Written Answers Nos. 315-334
315. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici dul i gcomhairle leis na páirtithe leasmhara sula bhfoilsíonn sí an plean cuimsitheach tarrthála i ndiaidh Covid-19 go luath. [19175/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs cuid thábhachtach d'oidhreacht an Stáit iad cúrsaí turasóireachta, cultúir, spóirt agus Gaeltachta, agus is cinnte go raibh siad buailte mar thoradh ar COVID 19. Ó thárla an ghéarchéim, bíonn teagmháil leanúnach ag oifigigh mo Roinne leis na hoifigigh chuí faoin tionchar a d’fhéadfadh an ghéarchéim a imirt ar hearnáil seo. Tá agus beidh teagmháil leanúnach ag mo Roinn leis na heagraíochtaí maoinithe agus páirtithe leasmhara agus muid ag dul i ngleic le COVID 19.
Mar is eol don Teachta, fógraíodh réimse cruthaitheach de thacaíochtaí agus deontais d'earnálacha Meán, Turasóireachta, Ealaíon, Cultúir, Spóirt agus Gaeltachta na hÉireann an tseachtain seo caite. Tá na sonraí mar a bhaineann siad le mo Roinn ar fáil anseo: https://www.chg.gov.ie/ga/jobsstimulus/.
316. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta chun na hallaí pobail atá tar éis cúnamh airgead a fháil de thairbhe ar Covid-19 I mbliana, agus luach an deontas sin. [19176/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs tríd an Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga a chuireann mo Roinn tacaíocht airgid ar fáil chun áiseanna pobail, teanga agus caitheamh aimsire a thógáil nó a uasghrádú sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Déantar é sin mar thaca breise d'fheidhmiú an phróisis pleanála teanga atá faoi lán seoil anois sa Ghaeltacht.
Cé nach bhfuil aon scéim ná ciste ag mo Roinn faoina bhféadfaí cúnamh reatha a chur ar fáil do hallaí agus ionaid phobail, is féidir a bheith cinnte go leanfaidh mo Roinn ag cabhrú mar is cuí le cúnamh caipitil a chur ar fáil faoin gclár ar leas na hallaí agus ionaid pobail.
Ag aithint, ar ndóigh, go bhfuil rath chóras na gcoláistí agus na n-ionad pobail sa Ghaeltacht ag brath ar a chéile, chas oifigigh mo Roinne le toscaireacht ó hallaí pobail i nGaeltacht Chonamara le gairid agus pléadh na hábhair imní atá acu. Beidh an scéal ar fad á choinneáil faoi bhreithniú ag mo chuid oifigigh agus tuigim go bhfuil beartaithe cruinniú eile a shocrú go luath.
318. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to assist young artists with their professional development in view of the significant financial constraints placed on the arts sector due to Covid-19 resulting in difficulties for younger and emerging talent to find work and develop professionally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19179/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary support for the arts in Ireland is delivered by the Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003.
In June, the Government made an additional €20 million available to the Arts Council. In last week’s the Stimulus, I announced further increase funding to the Arts Council bringing the 2020 allocation to a total of €105 million.
I understand that the Arts Council plans to invest the additional resources in enhanced bursaries, commissions, projects and other supports for individual artists and practitioners, and in the arts organisations through which much of the work is made. In this way additional funding for the Arts Council will be targeted at protecting jobs and livelihoods of artists as well as helping arts organisations facing financial difficulties. Further information and application details are available at http://www.artscouncil.ie/available-funding/. I was pleased to visit the Arts Council today, to mark the announcement of its award of Next Generation bursaries to 23 artists from across the country practicing a wide range of disciplines from music and dance to film, theatre and literature. The bursary is targeted at artists at an early, pivotal point in their careers, allowing them time to develop their practice.
The Creative Youth Plan under the Creative Ireland Programme commits to increase and enhance access to a range of creative and cultural activities and practices for young people including pilot projects aimed at increasing and enhancing access to drama and group singing activities in partnership with Youth Theatre Ireland and Sing Ireland.
