Written Answers Nos. 89-108
89. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the cost of renting office space, including for public bodies, from a company (details supplied) in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [35620/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department rent office space from a company (details supplied) or an Irish subsidiary; the number of employees who work out of such office space; the length of time they have been working from the offices; the cost to date of renting such offices; the tender process by which it was decided to make use of the services of the company. [35723/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 91 together.
I am advised that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department, has rented office space from the specified company.
90. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the ban on traditional game shooting will be lifted (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35690/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no function in relation to traditional game shooting, which is not considered a sporting activity within the interpretations of competitive or recreational sport as stated in the Sport Ireland Act 2015.
In that regard, I understand that An Garda Síochána have clarified that recreational game shooting does not fall under any of the exemptions allowed for in the current regulations. They have also clarified that recreational hunting does not come under any permissible exemptions for travel outside of the home.
92. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason a large number of teams in the all-Ireland intermediate and premier junior camogie championships, including Wexford, have been removed from their competitions while other teams playing in the same grade are allowed to continue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35737/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the Government-approved “Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19” during the period of application of the current Level 5 restrictions all matches and other sporting events must cease. A limited exemption is set out in the public health regulations for certain elite and professional sportspeople and sporting activities, including certain games in camogie, football and hurling. However, given the current epidemiological situation with the disease, which requires the minimisation of both travel and contacts to prevent the spread of the virus, not every competition, team or grade in the sports concerned can be accommodated.
In normal circumstances, in certain competitions, counties enter teams at different ability levels, but this year, recognising that we are dealing with a global pandemic, this exemption only applies to each county fielding just one team in the All-Ireland competitions for each code – camogie, hurling, gaelic football and ladies gaelic football. This requirement means that no county team can play in two competitions nor can counties field a second team in another division or branch of an All-Ireland competition structure.
During the Level 5 restrictions, there can be no scheduled matches other than those that form part of the All-Ireland competition and there can be no practice or training matches other than between players on the panel that form part of the existing team training structure. All participating teams must adhere fully to all relevant public health guidance and the return to play protocols at their matches and training sessions. Once teams are eliminated from the competitions they must thereafter cancel all training sessions.
The exemption approved by Government applies to a very small number of sports and is also designed to limit the number of teams that will be participating. Within the confines of the available exemption, it is a matter for the national governing bodies concerned and their constituent county boards to decide on the actual teams to represent their counties in the championships.
93. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been no change to the open season period for cock pheasant hunting in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35732/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that there has been no change to the open season order in question.
94. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if notices, circulars or guidance have issued to Limerick City and County Council on the affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35478/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2021, the total funding being made available for the delivery of housing programmes was €3.3 billion. From this sum, €468 million will be specifically provided to support housing affordability measures. This includes the Serviced Sites Fund, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan and the Land Development Agency (LDA). Limerick County and City Council has actively engaged in all of these programmes to progress the delivery of more affordable homes in its administrative area.
In addition to these programmes, and to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments to provide measures for good-quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price, €110 million was ring-fenced for a new national Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme and a new Cost Rental Equity Loan facility to help deliver Cost Rental homes both of which will begin in 2021.
€75 million will be allocated to the affordable purchase shared equity scheme. I intend to target the scheme at first time buyers, who are seeking to buy a new home but who cannot quite secure the full mortgage amount to do so at the present time. Subject to the final qualifying criteria, the scheme would see the State take a limited equity stake in a property, in order to help more people meet the cost of buying a new home with their available mortgage.
To this end, significant preparatory work has already been carried out by my Department working primarily with the Housing Agency and the Department of Finance. Intensive engagement continues with key stakeholders informing the final detailed parameters of the scheme, as well as with home builders to seek to increase the output of new homes in response to the new scheme.
In addition, €35 million has been allocated to the new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) facility to support Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to deliver Cost Rental housing at scale from next year. Added to the 50 Cost Rental homes that will be delivered in Enniskerry Road, Stepaside in Q3 2021, it will accelerate delivery in this new sector in advance of the Land Development Agency's planned future output and the work of local authorities. This scheme will leverage the proven expertise and capacity of the AHBs, demonstrated in their development and management of social housing units.
