Written Answers Nos. 117-131
117. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to extend the period that a planning permission is valid for in view of the fact that construction works were restricted in 2020 and 2021 due to public health advice. [26757/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn light of the impacts of the Covid-19 emergency, the Government, on 29 March 2020, made an Order under section 251A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), which resulted in the extension of time for a range of specified or appropriate periods and timelines in the Planning Acts and associated planning regulations. Further orders were signed on 16 April 2020 and 9 May 2020, the last of which expired on 23 May 2020. The three Orders had the combined effect of extending the relevant planning periods and timelines, including the duration of planning permissions, by an aggregate of 56 days/8 weeks during the time period in which they have effect. Accordingly, on foot of these Orders, the validity of a planning permission has now been extended by a further 8 weeks.
Under section 42 of the Act, the holder of planning permission may apply to the planning authority for an extension to the period of permission, prior to the expiration of that permission. On application, the authority shall extend the appropriate period by such additional period not exceeding 5 years as the authority considers requisite to enable the development to which the permission relates to be completed, provided that, the development was commenced before the expiration of the permission, substantial works were carried out and the development will be completed within a reasonable time.
If an extension to planning permission has been previously granted, the only circumstance in which the holder of a planning permission may be granted a second extension of duration is in respect of a development that relates to 20 or more houses subject to the development being completed within 5 years of the originally extended permission or by 31 December 2021 (as extended by the Section 251A Orders from last year), whichever first occurs.
On 30 March 2021, the Government published its latest response to managing Covid-19 - Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead, which enabled the recommencement of residential construction projects as part of the initial easing of the Covid Level 5 restrictions further to the recent lockdown, effective from 12 April last. On 29 April 2021, new public health measures were announced allowing all construction to restart in Ireland with effect from 4 May 2021.
Having regard to the cumulative impacts of Covid-19 on the construction sector over the last 15 months, my officials are presently engaging with the Office of the Attorney General regarding the possibility of bringing forward additional legislative amendments to provide for a further extension of duration of permission in specific circumstances, in particular to take account of construction delays to projects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but which, on advice, may only benefit extension of duration proposals that screen out the need for the undertaking of an environmental impact assessment or appropriate assessment.
118. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to amend the income limits set by the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26801/21]
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 Additional Superannuation Contribution. 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 separately a 2.5% allowance for each child.
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 in 2011 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 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.
119. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant residential properties in counties Longford and Westmeath on the vacant homes register in tabular form. [26813/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria applied after a property is registered on the vacant homes register. [26814/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.
The innovative website vacanthomes.ie was developed by Mayo County Council in July 2017 on behalf of the local government sector to serve as a central portal for individuals to anonymously log possible vacant homes.
It is a key tool in the effort to identify and bring long-term vacant homes back into use, and this source of locally generated information is proving useful in supplementing the country-wide analysis on vacancy and in mobilising communities to assist local authorities in developing and implementing a targeted approach. The website provides useful information for property owners on how to bring their vacant properties back into use and on available financial supports.
Once a property is logged onto the website, the vacant homes officer in the local authority receives an alert that a property in their area has been identified as vacant, they then set about identifying the owner of the property and provide them with all the relevant information to assist them in bringing their property back into use.
The table below indicates the latest figures for properties logged on vacanthomes.ie for Counties Longford and Westmeath.
|
Local Authority |
Properties logged on vacanthomes.ie |
|
Longford |
40 |
|
Westmeath |
108 |
121. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to change the maximum grant limits of the housing adaptation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26824/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. This funding has increased year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the Programme for Government commitments and the Policy Statement on Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea33c1-housing-options-for-our-ageing-population-policy-statement/
This year, my Department will begin a review of the existing grant limits and income thresholds applicable to the grants.
122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of funding under the multi-annual funding programme to proceed with the taking-in-charge of estates to every country in each of the past five years; the funding that has been provided to Tipperary County Council for the taking-in-charge of estates over the past five years; the number of bids from each country that have been refused funding over the past five years; the number of estates with applications to be taken-in-charge by Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26831/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016 my Department sought to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the process of taking in charge residential estates including those with developer provided water services infrastructure. This was done through a pilot initiative called the National Taking in Charge Initiative (NTICI).
