Written Answers Nos. 492-512
492. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the grants that are currently available to a first-time buyer who purchases a house for major refurbishment, renovation and retrofitting works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63520/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All published in September 2021 provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. This strategy provides for a broad suite of measures including for first-time buyers.
In particular, in the context of addressing vacancy and and efficient use of existing stock, the strategy provides for the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund which will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of serviced sites for housing, to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages, in a sustainable way.
In addition, Housing for All provides for the launching of a programme of Compulsory Purchase Orders to bring vacant units to the market for sale, as well as activating unused State owned properties for this purpose. Housing for All also recognises the potential to utilise relevant heritage building stock for residential purposes, and it is also anticipated funding will be made available under the new round of European Regional Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns.
Separately, my colleague Eamonn Ryan, T.D., Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently published the National Retrofit Plan, as part of the Climate Action Plan, which sets out ambitious plan for the retrofitting of a significant number homes by the end of 2030. The SEAI grant schemes continue to be a central element of the Government’s strategy to encourage homeowners to retrofit their homes and a new National Retrofit Scheme is planned to be launched this year.
Housing for All also commits to ensuring that vacant homes officers, in each local authority, are full-time officers to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office. My Department will be communicating with local authorities, subsequent to the forthcoming launch of the town centre first policy, with a particular focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction to support the regeneration of town centres including to ensure that vacant homes officers are full-time officers. This important resource, at the local level, will act as the single point of contact to deal with enquiries on all of the type of grants available from for the refurbishment of properties.
493. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by each local authority on the mortgage-to-rent scheme since its introduction in 2015; the number of properties those payments relate to by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63543/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced for local authority borrowers initially as a pilot in 2013, and has been in place nationally since 2014. Under the scheme, a local authority can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as social housing tenants. From its inception in 2013 to end 2020, the Local Authority Mortgage to Rent scheme has benefited a total of 532 households.
Payments made to Local Authorities from 2013 – 2020 in relation to the Mortgage to Rent scheme, along with the number of properties these payments relate to, are available on the Department's website via the following link. Information relating to 2021 payments will be made available shortly.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-mortgage-to-rent-scheme > refer to the section “Local Authority Mortgage to Rent scheme”.
The following local authority costs are funded by the Department. Local authorities must use funding received under the Local Authority Mortgage to Rent scheme to re-pay the corresponding loan with the Housing Finance Agency.
- The Property Ownership Transfer Price (Open Market Value of the property minus the cost of essential repairs, as agreed by the borrower and the local authority)
- Vouched essential repair costs (repairs that are required to ensure that the property meets the minimum standards for rented accommodation)
- Up to 1.5% of the Open Market Value in respect of vouched local authority legal and valuation costs
The local authority can also draw down an amount to the maximum of €1,230 (€1,000 plus 23% VAT) towards the borrower's vouched costs, which include a contribution to their legal and debt advice and, where appropriate, valuation costs.
494. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by each approved housing body on the mortgage-to-rent scheme since its introduction in 2015; the number of properties those payments relate to by approved housing body in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63544/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 is targeted at supporting households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP); agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and are deemed eligible for social housing support. The property in question must also meet certain eligibility criteria. The concept of the scheme is that a household with an unsustainable mortgage goes from being a homeowner to being a social housing tenant. The borrower surrenders their property to their lender who sells it to a MTR provider which can be either an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or since 2018 a private company, Home for Life. The AHB or local authority (in the case where the property is sold to a private company) becomes the landlord and the borrower remains in the property as a tenant paying a differential rent to the landlord based on his or her income.
