Brian Stanley
Ceist:438. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected timeline for the provision of the new fire station in Rathdowney, County Laois. [50431/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFire Stations
Ceisteanna (438)
Freagraí scríofa
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 Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
- Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
- established Health and Safety needs;
- state of development of the project (is site acquired, etc.?); and
- value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire engines. In order to maximise the available Capital Programme funding, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the Programme on an annual basis, and some flexibility is normally available to advance projects that are ready and that offer best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects more generally.
Project consideration stages in my Department include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
I understand that there was an historic project application in relation to the fire station in Rathdowney that did not eventually progress as proposed and that, in 2017, Laois County Council put in place an extension on to Rathdowney Fire Station, consisting of separate male and female toilets, a shower cubicle and a new muster bay. While a new fire station at Rathdowney is not currently included in my Department's 2021 – 2025 Fire Services Capital Programme, it is included in a list for annual review. Laois County Council has indicated that a new fire station in Stradbally is their number one priority. My Department will have regard to this, and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for funding, in considering any proposal.
Rental Sector
Ceisteanna (439)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:439. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons who currently live in cost-rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50445/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A range of work is already ongoing to deliver Cost Rental housing, with State support, through a number of avenues. Under Budget 2021, €35 million was allocated to the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, designed to facilitate Government loans to Approved Housing Bodies, to finance up to 30% of the capital costs of new homes for Cost Rental. My Department is utilising the expertise of Local Authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), to deliver initial Cost Rental projects.
A total of 390 Cost Rental homes were approved under this first tranche of CREL funding in early 2021. The first 25 of these homes, and the first Cost Rental homes to be designated in Ireland, were acquired by the Clúid AHB at Taylor Hill, Balbriggan. In addition to these 390 homes, another 50 Cost Rental apartments are currently being constructed at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, alongside 105 social housing units. Construction is due to be completed in Q4 2021, and the tenant selection process is under way.
The first tenants moved in to Taylor Hill from 28 August 2021. In order to be eligible for Cost Rental households must apply to the provider making the Cost Rental homes available and meet certain eligibility criteria. Under the provisions process as set out in the Affordable Housing Act, the designation process attached to Cost Rental is linked to the property itself rather than the tenants. As such, while my Department retains details of all dwellings designated for Cost Rental purposes, it does not centrally retain details on the specific number of tenants (including children etc.) in each dwelling. However, I can confirm that Taylor Hill comprises a broad mix of family sizes. In availing of Cost Rental tenancies, applicant households must demonstrate to the provider that they fall within the national eligibility criteria.
Under the Housing for All Strategy the Government recently confirmed it is intended that approximately 18,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered by Local Authorities, AHB's and the LDA. 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.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (440)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:440. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 304 of 22 June 2021 and the subsequent publication of the Housing for All strategy, his plans to include income from the rural social scheme when assessing the means threshold for purchasing a rural local authority house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50454/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant local authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, local authorities can include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income. A housing authority shall disregard income that is once-off, temporary or short-term in nature and that is outside the regular pattern of a person’s annual income, including the Rural Social Scheme.
In determining reckonable income, the income of all tenants of the house, including adult children that are joint tenants, is included, as is the income of the spouse, civil partner or other partner/co-habitant of a tenant who lives in the house with them, thus ensuring the appropriate level of discount is applied to the purchase price.
The minimum income criterion was introduced in order to ensuring the sustainability of the scheme. Applicants must demonstrate that they have an income that is long-term and sustainable in nature. This ensures that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.
A review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. In addition, Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, commits to maintain the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. The review and the commitments in Housing for All are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to be in a position to finalise changes to the Scheme once the work on these reform measures is complete.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (441)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:441. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty for applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans in meeting some of the criteria for proof of continuity of income in sectors which are reopening, particularly in circumstances in which contracts or freelancing is the norm; and if he will consider amending the credit policy used by local authorities to take account of the realities of the present situation. [50500/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
To be eligible for a Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, you must be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as a primary applicant or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary applicant.
For persons employed on a contract basis, details of contract income over the last two years must be provided. Evidence that tax payments are up to date is also required.
Contract income can be treated in the same way as ordinary income provided:
- The applicant works in an industry where contract income is regarded as the norm e.g. teaching, medical profession and ICT.
- The applicant has been on contract in the same line of business for at least the last two years or, where recently gone on contract, has been employed in the same industry for at least the previous two years.
- The current contract has at least three months left to run and there is an indication from the employer that it is likely to be renewed.
In light of the COVID-19 situation, the requirement that a primary earner must have at least two years continuous employment and the second applicant must have at least one year of continuous employment is relaxed temporarily. Periods where an applicant was unemployed as a direct result of the COVID-19 situation will not be deemed as a break in the required continuous employment and will be disregarded if certain conditions are met, including:
- Applicant became unemployed in or after March 2020 and returned to employment.
