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Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Written Answers Nos. 1376-1400

Housing Estates

Ceisteanna (1376)

Martin Heydon

Ceist:

1376. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of applications from Kildare County Council for funding to complete housing estates (details supplied) with developer provided infrastructure; when he expects to make a decision on this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6795/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In July 2019, my Department launched the multi-annual Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021.  Bids were sought from local authorities for funding under the programme and nineteen local authorities with Developer-Provided Water Services Infrastructure in estates in their areas made applications for funding.  Kildare County Council included the estate referred to in its application.  

My Department has completed a preliminary evaluation and clarification process on the bids received from the local authorities.  An Expert Panel, which includes Departmental, stakeholder and independent representation, has been appointed to examine the bids.  The Panel has held a number of meetings already, with a further meeting scheduled for later this month.   

The Expert Panel will make recommendations on the suitability of projects for funding under the programme. This will be based on criteria set out in the Framework document issued to local authorities when requesting proposals. It is expected that an announcement on approvals and allocations will be made once that process is concluded in late Q2 2020.

Questions Nos. 1377 and 1378 answered with Question No. 1304.
Question No. 1379 answered with Question No. 1355.
Question No. 1380 answered with Question No. 1339.

Local Authority Housing

Ceisteanna (1381, 1382)

Cormac Devlin

Ceist:

1381. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the capital funding provided to each local authority to build social and affordable housing on public land in each of the years 2014 to 2019, in tabular form; the estimate for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6882/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Cormac Devlin

Ceist:

1382. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of social and affordable houses constructed by each local authority in each of the years 2014 to 2019; the estimate for 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6883/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1381 and 1382 together.

Social housing construction is funded under a range of different initiatives such as local authority construction, turnkey developments, rapid delivery and regeneration programmes and through direct construction and turnkey developments by approved housing bodies.  Since the commencement of Rebuilding Ireland in 2016, almost €2.4 billion has been invested in social housing construction alone, in addition to the very substantial investment that has taken place in other forms of social housing delivery, including acquisitions, the Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme.   The major investment in social housing will continue this year, with the highest level of funding ever invested in housing in a single year, at €2.63 billion, supporting the delivery of a broad range of housing programmes, including the delivery of over 11,100 new social housing homes through build, acquisition and leasing programmes, over 7,700 of which will be delivered through construction mechanisms.   

 Social housing construction expenditure by local authority in each year 2016 to 2019 is set out in the following table.  Prior to the implementation of Rebuilding Ireland in 2016, the reporting of local authority expenditure was primarily on a programme basis; however, if the Deputy is concerned about a specific local authority's expenditure pre-2016, I will have the matter explored further on receipt of the relevant information. It is not possible to disaggregate expenditure into that expended specifically on public land.

In relation to affordability issues, the objective of the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) is to provide for key enabling infrastructure requirements that will help unlock publicly-owned lands specifically for affordable homes to buy or rent.  €310 million is to be made available under the SSF, comprising an Exchequer contribution of €275 million, plus €35 million contribution from local authorities.  A maximum amount of SSF funding of €50,000 is available per affordable home. On this basis, at least 6,200 affordable homes can be facilitated.  To date, €127 million has been allocated in SSF funding for infrastructure that will facilitate the development of approximately 3,200 homes that will be made available across 35 developments in 14 local authorities.

Details of all SSF funded infrastructure projects are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following links:

https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-10-local-authority-sites-affordable-housing-serviced-sites-fund/

https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/

Additionally, as an initiative under Rebuilding Ireland, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is primarily designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages and enable housing developments to be built on key sites at scale.  This will activate the delivery of almost 20,000 new homes across public and private sites, within which 3,274 are to be Part V/social housing homes, 2,100 affordable homes and 5,686 cost reduced homes are due to be provided.

30 projects received final LIHAF approval with an overall budget of €195.7 million, of which €146.8 million will be Exchequer funded, with the remainder funded via local authorities.  Details of the approvals by local authority area, budget allocation, project description and projected housing delivery are available at www.rebuildingireland.ie/LIHAF.

In terms of LIHAF funding drawdown, thus far, most infrastructure projects have been at the design, planning and procurement stages, and the bulk of expenditure will arise during the construction phase. This is reflected in the level of expenditure to end Q1 2020, with approximately €37.731 million in Exchequer funds drawn down (matched by a further 25% local authority funding, bringing the total expenditure to €50.308 million). Drawdown of LIHAF grant funding from my Department commenced with €1.604m in Exchequer funding provided in 2017, a further €6.815 million in 2018, €22.244 million in 2019 and approximately €7.068 million to end Q1 2020.