To the end of September 2021, 1497 households with unsustainable private mortgages have completed the MTR scheme since its introduction nationally in 2013. 951 households had their case completed by an AHB. The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme including a purchaser status report which shows a breakdown of the number of active, completed, ineligible and terminated cases per purchaser, including AHBs. This information is available on the Housing Agency's website at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics
The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units, including units acquired through the Mortgage to Rent scheme. My Department can provide CALF funding of up to 40% in the case of the Mortgage to Rent scheme for eligible projects, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department. The remainder of the capital cost is sourced by the AHB through other borrowings to which the local authorities are not party. All proposals for CALF are submitted to my Department by AHBs for review, to ensure that each project complies with the terms of the CALF and that there are sufficient funds available.
My Department does not hold information on the loan agreements under CALF, as the loan agreement, is between the local authority and the relevant AHB. Accordingly, information on the number and value of CALF loans, including the balance owing, is held by the relevant local authorities. The value and term of each loan varies by project.
My Department also supports AHBs on MTR projects by providing CALF funding for eligible start-up costs of up to 1.5% of the total capital cost or since March 2018, up to €3,300 (ex. VAT), whichever is lesser. Up to the 30th November 2021, these costs were paid directly from my Department to the AHB. For cases approved from the 1st December 2021, AHBs will submit these claims to the local authority, who will then seek recoupment from my Department for the vouched expenditure.
The table below shows CALF capital expenditure by my Department for the AHB Mortgage to Rent scheme. It is important to note that owing to the nature of the CALF, expenditure relating to properties may span a number of payment periods.
AHB – MTR - CALF Funding
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2015 |
€0.780m |
|
2016 |
€1.795m |
|
2017 |
€3.019m |
|
2018 |
€4.379m |
|
2019 |
€8.902m |
|
2020 |
€6.697m |
The Programme for Government and Housing for All includes a commitment to strengthen the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and ensure that it is helping those who need it. Building on the significant improvements already made to the scheme since the last review in 2017, my Department is currently working closely with the Housing Agency and key stakeholders to identify any further improvements required to the scheme. A review of the MTR scheme is due to be published shortly.
495. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of technical and administrative staff, respectively in the housing department of each local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63545/21]
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 authorities 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 technical and administrative staff in the housing department of each local authority, is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information should be available from each local authority.
496. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses covered by thermal upgrade contract number 123 (details supplied); the number of those houses that have had asbestos identified; and the number in which the asbestos is being removed. [63554/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra497. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the asbestos identified at a location (details supplied) will not be removed as part of works given that it has previously been suggested by contractors that it should be removed. [63555/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra498. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that a thermal upgrade (details supplied) is only targeting a C grade building energy rating when all national targets now are for ratings of B or higher; if the fact that it is not reaching a B rating will affect the ability of the local authority to receive grant support for this work; and if these houses will need another retrofitting in the future to bring them up to a B rating. [63556/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra499. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the circumstances in which a local authority will fit stoves as part of thermal upgrades (details supplied); and the factors that are used to determine whether a house receives a stove or not. [63557/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 496, 497, 498 and 499 together.
The Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan sets out the high level objectives of the Limerick Regeneration Programme and outlines the strategies to deliver on these goals. The implementation of the plan is a matter in the first instance for Limerick City and County Council.
In respect of the thermal upgrade programme the stated objective, when the plan was adopted, was to achieve a C1 rating. Since 2019 the Local Authority has revised this to target a B2 rating in line with the Building regulations. Where the cost is prohibitive to upgrade a house to this level, the regulations provide for a cost optimal solution.
Limerick City and County Council, as the lead agency in the regeneration programme, has carried out surveys of houses in the programme to determine a scope of works for each particular dwelling and determine the most cost optimal solution to meet the target BER rating. The provision of secondary heating systems i.e. stoves, is generally not supported and are only considered in cases where the local authority can justify their inclusion.
The Council has advised that in the course of the thermal upgrade programme, the issue of the removal of asbestos has arisen. All 53 properties in thermal upgrade Contact 123 have been identified as having asbestos. Asbestos will typically be removed as part of a thermal upgrade contract only in cases where it represents a particular risk to the occupation of a property or to the completion of the proposed thermal upgrade works. Limerick City and County Council has advised that the asbestos identified in Contract 123 is not considered to represent a risk to occupant health, owing to its stable condition and largely inaccessible location within properties and therefore it is not being removed as part of the contract.
500. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Travellers in Cork city and in counties Cork and Kerry experiencing homelessness and in emergency accommodation, respectively; and the number of the Traveller families accommodated in those areas by accommodation type from 2017 to date in tabular form. [63561/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and via the Government’s Open Data Portal data.gov.ie/.
My Department does not collate specific data relating to ethnicity for the purposes of provision of emergency accommodation for homeless households and does not hold data on the number of Traveller families accommodated in those areas. However, I am aware that Travellers are notably represented amongst the homeless population and my Department is working closely with local authorities to address the needs of all those experiencing homelessness, including Traveller households.
Supporting all individuals and families experiencing homelessness is a key Government priority. 'Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’, the Government’s strategic housing plan to 2030, sets an ambitious objective of working to eradicate homelessness by 2030 and outlines details on how the Government is approaching this challenge.
Through Housing for All, the Government is committed to taking action to prevent entries into homelessness in the first instance and to help those experiencing homelessness to exit into secure and sustained tenancies. It also provides for enhanced tenancy sustainment supports to help those who are long-term homeless exit homelessness and maintain their home. Housing for All recognises the importance of addressing Traveller accommodation needs as a priority and commits to working with local authorities to improve the quantity and quality of Traveller-specific accommodation.
501. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish details of the quality standards that are being applied to privately-run emergency accommodation; the way these standards differ to the National Quality Standards Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63574/21]
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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. My Department does not provide homeless service directly but contributes to overall expenditure incurred by housing authorities in the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. In Dublin, this forum comprises representatives of the four Dublin local authorities, the HSE, Tusla, the Irish Prison and the Irish Probation Service, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Justice, the Irish Council for Social Housing, Threshold, and the Dublin Homeless Network. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the homeless accommodation services required, the operation of such services and the funding required in each region.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE), provided by Dublin City Council, is the lead statutory local authority to respond to homelessness in Dublin and adopts a shared service approach across the four Dublin local authorities.
In consultation with the management group of the joint homeless consultative forum, the DRHE are responsible for the administration and operation of services, including the monitoring of standards in emergency accommodation.
The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services. In Dublin the oversight of these standards is a matter for the DRHE. As a number of facilities are operated privately in the Dublin Region, the DRHE have adapted the NQSF standards in order to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation and presented these standards to the Dublin Region strategic management group and consultative forum in September 2021. Following agreement, these standards are to be applied to private emergency accommodation, with the owner / operator responsible for the physical standards and the visiting support teams responsible for the support and case management standards. It is understood that these standards are currently being rolled out. As the standards for private emergency accommodation were specific to the Dublin Region, the DRHE in consultation with the strategic management group and the consultative forum are making arrangements for their publication.
502. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding has been made available for research into the issue of defective blocks by his Department or by the Housing Agency; if so, the amount; the persons or bodies this funding has been awarded to; the nature of the research; when it will be published; and if it will be available to the public. [63611/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks recommends that, due to legacy failures involving construction products and in spite of the current knowledge, further research should be undertaken to gain a greater understanding of the effects of pyrite and excessive amounts of muscovite mica in concrete blocks in order to avoid future adverse effects in buildings.
In February 2021, my Department in collaboration with Geological Survey Ireland, launched an open call for research aimed at supporting the technical advancement of standards relating to the assessment of dwellings damaged by defective concrete blocks and pyritic hardcore. Eight applications were received and following a review process, a research contract for €50,000 was awarded in August 2021 which is expected to be published in Q1 2023.
The project aims to develop a new standard test to assess the potential for pyrite to react and inform a competent person to appropriately assess the levels of risk from pyrite in materials, without relying on assumptions based solely on total sulfur contents. Details are available on the website of Geological Survey Ireland www.gsi.ie/documents/GSI-DHLGH_PyriteProject_web.pdf. It is intended that a technical paper will be submitted for publication in a professional journal following completion of the research project.
