Written Answers Nos. 292-315
292. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units, by constituency, in which his attention has been drawn to fire safety defects, and by unit type that is duplex, apartment and so on. [47602/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra293. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that financial solutions afforded to those affected by pyrite and fire defects will be retrospective to ensure that those who have already paid to repair their homes will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47603/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra294. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost in 2021 and 2022 of providing 100% redress to owners of homes with fire safety defects. [47604/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 to 294, inclusive, together.
The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects and provides for an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses".
In this context, I established a working group to examine defects in housing. The plenary working group has been meeting monthly since March 2021 (except for August), in addition to subgroup meetings. The group’s terms of reference were adopted in May 2021 and include:
1. Examine defects in housing having regard to the recommendations in Item 4 “Addressing the legacy of bad building and poor regulation” in Chapter 4 of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government report - ‘Safe as Houses? A Report on Building Standards, Building Controls and Consumer Protection’.
2. Establish the nature of significant, wide-spread fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 – 2013 in Ireland through consultation with affected homeowners, homeowner representative organisations, owners’ management companies, relevant managing agents, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, industry stakeholders, insurance providers, mortgage providers and other relevant parties. Including such matters as:
- Identification and description of defect,
- Nature of defect – design, product, workmanship,
- Non-compliance with building regulations or actual damage,
- Severity/risk to life or serviceability of dwelling,
- Period of construction affected,
- Type of dwelling affected,
- Location of dwellings affected.
3. Establish the scale of the issue – estimate number of dwellings affected by the defects identified including those already remediated.
4. Consider a methodology for the categorisation of defects and the prioritisation of remedial action.
- In the case of defects with fire safety implications, consider how the framework for enhancing fire safety in dwellings can be applied to mitigate the risks arising from fire safety defects pending the remediation of defects and the Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings, which is currently being developed by National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management.
5. Suggest mechanisms for resolving defects, in the context of the legal rights, duties and obligations of developers, builders, building professionals, insurers, mortgage providers, building control authorities, fire authorities, owners’ management companies, owner occupiers, renters and landlords, including:
- Technical options for the remediation of dwellings,
- Efficient means of carrying out work,
- individual dwellings or whole building approach,
- routine maintenance/refurbishment or remediation,
- Structures or delivery channels needed to facilitate resolution – advice and support.
6. Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.
7. Pursue options on possible financial solutions to effect a resolution, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to identify options for those impacted by defects to access low-cost, long-term finance.
8. To report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the Examination of Defects in Housing.
In regard to the working group’s deliberations, the group will seek to engage with a range of interested parties, including homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals and industry stakeholders, among others to examine the issue of defects in housing and report to me on the matter. Consultation with the relevant parties has commenced and further arrangements in this regard are currently being put in place by the working group.
I am satisfied that the group is working effectively and efficiently on this complex matter and I look forward to a report in due course following completion of their deliberation. Once I receive the report I will give full consideration to its contents.
Any further speculation or discussion on the output of the working group, including speculation with regard to the scale of the issue, type of dwelling affected, or the potential cost, is premature at this stage.
Finally, it is important to note that local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020, the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, the Housing Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which may be relevant where fire safety concerns arise in residential developments. Fire services may inspect buildings, other than a dwelling house occupied as a single dwelling, in cases of defects or complaints in respect of fire safety. They work with those who have control over premises and hold responsibility for fire safety, to ensure immediate risks are addressed, and a plan put in place for works to bring buildings into compliance. They have enforcement powers for cases where co-operation is not forthcoming, or progress cannot be made on an agreed basis. Local authorities are independent in the use of their statutory powers.
295. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of boats removed from rivers, canals and inland waterways in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; the process involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47676/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of boats that were removed by Waterways Ireland from the waterways under its jurisdiction in each of the years 2016 to 2020 inclusive, is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Canals |
Shannon & Shannon Erne Waterway |
|
2016 |
7 |
0 |
|
2017 |
0 |
0 |
|
2018 |
17 |
15 |
|
2019 |
7 |
12 |
|
2020 |
45 |
17 |
|
Total |
76 |
44 |
The Canals Bye Laws 1988 and the Shannon Navigation Bye Laws 1992 provide Waterways Ireland with the powers to remove boats, vessels and other structures that are in breach of the Bye Laws.
