Written Answers Nos. 627-653
627. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41928/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra629. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41932/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra630. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41933/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 627, 629 and 630 together.
Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, is designed to increase the delivery of housing across all tenures to help individuals and families meet their housing needs and address homelessness. The plan focuses on increasing the delivery of social housing, with a target of delivering 50,000 social housing homes and 87,000 other social housing supports by 2021. In 2018, 8,000 new social homes were delivered nationally and this year, a further 10,000 new social homes will be delivered. The Plan also recognises the role of other State Agencies, including the Department of Health and HSE, in delivering services to those experiencing homelessness. In September 2017, I established the Homelessness Inter-Agency Group to ensure the effective coordination of the State’s response to addressing homelessness.
In addition to increasing the supply of housing, we are also committed to ensuring that appropriate emergency accommodation is in place for individuals and families. Budget 2020 provides an allocation of €166m for the delivery of homeless services next year, an increase of €20m on the 2019 allocation. Homeless services are administered on a regional basis and the decisions on the organisation of services, including the provision of emergency accommodation, is a matter for the Management Group of each region.
To minimise the use of hotels and B&Bs for families experiencing homelessness, the Government is supporting local authorities to develop family hubs, through the provision of capital and operational funding. To date, 28 family hubs have been rolled out nationally. Households in emergency accommodation are supported by the local authorities and their service delivery partners to identify and secure an independent tenancy.
In September 2018, the Government published the National Implementation Plan for Housing First. Housing First provides homes for rough sleepers and long-term users of emergency accommodation who have complex health needs. Housing first tenants are provided with the necessary housing and health supports to ensure that they can sustain their tenancy. Local authorities are responsible for providing the housing supports and the HSE is responsible for providing the health supports. The Plan includes a target of 663 tenancies to be delivered by 2021.
628. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41931/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently developing a national policy approach to Cost Rental as a new form of tenure for Ireland.
Under the Cost Rental model, rents cover the cost of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes only, less both the profit margin seen in the private rental sector and any financial supports provided by the State/local authorities. With the resulting rents significantly below market levels, this would mean that many households on moderate incomes will have access to a more affordable and stable form of rental tenure than would otherwise have been the case.
It is important to note that Cost Rental is not designed to replace social housing provision for low-income households, which remains a priority for this Government. Cost Rental is one of several schemes which my Department is using to provide more affordable housing and deliver on Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s action plan for housing and homelessness.
I have convened a working group within my Department, in conjunction with the Land Development Agency, the Housing Agency, and other expert bodies. This group is developing the policy framework for the broader Cost Rental model and examining how a sustainable financing structure can be established to commence delivery of units at the scale required to get this new category of housing off the ground. The work of this group is being assisted by a consultancy and research support that is being undertaken by the European Investment Bank on our behalf.
This work is being informed through two Cost Rental pilot projects, at the former St. Michael's Estate in Inchicore, and at Enniskerry Road in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. The latter of these has already commenced construction, supported by EIB funding, and the first homes are anticipated to come on stream from 2021. The selection of further sites for Cost Rental consideration will be informed largely by the financial and operational model that will emerge from the evidence building that is currently underway.
The rents for Cost Rental units will obviously depend upon the overall cost of each development and will vary according to the site and design specifics. However, my Department has identified several factors that can put downward pressure on costs and make Cost Rental more affordable for tenants. These include subvention through the Serviced Site Fund, where €310 million is being made available to local authorities over three years, 2019 to 2021, to support the delivery of infrastructure for the provision thereafter of more affordable housing to purchase or rent.
631. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress in the ongoing talks between the EPA, his officials and officials from Leitrim County Council regarding the design of a wastewater percolation system for County Leitrim that would be acceptable under the 2010 EPA guidelines for wastewater treatment plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42008/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra632. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress in the design of a wastewater percolation system that would be acceptable under the 2010 EPA guidelines for wastewater treatment plants in County Leitrim and in particular if he has reached a conclusion on funding for a pilot programme in co-operation with the Minister for Rural and Community Development.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42009/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together.
