Written Answers Nos. 2917-2941
2917. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the budget for the housing adaptation grants for 2019; the number of persons who received the grant; the average amount of grants provided over the past five years; the spend to date for 2019; the estimated cost of increasing funding by 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33270/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2019, a total of €71.25 million is available for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme, in respect of private houses. This is made up of €57 million Exchequer funding, which is an increase of some 8% on the 2018 figure, with the balance of €14.25 m being contributed by the local authorities.
Information on these grant schemes for the years 2014 to 2018, including the numbers of grants funded per annum and the funding provided to each local authority, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
The following table contains details of the 2019 exchequer funding drawn down in respect of these grants up to the end of June this year. These amounts do not necessarily represent what each local authority has spent, as funding may have been spent but not yet claimed from my Department. Also, the amounts shown for exchequer draw down are topped up by each local authority's own 20% contribution. The funding provided up to end-June this year, has facilitated some 3,262 grant payments nationwide.
|
Local Authority |
Exchequer draw down up to 30 June 2019 |
|
Carlow |
€424,557 |
|
Cavan |
€146,827 |
|
Clare |
€312,686 |
|
Cork County |
€1,469,782 |
|
Cork City |
€311,419 |
|
Donegal |
€314,034 |
|
Dublin City |
€3,267,142 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
€445,345 |
|
Fingal |
€786,707 |
|
Galway County |
€459,992 |
|
Galway City |
€357,675 |
|
Kerry |
€709,926 |
|
Kildare |
€483,383 |
|
Kilkenny |
€629,414 |
|
Laois |
€25,228 |
|
Leitrim |
€35,133 |
|
Limerick |
€908,949 |
|
Longford |
€130,630 |
|
Louth |
€0 |
|
Mayo |
€574,887 |
|
Meath |
€661,350 |
|
Monaghan |
€697,138 |
|
Offaly |
€31,906 |
|
Roscommon |
€312,214 |
|
Sligo |
€418,069 |
|
South Dublin |
€982,092 |
|
Tipperary |
€1,094,658 |
|
Waterford |
€516,223 |
|
Westmeath |
€197,881 |
|
Wexford |
€898,562 |
|
Wicklow |
€70,937 |
Over the course of each year, my Department works closely with all local authorities, to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. As the year progresses, any underspend is redistributed to those local authorities with high levels of grant activity who sought additional funding.
Increasing funding by 25% would cost an additional €14.25 million to the exchequer, with a further €3.56 million to be contributed by the local authorities. Further consideration will be given to increasing funding over the coming years in the context of the range of housing supports and provision being made under Rebuilding Ireland and also considering the commitments under the Government's Housing Options for Our Ageing Population - Policy Statement, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/housingoptionsforanageingpopulationeng_web.pdf.
2918. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be granted to Kerry County Council in order to relet voids (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33283/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile responsibility for the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock lies with local authorities themselves under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, my Department recognises through the Voids Programme, that over and above normal property re-lets that arise on an ongoing basis, an amount of vacated social homes are in need of far greater levels of repair and may be vacant pending that work. Local authorities have submitted details of their work proposals and related funding requirements for the Voids Programme in 2019 and funding will be provided shortly.
Given the direct responsibility of local authorities for managing their own housing stock, and with tenants moving in and out on a continuous basis, it is important that in addition to social homes which are in need of significant repairs, that the authorities address normal re-lets in a timely manner. For that reason, I am keen that elected Councils play a proactive role in supporting this work, both by overseeing performance in their individual local authorities and also, by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and maintenance, utilising the housing rental income available to them.
2919. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost of restoring housing adaptation grants to 2010 levels and committing to a minimum of 7.5% of all social housing in 2020 to persons with a disability on housing waiting lists in budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33390/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding provided for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme, to support people living in private houses, has increased year on year since 2014. Compared to a funding level of €43 million in 2013, the funding provided reached €71.25 million nationally in 2019, an increase of some 8% on 2018. An additional €28.4 million would be required to restore the funding to 2010 levels.