 

2016

2017

2018

2019

Local   Authority

Build Expenditure

Build Expenditure

Build Expenditure

Build Expenditure

 

€m

€m

€m

€m

Carlow

2.87

5.25

6.03

14.71

Cavan

1.19

1.16

3.02

4.22

Clare

1.55

3.20

3.67

11.98

Cork City

26.78

13.92

42.31

55.43

Cork County

6.66

16.67

53.99

65.54

Donegal

1.36

4.28

10.36

9.86

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown

5.56

26.90

25.89

10.20

Dublin City

58.32

85.37

152.97

100.80

Fingal

6.51

31.47

61.06

58.59

Galway City

0.38

4.65

11.23

21.96

Galway County

1.27

1.88

12.33

15.95

Kerry

2.71

6.90

19.96

22.32

Kildare

1.63

11.33

27.83

59.18

Kilkenny

2.13

5.60

18.72

12.66

Laois

0.86

3.28

1.87

6.06

Leitrim

0.75

0.14

1.46

3.21

Limerick

22.91

46.00

50.21

40.20

Longford

0.51

2.97

9.40

15.56

Louth

1.90

4.67

12.57

28.01

Mayo

1.97

2.60

6.62

19.38

Meath

6.41

10.34

38.58

42.68

Monaghan

0.83

8.72

8.64

12.32

Offaly

0.85

0.40

3.42

12.82

Roscommon

0.82

1.98

1.62

4.06

Sligo

2.83

4.47

10.10

12.76

South Dublin

5.66

19.31

67.53

52.51

Tipperary

1.61

2.17

4.27

13.57

Waterford

2.38

2.65

29.39

27.41

Westmeath

0.72

1.05

6.37

10.28

Wexford

2.23

4.11

15.63

21.79

Wicklow

0.25

0.73

24.19

42.91

In 2019, local authorities, working in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies, delivered more than 10,000 (10,007) new social homes nationwide utilising the mechanisms of Build (6,074), Acquisition (2,772) and Leasing (1,161). 

Families and individuals in the private rented sector were also supported through the Housing Assistance Payment and schemes such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). Just over 17,000 households (17,025) were supported by HAP in 2019 and 1,043 under RAS.  Overall, over 28,000 (28,075) households were supported through the range of social housing programmes in 2019, exceeding the ambitious target for the year.

A full detailed breakdown of social housing delivery by local authority area is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.  In addition, the Q4 2019 Social Housing Construction Status Report, which contains scheme by scheme information on the progress of over 26,000 new social housing homes either approved (and progressing through planning, design and construction) or completed, is also available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:

https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q4-2019-2/

Housing Assistance Payment

Ceisteanna (1383)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

1383. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the additional resources or leeway being given to private renters who are in receipt of HAP but who temporally do not meet the criteria for same in regard to the percentage of their total income paid on rental costs. [6894/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

To qualify for HAP, a household must be qualified for social housing support by their local authority, which means the household must qualify to go on the local authority housing waiting list. HAP tenants find their own accommodation in the private rented market and are advised that this accommodation should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The limits applicable are related to the specific household and the rental market in the area. As HAP also allows for tenants to work full-time and retain their housing support, in many cases people may make choices about affordability taking this into consideration.

My Department is aware that some HAP recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. There is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent to their landlord beyond that of their HAP payment. However, decisions in relation to HAP, including the suitability of HAP accommodation, is solely a matter for the local authority concerned and local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.

 Local authorities have discretion, because of local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum rent limit by up to 20%, or up to 50% in the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of, homelessness. The additional discretion available to homeless households recognises the difficulty this cohort of households faces in sourcing and securing properties in a highly competitive rental market. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case. 

HAP tenants are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme.

Under the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020, the Government introduced additional supports and protections for renters, beyond the income supports already agreed with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The Act provides for amendments to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2019, which will operate for a period of 3 months from 27 March 2020. Provision has also been made for this period to be extended, if the Government considers it appropriate to do so. 

 A notice of termination cannot be served during the COVID–19 emergency period.  All notices of termination which were served before the emergency period are paused and tenants, in general, cannot be obliged to leave their rented accommodation during this time.  Similarly, all notices of rent increase which were served before the emergency period and were due to take effect during this period, are paused. While tenants are obliged to pay rent during the COVID–19 emergency period, landlords are not permitted to increase the amount of rent payable during this period.

