Written Answers Nos. 260-279
260. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the percentage or number of staff working with a disability within her Department and the agencies under her aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and the actions being undertaken by her Department to actively recruit and retain persons with disabilities. [42153/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is required to provide information annually to the National Disability Authority (NDA) on the number of persons with disabilities employed on 31st December each year in both the Department and in agencies under its aegis.
The NDA has a statutory role in monitoring employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector, arising from Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, and publishes the statistics provided on its website. My Department did not exist in its current configuration in 2018 and 2019.
The relevant statistics for 2018 provided by the former Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and of the former Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, and of Transport, Tourism and Sport, are available on the NDA website at the following location: http://nda.ie/publications/employment/employment-of-people-with-disabilities-in-the-public-service/reports-on-compliance-with-public-sector-jobs-target/2018-report-on-compliance-with-part-5-of-the-disability-act-on-the-employment-of-people-with-disabilities-in-the-public-sector.html .
The relevant statistics gathered by the former Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for 2019 are shown in the table below. It was the responsibility of the former Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, and of Transport, Tourism and Sport, to report to the NDA on the relevant statistics for tourism, sport and media agencies in 2019.
The relevant statistics for my Department for 2020 are not yet available.
Appointments to posts in my Department are normally made from recruitment panels of the Public Appointments Service (PAS). I am informed that my Department actively seeks to accommodate new recruits with disabilities when such persons become available from PAS panels.
|
Name of Public Body |
Number of employees with a disability under the definition in the Disability Act 2005 |
Percentage of employees with a disability under the definition in the Disability Act 2005 |
|
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht |
26 |
3.81% |
|
Arts Council |
4 |
6.7% |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
0 |
0.00% |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
2 |
11.11% |
|
Foras Na Gaeilge |
3 |
6.25% |
|
Heritage Council |
0 |
0.00% |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) |
4 |
4.30% |
|
National Concert Hall (NCH) |
4 |
4.65% |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
6 |
3.09% |
|
National Library of Ireland |
9 |
9.57% |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
8 |
4.47% |
|
Screen Ireland (Fís Eireann) |
0 |
0.00% |
|
Údarás Na Gaeltachta |
6 |
7.06% |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
1 |
7.69% |
|
Waterways Ireland |
8 |
3.33% |
261. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if it will be ensured that all the requirements of the work safely protocol issued 20 November 2020 are implemented with particular reference to the contents of section D3 (details supplied) in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42608/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department considers the provision of a safe working environment for its staff to be a matter of the highest priority.
I am advised that the necessary steps are in place in my Department to ensure compliance with all relevant provisions of the Work Safety Protocol including those specifically referenced by the Deputy.
262. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made with regard to the referendum on the public ownership of water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41591/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provides that the Government will refer the issue of the environment, including water, and its place in the Constitution, to a relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee for consideration. I and my Department will engage with the relevant Committee when work proceeds on this issue.
263. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the amendments to SI No. 83 of 2007 for rooftop solar installations to be exempted from planning permission, as promised by the end of 2019, will be introduced; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42222/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra264. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to progress legislation in order to amend Statutory Instrument SI No. 83 of 2007 in order that schools and community buildings can be exempted from having to apply for planning permission to install solar photovoltaic panels on rooftops; his plans to introduce further legislative amendments to lift the limits that currently exist on solar installation for houses and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42502/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra297. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is planned to provide planning permission exemptions for the installation of solar photovoltaic rooftop panels on community school and community buildings as well as amending the regulations pertaining to same on houses and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42098/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 263, 264 and 297 together.
Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.
With regard to exemptions for solar panels, Class 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for the installation or erection of a solar panel on, or within the curtilage of a house or any buildings within the curtilage of a house, subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Class 56 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for the installation or erection on a business premises or industrial/light industrial building, or any ancillary buildings within the curtilage of such premises or building, of solar panels (thermal collector or photo-voltaic), subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Furthermore, Class 18 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides an exemption for the installation or erection on an agricultural structure, or within the curtilage of an agricultural holding, of solar panels (thermal collector or photo-voltaic), again subject to a number of conditions.
