Written Answers Nos. 1168-1192
1168. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his policy regarding the hosting of political public meetings in local authority owned or funded community centres; if certain meetings are proscribed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44908/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are independent statutory bodies. The day-to-day management of local authority buildings is an executive function. Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, requires that the Chief Executive perform executive functions in accordance with the policy framework established by the elected members.
As such the access and use of facilities that are owned or operated by a local authority is subject to such policy of the local authority as may be determined by the elected council.
1169. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and name of local authorities that were contacted by and responded to the circular that was sent from his Department requesting bids on the serviced site fund; the number and name of local authorities that did not respond; the number of affordable homes that will be built in each of the local authorities that responded; the number of affordable homes that are possible in the short-term under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44915/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1170. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a developer buys zoned, serviced, urban, privately owned land and is prepared to build affordable houses on it, if they will benefit from the €50,000 grant; if not, if this grant applies only to county council owned land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44920/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1169 and 1170 together.
In order to deliver affordable homes, in the areas of the country most affected by a lack of affordable housing supply, the Government has committed €310 million, under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), as part of Budget 2019. The funding is available for key facilitating infrastructure, on local authority sites, to support the provision of affordable homes to purchase or rent.
The Exchequer contribution is €275 million with €35 million to be contributed by local authorities. In 2019 funding of €100 million will be available under the Fund, with a further €142 million in 2020, and €68 million in 2021.
A first call for proposals under the Fund issued to eleven local authorities, where the greatest affordability issues exist: the four Dublin local authorities; Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth and Cork County Councils and Cork and Galway City Councils. Fifteen proposals were received from nine of the eleven local authorities targeted under this first call.
The proposals are currently being assessed and I expect to make an announcement of the first successful bids shortly, together with details of the number of affordable homes to be supported. While South Dublin and Louth County Councils did not make applications under the first call, further calls for proposals will be made, with a second call to be initiated shortly, and it will be open to the Councils to submit applications at that stage, if they consider it appropriate.
Once the funding is awarded and the infrastructure is provided, I expect delivery of affordable homes from 2019 onwards. Separately, all local authorities are now carrying out an economic assessment of the requirement for affordable housing in their area, and the authorities’ capacity to deliver housing at affordable prices from their sites.
Based on this analysis further local authorities may be considered for funding under the SSF.
1171. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position with regard to the need for structural assessments for 22 houses constructed by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44974/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 22 homes referred to by the Deputy were constructed by the company in question for Dublin City Council (DCC). The project came under the terms of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (BC(A)R) and was therefore subject to additional statutory certification requirements.
DCC advise that it employs a strict monitoring regime for its developments and since the introduction of BC(A)R, this includes the engagement of external Assigned Certifiers in addition to in-house architectural, engineering and inspection staff, to ensure the build quality of developments under its control. Inspections are carried out both on site and in the manufacturing facility, as in this particular case, which involved timber-framed units. Full Compliance Certification by the Design and Assigned certifiers is required on completion of the project, with confirmation of compliance from the Building Control Department of the Council. On that basis, DCC has advised that further structural assessments, of the nature referred to are not considered necessary.
1172. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will apply flexibility in the deadline for works completed under housing adaptation and mobility and housing aid for the elderly grants in order that local authorities will be able to draw down all allocated moneys (details supplied). [44981/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department actively encourages local authorities to submit recoupment claims for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability without delay. No deadline for the end of October has been set by my Department; however, local authorities have been advised that claims on hand should be submitted as soon as possible in order to ensure payment in 2018.
1173. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if under the enhanced long-term social housing leasing scheme, developers will be allowed to use their approval for 25 year leases by local authorities as backing in order to obtain development financing; if there is a policy on such pre-approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44985/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA range of housing options are necessary to ensure a supply of accommodation to meet different types of social housing need. Harnessing the off-balance sheet potential of private investment in social housing is an important objective of the Government and the social housing targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland over the period to 2021 reflect the ambition in that regard.
