Written Answers Nos. 539-553
539. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures he is taking along with the Minister Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that no child spends longer than six months in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37911/18]
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. The provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
Key to reducing the numbers of families in emergency accommodation is increasing the supply of social housing. Rebuilding Ireland targets the delivery of an additional 50,000 social homes. However, more immediately, my Department is working closely with the local authorities on the delivery of family hubs to provide more appropriate emergency accommodation for families. Providing accommodation in family hubs allows for the provision of better supports to families experiencing homelessness. In particular, while residing in a hub, families are supported by the local authorities and the operators of the hubs to exit to an independent tenancy.
A record total of 4,729 adults, along with their associated dependents, exited homelessness into an independent tenancy during 2017. My Department is working closely with the local authorities to increase further the numbers of exits. Earlier this year, my Department made the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service available to each of the 31 local authorities. This is a targeted service to support families and individuals experiencing homelessness in securing a HAP-supported tenancy in the private rented sector.
The welfare of families and children is an absolute priority for my Department and I work closely with the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that robust child protection measures, inspection arrangements and health supports are in place in emergency accommodation for families.
540. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an application has been received from Louth County Council in regard to urban regeneration funding; if so, the details of same; and when he expects decisions to be made on the projects. [38695/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) in July, as part of Project Ireland 2040, to support the compact growth and sustainable development of Ireland’s five cities, regional drivers and other large urban centres. The URDF is designed to leverage a greater proportion of residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of our larger urban settlements.
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. The first call for proposals under the URDF is currently open and will run until 28 September. My Department has not as yet received applications for funding. Assessment of proposals will begin once the deadline has closed and decisions will be announced as soon as the assessment process is completed.
Proposals under the Fund, which will operate on a competitive, bid-based Exchequer grant basis, 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;
- Based on 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 is available at the following links: www.gov.ie/urdf and www.npf.ie/urdf.
541. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authority new builds by local authority to be completed and ready for occupation by the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38696/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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 the targets for each local authority can be accessed on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
The 2018 build target is for the delivery of almost 5,000 additional active social housing homes, including the construction of 3,800 new homes by local authorities and approved housing bodies. A strong pipeline is already in place for local authorities and approved housing bodies to deliver on these targets.
A detailed breakdown of the construction programme of new social housing build is set out in the Social Housing Construction Status Report which is published on a quarterly basis. The report covering the period up to end Quarter 1 2018 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/
and provides project details of the social housing construction pipeline in place for all local authorities, including those being delivered in partnership with approved housing bodies. The tenanting of these schemes is a matter in the first place for each local authority.
I am pleased to see the continued progress with new projects, building on what has been already delivered. I am keen, however, that all local authorities further accelerate their programmes and I have assured them that the necessary funding to support their activity is available.
542. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if visa stamp 4 holders are eligible for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the confusion with regard to the eligibility of visa stamp 4 holders applying for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38737/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL) enables credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties or self-build in a suitable price range. As with the previous local authority loan offerings, the RIHL is available to first-time buyers only, to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants. Under that policy, applicants must either be citizens of an EU or EEA country, or have a legal right to remain in the State on a long-term basis.
Loan applicants who are dissatisfied with a loan application decision of a local authority Credit Committee may appeal that decision to the local authority. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority.
543. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans approved and drawn down in each local authority area, in tabular form. [38781/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra547. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications for loans in each local authority; the number approved and rejected, respectively; the number still being processed; the average loan amount under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38884/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 547 together.
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. My Department does not directly collect information on the number of loan applications received by each local authority.
However, as is currently the case, my Department will continue to publish information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Information up to 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.
In addition, the Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses 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 figures, as at the end of August, indicate that the Agency had received a total of 2,628 applications for assessment from local authorities. The table below provides information on the geographical distribution of applications received centrally by them for assessment since the scheme began:
|
Region |
Feb - Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Total |
|
Cork, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow |
359 |
182 |
193 |
131 |
126 |
991 |
|
Dublin |
407 |
214 |
161 |
115 |
91 |
988 |
|
Other |
230 |
107 |
110 |
111 |
91 |
649 |
|
Total |
996 |
503 |
464 |
357 |
308 |
2,628 |
Of the 2,628 applications received, 2,074 were deemed to be valid. Of these valid applications, 1,989 had been assessed and 1,024 of these (51%) had been recommended for approval. A breakdown by local authority of the 1,024 applications recommended for approval is set out in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Approved Applications |
|
Dublin City Council |
149 |
|
Fingal County Council |
138 |
|
Meath County Council |
91 |
|
Cork County Council |
89 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
79 |
|
Kildare County Council |
60 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
41 |
|
Cork City Council |
35 |
|
Wexford County Council |
30 |
|
Galway County Council |
30 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
28 |
|
Laois County Council |
26 |
|
Kerry County Council |
25 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
24 |
|
Galway City Council |
22 |
|
Louth County Council |
19 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
16 |
|
Sligo County Council |
15 |
|
Carlow County Council |
13 |
|
Clare County Council |
13 |
|
Longford County Council |
12 |
|
Donegal County Council |
12 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
11 |
|
Mayo County Council |
10 |
|
Westmeath County |
10 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
9 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
8 |
|
Offaly County Council |
6 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
1 |
|
Total |
1024 |
The average loan amount across the 1,989 applications underwritten was €160,038.
Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
545. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Part V's delivered in 2017, by local authority; the price paid by the local authority; the details of the lease agreements; the length of leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38838/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of 522 Part V units were delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) for social housing in 2017.
There is no single dedicated Part V funding scheme administered by my Department as the mechanism for delivery of homes is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. Instead, local authorities harness the capacity of a variety of funding schemes in addition to utilising their own revenue to deliver Part V homes. Where the outcome of the Part V negotiation is for the local authority to purchase on-site or off-site homes from the developer, then one option for them is to recoup the costs through the main Social Housing Capital Investment Programme (SHCIP). Another option is to allocate the homes for delivery by an AHB who may also be working with the developer to deliver additional homes in the same development; in this scenario, the AHB may apply for Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding (where loan funding for up to 30% of the capital cost is provided, with the AHB borrowing the balance) on the overall scheme, with the Part V homes incorporated into overall scheme costs. Finally, where the negotiation between the local authority and the developer results in a long- term lease arrangement, then there is no capital funding requirement and the homes are incorporated into the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) leasing scheme. 305 Part V units delivered in 2017 were delivered by AHBs under either the CALF scheme or SHCEP.
A Payment and Availability Agreement (P&A agreement) is the contract which forms the basis of the lease arrangement between the local authority and the AHB for the purposes of leasing a housing unit, regardless of how the housing unit is sourced. Agreements are generally for between 20 and 30 years. The basic principles behind the operation of the agreement are that the local authority identifies and nominates the tenants to be housed in these properties, and the local authority decides the rent to be paid by the tenant to the AHB in accordance with its Differential Rent Scheme. The local authority makes payments to the AHB on a regular basis which is recouped to the local authority by my Department. These payments are generally around 92% of market rent with rent reviews indexed to CPI every three or four years.
The attached document sets out the total Part V output by delivery stream with an average cost per local authority as at end 2017.
|
LA |
Total Part V output 2017 |
SHCIP Part V output 2017 |
Average Cost of SHCIP part V unit € |
CAS Part V output 2017 |
Average Cost of CAS Part V unit € |
CALF Part V output 2017 |
Average total cost of CALF Part V unit € |
Average CALF Approved for CALF Part V unit € |
Average annual P&A cost for CALF Part V unit € |
Leased Part V unit output 2017 |
Average annual P&A cost € |
Non DHPLG funded Part V units output 2017 |
|
Carlow |
10 |
10 |
184,395 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
130,000 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Clare |
4 |
4 |
222,500 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Cork City |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Cork County |
7 |
5 |
179,772 |
0 |
2 |
|||||||
|
Donegal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Dublin City |
56 |
1 |
240,434 |
0 |
- |
55 |
||||||
|
DLR |
137 |
0 |
8 |
266,476 |
15,057 |
20,021 |
124 |
14,210 |
5 |
|||
|
Fingal |
101 |
11 |
206,855 |
66 |
222,464 |
32,511 |
14,431 |
24 |
||||
|
Galway |
34 |
2 |
32 |
189,287 |
56,474 |
9,670 |
0 |
|||||
|
Galway City |
0 |
0 |
137,512 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Kerry |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Kildare |
24 |
8 |
181,240 |
0 |
16 |
|||||||
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
0 |
3 |
93,503 |
13,090 |
6,584 |
0 |
|||||
|
Laois |
1 |
1 |
165,000 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Limerick |
9 |
9 |
169,215 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Longford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Louth |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
||||||||
|
Mayo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Meath |
23 |
0 |
12 |
233,157 |
61,458 |
15,088 |
11 |
|||||
|
Monaghan |
5 |
5 |
206,117 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Offaly |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Roscommon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Sligo |
6 |
0 |
6 |
238157 |
0 |
0 |
||||||
|
South Dublin |
80 |
10 |
220,434 |
6 |
200000 |
36 |
257,496 |
64,328 |
15,346 |
18 |
13,754 |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Waterford |
13 |
13 |
178,383 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
Westmeath |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||||||||
|
Wexford |
6 |
0 |
6 |
203,846 |
61,154 |
9,384 |
0 |
|||||
|
Wicklow |
1 |
1 |
315,000 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
|
All LAs |
522 |
81 |
12 |
163 |
142 |
124 |
546. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and detail of requests for funding by each local authority under the serviced sites fund in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38883/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA call for proposals issued under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) on 29 June 2018. The closing date for receipt of submissions was 31 August. €75 million of Exchequer funding is being provided under the SSF to provide enabling infrastructure to facilitate the delivery of affordable homes on local authority and Housing Agency sites, in or near centres where increasing house prices and rents have created a significant affordability gap for first-time buyers and for those wishing to rent.