Both the assessment of social housing needs and social housing allocations to any particular group of social housing applicants are matters for individual local authorities. Assigning 7.5% of social housing delivery in 2020 to persons with a disability on housing waiting lists would involve according greater priority to such persons over other social housing applicants, rather than adding significantly to costs.
The appropriate approach to progressing this matter is within the framework of the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability, under which Housing and Disability Steering Groups have been established in all local authority areas, to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with a disability at local level. These Groups are chaired by Directors of Housing in each authority and include HSE and disability representative organisations. Each Group has prepared a local Strategic Plan for its own City/County area, to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging need over the next five years.
The Plans, along with the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments, allow local authorities to plan more strategically for the housing needs of people with a disability and support the delivery of accommodation using all appropriate housing supply mechanisms. This is a more targeted and responsive way to meet actual need identified, rather than designating a specific percentage or number of new social housing delivery for people with a disability, although some authorities may choose to allocate a percentage if they choose to so do.
2920. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the current expenditure on the capital assistance scheme; the amount allocated for 2019 for accommodating persons moving out of congregated settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33391/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) finances Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), through the local authorities, to provide social housing for tenants with specified categories of need, including older people, people with disabilities and homeless people. The funding provision for CAS for 2019 is €94 million and over €26.5 million has already been expended on the scheme this year.
No precise amount is set aside under CAS for accommodation to support people moving from congregated settings. Instead, the scheme is available to support suitable projects brought forward and AHBs can submit project proposals to local authorities at any time. In 'Calls for Proposals' and communications that have issued relating to CAS, the provision of accommodation for people moving from congregated settings is identified as a priority; however, it is recognised that there is a range of challenges involved with such projects.
My Department continues to work with the Department of Health and the HSE to coordinate efforts to support the move by people from congregated settings to community based housing and CAS funding continues to be available to support the development of suitable housing in this regard.
2921. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the review of income eligibility for social housing supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33398/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once off in nature.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.
However, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is under way. The review will also have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
2922. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the work of the Tipperary town task force; the budget that has been allocated to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33418/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting the development and growth of towns and villages across Ireland is a major priority for this Government and to this end policy interventions are being pursued across a number of Government Departments and are being implemented by local authorities around the country. In particular, €2 billion is available under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, with a further €1 billion available under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
In relation to Tipperary Town, my Department is engaging with a number of stakeholders regarding the regeneration of the town and I will confirm the amount of funding to support that regeneration process shortly. It is essential that this process is underpinned by a high level of ongoing local stakeholder engagement and collaboration. In this regard, I understand that community consultation in the town has recently been undertaken by Queens University, Belfast. An update on this consultation process was provided to the Tipperary Town Centre Forum and an outcomes Report will be produced in the autumn.
2923. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the municipal-owned site at Stereame, Nenagh, County Tipperary, which has services in place will be considered as a template site for Tipperary County Council to provide local authority affordable housing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2011, following a Government decision, all previous affordable housing schemes were stood down. In June 2018, I commenced Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which now places a new affordable housing scheme on a statutory basis.
The new affordable housing for purchase scheme replaces the time-limited claw-back which applied under the various previous affordable housing schemes. Under this scheme, a discount of up to 40% may be provided by the local authority to the prospective purchaser of an affordable home. The local authority will retain a charge equivalent to the discount, and the household must repay the charge at re-sale or during the charged period. The scheme applies to new homes on local authority land, and is targeted at low to middle-income households. The equity charge will be repaid by the purchaser into a new Affordable Dwellings Fund, which will be administered by the Housing Finance Agency and used to fund more affordable housing.
The selection of particular local authority lands for development of homes that will be made available under the Affordable Purchase Scheme is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authority. One of the mechanisms I have made available to local authorities to help them deliver affordable housing options is the Serviced Site Fund (SSF). Under the SSF, €310 million is being made available over a three year period, from 2019 to 2021, to support the delivery of infrastructure on local authority sites, which will in turn support the delivery of over 6,000 affordable homes nationally.
