Written Answers Nos. 73-100
73. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her plans to appoint a nominee from the commercial live events sector onto the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25712/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently met with the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) which is composed of the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland, the Event Production Industry COVID19 working group (EPIC), the Association of Irish Festival Events, the Association of Irish Stage Technicians, the Event Industry Association of Ireland as well as the Event Industry Ireland (EII), Irish Showman’s Guild (ISG), Entertainer’s Ireland Stand Together (EIST) and Irish Inflatables Hirers Federation (IIHF) groupings.
At this meeting, I heard first hand the concerns of the events industry which includes the commercial live music performance sector. I am eager to get our musicians, our performers and all their behind-the-scenes technical support people back to earning a living and doing what they do so well.
In announcing members of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, I have included representation from the Events Industry Alliance . The taskforce will prepare a report including a set of recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector includes culture, the arts, the audio-visual industry and the live entertainment industry. I look forward to receiving the Taskforce report.
74. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the current policy regarding the archiving of works of art or monuments owned by the State and State institutions or in their trust; the cost of such archiving; if there are set parameters on the way in which and when such pieces may be on public display; and her views on potential damage to the items in view of the conditions in which they are held or stored. [25728/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is an enormous range and diversity of works of art, monuments and other artefacts in the national collections and in or under the care of State bodies. Each institution and agency would have compiled listings and certain information in relation to their holdings and interests over many years. These records would not be in a standardised format and may not be fully digitised for online review. I am aware that several programmes of digitisation have been accelerated by institutions who have sought to enhance their online services in response to restrictions on visitors arising from the COVID control guidelines.
The cost of archive development would relate directly to the quality that would be specified for each item, ranging from a simple listing to include images and ultimately the virtual viewing possibility to rotate and manipulate artefacts online. Given the scale and dispersed nature of the national collections, there is no single project or cost associated with these activities.
Of necessity, only a small proportion of the national collections are available for viewing by the public at any time. Special and temporary exhibitions are arranged from time to time that enable some other pieces to be seen. These arrangements for display are matters in the first instance for the Boards and management of the institutional holders.
The Programme for Government reaffirms the Government's commitment to a €460m programme of capital investment in our National Cultural Institutions (NCIs). Work already completed at the National Library of Ireland has seen an important part of the national collection stored under improved conditions. My Department is engaged on an ongoing basis with the NCIs on the implementation of this programme of works.
76. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the amount it would cost in 2021 if the budget for Screen Ireland increased by 10%. [25747/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn budget 2020, Screen Ireland was allocated €21.066 million. A 10% increase on this would amount to an additional allocation of €2.1 million. As part of the July Jobs Stimulus in 2020, I announced details of an additional €3 million to be made available to Screen Ireland to support TV drama and €5 million to be administered by Screen Ireland as part of a pilot performance and production support package. A further 10% on this additional monies would give rise to a further cost of €0.8 million.
77. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if Údarás na Gaeltachta will provide grant aid to a business (details supplied) in County Kerry for roof repairs to its premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25866/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraÚdarás na Gaeltachta can offer qualifying businesses and companies from various sectors a range of incentives and supports to start up, develop, expand or locate in a Gaeltacht region. The organisation supports businesses of all sizes from micro to small and medium enterprises to larger scale international companies.
Údarás na Gaeltachta can assist businesses across a range of qualifying commercial sectors including – life sciences, ICT, tourism, fish processing and aquaculture, internationally traded services, renewable energy, food, niche manufacturing, audio visual and digital media, arts and crafts.
Supports offered by Údarás na Gaeltachta must comply with various rules and regulations including state aid rules.
Based on the details supplied by the Deputy, it would seem that the building in question is in private ownership and that the business in question is in the retail/service sector. Therefore, in accordance with state aid rules, it is not within the scope or remit of Údarás na Gaeltachta to provide support to this business for repairs to its premises.
78. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her plans to continue to support independent producers of content for the audio-visual sector in 2021. [25900/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her views on the establishment of an insurance bond scheme for the audio-visual sector. [25901/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government continues to support the audiovisual sector, including independent producers of content, through a range of measures including section 481 tax relief, international film co-production treaties, an annual international programme of Irish film festivals, and through engaging high-profile talent to project a positive image of Ireland and reflect Ireland as a creative place. Strategic Government investment is provided to Screen Ireland whose statutory remit is to assist and encourage the making of film in the State and the development of a film industry in Ireland. It supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects.
