Written Answers Nos. 103-121
103. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has sought the advice of the Central Bank on the shared equity loan for which €75 million of funding was provided in Budget 2021; and if so, if the advice will be published. [31820/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra104. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has sought the advice of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the shared equity loan for which €75 million of funding provided in Budget 2021; and if so, if the advice will be published. [31821/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together.
This Government is 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". The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing.
The Government has supported housing in Budget 2021 with an unprecedented level of funding to deliver programmes next year through an overall investment of €3.3 billion, an increase of €641m or 24% on 2020. This investment will ensure that the social housing needs of over 28,500 households are met in 2021.
Furthermore, in order to assist people in realising their aspiration of buying a home, as part of Budget 2021, €75 million will be allocated to an Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme. A further €35 million will be allocated to a new Cost Rental Equity Loan Facility to help deliver Cost Rental homes at below market rents.
The development of the Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme involves engagement with key stakeholders including all relevant Government Departments and the Central Bank. I will be informed by this ongoing engagement process in progressing the detailed parameters of the Scheme in the coming months, to deliver in 2021.
105. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the 10,300 social homes targeted for delivery in 2021 by category (details supplied). [31822/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of funding to deliver housing programmes next year through an overall investment of €3.3 billion, an increase of €641m (24%) on 2020. This investment will ensure that the housing needs of over 28,500 households are met in 2021. This includes delivering 12,750 social homes through Build, Acquisition and Leasing. The funding will also provide for 15,800 tenancies to be funded through HAP and RAS.
New build forms the majority of the target for new social homes, with a target of 9,500 new homes to be delivered. The remainder of the target will be delivered through 800 strategic acquisitions and 2,450 units under the various leasing programmes.
106. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a landlord gives notice to vacate to a tenant in a rental accommodation scheme contract, if the local authority is responsible for rehoming the tenant as part of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31826/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), local authorities retain the responsibility to source alternative accommodation for a household accommodated under the RAS scheme, should the dwelling that the household is living in become unavailable. In such circumstances, it is a matter for the local authority to secure suitable alternative accommodation for the household.
Another option is for households in RAS properties to source alternative accommodation themselves, independent of the local authority. Once the local authority is satisfied that proposed accommodation meets the needs of the household and conforms to standards for rental accommodation, which are set out in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 137 of 2019), the property may be brought into the RAS scheme.
107. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts he has made in respect of the 15% homeless persons in rural Ireland reported by a charity (details supplied) in July 2019; the progress made to house these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31851/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report referred to by the Deputy was published in 2019. Since then, the monthly homeless reports published by my Department have confirmed a reduction of 15% in the overall number of individuals, and a reduction of 35% in the overall number of families, experiencing homelessness.
Supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government. The Programme for Government commits to reducing and preventing homelessness.
Ultimately the key to resolving homelessness is to increase the supply of housing, particularly for those on the lowest incomes. To this end, the Programme for Government commits to the increased supply of public, social and affordable homes. In particular, we will increase the social housing stock by more than 50,000 with an emphasis on new builds.
Budget 2021 makes provision for €218m in funding for homeless accommodation and related services. This is an increase of €22m or 11% on 2020 (€196m). This additional funding is reflective of the priority the Government is giving to homelessness and will ensure that local authorities can provide emergency accommodation and other services to households experiencing homelessness and that these households are supported to exit homelessness into homes as quickly as possible.
The Programme for Government also recognises that many households experiencing homelessness have additional support needs and includes specific measures to address these needs. These include measures to help rough sleepers into sustainable accommodation, the continued expansion of Housing First, with a focus on the construction and acquisition of one-bed homes, and, importantly, ensuring that there are dedicated funding and resources to deliver the necessary health and mental health supports required to assist homeless people with complex needs. Housing First is a nationwide response to long term homelessness and rough sleeping, with tenancy targets set for every local authority in the country.
I have established a Homelessness Taskforce, to provide a forum for engagement with key organisations working to address homelessness. The Taskforce is inputting into the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government.
108. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homeless taskforce meetings he has held since taking office; the dates on which these meetings were held; and the attendees at these meetings. [31908/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have established a Homelessness Task Force, to inter alia, provide a forum for engagement with key organisations working to address homelessness priorities and to provide input on the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government. The membership of the taskforce consists of the Chief Executives of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Crosscare, Depaul, Focus Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, Dublin Simon Community, Threshold and senior officials from my Department. The Group has met on six occasions to date, three times in July, twice in September and once to date in October.