Following the NTICI process my Department published in December 2018 a report – the National Taking in Charge Initiative Report. The report sets outs details of the bids arrangements and funding made to local authorities under the pilot initiative. The report included findings and recommendations which led to the introduction of the multi-annual funding programme, now in place, for the progressive resolution of housing estates with developer provided water services infrastructure.
The report is available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.old.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/national_taking_in_charge_initiative_report_dec2018.pdf
Under the NTICI process Tipperary County Council were recouped €278,616 for the resolution of three estates with developer provided water services infrastructure (see Table 2 of NTICI report).
On 21 September 2020, I announced allocations under the new multi-annual capital investment programme - the Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme 2019-2021 - for the progressive resolution of housing estates with developer provided water services infrastructure, to enable the taking in charge of these estates. This, the first funding cycle of a new multi-annual programme, runs to the end of 2021.
The focus of the first multi-annual programme is on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. The programme will also support a number of pilot projects where connection is not feasible in the immediate future. These pilot projects, together with a major study currently being undertaken by Irish Water, will inform future policy considerations on resolving sub-standard developer provided infrastructure with sustainable solutions.
All local authorities that submitted bids were informed about the outcome of their bids in a circular which included a copy of an independent Expert Panel report on the bids process. The report provides the commentary of the Panel on their evaluation in the case of unsuccessful bids and guidance for the local authority in making future bids in upcoming programmes.
The circular is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/circular-ldpi01-2020-approval-projects-residential-estates-under-developer
None of the bids from Tipperary County Council examined under the first announcement were successful (see table at Appendix C of the report) for funding for resolution of their developer provided infrastructure. However, under the approvals circular local authorities were asked to examine further estates that required funding for resolution. Arising from this process, valid bids for four estates were received from Tipperary County Council and they are currently being examined by the Expert Panel.
123. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of debt attached to the portfolio of land of each local authority in tabular form. [26836/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no specific function in relation to the matter raised and the information requested is not available in my Department.
Local authorities are independent in the execution of their powers and the directly elected members are democratically accountable for all expenditure of the authority. The day to day running of each local authority is a matter for its Chief Executive while budgetary decisions are made by the Elected Members.
124. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the housing need and demand assessment; and the household and new home completion targets for each local authority for the new county development plan process in tabular form. [26863/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to work commissioned by the Housing and Planning Divisions of my Department, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) published a report into structural housing demand in Ireland to 2040, in December 2020. The ESRI research report “Regional Demographics and Structural Housing Demand at County Level” projects an annual new household demand figure for each county from 2016 to 2040, for a number of difference development scenarios, including the National Planning Framework (NPF) scenario which supports balanced regional development and the consolidation our cities, towns and other urban areas.
Subsequently, a Ministerial Circular, and Ministerial Guidelines - ‘Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning, Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ under Section 28 of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (as amended), were issued to all local authorities. The Guidelines introduced a standardised national approach, based on the ESRI data, to be applied by each planning authority in projecting housing supply targets for each specific six-year period, when reviewing city or county development plans.
As each six-year development plan period will differ, new household projection data for each County to 2031 was also made available to each local authority to enable local projections and targets to be applied for the relevant period.
All related correspondence and data is available on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d48f-ministerial-letter-to-local-authorities-structural-housing-demand-in-ireland-and-housing-supply-targets/
The housing supply target methodology also provides for a convergence period towards the NPF scenario to 2026, recognising that housing demand projections associated with existing spatial patterns (i.e. the baseline) will need a period to align with the NPF strategy projection. This also enables planning for increased housing supply in certain circumstances within the period to 2026, as set out in Section 4 of the Guidelines, where supported by a justification within the criteria specified. The Office of the Planning Regulator will examine such justifications as part of their statutory assessment of development plans function.
Each local authority is therefore required to apply the methodology to the particular timelines and projections for their County or City Development Plan as part of their development plan process. As all are individual development plans in respect of which the plan-making process is still underway, a table of local authority housing supply targets for each development plan is not yet available, but will be compiled for monitoring purposes as development plans are completed.
With regard to the preparation of Housing Need and Demand Assessments (HNDA), guidance was issued to local authorities on 14 April 2021 by Circular, advising that the Excel-based HNDA Tool with associated Instructions, data sources and other background information are available on the HNDA page of the Department’s website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eaa99-housing-need-and-demand-assessment-hnda/.