- Applicant has resumed continuous employment for a period of at least three months post their COVID-19 unemployment.
- Applicant can provide satisfactory evidence of the above to their local authority as part of the application.
Continuous employment does not need to be permanent, but continuous in nature. This means the applicant may be in the same employment or in more than one employment for that period, where a break in employment has lasted no more than 4 weeks. Multiple casual employments will not be considered eligible.
Rental Sector
Ceisteanna (442)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:442. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has secured Government approval to introduce a new rent pressure zone cap on rents in the private rental sector; if so, when the legislation will be introduced; and the expected value of the new cap. [50504/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to better protect tenants with affordability challenges by extending the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024 and prohibiting any necessary rent increase in a RPZ from exceeding general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). This measure significantly reduces the level of permissible rent increases for the estimated 74% of all tenancies which are in RPZs. The linkage with HICP aims to safeguard continued investment in the sector by existing and new landlords to deliver the much needed supply of high-quality rental accommodation while protecting against a significant increase in rental inflation in the coming years.
When introducing these measures, I was very clear on the need to carefully monitor inflation. At that time, HICP inflation averaged 0.73% p.a. over the previous 3 years but had risen to 1.6% p.a. in the year ending June 2021. I needed to revise the RPZ rent control relatively quickly in July, on a basis that could be independently verified. Given the continuing rise in HICP inflation, up to 3.8% p.a. in September, subject to Government approval, I intend to bring forward legislation in the coming weeks to introduce a cap on rent increases in RPZs. My Department is engaging, as a matter of priority, with the Office of the Attorney General in this regard.
Vacant Properties
Ceisteanna (443, 444, 445)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:443. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to each local authority to bring back voids or derelict council homes to council stock over the past five years; the number brought back to stock by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50531/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuncan Smith
Ceist:444. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of voids and derelict houses put back into housing stock by each local authority; the number that have been reallocated over each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50532/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuncan Smith
Ceist:445. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of voids or derelict houses reported by each local authority over the past five years per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50533/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 443, 444 and 445 together.
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, responsive repairs and implementing planned maintenance programmes, is a matter for each individual local authority, in line with Section 28 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2009.
Notwithstanding the legal obligations on local authorities to manage and maintain their housing stock, my Department is focused on ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent. Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
Over the period 2016-2020, almost €169 million in funding has been provided by my Department to remediate 10,940 properties under the Voids Programme. This figure does not include properties returned to productive use by the local authority using funding from their own resources. The allocation of these remediated social homes and the normal re-letting of properties otherwise becoming available are a matter for each individual local authority.
The table at the following link gives a breakdown by local authority for each of the 5 years 2016-2020 inclusive: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-10-19_pq443-19-10-21_en.docx.
Further statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including re-let times, levels of vacancy etc. in local authority owned properties. The most recent report, relating to 2019, is available on the NOAC website at the following link: https://noac.ie/noac_publications/noac-performance-indicators-report-2019/.
Question No. 444 answered with Question No. 443.
Question No. 445 answered with Question No. 443.
Defective Building Materials
Ceisteanna (446, 447, 448)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:446. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 318, 319 and 320 of 5 October 2021, the reason and the way in which representatives from other action groups were involved in the discussion around the inclusion of County Clare homeowners. [50545/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraViolet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:447. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 318, 319 and 320 of 5 October 2021, the nature of this discussion given that there is no substantive reference to it in the working group's report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50546/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraViolet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:448. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 318, 319 and 320 of 5 October 2021, when he will present to the Cabinet his conclusions based on the working group's report and the homeowners' position paper. [50547/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 446, 447 and 448 together.
The Defective Concrete Blocks Working Group which I established, was tasked with a review of issues of concern which had been raised by homeowners in respect of the Scheme, which applies to Mayo and Donegal only. Under the agreed Terms of Reference, one of the areas in scope for review was the issue of "Eligible Homes". This included, homes in the counties of Donegal and Mayo and the potential to extend the Scheme to homes in other local authority areas. Other interested parties sought admittance onto the Working Group but homeowners were restricted to those from counties within the Scheme.
It was considered that homeowners from Donegal and Mayo, who made up 50% of the working group, could adequately represent the views of homeowners who may be affected, regardless of their location. However, it was not the role or responsibility of these homeowner representatives to advocate on behalf of Clare specifically, for inclusion into the existing scheme. That work is being progressed by Clare County Council and a report on the matter was finalised and submitted by the Council at the end of
July. A formal response to the submission from the Council will issue shortly from my Department.
The Report of the Working Group, published on my Department's website, includes a request from both Engineers Ireland and the homeowner representatives that the Scheme should be open to all homeowners affected by the issue of defective concrete blocks, regardless of their location. My Department is in ongoing discussions with four local authorites on the matter.
