Written Answers Nos. 145-159
145. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of freedom of information requests being processed by his Department; the number that have had the deadline for reply extended; the number that are at least one week, two weeks, one month and more than one month overdue, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19354/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThirteen freedom of information requests are currently being processed in my Department. Two of these have had the deadline for reply extended; one formally, in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act due to the volume of records involved and one informally, by agreement with the requester. No requests are therefore overdue.
146. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a review of the fire service is to be carried out by the national directorate for fire and emergency management similar to the one carried out by an external validation group in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19362/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the report on the fire service published in 2016 by an external validation group, entitled "Local Delivery – National Consistency", is to be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19363/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
Over the course of 2014/ 2015, an External Validation Group (EVG) commissioned by the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), visited each of the 27 fire services in the country. External validation was a new feedback/ review process, introduced by the “Keeping Communities Safe” policy document in 2013. In April 2016, the NDFEM Management Board published the first EVG Report titled “Fire Services in Ireland - Local Delivery - National Consistency”. The Report is available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/fire-and-emergency-management/fire-services-ireland-local-delivery-national.
This first EVG report was a welcome benchmark of local authority provision of fire services in Ireland, and reviewed a number of themes. For the first time, it reported on the matching of provision of fire services with assessed fire risk. It reviewed fire safety work and undertook an assessment of the impact of national guidance on safety, health and welfare of staff in fire services. The Report concluded that the public are served well by the locally authority provided fire service arrangements and can retain confidence in the integrity and professionalism of those with responsibility for managing and delivering fire safety and fire services in Ireland.
In May 2019, the Management Board of NDFEM authorised a proposal for a second round of external validation, or EVG II. Stakeholder engagement was undertaken in preparation for a thematic review process, which was scheduled to commence in Q1 2020. However, due to Covid-19, the Board made a decision to postpone this process.
As an alternative, the Board mandated staff in the NDFEM to undertake a review of the impact of Covid-19 on local authority fire service resilience and response, as well as on fire safety work and to look at fire services roles in supporting Covid-related emergency management. The objective is to capture lessons, issues arising and good practice which worked during the first phase of Covid-19 response, so that essential services can continue to be maintained if there are further surges.
This review is currently under way by means of ‘virtual visits’ (i.e. by Webex link) to each of the 27 fire services and three Regional Communications Centres. This ‘virtual’ process is being undertaken by an NDFEM team, working in association with Chief Fire Officers and their staff and local authority executives. Fourteen of the thirty ‘virtual visits’ will be complete by 31 July 2020, and the remaining virtual visits are scheduled for completion by the end of September 2020. A composite report on themes related to of the impact of Covid-19 on fire services will be compiled and presented to the NDFEM Management Board in Q4 2020.
The position in relation to EVG II will be kept under review by the NDFEM Management Board following completion of this virtual process and in light of the evolving Covid-19 situation.
148. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a list of the 2,000 void social housing units being targeted in the July stimulus package by local authorities will be provided; if the €30 million allocation is in addition to the capital allocation for social housing agreed in budget 2020; and if not, if it is a reprofiling of existing capital funding from new build to void refurbishment in tabular form. [19379/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing engagement at sectoral level with local authorities regarding the nationwide voids programme under the July stimulus the call for detailed proposals will issue imminently to individual local authorities.
149. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the shovel-ready projects being funded under the announced €30 million additional funding for Irish Water as part of the July stimulus package. [19380/20]
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 levels.
In relation to the July Jobs Stimulus Package, the additional capital funding is to be provided to Irish Water to will allow for an acceleration of the leakage reduction programme. Funding for the leakage reduction programme is being provided in recognition of the fact that Ireland’s leakage rate is not sustainable. This will lead to activity across all 26 counties and allow for the creation of up to 350 jobs. Works under this programme will be split across urban and remote locations.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
150. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount that has been made available for housing adaptation grants for older people in each of the years since 2016 to date; the amount that was availed of in each year by county; the amount remaining for the scheme in 2020; if funding will be affected due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19392/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, up to 2018, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
The following table contains details of the exchequer funding drawn down by local authorities for the grants up to 31 December 2019, and up to 30 June 2020. Each local authority provides an additional 20% own contribution.