Screen Ireland introduced a number of stimulus measures to support the sector in response to the effects of COVID19. These new measures included practical supports and were designed to aid production companies and creative talent in developing a strong slate of quality projects, so that the industry can emerge from the current situation in a position to scale up production activity. Over the past number of years, the Department has continued to increase the level of support provided to Screen Ireland, allocating €17.2million in capital funding to Screen Ireland for 2020. In July 2020, as part of the July Jobs Stimulus, I announced additional supports for the sector to be administered through Screen Ireland, including €5 million to form a pilot €10 million Performance and Production Support Package fund; a further €2 million for the next round of the Sound and Vision fund which is administered through the BAI and a new €3 million TV Drama Fund administered by Screen Ireland which will support the production of new Irish TV drama content in line with the Government’s Audiovisual Action Plan.
The Audiovisual Action Plan under Pillar 4 of the Creative Ireland programme is designed to deliver on ambitions to make Ireland a leader in the audiovisual sector. A number of important recommendations in the Plan have already been delivered upon. While I cannot anticipate the outcome of the Budgetary process, I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue work with stakeholders to implement the Plan and offer continued support to the Irish production sector.
80. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the status of engagements with RTÉ to address funding issues identified at the broadcaster. [25902/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have met with RTÉ to discuss a wide range of issues including their strategic vision for public service broadcasting, response to COVID 19 and current funding challenges, and intend to meet the broadcaster again shortly. In the interim, NewEra are continuing to engage with RTÉ in terms of its financial situation and officials in my Department are also scheduled to meet with RTE in in thecoming weeks.
81. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a deer licence will be issued to a person (details supplied). [25852/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that a license has issued in this case.
82. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that have been taken in the past six months to address the seal population problem here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25859/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth species of seal in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal - are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and Ireland is obliged to maintain their numbers at a favourable conservation level. We are also required to monitor their populations and report to the European Commission on their conservation status. A standardised monitoring programme has been in place for both species since 2009. The most recent report on their conservation status was submitted to the European Commission in April 2019 and is available on the NPWS website (https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/NPWS_2019_Vol3_Species_Article17.pdf).
The latest population estimates available to my Department indicate that there are approximately 8,000-10,000 grey seals and about 5,000 harbour seals in Ireland. These animals are spread around the Irish coast with the largest populations occurring along the west coast from the Blaskets in Co. Kerry to north Mayo and Donegal. Seals, and grey seals in particular, are wide ranging animals. The Irish animals are known to move between Scotland and north-west France. In turn, animals from the large seals populations in Scotland migrate into Irish waters to feed. There are over 100,000 grey seals in Scotland.While seals are a protected species, my Department may issue licenses to cull individual problem seals, and affected persons can apply for such licenses. My Department has no plans to undertake a general cull of seals.
My Department has been in contact in the last year with fisherman interests from the south-west, including Dingle, on the question of seals. Five Section 42 license applications have been received to date this year. One of these - relating to an estuary in Sligo – was approved. One was refused as it related to the shooting of seals on the Blasket Islands, a Special Area of Conservation for seals. The remaining three applications were also from the South West – two in Kerry and one in Cork and involved shooting seals including from boats. There are concerns about this approach to seal management, given the potential safety concerns arising from using high-powered rifles on moving platforms. Nonetheless, my Department is examining the potential for a pilot scheme which would test this approach and determine its efficacy in protecting fishermen’s catches. A decision on the remaining licences has been delayed until this pilot scheme can be advanced. Plans to initiate this scheme earlier in the year had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
My Department is also in discussion with the Marine Institute on approaches to managing seal-fishery interactions, including current inshore fishing practices and trends, seal predation on fish, seal behaviour and numbers, as well as the by-catch of seals in fishing gear and will continue to investigate these issues and potential solutions in partnership with the fishing industry.
83. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants on the RAS and HAP housing transfer lists. [25700/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
The practical operation of transfer lists is, therefore, a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities, and the number of persons on the housing transfer list is also a matter for each indivual local authority.
84. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full cost of emergency accommodation in 2019; and the projected cost for 2020 and 2021 by local authority and type of emergency accommodation, that is, hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels and family hubs. [25701/20]
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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the types of accommodation are a matter for the individual housing authorities.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. The table below sets out the funding recouped to housing authorities on a regional basis for 2019. The total initial budget allocation for 2020 is €166 million. The budget for 2021 will be agreed in the context of the Estimates process.
|
Region |
Exchequer Funding Provided 2019 |
|
Dublin |
€120.7m |
|
Mid-East |
€ 5.53m |
|
Midland |
€ 2.81m |
|
Mid-West |
€ 7.56m |
|
North-East |
€ 3.68m |
|
North-West |
€ 0.67m |
|
South-East |
€ 4.55m |
|
South-West |
€ 12.05m |
|
West |
€ 7.45m |
Financial reports from each of the regions, setting out expenditure on homeless services, including emergency accommodation and local authority in each region, are published on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data .
85. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing applicants on local authority lists. [25714/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails 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 social 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.
Report 2019https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2019_dec_2019_web_1.pdf .
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.
86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of building council housing on publicly-owned land that is fully serviced. [25715/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra87. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of building 1 to 4-bed homes on fully serviced publicly-owned land. [25716/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of one, two, three and four-bedroomed local authority new build units on the basis of costings submitted by local authorities over the past 12 months; the details of all in costs and construction only costs; and the itemised costed list of the individual non-construction costs for each unit size. [25774/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) to each local authority as a key benchmark for the development and costing of new build social housing. The tables below outline the current UCC values for houses and apartments being developed by local authorities.
HOUSES
|
1 bed |
2 bed (1 storey) |
2 bed (2 storey) |
3 bed |
4 bed |
|
|
Construction |
€129k - €240k |
€138k - €251k |
€147k - €261k |
€157k - €273k |
€171k - €291k |
|
All-in-Cost |
€167k - €310k |
€178k - €324k |
€187k - €336k |
€199k - €349k |
€215k - €370k |
APARTMENTS
|
1 bed |
2 bed |
3 bed |
|
|
Construction |
€145k - €268k |
€158k - €287k |
€177k - €314k |
|
All-in-Cost |
€187k - €346k |
€204k - €371k |
€225k - €403k |
The above figures are based on returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period and are updated based on published tender index information as required. Construction cost as shown, is reflective of building costs (including VAT) and also includes normal site works and site development. ‘All-in Cost’ includes cost of construction, land cost, professional fees, utility connections, site investigations/surveys, VAT and contribution to public art. Abnormal costs are excluded from these figures.
88. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to provide a home to each person on local authority homeless lists, that is, excluding use of the private rental market in 2021. [25717/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial housing supports are available to eligible households on the local authority waiting lists. If a household is homeless, and eligible for social housing, then the appropriate structure for their support will be determined by the relevant local authority having regard to their scheme of allocations.
The cost of delivering additional social housing homes is largely dependent on a range of key variables, such as the specific needs of the household on the local authority waiting list and the location and size of property required and any additional wrap around services that might be required in particular cases. Therefore we do not hold the level of information required to provide the estimated cost of providing a non rental market home to each person on a homeless list.
Local authorities do not focus on support for homeless households in isolation, and must balance the needs of all of those in their functional area. This includes having regard to time spent awaiting an allocation of housing for example. In working to provide a long term solution to the provision of housing in Ireland through increasing delivery, it is also of paramount importance that any action needs to consider short, medium and long-term solutions, harnessing the capacity of what is available while building the stock in parallel. It is for that reason that the Government takes a blended approach, recognising the need for wide toolkit of delivery mechanisms; accessing the immediate availability of existing properties through acquisition or leasing arrangements, with a particular focus on harnessing the capacity of vacant properties, while at the same time facilitating local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to significantly enhance their own build programmes.
