Wednesday, 28 Apr 2021

Written Answers Nos. 451-469

Shared Ownership Scheme

Ceisteanna (451)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

451. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the proposed shared equity scheme will commence. [21387/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

This Government is committed to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system, with approximately €468 million allocated in Budget 2021 for a broad range of affordability measures.

The Affordable Housing Bill 2020 includes provisions to underpin three schemes that prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through (1) affordable homes for purchase delivered by local authorities, (2) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme for private homes, and (3) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental.

The shared equity scheme is designed to help bridge the gap, by means of an equity stake, between the mortgage people have and the price of the new home they wish to buy. This measure will iin turn help increase  confidence in the construction sector, increase housing supply, and enable First Time Buyers to buy a new home at a price they can afford.

Government approved priority drafting of the Bill on 22 December 2020, the General Scheme of which I published on 20 January last. The detailed drafting of the Bill is now close to completion, and I anticipate that the Bill will be brought to Government for decision shortly. Subject to Government approval, I intend to bring the completed Bill before the Oireachtas as part of the summer legislative programme and to commence the scheme this year.

Rural Resettlement Scheme

Ceisteanna (452)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

452. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the rural settlement policy will be reviewed to address the chronic shortage of available housing for sale in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21400/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The National Planning Framework (NPF) fully supports the concept of the sustainable development of rural areas by encouraging their growth and prosperity while also seeking to arrest the decline in areas that have experienced low population growth in recent decades. Chapter 5.3 ‘Planning for the Future Growth and Development of Rural Areas’ of the NPF features several specific National Policy Objectives (NPOs) that aim to support the overall rural and small town pattern of development in Ireland and deliver strengthened and diversified rural communities.

In particular, 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.

The Programme for Government (PFG) also recognises the challenges faced by towns and villages in rural areas and their need to function as viable and vibrant locations for people to live and work, through the development of a ‘Town Centre First’ (TCF) policy.  With a view to giving effect to this commitment and the actions outlined in the PFG, a TCF Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) was established in November 2020 to consider the regeneration of our towns and villages.

The IDG is jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development.  In parallel, a Town Centre First Advisory Group was also established to enable the experiences of a broader group of stakeholders to be brought to bear in informing the process of policy development, and will support the work of the IDG.  The aim is that the IDG will provide recommendations for consideration by Government in June.  It is envisaged that recommendations will cover the short, medium and longer-term out to 2040, to align with Project Ireland 2040.

Further support to the development of rural Ireland is available through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), one of the “Four Funds” under the National Development Plan which is a commitment of €1 billion by government to be invested in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.

The RRDF provides an unprecedented opportunity to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland, to make a significant and sustainable impact on rural communities, and to address de-population in small rural towns, villages and rural areas. It will be a key instrument to support the objectives of the National Planning Framework, and in particular to achieve Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities – one of the National Strategic Outcomes of Project Ireland 2040.

Housing for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (453)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

453. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action being taken to address access to social housing for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21451/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 was published in late 2011 and extended to 2021. It is a joint strategy between my Department and the Department of Health which sets out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities through mainstream housing policy.  The Strategy was developed as part of a coherent framework of housing and health care supports for people with disabilities and compliments the Government’s mental health policies as set out in the strategy documents - A Vision for Change and the Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settings Time to Move On (2011).  

Housing accommodation for perons with a disability can be provided by the local authorities and approved housing bodies with funding from central government through two mainstream capital programmes; the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF).

Persons with disabilities are entitled to apply for a housing support assessment in the same manner as other citizens. If they have specific needs and these are specified as a basis of application, and supported by medical evidence, they will be taken into account in allocating a dwelling as local authorities strive to provide housing that is tailored to the needs of the individual to enable them to manage their disability in a more effective manner. In the case of private rented accommodation a person with a disability may source their own accommodation and be supported through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).  

Persons with a disability make up approximately 8% of those on local authority housing waiting lists. Since 2016, allocations of homes to persons with a disability  has ranged from 10-12% of all allocations which is positive. The existing strategy is under review and public consultation and research has begun. It is intended that a new strategy will be published by the end of 2021.

Water Quality

Ceisteanna (454)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

454. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the water supply is tested at the domestic level to ascertain if the supply is in breach of the maximum level of lead allowable by EU standards; the measures being taken to replace lead water pipes; the action being taken to educate households in relation to measures that they can take to mitigate against the build-up of lead in their water supply overnight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21475/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, while the local authorities remain responsible for private water supplies.