The process involves the following steps:
- Waterways Ireland staff place a notice in a prominent position on the boat, vessel or structure;
- A written notice is posted to the owner (in cases where the details of the owner are known to Waterways Ireland);
- Those boats, vessels, structures remaining in breach of the Bye Laws are removed from the waterways and are stored for a minimum of 42 days; and
- Unclaimed boats, vessels and structures are eventually disposed of by public tender.
Waterways Ireland undertook a canals compliance programme in 2020 to remove abandoned, sunken and non-compliant boats, vessels and structures from the canals network.
This programme by the agency has resulted in improved water quality, improved compliance, and removed many unsightly boats, vessels and structures from the waterways.
296. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocations made to the four Dublin local authorities to fund the housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability scheme, and the mobility aids grant scheme, in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; the allocation of same for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47677/21]
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, in respect of private houses. Local authorities fund 20% of the overall budget from their own resources with the balance of 80% funded by the exchequer. Details of the allocations and drawdowns for all local authorities up to 2021, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics
297. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a new statutory instrument is required to amend the tenant purchase scheme as recently announced in the Housing for All plan; if so, when a statutory instrument will be published, and the amended scheme term and conditions made available to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47692/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
Housing for All, a new Housing plan for Ireland, commits to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to income eligibility to allow older tenants to buy their homes if they have the means. It will also be required that tenants have been in situ for 10 years. The maximum discount will be reduced to a maximum of 25%. This will ensure that we strike a balance between enabling tenants to purchase their homes and replenishment of the social housing stock to make homes available for those on the waiting list.
My Department is currently reviewing the Tenant Purchase Scheme and considering the amendments which may be required to both primary and secondary legislation and I will bring forward proposed changes as part of a package of social housing reforms in due course.
298. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that are being taken, under the new Housing for All plan, to increase the supply of housing for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47716/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All commits to ensuring that quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society, in particular those in greatest need. The Plan pledges to increasing new housing supply to an average of at least 33,000 new units per year over the next decade. This will include over 10,000 social homes each year over the next five years, with 9,500 of these being new-builds, and an average of 6,000 affordable homes for purchase or rent.
Specifically for people with disabilities, the Plan prioritises delivering an appropriate range of housing types and related support services in an integrated and sustainable manner. The roadmap to achieve this is to be set out in a new National Housing Strategy for Disabled People from 2022, promoting equality of opportunity, individual choice and independent living.
The current National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2016-2021, which is a joint Strategy with the Department of Health, runs to the end of this year and a first consultation phase for the development of a new joint Strategy to 2027 was launched earlier this year, with a research phase running in parallel. A second round of consultation is underway and a new joint Strategy will be in place by 1 January 2022.
Furthermore, Actions 7.1 to 7.6 of Housing for All set out specific measures to provide or enhance housing for people with disabilities. These include:
- ensuring that local authority Housing Delivery Action Plans will set out how dedicated social housing provision appropriate to the needs of people with a disability will be delivered matching the scale and extent of housing need identified for people with a disability;
- the needs of people with a disability will be assessed through the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Framework to be considered as part of the Housing Strategy and Development Plan process;
- Housing and Disability Steering Groups will have to report quarterly on the implementation of their local strategic plans regarding housing for people with a disability to the Chief Executive and the Strategic Policy Committee;
- the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs, including the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability will be reviewed, and relevant changes made, where appropriate; and
- Disability Friendly Housing Technical Advisors will be appointed in each Local Authority.
299. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 1 July and the publication of the Housing for All strategy, the cost to date to his Department for the provision of funding to each local authority for the post of vacant homes officers, in tabular form; if each such local authority has appointed a vacant homes officer and, if so, the date of each appointment; if such appointments are full-time dedicated posts with no other responsibilities attached; if not, the other responsibilities; if he has requested an annual report for each such local authority on the work of each vacant homes officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47724/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra321. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question number 139 of 28 September, when he expects all vacant homes officers based in local authorities will be full-time posts; the action he plans to take to make this happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48315/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 321 together.