My Department has introduced the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme in order to target newly built or yet to be built houses and apartments for long term leasing, and to target property developers and investors who are in a position to deliver housing at a reasonable scale in order to supplement delivery under Pillar 2 of Rebuilding Ireland.
A key aspect of the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme is that the proposer will finance 100% of the cost of delivering the homes. All arrangements for the funding and financing of such proposals are a matter for the individual proposers, who will bear all financial risks in this respect.
An Agreement for Lease will only be signed where the Housing Agency and the relevant local authority are satisfied that the proposal meets the fundamental criteria set out in the Call for Proposals documentation (which is available at http://rebuildingireland.ie/enhanced-long-term-social-housing-leasing-scheme/ ).
Committed funding is a condition for entry into a lease agreement with a local authority. Proposers are required to provide a brief summary of their strategy to source committed funding to meet their development and lease obligations to include, without limitation, delivery of homes and delivery of the services under the lease. The Housing Agency, which has responsibility for overseeing and managing the assessment process, assesses this information in consultation with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in order to ensure that the proposer has the capability to deliver both the units themselves and their obligations under the lease. This assessment is carried out in advance of any acceptance into the scheme and the signing of any agreements.
As it is targeted at newly built or yet to be built properties, the Enhanced Leasing Scheme includes the provision for an Agreement for Lease document to be signed in advance of the commencement of construction. The Agreement for Lease places an obligation on the property owner to meet specific conditions in respect of the property before any lease is executed, thereby guaranteeing the delivery of the units as agreed by an agreed date.
The Housing Agency also operates a “Pre-Planning Suitability Assessment” process in order to provide information to relevant parties as to the suitability of their site and proposed development for inclusion in the Scheme, in advance of obtaining planning permission.
The Pre-Planning Suitability Assessment process is designed to allow prospective applicants the opportunity to establish if a proposed development may be considered potentially suitable for inclusion in the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme. The Housing Agency will engage with the relevant local authority in respect of a particular site or sites and will inform the proposer if it would be likely that a proposal would pass or fail an assessment under the terms of the scheme if it were put forward formally with the benefit of planning permission.
This process has no material bearing on any other statutory process (e.g. the Planning process) and it is explicit in the terms of the scheme set out in the Call for Proposals document that an indication of the suitability of the proposed development through this process should not be considered as confirmation of its acceptance or otherwise to the scheme. Submissions are only accepted on lands with the relevant in-principle planning policy support and all proposals will be required to be re-assessed in full, including confirmation of funding arrangements, once planning permission has been obtained, in line with the terms of the Scheme. Consequently, any financial decisions made on the part of the proposer on foot of an assessment at this stage are made entirely at its own risk.
1174. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to address the discharge of sewage into the sea at various locations (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44996/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1182. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the ongoing EU Commission and European Court of Justice legal action against the State for breaches of the urban waste water treatment directive. [45181/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1183. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost involved in remedying the wastewater treatment services in the 28 large towns and cities in which wastewater treatment failed to meet mandatory standards according to the EPA urban wastewater treatment in 2017 and that are the subject to European Court of Justice proceedings for breaching these requirements. [45182/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1174, 1182 and 1183 together.
The EPA issues a report on urban waste water treatment in Ireland every year. The latest report is based on the assessment of effluent monitoring results from 1,100 waste water treatment plants reported to the EPA by Irish Water and on enforcement activities carried out by the EPA during 2017.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including investment in wastewater treatment plants, and Irish Water’s primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat and return wastewater safely to the environment. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements.
Following actions taken by Irish Water, the EPA has found that the number of priority urban areas where waste water treatment needs to improve is down to 132 from 148 in 2016. Of 44 towns and villages where raw sewage was being discharged in 2016, 6 are now connected to treatment plants. The remaining 38 towns and villages, with a population equivalent of 88,000 people, will be connected by 2021.