Under the Drinking Water Regulations 2014, as amended, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority for water supplied by Irish Water. The EPA produces an annual Public Supply Drinking Water Report and Private Supply Drinking Water Report, which provides an overview of the quality of drinking water in public and private supplies. The reports are based on the assessment of monitoring results reported to the EPA by Irish Water and the Local Authorities, and on EPA and Local Authority enforcement activities.

The EPA’s latest report ‘Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies 2019’ published in July, shows that overall our water supplies are safe, with over 99% of water samples complying with safety limits.

The concentration limit for lead in drinking water is set by the European Union Drinking Water Directive.  This is transposed into Irish Law through the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations.  The recently adopted recast of the Drinking Water Directive (EU 2020/2184) will progressively reduce the legal limit for lead from 10 g/l to 5 g/l over a transitional period of 15 years.

The 'National Strategy to Reduce Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water' was published in June 2015.  This strategy is to guide actions that will reduce people’s lifetime exposure to lead from drinking water to the lowest possible levels.  It is considered that the safest approach to protecting health is to remove lead from all pipework in the public network and from pipes within houses and buildings.

Irish Water is responsible for dealing with lead in the public pipe network. In the period from 2014 to 2020 Irish Water has removed 35,666 lead service pipes.  While Irish Water is progressively removing all remaining lead pipes from the public water network over time, in the interim they have put in place a water treatment programme to protect consumers from lead exposure while this replacement programme is implemented.

The Lead Mitigation Advisory Group, which is chaired by officials from my Department, meets to consider and make recommendations on the broader Irish Water Lead Mitigation Strategy and to consider appropriate guidelines and criteria for Irish Water’s decision-making process for lead mitigation measures. The most recent of these meetings took place on 9 March 2021.

Plumbing within a property boundary is the responsibility of the property owner.  Based on the most current data, Irish Water estimate that approximately 180,000 residential properties may have some lead pipework. 

My Department has introduced a grant scheme to assist owners of premises connected to a domestic water supply with the costs of replacing lead piping or related fittings in homes.  Information on how to apply for this grant is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c3f97-grant-to-replace-lead-pipes-and-fittings/

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (455)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

455. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding details approved by his Department for a social housing lease agreement between an organisation (details supplied) for 40 units of accommodation at a location; the length of time of the lease agreement; the average annual cost of the lease at this location; and if he will provide all other available information. [21539/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making an important contribution to social housing delivery, as envisaged under current Government policy.  My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to construct, purchase and lease new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that AHBs progress construction projects through is the Capital Advance Loan Facility (CALF).

CALF funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units.  This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from my Department. The remainder of the capital is borrowed from private institutions, or the Housing Finance Agency.

Local authorities, as the statutory housing authorities, are the decision makers in relation to the suitability of a proposed social housing project. For example, local authorities are required to ensure that any project appropriately reflects the housing need in that particular area and that there is sufficient need in the area to support the units over time; the properties comply with relevant standards and regulatory requirements; and the objectives of creating and maintaining sustainable communities are being met. The facility is only available as part of a project where the AHB makes homes available under a Payment & Availability agreement to nominees of the housing authority for a set period of time.

My Department does not release specific information at a project level as these transactions are commercially sensitive and contain proprietary information that may impact on the competitiveness of the Approved Housing Body sector. However, it can be confirmed that the Payment and Availability Agreement will be in place for 30 years.

Blackbanks View comprises of 40 high-quality homes for social housing use, that was progressed by the AHB, Cluid Housing, in the location referred to, working in partnership with Dublin City Council. The project has the support of the local authority and has met all of the requirements for funding, in line with Departmental policies and financial assessments. My Department issued a CALF approval for this Turnkey project in January 2021. This project was completed in April 2021.

Fire Service

Ceisteanna (456)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

456. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of all costs associated with the closure of a service (details supplied) including all costs associated with legal actions, redundancy packages and all other costs. [21548/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The 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 Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under the Local Government Act 2001, all arrangements in relation to staffing in each local authority are the responsibility of the relevant Chief Executive of that Authority.  My Department supports fire authorities through general policy-setting and preparing legislation, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.