My Department has met with Leitrim County Council on three occasions recently with a view to agreeing the scope of the Council's proposed research project proposal examining the feasibility of a zero discharge wastewater system for single houses.
Separately, the Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing its ‘Code of Practice for Waste Water Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses’ which sets the current standard for septic tank-type systems. I anticipate that the EPA will soon present a revised and updated Code.
The proposed research project is complex and will involve the construction and monitoring of several full-scale pilot systems across a three to four year period. My Department agreed with Leitrim County Council that the project would be best advanced within the realm of the EPA’s water research programme. I anticipate that Leitrim County Council will have a proposal ready shortly to discuss further with the Department and the EPA. Any further funding requirements will be examined in that context.
I look forward to receiving the outcome of the research as soon as it is complete.
633. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason Irish Water does not have sufficient funds in the latter months of 2019 to undertake urgent projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42023/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water, as a single publicly owned national water services authority, is taking a strategic, national utility approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements.
I am providing €1.208 billion to Irish Water in 2019 in respect of its domestic water services operational and capital expenditure, as provided for in the 2019 Estimates.
Specific operational issues are a matter for Irish Water itself. In that regard, specific arrangements have been put in place through which Irish Water will address queries from members of the Oireachtas. The Irish Water team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
634. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the budget 2020 allocation to each programme or scheme within his Department. [42082/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table at the link gives information on the estimated current and capital allocations for 2020 in respect of each relevant programme/scheme, on the basis of the financial provision made for my Department in the Expenditure Report 2020 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform following decisions made in the context of Budget 2020. The table does not include additional funding for housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts and amounting to some €90 million in 2020.
635. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has had discussions with the SEAI in connection with the budget increase of the carbon tax in respect of re-opening the deep retrofit scheme; if following these discussions there will be a change to the scheme; the number of extra houses that will be covered by the scheme in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42085/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the SEAI Deep Retrofit Programme rests with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment. I am responsible for programmes that support energy efficiency renovations to local authority homes. On the latter, a new scheme announced under Budget 2020 will provide for energy efficiency renovations to a large number of social homes in the midlands and is designed to explore an alternative approach to the upgrade of the social housing stock.
The specific design of the project will be driven by a Retrofit Taskforce, which has been established by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment and includes officials from my Department. This Taskforce will work with local authorities in the midlands and other local stakeholders to identify areas of sufficient concentration of local authority housing stock with poor energy efficiency conditions. By issuing a small number of contracts for a large amount of homes in defined areas, it is hoped that economies of scale can be achieved.
€20m is being provided for the roll-out of the midlands social housing scheme in 2020. This is in addition to the €25m also provided to my Department to continue the roll-out across local authorities of the longstanding Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme in 2020. That main programme has already seen over 70,000 social homes upgraded since 2013, with a total investment of approx. €135m to date.
The exact number of homes to be upgraded under the midlands social housing scheme will depend on the starting point, size and type of houses targeted, as well as how successful the scheme is at achieving economies of scale. However, I expect in the region of 600 homes to be upgraded in 2020 under this new scheme.
636. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if it is planned to provide funding in 2020 to Uisce Éireann for the provision of sewerage systems in towns and villages that have no public wastewater systems at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42093/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has had statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
In May 2018 the Government approved the Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 and I subsequently approved the Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 in November 2018. The Strategic Funding Plan details Irish Water’s multi-annual strategic funding requirement of €11bn to 2024, comprising of a €6.1bn investment in infrastructure and assets and €4.9bn in operating costs.
Irish Water will also play a key role in implementing Project Ireland 2040 which was published in February 2018 and incorporates the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan. Irish Water will take account of and support on-going work in developing subsidiary strategies to assist in implementing the National Planning Framework including the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies as well as ongoing reviews of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans.
I understand that Irish Water will be bringing forward proposals for a Small Towns & Villages Growth Programme which will support a number of the National Policy Objectives and National Strategic Outcomes under the National Planning Framework. The Small Towns & Villages Growth Programme is intended to provide water and wastewater growth capacity in smaller settlements which would not otherwise be provided for in its Investment Plan to 2024. Irish Water is to work with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment is made where it is needed most, aligned to local core strategies.