Any extension of the Scheme will be considered as part of broader considerations by Government as part of the process following receipt of the Report of the Working Group on Defective Concrete Blocks. In this regard, following discussions with Government colleagues, I will shortly be bringing proposals to Government.
Question No. 447 answered with Question No. 446.
Question No. 448 answered with Question No. 446.
Defective Building Materials
Ceisteanna (449, 450)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:449. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of correspondence, including the date of the most recent correspondence, and the nature of communication between his Department and Clare County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50548/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraViolet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:450. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the dates and format of engagement between his Department and Clare County Council in relation to defective blocks, the inclusion of homeowners in the county in the national redress scheme and the presence of pyrite in homes in County Clare since February 2021. [50597/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 450 together.
The regulations for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020. The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo only, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks and is not a national redress scheme.
My Department received both a written and electronic submission from Clare County Council, dated 23 July 2021, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to County Clare. A written acknowledgement of this submission subsequently issued to the Council on 3 August 2021. This acknowledgement informed the Council that my Department would review the submission and also sought a detailed breakdown of costs associated with the report.
A breakdown of costs associated with the report was received electronically from Clare Co Council on 28 September, 2021. A formal response to the submission from Clare County County will issue shortly from my Department. My officials spoke to colleagues in Clare County Council on 8 October 2021 in that regard.
Any extension of the Scheme will be considered as part of broader considerations by Government as part of the process following receipt of the Report of the Working Group on Defective Concrete Blocks. In this regard, following discussions with Government colleagues, I will shortly be bringing proposals to Government.
Question No. 450 answered with Question No. 449.
Vacant Sites
Ceisteanna (451)
Colm Burke
Ceist:451. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to enable it to take possession of derelict sites and proceed to have them registered in its name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50604/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The funding of the acquisition of sites by local authorities, whether through compulsory purchase under the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act or otherwise, is related to the purpose for which the local authority uses the site. For example, my Department provides full funding to local authorities for sites that are used for social housing developments, while other Departments will support sites used for programmes that they support in line with the functions of the local authority. Aside from providing for the derelict sites levy - the proceeds of which are retained by local authorities - and associated provisions, the Derelict Sites Act 1990 does not address the issue of funding for local authorities to address dereliction or the acquisition of derelict sites.
Accordingly, the proportion of the overall annual budget provided by my Department to each local authority which is spent on compulsory acquisition is not available from my Department but may be available from individual local authorities.
Specific funding, to tackle dereliction in major towns and cities, may be made available through the integrated projects being supported by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which was launched in 2018. This fund is targeting financial support in an integrated, dynamic and responsive way to support the regeneration and rejuvenation of our towns and cities. Already, the URDF is providing assistance for major projects that will contribute to meeting the objectives of the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan.
The role of the URDF in ensuring that housing stock is used efficiently is acknowledged in Housing for All, along with a range of actions to bring vacant stock back into use. This includes the publication of the Town Centre First policy in the coming weeks.
Coastal Erosion
Ceisteanna (452)
David Stanton
Ceist:452. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group, chaired by his Department, is examining the potential impacts on coastal areas of a predicted rise in sea levels, as outlined in a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50628/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Coastal Change Management Strategy Steering Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Group is comprised of senior officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Met Éireann, and the County and City Management Association.
A technical working group has also been established under the stewardship of the OPW. The work of this group has focused on the identification and initial analysis of data sources, to underpin the work of the Steering Group.
The Steering Group will reconvene in the coming weeks to build further on the progress made with a view to finalising a strategy. I understand that this will that will take into account the scenarios being outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Commercial Rates
Ceisteanna (453)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:453. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department will be taking to offset the loss of commercial rates from Moneypoint power station for Clare County Council (details supplied). [50630/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government recognises the important work of local authorities, and the importance of commercial rates as a source of income to support the delivery of services.
As part of Budget 2022, Government has announced an allocation of €2.8m to Clare County Council to mitigate the impact of the gradual decommissioning of the Moneypoint power station.
Tax Code
Ceisteanna (454)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:454. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department will take to ensure equalisation of local property tax for western seaboard and mid-west local authorities (details supplied). [50631/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Local retention of Local Property Tax (LPT) began in 2015 and since then the overall principles and allocation methodology have broadly remained the same. Currently, 80% of LPT is retained in the area it is collected, with the other 20% supporting equalisation for local authorities with LPT bases lower than their funding baseline.
The Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', commits to bringing forward LPT reforms including providing for all money collected locally to be retained within the county. This will also be done on the basis that those counties with a lower LPT base are adjusted via an annual national equalisation fund paid from the Exchequer, as is currently the case.
The Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Act 2021 gives effect to a package of measures in line with the commitments in the aforementioned Programme for Government to address the future of the LPT. The Government has signalled its intention that the move to 100% local retention of LPT will be introduced over the 2023 and 2024 budgetary cycles. Any changes to the allocation process may be considered in that context.
