Written Answers Nos. 1-20
13. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the strategic housing development provisions will be abolished in the interest of sustainable development and local democracy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17504/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 (the Act), the strategic housing development (SHD) arrangements were extended in December 2019 to the maximum period permitted by the Act, i.e. 31 December 2021. The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future indicates that this provision will not be extended beyond that date.
The original extension took account of the findings of an External Review Group which undertook the review on the operation of the SHD arrangements. This report, which was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, particularly highlighted that while they had generally been a success in providing a fast-track development consent process for developers of large-scale housing developments, the number of SHD permissions that have commenced development is less than might have been expected.
In this regard, with a view to influencing the earlier activation of housing related planning permissions, the new Programme for Government – Our Shared Future commits to introducing a "use it or lose it" condition for all planning permissions of ten units or more. I intend that the necessary legislation providing for the introduction of the proposed new "use it or lose it" housing-related planning arrangements will be progressed over the coming months.
14. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to provide social and affordable houses in County Louth over the coming two years in view of the fact that 5,070 persons are now on the housing list in the county and only an additional 222 houses are going through the approval stage at present to be delivered by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17503/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen it comes to specific parts of the Country, such as Louth, each local authority, which is also a housing authority and planning authority, is best placed to understand the local housing need and to target supply, availing of the suite of State supports available and working with delivery partners such as Approved Housing Bodies.
I understand that, based on the most recent data, as of June 2019, there were 1,468 households qualified for social housing support on Louth County Council’s list, a reduction of 43.5% on the 2,600 households qualified for social housing in Louth in 2016.
When it comes to social housing delivery in Louth, over the period 2016 to 2019 some 4,464 additional households were supported under programmes funded by my Department. Of this 982 were under build, acquisition or leasing schemes.
I intend to target new build social housing in particular, and there are big opportunities for Louth. The total established pipeline of activity under Rebuilding Ireland for Louth at end 2019 was some 1,229 homes across 129 sites, consisting of 663 completed homes and 566 more moving through various stages of approval and getting on-site. I want to work with Louth County Council to expand and accelerate this programme.
In terms of affordable housing, I will outline my detailed plans in the Autumn having consulted with delivery partners and reviewed progress to date. I would like to see all local authorities, where there is an affordability challenge, engaging with this process and bringing forward ambitious proposals.
16. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that small, non-profit sports clubs that are licensed to sell alcohol are having in securing an exemption from local authority rates. [17375/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority, who are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes.
In terms of the Deputy's specific query, land that is developed for sport, such as playing pitches, is exempt from rates under the Valuation Act 2001. There is also provision for the exemption of community halls, which are not licensed to sell alcohol and where the facilities are not used for profit.
However, the Act provides that where an organisation or club is registered under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act 1904, and is licensed to sell alcohol, all the club buildings, wherever located, are rateable in their entirety.
As I previously indicated, a waiver of commercial rates was announced earlier this year to all businesses and to the type of clubs referred to by the Deputy, that had been forced to close due to public health requirements, from 27 March 2020, for a three-month period.
It should be noted that in terms of commercial rates, my Department has been working with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a package of support for local authorities and businesses, including those referred to by the Deputy, in terms of the treatment of commercial rates out to the end September, in the context of the July stimulus package.
This package will be considered by Government this afternoon and an announcement will follow.
17. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures being taken to address rentals by a company (details supplied); the regulations being considered by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17661/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 introduced legislative changes last year in relation to the regulation of short-term letting sector through the planning code 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 (RPZs). 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 advertising such properties.
Under Budget 2020, €2.5m was made available to support planning authorities in the implementation and enforcement of the short-term letting legislation. My Department has been in contact with each of the relevant local authorities in which RPZs are located throughout the year, and has requested regular updates on the enforcement and implementation of the Short Term Letting (STL) Regulations. Notwithstanding the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the workforce and workload of local authorities over recent months, as well as on the short-term letting market itself, this enforcement and implementation has continued to the extent possible.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes the specific action to strengthen the regulatory and enforcement mechanisms with regard to short-term lettings, and the approach in this regard will be considered over the coming months.
18. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the development of the marine planning and development Bill 2019. [17638/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Scheme of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill was approved by Government in December 2019 and published by my Department in January this year. This Bill will provide the legislative basis for Ireland's new marine planning regime, which includes forward planning, development management and enforcement.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact this legislation in nine months and this timeframe reflects the priority that this legislation has been accorded.
Since the publication of the General Scheme in January, the focus is on further policy development work on the development of certain aspects of the proposed regime and engagement is continuing with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, other Departments and agencies on the drafting of the legal text.
In terms of next steps, it is intended that Government approval will be sought for certain changes and improvements to the General Scheme. It is further, expected that General Scheme will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme. These are necessary steps to facilitate the conclusion of drafting and the publication of the Bill.
19. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to publish revised terms for the housing incremental purchase scheme 2016 to make it more attractive to persons to purchase their local authority house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17312/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. The legislative underpinning for the Scheme is provided by Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and associated regulations.
As part of a package of social housing reforms, the Programme for Government commits to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their home, but signals changes to the current terms of the Scheme, such as requiring tenants to be in situ for 10 years, reduction of the discount to a maximum of 25%, and providing that local authorities will have the first call on purchase of the house.
In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, a review of the operation of the first 12 months of the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 has been finalised and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations.
I will consider the findings of the Review alongside the commitments in the Programme for Government. The changes outlined in the Programme for Government will necessitate amendments to both primary and secondary legislation and I would hope to be in a position to make those changes as soon as possible.
20. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to address the failure of Bord na Móna to get planning consent to have an orderly wind down of peat harvesting in the coming years. [17132/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that Bord na Móna is currently in the process of applying to obtain the necessary planning consents in terms of its peat extraction activities and that the process is ongoing. In this regard, I understand that Bord na Móna has recently been granted leave by An Bord Pleanála to apply for substitute consent in respect of its peat extraction operations and has subsequently submitted applications to An Bord Pleanála for substitute consent to regularise the planning status of its historic peat extraction.
I note that where substitute consent is granted for such development, this consent only regularises past work that has been carried out. Separate planning permissions for future development, as well as an integrated pollution control (IPC) licences from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), would be required, in addition to the substitute consents. The IPC licencing process is separate from the planning system and is administered by the EPA, which is under the aegis of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 specifically precludes the Minister of Housing, Planning and Local Government from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála, is or may be concerned. Therefore, I am not in a position to comment further on the substitute consent applications or future planning applications by Bord Na Móna.
