Written Answers Nos. 1180-1199
1180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an invalidity pension is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3807/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
A claim for IP was received from the lady concerned on 22 January 2020. In order to establish medical suitability two medical report forms for completion issued to her on 10 February 2020. To date only one completed medical report form has been received by the department on 20 February 2020.
A duplicate questionnaire report form issued to her on 03 March 2020. On receipt of the completed questionnaire form, the IP claim will be processed as quickly as possible and she will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an invalidly pension is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3808/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe lady concerned is currently in receipt of means tested disability allowance.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
To date there is no record in my department of receipt of a claim for IP from the lady in question.
To qualify for IP claimants must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E, H or S contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
According to the department’s records, it appears that this lady does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP. Specifically she does not have the required 260 contributions paid since she entered social insurance. However entitlement to IP can be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim form.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3809/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 17 April 2019. The first payment was made by her chosen payment method on 25 September 2019.
Arrears in respect of any overlapping payments were calculated and the person concerned was not entitled to any arrears for the period.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appeal has been made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3819/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on 16 July 2019. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 20 November 2019 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
To date there is no record of a review or an appeal request of this disallowance decision from the lady in question.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1184. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department has been in discussions with the Department of Finance on the rising cost of business rates in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2890/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the vital role local businesses play in supporting local authorities to deliver services to their communities. Commercial rates, at approximately €1.5bn per annum, make up roughly a third of local government current (revenue) income.
Local authorities are required by law to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details, entered in the valuation lists. The lists are prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. Recognising the critical importance of commercial rates, I prioritised the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 for enactment last year. The Act modernises the rates system for both ratepayers and local authorities.
The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority and the Minister for Finance has no direct function in the matter. The annual rate on valuation (ARV) is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. The ARV is then applied to each property’s valuation to obtain the amount payable in rates.
The Commissioner for Valuation is currently conducting a national programme of revaluation to provide consistent, up-to-date valuations so that rates are equitably distributed. 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. It is not the purpose of a revaluation to increase the commercial rates collected. Interestingly, in terms of revaluations to date, I understand that the trend is that approximately 60% of ratepayers have experienced a decrease.
After a revaluation of a local authority area, the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, is required to make a Rates Limitation Order (RLO) to ensure that the overall rates collected in that area for the following year, does not increase beyond set parameters, for example, taking account of normal inflation. RLOs have been made for each of the 23 local authorities that have undergone a revaluation to date and will be made in respect of the remaining local authorities where revaluations are to be concluded in the coming years.
At all stages of the process, ratepayers are consulted and informed and can bring relevant information to bear on the valuation. Ultimately ratepayers have a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal and beyond that to the Courts on a point of law.
Local authorities work closely with ratepayers experiencing difficulties with the payment of commercial rates. In this regard, local authorities may facilitate the payment of commercial rates by instalments, and work with businesses to put in place flexible payment options. The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 further facilitates such flexible approaches, on the basis that ratepayers engage with the local authority concerned.
Importantly, Section 15 the new Act also provides for a rates waiver schemes, to be decided by local authority members in order to promote national and/or local policy objectives, including for example, local area plans under the Planning and Development Act 2000 and local economic and community plans under the Local Government Act 2001.
Prior to local authorities deciding their 2020 budgets, my Department wrote to all local authorities highlighting the new waiver provisions, contained in the 2019 Act, indicating that the work in respect of commencing Section 15 is underway and to make a provision in their budgets if they planned to implement a waiver scheme in 2020.
Last October I, along with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, met with members of the Retail Consultation Forum and it was agreed that a separate meeting on Commercial Rates and Valuation could be beneficial in sharing experiences and working together to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commercial Rates and Valuation regimes.
My Department proposes to convene such a meeting between representatives of the Retail Consultation Forum, the Valuation office and local authorities to explore a number of thematic issues such as sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s cities, towns and villages; the experience of retail ratepayers in terms of valuation and rates at a systemic level; and the implementation of the Rates and Other Matters Act 2019.
As a first step, my Department has sought initial input from the members of the Retail Consultation Forum to the development of an agenda for this engagement.
1185. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the drop in funding for County Galway despite its size compared to counties of a similar size, for example, County Cork which receive more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3282/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities derive their income from a variety of central and local sources including from commercial rates, charges for goods and services and Exchequer funding from Central Government.