The decision not to reopen Castlerea Fire Station was taken by Roscommon County Council. Any queries in relation to any costs associated with this issue should be addressed to the Council.

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (457, 464, 465)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

457. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loan applications submitted in the first quarter of 2021; the number of applications accepted; the number approved; the number of mortgage drawdowns; the value of the applications in each category in the first quarter of 2021; the breakdown for each local authority area; and the breakdown as a total for the State under each heading. [21555/21]

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

464. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and value of Rebuilding Ireland home loans that were applied for, approved and drawn down in the first quarter of 2021. [21570/21]

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

465. 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 in the first quarter of 2021. [21571/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 457, 464 and 465 together.

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. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.

The most recent figures from the Agency on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and recommended for approval/decline for each local authority for the first quarter of 2021 are included in the below table:

Local Authority	Applications   Assessed	Recommended   to Approve	Recommended   to Decline
Carlow County Council	4	1	3
Cavan County Council	2	2	0
Clare County Council	5	2	3
Cork City Council	31	15	16
Cork County Council	45	24	21
Donegal County Council	9	5	4
Dublin City Council	48	34	14
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council	17	9	8
Fingal County Council	56	34	22
Galway City Council	9	6	3
Galway County Council	16	8	8
Kerry County Council	29	7	22
Kildare County Council	42	19	23
Kilkenny County Council	19	10	9
Laois County Council	13	6	7
Leitrim County Council	4	2	2
Limerick City & County Council	17	7	10
Longford County Council	13	8	5
Louth County Council	17	9	8
Mayo County Council	10	3	7
Meath County Council	16	10	6
Monaghan County Council	5	2	3
Offaly County Council	6	2	4
Roscommon County Council	3	3	0
Sligo County Council	8	4	4
South Dublin County Council	39	22	17
Tipperary County Council	17	12	5
Waterford City & County Council	18	7	11
Westmeath County Council	5	5	0
Wexford County Council	22	10	12
Wicklow County Council	37	14	23
Total	582	302	280

 

The next stages in the process are approval and drawdown from the local authority. 

My Department regularly publishes information on the 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).

Figures for the first quarter of 2021 will be available in due course at the below link -

https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (458)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

458. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of long-term lease and Part V lease approvals granted to date in 2021; the number of units in each approval; the local authority in which each approval was granted; the average annual cost of the lease in each development; and the average length of the lease in each development. [21556/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

To date, a total of 48 leasing projects have been approved by my Department in 2021 under the Long Term Leasing and Enhanced Leasing Schemes. These 48 projects have approval for the delivery of 603 dwellings under long term lease agreements and 123 dwellings under Part V lease agreements. A breakdown of these approvals by local authority, detailing the term of the agreement and number of units in each approaval, is set out in the attached Table.

My Department does not release specific cost information at a project level as these transactions are commercially sensitive and contain proprietary information that may impact on the competitiveness of the local authority sector. The average cost of all long term leases approved in 2021 is €15,000. In a Part V leased unit, the lease payment can vary greatly depending on how the equivalent net monetary value has been reflected in the agreement. This is usually achieved by either a rent free period up front or a discount on the lease payment over the term of the lease (or part thereof).  When this is taken into account, it is estimated that the average cost of Part V lease units approved to date in 2021 is €18,049 annually over the term of the lease.  It is important to note that the  Part V leased units approved to date in 2021 are largely in Dublin. The average lease cost will vary having regard to the location of the dwelling, size and the property type. 

Table 1: 2021 Leasing Approvals

LA	Approval Number	Number of LTL Units	Number Part V Lease Units	Average Agreement Length
Carlow Co. Co.	1.	10	0	25 years
Cavan Co. Co.	1.	6	0	20 years
Clare Co. Co.	1.	4	0	25 years
	1.	28	0
	2.	3	0
	3.	6	0
Cork City Co.	4.	15	0	25 years
Cork Co. Co.	1.	1	0	25 years
	1.	34	0
	2.	31	0
DLR Co. Co.	3.	5	0	25 years
Donegal Co. Co.	1.	2	0	10 years
	1.	14	0
	2.	4	0
	3.	13	0
	4.	3	0
	5.	31	0
	6.	8	0
	7.	15	0
	8.	15	0
	9.	3	0
	10.	29	0
	11.	12	0
	12.	5	0
Dublin City Co.	13.	1	0	25 years
	1.	49	110
Fingal Co. Co.	2.	1	0	25 years
	1.	112	13
	2.	2	0
	3.	1	0
Kildare Co. Co.	4.	23	0	25 years
	1.	3	0
	2.	1	0
	3.	1	0
	4.	5	0
Limerick Co. Co.	5.	1	0	25 years
Louth Co. Co.	1.	16	0
	2.	14	0	25 years
Meath Co. Co.	1.	15	0	25 years
	1.	12	0
	2.	16	0
	3.	4	0
	4.	9	0
	5.	2	0
	6.	8	0
South Dublin Co. Co.	7.	8	0	25 years
	1.	1	0
Wexford Co. Co.	2.	1	0	15 years