In the meantime, LPT allocations for 2022 will provisionally be based on updated information regarding the 2021 yield, on a no change basis i.e. the 80:20 model. All other elements will also be based on 2021 figures, including the LPT baselines, the equalisation contribution and self-funding of housing and roads from surplus LPT. It is recognised that the yield will change following the revaluation and the matter will be revisited at that point.
Water Services
Ceisteanna (455)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:455. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of developments to address water and wastewater infrastructural deficits facing rural towns and villages, such as Broadford, County Clare (details supplied). [50632/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly.
As part of Budget 2022, I secured funding of over €1.57 billion to support water services and this includes over €1.4 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and waste water services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan. I understand from Irish Water that an allocation of almost €100 million for this programme was approved by the CRU. Irish Water is working with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment supports the growth of identified settlements where these are prioritised in line with the local authority development plans.
My Department provides funding, through the Rural Water Programme, to deliver improvements to private water services in areas of rural Ireland where there is no access to public infrastructure. The strategic objective of the Rural Water Programme is to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of water services for rural dwellers in these areas. Private water services in Ireland include:
- Individual water supplies, typically a bored well.
- Group Water Schemes.
- Domestic waste water treatment systems, typically septic tanks.
- Collection networks, typically developer provided water services infrastructure.
Complementary to Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, my Department is currently examining waste water requirements in the context of villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure.
I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at a national level. This report will include the analysis of a baseline survey of all rural local authorities, to quantify and qualify the number of villages and similar settlements concerned.
At this stage, my Department reports some high level analysis of the survey results. These indicate that some 643 villages and similar settlements, spread across 25 rural local authorities, do not have access to public waste water collection and treatment infrastructure. However, it is important to note that this is point in time data which is continuously adjusting and requiring update.
This process is at an advanced stage, and I will be in a position to consider the matter once I have received the final report.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (456)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:456. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has made a decision on whether social housing allocated under Part V housing provisions can be purchased by tenants under the tenant incremental purchase scheme; when a decision on this policy is likely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50650/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provides for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, houses specifically designed for older persons, group Traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living.
The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V homes are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 to ensure that homes delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. The continued development of mixed tenure communities remains very important in promoting social integration.
A review of the first 12 months of the Scheme's operation has been undertaken. In addition, Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, commits to maintain the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. The review and the commitments in Housing for All are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to be in a position to finalise changes to the Scheme once the work on these reform measures is complete.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (457)
Paul Donnelly
Ceist:457. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost in 2022 if the current budget for the Residential Tenancies Board increased by 25%. [50660/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent, quasi-judicial, statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
In order to ensure that the RTB is fully resourced to deliver on its ever increasing mandate, I secured €11 million current funding for the RTB's operational costs in 2021, an additional €2 million on the previous year's funding of €9 million.
€11 million current funding has recently been acquired under Budget 2022 for RTB operational costs next year. The RTB has not received any capital funding from the Exchequer in 2021 nor has capital funding been sought for 2022.
My Department continues to engage with the RTB to guarantee that it has the funds and staffing that is required to carry out its role as a regulator of the rental sector.
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Ceisteanna (458)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:458. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 5 October 2021, the reason the health and safety regulations for installing telecommunications towers were removed from the telecommunications structures planning regulations. [50679/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
No health and safety regulations for installing telecom towers have been removed from the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2021.
The 1996 Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures Guidelines for Planning Authorities advised that planning authorities should not include monitoring arrangements as part of planning permission conditions nor determine planning applications on health grounds. Circular letter PL 07/12 reiterated that advice, stating that planning authorities "should be primarily concerned with the appropriate location and design of telecommunications structures and do not have competence for health and safety matters in respect of telecommunications infrastructure. These are regulated by other codes and such matters should not be additionally regulated by the planning process."
The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) manages Ireland's radio spectrum, which is a national resource used to provide a wide range of wireless communications services including radio and television broadcasting, mobile telephony, and wireless broadband. In managing the radio spectrum, ComReg obliges network operators under a Wireless Telegraphy Licence or a General Authorisation, as applicable, to ensure that emissions from their networks do not exceed the public exposure limits established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
As part of its spectrum management function, every year ComReg measures Non-Ionising Radiation (NIR) levels in public areas at a minimum of 80 different sites, located throughout Ireland. These are chosen based on demographic and geographic factors. To date, over 1400 sites have been surveyed and NIR levels at all sites have been found, without exception, to fall well below the international limits for public exposure set by ICNIRP.
The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for providing independent expert advice to the Government and to the public on exposure to NIR (including on relevant standards for public protection), as well as the monitoring of scientific/technological developments likely to impact on public exposure to NIR.
My colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communication, is responsible for setting policy relating to the health effects of Non-Ionising Radiation (NIR) including electromagnetic fields.