Irish Water is subject to regulation by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The proposals from Irish Water in this regard form part of the submissions from Irish Water to the CRU on its detailed investment plans under the Irish Water Investment Plan 2020 to 2024. These submissions are currently being considered and a decision is expected from the CRU by the end of October 2019. Subject to the outcome of this process it will then be a matter for Irish Water to progress its proposals in relation to the Small Towns & Villages Growth Programme.
In relation to any specific issues, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ieor by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
637. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of staff engaged in the housing delivery office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42100/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment under Action 2.9 of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a dedicated Housing Delivery Office (HDO) was established within my Department, in August 2016, to support the accelerated delivery of housing across the social and private sectors, and tenure spectrum, in an integrated and timely manner. Working with the broader Housing and Planning Divisions in my Department, other key agencies, local authorities and the construction sector, the HDO supports the roll-out of complex projects, including identifying and resolving barriers to delivery, and monitors progress across key sites as they progress.
At the time of its establishment, the HDO comprised a team of 4 people with extensive expertise in project management, finance, planning and local government, including staff seconded from the local government sector and the National Development Finance Agency.
Having carried out a range of initial initiatives, and taking account of the fact that some assignments to the office were time-limited, the HDO was refocused in September 2017 to work more closely on supporting local housing delivery and land management. In that context, the current team is comprised of 2 civil servants with experience of housing delivery and the local government sector. In addition to this complement of staff, the HDO draws on supports from other relevant Business Units in my Department, the local authorities and other relevant public bodies.
More recently, my Department has been engaging with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) in respect of the sector's further delivery needs and, against this background, I met with Chief Executives in September to discuss plans for a newly reconfigured HDO. I expect to receive final proposals from the LGMA in this regard shortly.
638. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress made to date on a wider fire safety review of buildings at risk here as part of the response to the Grenfell Tower disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42101/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 27 June 2017, following the fire in London’s Grenfell Tower, I tasked my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) with convening and coordinating a high-level Task Force to lead a re-appraisal of fire safety in Ireland. The Task Force completed its work, and provided me with a full report in May 2018, entitled “Fire Safety in Ireland: Report of the Fire Safety Task Force”, which outlines its analysis, conclusions on the state of fire safety in Ireland and recommendations for moving forward.
Importantly, the overall indications from the work are that the specific conditions which appear to have existed in Grenfell Tower do not exist in buildings in this country.
In the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, I also instructed local authorities to undertake a review of fire safety in medium-to-high rise buildings fitted with cladding systems. I asked the Task Force to oversee and report on this initial action, as well as, among other things, reviewing existing arrangements and systems for fire safety and related issues which impact on fire safety in Ireland.
Fire authorities were asked to identify medium to high-rise buildings in their functional areas of more than six storeys or more than 18 metres in height.
The most recent figures provided by fire authorities indicate that:
- 838 buildings have been identified, countrywide, at this height,
- 287 of these buildings are fitted with cladding systems,
- fire authorities required fire safety assessments in 210 cases – 103 residential buildings, and 107 non-residential,
- 167 fire safety assessments have been received by fire authorities; work to complete and report the fire safety assessments in 36 buildings is underway; from their knowledge, fire services have not determined that any cases merit ceasing of use/occupation of the buildings in question,
- further action in respect of fire safety was found to be required in 49 buildings where fire safety concerns were identified – a small number of these cases involved issues with cladding.
This fire safety assessment and follow-up work is on-going, and is being overseen by fire authorities, who are reporting on progress to the NDFEM in my Department.
The Task Force report makes a range of recommendations for improvements to fire safety in buildings, and to provision of fire services in Ireland.
In response to the Task Force recommendations, the NDFEM Board has brought forward a number of initiatives, including proposals for regulatory provisions and guidance for ensuring fire safety in buildings, and for fire services.
Copies of both the Report and the Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
Fire Safety Task Force Report:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/fire_safety_in_ireland_-_report_of_the_fire_safety_task_force.pdf .
Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/fire_safety_in_ireland_-_report_summary_of_conclusions_and_recommendations.pdf .
639. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of HAP and RAS units in each local authority; the average HAP and RAS payments being made by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42107/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is funded through a combination of Exchequer funding and tenant differential rents collected in respect of HAP tenancies. Budget 2019 increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme to €422 million. This will allow for the continued support of existing HAP households and also meet the needs of the additional 16,760 households targeted under Rebuilding Ireland to be supported by HAP in 2019, as well as supporting the roll-out of the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service across the country.
Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. At the end of Q2 2019, there were more than 48,000 households in receipt of HAP support and over 28,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
Details of the number of active HAP tenancies and the average monthly landlord payment at the end of Quarter 2 2019 are set out in the table.
|
Local Authority |
Active Tenancies End Q2 2019 |
Average Landlord Payment |
|
Carlow County Council |
743 |
€555 |
|
Cavan County Council |
322 |
€456 |
|
Clare County Council |
1,344 |
€467 |
|
Cork City Council |
2,546 |
€791 |
|
Cork County Council |
3,228 |
€732 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1,734 |
€395 |
|
Dublin City Council |
2,904 |
€1,292 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
468 |
€1,357 |
|
Fingal County Council |
1,581 |
€1,348 |
|
Galway City Council |
1,544 |
€813 |
|
Galway County Council |
1,093 |
€717 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1,076 |
€517 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2,109 |
€923 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
883 |
€583 |
|
Laois County Council |
788 |
€589 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
237 |
€416 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
2,264 |
€589 |
|
Longford County Council |
306 |
€412 |
|
Louth County Council |
2,890 |
€860 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,201 |
€510 |
|
Meath County Council |
1,915 |
€944 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
579 |
€498 |
|
Offaly County Council |
855 |
€520 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
391 |
€461 |
|
Sligo County Council |
712 |
€509 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2,701 |
€1,245 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1,792 |
€495 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
1,863 |
€517 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
780 |
€560 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1,222 |
€529 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1,197 |
€1,001 |
|
Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE)* |
4,993 |
*n/a |
* The average monthly landlord payment for tenancies set up by the DRHE are recorded against the individual local authority.
Data for the years 2011 to 2018 on the number and cost of tenancies funded under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) scheme 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. Data on the number of tenancies in place at the end of Q2 2019 broken down by local authority is also available at this link. The most recent RAS data reflects the number of tenancies in place at end June 2019, when there were a total of 18,520 tenancies supported under the scheme.
I am providing €134.3 million to support the cost of RAS in 2019 and this funding will go towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies targeted to be achieved by local authorities in 2019 and the ongoing cost of supporting continuing RAS contracts in place at the beginning of 2019.
HAP and RAS continue to be key vehicles in meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme outlined under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
640. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the ongoing revaluation of rateable properties taking place across many local authorities is planned to be revenue neutral for each local authority; if so, if a mechanism will be applied to ensure such councils return to a revenue neutral status in view of the fact that many successful appeals to the Valuation Tribunal have seen an aggregate loss of income to a number of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42122/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities have a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The Commissioner of Valuation has responsibility for valuation matters, including the revaluation of properties, and is independent in the performance of his functions under the Acts.
The Valuation Acts provide for the revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area to reflect changes in value due to economic factors such as business turnover, differential movements in property values or other external factors and changes in the local business environment. The Commissioner has notified my Department that revaluations have recently concluded in eight local authorities: Cavan, Fingal, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow. The revised valuations will be effective from 31 October 2019 and will be effective for rates purposes from 1 January 2020.
It is not the purpose of a revaluation to increase the total amount of commercial rates collected by local authorities. Revaluation results in a redistribution of the commercial rates liability between ratepayers. While an individual occupier’s rates liability may increase or decrease, the revaluation will not increase the overall commercial rates income of the local authority.
Section 56 of the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 provides that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, having obtained the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, makes a Rates Limitation Order (RLO) following a revaluation, directing a rating authority to limit the overall amount of rates income in the following year to the total amount of rates liable to be paid to it in the previous year, plus an element of buoyancy for valuations of newly constructed property and an adjustment for inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. RLOs have been made for each of the local authorities that have undergone a revaluation to date.