Homeless Persons Data

Ceisteanna (459)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

459. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homelessness task force and housing delivery task force meetings that have taken place in the past six months; and if the minutes from these meetings will be released. [21557/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Homelessness Task Force provides a forum for engagement with key organisations working together to address homelessness and to provide input on the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government.

The Group has met on five occasions since October 2020. Minutes from meetings up to the one held on 1 February 2021 are available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/9fa1d-high-level-homelessness-taskforce-meetings/

Minutes are published on a quarterly basis and those from the most recent meeting held on 19 April 2021 are to be published in due course having regard to this timeline.

The High Level Housing Delivery Group provides 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 Group has met on six occasions in the last six months. It is my intention to publish the agenda and minutes of meetings on my Department’s website on an ongoing basis.

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (460)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

460. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a list of all organisations and persons he has consulted in preparation of his Housing for All plan will be provided; when these consultations took place; the length of time the consultation meetings were held for; and if the minutes or notes from these meetings will be published. [21558/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Government set out its housing priorities in the Programme for Government in 2020. It is intended to publish a new Housing Strategy 'Housing for All' later this year which will build on the commitments in the Programme for Government and this is being developed at the moment.

As part of the process of delivering Housing for All, my Department is consulting with other government departments to ensure that there is a whole of government approach to the plan, and has also invited written submissions from a range of stakeholders. This online submission process is currently under way. It is envisaged that it may be possible to publish the submissions received in due course once the Plan itself has been finalised.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (461)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

461. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the draft national architecture policy; when the next phase of the consultation will take place; when he will engage with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the matter; and when the plan will be finalised and published. [21559/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department is currently finalising the drafting of a new National Policy on Architecture, which will support and be supported by long–term planning and built environment strategies and will assist in addressing key issues including societal well-being, climate change and urban regeneration, such as through the Town Centre First policy, currently in preparation.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently completed a public consultation process allowing the opportunity for all communities, stakeholders and citizens to have their say on the proposed new Policy. The consultation phase considered the main ways in which architecture and our built environment affect society, our health and wellbeing and our ability to prosper. These include climate adaptation and mitigation and sustainable development, the benefits for everyone of obtaining high quality in the built environment, the protection and reuse of our built heritage, ways we can demonstrate built environment leadership and the need to foster education about our built environment.  My Department invited online and written submissions, and social media engagement, alongside a series of workshops and meetings, including virtual workshops in line with public health restrictions, to allow wide-ranging involvement in the drafting of the new policy, as well as consideration of the effect of Covid-19 on our built environment.

The new Policy will be informed by the feedback that was received from the consultation phase, with over 150 submissions, as well as by a review of the previous policy.

It is my intention that the new National Policy on Architecture will play an integral part in implementing our vision for the future, providing policy actions that will encourage best quality in researching, understanding, managing, enhancing and reusing our existing built environment assets as well as delivering sustainable new places and spaces.

My Department is also following the emerging New European Bauhaus initiative, which was launched in January 2021 by the Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. The Bauhaus will link directly to the priorities and funding streams of the Green Deal, therefore it is important that the National Policy on Architecture is aligned with this Europe-wide built environment initiative.

I hope to circulate the draft policy to key stakeholders and Government Departments for observations in the next few weeks and I will also consult with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage at that time.  Publication of the final policy will follow on from this consultation.

Water Quality

Ceisteanna (462)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

462. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on extending the bathing season in Dublin Bay to year round to facilitate year round water testing which will allow persons to make informed decisions regarding water swimming safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21560/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I am very aware of the recent increase in people swimming, and the increase of beach users generally, outside of the traditional bathing season in Dublin Bay (and in many other areas). I have asked my Department to work with the National Bathing Water Expert Group, and with stakeholders, to specifically examine the feasibility and implications of expanding the bathing water season and / or the designation of additional bathing waters given the recent increase in sea swimming. 