The first call for proposals under the SSF in June 2018 was targeted at 11 local authorities, where it was identified that the greatest affordability pressures exist. I issued approval in principle in December 2018 for funding for 10 infrastructure projects in Dublin and Cork with €43 million funding, which will support the delivery of 1,400 affordable homes.
Following the first call under the SSF, and in order to target affordable interventions, all local authorities were asked to complete financial/economic assessments of each of their sites to assess whether the provision of affordable homes is economically viable. Local authorities were also asked to assess the broader housing affordability within their area.
A second call for proposals under the SSF issued to 19 local authorities, including Tipperary County Council, on 9 April 2019, based on the aforementioned economic assessments. The closing date for returns was 17 May 2019 and 31 submissions were received back from 15 local authorities, including Tipperary County Council. These are currently being assessed by my Department and I intend to issue approvals in principle to successful applications under the second call in the coming weeks. While the site referred to was not submitted by Tipperary County Council under the SSF second call, it will be open to the Council to submit the site for consideration under a future call for proposals, if it considers it appropriate to do so.
2924. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the unoccupied council houses by the length of time unoccupied, by municipal area in County Tipperary; the estimated cost of bringing the houses back into public use; the funding being made available to Tipperary County Council for same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33420/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Oversight & Audit Commission (NOAC) reviews the social housing stock levels in local authorities every year, including the number of vacant local authority houses at a particular point in time. NOAC’s activities in this regard are summarised in its Annual Performance Indicator Reports and the most recent data on a local authority basis, including for Tipperary County Council, are set out in the 2017 report which is available on the NOAC website at the following link:
http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NOAC-Performance-Indicators-Report-2017.pdf .
The previous annual reports are also available on the NOAC website.
While the NOAC statistics set out the number of vacant local authority houses at a particular point in time, local authorities together, own and manage circa 130,000 social homes where there are tenants moving in and out on a continuous basis. Accordingly the number of social homes that are occupied or vacant at any given time changes continuously.
The management and maintenance of their own housing stock, including refurbishing and re-letting properties and dealing with tenancies starting or ending, are matters for each individual local authority, in line with Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. My Department does not have data on Tipperary County Council's housing stock in terms of length of time that properties have been unoccupied across the municipal areas. This information should be available from the authority itself, along with information on likely costs of bringing the properties back into use.
While the management and maintenance of their own housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority, my Department is continuing to support them in returning both vacant properties to use as swiftly as possible, including through the Voids funding programme. For the period of 2014 to 2018, Tipperary County Council received over €5.5 million from the exchequer, to support their work in refurbishing some 473 properties and that support will continue in 2019.
2925. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if stage payments will be facilitated to deliver a social housing project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33470/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in my reply to Question No 640 of 2 October 2018, local authorities have been making productive use of a range of housing delivery options including turnkey developments. Different procurement requirements apply to different construction contracting arrangements and, in the case of turnkeys, an initial 10% is usually paid as a deposit and the balance of the funding is provided on completion and delivery of the housing units in a 'turnkey' condition. An option for turnkey projects can also be to agree delivery on a phased basis, which allows for payment to be made to the developer on completion of each individual phase.
2926. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when construction stage will begin on the new fire station in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim; when the new station is expected to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33485/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres. The five-year programme proposed the construction/refurbishment of twenty six fire stations. This included sixteen new builds and ten upgrade/refurbishment projects.
In relation to Leitrim County Council's Fire Service, Ballinamore and Drumshanbo Fire Stations were included in the list of stations proposed for upgrade/refurbishment. In September 2018, my Department approved a request for funding for the refurbishment of Ballinamore Fire Station at a cost of €452,678. In February 2019, my Department also gave approval of €154,593 for works at Drumshanbo Fire Station.
A new fire station at Manorhamilton is also provided for in the Capital Programme with an indicative commencement date of 2019. In June 2019, Leitrim County Council submitted a design brief and invitation to tender documents for the design of the proposed fire station. Following the evaluation of this information, my Department issued approval to the Council on 29 June to proceed to tender stage for the provision of design services. The Council has published an invitation to tender for these services, with a closing date of 16 August. Following this, the tenders will be assessed by the Council, with a view to appointing a design team for the project.