The intention of section 56 was to provide that the impact of a revaluation would be revenue neutral for a local authority. However, due to successful appeals by ratepayers following revaluations, the impact of the revaluations has resulted in a net decrease in rates in the year following a revaluation.
The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 modernises further the legislation governing commercial rates. Section 21(d) of the Act amends the Rate Limitation Order formula to allow for the inclusion of a factor to take account of the level of appeals. The factor is set by the Minister in consultation with the Commissioner of Valuation. This factor will be included in RLOs that will be made in the coming weeks in respect of the eight local authorities where revaluations have concluded this year.
641. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the next round of the local infrastructure housing activation fund will open for applications; and the dedicated budget for this round. [42125/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was designed to activate housing supply by putting in place the enabling public infrastructure necessary to ensure that large scale development could take place on key sites in urban areas of high housing demand. Approval was given for 30 projects under LIHAF in 2017 and these projects will stimulate development of approximately 20,000 housing units across 14 local authorities.
Details of the 30 LIHAF projects can be found at https://rebuildingireland.ie/lihaf/
Whilst a further round of projects under the LIHAF administrative structure was originally envisaged, funding is now instead being made available through the Serviced Site Fund (SSF). Under the SSF a budget of €310m has been made available to Local Authorities who can apply for funding for key facilitating infrastructure on public lands, to support delivery of more affordable homes. Over the period 2019-2021, the fund will deliver infrastructure works to support the delivery of approximately 6,200 homes to purchase or rent at rates which are discounted on market prices.
To date, SSF funding of €127 million in support of 35 projects in 14 local authority areas, has been allocated for infrastructure works on sites that will support the delivery of almost 3,200 homes. A further call for proposals will issue next year. Details of all SSF projects approved to date are available at the following links:
SSF Call 1 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-10-local-authority-sites-affordable-housing-serviced-sites-fund/
SSF Call 2 https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/
Significantly increased funding has also been made available for enabling infrastructure through the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which is administered by my Department and the €1 billion Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
642. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of additional funding allocated from budget 2020 to the mica redress scheme; when the funding will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42167/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year, the Government agreed in principle to introduce a scheme to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been significantly damaged due to defective concrete blocks.
Budget 2020 provides funding of €40 million to fund the operation of the Pyrite remediation scheme and this new scheme to address the issues identified in Donegal and Mayo, with an initial provision of €20m for the new scheme.
Funding for future years will be agreed on an annual basis as part of the normal Estimates process.
The full terms and conditions of the scheme are currently being finalised in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, including the development of the necessary regulations.
This process takes account of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements with regard to data processing arrangements and the engagement that my Department is currently having with both Donegal and Mayo County Councils, who will operate and administer the scheme.
In this regard, my Department continues to meet with both local authority teams to conclude implementation arrangements for the scheme, including the development of administrative guidelines, application forms and associated documents. Further engagement will take place over the coming weeks.
The aim will be to complete the outstanding work without delay in order to ensure that the scheme can get underway as early as possible.
643. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce regulations to provide for a deposit retention scheme under section 61 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015; the timeline for same; if not, the reason therefor; the measures he is taking to strengthen tenants’ rights in respect of deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42203/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for, among other things, the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
There have been significant changes in the rental market since the 2015 scheme was first envisaged and designed. For example, the draft scheme was originally intended to be financed by the interest payable on deposits lodged; this is no longer viable, given the current financial market conditions. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that disputes relating to deposits are no longer the most common dispute type referred to the RTB.
Financing the operation of the scheme is an important consideration, particularly in terms of ensuring that the likely outcomes of a new scheme are achieved efficiently and effectively and that the best value from public funds is secured. Careful consideration is therefore required to introduce any necessary reforms and enhancements to the 2015 scheme, with a view to considering whether and how to introduce a re-designed scheme that is fit for purpose and suitable for current and future rental and financial markets.
A review of the feasibility of amending and implementing the 2015 tenancy deposit protection scheme is being considered, in consultation with the RTB.