The July Stimulus also included a €200 million investment in training and education, skills development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies, job search and assistance measures to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain, or develop new skills. Details can be accessed on gov.ie at the following link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/1fe6e-helping-people-especially-young-people-get-back-to-work/.
319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he expects to progress the provision of a new bridge to cross the River Liffey in Celbridge, County Kildare (details supplied); if new and up to date plans can be formulated as a matter of urgency to provide the facilities in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18178/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of this first tranche of approvals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Kildare County Council was allocated URDF support of €400,000 to support its proposed work to progress the technical and preparatory element of the Celbridge Southern Relief Road & Second Liffey Crossing. The advancement and completion of this project is, in the first instance, a matter for Kildare County Council.
Kildare County Council has recently submitted an application under Call 2 of the Fund seeking continued URDF support to advance the further development of the project. The closing date for applications under Call 2 was 29 May.
A large number of proposals were received under Call 2, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support. Due to the nature of the URDF programme the proposals are very complex, and each will require detailed assessment. The assessment process will take place over the coming months with the intention that a new tranche of approved proposals, which will augment the existing pipeline of projects from Call 1 and contribute to the achievement of NPF objectives, will be announced later in the year.
320. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which relief road proposals scheduled for Maynooth, County Kildare continue to remain on target in order to facilitate the growing population and traffic flows which continues to be affected by population overspill from Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18643/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraKildare County Council has received approval for exchequer grant funding of €10,800,000 under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to support its completion of the Maynooth Eastern Relief Road and Bridge Crossing Railway and Royal Canal. 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.
The Maynooth Eastern Relief Road is intended to facilitate the delivery of approximately 800 homes. Kildare County Council has confirmed to the Department that the infrastructure works are currently at detailed design stage. It is the responsibility of Kildare County Council to progress the project and the Council has confirmed that it is working to advance this project.
321. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated full-year revenue in 2021 that would be raised by increasing the vacant site levy to 10%, 12.5%, 15% and 17.5%, respectively. [18769/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department proactively engages with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, the Department issued Circular Letter PL 08/2020 on 9 June 2020 requesting the submission of a further progress report on the implementation of the levy by each local authority.
The Department received a return from each of the 31 local authorities which indicated that as of 1 January 2020 there were 369 sites listed on local authority registers. These sites will be levied at 7% market valuation rate in 2021 unless works commence in the interim or their inclusion on the registers is successfully appealed.
The specific information sought by the Deputy in relation to the amount of the levy that would be raised in 2021 is not available in my Department as it does not have market valuation information for all of the 369 registered sites.
However, based on the information from the recent progress reports which showed that there were 211 sites with market valuations of €237.3m listed on local authority registers on 1 January 2019 and were liable to the levy in 2020, it is estimated that the levy proceeds nationally for 2021 could be of the order of:
- €23.7m at a rate of 10%,
- €29.6m at a rate of 12.5%,
- €35.59m at a rate of 15% and
- €41.5m at a rate of 17.5%.
As indicated, this estimate for 2021 is based on the number of sites that had market valuations attached and were liable to the levy in 2020. The number of registered sites with market valuations attached has since increased; however the information in this regard is not currently available in my Department. The inclusion of these additional sites in respect of which market valuations have since been obtained would result in a higher yield in the estimated levy proceeds nationally for 2021 than that indicated above.
The levy is not intended to be a revenue generating measure with the proceeds accruing to the relevant local authority rather than the Exchequer. The levy proceeds generated are specifically intended to be used by local authorities for the provision of housing and regeneration development in the local area in which vacant sites are located. No more than 10% of the levy monies received by planning authorities may be used on their administration costs in collecting the levy.
322. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be allocated to a project (details supplied). [18931/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the funding of the maintenance and repair of weirs is not a matter that falls within the remit of this Department, and it has no specific funding line for such projects, it is appreciated that this is a very important project for Cork County Council and the community of Fermoy, in particular.