My Department has provided funding of €50,000 per annum to each of the 31 local authorities since July 2018. The funding is provided to support the work of the Vacant Homes Office in each local authority each year. All 31 local authorities have claimed the funding up to June 2021. The total amount paid to all 31 local authorities to fund Vacant Homes Offices to date is €4.65m. A circular has now issued from my Department inviting all 31 local authorities to claim the funding for the period July 2021 to June 2022.Each of the 31 local authorities has appointed a Vacant Homes Officer since 2018, however, there have been many staff changes in local authorities in the past 3 years resulting in various different staff members filling the role.
The table below sets out the date of appointment of the current Vacant Homes Officer and whether the officer is appointed in a full time capacity, dedicated only to the duties of the Vacant Homes Officer, or if they are assigned other responsibilities within the local authority.
As part of Housing for All the Government has committed to a range of actions as part of the pathway to address vacancy ensuring the efficient use of housing stock. This includes ensuring that from Q4 2021 the Vacant Homes Officers based in local authorities are all full-time posts.
Finally, following the lifting of Covid related restrictions from Q3 2021, the Vacant Homes Officers are required to submit quarterly returns to the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department on the number of properties inspected and number of properties brought back into use through the various schemes in their administrative areas. Returns for Q3 2021 will be submitted shortly.
|
Local Authority |
Date of Appointment of current VHO |
Full time dedicated VHO posts Y / N |
Other responsibilities assigned to Vacant Homes Officers who are not in full-time dedicated VHO posts |
|
Carlow County Council |
Jul-18 |
NO |
Senior Executive Officer in Housing overseeing various schemes and projects. |
|
Cavan County Council |
Feb-19 |
YES |
|
|
Clare County Council |
Jun-21 |
YES |
|
|
Cork City Council |
2019 |
NO |
Derelict Sites / Vacant Sites work / Audit Work / Budgets. |
|
Cork County Council |
Feb-18 |
NO |
Senior Executive Officer in Housing overseeing various schemes and projects. |
|
Donegal County Council |
Jul-18 |
NO |
Responsibility as SEO for all Housing & Corporate Services delivered via 5 Municipal Districts. The duties of VHO are decentralised and incorporated into the roles of different staff in different parts of the County. |
|
Dublin City Council |
Jan-17 |
YES |
|
|
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
June 2019 |
NO |
Other duties include administrative tasks in the following sections: Long-Term Leasing; Housing Adaptation Grants; Disabled Persons Alterations |
|
Fingal County Council |
May-19 |
NO |
Social Housing Delivery Programme. |
|
Galway City Council |
Sep-19 |
NO |
Acquisitions, Long term lease scheme, The Repair and Lease scheme, Mortgage to Rent scheme and Buy & Renew scheme |
|
Galway County Council |
Feb-21 |
NO |
Long term leasing, Acquisitions |
|
Kerry County Council |
Jun-19 |
YES |
|
|
Kildare County Council |
Jul-18 |
NO |
Administrative Officer in the Capital Team with responsibility for the acquisitions/build programmes/Part V/land management/CAS Schemes etc. |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
Apr-18 |
NO |
Housing Capital Projects (sole Architect in KCC); Design, Site appraisal & feasibility, Forward Planning, Consultants Liaison; CAS & CALF project Appraisals; Age-friendly Housing Technical Advisor; Community Projects-RRDF projects; Corporate Project Liaison; Access Officer |
|
Laois County Council |
Sep-18 |
NO |
RAS & Leasing, Private Rented Inspections |
|
Leitrim County Council |
2018 - Sep 2021* |
NO |
*Actively recruiting for replacement VHO. |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
Jul-20 |
YES |
|
|
Longford County Council |
Jul-18 |
NO |
Senior Executive Officer in Housing overseeing various schemes and projects. |
|
Louth County Council |
Dec-19 |
NO |
Oversight of Housing Financial Department |
|
Mayo County Council |
Jun-18 |
NO |
Capital Delivery & Housing Policy |
|
Meath County Council |
Oct-19 |
NO |
Vacant Housing Office – 90%; Approved Housing Bodies – 10% |
|
Monaghan County Council |
Jul-18 |
NO |
Delivering Housing for All Programme |
|
Offaly County Council |
Aug-18 |
NO |
Disabled Person Grants |
|
Roscommon County Council |
Oct-20 VHO position has been consistently maintained since 2018. |
VHO post is substantially full time |