Where HAP tenants are not financially impacted by the COVID-19 measures, they are expected to continue to pay their HAP differential rent.  However, if tenants’ circumstances change, the local authority should reassess those tenants and adjust their differential rent accordingly.

Local authorities have been requested to ensure that HAP tenants newly in receipt of Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) supports be facilitated in remaining in their HAP tenancies. If amendments cannot be made immediately to a tenant’s differential rent amount, any arrears accumulating from the date of approval of the new DEASP support should be rectified at a later date.   This will not affect the HAP payment to the landlord.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and it is considered to be a key vehicle in meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme outlined under Rebuilding Ireland.

Housing Adaptation Grant

Ceisteanna (1384)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

1384. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding provided to Westmeath and Longford county councils for the housing adaptation grant and grant for older persons in the past four years. [6895/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department provides funding to local authorities for the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability in respect of private houses, with funding of €73.75 million being made available for 2020. 

Information for the years 2016-2018, showing the numbers of grants funded and the amounts provided to Westmeath and Longford County Councils, 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 by both Councils for the grants up to 31 December 2019. The amounts shown for exchequer drawdown are topped up by each local authority's own 20% contribution.

Local Authority 

Exchequer Drawdown to 31 December 2019

Longford 

€575,984

Westmeath 

€1,043,669

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (1385, 1386)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

1385. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if it is compulsory for rent supplement recipients to transfer to the housing assistance payment. [6963/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

1386. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a rent supplement recipient is told that they must transfer to housing assistance payment but the landlord refuses to move to this system, if the tenant can remain on rent allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6964/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1385 and 1386 together.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. It is available in all local authority areas and its introduction ensures that all social housing supports can be accessed through the local authorities.

HAP will replace Rent Supplement (RS) for those with a long-term housing need who qualify for social housing support. However, RS will remain available through the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) to households as a short-term income support.

HAP provides fast, flexible housing support to all eligible households in the area of their choice. Individuals, who in the past were reluctant to avail of full time work as they would lose their Rent Supplement support, can now move to HAP and avail of full-time employment and retain their housing support, with an adjustment in their differential rent.

HAP plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q4 2019 there were more than 52,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP.

A landlord or an agent acting on behalf of a landlord is not legally obliged to enter into a tenancy agreement specifically with a HAP recipient. However, on 1 January 2016, the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 introduced “housing assistance” as a new discriminatory ground. This means that discrimination in the provision of accommodation or related service and amenities against people in receipt of rent supplement, HAP or other social welfare payments is prohibited. Further information is available at

https://www.ihrec.ie/your-rights/i-have-an-issue-with-a-service/i-have-an-issue-about-accommodation/

If a person feels that they have been discriminated against by a landlord or their agent, they can make a complaint under the Equal Status Acts to the Workplace Relations Commission; further information is available on the Commission's website,  https://www.workplacerelations.ie

Administration of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority. The transfer of existing long-term rent supplement tenancies is continuing, with ongoing engagement between local authorities and local DEASP offices. Failure of a landlord to participate in HAP should not affect an existing customer’s entitlement to rent supplement, provided that the tenant has engaged with the local authority and/or Community Welfare Officer within the HAP transfer process.

Question No. 1387 answered with Question No. 1309.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (1388)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1388. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the co-living policy has been reviewed in view of the new Covid-19 public health guidelines on social distancing and self-isolation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6969/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In 2018, I published updated Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, as Ministerial Guidance under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), following an extensive public consultation process. 

The updated guidelines set out policy in relation to a range of apartment formats needed to meet the accommodation needs of different household types and sizes.  This includes the potential for a ‘Shared Accommodation’ or ‘Co-Living’ format.  This format comprises professionally managed rental accommodation, where living accommodation, that may comprise individual rooms, is rented within an overall development, that must also include access to shared or communal facilities and amenities, but not shared bathroom or toilet facilities. To end Q1 2020, 294 co-living bedspaces have been approved, by An Bord Pleanála under the strategic housing development application process, for development since the guidelines came in to force in 2018.  In comparison, there were more than 60,000 homes permitted, none of which were co-living bedspaces, since the guidelines were published to the end of 2019 alone.