In view of the strategic importance of this project from an economic, social and environmental perspective, a strictly once off exceptional payment of €175,000 to Cork County Council was sanctioned by the previous Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government from the Local Government Fund on the 17 September 2019. However, the approved allocation has yet to be drawn down by Cork County Council. My Department remains committed to this level of support in 2020.
323. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of income thresholds to qualify for a place on a local authority housing list will be complete; when the review will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17968/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas.
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 are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%; and 2.5% for each child, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%.
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 underway. 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.
324. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for a rural resettlement scheme. [17969/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including the introduction of a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority list to another.
It should be noted that the four Dublin local authorities already co-operate in arrangements that enable social housing applicants to apply for housing in one or two of the other Dublin authorities simultaneously. Similar arrangements apply in the two Cork and two Galway local authorities. It is also already possible for households to move and relocate between housing authority areas under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme where the household income is within the appropriate income limits.
The issue of providing for wider movements for social housing applicants is being examined and I will look at proposals in relation to such wider movement along with the other reform package measures. I do not have current plans for a rural resettlement scheme beyond extending mobility for social housing applicants.
325. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the basis on which a person can be refused a HAP tenancy due to the fact they have a close family connection with a prospective tenant or landlord; the definition applied to close family connection or relative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17987/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra356. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider a scheme in which a HAP-type payment can be made to parents whose adult children that qualify for HAP reside or return to the family dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18868/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 356 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme is deemed to be a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. As a long term housing support, an assessment of housing need must be completed in order for a household to qualify for HAP. Any household with an identified housing need is eligible for HAP.
In order for housing assistance to be provided under the Act the housing authority must be satisfied that the tenancy concerned is or would be a tenancy in good faith. Where there is a family relationship between the tenant and the landlord, the housing authority may seek evidence of a previous landlord and tenant relationship between a landlord and the HAP applicant. This evidence may include:
- Proof of rent payments;
- A lease or tenancy agreement for the property; and
- Registration of the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board.
HAP support is available to tenants in rent a room scheme arrangements, however, the rental of a room to a civil partner, son or daughter is excluded from this scheme. HAP cannot be paid where the tenant is seeking to rent within the family home.
In order for a housing authority to be satisfied that a tenancy is or would be in good faith; the onus is on the applicant and landlord to prove that what is being proposed is a bona fide tenancy. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the housing authority to make a decision in each individual case.
326. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households that each local authority has removed from the housing list as a result of not responding to the housing needs assessment in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18006/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe oversight and management of the lists of qualified households awaiting accommodation, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with Sections 20 and 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment and Allocation Regulations, respectively.
Under Regulation 28 of the Assessment Regulations, a household’s qualification for support may be reviewed at the discretion of a local authority and Regulation 29 provides that the household’s qualification for support shall be reassessed at the point of allocation of support. If upon review, a household is found to exceed the limits on income eligibility grounds, for example, they would be removed from the list.
Furthermore, authorities are also required, when directed by the Minister, to undertake a statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) to count the number of households on the waiting list for social housing supports whose need has not yet been met. The SSHA process requires all local authorities to review those households who are on their housing list but who are not currently in receipt of housing support.
As part of this assessment, all local authorities write to relevant households informing them of the assessment process and seeking updated information where necessary. Where a number of attempts to contact a household fail to elicit a response, authorities are advised that it is not unreasonable to then close the household’s application. However, local authorities are also advised that should the household subsequently respond with the information required within a reasonable time, the application could be re-activated.
The SSHA has been conducted on an annual basis since 2016, prior to which it was carried out once every three years, with the last Summary under this approach having taken place in 2013. Complete national data on the number of households removed from housing lists due to not responding to local authorities in 2016-2018 is not available. However, data for 2019 indicated that just over 2,000 households were removed from the list as part of the 2019 process for failure to engage with the local authority by the relevant date. My Department does not have data as to how many were subsequently reinstated due to contact with the local authority after the date of the SSHA count.
327. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a householder in a multiple development has to have a valid management company in place for the management of the estate in which they are resident in order to apply for the MICA redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18104/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Regulations underpinning the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme do not stipulate that a management company must be in place for qualifying multi-occupancy dwellings. However, applications for such dwellings can only be dealt with collectively, with the cooperation and involvement of all owners.
The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for HAP in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18137/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. In order to be eligible for HAP support, a household must first qualify for social housing support through 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.
Regulation 12 of the 2011 Regulations prescribes the timescales for the processing of applications by local authorities. Once a household is deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority.
Therefore it is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority to process individual applications in accordance with the statutory requirements. As Minister, I am precluded from involvement in individual cases.
329. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the options available for persons who do not qualify for social housing support but are not able to obtain a mortgage to purchase a home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18152/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra352. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if provision will be made for persons just over the threshold for social housing; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an affordable house costing €350,000 is out of the reach of most ordinary families [18674/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 352 together.
This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’. We will put affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing. Affordable Purchase and Cost Rental homes will be delivered on State and public lands through a number of channels, including by local authorities and the Land Development Agency.
Under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), €310 million has been allocated to provide infrastructure to support the delivery of more affordable homes on local authority lands. With a maximum of €50,000 funding available per home, at least 6,200 more affordable homes, to buy or rent, can be facilitated. To date, Serviced Sites Funding of €127 million has been approved in principle in support of 35 projects across 14 local authorities which have the capacity to deliver 3,200 more affordable homes. Details of these projects can be found at the following links;
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-gives-the-go-ahead-for-ten-local-authority-sites-for-affordable-housing-under-the-serviced-sites-fund/
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/.
The Programme for Government also commits to the development of a new Cost Rental sector in Ireland, whereby the rents charged will cover the cost of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes only. The target cohort for Cost Rental has been defined as moderate-income households above the income limits for social housing supports.
A working group has been examining the most appropriate model for delivering Cost Rental, including the use of public land, appropriate Exchequer inputs, and operational matters such as tenant eligibility. I expect the initial findings of this group to be completed within the coming months, which will allow us to expand on three pilot developments currently being progressed in Enniskerry Road, Shangannagh and Emmet Road Dublin.
Other measures such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the Rebuilding Ireland Homeloan are also available to eligible purchasers nationally to make home ownership more affordable. As part of the €7 billion July stimulus plan, my colleague the Minister for Finance recently confirmed an enhanced version of the Help-to-Buy scheme. This will allow first-time buyers purchasing a newly-built home – or building one themselves – to claim back up to €30,000 in income tax paid and DIRT on bank deposit interest over the last four years. Full details of the Help to Buy initiative are available at https://www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.
The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage which is for first-time-buyers nationwide to purchase a new or second-hand home or to self-build. This scheme offers loans on competitive terms to those who are unable to secure a commercial bank loan. Full details of the scheme are available at http://rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie.
In terms of affordable housing more generally, I will outline my detailed plans in the Autumn, taking account of progress to date under the SSF, other measures and the input of key delivery partners.
330. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the additional level of support that will be provided to Irish Water to enable the Carrigtwohill wastewater treatment plant to take wastewater overflow from the Midleton area of County Cork in order to facilitate increased local housing development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18163/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level. Irish Water as a single national water services authority is taking a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements.
In relation to overall funding, my Department approved Irish Water's Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 on 7 November 2018, following its consideration by Government. The Strategic Funding Plan sets out Irish Water’s multi-annual strategic business plan funding requirement of €11bn to 2024, comprised of a €6.1bn investment in infrastructure and assets and €4.9bn in operating costs. The Strategic Funding Plan is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/irish_water_strategic_funding_plan.pdf.
The funding plan in turn was developed in the context of the Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025, which my Department published in 2018 following its approval by Government. The Policy Statement gives clear direction to strategic planning and decision making on water and wastewater services in Ireland. The Policy Statement sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across the three thematic areas of Quality, Conservation, and Future Proofing, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans. The Policy Statement is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/water_services_policy_statement_2018-2025_0.pdf.