The Bathing Water Regulations 2008 (as amended), transpose the requirements of the 2006 Bathing Water Directive into national legislation. These regulations set the framework for the effective management of bathing waters around the country. The regulations also aim to improve health protection for bathers and ensure adequate information is disseminated in a timely manner during the bathing season.

It is important to note that in the latest bathing water report for 2019, which was published by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2020, 95% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard. This is up from 94% in 2018 and improvements in bathing water quality are welcome and necessary.

Currently in Ireland there are almost 150 designated bathing waters identified by local authorities with the help of public consultation.  The water quality in these areas is monitored during the bathing season. The regulations define the bathing season to mean the period from 1st June to 15th September in any calendar year and also set out the sampling and monitoring requirements for all designated bathing waters.

My Department chairs the National Bathing Water Expert Group which advises on the implementation of the regulations, and collaborates on addressing significant issues as they arise. The current membership of the group includes:

- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,

- the Health Service Executive,

- the Environmental Protection Agency,

- Water Safety Ireland,

- An Taisce,

- Coastwatch,

- Local Authorities, and

- Irish Water.

The key functions of the Bathing Water Expert Group are to:

- Advise me on matters relating to bathing water protection policy;

- Advise the relevant implementation bodies regarding the implementation of the Bathing Water Directive in Ireland;

- Develop guidance for the implementation of the Bathing Water Directive;

- Evaluate priority actions critical to delivering Ireland’s obligations under the Bathing Water Directive; and

- Provide a national view with respect to developments relating to the Bathing Water Directive and feed this through to the EU Commission and the EU Bathing Water Expert Group.

Water Pollution

Ceisteanna (463)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

463. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the Irish Water admission that in the four year period 2017-2020 a total of approximately 8.875 million cubic metres of untreated sewage and storm waters was discharged into Dublin Bay from overflow tanks located at the Ringsend wastewater treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21561/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water’s primary function is to provide clean safe drinking water to customers and to treat and return waste water safely to the environment. In turn, the EPA, as environmental regulator, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the necessary quality standards for the collection and treatment of waste water discharges.

The direct discharge of untreated sewage directly to the environment is clearly not a tenable situation, and one which I earnestly wish to see addressed as soon as possible. When Irish Water was established in 2014, they inherited a system in need of very significant improvement.  To date, the company has halted the discharge of raw sewage from the equivalent of 100,000 people in 15 towns across Ireland, removing half of all the raw sewage discharged.  Irish Water continues to develop and implement a long-term investment perspective in order to strategically address the deficiencies in the public water and waste water system.

Storm-water overflows are a usual feature of a combined storm water and waste water drainage system, and are designed to ensure that sewers do not flood streets, businesses and homes - which would be a serious and immediate threat to public health.  The water that is released from storm-water overflows happens after heavy or prolonged spells of rain, and has been heavily diluted with rainwater.  However, these overflows must be designed, maintained or upgraded so as to minimise the frequency of these discharges.

The Ringsend wastewater treatment plant was originally designed and built to treat wastewater for a population equivalent of 1.64 million and is now overloaded. In response, Irish Water is currently undertaking a major upgrade of the plant. This upgrade will increase the capacity of the plant to cater for the growing population of the Greater Dublin Area and will address compliance with EU law.  Planning permission was granted for the project in April 2019, and the project is currently underway. 

Building water and waste water treatment plants, as well as upgrading or building new water and waste water networks, requires significant and sustained investment.  The National Development Plan 2018-2027 provides for significant investment in public water and wastewater infrastructure over the course of the plan to ensure the continued operation, repair and upgrading of Ireland’s water and waste water infrastructure to support social and economic development across the State and ensure compliance with EU Directives.

Questions Nos. 464 and 465 answered with Question No. 457.

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (466)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

466. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes brought into use in quarter 1 of 2021 via the repair and lease scheme. [21575/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings across Ireland. Subject to the suitability of the dwelling for social housing, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an AHB with the cost of the repairs being recovered from the property owner by offsetting it against the lease payment.