Shared accommodation is one of a number of residential settings that include hotels, hostels, residential institutions and student accommodation, where residential occupation comprises more than one household.  Although such accommodation formats are not as prevalent as individual houses or apartments, they nonetheless play an important role in catering for the diverse needs of the overall population. There are currently no plans to review any of these formats in light of the COVID-19 pandemic but my Department will continue to monitor existing policy measures and activities, having regard to the most up to date Government public health advice and guidance, as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

Rental Sector

Ceisteanna (1389)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1389. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to regulate online platforms that provide short-term lets; the goal of the proposed regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6970/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The primary objective of the legislative changes introduced last year in relation to the regulation of short-term letting sector through the planning code is to help address its impact on the supply of private rented accommodation, particularly in urban centres of high housing demand i.e. rent pressure zones. The planning system facilitates the regulation of such short-term letting uses undertaken by the individual carrying out the activity, i.e. the owner/occupier of the house or apartment, rather than the online platforms. 

Under the Short-Term Letting legislation applicable in rent pressure zones:

- Short term letting is defined as the letting of a house or apartment, or part of a house or apartment, for any period not exceeding 14 days.

- Homesharing (the letting of a room or rooms in a person’s principal private residence) continues to be permissible on an unrestricted basis and is exempted from the new planning requirements.

- Homesharers are allowed to sub-let their entire principal private residence (house or apartment) on a short term basis for a cumulative period of 90 days where they are temporarily absent from their home.

- Where the 90 day threshold is exceeded, change of use planning permission is required.

If a person homeshares their principal private residence in a rent pressure zone and wishes to avail of the new planning exemptions, they need to register this with their local planning authority and fulfil specified reporting obligations.

However, where a person owns a property in a rent pressure zone which is not their principal private residence and intends to let it for short term letting purposes, s/he is required to apply for a change of use planning permission unless the property already has a specific planning permission to be used for tourism or short-term letting purposes.

The broader regulation of tourism activity, including the possible development of a new regulatory or licensing/registration system for commercial platforms and short-term letting agents - which was  recommended in the final Working Group report on the regulation of short-term lettings - is beyond the scope of the planning code and my remit.  However, I have previously written to my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, outlining the recommendations made by the 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 of the Working Group fell under the remit of his Department to action, and assured him of my support, and that of my Department, in addressing these outstanding recommendations.

The extent of former short-term rental stock which has become available during the COVID-19 Emergency has highlighted the need for a more sustainable regulatory regime for this form of accommodation, which meets the needs of both the tourism and housing sectors.  It will be a matter for the incoming Government, and particularly the incoming Minister with responsibility for the tourism sector, to decide on any further actions it may wish to take in relation to the possible regulation of online platforms.

As part of the immediate response to COVID-19, a number of properties formerly available as short-term lets were secured by local authorities to provide accommodation for households experiencing homelessness. The level of enquiries to local authorities indicates that there are considerable numbers of properties which have been previously rented as tourist accommodation.  Local authorities are engaging with property owners in relation to the use of such properties for longer-term social housing, including long-term leasing.   Given the number of households on the social housing waiting list, including the number of households in homeless emergency accommodation, it is important that as many of these properties as possible are converted from tourist accommodation to homes.  My Department will be continuing to work with the local authorities to support this work in the coming weeks and months.

Question No. 1390 answered with Question No. 1341.
Question No. 1391 answered with Question No. 1364.

Approved Housing Bodies

Ceisteanna (1392)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1392. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the action he is taking to assist the reclassification of approved housing bodies as off-balance sheet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6992/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In April 2018 the Department of Finance published the Stability Programme Update for 2018 which was the first set of fiscal projections produced by that Department to incorporate the CSO decision to reclassify the majority of Tier 3 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) as part of the local government sector. This was an important first step in the Government's assessment as to the impact of the Eurostat decision. The Department of Finance undertook an analysis of the implications for General Government Expenditure and General Government Debt and concluded that there are no direct Exchequer implications and the projections do not present any particular issue in the context of the fiscal rules.

In addition, my Department has been engaging with AHB sector representative bodies (namely, the Irish Council for Social Housing and the Housing Alliance) and examining, in detail, proposals, including proposals which were presented by those bodies, as a possible means to achieve reclassification. The proposals are complex as they cut across a wide range of social housing policy issues and require extensive analysis.

An important part of this exercise is to examine the feasibility of measures which can be taken to develop the AHB sector in such as way so that it could be reclassified as being 'off-balance sheet', without undermining the foundations of social housing policy. In this context, it must be accepted that this will more likely be a more longer term objective.  