The outcome of any review, along with consideration of other deposit related issues, will be taken into account in the preparation of the forthcoming Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill.
644. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the improvement in the supply of accommodation in rent pressure zones arising from the curtailing in 2019 of short-term letting in these areas; if he has discussed with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the impact of these regulations on the tourist trade in these areas; if he has the feedback he received from the Minister or his Department; and if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42218/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June 2017 a Working Group was established involving representatives of all major public stakeholders with a policy interest in short-term lettings, to develop guidance in relation to planning applications, changes of use relating to short-term lettings and to examine the need for new regulatory arrangements.
Having considered the Working Group's report as well as the recommendations in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government on short-term lettings, I announced plans to introduce a “one host, one home” model in areas where there is high housing demand.
Under the proposed new arrangements, homesharing would continue to be permissible for a person’s primary residence. In addition, an annual cap of 90 days would apply for the renting out on a short-term basis of a person's entire home where it is their primary residence, with such short-term lets being restricted to periods of 14 days or less at a time. Under these arrangements, people who wished to avail of the proposed new planning exemptions to use their own home for home-sharing or limited short-term letting purposes would be required to register this with their local planning authority.
These proposed changes would not affect the operation of holiday homes as typically understood, or longer-term flexible lettings which are provided for those coming to Ireland under employment contracts.
These new planning reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector came into effect on 1 July 2019. The final Working Group report on the regulation of short-term lettings was subsequently published on 26 July 2019.
The purpose of the aforementioned changes to the planning code was primarily to address the longer term rental issues arising from the use of properties for short-term letting in designated rent pressure zones, which are areas of high housing demand. The new arrangements have only been in force for a short period of time but I will be monitoring their impact once a reasonable period of operation has elapsed.
The broader regulation of tourism activity is beyond the scope of the planning code and my remit. On 31 July 2019, I wrote to my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, outlining the recommendations made by the Short-Term Letting Working Group and highlighting the measures taken by my Department to act upon these recommendations, specifically the introduction of the short-term letting legislation. I advised the Minister that the remaining recommendations fell under the remit of his Department to action.
The Minister replied on 20 August, expressing a wish to ensure that there were no unintended consequences for the operation of the self-catering tourism sector arising from the implementation of the new regulations. In further correspondence on 19 September 2019, I again highlighted the significance of the introduction of the short-term letting legislation in the context of substantively addressing the recommendations of the Working Group and reiterated the importance of the outstanding recommendations and their relevance to the role of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I assured the Minister my support, and that of my Department, in addressing the outstanding recommendations falling under his remit.
645. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he has taken for 2020 to address the shortfall in funding for the local authorities in County Galway identified in the expert report on the restructuring of local government in Galway, in which it recommended that this matter be addressed before changes would take place in the local authority structures in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42219/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government approved the merger of Galway City Council and Galway County Council on 18 June 2018. While the elements of the Local Government Bill 2018 that provided for this merger were not ultimately passed by the Oireachtas.
In this context, I recently met Galway County Council and indicated that the Government is prepared, in principle, to make a special once off allocation to the Council, in advance of the LPT review which will include a new basis of allocation of funds to each local authority. Funding would be provided on the basis of detailed proposals to be brought forward by Galway County Council.
646. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an application has been received for stage 1 approval of a voluntary housing project (details supplied); when a decision will be made on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42220/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has written to Galway County Council regarding concerns over the increased cost for the delivery of this social housing scheme. The Council now needs to work with the approved housing body involved on these issues and my Department awaits their response so that further consideration can be given to the revised Stage 1 submission.
647. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress that has been made on plans to implement the decision of people in Limerick city and county to support the referendum on a directly-elected mayor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42231/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe people of Limerick City and County decided in a plebiscite held on 24 May 2019 to support the Government's proposals for a directly elected mayor with executive functions for their Council area. Work is now well underway on the necessary and extensive preparatory work to deliver on the will of the people of Limerick.