The CREL scheme will see financing made available to AHBs on favourable terms to cover 30% of the costs for Cost Rental homes. CREL funding will be provided on similar terms to the existing Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) model which is extensively used by AHBs for social housing. In terms of the remaining 70% of capital costs, subject to appropriate conditions, it is anticipated that long term competitive financing will be made available to the AHBs by the Housing Finance Agency. This will allow cost-covering rents to be set a lower level and so making them more affordable for tenants. Further details on the scheme will be announced in due course.
In addition to these new schemes, €50 million will be allocated for the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) in 2021. The purpose of the SSF is to provide infrastructure to support the delivery of more affordable new homes for purchase or rent on local authority lands and in those areas where local authorities have identified an affordability challenge and the viability to deliver homes and below open market purchase prices. Local Authorities will sell affordable homes for purchase under the provisions of Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and I can confirm that a number of communications have issued from the Department to all local authorities in this regard as well as through dedicated briefing sessions held for local authorities. In advance of finalising the remaining Regulations required to make the local authority led Affordable Purchase Dwelling Arrangements fully operational and before the first affordable homes come on stream in early 2021, I have instructed my officials to review the provisions to ensure they remain fit for purpose.
An invitation to submit project proposals issued to Limerick City and County Council from my Department in April 2019. Five projects from the Council received approval in principle and cumulatively they will support the delivery of 420 affordable homes in the county. Details of these projects 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/
I can confirm that officials from my Department engage regularly with officials from Limerick City and County Council on the progression of these projects.
I intend to bring forward any necessary provisions to underpin these schemes in a forthcoming Affordable Housing Bill.
95. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities are directly funded the actual cost to the authority of funding and administering the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; if the scheme creates a contingent liability on the balance sheet of the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35569/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities offer fixed-rate annuity finance to eligible Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL) borrowers at rates of 2.745% and 2.995% per annum, for twenty five and thirty years respectively. There is an additional mortgage protection insurance premium of 0.555%.
The 2.745% (2.995%) interest charged to RIHL borrowers can be broken down as follows:
- Local authorities borrow from the Housing Funding Agency (HFA) to finance their lending under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. Borrowing costs relating to the financing of the RIHL scheme by the HFA are 1.50% for 25-year fixed mortgage and 1.75% for 30-year fixed mortgage.
- There is a contribution (0.995%) to the Local Authority Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (LA MARP) Premium Fund. The LA MARP Premium Fund was established in 2012 to support local authorities in dealing with the shortfalls that arise in resolving unsustainable arrears.
- Finally there is an administration fee retained by the local authority of 0.25%.
Monies borrowed by the local authorities to finance RIHL lending are a liability to the local authority, as is the case for any borrowing by local authorities.
The final decision on loan approval with the RIHL is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.
96. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans currently in arrears and over three months by local authority in tabular form; if bad debt provisions under this scheme are carried by the local authorities or another agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35570/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes quarterly statistics on local authority mortgage arrears on its website on the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity, which shows data up to 30 June 2020. This dataset provides information on arrears on all local authority mortgage lending, including the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL).
Separately, the Department collects information on arrears on the RIHL. Provisional data for 31 August shows that 12 RIHL loans were notified as being in arrears of more than 90 days, as set out in the table below:
|
Local Authority with RIHL Loans in arrears of more than 09 Days |
Number of loans |
|
Dublin City Council |
7 |
|
Kildare County Council |
3 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
1 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1 |
|
Total |
12 |
Bad debt provisions under this scheme are carried by local authorities as they are the lender. However, there is a local authority mortgage protection insurance scheme in place, and this may provide recourse for local authorities if the reason for non-repayment by the borrower is covered by the insurance (broadly speaking death or disability are the main issues covered).
The final decision on loan approval with the RIHL is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.
97. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to launch his new affordable housing plan. [35579/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra98. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to announce the detail of his shared equity loan scheme for approved housing bodies and private sector home purchases. [35580/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together.
In Budget 2021, the total funding being made available for the delivery of housing programmes was €3.3 billion. From this sum, €468 million will be specifically provided to support housing affordability measures. This includes the Serviced Sites Fund, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
In addition to these programmes, and to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments to provide measures for good-quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price, €110 million was ring-fenced for a new national Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme and a new Cost Rental Equity Loan facility to help deliver Cost Rental homes both of which will begin in 2021.
€75 million will be allocated to the affordable purchase shared equity scheme. I intend to target the scheme at first time buyers, who are seeking to buy a new home but who cannot quite secure the full mortgage amount to do so at the present time. Subject to the final qualifying criteria, the scheme would see the State take a limited equity stake in a property, in order to help more people meet the cost of buying a new home with their available mortgage.