75% of the post-holders’ role is VHO related; Derelict Sites and Dangerous Places; Planning enforcement.Due to backlogs in some other areas of work, primarily arising from Covid-19 related issues and restrictions, the VHO officer has been deployed in recent months to assist in other areas of work. Prior to that, VHO work accounted for 100% of post-holder activity. |
|
Sligo County Council |
Sep-18 |
NO |
Planning, Enforcement and Building Control |
|
South Dublin County Council |
Nov-19 |
NO |
Rent Accounts and Assessment; Management of Mortgage/Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans; Tenant Purchase Scheme. The designated VHO is supported by a Housing Inspector who conducts vacant homes inspections and associated follow-up work. |
|
Tipperary County Council |
Nov-18 |
YES |
|
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Jul-18 |
YES |
Although the post is dedicated, the VHO also undertakes Covid-19 compliance duties throughout the Housing Section. The majority of the resource is employed in relation to the RLS scheme. |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Jul-18 |
NO |
Broadband Officer |
|
Wexford County Council |
Jul-18 |
NO |
Homeless Co-Ordinator, Private Rented Sector Enforcement of Standards; RAS Co-Ordinator; Leasing Co-Ordinator; Repair & Leasing Co-ordinator; Annual and Monthly LG Returns |
|
Wicklow County Council |
Dec-20 |
NO |
Housing Maintenance; Private rented accommodation inspections including HAP, leasing & repair and lease inspections. Housing Adaptation Grants |
300. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if he has received annual reports setting out the progress in tackling homelessness and housing delivery in Galway city and county for 2019 and 2020 from the Galway Social Housing Taskforce pursuant to the terms of reference of the taskforce; if he will provide copies of these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47752/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCopies of the 2019 and 2020 reports provided by the Chairperson of the Task Force were previously provided to the Deputy on 17 February and 5 May last. Since then, the Chairperson has provided me with a further report and I will arrange for a copy of this report to be forwarded to the Deputy for information.
301. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that can be taken to ensure that Irish Water is no longer engaged in contaminating the habitat of endangered species; if new penalties need to be introduced to deter such activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47778/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels for public water services, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, encompassing the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure.
All discharges to the aquatic environment from sewerage systems owned, managed and operated by Irish Water require a waste water discharge licence or certificate of authorisation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The authorisation process provides for the EPA to place stringent conditions on the operation of such discharges to ensure that potential effects on the receiving water bodies are strictly limited and controlled.
The EPA is the statutory body for the enforcement, both directly and through oversight of Irish Water and local authorities, of environmental legislation in Ireland, including compliance in relation to licensed urban waste water discharges.
The EPA’s report on the performance of urban waste water treatment in 2019 shows that, while many challenges remain, Irish Water is continuing to make progress and is improving our waste water systems. Irish Water has reduced the number of priority waste water sites listed by the EPA and has increased the number of large towns and cities that now meet the required EU standards for waste water discharges.
302. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail his engagements with the National Building Control Office in respect of defective concrete blocks entering the supply chain; the steps he and-or the office have in place to ensure this is not repeated; and if he will detail the failings by his Department in permitting this issue to arise. [47839/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Building Control Management Project (NBCMP) is managed by the National Building Control Office (NBCO) within Dublin City Council (DCC) to provide oversight, support and direction for the development, standardisation and implementation of Building Control as an effective shared service in the 31 Building Control Authorities, through the five pillars of Training, Inspections, Compliance Support, Information System - BCMS and Market Surveillance.