As part of the Climate Action Plan 2019, my Department is currently undertaking a review of the solar panel exemptions, and is actively engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications as well as other key stakeholders, with a view to finalising a proposal for draft amending Regulations - to reflect, inter alia, technical developments in the sector. One of the key considerations of the review is to ensure that solar panels can be erected - subject to certain siting and size conditions - without the need to obtain planning permission, to facilitate more widespread generation of energy for self-consumption. Also included in this review, which continues to be shaped by recommendations of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, are solar panel exemptions for educational and community buildings.
The main outstanding issue that remains to be addressed in the current review is the potential for "glint and glare" impacts for aircraft and the need to ensure that they do not result in any real or potential threat to aviation safety. Accordingly, my Department is presently engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications as well as the Irish Aviation Authority, in order to find a safe and workable solution in relation to this particular aspect of the review. The Department has begun the tendering process for this project, which will involve the development of aviation safeguarding maps for each airport/aerodrome in the country, and has received feedback from potential tenderers estimating a timeline of up to 9 months for its completion. As such, these maps, which are a fundamental aspect of any amendments to the exemptions, are expected to be finalised in Q3 2021.As required under planning legislation, any such proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made. The draft regulations will also be subject to environmental assessment reporting considerations before being finalised and signed into force. The overall process for revising the solar panel planning exemptions is now expected to be completed by Q4 2021.
265. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review housing assistance payment, HAP, rates with a view to reflecting market rental costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41072/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncreased rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rent Supplement Scheme were introduced in 2016. These limits were agreed in conjunction with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). In reviewing the rent limits, my Department worked closely with DEASP and monitored data gathered from the Residential Tenancies Board and the HAP Shared Services Centre. The HAP rent limits were increased significantly, in the order of 60% in some cases.
Maximum rent limits for the HAP scheme are set out for each housing authority area by the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2017. The current maximum HAP rent limits are available on the Irish Statute Book website at the following link:
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/si/56/made/en/print?q=housing&years=2017.
Local authorities also have discretion, because of local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum rent limit by up to 20%, or up to 50% in the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of homelessness. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
In considering this issue, I am conscious that increasing the current HAP rent limits could have negative inflationary impacts, leading to a detrimental impact on the wider rental market, including for those households who are not receiving HAP support.
My Department closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis. It is considered that the current maximum rent limits, together with the additional flexibility available to local authorities, are adequate to support the effective operation of the HAP scheme.
266. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing assistance payment, HAP, place finders that are employed in each county; the number of properties that have been found by county for each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41073/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Homeless HAP Place Finder Service was established in January 2018 and it was made available to each of the 31 local authorities, which are entitled to apply for approval for a dedicated resource.
There are currently Place Finder positions in 26 local authorities, with recruitment taking place to fill existing vacancies.
The current number of placefinders in each of these 26 local authorities and the number of properties sourced by the placefinders in the last year is set out in the table below:
|
Local Authorities with a Place Finder Service |
Current Number of Place Finders |
Number of properties sourced by Place Finders
December 2019-December 2020 |
|
Carlow County Council |
1 |
42 |
|
Clare County Council |
1 |
18 |
|
Cork City Council |
1 |
73 |
|
Cork County Council |
1 |
44 |
|
Dublin City Council |
5 |
1,086 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
2 |
127 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0 |
330 |
|
Galway City Council |
1 |
65 |
|
Galway County Council |
1 |
60 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1 |
45 |
|
Kildare County Council |
1 |
97 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
1 |
44 |
|
Laois County Council |
1 |
30 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
1 |
0 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
1 |
38 |
|
Longford County Council |
1 |
6 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1 |
24 |
|
Meath County Council |
1 |
133 |
|
Offaly County Council |
1 |
25 |
|
Sligo County Council |
1 |
23 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
0 |
391 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1 |
68 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
1 |
159 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
1 |
43 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1 |
36 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1 |
98 |
|
Total: |
29 |
3,226 |
267. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce legislation to streamline the planning and judicial review process to ensure the full planning process can give statutory timelines and certainty to investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41088/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to the review and reform of the judicial review process so that such reforms come into effect upon the establishment of the proposed Environmental and Planning Law Court, while always adhering to EU law obligations on public participation under the Aarhus Convention. The Housing and Planning and Development Bill 2019, the General Scheme for which was published in late 2019, contains, inter alia, a range of proposals in this regard.