Constructive discussions have taken place with AHB representative bodies on a number of occasions and are informing a pathway for dealing with the issues involved. It was agreed that a working group would be established to consider these issues further.

Although that group has not yet had the opportunity to formally meet, work is continuing on this matter and my Department continues to engage with all stakeholders and to liaise with the Department of Finance and the Central Statistics Office to ensure any new or additional information can be brought forward for consideration.

Notwithstanding the decision by Eurostat, the Government continues to see a central role for the voluntary housing sector in contributing to the delivery of social housing under Rebuilding Ireland. It is committed to using all mechanisms and schemes, including through the AHB sector, to ensure that we maintain the momentum towards meeting the ambitious 50,000 social housing target under the Action Plan. I have communicated to both the local authorities and the AHB sector that this statistical classification will not affect ambitious plans under Rebuilding Ireland.

Rental Sector

Ceisteanna (1393)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1393. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce a national affordable rental scheme to facilitate the roll-out of cost rental housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6993/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Acknowledging that renters in Dublin and other major urban centres are facing significant housing access and affordability challenges, the Government is committed to the establishment of a cost rental sector in Ireland. Cost rental is housing which does not include a profit margin and therefore rents can be set at a level that only needs to cover the cost of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes.

I have established a working group involving my Department, the Land Development Agency (LDA), the Housing Agency and other expert bodies, which is developing a policy framework for the cost rental model and examining how a sustainable financing structure can be established to commence delivery of homes at the scale required to get this new category of housing established.  Detailed operational and eligibility criteria for cost rental will be informed by this evidence building and policy work.  The work of this group will also be assisted by research and other support that is being undertaken by the European Investment Bank (EIB) on behalf of my Department, drawing on the EIB's extensive international experience in this area.

My Department's work on cost rental is also being supported by two 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.  Additionally, the LDA and some local authorities are actively considering cost rental as an option for sites within their land portfolios.  An example of this can be seen in the planning application which has been submitted for lands in Shanganagh in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, where the LDA will work in partnership with the County Council to deliver over 350 cost rental homes.

The selection of further sites for cost rental consideration will be informed by emerging policy and by the financial and operational model that will be developed from the work outlined above.

Land Development Agency

Ceisteanna (1394)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1394. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures in place to ensure transparency in the actions of the Land Development Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6995/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Land Development Agency (LDA) is currently established as a State body under secondary legislation pending its establishment as a commercial State agency under legislation which it is hoped will be enacted later this year.

In line with all commercial and non-commercial State bodies, the LDA is required to comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which is based on the underlying principles of good governance including accountability and transparency.  The Code provides guidelines for both parent Departments and State bodies to ensure appropriate governance procedures are followed and contains provisions in relation to oversight, as well as financial reporting arrangements and establishment of committees, including in relation to audit and risk. The LDA is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code.  

In line with its establishment order, the LDA is currently governed by an interim Board.  On enactment of the legislation expected later this year, a Board for the LDA will be appointed in accordance with the Guidelines on the Appointment to State Boards.  The Board provides ongoing strategic direction and oversight in regard to the LDA’s activities and ensures that it complies with all corporate governance and transparency provisions. The Board is also responsible for the completion of an Annual Report each year on the activities of the Agency and the report for 2019 will be published in the coming months.

In line with the Code of Practice, the LDA and my Department meet on a regular basis to ensure that my Department is updated on the work of the Agency and to discuss other relevant issues.  There is currently a Memorandum of Understanding in place between my Department and the LDA to cover the interim period until the primary legislation is enacted.   Following this, the LDA will be subject to the usual Departmental oversight arrangements for Commercial State Agencies as set out under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

In addition, my Department has engaged with NewERA to provide financial and commercial advice in relation to the operations of the LDA.   Furthermore, the legislation will provide that the LDA will be subject to annual audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, with such audits being examinable by the Public Accounts Committee.

It should also be noted that the LDA, as a public body, is subject to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Acts.

House Prices

Ceisteanna (1395, 1396)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1395. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if an analysis of the differences in housing construction costs between homes delivered under a fixed price development agreement and homes delivered under public works contracts is being undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6996/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1396. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the constraints to fixed price development agreements being used for the construction of homes on publicly owned land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6989/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1395 and 1396 together.