Central Government funding of local authorities includes transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and Offices, not solely from my Department, for a variety of purposes. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to local authorities, while others are routed through departmental agencies. Across all schemes and funding sources, my Department provided €46.8m in 2018 and €51.1m in 2019 to Galway County Council.
Most of the funding sourced from Central Government and provided to local authorities must be used for specified services. These can be grouped into 5 broad programme categories: recreational, education, environment, housing and transport.
In 2018, funding to local authorities from central government sources was €3.69 billion, an increase of 39% on 2017. Additional detail on Central Government funding of local authorities is provided in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Annual Report, at the following link:
https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/Find-Report/Publications/2019/2018-Annual-Report-Chapter-11-Central-government-funding-for-local-authorities.pdf
Local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, population distribution, public service demands, infrastructure and other income sources. These are all factors which should be taken into account when comparing levels of funding in different local authority areas.
It is a matter for each local authority to maximise local income sources and manage its own spending, in the context of the annual budgetary process.
1186. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that part of Carrigaline, County Cork not in the former Ballincollig-Carrigaline local electoral area is still not in a rent pressure zone; if the anomaly will be corrected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2618/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ballincollig- Carraigaline Local Electoral Area (LEA) was designated a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) on 27 January 2017 under section 24 of the Residential Tenancies Acts (2004-2019).
New Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts were signed into law on 31 January 2019 for Cork City and County (which took into account the expanded Cork City boundary) for the May 2019 local elections. The new LEAs and Municipal Districts see the old Ballincollig-Carrigaline LEA being split, with Ballincollig becoming part of Cork City Council. Carraigaline and its hinterland are now contained within its own LEA and Municipal District, which is wholly within the remit of Cork County Council.
The areas within the new Carraigaline LEA which were designated as a RPZ under the old Ballincollig- Carraigaline LEA remain designated as a RPZ under section 24A(6) of the Residential Tenancies Acts, which provides that “Where a local electoral area is prescribed by order as a rent pressure zone and, subsequently, any local electoral areas are duly amended in a manner that affects the area of the local electoral area so prescribed, then the order shall continue to have effect as if the local electoral area concerned had not been so amended.”
Therefore, under Section 24A(6), areas already designated as RPZs will remain designated and areas that are not designated nor due to become part of Cork City Council will retain their current undesignated status. Areas within the new Carraigaline LEA that were not previously designated as a RPZ remain undesignated.
Under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 the expiry date of all deemed and designated RPZs is extended to 31 December 2021. The Act further provides that any area falling within the new Cork City Council boundary, which is not already within a RPZ, will be a RPZ from 31 May 2019.
The Housing Agency and the RTB will continue to monitor national rents and if the Carraigaline LEA meets the designation criteria it will be designated as a RPZ.
1187. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a reply will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2626/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to reiterate that the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) charge is under the care and management of each local authority and application of the NPPR in individual cases is a matter for the local authority concerned. As Minister, I have no role in determining liability in individual NPPR cases and no role in reviewing decisions of local authorities.
Notwithstanding that, I replied to the Deputy's correspondence on this matter last week.
1188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position in relation to the advertisement of a senior executive officer role for Drogheda as agreed in 2019; if the role will be publicly advertised or advertised internally only; the expected date for the role to become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2638/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Autumn 2019, Louth County Council submitted a proposal to my Department proposing the creation of two senior positions, one each in Drogheda and Dundalk, to enhance planning and development within the towns in alignment with the requirements of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and in coordination with Meath County Council in the context of Drogheda. The Council sought financial assistance from my Department in this regard and I was pleased to confirm in December 2019 the availability of a once-off payment of €200,000 to the Council on a matched-funding basis to assist in the creation of two such positions for a three-year period.
Louth County Council sought formal sanction from my Department for two additional staff at SEO grade level in early 2020, the posts to be filled by internal competition. Formal sanction was communicated by my Department to the Council on 31 January 2020 on a three year specific purpose contract basis with recruitment confined to the local government sector.
The expected start date(s) and detailed role and functions of the posts are a matter for Louth County Council in accordance with section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 which provides that each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
1189. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether the income eligibility for social housing is restrictively low (details supplied); his plans to raise the eligibility threshold as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2673/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1193. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is a proposed date for the completion of the net income limits for social housing assessments review; if not, when he expects it will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2772/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1211. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the reviews of income limits for social housing by local authorities will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3019/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1189, 1193 and 1211 together.