The call for funding is being targeted initially at eleven local authorities, where it has been identified that there is a more pressing need for affordable housing. The local authorities initially targeted are the four Dublin local authorities; Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Louth, and Galway City; Cork City and County Councils.
Funding will be capped at €30,000 Exchequer contribution per affordable home to be delivered. When combined with the local authority contribution of at least 25% of the cost of the infrastructure bid, this will generally bring the per-unit grant to a €40,000 maximum. On this basis, there is scope to provide grant funding to at least 2,500 affordable homes facilitated under the €100m Fund.
There is €20m public funding available this year and €26.7m in 2019. Nine local authorities have submitted a total of fifteen proposals, which are currently being assessed in my Department, with the aim of working toward completing the assessments and awarding funding next month. The table below provides outline detail of the submissions received. As indicated in the initial call for proposals, my Department will consider issuing a further call for proposals in relation to funding availability over the four years of the programme.
|
Local Authority |
Sites |
Number of Affordable Units |
Total Suggested Funding Requirement (Exchequer and LA Contribution) € |
|
Cork County |
1 |
20 |
1,500,000 |
|
Cork City |
2 |
147 |
4,968,366 |
|
21 |
1,410,551 |
||
|
Dublin City |
3 |
215 |
7,645,415 |
|
74 |
4,135,351 |
||
|
83 |
3,975,000 |
||
|
DLRCC |
1 |
50 |
4,537,576 |
|
Fingal |
4 |
753 |
11,000,000 |
|
74 |
1,500,000 |
||
|
101 |
2,198,667 |
||
|
122 |
3,552,500 |
||
|
Galway |
1 |
45 |
2,174,128 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
10 |
300,000 |
|
Meath |
1 |
33 |
1,662,729 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
24 |
380,000 |
|
Total |
15 |
1,772 |
50,940,283 |
548. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will address a matter regarding sick leave in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38316/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I cannot comment on individual cases or circumstances, the following sets out the position in relation to Health Appointments.
Where a sick absence is incurred due to a Health Appointment, evidence of attendance from the relevant hospital, clinic, medical practitioner is required and must be submitted to PeoplePoint for the sick leave to be recorded as Certified. Confirmation of the appointment alone is not sufficient.
Doctor / Dentist / Hospital Appointments
- If a member of staff is absent due to attending a doctor/dental/hospital appointment for either a full day or a half-day (a.m. or p.m.) the absence in question should be recorded as sick absence.
- If however the staff member has attended for work prior to/after the appointment they can claim time for a sick absence on the following basis:
Morning appointments
- If staff attending a health appointment in the morning do not have any clocking during the morning (up to 12.30pm) – this must be claimed as a half day's sick leave.
- However, core time credit up to 12.30pm will be given provided a reasonable (i.e. approx 1 hour) period of morning attendance has been recorded prior to or after the absence in question. An officer must also be clocked in by 1.30pm in order to reclaim the credit.
Afternoon Appointments
- If staff attending a health appointment in the afternoon do not have any clocking during the afternoon (up to 5.00pm) – this also must be claimed as a half day's sick leave.
- However, core time credit until 4.00pm will be given provided a reasonable (i.e. approx 1 hour) period of afternoon attendance has been recorded prior to or after the absence in question. An officer must also be clocked in until at least 1.15pm in order to reclaim the credit.
All Day Appointment
- If staff do not attend work at all during the day of a health appointment then this must be classed as one full day sick leave and the manager must report it to PeoplePoint via this portal.
The 'protective year' was applied so that someone who had returned to work following Critical Illness Pay (CIP) could avail of remaining CIP leave for subsequent non-critical illnesses/injuries.