This includes support through accommodation sourced from the private sector, and this support structure cannot be discontinued as to do so would jeopardise the accommodation of tens of thousands of households for whom there is no immediate alternative. During the period 2016-2018, the housing needs of some 91,000 households received housing support across the range of non-state owned accommodation, including long-term leasing, HAP and RAS. This included continuing to provide support to those already in homes supported under the programmes concerned, and also the additional tenancies established during that period. If the funding provided for these 91,000 households had been transferred to capital expenditure, to support building or buying homes directly by LAs, it would have secured approximately 5,500 homes, leaving no resources available to support the other 85,500 households. Alternatively, it would take almost €20 billion to provide a new build local authority home for each of those 91,000 households.
While the objective is to provide immediate social housing support, and ensure that households have accommodation, the long term preference of a household to be accommodated in more traditional “allocated” setting can be accommodated through transfer lists. As we develop more Built, Acquired and long-term leased homes, the reliance on the private rented sector is reducing. Indeed by end 2018 there were almost 6,000 fewer tenancies supported through Rent Supplement, Rental Accommodation Scheme or HAP than at end 2014, when the HAP scheme commenced.
89. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated amount it would cost to increase Part V from 10% to a statutory minimum of 20%. [25720/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to explore expanding Part V to encompass affordable purchase and cost rental units and the cost of such measures will be considered as part of that work.
The costs associated with Part V vary depending on the numbers of units developed in any given year by the private sector, the existing use value of the sites, and the type, size and construction cost of the units acquired. Costs are also influenced by the delivery scheme used, either local authority or Approved Housing Body led, or leasing.
90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties here; the number suitable for social housing; and the number that have been considered for acquisition by local authorities by authority. [25721/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCensus 2016 figures indicate that there were approximately 183,000 vacant homes (down from 230,000 in 2011) but, in considering that figure, it should be noted that those numbers were recorded at a single point in time and included houses for sale or for rent, as well as homes that are not recoverable for occupancy for a wide range of reasons. More recent GeoDirectory (An Post and OSi) data estimates a vacant stock of some 95,076 address points or units (as at June 2019).
Funding is available to all local authorities for the acquisition of suitable houses and apartments for social housing use. Local authorities have delegated sanction for the majority of acquisitions they undertake and it is they that identify the opportunities and the appropriate categories and sizes of properties for social housing, based on the nature and priority of their housing lists.
My Department continues to engage on an ongoing basis with local authorities to progress actions to bring vacant and underutilised properties into residential use. Vacant homes officers in the local authorities act as a central point of contact and provide information and advice for owners of vacant homes and engage with members of the public in respect of private residential vacant properties in their administrative area.
Initiatives such as the Repair & Leasing Scheme and the Buy & Renew Scheme have been developed under Rebuilding Ireland to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant properties. Funding is available to support the local authorities' continued work in these areas.
91. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding financial assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25763/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to supporting older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible, as this has the best outcomes both for the individual and for society as a whole. To this end, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, is developing policy options for supported housing/housing with care so that older people have a wider range of accommodation choices available to them in accordance with the principles of the joint policy statement, "Housing Options for Our Ageing Population". This policy statement was published by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Health on 27th February 2019. The policy statement is available on my Department's website at:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/special-housing-needs/older-people/housing-options-our-ageing-population-policy-statement
Flowing from the Policy Statement, an Inter-departmental/agency Implementation Group was established, including membership from the two Departments, the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
Action 4.5 of the policy statement outlines that the Implementation group will Introduce financial services and develop the provision of financial incentives to support older persons in both public and private housing to rightsize to more energy efficient and appropriate housing units.
A workshop with members of the Older People’s Council and a number of key stakeholders from the financial sector in Ireland to look at the potential financial barriers faced by older people during the rightsizing process and to collaboratively propose solutions to these barriers will be held shortly and a report outlining the recommendations will be provided to the Implementation group for consideration.
Action 4.7 outlines that the Implementation group will establish methods to incentivise older people in public and private housing to rightsize to appropriately sized units, if they choose to do so.
Arising from this action, my Department, working with the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, undertook a survey of mature homeowners in August 2019. The survey explored the housing circumstances and attitudes of households composed of homeowners aged 55+ with a view to generating policy relevant findings. A focus of the survey was the attitude of mature homeowners toward seeking housing better suited to their circumstances (typically, trading down) or to relocate from areas of high demand to lower demand. A research paper presenting the principal findings of the survey will be published shortly. Consideration of the findings and any potential incentives that may enable downsizing where people choose to do so will follow.