The General Scheme of the Bill is reflected in the Government's Legislation Programme Autumn Session 2020, among the list of the General Schemes to undergo pre-legislative scrutiny. No arrangements have been set as yet for pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme, but given the range of other legislation before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, this is not likely to arise until early 2021.
When a planning application is made to a planning authority, under section 34(8) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), the planning authority must make a decision within eight weeks of receiving a valid application where no further information is requested from the applicant. A decision of a planning authority on a planning application may be appealed to An Bord Pleanala within 4 weeks of the decision. Under section 126 of the Act, the Board has a statutory objective period of 18 weeks to make a decision on any appeal.
Where a decision is made by a planning authority or the Board, under section 50 of the Act an application for leave to apply for judicial review should be made within eight weeks of the date of the decision. The High Court shall not extend the eight week period for leave to apply for judicial review unless it considers that there is good and sufficient reason for doing so. Timelines within the courts are ones in which, I as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage have no statutory function and are a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent.
268. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to reimburse local authorities for the significant loss in parking revenues during the Covid-19 pandemic; the losses incurred by each local authority in car parking revenue for the past nine months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41136/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has engaged extensively with representatives of the local government sector and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform over recent months concerning the financial challenges facing local authorities as a consequence of the pandemic.
I am aware that the loss of parking revenues, as with other income streams, due to the Covid - 19 pandemic, will have an impact on Local Authority finances. I am also aware that the loss of parking revenues in particular, will vary significantly from one authority to the next.
€600m was allocated by Government to fund the cost of a six-month waiver of rates from 27 March to 27 September 2020, which took the form of a credit in lieu of rates. To strengthen this support, the Government subsequently announced an extension of the waiver until 27 December 2020, at an additional cost of €300m. This brings to €900m the financial support to fund the cost of a waiver of commercial rates, which is an unprecedented measure that offers support to both businesses and local authorities.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has sanctioned the distribution of any unspent funds from the overall rates waiver allocation to the sector to help minimise the impact of reductions in other local authority income streams and to help meet the costs associated with the response to the pandemic. This process will not be complete until early 2021.
As has been the case since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department will continue to engage regularly and constructively with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on the financial impacts of the pandemic and other matters arising. In this regard, I am pleased to note that every local authority in the country has now adopted their 2021 revenue budget.
269. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process for the hiring of antisocial behaviour officers in all local authorities; if it is a standard process throughout; if he will explain the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41198/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
My Department is not aware of the specific grade of Anti-Social Behavioural Officer nor the establishment of such a role in any local authority.
Generally speaking local authorities will have processes in place for local communities to inform and advise where such behaviour takes place and to assist local communities in conjunction with other statutory bodies such as An Garda Síochána in addressing same.
In addition a number of local authorities have Community Wardens in place whose role is to engage with local communities in proactively supporting communities in preventing anti-social behaviour. The recruitment of Community Wardens where local authorities have such in place is undertaken in accordance with the existing recruitment policies and procedures in place for the grade and other related grades.
270. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the development of a new fire station in Athenry town, County Galway (details supplied). [41211/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.
The five-year programme proposed the construction/refurbishment of twenty six fire stations. This included sixteen new builds and ten upgrade/refurbishment projects.