Applications 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, Universal Social Charge and Pension-Related Deductions within the meaning of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. 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.
1190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when funding will be provided to local authorities to carry out necessary remedial works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2699/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been providing funding support under the Social Housing Insulation Retrofitting Programme to local authorities since 2013, for insulation and energy efficiency works to their social housing stock.
The programme is implemented in two phases: Phase 1 is a shallow retrofit and ensures that the entire social housing stock has, as a minimum, cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase 2 is a deep retrofit and focuses on the fabric upgrade works to those dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and also provides for heating upgrades (including upgrades to boilers, or a heat pump to replace the existing boiler).
The funding provided to date under this programme is €151million and has seen over 71,000 units of social housing stock receive upgrades. A more detailed breakdown of this expenditure is set out on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/energy-efficiencyretrofitting/energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme.
Funding support will continue in 2020 for this programme with a budget of €25million, as provided for in Budget 2020. It is the local authorities' own responsibility to select their properties for inclusion in the programme and to determine the works that are necessary.
1191. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of judicial reviews taken against decisions made by An Bord Pleanála in each of the past five years and to date in 2020; the number of judicial reviews taken against directions made by him or his predecessor in the past five years to date; the number of judicial reviews taken against a planning authority other than An Bord Pleanála in the past five years; the number that were successful; the number that were upheld in respect of the all of the preceding queries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2702/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recording of court cases is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial Reviews against the State, which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney General's Office.
Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
An Bord Pleanála can be challenged by Judicial Review on a range of its functions and they publish an update on legal cases in their Annual Report. Local Authorities may also be subject to Judicial Review on a range of their functions and therefore it is a matter for each Local Authority and their respective legal teams to record.
1192. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if proposals will be brought forward to allow persons abroad on holidays or away temporarily for business reasons to cast their vote on polling day in national and local elections; his plans to reform electoral law generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2710/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPostal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors, including electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day. Other categories of electors who may avail of postal voting are whole-time members of the Defence Forces, members of An Garda Síochána, Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, full-time students registered at their home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State, prisoners and certain election staff employed at the poll outside the constituency where they reside.
While electoral law is subject to ongoing review I have no proposals at present to extend existing arrangements for postal voting.
In regard to the future reform of electoral law generally, this has been the subject of considerable work in recent times, including the development of proposals to reform the electoral register and the establishment of an Electoral Commission, details of which can be found on my Department's website at the following links:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/public-consultation/files/18.11.27_-_ria_-_electoral_commission_final_-_english.pdf.
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/public_consultation_report.pdf.
Further progress on these initiatives will be a matter for the incoming Government and Oireachtas.
1194. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will review the tenant incremental purchase scheme and the €15,000 minimum income requirement to avail of the scheme due to the significant number of persons who are being denied the scheme albeit living in the homes for decades in some cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2774/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1244. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the review of the first 12 months of the tenant purchase incremental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3538/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1194 and 1244 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme which came into operation on 1 January 2016 is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant local authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, local authorities include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.
In determining reckonable income, the income of all tenants of the house, including adult children that are joint tenants, is included, as is the income of the spouse, civil partner or other partner / co-habitant of a tenant who lives in the house with them, thus ensuring the appropriate level of discount is applied to the purchase price.
The minimum income criterion was introduced in order to ensure the sustainability of the scheme. Applicants must demonstrate that they have an income that is long-term and sustainable in nature. This ensures that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.
The financing of any house sold under the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is a separate matter from the eligibility criteria for the scheme. If the tenant is deemed eligible under the scheme, he or she may fund the purchase of a house from one, or a combination, of his/her own resources or a mortgage provided by a financial institution or a local authority house purchase loan.
In line with the commitment given in the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, a review of the operation of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase (Incremental) Scheme has been recently finalised and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations.
This issue is part of a significant body of work undertaken in my Department in relation to the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect that the review will be published once all the work on these reform measures are completed.
1195. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an application has been received from Louth County Council in relation to funding for the proposed northern port access route in Drogheda, County Louth; the criteria against which the application will be assessed; when a decision is due on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2811/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040. The URDF was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and NDP. This is to enable a greater proportion of residential and mixed-use development to be delivered within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and towns and to ensure that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.
Through the Fund, successful applicants are being offered targeted integrated support for applicant-led projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of our cities and towns.