Further research that explores older people's perceptions and experiences of rightsizing in both public and private housing is being conducted by Age Friendly Ireland on behalf of the Implementation Group. This research will be provided to the Implementation Group for review at its next meeting. It is intended that the Implementation Group will provide its final report addressing each of the 40 actions assigned to it by end 2020.
93. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of Part V social housing units by local authority in each of the years 2015 to 2019; the average cost of each unit by local authority for the same period; the number of leased Part V units by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25775/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart V units can be delivered through a range of programmes funded by my Department, including:
- The Social Housing Capital Investment Programme which is Local Authority (LA) led and 100% capital funded
- The Capital Assistance Scheme which is Approved Housing Body (AHB) led and 100% capital funded
- The Capital Advance Leasing Facility which is AHB led and operates with a range of 0% to 30% capital loan funding and ongoing lease under a Payment and Availability Agreement
- Social Housing Current Expenditure Programmme Part V which is generally LA led with homes leased using current funding; and
- LA own funding or Cost neutral which are Part V units delivered by LAs not claiming Exchequer funding.
Each Part V programme has its own discreet data requirements and data held on file. My Department is working with delivery partners to collate all of the data sought. This work is almost complete and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible.
94. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of social housing capital investment programme units by local authority in each of the years 2015 to 2019; the cost of each unit by local authority for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25776/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra95. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of capital assistance scheme units by local authority in each of the years 2015 to 2019; the cost of each unit by local authority for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25777/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of a turnkey social housing unit by local authority from 2015 to 2019; the cost of each unit by local authority for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25779/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 95 and 97 together.
Cost information on the delivery of social homes through the local authority construction and turnkey programmes and through the Capital Assistance Scheme, is collated by my Department at development level rather than at granular or individual housing unit level. Disaggregating such development level information into individual unit costs, across all of the various types of units, would require significant analysis on unit characteristics such as size, type, number of bedrooms, site costs, abnormal costs, fees, etc. to derive an accurate reflection of unit cost.
My Department is working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a Spending Review of the Social Housing Build programme for the period 2016-2019, a report on which is expected to be published later this year and will be publicly available. As part of this work, the Departments are working to extrapolate unit costs from the raw data provided by the local authorities.
96. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of capital advance leasing facility units by local authority in each of the years 2015 to 2019; the cost of each unit by local authority for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25778/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units. This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department. The remainder of the capital cost is sourced by the AHB through other borrowings, to which the local authorities are not party.
Information in relation to acquisitions can be accessed on the DPER website at https://assets.gov.ie/25634/13fe4c4ec237489b9d3b6ebeea68332b.pdf .
Granular detail relating pre 2016 CALF projects is not available, as projects were assessed from an overall capital perspective.
My Department is working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a Spending Review of the Social Housing Build programme, including CALF, for the period 2016-2019, a report on which is expected to be published later this year and will be publicly available. As part of this work, the Departments are working to extrapolate unit costs from the raw data provided by the Approved Housing Bodies.
98. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated average price reduction per unit provided under the local infrastructure housing activation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25780/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra99. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for the delivery of affordable units under the local infrastructure housing activation fund; the location of the units on a local authority basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25781/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra100. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the drawdown of funding under LIHAF to date by project; the number of units delivered per project to date; the number projected per project; the number of affordable units to be provided per project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25782/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 98 to 100, inclusive, together.
Given the critical lack of residential development, as an initiative of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, 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.
In 2018, 30 projects received final LIHAF approval with an overall budget of €195.7m, of which €146.8m will be Exchequer funded, with the remainder funded via local authorities. Of the 30 projects, Kildare County Council has confirmed that its project on the Naas Inner Relief Road will not now progress, although an element of the housing that was associated with the project has taken place.
Details of the approvals by local authority area, budget allocation, project description, cost reductions and projected housing delivery are available at www.rebuildingireland.ie/LIHAF .