The National Building Control Management Project (NBCMP) is delivered through a three-tier management structure which includes:
- The National Building Control Advisory Board, which advises on the strategic direction and guidance of the NBCMP.
- The National Building Control Office (NBCO), which implements the NBCMP and manages the working groups under each of the five pillars.
- Three Regional Building Control Committees (Eastern & Midlands, Northern & Western, and Southern), which provide a network for building control officers to exchange views and share good practice, leading to a uniform high level of enforcement in the discharge of the building control function. The Committees also contribute to and participate in the working groups established under each of the five pillars.
Officials from my Department participate throughout this structure at Board level, working group level and committee level.
In relation to the legal framework and rules for concrete blocks, these are established in the first place at European level. Since 2013, the Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR) sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. Where a construction product covered by a harmonised standard is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of performance’ and affix a ‘CE’ marking to the product. In order to do so, manufacturers must test and declare the performance of their construction products using a common technical language prescribed in the harmonised standard.
The manufacturer is responsible for compliance with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and in particular for the Declaration of Performance/CE marking of the construction product he/she is placing on the market, having full knowledge of the raw material (as is legally required by the CPR via the relevant harmonised European Standards) and having regard to the end product’s suitability for use in construction works in accordance with the relevant Standard Recommendations published by the NSAI. For example:
- ‘I.S. EN 771-3:2011+A1:2015’ deals with aggregate concrete masonry units. NSAI has published additional guidance in the form of ‘S.R. 325:2013+A2:2018/AC:2019 Recommendations for the design of masonry structures in Ireland to Eurocode 6’ which provides, inter alia, guidance on the choice of masonry units and mortar classes most appropriate for particular situations as regards durability for finished work in Ireland. S.R. 325:2013+A2:2018/AC: 2019 recommends the use of Category 1 aggregate concrete blocks, which requires independent third party oversight of factory production control by a Notified Body (a designated body that carries out third-party tasks).
- In respect of aggregates for concrete, a constituent of concrete masonry units, NSAI has also published ‘S.R. 16:2016 Guidance on the use of I.S. EN 12620:2002+A1:2008 - Aggregates for concrete’ which outlines the precautions to be taken in the quarry to reduce the risk of harmful impurities in aggregate production, including the requirement for independent third party oversight of factory production control by a Notified Body.
Under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No.225 of 2013), each of the building control authorities (local authorities) have been designated as the principal market surveillance authorities for construction products that fall within the scope of the CPR, within their administrative areas.
In addition, the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Construction Products – Market Surveillance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 682 of 2020) appointed Dublin City Council as a competent authority for the carrying out of market surveillance functions under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 for all related construction products on a nationwide basis.
Dublin City Council-National Building Control Office, (DCC-NBCO) Market Surveillance Unit has been established for this purpose. DCC-NBCO may be contacted at: support@nbco.gov.ie. Building control authorities will liaise with DCC-NBCO national market surveillance unit to support compliance with the CPR and to determine appropriate action on enforcement matters, as they arise.
It is important to note that the service delivered by DCC-NBCO is complementary to the existing role of the 31 Building Control Authorities who are also Market Surveillance Authorities. Building control authorities and DCC-NBCO are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers.
The National market surveillance programme 2021 provides specific details on the market surveillance of construction products and outlines a market surveillance campaign led by DCC-NBCO, which has recently commenced, to perform risk assessments of selected quarrying and pit operations, follow-up inspections, sampling and testing as appropriate to ensure compliance with the CPR.
In 2020, my Department provided a budget allocation of €500,000 to support the development of this Market Surveillance Unit in DCC-NBCO. €147,000 of the budget was expended as the project was at the early development set up phase. In 2021, my Department has provided a budget allocation of €564,000 to continue to support the development, and resourcing of the Market Surveillance Unit in DCC-NBCO.
303. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if affordable housing schemes will be developed in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47841/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Action 4.12 of Housing for All, in the period to December 2021 local authorities will be preparing Housing Action Delivery Plans to include social and affordable housing where necessary (affordable purchase and cost rental). This will allow each Local Authority to determine the affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment.
The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system. It is the largest State-led building programme in our history, backed up by an unprecedented financial commitment in excess of €4bn per annum.