At end 2020, a total of 234 dwellings had been brought back into use under the scheme across a range of dwelling types, including over the shop properties, former bedsits, city centre terraced houses, and one off rural dwellings.  The budget allocation for RLS in 2021 is €11 million, targeting the delivery of 170 homes.  My Department is currently collecting data from local authorities in relation to social housing delivery for Q1 2021 and this data will be published when available.

Data to end Q4 2020 in relation to dwellings delivered by each local authority under RLS is available on my Department's website at the following link:

https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (467)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

467. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes brought into use in quarter 1 of 2021 via the buy and renew scheme. [21576/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Social housing completions for Q1 of 2021 under the range of delivery programmes, including the Buy & Renew Scheme, are currently being collated and will be published as soon as possible.

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (468)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

468. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes acquired via the Housing Agency in quarter 1 of 2021; and the average cost of each unit. [21577/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Housing Agency has been provided with direct capital funding to facilitate the acquisition of suitable portfolios of vacant properties for social housing from financial institutions and investors.  An Acquisitions Fund of €70m was established with effect from 1 January 2017, with the objective of acquiring some 1,600 homes over the period to 2021, for onward sale to Approved Housing Bodies for use for social housing purposes.

By the end of 2020 the Housing Agency had purchased 826 properties using the Fund.  A further 6 properties were acquired in Q1 2021 at an average cost of €192,917 per unit.

Housing Data

Ceisteanna (469)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

469. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund funding that has been drawn down by local authority to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21579/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In terms of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund  (LIHAF) funding drawdown, thus far, most infrastructure projects have been at the design, planning and procurement stages, and the bulk of expenditure will arise during the construction phase.  This is reflected in the level of expenditure to end 2020, with approximately €59.916m in Exchequer funds drawn down (matched by a further 25% local authority funding bringing the total expenditure to approximately €79.888m). A further €4.995m (matched by a further 25% local authority funding bringing the total expenditure to approximately €6.66m) has been drawn down to date in 2021.  Whilst drawdown to date has been in-line with expectations and budget profiling, at this time it is not fully apparent what impact the extended closure of the construction sector due to the Level 5 public health restrictions will have on LIHAF funding claims in 2021. The table below details the exchequer funding drawn down for the period 01 January 2021 to 28 April 2021.

Local   Authority	Project Name	Infrastructure to be delivered	Drawdown of LIHAF funding Exchequer Contribution 01 January 2021 to 28 April 2021 (€)
Cork City	South Docks	• South Docks Transition Zone transport infrastructure • Eastern Gateway Bridge western approach road • Marina Park - District Park • Kennedy Park upgrade	976,276
Cork County	Midleton (Water-rock)	• Knockgriffen junction upgrade • New spine link road • Storm water sewer	23,319
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	Cherrywood	• Druid's Glen Road (road only) • Druid’s Glen bridge - (short bridge structure transversing valley) • New N11 junction 'Q' at Druid Glen Road and • Druid's Glen Road (bridge feature)	26,822
Fingal	Baldoyle Stapolin	• Ramp providing pedestrian and cyclist access to Clongriffin Train Station • Attenuation areas • Regional Park • 'Hole in Wall' staggered junction upgrade works	818,514*
Kildare	Maynooth	• Maynooth Eastern Relief Road • Bridge crossing railway and Royal Canal	41,789
Kilkenny	Western Environs	• Distributor Road from the N76 Callan Road to the Circular Road • Upgrade of the Circular Road to the Kilmanagh Road • Upgrade the Kilmanagh Road on the Northern Boundary of the Western Environs Area • Linear park and internal amenity areas	554,661
Limerick	Mungret	•Provision of new distributor road	200,023
Louth	Newtown Drogheda	• Provision of Access Road	286
Louth	Mount Avenue Dundalk	• Road Improvements	16,359
Meath	Ratoath	• Ratoath outer relief road	247,043
Meath	Farganstown, Navan	• Access road	10,000
South Dublin	Kilcarbery/Corkagh Grange	• Spine access road, including junction upgrade • Pumping station and rising foul main to existing sewer network • Foul sewer outfall	2,440
South Dublin	Clonburris   SDZ	• Surface water upgrade improvement scheme	2,440
South Dublin	Adamstown	• Celbridge link road • Airlie Park • Tandy's Lane Park	1,976,561
Waterford City and County Council	Kilbarry	• Distributor road	98,642
Total			4,995,175

 *This claim is currently being processed.