My Department will consider the construction tender proposal upon receipt and will continue working with Leitrim County Council to progress this project. Taking into account the overall tendering process required, including for the construction of the fire station, it is estimated that construction work could commence by mid-year in 2020 at the earliest. In order to maximise the Capital Programme funding available my Department reassesses the status of projects in the capital programme on an annual basis and priority can be adjusted to bring forward well advanced projects offering best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects generally.
2927. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons aged 18 to 24 years of age listed in the homelessness report for April 2019 that came through the care system by region in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33494/19]
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:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data
My Department does not collate the information requested by the Deputy.
2928. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a property registry mapping application will be expedited for a person (details suppled); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33501/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA service for Oireachtas members was introduced in 2006 through which information can be obtained on the current status of applications to the Property Registration Authority (PRA), such as the case referred to in this question. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system through which the PRA can address such queries. This service can be availed of by contacting reps@prai.ie.
2929. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rental properties. [33506/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra2930. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the breakdown of rental properties by type of ownership, for example, institutional investors, private landlords and so on; the number of units of each; and the percentage this comprises of total rental properties in tabular form. [33507/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2929 and 2930 together.
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) Annual Report 2018, which contains 2018 data on rented properties, was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas earlier this week and will be published on the RTB website early next week.
The following table outlines details in relation to tenancies registered with the RTB at the end of 2018:
Registered Tenancies
|
Total number of registered tenancies |
336,890 |
|
Number of registered AHB tenancies |
29,542 |
|
Number of registered private rented tenancies |
307,348 |
|
Number of landlords registered |
173,197 |
|
Number of occupants in registered tenancies* |
695,142 |
The number of occupants is self reported by the landlord on the registration form.
While exact data on the number of institutional investors are not available, the table below shows that almost 86% of the registered rental housing stock is possessed by landlords with less than 10 properties, which suggests that the overall percentage of stock held by institutional investors is relatively low.
Table: Percentage of tenancies held by landlords in 2018
|
Cumulative No of Tenancies per Landlord Cumulative % Tenancies |
|
|
Up to 1 |
39.5% |
|
Up to 2 |
57.4% |
|
Up to 3 |
66.8% |
|
Up to 4 |
72.7% |
|
Up to 5 |
76.9% |
|
Up to 6 |
80.1% |
|
Up to 7 |
82.6% |
|
Up to 8 |
84.3% |
|
Up to 9 |
85.9% |
|
10+ |
14.1% |
The Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P)05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) set up a dedicated email address for this purpose, at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie.
2931. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the second tranche of funding for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme will be made available to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33512/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL) scheme was initially being developed, it was estimated that the drawdown of loans would be approximately €200 million over three years. The RIHL has proven to be more successful than initially anticipated, with some €140 million drawn down to the end of March 2019. The first tranche of funding has not been exhausted.
My officials have been engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform since October 2018 when higher lending and drawdown volumes were beginning to materialise. I informed the Dáil on 29 January 2019 of the scheme’s success and of the need for additional funding and indicated that my Department was in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance with regard to the allocation for 2019.
At all times, the scheme remained open and all local authorities were advised to continue to receive and process applications up to and including the issuing of loans.
My Department has consulted in detail with each Local Authority as to the anticipated demand in its area, and the likely level of approvals expected. This information has been submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with request for sanction for additional borrowing by the Housing Finance Agency. The HFA have an ongoing borrowing facility for when sanction is given so that they are in a position to proceed to borrow this second tranche of funding immediately.
The first tranche of funding has not been exhausted, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan remains open to new applicants, and all local authorities are to continue to receive and process applications and issue loans.
2932. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing applicants on local authority lists. [33560/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are set out in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). Since 2016, the Summary process has been carried out on an annual basis.