At a national level, over 300,000 new homes will be built by the end of 2030, including a projected 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. These homes will be provided by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency (LDA), as well as through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Specifically regarding affordability-constrained households wishing to buy homes, the Housing for All strategy contains a multi-pronged approach to improving affordability.
The Local Authority Affordable Homes scheme and the First Home scheme are primarily focused on supporting first-time buyers purchasing newly built homes. Both of these schemes will be targeted at households constrained by the maximum mortgage and deposit available to them. The gap between the market value and what the household can afford (including with the assistance of the ‘Help to Buy’ incentive) will be bridged via the provision of equity support. The equity support can subsequently be redeemed at any time at the home-owners discretion, or remain outstanding until the home is sold or passed on.
In addition to these distinct shared equity schemes, the Housing for All strategy also provides for the 'Local Authority Home Loan', which will be in place later in 2021. The Local Authority Home Loan is a successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme, and will include an increase in the income ceiling for single applicants, thus increasing the number of people eligible. From 10 September 2021, I have already implemented a reduction of the mortgage interest rate by 0.25% for new borrowers under the existing Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. This lower rate will also apply to loans issued under the forthcoming Local Authority Home Loan. The Help to Buy scheme is also currently available to help purchasers in accessing homes.
Further to the above, the Housing for All strategy also provides for the Croí Cónaithe initiative intended to service sites and refurbish existing vacant properties in regional towns and villages.
Collectively, these measures will improve affordability for all families or individuals wishing to purchase a home.
304. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times Mayo County Council has used the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in each of the years 2017 to 2019, in tabular form. [47844/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics collected by my Department relating to the implementation of the Derelicts Sites Act 1990 (the Act) for Mayo County Council in respect of the years 2017 to 2019 are set out at the following link. It should be noted that my Department does not collect data on the number of prosecutions initiated by each local authority under the powers provided for in the Act. The relevant local authority should be contacted for this information.
305. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff in the fire service in Dublin over each of the past ten years; the number of vacancies that currently exist due to retirement; the number of staff due to retire in 2021 and 2022; the annual budget allocated to the Dublin Fire Service for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47866/21]
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 oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However granular data, in terms of the number of staff in the fire service in Dublin over each of the past ten years, the number of vacancies that currently exist due to retirement, the number of staff due to retire in 2021 and 2022, and the annual budget allocated to the Dublin Fire Service for each of the past ten years, is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from Dublin City Council.
The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, staffing, 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.
306. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the programme for Government commitments (details supplied); if they have been completed; if not, the timeline for progression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48002/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commitments in question (details supplied) are being progressed by my Department. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Housing for All details how the Government will approach this challenge and includes a commitment to develop a National Youth Homelessness Strategy within Quarter 1 of 2022. Preparing this strategy will involve co-operation and co-ordination between myself and my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Key operational elements in the provision of supports to young people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, fall within the responsibility of a range of agencies and stakeholder bodies. Their views will also form part of the process in developing the Strategy.
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:
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.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and 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.
The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that HAP levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while we increase the supply of social housing. Under Housing for All, my Department will, by end 2021, undertake an exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP is required, in order to maintain adequate levels of HAP support.
Responsibility for Rent Supplement falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
307. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a settlement between a State agency (details supplied) and the Revenue Commissioners; if there are agencies under his Department's remit that have had a similar issue or have made a settlement with the Revenue Commissioners in terms of any issue in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48027/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the matter in question.
In relation to the State bodies under the aegis of my Department, the requested information is not available in my Department. However, it may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail addresses for members of the Oireachtas in respect of those State bodies, as set out in tabular form below.
|
State Body |
Contact E-mail Address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
308. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on extending the voting franchise for general elections to all persons who qualify to vote in local elections. [48142/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Part II of the Electoral Act 1992, every person is entitled to be entered on the register of electors if that person:
- has reached the age of 18 years, and
- is ordinarily resident in a constituency in the State.
Subject to the age and residency requirements, a registered elector’s citizenship then determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote.