A new fire station at Athenry was listed in this Capital Programme for annual review. Galway County Council has indicated that Athenry is their number one fire station priority. In October 2019, my Department issued approval in principle for the construction of a new fire station at Athenry. My Department will continue to work with Galway County Council to progress this project.
271. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has raised with Irish Water the frequency with which some businesses experience water outages as in the case of a business (details supplied); his views on such outages; if the rates businesses pay go towards maintaining infrastructure for the water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41217/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels in accordance with Section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. The day-to-day operation of the public water system, including the arrangements for dealing with unforeseen outages, is therefore a matter for Irish Water and I have no function in relation to this matter. It may be of assistance to note that 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.
In relation to the matter of payments by businesses towards maintaining water services infrastructure, the position is that non-domestic customers of Irish Water are charged directly by Irish Water for the water and waste water services provided to them in line with the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2017. The charges and charging arrangements which apply are determined by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, who is responsible under the Water Services Acts for the independent economic regulation of Irish Water, and such charges take account of the cost of providing water services together with the costs involved in maintenance and development of water services networks.
272. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the application by Dublin City Council for funding under the urban regeneration and development fund to kickstart its development proposals for a number of projects in the Cherry Orchard area was successful; if so, the funding granted; and the projects funding was granted to. [41247/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), seventy six proposals were received, with every local authority submitting at least one application for URDF support, all of which require detailed assessment, including this proposal, which was one of four poposals submitted by Dublin City Council.
This assessment process is in train at present. I intend to soon announce a new tranche of approved proposals, which will augment the existing pipeline of projects from Call 1 and contribute to the achievement of Programme for Government commitments and the objectives of the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040.
273. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 26 November 2020, if his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service will liaise with voluntary organisations involved in conservation to develop a more cost-effective strategy for feral mink control and or eradication than that which would cost €100 million over five years for the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41336/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe review of mink predation and control of mink population in Ireland, commissioned by the National Parks & Wildlife Service of my Department in 2009 (full reference and link below), provides a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with effective mink eradication programmes.
One of the major costs of such a programme would be the employment of appropriate staff with the skills and experience required. In other countries where measures to eradicate mink in the wild have been carried out, it has been shown that full-time staff are required to manage and coordinate the large scale control operations. Properly trained staff are also needed to conduct the vast majority of the necessary fieldwork, given the extensive and regimented level of fieldwork that is needed all year round, and in all weather conditions, to ensure a successful large scale operation.
The NPWS in my Department does from time to time liaise with voluntary organisations concerning this matter. I note that volunteers and local landowners can have a vital role to play in the follow-up monitoring phase of a control programme. After the initial intensive removal phase of a control programme there is an ongoing need for several years of additional monitoring. Operations in Scotland and elsewhere have demonstrated that volunteers may carry out the bulk of this work, in cooperation with the lead statutory agency.
Voluntary organisations can contact the NPWS should they wish to discuss issues around the feral mink population in greater detail.
Roy, S., Reid, N., McDonald, R.A. (2009) A review of mink predation and control in Ireland.
Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 40. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland. https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM40.pdf
274. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for a decision on the approval of the construction of a 22-unit social housing development at Lios na Circe, Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41367/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recently confirmed approval to Mayo County Council to proceed to tender in relation to the proposed development of 22 new social homes at Lios ns Circe, Saleen, Castlebar, County Mayo. It is now a matter for Mayo County Council to advance the project and I look forward to them doing so as soon as possible.
275. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress made in providing seed capital to local authorities to provide serviced sites at cost in towns and villages to allow persons and families build homes as outlined in the Programme for Government. [41446/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTowns and villages across Ireland are facing many challenges, in terms of decline in population, loss of services and community facilities. The Government has provided a strong national policy response through the National Planning Framework (NPF) and the Action Plan for Rural Development, which identify the need to reverse these trends and revitalise rural towns and villages by attracting new residents.
