS reserves in 2017
RAS continues to be an effective and secure form of social housing support, and remains a significant part of the suite of social housing options currently available to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support.
2778. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to review the rent limits for housing assistance payment; the estimated cost of increasing the limits by 10% and 20% respectively; the estimated cost of benchmarking the maximum rent at the 35th percentile of rents registered with the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35269/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HAP rent limits were increased significantly in July 2016, including by up to 60% in some areas. The Government also provided flexibility to each local authority to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the maximum rent limit, where it is necessary, because of local rental market conditions.
Additional discretion of up to 50% above rent limits is available to assist in housing homeless households in the Dublin Region. The additional discretion available to homeless households recognises the difficulty this cohort of households face in sourcing and securing properties in a highly competitive rental market.
At the end of Q2 2018, 21.3% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility (excluding the DRHE homeless data). In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 15.7% above rent limits provided.
My Department monitors HAP data on an ongoing basis, as well as other key information relating to the private rental market. Indications are that the current HAP rent limits and the flexibility to exceed those rent limits provide local authorities with sufficient capacity to assist households in securing rented accommodation that meets their needs. I have no plans at present to increase HAP rent limits in particular local authority areas, a course of action which could have further inflationary effects on the private rented sector and thereby have a potentially detrimental impact on the wider rental market, including for those households who are not receiving HAP support. The cost of any particular level of increase in rent limits would depend on the extent of utilisation of the increased limits, the impact on the utilisation of the additional discretion to go beyond rent limits and the timing of application of any increased limits having regard to rent reviews and the application of Rent Pressure Zone limits on rent increases.
2779. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount allocated to Traveller housing since 2016; the percentage drawn down by local authority area by year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35270/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
Housing authorities submit funding proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments on an annual basis. These projects are assessed on a case-by-case basis in my Department in advance of allocations being made. In addition, further funding may be considered by my Department throughout the year in the light of progress across the programme generally. There is regular contact between my Department and housing authorities in order to try to ensure maximum progress and drawdown. If it becomes clear that allocations or part thereof may be unspent, then those allocations will be diverted to alternative projects and developments.
The amount of funding allocated and the percentage drawn down by housing authorities for Traveller-specific accommodation from 2016 to date in 2018 is set out in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Allocation |
Percentage Drawdown |
Allocation |
Percentage Drawdown |
Allocation |
Percentage Drawdown to date |
|
2016 |
2016 |
2017 |
2017 |
2018 |
2018 |
|
|
€ |
% |
€ |
% |
€ |
% |
|
|
Carlow |
130,000 |
0% |
207,905 |
34% |
167,740 |
0% |
|
Cavan |
8,600 |
109% |
13,729 |
100% |
30,000 |
0% |
|
Clare |
200,000 |
0% |
169,194 |
25% |
853,250 |
2% |
|
Cork |
30,000 |
0% |
110,000 |
85% |
251,197 |
0% |
|
Cork City |
400,000 |
75% |
1,108,344 |
9% |
310,000 |
0% |
|
Donegal |
82,000 |
91% |
147,612 |
10% |
121,800 |
0% |
|
South Dublin |
63,000 |
42% |
1,024,289 |
0% |
869,643 |
0% |
|
Fingal |
26,842 |
0% |
26,847 |
65% |
851,189 |
0% |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
419,095 |
31% |
1,500,000 |
124% |
673,686 |
0% |
|
Dublin City |
1,405,198 |
54% |
414,829 |
177% |
1,321,558 |
4% |
|
Galway |
117,000 |
106% |
625,000 |
0% |
1,080,100 |
3% |
|
Galway City |
40,000 |
0% |
209,000 |
46% |
176,996 |
0% |
|
Kerry |
57,000 |
449% |
28,566 |
100% |
15,350 |
0% |
|
Kildare |
200,000 |
0% |
80,000 |
0% |
80,000 |
0% |
|
Kilkenny |
377,500 |
114% |
582,164 |
97% |
201,682 |
0% |
|
Laois |
- |
- |
- |
- |
30,000 |
0% |
|
Leitrim |
18,800 |
68% |
98,875 |
61% |
159,614 |
0% |
|
Limerick City & County |
81,000 |
26% |
69,576 |
316% |
858,739 |
3% |
|
Longford |
2,900 |
0% |
2,922 |
0% |
2,922 |
0% |
|
Louth |
- |
- |
237,087 |
93% |
17,039 |
22% |
|
Mayo |
- |
- |
- |
- |
30,000 |
0% |
|
Meath |
120,000 |
64% |
129,000 |
4% |
65,000 |
0% |
|
Monaghan |
- |
- |
- |
- |
400,000 |
7% |
|
Offaly |
73,000 |
52% |
847,917 |
12% |
49,379 |
0% |
|
Roscommon |
50,000 |
22% |
52,617 |
234% |
230,000 |
44% |
|
Sligo |
- |
161,249 |
6% |
1,046,095 |
1% |
|
|
Tipperary |
900,000 |
155% |
327,492 |
122% |
25,655 |
151% |
|
Waterford City & County |
263,000 |
5% |
545,000 |
4% |
317,280 |
0% |
|
Westmeath |
208,000 |
23% |
- |
- |
150,000 |
0% |
|
Wexford |
96,000 |
91% |
6,880 |
0% |
498,801 |
0% |
|
Wicklow |
46,000 |
0% |
52,648 |
83% |
209,620 |
9% |
|
Reserve |
85,065 |
- |
221,258 |
- |
905,665 |
|
|
TOTAL |
5,500,000 |
78% |
9,000,000 |
54% |
12,000,000 |
3% |
2780. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of clean drinking water provided by Irish Water; the amount of clean drinking water provided by Irish Water but believed to be lost through leaks in the public mains; the amount of clean drinking water provided by Irish Water but believed to be lost through leaks in pipes on private land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35271/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 21 May 2018, I published the Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 following its approval by Government. The Policy Statement includes a table, reproduced below, showing the total estimated demand for water from the public system (serving domestic and non-domestic users) and network losses during 2017, as measured in cubic meters.
|
Estimated water use for public water services for the end of 2017 |
Estimated annual water use (million m3) |
|
Domestic demand |
205 |
|
Non-domestic demand |
124 |
|
Network losses (real and apparent) |
273 |
|
Operational demand (mains flushing and networks maintenance) |
6 |
|
Estimated total water demand (Distribution Input) |
608 |
Real and apparent losses in the public water supply are estimated from the difference between treated water entering distribution, and that used by customers of the public supply, and by Irish water for operational purposes. Based on estimated total volumes of treated water entering distribution of 608 million m3 per annum, losses (real and apparent) at the end of 2017 were estimated at 273 million m3 per annum. This gives an indicative loss value of 45% of all water entering supply. This figure is not broken down to differentiate between losses on the public network and losses on private property.
The Government recognises that past under-investment in our water infrastructure means we are contending with high network loss rates while many of our water and wastewater treatment plants are operating at maximum capacity. The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of Quality, Conservation, and Future Proofing, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans. Under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 €8.5 billion has been committed to improving the public water system over the next 10 years.