Of course, separate to meeting with these key stakeholders in this forum, both I and my Department officials have continued and ongoing regular engagement with the members of the Taskforce on homeless issues.
109. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing delivery taskforce meetings he has held since taking office; the dates on which these meetings were held; and the attendees at these meetings. [31909/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have established a High Level Housing Delivery Group, to inter alia, provide a forum for engagement with key housing delivery partners and to provide input on the implementation of the commitments on housing delivery in the Programme for Government. The membership of the Group consists of representatives from the City and County Management Association, the Housing Agency, the Housing Delivery Coordination Office, Approved Housing Bodies and the Irish Council for Social Housing.
The Group has met on five occasions, on the following dates, 13 July 2020, 27 July 2020, 7 September 2020, 21 September 2020 and 19 October 2020.
Of course, separate to meeting with these key stakeholders in this forum, both I and my Department officials have continued and ongoing regular engagement with the members of the Delivery Group on housing delivery issues.
110. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Traveller accommodation funding drawn down by each local authority to date in 2020, in tabular form. [31918/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
Details of the drawdowns by individual local authorities to date in 2020 are set out in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Drawdown 2020 (to date) |
|
Carlow |
€38,110 |
|
Cavan |
€13,110 |
|
Clare |
€152,500 |
|
Cork City |
€1,448,220 |
|
Cork County |
€- |
|
Donegal |
€214,160 |
|
Dublin City |
€574,300 |
|
DLR |
€407,500 |
|
Fingal |
€63,690 |
|
South Dublin |
€- |
|
Galway City |
€570,100 |
|
Galway County |
€24,030 |
|
Kerry |
€5,930 |
|
Kildare |
€222,450 |
|
Kilkenny |
€59,590 |
|
Laois |
€192,520 |
|
Leitrim |
€127,500 |
|
Limerick City & Co. |
€880,400 |
|
Longford |
€- |
|
Louth |
€- |
|
Mayo |
€- |
|
Meath |
€- |
|
Monaghan |
€197,350 |
|
Offaly |
€315,610 |
|
Roscommon |
€67,770 |
|
Sligo |
€897,360 |
|
Tipperary |
€99,400 |
|
Waterford City & Co. |
€14,550 |
|
Westmeath |
€- |
|
Wexford |
€- |
|
Wicklow |
€- |
|
TOTALS |
€6,586,150 |
111. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loan applications; and the number approved and drawn down in each quarter of 2020. [31919/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra112. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average Rebuilding Ireland home loan amount that was drawn down in Dublin and outside of Dublin, respectively in each quarter of 2020. [31920/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.
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).
My Department has issued data requests for the first two quarters of 2020 and figures for these quarters will be made available in due course at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity
The 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. Housing Agency recommendations are then considered by the Credit Committee in each local authority, which issues loan approvals.
I have asked the Agency to compile figures on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and recommended to approve in 2020. To September 2020, the Housing Agency have assessed 1,084 valid applications. Of these, it has recommended 495 for approval.
Each local authority must have in place a Credit Committee and it is a matter for the Committee to make the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, and having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
113. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the detail of the organisations that made submissions to the public consultation on the general scheme of the water environment (abstractions) Bill in September and October 2018. [31930/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to comply with Ireland’s obligations under the Water Framework Directive, and as signalled in the River Basin Management Plan published in April 2018, the Government recently approved a General Scheme of a Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill, which will introduce risk-based controls over the abstraction of water.
A six-week public consultation on a draft General Scheme of the Bill was held in late 2018. A total of 28 submissions were received, including one from an individual. The 27 organisations who made submissions are listed in the table below.
These submissions informed the development of a revised General Scheme of the Bill, which was aproved by Government on 29 September 2020 and is now available on my Department's website at https://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-quality/general-scheme-water-environment-abstractions-bill-2020.