In this context, the Programme for Government (PFG) has committed in outline to the development of a Town Centre First (TCF) policy. With a view to giving effect to this commitment and the actions outlined in the Programme for Government, a TCF inter-Departmental Group (IDG) has now been established to consider the regeneration of our towns and villages. Both my Department and the Department of Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands are currently formulating this joint approach which will involve both the IDG and a wider Advisory Group of stakeholders, to be chaired by me, in advancing an initial scoping of the policy proposals. As part of this, measures and proposals to support more serviced sites closer to urban settlements such as towns and villages will be examined, within the broader context of the issues effecting such places as already outlined. It is anticipated that any recommendations forthcoming from the TCF approach will be developed over the next six months.
The NPF acknowledges that rural settlements are not suitable for a suburban or a high density approach to development and tailored design approaches are needed. As such, this initiative is intended to address rural-focused issues with a view to supporting settlements at risk of vacancy and decline. The NPF also recognises that in rural Ireland many people seek to have an opportunity to build their own homes. Under National Policy Objective 18b my Department is committed to developing a programme with local authorities, public infrastructure agencies such as Irish Water and local communities for the provision of serviced sites for housing to attract people to build their own homes and live in small towns and villages.
Consideration will also need to be given to the expansion of towns and villages in a sustainable manner. Such development will be incremental, small scale, walkable (including to and from the town/village centre) and will occur on sites that have access adequate water supply and provision for disposal of domestic effluent. Such extensions should also be guided by responsive design principles so that they appear as a natural extensions to the town/village with a close visual relationship to the prevailing vernacular. My Department is addressing this in the context the development of proposed ‘sustainable settlement guidance’.
276. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in expanding the role of vacant homes officers in local authorities and support local authorities to bring vacant stock into productive use as outlined in the Programme for Government. [41447/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2018, and the publication of the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, my Department has secured funding of €50,000 per annum for each local authority to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer for each local authority. This Strategy strives to provide a targeted, effective and co-ordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland.
The activities of the Vacant Homes Officers are already comprehensive; any expansion of their current role will be carefully reviewed and targeted and will reflect the Government’s commitment to bringing vacant properties back into use across the country.
The current role of the Vacant Homes Officer is wide ranging and includes, but is not limited to;
- tasks that support, implement and further develop, update, monitor and review the progress of local authorities’ Vacant Homes Action Plans and actions to address vacant private housing,
- stablishing a co-ordinated approach towards the implementation of the Action Plans within each local authority,
- undertaking initial vacancy assessment exercise (drilling into available CSO / GeoDirectory data),
- carrying out or co-ordinating visual inspections / assessment of residential properties in their administrative area, with a view to identifying possible vacant recoverable homes,
- identification of the registered owners of the properties deemed to be vacant from inspection, and contacting the owners on the options available to assist in bringing their properties back into use for private or social housing purposes,
- serving as a contact point for dissemination of assistance and information to members of the public (including landlords), on residential vacancy and the schemes available to re-introduce their homes into the usable housing stock,
- serving as a contact point for dissemination to interested parties of the ‘Guidance on the Reuse of Existing Buildings for Residential purposes’ (published in December 2018); and
- the collation and provision of vacant homes data to my Department.
There are a number of supporting schemes available to assist property owners to bring their vacant properties back into use for social housing – the Repair & Lease Scheme, the Buy and Renew Scheme or Long Term Leasing. The maximum loan for property repair available under the Repair and Leases scheme has recently been increased by my Department from €40,000 to €60,000. This funding increase will mean that property owners who cannot afford or access funding to bring their vacant stock up to standard and back into use will be able to do so to provide social housing. It has an added benefit of increasing investment and employment into the local construction and retail sectors while also providing for the regeneration of local communities.
The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department recently ran an advertising campaign in national newspapers directed at owners of vacant properties alerting them to the vacant homes schemes available. On foot of this , the Vacant Homes Unit received a very strong response from the public, and as a result many Vacant Homes Officers are currently in the process of engaging with the owners of potentially suitable properties to be brought back into use.