Under Section 44 of the Local Government Act 2019, the Minister is required to prepare and submit to the Houses of the Oireachtas a report with legislative proposals for a directly elected mayor for Limerick, within two years of the plebiscite vote, by 24 May 2021. However, my Department is prioritising this work with a view to bringing the report and legislative proposals forward at the earliest opportunity, targeting an election for directly elected mayor of Limerick City and County Council in 2021.
Within my Department work is advancing on the necessary systematic examination and analysis of all legislation under its remit conferring functions and powers on local authority chief executives. A similar exercise has also commenced within other Government Departments. An inter-Departmental working group has been established to advance this element of the work and my Department is also engaging with other key Departments individually to facilitate matters.
Together with analysis of the existing functions that will be transferred to the new Office of Mayor, I am also examining the potential for additional functions to be devolved to the new Office.
I also intend to establish an implementation advisory group, comprising representatives of the key stakeholders in Limerick, particularly the elected Council and management of Limerick City and County Council, to advise on the implementation of the mandate given by the people of Limerick. I expect this Group to be established and to meet for the first time in the coming weeks.
648. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 26 September 2019, if the council has appointed engineering consultants to assist with the progression of the scheme through the next four phases of the project. [42261/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe advancement and completion of this project is, in the first instance, a matter for Kildare County Council.
Notwithstanding this, I am advised by the Council that as per the reply to Question No. 204 of 26 September 2019, they have recently completed the preliminary appraisal stage of the project in accordance with Transport Infrastructure Ireland's Project Management Guidelines 2019. This is the first of eight phases in the overall project. The Council are currently in the process of engaging an Engineering Consultancy to assist with the progression of the scheme through the next four phases of the project.
649. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the type of funding that an organisation (details supplied) receives from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41621/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs far as I am aware, my Department has not been formally approached by the organisation in question and consequently have no funding relationship in place. My Department remains open to communication from all cultural bodies.
650. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the redevelopment of the Maynooth Harbour project and related works; the amount of funding committed to this project for 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41714/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe redevelopment of Maynooth Harbour is part of a larger proposed re-development of the Maynooth Harbour area by Kildare County Council.
Waterways Ireland is aware of plans being advanced by Kildare County Council and has met with Council officials in this regard.
The plans incorporate improvements to the Harbour area that is within the control of Waterways Ireland. The plans are subject to the Council obtaining planning and funding approval.
Waterways Ireland is supportive of the plans and will continue to work with the Council to support their delivery.
As a funding application has yet to be made by Kildare County Council, there is currently no committed funding for 2019 or 2020.
651. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her view on proposals (details supplied). [41727/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI made the decision in August to suspend the licences issued to the organisation in question on behalf of its affiliated clubs to capture and tag hares for the 2019/20 hare coursing season until a clearer understanding of the extent, spread and implications of the RHD2 virus emerges.
Together with my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and officials of both Departments, we are finalising a roadmap which would allow for the collection of hares in a number of locations to assist the study of RHD2 in Irish hares. This study is intended to be carried out in collaboration with the body in question.
I believe this roadmap will provide us with essential information as to status of the virus in the hare population and may lead to the possibility of limited licensed coursing during the current season.
652. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of full-time and part-time civil servants her Department has recruited by grade in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of full-time and part-time civil servants her Department has lost due to retirement by grade in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41814/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables at the link. The grades marked with an asterisk (*) include Professional and Technical equivalents.
The Deputy should note that staff turnover is also impacted by changes such as promotions and transfers as well as retirements.
653. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41864/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s question. With respect to 53 raised bog special areas of conservation sites, the qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:
- The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf)) in one of these sites on 25 May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on that date;
- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period (up to 25 May 2010 in respect of the 29 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999 and up to 31 December 2011 in respect of the 24 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation in 2002);
- The turf resource on the site has not been exhausted; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
Following processing of the application and various correspondence with the applicant, an annual payment under the scheme issued for the year 2019 on 26 August 2019.
Under the scheme, annual payments are made to qualifying applicants, who apply in years later than the start date, for previous years as well as for the current year.
My Department is prioritising the payment of annual payments under the scheme for 2019. The position in relation to payments for previous years will be reviewed subsequently.
