Written Answers Nos. 473-497
473. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding the progress which has been made on the national differential rent scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19960/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to bringing forward a package of social housing reforms, which includes standardising the differential rents regime across the country to ensure fairness.
Work on the review of the current rent schemes has been ongoing and I have asked my Department to prepare recommendations regarding the potential for a standardised local authority rents system, which I will consider in due course as part of the package of social housing reforms.
474. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the review of co-living development in his Department; the terms of reference; the person or body undertaking the review; the expected timeline for delivery of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19961/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Programme for Government identifies the need to avoid over-concentration of particular housing types in areas, by requiring local authorities to complete housing need and demand assessments to inform delivery of an appropriate mix of housing typologies to cater for the needs of disparate household types and sizes.
Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, sets 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, which 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.
Between 2018 and June 2020, only a small number of co-living bedspaces were approved by An Bord Pleanála under the Strategic Housing Development application process and there have been no such developments completed in Dublin to date. So this concept represents a very small portion of the housing sector.
Nonetheless, I believe it is important to review the concept of co-living in an Irish context, at this stage, having regard to standards and accommodation needs. I am considering the most appropriate mechanism for doing so.
475. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the grant scheme for local authorities in relation to localised sewerage and wastewater treatment plants; the number of local authorities that have applied for the grant; the number that have been successful; and the applications outstanding. [20034/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume that the Deputy is referring to completed residential estates that are dependent on Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure for their water services.
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.
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 to date.
I expect that the Expert Panel will make recommendations to me shortly 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 the coming weeks.
476. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the additional funding, not already committed, allocated in the July stimulus to small sewerage schemes in villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20053/20]
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.
In relation to the July Jobs Stimulus Package, capital funding being provided to Irish Water will allow for an acceleration of the leakage reduction programme. 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.
The stimulus package also provides funding to Irish Water for use in their capital maintenance programme. This investment will also provide jobs and will improve water and waste water services through the replacement of failed or failing treatment equipment. This will improve operations and improve service to water service users. Allocating funding to this programme ensures that the funding delivers on the objectives of the stimulus package and has the greatest impact on water infrastructure performance and resilience.
In relation to any specific issues, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The Irish Water team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578. Details of all Irish Water’s plans and projects are also available on its website www.water.ie.
477. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on the housing list for County Cavan approved for HAP but not in receipt of same. [20203/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf a household has been 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. The determination of entitlement to HAP, including the assessment of an applicant's means, is governed by the same arrangements as for other social housing supports.
The Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2019, states that the total number of households qualified for Social Housing Support in County Cavan at 24th June 2019 was 608. At end June 2019, there were 322 households actively in receipt of HAP support in County Cavan.
At end June 2020, there were 415 households actively in receipt of HAP support in County Cavan.
478. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are a large number of landlords that are refusing to accept HAP tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20204/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA 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.
The HAP scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2020, nearly 79,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 56,500 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 32,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
479. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the supports his Department will provide to homeless persons that may be approved for HAP but are unable to find accommodation that will accept same. [20205/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Local authorities and their NGO service delivery partners work closely with households in emergency accommodation to help them identify and secure a home under the various social housing supports available.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) provides a flexible housing support to social housing eligible households. The HAP Placefinder service is a targeted support to assist homeless households to identity and secure a HAP-supported tenancy. The Placefinder service provides all local authorities with the option to pay deposits and advance rental payments, where necessary, in order to secure a property.
480. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to planning irregularities at Wicklow County Council; if so, if an investigation will be carried out into the allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20063/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received correspondence in relation to a number of allegations regarding certain matters in County Wicklow, which is being considered.
481. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of plans by Wicklow County Council to build houses on council owned lands at Lott Lane, Kilcoole and Burnaby Mills, Greystones, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20064/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra482. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if it will be ensured that the lands owned by Wicklow County Council at Lott Lane, Kilcoole and Burnaby Mills, Greystones, County Wicklow will be used to develop social housing, affordable rental and affordable purchase homes only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20065/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together.
No funding proposals have been made to my Department in respect of the sites referenced. The advancement of social housing proposals is a matter, in the first instance, for local authorities.
I fully support the development of social and affordable housing on publicly-owned land and my Department will work with local authorities including Wicklow County Council, on their proposals for such projects.
483. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons with disabilities and families including persons with disabilities that were on social housing waiting list for each local authority in the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019; and the number on such a list to 31 May 2020, in tabular form. [20147/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) has been conducted on an annual basis since 2016, prior to which it was carried out once every three years. The last Summary under the triennial approach took place in 2013, and, as there was no assessment carried out in 2014 or 2015, my Department has no data available for those years.
The links to the information requested for the years 2016 to 2019 were provided by my Department in a response to Question No. 1240 of 3 June 2020.
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-06-03/1240/#pq-answers-1240
While the SSHA is normally conducted in or around June, given the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on local authorities and nature of the work involved in conducting the SSHA, the SSHA for 2020 was deferred 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, I have directed local authorities to carry out the SSHA 2020 in November 2020.
497. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the discussions his officials have had with Gas Networks Ireland with regard to the development of data centres in line with the policy of locating them in areas with grid capacity and only in cases in which there is an employment dividend associated with their development; if an evaluation has been conducted by his Department of the estimated impact of all 55 current data centres and the over 30 planned data centres on the daily demand for natural gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20283/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case (including data centres) with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned, except in specific circumstances which do not apply in this case.
As majority-shareholding Minister of Ervia, I have the key decision-making role, including corporate governance responsibility, for Ervia and Gas Networks Ireland in relation to requests for approval on capital expenditure or borrowings by the company. In this regard, NewERA is involved in the provision of financial and commercial advisory services. There have been no discussions between my Department and Gas Networks Ireland with regard to the development of data centres, or any evaluation conducted on the impact in relation to the daily demand for natural gas in this context. My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has responsibility for overall energy policy, including natural gas.