My Department will continue to keep the Vacant Homes Schemes and the various functions of the Vacant Homes Offices under review with ongoing feedback from our Vacant Homes Officers.
277. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in examining the creation of a system of holding rental deposits informed by international experience as outlined in the Programme for Government. [41448/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for, among other things, the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The Programme for Government commits to the examination of a system of holding rental deposits and how best to achieve this is under consideration my Department.
However, there have been significant changes in the rental market since the 2015 scheme was first envisaged and designed. For example, the 2015 scheme was intended to be financed by the interest payable on deposits lodged; this is no longer viable, given the current financial market conditions.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that disputes relating to deposits are no longer the most common dispute type referred to the RTB. Prior to 2013, deposit retention had been the most common dispute type. However, deposit retention is now the third most common rental dispute type, included in 20% of dispute applications in 2019. 2019 saw 364,099 registered tenancies with the RTB of which there were 6,185 applications for dispute resolution and, among those, 1,264 pertained to deposit retention issues – this correlates with 0.35% of tenancies overall. (In terms of case outcomes, in 73% of cases in 2019, it was found that the deposit should be fully or partially refunded to the tenant, which compares to 80% in 2018.)
Financing the operation of the scheme is an important consideration, particularly in terms of ensuring that the likely outcomes of a new scheme are achieved efficiently and effectively and that the best value from public funds is secured. Careful consideration is therefore required to introduce any necessary reforms and enhancements to the 2015 scheme, with a view to considering whether and how to introduce a re-designed scheme that is fit for purpose and suitable for current and future rental and financial markets.
Any review of the scope and provisions of a Deposit Protection scheme will need to take account of changes in the residential sectors since the 2015 Deposit Protection Scheme legal provisions were enacted, to inform any necessary legislative change. Consideration will need to be given as to whether or not it is feasible to proceed to revise and implement a deposit protection scheme at this time, or to defer to a later point in time, when the RTB's Change Management Plan has been fully implemented and more robust data and information is available for consideration.
The RTB has cut case times for deposit-related disputes as the introduction of new processes has borne fruit and the question of proportionality is key and it is imperative to question whether the scale of spending and intervention required is commensurate with the scale of the issue. From a value-for-money perspective at a time when the rental market is experiencing extreme pressure in terms of supply and costs, the introduction of a deposit protection scheme would require careful consideration.
278. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in reforming and consolidating compulsory purchase order laws as outlined in the Programme for Government. [41449/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst I have no statutory function in the progression of reforming and consolidating compulsory purchase order laws, I am aware that the Law Reform Commission is continuing to make significant progress towards the completion of this complex and wide-ranging project, which will involve the reform and consolidation of the law on compulsory acquisition of land.
The law in this area is currently contained in over 70 separate Acts, some going back to the first half of the 19th century. The Commission is engaging in detailed analysis to ensure that any reforms are consistent with relevant constitutional rights and principles, and with those in the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Commission published an initial Issues Paper on aspects of this project in 2017. The Paper examined 23 issues on CPO law and sought the views of interested parties on all those issues.
It is understood that the Commission intends to publish its final Report on this matter, which will include a Draft Compulsory Acquisition of Land (Consolidation and Reform) Bill, by the end of 2021.
279. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that private mortgage to rent providers are outbidding not for profit mortgage to rent providers on mortgage to rent deals and in doing so introducing a level of risk to the stability of the mortgage to rent tenancy; and his plans in this regard. [41523/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra293. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for mortgage-to-rent since the scheme was introduced; the number of applicants who have been improved; and the number of mortgage-to-rent sales closed by year since the scheme was introduced. [42040/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 293 together.
The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at supporting households in mortgage arrears who: have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP); agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and are deemed eligible for social housing support. The property in question must also meet certain eligibility criteria.