The Circular advised local authorities that it is expected that a HNDA will be completed in accordance with the associated guidance as part of the development plan review process in cases where the notice of the review of the plan issues subsequent to 14 April 2021.
125. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the price offered by NAMA to Dublin City Council and his Department for the purchase of land in the Poolbeg SDZ for the delivery of affordable homes; the discount on market price offered by NAMA in relation to same; and the reason his Department refused to provide funding to Dublin City Council to purchase the land. [26864/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regeneration of Poolbeg West is the next important step in transforming the Docklands area, given its strategic location east of Grand Canal Dock, with close proximity to important bridge connections to Dublin Port and North Lotts.
In relation to the activation of these lands I understand that, having decided to embark on the competitive tendering process, on 22 December 2020, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) announced the completion of a comprehensive process to select an investment partner for the development of this site within Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone.
Furthermore, NAMA has named the successful bidder as a consortium consisting of Ronan Group Real Estate, funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (“Oaktree”) and Oaktree affiliate Lioncor Developments Limited (“Lioncor”), will be the 80% majority shareholder in Pembroke Ventures DAC (“PVD”). NAMA will retain a minority 20% shareholding in PVD.
The planning scheme, as modified by An Bord Pleanála on 9th April 2019, states that prior to commencement of development, subject to confirmed funding and value for money considerations, a commercial agreement shall be entered into between Dublin City Council, my Department and the owners/developers of the residential element of the Planning Scheme for the delivery of 15% of the residential units approved on the lands included in this Planning Scheme for social and affordable housing purposes. These units shall be additional to the 10% statutory under Part V arrangements still stands and is applicable.
As plans for this site are developed, my Department remains ready to work with Dublin City Council, the receiver and/or developers of the SDZ area to progress this site, subject to agreement on all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects. As such, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this point.
126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a copy of circular 38/2020 will be provided (details supplied). [26901/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued guidance to all local authorities regarding the treatment of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) when assessing and/or reviewing income eligibility for social housing support to all local authorities through Circular 38/2020.
A copy of the Circular has been issued to the Deputy.
127. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter regarding housing stock (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27075/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement and maintenance of the approximately 140,000 local authority housing stock is an important issue. In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019. Local authority officials and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their own stock, my Department does provide annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of funding programmes.
Under the Voids Programme, my Department has supported local authorities in refurbishing vacant social homes and returning them to productive use. This funding programme was introduced in 2014 and has to the end of 2020 returned 16,102 properties to use with funding of €229m from my Department. Kerry County Council has received funding of €6.9m to support the return to productive use of 633 properties under this programme.
In 2020, my Department rolled out the largest ever voids funding programme. With additional funding of €40m secured by me under the July Stimulus Programme. Funding of €58.3m was made available to local authorities which saw 3,607 vacant properties funded last year. Under the July Stimulus programme, Kerry County Council were approved for funding of €1,129,100 for the refurbishment of 61 properties.
Under the Energy Efficiency Programme, my Department funds the carrying out of retrofitting works to local authority dwellings. Over the period 2013 to 2020 over 73,500 units of social housing stock have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €161 million under the scheme (most of which were completed under Phase 1 outlined below).
From 2013-2020 the Programme was implemented in 2 Phases: Phase 1 Attic Insulation/Cavity Wall Insulation and Phase 2 focuses on the fabric upgrades to dwellings. To-date Kerry County Council has received €2,241,349 in funding under the Programme for the retrofitting of 1,673 properties, of which €582,282 relates to the period 2017 – 2020 and includes the retrofit of 517 properties.
The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme for 2021 is a newly revised Retrofit Programme and this is the first year of a ten year programme that sees a significant upscaling (from ‘shallow’ to ‘deep retrofit’) on what has been completed by local authorities to date. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding made available for insulation, windows & doors, with a significant increase for the upgrading of the heating system, specifically for the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works (the revised programme no longer supports the installation of boilers).
A budget of €65m has been made available for Energy Efficiency retrofitting in 2021, this includes €20m for the Midlands Retrofit Programme. The programme targets 2,400 social homes for upgrade works in 2021, 750 of which relate to the Midlands retrofit Pilot. Allocations have just recently been issued to local authorities with Kerry County Council receiving an allocation of €1,380,511 along with a requirement to retrofit a minimum number of 51 properties.
