Written Answers Nos. 275-295
275. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to review the local connection rule in relation to homeless services and its implementation by local authorities in view of the particular challenges faced by the Roma community in finding suitable housing in the State and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57094/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household.
Having regard to the statutory role of housing authorities under the Housing Act 1988, all households are assessed, and provided with homeless services, in accordance with the provisions of the legislation, irrespective of ethnicity.
The organisation of accommodation services is a matter for the relevant housing authorities, and in Dublin, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. Housing authorities can and do consider requests for homeless supports and have provided emergency accommodation to non-Irish national applicants, in line with current provisions under the Housing Act 1988.
Housing for All, a New Housing Plan for Ireland, adopted and published in September 2021, acknowledges that housing policy must address the needs of socially excluded members of society. It states that, “It is recognised that Traveller and Roma communities are represented amongst the homeless population. We will support continued implementation of the current National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, and actions to be identified in the successor to that strategy.” It is within this context and framework that wider housing policy matters are being further addressed.
276. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the areas designated urban for the purpose of the Derelict Sites Act 1990. [57101/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Derelict Sites Act 1990 ("the Act") provides for the payment of an annual levy in respect of sites in urban areas that have been included in an authority’s derelict site register on the 1st January of that year, and where the site’s market value has been determined. “Urban Area” is defined in the Act as:“a county or other borough , an urban district, a town or an area prescribed by the Minister under section 21.”Consequently where authorities are considering the inclusion of a new site in their register, they must satisfy themselves that the new site in question is in an urban area under the terms of the above definition and if it is not, then it is necessary to make the relevant return to the Department so that the Minister may formally prescribe the area as an “urban area” via statutory instrument for the purposes of the Act. The authority may not impose a financial levy on a new site that is not already included in the section 21 definition or has not been prescribed by the Minister for the purposes of the Act.
The list of areas prescribed by the Minister under section 21 of the Act to date is attached.
277. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a house affected by pyrite owned by an Irish family that are now living outside of Ireland can be included in the defective concrete blocks scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57104/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulations were made under sections 2 and 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to defective concrete blocks, entitled Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 25 of 2020).
Within the Regulations, section 5 (1) (b) and (c) provides for the application of the scheme to the principal private residence only. The priority of the current scheme therefore is to ensure that homeowners living in affected dwellings as their principal private residence are helped to the fullest extent within the funding resources currently available.
In response to concerns expressed by homeowners, I established a time bound working group with representatives from the Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to review and address any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. The terms of reference for this group included issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, eligible homes and allowable costs etc.
I received the final report of the Working Group on Defective Concrete Blocks in early October and since then have engaged in extensive consultation with stakeholders and Government colleagues on the matter. Following completion of this consultative process I intend bringing a memorandum to Government, in the immediate term, setting out proposals for improvements to the existing scheme, its future administration and various other matters raised in the Report of the Working Group.
278. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the increased cost facing customers with multiple water connections and particularly farmers as a result of the introduction of standing charges for separate connections; if funding schemes are being put in place to help alleviate increased costs for the same service; if allowances are being considered in view of the increased cost by cubic litre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57137/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. Under the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 Irish Water is required to collect charges, where relevant, from its customers in accordance with a water charges plan, detailing tariffs and charging arrangements, as approved by the Commission.
Questions or concerns relating to charging arrangements for customers are a matter in the first instance for Irish Water. Any concerns which cannot be resolved by Irish Water to the satisfaction of the customer can be referred under the formal complaints process to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities whose decision on the matter is binding on Irish Water. The Minister has been given no role under the Water Services Acts in relation to the matter.
It may also be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
279. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all local authorities have furnished the details on the total number of derelict properties currently on their respective registers; the number of actions and fines issued under the Act for each respective local authority; the way in which he will now move forward the information available and make appropriate changes additional to the measures announced in the Housing for All strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57156/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll 31 local authorities have now submitted returns in relation to the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 returns requested by Circular Letter PL 09/2021, issued on 17 September 2021. This data is outlined in the attached spreadsheet.