Up to the end of November 2020, 884 households with unsustainable private mortgages have completed the MTR scheme since its introduction nationally in 2013. The 884 households in the scheme represent 1,493 adults and 1,399 children who have remained living in their homes and communities. There are currently 1,296 active cases being progressed under the scheme.
The table below details the number of MTR transactions completed in the years 2012 to 2019 and up to the end of November 2020:
|
Year |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 (end November) |
Total |
|
No. of MTR transactions competed |
1 |
21 |
29 |
96 |
70 |
91 |
137 |
196 |
243 |
884 |
Information in relation to the number of MTR applications submitted annually from 2012 to 2019 and to end November 2020 is outlined in the table below. In the earlier stages of the operation of the scheme, when lenders were not familiar with its operation, 500 cases were incorrectly submitted by lenders. In addition, 233 cases were submitted in duplicate. By its nature, the scheme also lends itself to a large withdrawal rate and to the end of November 2020, 1,327 applications had been withdrawn.
|
Year |
No. of MTR applications |
|
2012 |
681 |
|
2013 |
1,080 |
|
2014 |
527 |
|
2015 |
893 |
|
2016 |
394 |
|
2017 |
282 |
|
2018 |
618 |
|
2019 |
667 |
|
2020 to end November |
461 |
The Housing Agency, who administer the MTR scheme on my Department's behalf, publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme. This information is available on the Agency's website at the following link:
https://www.housingagency.ie/our-services/housing-supply-services/mortgage-to-rent.aspx .
A Review of the MTR scheme for borrowers of commercial private lending institutions published in February 2017 explored the avenues and impediments to participation in the scheme and identified a number of actions to make the scheme work better for borrowers. My Department and the Housing Agency have worked with all stakeholders to ensure that the actions set out in the review are being effectively implemented to benefit a greater number of households. As a result of the improvements implemented, an upward trend in case completions has been evident since 2018.
The MTR Review taking account of capacity within the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector, also recommended that alternative funding options, including the off-balance sheet potential of private institutional investment, be explored in order to allow the MTR scheme to deliver at scale. An Expressions of Interest (EOI) Request issued in 2017 inviting parties from the private sectors to express their interest in participating in a new alternatively funded long-term MTR lease model.
Under this alternatively funded model, a participant from the private sector purchases a property or properties from lenders subsequent to their voluntary surrender by borrowers that meet the MTR eligibility criteria and then enters into a long-term lease arrangement with the local authority in whose area the property is situated for a defined term at an agreed rent, thereby enabling the borrower to remain living in their own home. The outcome from the EOI process is that a new MTR alternatively funded lease model was announced in 2018 with Home for Life Ltd. as the participant from the private sector.
AHBs are an integral part of the MTR scheme and their participation in the scheme has enabled and continues to enable a significant number of borrowers to remain in their homes as social housing tenants.
The primary difference between an AHB acquiring a property under the MTR scheme and a private company acquiring a property is that in the private company's case private funding is used to purchase the MTR property as opposed to Exchequer funding. The same MTR eligibility criteria apply and the social housing tenant status of those entering the scheme are the same.
The MTR process involves the Housing Agency commissioning an independent property valuation and it is on the basis of this valuation that MTR providers, both AHBs and Home for Life Ltd., are invited to express an interest in a particular property. Should more than one provider express an interest in a particular property, the Housing Agency then randomly selects the provider and assigns the case to that provider.
In addition, any MTR provider may work directly with lenders to develop joint-agreements to purchase properties at discounts on market values. Such an approach can achieve a greater number of successful MTR cases as well as the benefit of discounted purchase prices.
Given the nature of the individual property transaction underpinning MTR, the decision to purchase a property under the MTR scheme is a matter for the MTR provider. In all scenarios, my Department and the Housing Agency are focussed on meeting the long-term housing needs of the greatest number of households in unsustainable mortgage arrears.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to strengthen the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and ensure that it is helping those who need it. Building on the significant improvements already made to the scheme since 2017, my Department is currently working closely with the Housing Agency to identify any further improvements required to the scheme.