Out of the 179 Large Urban Areas in Ireland, 28 areas failed to comply with the EU’s legally binding standards for the treatment of urban waste water. Over the period 2016–2024, capital upgrades and operational improvement works will have been completed or undertaken at all of these urban waste-water treatment plants to ensure that treatment levels and capacity comply with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Substantial State funding is being provided for this purpose under the National Development Plan under Project Ireland 2040.
This investment reflects the objectives of the River Basin Management Plan 2018 - 2021 which outlines what Ireland is doing to protect and improve our waters. Among a broad suite of measures the plan provides for €1.7 billion worth of investment by Irish Water in 255 urban wastewater projects which are designed to achieve compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). Of the urban areas where works are required, the majority will be compliant by end 2021, including Ringsend which is the single largest wastewater treatment plant in the country, accounting for 41% of the total wastewater load.
The European Commission has taken an infringement case against Ireland in relation to the UWWTD which sets out requirements for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water. A hearing in the case took place in the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on 19 September 2018 and a judgement is due within 6 months.
Irish Water has developed a long term investment perspective in order to strategically address the deficiencies in the public water and wastewater system. It is optimising investment decisions to ensure that they utilise scarce capital by making investments that deliver the best possible improvements for these communities. Building water and wastewater treatment plants and upgrading or building water and wastewater networks as necessary will require significant investment.
1175. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of properties in County Donegal secured under the buy and renew scheme which facilitates local authorities or approved housing bodies to purchase vacant properties for social housing use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45018/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1180. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications made to date under the buy and renew scheme in County Donegal; the number of successful applications to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45139/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1175 and 1180 together.
Capital funding is provided 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.
To further assist local authorities pursuing vacant properties, the Buy & Renew Scheme makes funding available to facilitate local authorities in acquiring and remediating vacant properties that may be suitable for social housing. To date, while Donegal County Council has not sought funding from my Department under the scheme, they have acquired vacant properties and carried out the necessary upgrading works, under the standard social housing acquisition programme. These houses have then been let to individuals and families on the local authority's waiting list.
I understand that Donegal County Council intends to continue to pursue opportunities to deliver new social housing through acquiring and remediating vacant properties and will utilise the Buy & Renew Scheme for this purpose. The Council also uses other opportunities to tackle vacancy and deliver new social housing such as the completion of unfinished estates.
1176. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the members of the working group set up to consider the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the Flemish Decree case; when the group met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45058/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The objective is to ensure that rural housing policies and objectives contained in local authority development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The working group comprised 3 senior officials from the Planning Division of my Department and 6 senior officials from the Planning Divisions of local authorities nominated by the Local Government Management Agency. The Group met on three occasions: 18 May, 13 June and 28 June 2017.
Taking account of the working group's analysis and recommended outcome, my Department has been engaging with the European Commission on the matter with a view to issuing to planning authorities, by the end of this year, revisions to the 2005 Rural Housing Guidelines that take account of the relevant ECJ judgment. It may be possible to finalise the Guidelines earlier than that, subject to the completion of outstanding work.
1177. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of all proposed social housing leasing and enhanced leasing projects; and the details of potential leasing or enhanced leasing projects such as pending applications for planning permission to which his attention has been drawn. [45111/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has set out an ambitious set of targets for the delivery of social housing in the period to 2021 in its Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. A commitment to deliver 50,000 new social housing homes through a range of delivery mechanisms is being supported by a multi-annual Exchequer commitment totalling €6.5 billion over the period of the plan. These targets will be achieved using a combination of building, purchasing and leasing high quality properties to meet the needs of households on local authority waiting lists around the country.
Of the 50,000 social homes to be delivered under RI, 10,000 are targeted to be delivered under Leasing. These homes will be delivered by AHBs and housing authorities from a range of different sources and funded under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP).
Data on social housing leasing output is published on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Data in respect of Q3 2018 is currently being collated and will be available shortly.