To this end, significant preparatory work has already been carried out by my Department working primarily with the Housing Agency and the Department of Finance. Intensive engagement continues with key stakeholders informing the final detailed parameters of the scheme, as well as with home builders to seek to increase the output of new homes in response to the new scheme.
In addition, €35m has been allocated to the new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) facility to support Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to deliver Cost Rental housing at scale from next year. Added to the 50 Cost Rental homes that will be delivered in Enniskerry Road, Stepaside in Q3 2021, it will accelerate delivery in this new sector in advance of the Land Development Agency's planned future output and the work of local authorities. This scheme will leverage the proven expertise and capacity of the AHBs, demonstrated in their development and management of social housing units.
The CREL scheme will see financing made available to AHBs on favourable terms to cover 30% of the costs for Cost Rental homes. CREL funding will be provided on similar terms terms to the existing Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) model which is extensively used by AHBs for social housing. In terms of the remaining 70% of capital costs, subject to appropriate conditions, it is anticipated that long term competitive financing will be made available to the AHBs by the Housing Finance Agency. This will allow cost-covering rents to be set a lower level and so making them more affordable for tenants. Further details on the scheme will be announced in due course.
I intend to bring forward any necessary provisions to underpin these schemes in a forthcoming Affordable Housing Bill.
99. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to issue the methodology for the housing needs demand assessment to local authorities as part of the development plan review process. [35581/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational Policy Objective 37 of the National Planning Framework requires that each local authority should undertake a "Housing Need and Demand Assessment" for their area. This will be important in estimating likely future housing need across tenures, including social housing need.
Work on the development of the HNDA process is ongoing in my Department. Research on population projections at local authorities level is being progressed with the ESRI and development of a HNDA tool with the Scottish Centre for Housing Market Analysis is also in train. This new evidence-based approach will form the basis of a more accurate and consistent projection of demand for different tenures of housing.
The prototype tool to assist local authorities in carrying out HNDA is now moving into pilot phase, with the first pilot scheduled for this month. Feedback from this will be used to modify the tool as required and a final version is expected to be ready in early 2021, along with technical guidance on the tool and draft revised Housing Strategy Guidelines, incorporating the HNDA Framework, under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Following adoption of Regional Spatial and Economic and Strategies by the three Regional assemblies earlier this year, the process of reviewing individual county development plans by local authorities is underway and will continue into 2021, overseen by the Office of Planning Regulator. These reviews will include preparation of a housing strategy and completion of a HNDA.
100. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to publish his Department’s new rural housing planning guidelines. [35582/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2005 Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines are framed in the context of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) 2002. Given the superseding of the NSS by the National Planning Framework in 2018, together with the need to address the potential implications of the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, there is now merit in updating the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in a broader rural development and settlement context. My Department has commenced scoping this work and I expect a draft by the end of this year.
101. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to circulate to local authorities the updated development plan guidelines. [35583/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to finalisation of three three Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies between June 2019 and January 2020, review of City and County Development Plans has commenced in many local authorities, overseen for the first time by the Office of the Planning Regulator.
The process of alignment between plans will continue into 2021 and when complete, will be the first time that there is an integrated hierarchy of statutory spatial plans in Ireland. This is critical to ensuring that future development can be regulated by a tiered policy framework and supported by a national public capital investment programme.
My Department is currently finalising an updated version of the Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities to assist with the review of development plans and it is my aim to have draft Guidelines published for public consultation by the end of the year.
102. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of renting office space, including for public bodies, from a company (details supplied) in 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [35614/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra108. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department rent office space from a company (details supplied) or an Irish subsidiary; the number of employees who work out of such office space; the length of time they have been working from the offices; the cost to date of renting such offices; the tender process by which it was decided to make use of the services of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35717/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 108 together.
The Office of Public Works provides accommodation for Government Services and manages a significant proportion of the State’s property portfolio. No part of my Department rents office accommodation from the company named.
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:
|
State Body |
Contact E-mails |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
103. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Irish Water’s leakage reduction programme in Dublin city will be accelerated in the coming weeks in circumstances in which reduced current economic activity will result in less economic reduction than heretofore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35662/20]
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. The day-to-day operation of the public water system, including the leakage reduction programme, is therefore a matter for Irish Water and I have no function in relation to this matter.