The SSHA report includes breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories. It should be noted that the SSHA is a point in time exercise and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the list.
The most recent summary, which was carried out in 2018, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 11 June 2018 and is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2018_-_key_findings.pdf
The 2018 summary shows that there were 71,858 households in need of, and qualified for, social housing support. This was 22% lower than the 91,600 households recorded on the 2016 SSHA, the year in which the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan was launched.
The SSHA for 2019 is currently in progress and I expect to be in a position to publish the report later in the year.
2933. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applicants on the RAS and HAP transfer lists. [33561/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities. The setting of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and, as such, is a matter for the elected members. My Department does not gather or hold any information on households that are seeking a transfer to an alternative social housing support and are currently having their housing needs met through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or any other form of social housing support. It is ultimately up to the household to choose if they wish to be placed on a local authority’s transfer list.
The assessment of applications for social housing support and management of the lists of qualified households, including the recording of data on the number of applications refused, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. The assessment of individual applicants for social housing support is a matter for the individual local authority, and each application is examined on a case by case basis. It is a matter for the local authority to determine the housing solution that best meets the needs of the applicant, while taking into account the resources and type of housing available to the authority. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP and RAS schemes, to determine the most appropriate form of support for that household.
2934. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average cost of building one to four bed homes on fully serviced publicly owned land. [33562/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra2939. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost to provide a home to each person on local authority homeless lists, that is, excluding use of the private rental market in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33567/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra2940. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average cost of building council housing on publicly owned land that is fully serviced. [33568/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2934, 2939 and 2940 together.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan is based on a blended approach to delivery, under which there are a range of mechanisms such as building, leasing and acquisitions. Over 50,000 social housing homes are targeted for delivery over the life of the Plan, and funding of €6 billion is being provided to support this delivery, along with meeting the housing need of an additional 88,000 households through Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme.
There are a number of variables involved in estimating the cost of providing social housing units, such as the form of delivery, size of unit, land, funding, etc. In terms of construction and 'all-in' costs, the averages for a range of differently sized social housing units, based on full capital costs, are set out in the table below. These are based on the analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period. Construction cost is reflective of building costs (including VAT) and also includes normal site works and site development. All-in cost includes cost of construction, land cost, professional fees, utility connections, site investigations/surveys, archaeology where appropriate, VAT and contribution to public art. Abnormal costs are excluded from these figures.
|
- |
1 bed |
2 bed (1 storey) |
2 bed (2 storey) |
3 bed |
4 bed |
|
Construction |
€155,818 |
€165,132 |
€174,206 |
€184,685 |
€199,491 |
|
All-in |
€201,359 |
€212,624 |
€222,582 |
€234,571 |
€252,047 |
2935. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated amount it would cost to increase Part V from 10% to a statutory minimum of 20%. [33563/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Agency commissioned a review of Part V of the Planning & Development Act 2000 and produced a report in 2014 which made certain recommendations as to changes that should be made to the operation of Part V.
It was recommended that Part V should be focused on the delivery of social housing in developments or as a secondary option delivery of housing off-site. It was further recommended that the Part V requirement should be revised to up to 10% social housing units in residential developments. This requirement would copper fasten the original objective of the Part V legislation, that is, the delivery of social housing, combined with the achievement of integration and sustainable mixed-tenure communities across the country. It was also recommended that the other options for land off-site or for monetary payments to local authorities should be discontinued as these options militated against the immediate delivery of social housing.
The requirements for Part V were subsequently amended in line with the recommendations of the review, including discontinuation of the possibility for monetary payments by developers.
The costs associated with increasing the social housing Part V commitment to 20% would be determined by the volume of residential development undertaken, to which Part V applies, and the specific costs associated with individual developments.
2936. 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. [33564/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraCensus 2016 figures indicated that there were approximately 183,000 vacant homes (down from 230,000 in 2011) but, in considering that figure, it should be noted that those numbers were recorded at a single point in time and included houses for sale or for rent, as well as homes that are not recoverable for occupancy for a wide range of reasons. More recent GeoDirectory (An Post and OSi) data estimates a vacant stock of some 95,076 address points or units (as at December 2018).