In addition to the above, Irish Water is also regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as the independent economic regulator. The CRU is responsible for setting the total level of revenue which Irish Water can receive, through Government subvention and from customers, to cover its efficiently incurred costs. This CRU process involves, inter alia, reviewing submissions from Irish Water, including on its capital investment plan for the five year period from 2020 to 2024 to support Irish Water’s strategic objectives, as set out in the Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP) and its Strategic Funding Plan, and thereafter setting appropriate revenue allowances for operating costs, capital costs and other items for given regulatory periods. The actual allowed operational expenditure and capital investment is therefore decided by the CRU as part of the economic regulatory process and the annual budgetary and estimates process in respect of domestic water services.
The prioritisation and progression of individual projects, including the one referred to in the question, is a matter for determination by Irish Water within this overall funding regime.
The CRU is due to shortly make its full determination on Irish Water's total capital allowance for the period 2020-24. Exchequer funding is provided to Irish Water for the provision of domestic water services. Irish Water's annual Exchequer funding amount is determined through the estimates and budgetary process, having regard to the forthcoming CRU revenue determination.
331. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of affordable houses he plans to deliver by year in County Monaghan over the course of the Programme for Government; and if he will provide his definition of affordable. [18266/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase in the State is Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Whilst there is no universally applicable definition of affordability, the legislation provides for this assessment by considering whether the mortgage repayments on a home that meets the accommodation needs of a household would exceed 35% of that household's net income.
To support the delivery of more affordable homes, under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), €310 million is available to provide facilitating infrastructure on local authority lands. With a maximum of €50,000 funding available per home, at least 6,200 more affordable homes, to buy or rent, can be facilitated. To date, Serviced Sites Funding of €127 million has been approved in principle in support of 35 projects in 14 local authority areas, which will assist in the delivery of almost 3,200 affordable homes.
All SSF proposals are considered on the basis of economic analyses submitted by local authorities. These are undertaken to confirm affordability challenges in a given area, project viability, and the ability to deliver affordable homes with at least a 10% discount on open market values.
Whilst an economic assessment was submitted to my Department by Monaghan County Council in December 2018, it did not indicate that affordability was a significant problem in the local authority area at that time.
In terms of affordable housing more generally, I will outline my detailed plans in the Autumn, taking account of progress to date under the SSF, other measures and the input of key delivery partners.
332. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of active rental accommodation scheme tenancies in place. [18352/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 31 December 2019, there were 18,154 active tenancies supported under the Rental Accommodation Scheme.
333. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the guidelines in place on maintaining uniformity of appearance in housing estates and to prevent areas deteriorating in terms of visual amenity over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18357/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas and an accompanying Design Manual in 2009. These are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad%2C19164%2Cen.pdf
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad,19216,en.pdf.
These guidelines put in place a framework for planning authorities to consider residential development applications. The design manual criteria provide a robust framework in which proposals for the design of residential development can be discussed between the developer’s design team and the planning authority at pre-application consultations.
Under normal circumstances the developer is legally responsible for the operation of housing estates and for maintenance of roads and footpaths, water services, public lighting and open space, until the local authority agrees to take them in charge, the procedures for which are set out in section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). However, it is a matter for property owners to maintain their properties in an appropriate fashion.
Local authorities are responsible, under the Housing Acts 1966-2014, for the management and maintenance of their housing stock and the management of their estates.
334. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the engagement he has had with each local authority; and the confirmed targets for social housing for each local authority for the remainder of 2020, in tabular form. [18360/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2018, 4 year overall social housing delivery targets were set for each local authority to end 2021. These targets, broken down by local authority, can be accessed at the following link:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
Since coming into Office I have met collectively with the Chief Executives of local authorities and I have established a Top Level Group of social housing delivery partners, including local authorities, to immediately focus on delivery in 2020 taking account of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions.