Housing authorities have delegated authority from my Department to enter into leasing arrangements for up to four dwellings, within a single development or with a single owner, subject to compliance with the terms and conditions governing the leasing scheme. In all other circumstances, local authorities must seek Departmental approval to lease dwellings. All leasing proposals by AHBs must be submitted to my Department for approval, regardless of the number of dwellings being leased. The current position is that a total of 674 new social housing homes are currently approved by my Department for delivery by local authorities.
The first call for proposals for the Enhanced Leasing Scheme was open from January to April 2018. A total of 33 submissions were received and currently 3 proposals are in the final stages of due diligence. Information with respect to the number and location of the dwellings proposed for leasing under the Scheme will be available once the respective housing authorities have signed Agreements for Lease arising from the completion of the due diligence process. The second call for proposals closed on 25th October 2018 and the Housing Agency is currently validating all submissions made under that call, including Pre-Planning Suitability Assessment submissions.
My Department and the Housing Agency continue to work with local authorities and proposers in respect of the Enhanced Leasing Scheme, and the leasing schemes generally, in order to ensure maximum delivery of high quality leased properties to meet the needs of households on social housing waiting lists.
1178. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish Water has for the second time in 2018 refused to meet with a cross-party delegation of public representatives from County Donegal in relation to concerns they have regarding the water supply network in the north-east Inishowen area and the south Inishowen area; his views on these refusals; and if he will correspond with Irish Water in relation to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45130/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. As Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government I have no function in relation to operational water supply matters and I must respect the statutory authority that the Oireachtas has conferred on Irish Water in this regard.
I understand that Irish Water has arrangements in place for engaging with public representatives and with members of the public in areas where water supply challenges arise, as has occurred at Inishowen.
I would encourage the Deputy to raise the matter with the dedicated team established by Irish Water to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
1179. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his efforts to date in addressing the high council housing vacancy rate in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45136/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority, as set out in Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. It is therefore a matter for Donegal County Council, in the first place, to address vacancies that might arise in their social housing stock.
My Department supports local authorities through a number of programmes to tackle vacancy in their housing stock. The Voids Programme provides additional support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting, with up to €30,000 exchequer funding provided per property, in addition to the support that local authorities provide themselves towards such work. This voids programme supports the local authorities to actively target vacant social housing, with a view to minimising their turnaround and re-let times and return them to use in an energy efficient condition.
Donegal County Council was given funding approval earlier this year, in respect of 37 properties under the Voids Programme. This is in addition to the support I provided to them over the course of 2016 and 2017, where a further 257 properties were refurbished and brought back to productive use.
All local authorities, including Donegal County Council, should actively manage their stock including vacancies, and I would encourage the Elected Members of the Council to stay engaged on this issue so that the best turnaround time possible is achieved wherever vacancies arise.
1181. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will publish the criteria which homeowners in County Donegal affected by mica must meet in order to access the redress scheme; the amount of funding that will be provided to facilitate the redress scheme; if those that did not come forward during the consultation process will still be included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45141/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo.
The Panel had the following terms of reference:
(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv) To submit a report within six months.
On 13 June 2017, the report of the Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations which my Department is actively progressing with the relevant stakeholders, prioritising the implementation of Recommendations 1 and 2.
With regard to Recommendation 1, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Technical Committee, established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 2017 and has held several further meetings since. The standardised protocol will inform the course of action in relation to remedial works for all affected householders. The draft standard was published on 6 June 2018 for public consultation and ran for a period of six weeks to 18 July 2018. The Technical Committee have finalised the review of the submissions received and it is expected that the standardised protocol will be published in the coming weeks.
The draft standard, I.S. 465 - Assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials, outlines a protocol which will be used to assess and categorise the damage in properties where the concrete blocks are suspected to contain the minerals mica or pyrite. Previously, there was no common way for engineers or homeowners to assess the damage caused by defective concrete blocks to help decide what, if any, remedial work could be carried out.