|
Local Authority |
Exchequer Drawdown to 31 December 2019 |
Exchequer Drawdown to 30 June 2020 |
|
Carlow |
€1,337,450 |
€483,281 |
|
Cavan |
€992,380 |
€181,975 |
|
Clare |
€2,399,552 |
€0 |
|
Cork |
€4,323,799 |
€744,336 |
|
Cork City |
€981,908 |
€186,807 |
|
Donegal |
€1,333,144 |
€458,247 |
|
Dublin City |
€7,395,113 |
€2,497,418 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
€1,159,572 |
€288,691 |
|
Fingal |
€2,043,228 |
€479,363 |
|
Galway |
€1,695,312 |
€566,522 |
|
Galway City |
€807,777 |
€267,888 |
|
Kerry |
€2,549,136 |
€947,815 |
|
Kildare |
€2,497,750 |
€409,619 |
|
Kilkenny |
€1,526,314 |
€604,864 |
|
Laois |
€820,976 |
€46,120 |
|
Leitrim |
€154,738 |
€82,961 |
|
Limerick |
€2,659,000 |
€624,758 |
|
Longford |
€575,984 |
€68,954 |
|
Louth |
€1,176,836 |
€323,687 |
|
Mayo |
€1,853,661 |
€496,847 |
|
Meath |
€2,000,215 |
€427,130 |
|
Monaghan |
€1,451,430 |
€1,023,648 |
|
Offaly |
€1,294,412 |
€0 |
|
Roscommon |
€1,075,381 |
€52,750 |
|
Sligo |
€1,162,243 |
€152,557 |
|
South Dublin |
€1,785,306 |
€931,033 |
|
Tipperary |
€2,944,856 |
€1,005,290 |
|
Waterford |
€1,220,152 |
€454,325 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,043,669 |
€184,889 |
|
Wexford |
€1,896,870 |
€718,836 |
|
Wicklow |
€1,108,370 |
€292,541 |
For 2020, a total of €73.75 million has been provided for the Scheme. The level of funding available under the Scheme has not been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic but programmes at local level may have been impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.
151. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the concerns regarding the way in which funding is being provided for private nursing home admissions rather than providing 100% home adaptation grants, which could assist persons to continue living in their own homes; his views on the cost benefits of providing 100% home adaptation grants as an alternative to avoidable nursing home admissions; his plans to introduce a 100% home adaptation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19393/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability currently provides up to 95% grant funding under the Scheme. The Scheme facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes.
Funding of €73.75 million is available nationally in 2020 and has been increasing year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to funding in future years in line with the Policy Statement on Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, which is available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/housingoptionsforanageingpopulationeng_web.pdf.
152. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to Wexford County Council in order to deal with the impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19429/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra156. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each local authority under the Covid-19 support scheme for local authorities; the estimated deficit expected for each local authority in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19433/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra160. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding that has been allocated to Cork City Council in order to deal with the impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19483/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding allocated to each local authority under the Covid-19 support scheme for local authorities; the deficit expected for each local authority in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19487/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 156, 160 and 164 together.
In terms of measures taken by my Department to assist local authorities with the financial challenges they are experiencing since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, as a short term measure €136 million was made available to local authorities as cash flow support in early April, in order to ensure that vital services that local authorities deliver could be maintained. This support comprised an early payment of the Local Property Tax (LPT) allocation ordinarily paid from the Local Government Fund in May and July. Further to these measures, my Department arranged for the payment of 50% of each local authority’s individual Payroll and PSPR allocation, amounting to €54.8m, in mid-June. This interim payment would ordinarily be paid later in July.
To support both the local government sector and the ratepayers impacted, €600m has been allocated by Government to fund the cost of a waiver of commercial rates for six months to the end of September 2020 for eligible businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will take the form of a credit in lieu of rates.
It is recognised that additional costs are being incurred by local authorities in relation to Covid-19. Local authorities have been advised to capture all related costs in their financial systems to aid future financial analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on the local government sector. The full financial impacts and estimated potential deficits for 2020 have not yet been fully quantified by the local authorities. In order to support the sector generally, my Department continues to keep local authority income, expenditure and cash flow under review and will continue to work with all local authorities, both collectively and individually, on issues arising, including those issues facing both Cork City Council and Wexford County Council.
153. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of affordable homes built in County Wexford in each of the past five years; the amount planned for 2020; the funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19430/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 in 14 local authority areas, which will assist in the delivery of almost 3,200 affordable homes.
Wexford County Council submitted one project application for a development in Ramsfort Park in Gorey and received approval in principle for funding to provide infrastructure works that will assist in the delivery of 35 affordable units. Details can be found at the following link:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/.
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". 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.
154. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average length of time spent on the social housing list in County Wexford; his plans to reduce the times; the number on the social housing list in each of the past 12 months and each month to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19431/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra162. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average length of time spent on the social housing list in north central areas of County Cork; his plans to reduce these times; the number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months and each month of 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19485/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 162 together.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The purpose of the SSHA is to capture the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need has not yet been met, in order to better inform policy and plan for the delivery of the right types of housing support.
The most recent summary, conducted in June 2019, shows that 68,693 households were assessed as qualified for and being in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 3,165 households or 4.4% on the last assessment in June 2018. Since 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 68,693, a reduction of 25%.
Below is the link to the summary report for 2019 which includes breakdowns by each local authority, across a range of categories. SSHA data is collected and collated at local authority level and therefore a breakdown of the numbers by electoral area cannot be provided. Details on the length of time spent on the record of qualified households (waiting lists) can be found at tables 2.8 and A1.8 of the report, although it does not record data on a month by month basis in the manner sought.
In relation to the questions posed by the Deputy's regarding the average time spent on the housing list, information of this specific type is not held by my Department.
Report 2019
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2019_dec_2019_web_1.pdf.