Irish citizens alone are entitled to vote at all elections (i.e. local, European, Dáil, and presidential) and at referendums.
Reciprocal arrangements are in place under the Common Travel Area with regard to voting rights in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In this regard, British citizens resident in Ireland are also eligible to vote at Dáil elections and at local elections.
Citizens of other Member States of the European Union (EU) may vote at European Parliament and local elections.
Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections.
While electoral law is kept under ongoing review, I currently have no plans to change the existing arrangements in respect of voting rights at Dáil elections.
309. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 28 September, the details of both the approved application and the pre-applications that are currently being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48152/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of applications and determinations under the foreshore act, including the relevant foreshore licences granted to Energia, are on my website and can be viewed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/f2196-foreshore-applications-and-determinations/
One application for a foreshore licence for site investigations linked to the proposed development of a windfarm in the Celtic Sea from SSE Renewables received in 2019 is currently being assessed, and details of this application are available on my Department’s website.
In addition, there are currently eleven pre-applications associated with licences for site investigation activity relating to potential offshore renewable energy infrastructure projects currently being reviewed within my Department relating to the south east coasts. Pre-appplication engagement is without prejudice to the outcome of the assessment process and is conducted to ensure as far as possible that the applicant has considered all potential impacts both positive and negative of their proposal and that the formal application will be as complete as possible. The applicant is expected to undertake stakeholder engagement i.e. pre-application consultations with relevant bodies recommended during this stage of the process.
Following the pre-application review process it is envisaged that these will become formal foreshore licence applications under section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 and will be the subject of a public consultation. Details of these applications will be published on my Department’s website with the commencement of public consultations for these cases.
310. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a foreshore application by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48153/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA foreshore lease application was received by my Department from Cheekpoint Boat Owners Association to install, operate and maintain a pontoon under Section 2 of the Foreshore Act. The purpose of installing the pontoon system is to provide safe and extended tidal time access for boat and watercraft use at Cheekpoint Harbour.
The application (reference number FS007053) is available on my Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/foreshore-notice/29c92-cheekpoint-boat-owners-association-pontoon-and-gangway/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/96eb2-cheekpoint-boat-ownwers-association-pontoon-and-gangway/#applicant-address
The application has already been the subject of a public consultation and I can confirm that the environmental assessment process and review by the Marine License Vetting Committee (MLVC), including environmental and technical recommendations, concluded on 27 September last. The MLVC is a non-statutory multi-disciplinary committee which is convened, as required, for the purposes of undertaking a technical assessment and an environmental assessment of an application under the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended, and EU legislation.
My Department is currently in the process of making submissions to me for consideration, including the above recommendations, seeking a determination on the lease application for this project.
Officials in my Department are in contact with the applicant and they are available to answer any questions the applicant may have.
311. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the recently agreed social housing targets for each local authority with a sub breakdown of social housing new build, acquisition and long-term lease for each local authority in tabular form. [48155/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recently published Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. The annual targets include the delivery of 88,400 new social homes and 53,800 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Individual targets for the delivery of social housing have been provided to each local authority and the breakdown by each local authority is provided at the following link. There will also be a limited number of social homes delivered through acquisitions, with current projections limiting acquisitions to 200 new social homes per annum.
312. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown, by local authority, of affordable purchase and affordable rental targets for each year from 2022 to 2025, in tabular form. [48156/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing.
Measures to deliver this housing are supported by over €4 billion in funding annually, representing the highest ever level of Government investment in building social and affordable housing. 54,000 affordable homes interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
The overall national delivery targets are set out in the Plan and were developed in partnership with the delivery partners. Delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act, 2021 and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by the preparation by local authorities of Housing Delivery Action Plans.
Building on the national level work to date, under action 4.12 of Housing for All, local authorities will be submitting their Plans to me, to include social and affordable housing, before the end of December 2021. This will allow each Local Authority, to determine any affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment and plan provision accordingly.
313. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question No. 280 of 21 September, the number of CREL funded cost-rental homes that will be purchased and made available for tenants in the first quarter of 2022; and the details of the location, unit size and costs of same. [48194/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs stated in the reply to the Question referred to, the delivery of Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) homes is subject to construction schedules, which, together with housing projects more generally, were impacted by COVID delays at the start of this year. The initial timeframes submitted by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) were based on all efforts being made to deliver the homes as soon as possible. As AHBs sought to use CREL funding to allow developers to construct homes that may otherwise not have been delivered, the commencement of construction on these specific units was in most instances not possible until the lifting of relevant COVID restrictions.
Based on updated delivery timeframes from the relevant AHBs, the estimated additional Cost Rental homes that will be purchased and made available for tenanting by the end of the first quarter of 2022 will be c.170. These homes will be in addition to the first CREL-financed homes which have been delivered by the Clúid AHB at Taylor Hill, Balbriggan, and the 50 Cost Rental apartments due for completion shortly at Enniskerry Road, for which tenancy applications have already been accepted. The remaining homes will come on stream during 2022.
The necessary financial and commercial arrangements in relation to these CREL-financed projects are being completed by the AHBs concerned. When these arrangements are concluded, details of the other projects, including specific locations, housing typologies, and cost-covering rents, will be made public.
Just one year after coming in to office, this Government has introduced what is a brand new form of tenure in Cost Rental. It has placed Cost Rental on a statutory basis through the provisions of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the first ever stand-alone affordable housing legislation in the State. It has established administrative provisions and provided the funds which has seen the first tenants already in long term and secure homes at up to 50% of the comparable market cost.
The Government recently confirmed plans to drastically increase delivery and its Housing for All Strategy is the most ambitious housing plan in the history of the State, backed up by an unprecedented financial commitment in excess of €4bn per annum. Over the period 2021 to 2030, it is intended that approximately 18,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency. In building to this scale and an average of 2,000 Cost Rental Units per year, the State will provide certain focused funding supports to help delivery partners provide rental homes that target affordable rents at levels in the order of 25% below market rents.
314. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time spent on the social housing list in County Wexford; the plans to reduce the wait; the number on the social housing list for each of the past 12 months and each month of 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48234/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are provided in the annual statutory 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%.
Below is the link to the summary report for 2020 which includes breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories.
SSHA 2020 Report www.gov.ie/en/publication/970ea-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2020-key-findings/#:~:text=The%20Summary%20of%20Social%20Housing,is%20not%20currently%20being%20met.
In relation to the specific question posed by the Deputy regarding the average time spent on the housing list in County Wexford, information of this exact type is not held by my Department. However, details on the length of time spent on the record of qualified households (waiting lists), for each local authority can be found at tables 2.8 and A1.8 of the report, although it does not record data on a month by month basis in the manner sought.
It should also be noted that the SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area and does not necessarily reflect the dynamic nature of entry to and exit from the housing waiting lists.
The recently published Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 social homes per annum from 2022-2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4b per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn in funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Individual targets for the delivery of social housing have been provided to each local authority and under Housing for All, each local authority is required to develop a Housing Delivery Action Plan by December 2021. These plans will set out details on how and when local authorities will deliver their housing targets, including the delivery of affordable homes.
Additional funding will also be provided to support households on social housing waiting lists to secure a tenancy, supported by the Housing Assistance Payment, while we increase the supply of housing stock managed by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
315. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the target number of Housing First tenancies for County Wexford for 2021; the number of Housing First tenancies secured in County Wexford to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48235/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies.
The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which puts the programme on a national footing, is designed to provide this response, by delivering permanent housing solutions and associated supports for rough sleepers and long-term users of emergency accommodation. It extends the delivery of Housing First nationally, with the introduction of targets for each local authority. The Plan includes an overall target of 663 tenancies in the period 2018-2021 with a target of 2 tenancies for county Wexford in 2021. The implementation of the Plan is a joint initiative of my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and the local authorities.
Details on the number of Housing First tenancies are published every three months as part of my Department's Homeless Quarterly Progress Report, with the next report due for publication on 29 October 2021. The most recent report from the end of June 2021 shows that a total of 3 tenancies were created under the Housing First programme in county Wexford in the year to date.