This standard:
1. establishes a protocol for assessing and determining whether a building has been damaged by concrete blocks containing certain excessive amounts of deleterious materials (free or unbound muscovite mica, or aggregate with potentially deleterious quantities of pyrite);
2. describes methods for establishing the extent of the problem;
3. describes the scope of any testing required; and
4. categorises buildings, in accordance with this Standard, providing competent persons with guidance on the appropriate measures to be taken.
With regard to Recommendation 2, my Department has been in contact with Engineers Ireland in relation to the establishment of a register of competent engineers for homeowners/affected parties’ reference. Engineers Ireland has provided assurance that it will collaborate with the Department, the NSAI and others on measures to establish such a register once the standardised protocol is in place.
Last year, I visited Donegal and Mayo and met with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, elected members and officials of the local authorities and other interested parties. On 18 December 2017, I again visited Donegal and met with key stakeholders to provide an update on the progress to date. I made a similar visit to Mayo on 26 January 2018 and again to Donegal on 13 July 2018.
I will be in a position to provide a further update following the publication of the standardised protocol in the coming weeks.
Under Budget 2019, the Government approved in principle the development of a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the two counties to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks.
The putting in place of such a scheme is now a key priority for my Department and work is well underway on the development of such a scheme, with a view to its completion as soon as possible, details of which, including funding, will be published once finalised.
1184. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a company (details supplied) has undertaken work within his Department's remit to build or renovate projects over the past ten years; if so, the project name and location; the year in which it was built; if building fire safety inspections have been carried out on the projects since construction; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45203/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested is currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
1185. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider reviewing legislation (details supplied); if he will direct the RTB in relation to enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45238/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017. They specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, safety of gas, oil and electrical supply and fire. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these Regulations.
Responsibility for enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
Following enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, local authorities have a strengthened legislative framework available to them which provides for the issuing of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices where landlords are in breach of their obligations. Under Section 34 of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, any person who by act or omission contravenes the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, fails to comply with an improvement notice, or re-lets a house in breach of a prohibition notice, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both. If the contravention, failure to comply or re-letting is continued after conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence on every day on which the contravention, failure to comply or re-letting continues and for each such offence shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €400 per day.
If an inspection has been found to be non-compliant with the regulations, it is a matter for the Local Authority to determine what action is necessary and appropriate, including the issuing of an Improvement Letter, Improvement Notice, Prohibition Notice or further legal recourse.
Security of tenure provisions under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 apply once a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling under tenancy for a continuous period of 6 months, with no valid notice of termination having been served during that time. If a landlord is terminating the tenancy on the grounds that he or she intends to substantially refurbish or renovate the dwelling in a way that requires the dwelling to be vacated for that purpose, the notice of termination must include a statement:
(a) specifying the nature of the intended works and providing a copy of any related planning permission. Where planning permission is not required, the notice or statement must specify the name of the contractor and the proposed dates for the works; and
(b) that the landlord is required to offer to the tenant a tenancy of the dwelling if it becomes available for re-letting within a period of 6 months, subject to certain conditions.
Notice periods for the termination of a tenancy by a landlord vary, depending on the duration of the tenancy, up to a maximum of 224 days.
On 23 November 2017, the RTB published a comprehensive set of guidelines on what constitutes substantial refurbishment or renovation for the purposes of a section 34 ground for tenancy termination. The guidelines are available on the RTB website at the following link:
https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/images/uploads/Comms%20and%20Research/RTB_Guidelines_for_good_practice_on_the_substantial_change_exemption_in_Rent_Pressure_Zones.pdf.
In the event of a tenant not vacating a rental property by the expiration of a valid notice of termination, the landlord can avail of the RTB's Dispute Resolution Process.