Under the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme my Department funds local authorities in carrying out necessary adaptation works to local authority properties to cater for the needs of elderly and disabled tenants and families living in overcrowded conditions in local authority properties. Since 2011 my Department has provided funding of €3.63m to Kerry County Council under this programme.
Under the Regeneration Scheme, my Department funds programmes of estate regeneration in a number of targeted areas around the country. This programme focuses on the remediation and upgrade of existing local authority homes within defined areas of disadvantage and can also provide for some new homes as part of the overall regeneration plan for the area. Kerry County Council has the Mitchels Boherbee regeneration programme in Tralee. My Department has provided funding of some €38 million to Kerry County Council under this programme, with some projects yet to be completed.
My Department has provided funding of some €50 million to Kerry County Council under the above stock improvement schemes. However, work is also ongoing with the local authority sector, through the City and County Management Association, to drive a planned maintenance approach to the maintenance of local authority housing stock. This will see all 140,000 local authority social housing properties surveyed to determine their condition so as to inform future work programmes and ensure the available funding is spent in a strategic and focussed way.
My Department will continue to fund local authorities for stock improvement works but it is also important that local authorities increasingly seek to move to a position of increasingly planned maintenance.
128. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a programme (details supplied) in tabular form including project status spend to date and the estimated timeline for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27110/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below sets out project progress status, amount of funding recouped by my Department (DHLGH) and the projected completion date by year, as estimated by the local authority, for schemes/projects under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) for Mayo County Council as referred to in the details supplied.
GWS (Group Water Scheme), CWC (Community Water Connection), LA (Local Authority)
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expenditure in each of the past ten years to date specifically devoted to affordable house building where the purchaser has unimpeded access to the market without the intrusion and competition of investment funds; the number of families housed by the local authorities in the same period; the number of local authority loans issued under the specialist disability accommodation or rebuilding Ireland scheme in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27114/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society. The Affordable Housing Bill 2021, which commenced Second Stage in the Seanad on 17 May 2021, will ensure that affordability is put at the heart of the housing system. The Bill will underpin the new local authority led scheme of affordable homes for purchase, an Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme (private lands) and the introduction of a new national Cost Rental scheme. This will see the first homes delivered under a legislatively based State-backed affordable purchase scheme in the time period specified by the Deputy.
Recently, affordable housing has been supported through initiatives such as the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF). At the end of 2020 1,406 cost reduced units had been completed under LIHAF. First-time buyers have also been supported by the Help to Buy Scheme. To date, 25,504 Help to Buy (HTB) claims have been made, of which 24,757 have been approved. The estimated total value of approved HTB claims to date is €420million and the total value of approved and pending HTB claims to date is approximately €433 million.
My Department also operates the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is targeted at first-time buyers who wish to purchase their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of local authority loan approvals and 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). Details on the number and value of loans for 2018-2020 is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
My Department does not hold details of local authority social housing allocations. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority are provided in the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent summary, conducted in November 2020, shows that 61,880 households were assessed as qualified for and being in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 6,813 households or 9.9% on the last assessment in June 2019. Since 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 61,880, a reduction of 32.4%.
130. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the Foreign Births Register will reopen; the length of the backlog; the length of time he expects it will take to clear it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26821/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe processing of Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications has been temporarily paused as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions.
Prior to this pause, it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the complex nature of FBR applications, the very high volume of applications due to Brexit and exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Passport Service is examining how to optimally address the FBR applications on hand, and any delays that have been experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are regretted. We expect to have an update on this later in the summer.
131. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the US Navy helicopter that landed at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel on 13 May 2021, at approximately 9am and took off again at approximately 10.30am, was carrying weapons or munitions or was engaged in a military operation or exercise or engaged in intelligence gathering activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26839/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has responsibility for the provision of diplomatic clearance to foreign military and State aircraft to land and overfly the State. This is subject to strict conditions.
I can confirm that permission was granted in this case subject to the conditions that routinely apply to landings at Irish airports by foreign military aircraft: namely that the aircraft is unarmed, carries no arms, ammunition or explosives and does not engage in intelligence gathering and that the flight in question does not form any part of a military exercise or operation.