My Department continues to liaise with local authorities on the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act with a view to improving its effectiveness, and continues to keep the relevant provisions under review.
280. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 396 of 2 November 2021, if the working group in his Department that is currently examining the provision for a changing places toilet in certain buildings will also examine the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010 in terms of dwellings with a view to ensuring the provision of not just wheelchair accessible but wheelchair liveable dwellings. [57187/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2020, my Department established a Working Group specifically to examine the provision for a changing places toilet in certain buildings. A changing places toilet offers larger supported facilities that address the needs of people for whom current accessible sanitary accommodation is inadequate. These facilities enable people with complex care needs to take part in everyday activities such as travel, shopping, family days out or attending a sporting event.
The plenary Working Group has met six times to date, in addition to a number of sub-group meetings. Draft documentation, which includes Draft Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2021, Draft Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use 2021 and a Regulatory Impact Analysis, is currently being prepared to support a public consultation in the matter later this year.
The ‘Programme for Government Our Shared Future’ commits to ensuring that there is an appropriate mix of housing design types provided, including universally designed units, and accommodation for older people and people with disabilities.
The housing needs of people with disabilities are addressed in the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2016-2021. A new NHSPWD, is currently being developed by my Department and the Department of Health, with a view to publishing by the end of 2021. The strategy is about facilitating the provision of housing options and related services to disabled people to allow individual choice and support independent living.
The joint policy statement Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, launched by my Department and the Department of Health in 2019, includes an Action on universal design to “In partnership with industry, introduce measures to ensure that over a five year period delivery is increased to ensure that 30% of all new dwellings are built to incorporate universal design principles to accommodate our ageing population.”
I understand that appropriate measures to deliver on this commitment are currently being formulated by the National Disability Authority (NDA), which falls under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, and who are an independent statutory body that provides information and advice to the Government on policy and practice relevant to the lives of persons with disabilities.
283. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to improve the fire safety standards in apartments as part of the Programme for Government commitment to improve building control standards; and the plans he has to ensure that apartments built under earlier fire safety standards from the 1980s and 1990s will be brought into full compliance with more recent standards. [57240/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Regulations 1997-2021 set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. Their aim is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations are set out in functional terms and are performance based – they do not set limitations on the materials.
The associated Technical Guidance Documents (TGD A - M respectively) provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in practical terms for non-complex buildings. Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant technical guidance, such works are considered to be, prima facie , in compliance with the relevant regulations.
Part D (Materials and Workmanship) requires that all works should be carried out in a workmanlike manner using “proper materials…which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used” to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations and includes materials which comply with an appropriate harmonised standard or European Technical Assessment or comply with an appropriate Irish Standard or Irish Agrément Certificate or with an alternative national technical specification of any State which is a contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which provides in use an equivalent level of safety and suitability.
A fundamental review of Part B (Fire Safety) is underway at present and will take note of Fire Safety in Ireland report (published in 2018). It will also consider common and emerging building trends, developments and events from a global perspective, matters relating to external fire spread, external fire resistance, internal fire resistance, cladding systems, sprinklers, etc. Changes in standards, including fire test standards and technological changes in areas such as materials and systems have necessitated a fundamental analysis of the provisions and assumptions contained in Technical Guidance Document B – Fire Safety.
In this context my Department established a Consultative Committee in December 2020 to discuss the technical revision of Part B/TGD B. The Consultative Committee has met nine times to date, in addition to a number of sub-group meetings. Draft documentation, which includes Draft Building Regulations (Part B Amendment) Regulations 2021, Draft Technical Guidance Document B – Fire Safety 2021 and a Regulatory Impact Analysis, is currently being prepared to support a public consultation in the matter in 2022.
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. It has agreed its terms of reference will cover fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 – 2013 in Ireland.
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.
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.
284. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if arising from the Governments new Housing for All plan there will be a significant increase in demand for turnkey developments to deliver social and affordable housing that in addition to local authorities and approved housing bodies seeking to acquire turnkey developments from the private sector to meet social housing needs there will also be demand for turnkey developments from approved housing bodies via the Cost Rental Equity Loan, from the Land Development Agency via Project Tosaigh and via the Housing Agency via Croi Connaithe; his views on whether this increased demand for turnkey developments will drive up costs; and the number of turnkey units he expects to be purchased from private developers across each of these schemes in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. [57244/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Housing for All strategy, the Government’s plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. The strategy is backed by historic levels of investment with in excess of €20bn through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency and the Housing Finance Agency over the next 5 years. The unprecedented levels of funding to support housing delivery will provide the sector with the stability and certainty needed to increase overall housing supply.
The Housing for All strategy prioritises an increase in social and affordable homes committing to delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes by 2030. The national targets for social and affordable homes for 2022 to 2025 is as follows:
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
|
Social |
9,000 |
9,100 |
9,300 |
10,000 |
|
Affordable |
4,100 |
5,500 |
6,400 |
6,400 |
The Government will use all the channels at its disposal to increase the delivery of social and affordable housing. In the case of affordable housing, this includes the programmes and funding streams under the Affordable Housing Fund, Cost Rental Equity Loan, Project Tosaigh and Croi Connaithe.
Under Housing for All, processes have been put in place to co-ordinate interventions and share information to ensure successful implementation, increased overall supply, complementarity, value for money for the Exchequer and securing optimum affordability for affordable housing purchasers and renters.
At a local level each local authority is currently preparing a Housing Delivery Action Plan and will engage with approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency in this regard. These plans, which will be in line with the national Housing for All targets, will inform the level of social and affordable houses to be delivered for each area and the most appropriate delivery streams. At a national level, my Department has recently established the High Level Affordable Housing Delivery Group to draw together the key stakeholders responsible for delivering social and affordable homes. This group is co-ordinating interventions and will monitor progress of Housing for All affordable housing programmes and targets.
Supported by this Government strategy, indications of increased construction activity are becoming evident. The latest CSO New Dwellings Completion Report shows the number of new homes becoming available for use in the year up to September was 24,156, a 7% increase when compared to the year to Q3 2020 (22,585). Additionally, the latest CSO data reports that 30,519 residential units were commenced in the year to September 2021, up 40% year-on-year, when compared to the same period to September 2020. The number of homes for which Commencement Notices were provided in September 2021 (3,203) was up 48% on August’s figure. Furthermore, 11,150 units were granted planning permission in Q2 2021, a 16.6% increase compared with pre-pandemic levels in Q2 2019 (9,566).
285. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan applications, approvals and drawdowns in each month from January 2020 to October 2021;and the total value of the applications, approvals and drawdowns by local authority area and with an average approval and drawdown figure for each local authority in tabular form. [57245/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
The most recent figures provided by the Agency on the numbers of applications that it has assessed for each local authority, from January 2020 up to the end of October 2021 are set out in the below table:
|
Local Authority |
Applications Assessed |
|
Carlow County Council |
64 |
|
Cavan County Council |
18 |
|
Clare County Council |
56 |
|
Cork City Council |
183 |
|
Cork County Council |
311 |
|
Donegal County Council |
52 |
|
Dublin City Council |
392 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
63 |
|
Fingal County Council |
335 |
|
Galway City Council |
50 |
|
Galway County Council |
80 |
|
Kerry County Council |
152 |
|
Kildare County Council |
189 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
78 |
|
Laois County Council |
81 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
32 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
81 |
|
Longford County Council |
59 |
|
Louth County Council |
93 |
|
Mayo County Council |
47 |
|
Meath County Council |
127 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
42 |
|
Offaly County Council |
31 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
35 |
|
Sligo County Council |
38 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
191 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
96 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
112 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
36 |
|
Wexford County Council |
162 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
178 |
|
Total |
3,464 |
My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Local Authority drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals to Q1 2021 is available at the following link, which will be updated, as updated figures are available:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid.
286. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the membership of the working group appointed by the Attorney General to examine planning legislation; and the terms of reference for the working group. [57339/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All sets out a number of objectives with the aim of improving the functioning of the planning system including the comprehensive review and consolidation of planning legislation. The review forms one of the actions in Housing for All and is set in the context of the broad policy outlined therein.