The individual sales price of every home that is delivered following the construction of the LIHAF facilitating infrastructure is not available in my Department. However to provide indicative examples, in Cork City, the LIHAF project at Glanmire will see 110 homes delivered with a discount of approx. €20,000 each on the open market price and in respect of the Oldtown/Mooretown project in Fingal, in addition to 10% social housing, the open market value of remaining units will have a cost reduction of €2,500, plus 30 2-bed units are to be provided, with an open market value of €290,000 or less. I recently launched the construction phase of infrastructure in Adamstown where 2,000 homes will be delivered. Leveraging the LIHAF funding, approximately 40% of these homes will be sold at discounted price points. In Adamstown this means 300 homes at under €300k & 475 homes under €320k
Currently, 3 LIHAF projects have completed infrastructure construction. Of the remaining 26, up to the end of August 2020 (and excluding the Naas project), 14 projects have been approved to go to, or are already at, infrastructure construction stage and one is expected to have tender approval and go to construction before the end of Q4 2020. Local authorities have indicated that work is progressing on the remainder. My Department continues to support local authorities to progress projects to conclusion.
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 Q2 2020, with approximately €45.103 million in Exchequer funds drawn down (matched by a further 25% local authority funding bringing the total expenditure to €60.137m). The table below details the exchequer funding drawn down up to end of Q2 2020.
|
Local Authority |
Project name |
Drawdown of LIHAF funding Exchequer Contribution to end of Q2 2020 (€) |
|
Clare |
Claureen, Ennis |
157,919 |
|
Cork City |
Old Whitechurch Road |
6,300,843 |
|
Cork City |
South Docks |
1,396,506 |
|
Cork City |
Glanmire |
490,751 |
|
Cork County |
Midleton (Water-rock) |
358,044 |
|
Cork County |
Carrigaline |
450,000 |
|
Dublin City |
Dodder Bridge |
473,487 |
|
Dublin City |
Belmayne and Clongriffin |
325,710 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Cherrywood |
2,910,825 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Woodbrook Shanganagh |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Clay Farm |
0 |
|
Fingal |
Donabate Distributor Road |
10,780,000 |
|
Fingal |
Oldtown Mooretown |
4,020,000 |
|
Fingal |
Baldoyle Stapolin |
274,561 |
|
Kildare |
Naas |
470,190 |
|
Kildare |
Maynooth |
390,556 |
|
Kildare |
Sallins |
654,584 |
|
Kilkenny |
Ferrybank |
318,387 |
|
Kilkenny |
Western Environs |
4,768,118 |
|
Limerick |
Mungret |
2,102,213 |
|
Louth |
Newtown Drogheda |
88,571 |
|
Louth |
Mount Avenue Dundalk |
172,945 |
|
Meath |
Ratoath |
1,027,618 |
|
Meath |
Farganstown, Navan |
2,779,435 |
|
South Dublin |
Kilcarbery/Corkagh Grange |
872,011 |
|
South Dublin |
Clonburris SDZ |
27,613 |
|
South Dublin |
Adamstown |
1,523,353 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Gracedieu |
112,234 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Kilbarry |
1,773,583 |
|
Westmeath |
Brawny Road, Athlone |
82,500 |
In terms of homes delivered, the table below details the number of completed homes up to Q4 2019. Figures in respect of 2020 are currently being collated. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 emergency, local authorities had estimated that a further 4,000 homes would be delivered in 2020; it is not yet clear what impact the pandemic will have on LIHAF delivery.
|
Local Authority |
Project Name |
Residential Units Delivered to Date |
Social/Part V |
Cost Reduced/More Affordable |
|
Cork County |
Carrigaline |
180 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
Oldtown/Mooretown |
379 |
8 |
211 |
|
Kildare |
Naas |
190 |
15 |
150 |
|
Meath |
Ratoath |
106 |
2 |
10 |
|
South Dublin |
Adamstown SDZ |
1,202 |
120 |
459 |
|
Cork City |
Glanmire |
13 |
0 |
3 |
|
Fingal |
Donabate |
66 |
0 |
66 |
|
Limerick |
Mungret |
26 |
0 |
26 |
|
Total |
2,162 |
145 |
925 |