1186. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the allocation in capital funding for each local authority for the provision of extensions to council dwellings for 2017, 2018 and 2019, in tabular form. [45265/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme (DPG's), my Department provides funding to local authorities for adaptations and extensions to the existing social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants. The scheme applies to adaptations that are necessary to address the needs of older people or people with a disability who may require stair-lifts; grab-rails; showers; wet-rooms and ramps etc. It also provides funding for extensions such as the installation of a downstairs bedroom or bathroom or in cases of overcrowding.
Expenditure on extensions are therefore funded from the overall DPG Scheme allocations, which cover the range of supports outlined above. Specific allocations for extensions are not provided, as it is a matter for individual local authorities to prioritise the works to be carried out, including extensions, according to local need.
The table below sets out the details in respect of expenditure for extensions in 2017 and to date in 2018.
|
Local Authority |
Expenditure on Extensions 2017 (€) |
Expenditure on Extensions 2018 (€) |
|
Carlow County Council |
154,998 |
190,369 |
|
Cavan County Council |
43,139 |
0 |
|
Clare County Council |
0 |
145,660 |
|
Cork City Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork County |
446,142 |
0 |
|
Donegal County Council |
129,248 |
0 |
|
Dublin City Council |
984,832 |
150,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council |
49,592 |
0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway City |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry County Council |
99,914 |
0 |
|
Kildare County Council |
318,740 |
205,324 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
90,021 |
0 |
|
Laois County Council |
6,870 |
1,757 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
244,381 |
19,613 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
61,101 |
|
Louth County Council |
0 |
254,918 |
|
Mayo County Council |
164,276 |
0 |
|
Meath County Council |
144,032 |
40,252 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
74,351 |
0 |
|
Offaly County Council |
248,730 |
0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
135,025 |
|
Sligo County Council |
69,303 |
0 |
|
Sth Dublin County Council |
43,739 |
0 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
0 |
351,371 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
174,145 |
23,648 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
54,268 |
0 |
|
Wexford County Council |
55,515 |
1,121 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
€3,596,236 |
€1,580,159 |
1187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a person who is resident here on a stamp 4 visa, is married to an Irish citizen and has been resident in the State for three years is eligible to apply with their partner for a Rebuilding Ireland home loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45268/18]
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.
1188. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families that have been accommodated in family hubs since they were established; the number of families that have left hubs in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45276/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1189. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families that have left hub-type emergency accommodation; the number of these that have been permanently rehoused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45277/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1190. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average time a family will spend in hub type-emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45278/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1191. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families or single persons that have been living in emergency accommodation for longer than one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45279/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra1192. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families or single persons that have been living in emergency accommodation for longer than two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45280/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1188 to 1192, inclusive, together.
My 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 associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department does not have the specific data sought in relation to the time spent in emergency accommodation. The performance reports submitted by the regional lead local authorities provide information on the period spent in emergency accommodation. The most recent reports available are for Quarter 2 2018, which show that at the end of Quarter 2 2018, 48% of adults recorded as being in emergency accommodation at that time, were resident in emergency accommodation for less than 6 months and 52% were resident for more than 6 months.
In relation to family hubs, there are currently 23 family hubs in operation, 19 of which are in Dublin, one in each of Cork, Limerick, Kildare and Louth. These hubs provide 550 units of family accommodation. The operators of the family hubs work with families to support their exit from emergency accommodation into an independent tenancy within a six-month period. My Department does not have a breakdown on the numbers of families who have been accommodated in family hubs or who have left family hubs. My Department's monthly homelessness report includes details of the numbers of individuals and families in emergency accommodation each month. My Department also publishes data on the number of adults who exited homelessness into an independent tenancy, which is provided by the local authorities in their quarterly performance reports. In 2017, 4,729 adults, along with their associated dependents, exited homelessness into an independent tenancy. A further 2,332 adults and their associated dependents exited homelessness in the first six months of 2018. My Department is currently reviewing the format and content of both the monthly and quarterly homelessness reports.