Within the 12 month period from the date of return to work after a civil servant suffers with a critical illness/injury they can continue to access the extended sick pay limits normally given for critical illness/injury only (i.e. 365 days), even where they are not critically ill, provided that:
- the civil servant has previously been absent because of a critical illness/injury; and
- the civil servant suffers from a non-critical illness/injury during the 12 months following the first day of the return to work following a critical illness/injury absence.
While I have outlined the general provisions for health appointments, it is the individual's circumstances, including their sick leave record and the nature of the illness, that determines their access to sick leave and Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (TRR). I am satisfied that the scheme ensures that all staff who have serious illness are protected.
549. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an application by a church (details supplied) for the structures at risk fund in respect of restoration works to a church building in County Donegal has been received; when a decision in respect of the application will be made; if due consideration will be given to the architectural and historical significance of the structure for which this funding is being sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38395/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through a number of schemes which are generally administered by local authorities.
The Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) enables conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. I have allocated €1.3m for the SRF in 2018. Details of the projects approved under the SRF are published on my Department’s website and local authority websites.
While the closing date for the SRF 2018 has now passed, officials of my Department remain in contact with local authorities throughout the year to ensure the best use of all funds under the scheme, including the reallocation of funds which may become available where, for example, projects do not proceed.
My Department occasionally receives applications for urgent funding where a need has arisen in the course of the year. Such applications are subject to the availability of funding and are considered on a case by case basis. The architectural and historical significance of the structure is, of course, taken into account. This is just one of the assessment criteria used. The full list of assessment criteria and the terms and conditions governing the Structures at Risk Fund are available on my Department's website and all local authority websites.
In relation to the structure mentioned by the Deputy, I understand that extensive advice and assistance has been provided by my Department officials and the Architectural Conservation Officer in the local authority and on foot of this advice an application for urgent funding was submitted very recently. This application will now be assessed in the usual way and a decision will be issued in due course.
In the meantime, the best advice for owners, in relation to individual historic structures, is generally to remain in contact with the Architectural Conservation Officer in their local authority who is well placed to provide expert advice and assistance.
550. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will receive submissions requesting a geographical extension to a special protection area (details supplied) to include additional lands; the issues she must take into consideration when deciding whether or not to grant such an extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38429/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has identified 439 sites for protection as special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and 154 sites for protection as special protection areas under the Birds Directive.
The designation process is almost complete although the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022 includes proposals to designate two new special areas of conservation, which are more than 50 per cent in State ownership. My Department is in the process of reviewing the marine special protection area network to determine if it is sufficient to meet Ireland’s requirements under the Birds Directive.
Given the comprehensive network of terrestrial protected sites already in place in Ireland in accordance with the Nature Directives and a number of reviews of the sufficiency of the network of sites, I currently have no further plans to propose sites for designation as special areas of conservation or terrestrial special protection areas or to propose extensions to such sites.
551. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expenditure savings that are earmarked for her Department for 2019 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2019. [38482/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the financial allocations for my Department for 2019 will be made available as part of the Budget Estimates 2019 which will be published on Tuesday, 9 October. Whilst, it is too early at this point in time to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn for my Department for 2018, I can advise that all current funding is expected to be expended in full and no significant capital savings are envisaged at present. All expenditure within my Department's Vote will continue to be carefully monitored between now and year-end to ensure the best use of all available financial resources.
552. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service will meet with fishermen to discuss the seal population at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38501/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the Deputy's request on behalf of the fishermen in County Kerry and for a meeting with the NPWS officials of my Department, I have instructed my regional staff in the area to contact the group in question directly.
553. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Ministers, ministerial advisers or officials in her Department have ever used private email to communicate on departmental issues between one another or with other persons or organisations; if so, the reason; if so, if she will publish these emails; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38562/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficial email business in my role as Minister is conducted via Department and Oireachtas email accounts. On occasion, when outside the office, I make use of a private g-mail account on my mobile phone to forward information of a non-sensitive nature to my private office, generally relating to diary appointments or constituency matters.
Minister of State Joe McHugh has confirmed that only Oireachtas and Department e-mail addresses are used for official business and that no personal e-mail accounts are used for business purposes. Very occasionally, when out of the office, he would access information such as constituency issues, appointments and draft press releases on his email account.
All official business carried out by Ministerial Advisers and officials in my Department is conducted via Department email accounts.
For completeness, I would advise the Deputy that, while my Department operates an Acceptable Usage Policy in relation to the use of ICT equipment, this policy does not specifically preclude the use of personal email accounts for official purposes.