Sites on which public housing is being developed are, in the main, owned by local authorities and, consistent with the Public Spending Code, it is a matter for them as Sponsoring Agencies for such public investment projects to analyse the delivery options. Any option proposed by a local authority for the delivery of public housing, whether based on a public works contract or development agreement, must comply with the Public Spending Code, particularly in terms of obtaining the best possible value for money.

The majority of local authority public housing projects continue to be developed using public works contracts and while development agreements have been little used to date, I am aware of their intended use by Dublin City Council in relation to the O'Devaney Gardens project and their proposed use in relation to the Oscar Traynor Road site. Depending on the decisions and approaches followed by local authorities, development agreements may be suitable for large-scale, mixed-tenure developments. But irrespective of the approach used, it remains the case under the Public Spending Code that local authorities conduct a financial and economic appraisal, which is submitted to my Department as the Approving Authority under the Code.

Question No. 1397 answered with Question No. 1364.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (1398)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1398. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on external consultants by his Department in 2019; the average hourly rate; if caps or limits on such spending are in place; the way in which conflicts of interest are managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7284/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The expenditure by my Department in 2019 on external consultants was some €1.2 million.  Information on an average hourly rate is not readily available in respect of the range of projects concerned and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.

Consultancy service providers are only engaged by the Department where specific expertise is required which is not available in the organisation at the relevant time. In availing of such services, every effort is made to ensure maximum value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary to achieve the relevant objectives. Conflicts of interest are managed in accordance with specific provisions in the terms and conditions which are included in the relevant public procurement request for tender documentation.

Commemorative Events

Ceisteanna (1399, 1404)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

1399. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the National Famine Commemoration Day will be brought into the remit of her Department in addition to the other national days of remembrance that have fixed dates in the State calendar; and if the National Famine Commemoration Day will be given a fixed day in the State calendar for commemoration. [5930/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

1404. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the National Famine Commemoration Day is being marked on the fourth Sunday of May for 2020, when the third Sunday in May is formally designated as the National Famine Commemoration Day. [6165/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1399 and 1404 together.

As I have previously informed the House in May 2018 and in my reply to  Parliamentary Question No 3025  of 23 July 2019 and Parliamentary Question No 2584 of 24 July 2018, the Government, on 1st May 2018 approved the designation of the third Sunday of May each year as the National Famine Commemoration Day, with the arrangements for the holding  of the State commemoration on this day or the preceding Saturday to be decided each year following consultation with the relevant local authority and host community

With regard to this year's Commemoration, I was pleased to represent the Government at a formal wreath laying ceremony in St. Stephen's Green on  Sunday 17th May.  The ceremony was conducted in accordance with the current COVID-19 guidelines and was not open to the public. 

The work of the National Famine Commemoration  Committee, including the organisation of the annual commemoration, has come within the remit of my Department since 2011.

The National Famine Commemoration  2021 is due to take place in Buncrana Co. Donegal next May.

Gaelcholáistí Issues

Ceisteanna (1400)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

1400. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to assist the parents of children in a school (details supplied) to recover the deposit and fees they paid for a course in a college which is not going ahead. [6368/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy will be aware that on foot of consultation with health authorities and in the overall interests of protecting public health, having regard to the emergency measures being taken due to Covid-19, my Department announced that no Irish language courses will be run in the Gaeltacht this summer

It is recognised that this is an unprecedented, uncertain and challenging period and that this decision represents a significant setback to Gaeltacht regions and to the many thousands of students who had looked forward to attending courses over the summer. However, the health of our communities remains the priority for Government at this time.

Under Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht provides a subsidy to Gaeltacht households who provide accommodation for students attending Irish language summer colleges in the Gaeltacht. The households also received payment from the colleges.

These colleges are recognised as a vital part of the social and economic infrastructure of the Gaeltacht with up to 27,000 students attending over 40 colleges and staying with one of the 700 Gaeltacht families registered to provide accommodation. The sector is estimated to generate c. €50m of economic activity for Gaeltacht areas, given its wider impact on hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and public houses when parents visit their children.

Since the onset of the pandemic, both I and my officials have met on a number of occasions with the colleges’ representative organisation, CONCOS, with a view to identifying the financial pressure points for the sector in order to ensure the survival of this important sector for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht and the cultural life of the country as a whole. While the question of repayment of deposits to those who have reserved places on courses scheduled for summer 2020 is primarily one for the colleges concerned, the matter is being actively considered as part of this process.

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