Given that the General Scheme has now been approved, it is my intention to make the submissions received available on my Department's website in the coming days.
|
No. |
Organisations |
|
1 |
Dingle Hub (Brendan Tuohy) |
|
2 |
Cavan County Council |
|
3 |
ESB |
|
4 |
CCMA |
|
5 |
Irish Wildlife Trust |
|
6 |
Nautilus Data Technologies Ltd |
|
7 |
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
|
8 |
Meath County Council |
|
9 |
An Forum Uisce |
|
10 |
DCCAE |
|
11 |
National Federation of Group Water Schemes |
|
12 |
SLR Consulting |
|
13 |
Irish Hydro Power Association (IHPA) |
|
14 |
Irish Concrete Federation |
|
15 |
River Shannon Protection Alliance (RSPA) |
|
16 |
Roadstone Ltd |
|
17 |
Irish Water |
|
18 |
Ibec |
|
19 |
IWAI |
|
20 |
ESB GT |
|
21 |
IFA |
|
22 |
Kerry County Council |
|
23 |
An Taisce |
|
24 |
Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) |
|
25 |
Enterprise Ireland |
|
26 |
Waterways Ireland |
|
27 |
SWAN |
114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of Covid-19 related homeless services expenditure in 2020 by each local authority that will be reimbursed; when these reimbursements will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31931/20]
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.
In the context of the current response to COVID-19, my Department is working closely with Dublin Regional Homelessness Executive (DRHE), local authorities and the HSE to ensure the necessary arrangements are in place to protect individuals and families accessing emergency accommodation. Significant additional emergency accommodation has been introduced to meet the social distancing requirements advised by the HSE, and to provide capacity for homeless households to self-isolate when required.
Exchequer funding for homeless accommodation services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. My Department is examining details of expenditure of approximately €15 million incurred by housing authorities on homeless related Covid-19 measures for the period to end-June 2020 in order to recoup eligible expenditure.
115. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a number of homes in County Clare which have been adversely impacted by defective building blocks; if he will make the necessary arrangements to extend the defective concrete block grant scheme to County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32035/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulations for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020.
The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo only, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks.
The Scheme opened for applications at the end of June 2020 and I have no plans currently to extend it to other local authority areas.
116. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities are permitted to obtain specific information (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32038/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with section 55 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, a local authority can request the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide such information in her possession as the authority may reasonably require for the purpose of performing its functions under the Housing Acts. This includes provision of information on social welfare payments for the purpose of the determination of rent payable under a local authority’s differential rent scheme.
117. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans for a colour coded common travel agreement within the EU in relation to foreign travel during Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31781/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU adopted a new coordinated approach to travel measures at the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 13 October 2020. As already set out in the Living with COVID-19 Framework, the Government supports this effort to improve coordination within the Union and has made clear our intention to align with the new Recommendation.
The new system categorises regions across Europe by their levels of COVID-19 risk based on a three-strand approach. This approach examines firstly, the 14-day cumulative incidence rate within the region, secondly, the overall level of testing in the region and finally, the testing positivity rate within the region. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will make a weekly assessment and issue advisory maps of which regions within the EU/EEA are green, orange or red, or, if data is unavailable, grey.
Under the Recommendation, Member States are required to lift restrictions applying to green regions within seven days of adoption of the Recommendation. It is for Member States to determine what restrictions should apply for incoming visitors from the areas that are not classified as green.
In accordance with the Recommendation, persons arriving from green zones will continue not to be subject to any restrictions upon arrival in Ireland. In view of the current epidemiological situation, those arriving from orange and red zones will continue to be required to restrict their movements for fourteen days upon arrival, as will those arriving from grey regions. However, those coming from orange regions may waive the requirement to restrict their movements if they can produce a negative test result of an appropriate pre-departure test. Details of what constitutes an appropriate pre-departure test still remain to be determined. This change, however, will not take effect before 8 November 2020.
Work will also continue in the coming weeks to amend the Passenger Locator Form so as to allow persons arriving into Ireland to avail of a series of exemptions from the requirement to quarantine provided for in the EU Council Recommendation.
The Government has also decided that changes for green regions should come into place from midnight Wednesday 21st October, with further changes to include the list of exemptions and changes to the requirements for arrivals from orange regions to be effective from midnight Sunday 8th November.
118. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to recent reports of the demolition of Palestinian homes in Masafer Yatta on the West Bank that had been funded by EU member states including Irish Aid; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31815/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe demolition of Palestinian homes, and demolition or seizure of related structures such as water tanks, wells, solar panels, schools and animal housing, are cruel and unjust actions. These practices also cause suffering to ordinary Palestinians, and impinge on the right of children to an education.