Under Rebuilding Ireland, funding is available to all local authorities for the acquisition of suitable houses and apartments for social housing use. Local authorities have delegated sanction for the majority of acquisitions they undertake and it is they that identify the opportunities and the appropriate categories and sizes of properties for social housing, based on the nature and priority of their housing lists.
My Department continues to engage on an ongoing basis with local authorities to progress actions to bring vacant and underutilised properties into residential use. Vacant homes officers in the local authorities act as a central point of contact and provide information and advice for owners of vacant homes and engage with members of the public in respect of private residential vacant properties in their administrative area.
Initiatives such as the Repair & Leasing Scheme and the Buy & Renew Scheme have been developed under Rebuilding Ireland to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant properties. Funding is available to support the local authorities' continued work in these areas.
2937. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated full cost of emergency accommodation in 2018; and the projected cost for 2019 and 2020 by local authority and type of emergency accommodation, that is, hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels and family hubs. [33565/19]
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 emergency accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the types of accommodation are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. The table below sets out the funding recouped to housing authorities on a regional basis for the years 2016 to date in 2019. The total budget for 2019 is €146 million. The budget for 2020 will be agreed in the context of the Estimates process.
Exchequer funding for homeless services under the Housing Act, 1988
|
Region |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 (to date) |
|
Dublin |
€68,627,075 |
€83,616,643 |
€106,267,187 |
€78,551,245 |
|
Mid-East |
€2,746,651 |
€3,092,923 |
€3,738,000 |
€1,227,500 |
|
Midland |
€1,109,748 |
€1,467,615 |
€2,177,128 |
€805,000 |
|
Mid-West |
€3,500,000 |
€3,906,686 |
€5,044,000 |
€3,014,000 |
|
North-East |
€1,493,336 |
€2,762,845 |
€3,007,520 |
€1,102,500 |
|
North-West |
€411,946 |
€450,000 |
€541,522 |
€320,000 |
|
South-East |
€3,041,840 |
€3,444,510 |
€3,815,000 |
€2,282,500 |
|
South-West |
€5,375,609 |
€6,703,444 |
€9,687,741 |
€3,912,500 |
|
West |
€2,370,295 |
€3,791,334 |
€4,721,895 |
€1,860,000 |
Financial reports from each of the regions, setting out expenditure on homeless services, including emergency accommodation in each region, are published on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
2938. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the spend in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and the projected spend for 2018 and 2019 on leasing, HAP and RAS 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. [33566/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra2967. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the annual spend for 2016, 2017 and 2018 and the projected spend for 2019 and 2020 on leasing, HAP and RAS 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. [34303/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2938 and 2967 together.
The 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 to Q1 2019 are 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.
Expenditure in respect of SHCEP for the years 2015-2018, broken down by local authority, is detailed in the table. Exchequer funding of €154.886m has been allocated to SHCEP in 2019.
At the end of Q1 2019, there were 45,915 active tenancies being supported by the HAP scheme. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP in each local authority area, from when the scheme began in 2014 to end 2018, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
The Exchequer outturns for the HAP scheme in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were €15.6m, €57.7m, €152.7m and €276.6m, respectively. Exchequer funding of €422m has been made available for the HAP scheme in 2019.
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 March 2019, some 62,543 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options. Of this number 35,458 were housed directly under RAS.
RAS remains a significant part of the suite of social housing options available to local authorities and to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support.
At the end of Q1 2019, there were 18,697 active tenancies being supported by the RAS scheme in the 31 local authority areas. Data for the years 2011 to 2018 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:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Exchequer funding of €134 million has been provided to support the cost of RAS in 2019 and this funding will go towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies in 2019 and the ongoing cost of supporting continuing RAS contracts in place at the end of 2018.