The review is being overseen by the Attorney General and he has appointed a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. It is intended that the review will be completed by December 2022.
My Department is currently establishing a Planning Advisory Forum which will be a key element of the planning review. It will manage the stakeholder engagement through the process and will be chaired by me.
The primary aim of the Forum will be to engage with stakeholders on themes to input into the review. The Forum will have a wide stakeholder membership to input to the evolving policy and legal agenda, with representatives from a broad range of sectors, including representation from the public sector, business, environmental, social and knowledge based sectors. My Department will shortly be contacting various groups and interested bodies to seek nominations to the Forum.
It is intended that the first meeting of the Forum will take place shortly and it is my intention that the terms of reference for the Forum will be published once they have been approved at this meeting.
287. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the commission on housing once established will review the progress of cost-rental delivery in Ireland. [57340/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government committed to establishing a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing. The Programme for Government also contains a commitment to hold a referendum on housing.
Housing for All, which was published in September 2021, further commits to the establishment of a Commission on Housing with the timeline being Q4 2021 and also notes that the Commission will work on the Referendum on Housing.
The establishment of the Commission presents an opportunity to build on the policy set out in Housing for All , taking a long-term strategic view on these aspects of housing, over an extended time horizon, as well as other issues identified as being suitable for in-depth examination.
It is envisaged that the Commission on Housing will bring together experts from various housing-related sectors, and will play a role in the State achieving good quality, affordable homes for all.
A Memorandum for Government seeking approval to establish the Commission with the Terms of Reference was considered by Cabinet today.
I will be in a position to publish the Terms of Reference shortly.
It is planned that the Commission on Housing will be formally established before the end of this year, once the Terms of Reference and Membership of the Commission have been finalised.
288. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeline for winding up the strategic housing development application; and the final date a decision on a strategic housing development application will be made by An Bord Pleanála. [57341/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra292. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the last dates for submitting a strategic housing development planning application to An Board Pleanála given differences between media reports and the press release by his Department (details supplied). [57422/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 292 together.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future commits to not extending the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) arrangements beyond their legislative expiry date of end December 2021, which has now been extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related extension of statutory deadlines within the planning system by 8 weeks in respect of the period March to May 2020.
My Department has finalised the drafting the Planning and Development (Large-scale Residential Development - LRD) Bill 2021 in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. The Bill proposes the replacement of the SHD provisions with new LRD provisions, which will have the potential to be almost as time-efficient as the SHD arrangements but will also return the primary decision-making function to the local level, with associated gains in terms of public participation in the decision-making process.
Government approval for the publication of the LRD Bill was granted on 4 November 2021. The Bill is currently being progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas with a view to enactment during the current Oireachtas session.
The Bill as published proposes a number of transitional arrangements in relation to the expiry of the SHD arrangements and their replacement by the new LRD arrangements. Under the proposals
- developers with projects already in the SHD system and in receipt of an opinion on their proposals from An Bord Pleanála (the Board) on the commencement of the Act will have 16 weeks to submit an SHD application to the Board from that date;
- developers who have just commenced SHD pre-application consultations with the Board, and are awaiting an opinion on their proposals on the commencement of the Act, will have 16 weeks to submit an SHD application from the date of receipt of the pre-application consultation opinion from the Board.
In both of these scenarios, the Board will then have a further 16 weeks to make a determination on the application. These are standard transitional arrangements, which generally apply when changing over from one system or process to another.
Pending the enactment of the Bill and the making of supplementary LRD regulations, the existing SHD arrangements remain in force. In effect, SHD pre-application consultation requests and SHD planning applications may continue to be made to the Board for the time being until the LRD Bill is enacted and the supplementary LRD regulations are in place.
In this regard, Circular Letter PL 10-2021 issued to planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanala, on 22 October 2021, indicated that it is intended that, subject to Oireachtas approval and Presidential signature of the Bill, the SHD system will transition from 17 December 2021 and be replaced by the new LRD planning regime.
Planning authorities will be notified by further Circular Letter when the necessary legislation is in place and the coming into effect of the new LRD arrangements.
289. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to increase the eligible income limits in respect of social housing; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who are solely dependent on social welfare income and low income from employment are being removed from the social housing waiting lists on income grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57348/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10% and separately a 2.5% allowance for each child.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced in 2011 also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is underway. As set out in Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland , the efficiency of the banding model and its application to local authorities will be considered. Equivalisation as between singles and families will also be considered. The review will also have regard to new initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and Cost Rental housing. I intend that the review will be completed this year.
290. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of strategic housing development completions in 2021 and of completed strategic housing development applications dating back to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57366/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not hold the details requested by the Deputy. The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical office, compiles and makes available detailed data on a number of housing related issues including housing completions. Data on new dwelling completions can be found on the CSO website at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/construction/newdwellingcompletions/.
291. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [57414/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraProvisions relating to placename changes in Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001 were commenced in early 2019. Previous provisions under local government legislation were repealed. In addition, provisions in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, amending Part 18 of the 2001 Act, were commenced.
The newly commenced provisions under the amended Part 18 of the 2001 Act require updated Regulations to be made for the holding of plebiscites to change placenames.
However, in advance of making those Regulations, an issue has been identified concerning the interaction of the amended Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001 and provisions contained in Official Languages legislation, under the aegis of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
My officials are working with their counterparts in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with a view to resolving the issue identified. Once a policy approach and draft legislative amendments have been agreed, it is hoped to include them in an appropriate Bill at the earliest available opportunity.
293. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 10 November 2021, if he will provide the policy and procedural guidance issued to housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence. [57471/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017, my Department issued policy and procedural guidance to all housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence.
A copy of the guidance has been issued to the Deputy.
294. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications under short-term letting regulations included in the Planning and Development Act 2000 for change of use planning permissions to date by local authority in tabular form. [57482/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested in relation to the number of change of use planning applications made to planning authorities further to the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 - referred to as the Short-Term Letting Regulations - which came into effect on 1 July 2019 is outlined in the table below
|
Planning Authority |
No. of STL change of use planning applications received |
|
Carlow |
0 |
|
Cork County |
21 |
|
Cork City |
4 |
|
DLR |
0 |
|
Dublin City |
20 |
|
Fingal |
0 |
|
Galway City |
5 |
|
Galway County |
0 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
|
Laois |
5 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
|
Louth |
0 |
|
Meath |
0 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
|
Total |
76 |
295. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only one application has been received by Cork City Council for short-term lettings under the Planning and Development Act 2000 and no enforcement notices issued; and his plans to tackle this. [57483/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislative reforms to regulate the short-term letting sector through the planning code, in areas designated as “rent pressure zones” (RPZs), were introduced under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 which came into effect on 1 July 2019.
Notwithstanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, significant work on the implementation and enforcement of the Regulations has been undertaken by planning authorities since they came into effect. For the purposes of the short term letting regulations, a premises used for a short term letting use is a commercial building. Accordingly, in the case of a new short-term letting use, a person should apply for change of use planning permission from a residential use to a commercial short term letting use. For an existing unauthorised short term letting use, retention permission should be sought. However, planning Authorities have no control over the number of change of use planning applications they receive.
Under the legislation planning authorities can avail of a range of measures to enforce against unauthorised short term letting activity, of which the issuing of an enforcement notice is just one. Cork City Council have initiated 174 investigations into suspected breaches of the short-term letting regulations, and have issued 158 informal warning letters and 30 warning letters. Enforcement notices may issue in relation to a number of these investigations.
Housing for All contains a specific action - (Action 20.4) - to “develop new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that houses are used to best effect in areas of housing need”. Minister O’Brien has engaged with Minister Catherine Martin on this matter, and a number of meetings have been held between my Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and with Fáilte Ireland and further engagement will take place in the near future.
Significant progress has been made on these proposals, which are being led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Funding has been allocated in Budget 2022 and Fáilte Ireland will be commencing shortly with recruitment of staff to manage the design and infrastructure for a short term lettings registration system. Work has also begun on scoping the legal changes which will be required and are expected to be legislated for by Q2 2022.