With regards to the SSHA process for 2020, given the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on local authorities and nature of the work involved in conducting the SSHA, it has been decided to defer the commencement of the SSHA process to allow local authorities to continue to focus their resources on immediate priorities. However, recognising that the SSHA is a very important part of the evidence base for housing policy at both local authority and national level, the deferment will be reviewed periodically and it is intended that it will be commenced as soon as is practicable.
155. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans in County Wexford; the number that have been successful; the number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19432/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
I have asked the Agency to compile figures on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and recommended for approval/decline for Wexford County Council. The most recent figures, as at the end of June 2020, indicate that of the 209 applications assessed by it since the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme launched, the Agency had recommended 97 applications for approval and 112 for decline.
The next stages in the process are approval by and drawdown from the local authority.
My Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2019, including the number and value of mortgage approvals and drawdowns, as well as average loan amounts, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity
Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2018 is also available through this link and can be found under local authority loans approved and local authority loans paid, however these figures are not detailed by loan type. My Department recently issued data requests for the first two quarters of 2020 and more up to date figures will be made available in due course, as additional data is compiled.
157. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has invited Wexford County Council to make an application for the vacant properties voids programme; if such an application has been submitted; the amount of funding he plans to allocate to the authority; the time frame for release of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19434/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
In relation to the Voids Programme for 2020 and arising from the impact of COVID-19, there was an initial call for proposals for COVID-19 Voids funding. Vacant units funded by my Department were required for the emergency accommodation of qualified households arising from the need to prevent, limit, minimise or slow the spread of COVID-19. Wexford County Council submitted 6 properties for assessment in relation to this programme and my Department approved funding of €74,910 to return all 6 units.
I announced on the 23rd of July, as part of the Stimulus, additional funding for the Voids programme. A call for proposals encompassing this will issue to all local authorities imminently.
It is also important that local authorities increasingly move toward a preventative maintenance approach to the management of their housing stock and my Department is working with local authorities to this end.
158. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in County Wexford that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19435/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of businesses in north-central areas of County Cork that have had their rates waived; the number that have requested a waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19489/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 166 together.
The levying and collection of rates are legally matters for each individual local authority. Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes.
An initial three-month waiver of rates for businesses forced to close business due to COVID-19 was announced in early May.
In order to enhance the supports available for enterprise, and in recognition of the fact that not only have many ratepayers been forced to close business due to the public health requirements, but many others who remained open have suffered significant reductions in turnover, this waiver has now been extended for a duration of six months to the end of September and the categories of enterprise who will be eligible to avail of it has been expanded.
The implementation of this waiver is a matter for local authorities and accordingly, the information sought in the question is not available in my Department.
A 100% waiver will be applied to all businesses, for a six-month period to the end of September, with the exclusion of a small number of categories. The rationale for the exclusion of certain categories of ratepayers is that their operations were not as severely impacted by the pandemic, coupled with the need to direct resources appropriately.
To support both the local government sector and the ratepayers impacted, €600m has been allocated by Government to fund the cost of a waiver of commercial rates for six months for eligible businesses impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. This will take the form of a credit in lieu of rates.
The Credit in Lieu of Commercial Rates shall be administered by Local Authorities.
Credits in lieu of commercial rates applied to ratepayer accounts under this scheme shall be applied as a credit on the rate bill for 2020. Local authorities should automatically apply a 100% credit in lieu of commercial rates, for a six-month period, to classes and categories of occupied rateable property where the occupying business is not in an excluded category.
159. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to expand the criteria to protect more trees on private and public land; if he will issue a national directive to oblige counties to develop a tree management strategy; his further plans to develop a national tree plan to streamline tree preservation orders across each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19454/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetailed provisions in relation to the preservation of trees are set out in section 205 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Under these provisions, planning authorities may - where it appears to them to be expedient in the interests of amenity or the environment - make a tree preservation order (TPO) in respect of any tree, trees, group of trees or woodlands specified in the order. The principle effect of a TPO is to prohibit the cutting down, topping, lopping or wilful destruction of trees without the planning authority’s consent. The order can also require the owner and occupier of the land subject to the order to enter into an agreement with the planning authority to ensure the proper management of the tree, trees or woodland in question.
Where a planning authority proposes to make a TPO, it shall serve a notice on the owner and occupier of the land affected by the proposed TPO and publish notice of the proposed TPO in a local newspaper. The notice shall detail the planning authority’s proposed TPO, state that submissions or observations made within 6 weeks of the notice shall be taken into consideration by the planning authority in its final determination on the order, and that any person who contravenes an order or proposed order shall be guilty of an offence. A planning authority may also amend or revoke a TPO by following the same procedures. A TPO shall not apply to the cutting down, topping or lopping of trees which are dying, dead, or have become dangerous, a nuisance or hazard. Planning authorities are required to enter details of TPOs in their planning registers.
The development and oversight of the implementation of TPOs are a matter for the individual planning authorities in whose functional areas relevant trees or woodland are located. I have no current plans to amend the legislative provisions in this regard.