We are concerned by an acceleration in demolitions in 2020. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property and humanitarian aid, including Palestinian homes, continue despite previous commitments from Israeli authorities not to target Palestinian residential structures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The only conclusion we can draw from the systematic nature of these policies, especially in areas where illegal Israeli settlements have already been constructed, is that they are aimed at forcing Palestinians off their land.
Ireland regularly conveys our views on these actions to the Israeli authorities, both directly and through the EU. I have done so myself on my visits to the region. With regard to the specific case the Deputy mentions, Irish officials have been following it closely. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv has raised the issue of demolitions with the Israeli authorities in recent weeks, along with a group of EU and non-EU colleagues. Ireland's Representative in Ramallah visited Masafer Yatta on 19 October.
Ireland is committed to reducing the vulnerability of Palestinian communities living in Area C of the West Bank. Ireland is a member of the West Bank Protection Consortium which plays a leading role in supporting threatened communities and coordinating the provision of essential services to them, including material assistance and legal aid.
It is of additional concern when those structures confiscated or demolished are donor-funded. The practice of demolition and confiscation of humanitarian assets, including education infrastructure, is contrary to Israel’s obligations under International Law, including provisions of international humanitarian law, and in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention.
My primary concern is the hardship and injustice that demolitions and confiscations cause for Palestinian families. It is important also, however, that the question of recompense for humanitarian relief funded by our taxpayers should also be pursued. Ireland, together with a group of EU Member States, pursue this issue consistently through the West Bank Protection Consortium. It is the practice of the Consortium to raise this directly with the Israeli authorities and to date, the Consortium has sought compensation of over €625,000 in respect of confiscated or demolished assets.
119. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the cases of political prisoners (details supplied) in Bahrain who were sentenced to death. [31932/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of concern. Although progress has been made in certain areas, there continue to be instances of human rights violations. I am aware of the cases raised by the Deputy, and the decision of the Court of Cassation in Bahrain to confirm the death penalty ruling in their cases.
A moratorium on the death penalty had been in place in Bahrain since 2010 and the decision to resume the use of capital punishment in 2017 was deeply concerning. The abolition of capital punishment is one of Ireland's international priorities and we condemn the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. Ireland joins with the EU in calling on Bahrain to halt the execution of theses two individuals.
Our principled stance on human rights is very much part our bilateral dialogue with Bahrain. Senior officials from my Department have formally raised our concerns about this case directly with the Bahraini Ambassador to Ireland, reiterating our long-standing opposition to the death penalty. I also understand that the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has made contact with the Bahraini authorities in relation to these two cases.
When I met the Bahraini Foreign Minister at the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2019, I also raised the human rights situation in Bahrain with him, expressing the hope that we can have an open and honest discussion on these issues.
We will continue to monitor these cases, and to make our concerns clear to the Bahraini authorities, including at the next informal EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue to be hosted by Bahrain early next month.
120. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of additional staff from his Department and other Departments and State organisations that will be based in the Irish UN office in New York for the duration of Irish membership on the Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31933/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland will take up its seat as an elected member of the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 term on 1 January 2021. We intend to make a constructive contribution across the agenda of the Council, which has nearly tripled since Ireland last held a seat 20 years ago.
In recognition of the areas of focus by the Security Council, both geographically and sectorally, additional posts within my Department have been assigned to key Divisions and to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Nine of these posts will be based in our Mission in New York until the end of our term on the Security Council.
No additional staff from other Government Departments or State organisations have yet been assigned to the Mission in New York.
121. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions that have been held with the UK and Welsh Governments with regard to the Brexit preparedness of ports such as Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32041/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials at our Embassy in London and Consulate General in Cardiff are in ongoing contact with the UK Government and with other stakeholders in relation to the operation of UK ports, including Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke, after the end of the transition period. This includes contact with the Border Protocol and Delivery Group at the Cabinet Office, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
In addition, Embassy officials have visited a number of UK ports, including Holyhead, to understand how UK customs procedures will operate. These contacts are continuing in light of the publication by the UK Government of its updated Border Operating Model on 8 October.
The Government’s latest Brexit Readiness Action Plan highlights that there remains a risk that there will be delays and blockages at UK ports and encourages traders to examine all appropriate options to ensure they can continue to move goods to, from and through Great Britain.