The 2020 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 to 2018
|
Local Authority |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
CARLOW |
530,205 |
585,327 |
1,302,249 |
1,494,692 |
|
CAVAN |
64,493 |
196,193 |
428,427 |
429,447 |
|
CLARE |
882,570 |
1,595,479 |
1,989,287 |
3,166,133 |
|
CORK CITY |
1,107,646 |
1,771,180 |
2,219,141 |
2,143,900 |
|
CORK COUNTY |
3,712,136 |
4,203,863 |
4,522,657 |
5,351,670 |
|
DONEGAL |
1,248,328 |
1,067,305 |
2,076,634 |
1,753,686 |
|
DUBLIN CITY |
7,388,093 |
10,345,395 |
14,840,312 |
18,425,754 |
|
DUN LAOGHAIRE/RATHDOWN |
1,768,110 |
2,094,115 |
4,597,875 |
4,818,731 |
|
FINGAL |
3,385,519 |
4,666,247 |
6,547,004 |
9,141,183 |
|
GALWAY CITY |
1,607,240 |
2,315,093 |
3,589,992 |
3,490,991 |
|
GALWAY COUNTY |
385,394 |
346,807 |
833,507 |
1,041,490 |
|
KERRY |
668,351 |
935,162 |
2,106,983 |
2,226,036 |
|
KILDARE |
1,550,610 |
1,430,712 |
3,634,286 |
4,943,910 |
|
KILKENNY |
737,465 |
740,649 |
908,544 |
1,106,610 |
|
LAOIS |
585,566 |
1,190,925 |
1,511,241 |
1,778,870 |
|
LEITRIM |
9,093 |
65,473 |
77,468 |
72,194 |
|
LIMERICK |
270,920 |
504,557 |
719,490 |
1,406,309 |
|
LONGFORD |
147,813 |
356,011 |
515,178 |
642,712 |
|
LOUTH |
2,646,597 |
3,046,688 |
3,610,161 |
6,315,022 |
|
MAYO |
790,964 |
856,278 |
945,590 |
1,057,694 |
|
MEATH |
1,211,043 |
1,138,730 |
2,754,186 |
4,469,123 |
|
MONAGHAN |
2,262 |
44,782 |
168,962 |
355,335 |
|
OFFALY |
943,158 |
1,358,477 |
1,957,083 |
1,920,541 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
25,901 |
33,549 |
34,590 |
181,075 |
|
SLIGO |
278,926 |
340,996 |
349,787 |
444,775 |
|
SOUTH DUBLIN |
5,631,522 |
6,245,168 |
12,861,316 |
11,719,742 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1,742,186 |
1629455 |
2,597,202 |
2,498,480 |
|
WATERFORD |
691,391 |
1,078,131 |
1,306,809 |
1,808,655 |
|
WESTMEATH |
1,128,189 |
2,006,539 |
1,714,383 |
2,093,392 |
|
WEXFORD |
689,804 |
1,228,254 |
1,910,528 |
2,493,382 |
|
WICKLOW |
318,744 |
576,482 |
938,929 |
965,785 |
|
TOTAL |
42,150,239 |
53,997,022 |
83,569,801 |
99,757,319 |
2941. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when funding will be released for the new septic tank grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33589/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 8 February 2019, I announced details of the measures being funded through my Department under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. This included improved funding for on-site wastewater treatment systems (more commonly known as septic tanks).
The composition of the new multi-annual programme is based on recommendations from the Working Group that I established in April 2018 to conduct a review of investment needs and rural water services.
The new funding scheme for septic tanks will replace the grant which was brought into operation by the Domestic Waste Water Treatment System (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013. Under certain conditions, households can receive a grant to assist them in carrying out remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or replacement of, their individual domestic wastewater treatment system.
In developing the necessary regulatory and administrative changes to underpin the revised grants scheme, my Department has over recent months consulted and met with key stakeholders, including the County and City Management Association, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Work is at an advanced stage of development for the new scheme. I expect that the process will be completed shortly when the necessary regulations dealing with the financial assistance arrangements and related administrative matters are put in place. This will enable a circular letter, terms and conditions, guidance and the application form to issue to local authorities shortly thereafter.