Additional capital funding totalling €87m has been provided to Irish Water under the July Stimulus Package and under Budget 2021 to allow for an acceleration of the leakage reduction programme and other essential infrastructure investments during the current year. This will result in additional leakage reduction works in all 26 counties.
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.
104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of running An Bord Pleanála for 12 month periods (details supplied); the number of persons employed by the board in each period; the number of planning decisions issued during each year; the average waiting time for a decision to be reached on an appeal submitted in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35677/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department engages with An Bord Pleanála on an ongoing basis to ensure that it has the appropriate resources to perform its broad range of functions which includes planning appeals, strategic infrastructure and strategic housing development planning applications, vacant site levy appeals and other matters which are submitted for determination under Planning and Development, Water Pollution, and Building Control legislation.
The Board currently has a complement of 9 members and has over 160 other staff employed. I am satisfied that the Board has the necessary resources to deliver effectively and efficiently on its important statutory mandate and functions. I and my Department will continue to engage with the Board in this regard in the years ahead.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to An Bord Pleanála is set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Total Expenditure (less pension adjustment) |
Average Whole Time Equiv. Staff |
Chairperson & Board Members (total) |
Cases Disposed - ALL |
Time to dispose (weeks) |
Cases Disposed – Normal Planning Appeals only |
Time to dispose (weeks) |
|
2015 |
16,640,076 |
130.6 |
9 |
1966 |
17.1 |
1637 |
15.1 |
|
2016 |
18,385,101 |
131.4 |
9 |
2078 |
17.1 |
1745 |
15.5 |
|
2017 |
19,056,454 |
138 |
9 |
2143 |
18.3 |
1742 |
16.8 |
|
2018 |
21,184,638 |
151 |
9 |
2848 |
23.25 |
2159 |
22.46 |
|
2019 |
22,006,704 |
162.2 |
10 |
2971 |
18.71 |
2115 |
18.43 |
Following submission to the Minister, annual reports covering both financial and performance aspects of An Bord Pleanála, have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in each of the years concerned. This is in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). These reports can be viewed on the Board's website www.pleanala.ie.
105. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will re-examine the current social housing bands with a view to moving County Westmeath to band 2, given the consistently high cost of private rental accommodation within the county. [35679/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas. Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Pension-Related Deductions within the meaning of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%; and 2.5% for each child, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing. Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources. However, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is underway. The review will also have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
106. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities can accept a payment of illness benefit on a housing support application when assessing a person's qualification for social housing support. [35680/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Pension-Related Deductions within the meaning of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. With the exception of specific payments as outlined in the Household Means Policy as being disregarded, all income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, is assessable.
107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of funding awarded to Kildare County Council under LIHAF; the extent to which funds have been spent; if further funding is likely to be provided; the level of development in the various towns in north County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35682/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs an initiative of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was primarily designed to support housing supply by funding the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages and enable housing developments to be built on key sites at scale.
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. All funding under LIHAF is now fully committed and there are no proposals to make further allocations at this time.
Details of the approvals by local authority area, budget allocation, project description and projected housing delivery are available at www.rebuildingireland.ie/LIHAF.
Kildare County Council received approval for 3 projects under LIHAF, details of which are se out in the table below.
|
LIHAF Project name |
Public Infrastructure to be delivered by Local Authority |
Total funding under LIHAF€M |
Amount to be funded by Dept (75%)€M |
|
Sallins |
- Provision of community and amenity space |
0.93 |
0.7 |
|
Naas |
- Naas inner relief road |
6.00 |
4.5 |
|
Maynooth |
- Maynooth Eastern Relief Road - Bridge crossing railway and Royal Canal |
14.50 |
10.88 |
Regarding the spend and the progress achieved by Kildare County Council in progressing these projects, as at the end of October 2020 Kildare County Council has drawn down €654,584 for the Sallins project which was now completed in 2019, €470,190 for Naas and €1,555,394 for Maynooth.
Kildare County Council has confirmed to the Department that a Part 8 planning application for the Naas Inner Relief Road LIHAF project was rejected by the Council in mid-2019 and has confirmed that this LIHAF project will now not proceed, although an element of the housing that was associated with the project has taken place.
In respect of the Maynooth Eastern Relief Road LIHAF project, Kildare County Council has confirmed to the Department that the infrastructure works are currently at detailed design stage. It is the responsibility of Kildare County Council to progress the project and the Council has confirmed that it is working to advance this project and will revert to the Department with the necessary details as required.