Under the URDF in 2018 Louth County Council submitted a number of proposals, including an application for the Northern Cross Route. The application process was competitive and heavily oversubscribed with some 189 applications. All proposals were assessed a Project Advisory Board, consisting of representatives from my Department, other relevant Government Departments, agency representation and independent national and international expert representatives. Following this process, on 26 November 2018, I announced initial URDF support of €100m for a total of 88 projects throughout the country. The Northern Cross Project was not successful on that occasion.
A second call for proposals under the URDF was announced on 11 January 2019. In the context of the second call it will be a matter for Louth County Council to consider the projects it may wish to submit for consideration and whether, taking account of feedback on the original Northern Cross Route proposal, it should submit a revised proposal.
The application form for URDF Call 2 and related information, including assessment criteria, is available on the Gov.ie website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/urban-regeneration-and-development-fund/.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon 31 March 2020.
1196. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homes allocated to tenants of local authorities under the long-term leasing housing scheme by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOf the 50,000 social housing homes to be delivered under Rebuilding Ireland, over 10,000 homes are targeted to be leased by local authorities and approved housing bodies under leasing arrangements from a range of different sources, including direct leasing by local authorities and approved housing bodies, rental availability agreements, the Repair and Leasing Scheme, the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and Enhanced Leasing. The exact blend of delivery under leasing in any given year will depend on the availability of existing stock and new homes in particular. Leased properties are allocated to tenants in accordance with the relevant local authority’s allocation scheme.
Details of dwellings leased by local authorities up to end Q3 2019 are 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.
Figures for Q4 2019 are currently being collated and will be published when complete.
1197. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of children and adults deemed homeless in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth and in each other county in each of the past 12 months in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2860/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a monthly report on homelessness. The monthly report is based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The report captures details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. Official homeless reports are published on my Department's website on a monthly basis and are available at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data. While these monthly reports include a breakdown of adults at county level, details in relation to dependants are only available on a regional level.
1198. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has met with either Cavan or Monaghan County Council to discuss social housing strategies; the housing targets for new builds in both counties for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2876/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have met regularly with the Chief Executives of all the local authorities, including those from Cavan and Monaghan, in relation to the advancement of social housing in line with Rebuilding Ireland. I most recently met the Chief Executives in January 2020, having previously met with them in September 2019 and holding a Housing Summit with them in February 2019.
My Department also meet regularly with local authority housing teams, including Chief Executives and Directors of Service. This includes meetings with the local authorities individually and collectively, to examine progress in terms of Rebuilding Ireland targets.
Social housing delivery targets were issued to all local authorities in 2018 covering the period 2018-21. Both the targets and information of the progress in meeting them, are published on my Department's website at the following links:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/housing-statistics.
1199. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to update planning regulations in respect of solar panel installations on houses and public buildings; if the potential in the removal of the need to obtain planning permission in order to install solar panels on public buildings if the building will harvest energy for use from the installations will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2887/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1249. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the amendments to planning regulations to allow for the installation of rooftop solar panels on schools, community buildings, homes and businesses without planning permission have not yet been published in view of the fact it was outlined in the Climate Action Plan and due by the end of quarter 4 of 2019. [3742/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1199 and 1249 together.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.
With regard to exemptions for solar panels, Class 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for "the installation or erection of a solar panel on, or within the curtilage of a house or any buildings within the curtilage of a house", subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Class 56 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for "the installation or erection on a business premises or light industrial building, or any ancillary buildings within the curtilage of such premises or building, of solar panels (thermal collector or photo-voltaic), subject to certain siting and size conditions. In general, public buildings are considered to fall within this class and, as such, may utilise the existing exemption. There also exist further exemptions relating to the installation of solar panels on industrial buildings and in agricultural holdings, again subject to certain siting and size conditions.
My Department is currently undertaking a review of the solar panel exemptions set out in Schedule 2 of the Regulations, and is actively engaging with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and other key stakeholders, with a view to finalising a proposal for draft amending Regulations - to reflect, inter alia, technical developments in the sector. One of the key considerations of the review is to ensure that solar panels can be erected - subject to certain siting and size conditions - without the need to obtain planning permission, to facilitate the generation of energy for self-consumption.
As required under planning legislation, any such proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made. The draft regulations will also be subject to environmental reporting considerations before being finalised and signed into force.