My Department is committed to supporting further research, particularly in the area of deleterious material in concrete blocks, the details of which are under active consideration at present.
503. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total allocation for the shared equity loan fund for 2022; the amount he expects the pillar banks to add to the fund; the agency that is planned to administer the fund; if the staff of this agency will be seconded from the pillar banks; and when the loan facility will be open to applications. [63630/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 establish the basis for four affordable housing measures. Taken together, these measures will deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes. This will be done through (1) delivering affordable homes for purchase via local authority led affordable purchase dwelling arrangements, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure and delivery of homes under Cost Rental, (3) a new ‘First Home’ affordable purchase shared equity scheme, and (4) expanding Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.
Specifically, Part 4 of the Act provides the basis for the establishment of the First Home scheme which, as has been acknowledged by the Central Bank of Ireland, is an equity product rather than a loan scheme.
The First Home scheme will support first-time buyers on moderate incomes to buy a new-build home. The banking sector has confirmed it is committed to working with the State to develop and deliver this scheme. Budget 2022 allocated €44 million to my Department for First Home. The banking sector has agreed in principle to match State equity funding in order to increase the pool of funding available to potential new homeowners under the scheme. Subject to the necessary approvals by all parties, it is anticipated that the First Home scheme will operate for the period 2022 to 2026 utilising overall funding of c.€400m.
It is intended that the scheme will be operated by a newly-established Designated Activity Company. Significant work on the detailed design and parameters of the scheme is continuing. Full scheme details will be confirmed on completion of this work. It is anticipated that initial activity on key areas of work including public communications will begin in Q1 and in advance of First Home’s first receipt of applications and deployment of equity support scheduled for Q2 this year.
505. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of the funding set aside for Traveller accommodation which has been drawn down in each of the past five years; and the amount drawn down by each local authority during that time period in tabular form. [1012/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
A new allocation process was implemented for 2020, following a review of the arrangements for the disbursement of funding for the provision and related supports of Traveller specific accommodation. Instead of allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities, it is open to all local authorities to apply for and drawdown funds, at any time, throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. Full capital spend of the Traveller accommodation budget has been achieved in both 2020 and 2021.
The following table outlines the capital allocation-v-drawdown for each local authority in each of the years 2017-2021.
506. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times that an Bord Pleanála overruled the recommendation of its own inspectors in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and the number of those decisions to overrule that were subsequently the subject of a legal challenge in tabular form. [1027/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the establishment of An Bord Pleanála in 1977, planning legislation has clearly assigned final responsibility for decisions on planning appeals to the Board of An Bord Pleanála. The role of the Board is to consider the Inspector’s report, along with all other relevant application documentation and submissions from third parties including observers, in order to come to a final decision. Where the Board’s conclusion differs from that of the inspector, the decision must include the reasons for so differing in order to ensure transparency in the decision making process.
Consequently, the data requested is not collated by this Department. Planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/9e4ee-get-planning-statistics/ . The data collected relates to the total number of applications and decisions for all developments that require planning permission, broken down by year and planning authority.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie
507. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Mayo Fire and Rescue Services are equipped and trained to act as first responders for cardiac arrest incidences but are not currently permitted to undertake the action; if he has plans to rectify this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1071/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the provision of emergency medical services, including pre-hospital emergency care, rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE) which operates the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and emergency departments in hospitals in accordance with health sector legislation and national policy. Fire authorities created under section 10 of the Fire Services Act, 1981 & 2003 are empowered under section 25 of that legislation to carry out or assist in any operation of an emergency nature.
The NAS may call for assistance before its crews reach an incident and many fire services are equipped with automatic external defibrillators and the majority of fire services have trained their fire-fighters in Cardiac First Responder and Emergency First Responder to Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council standards for health and safety reasons.
Therefore, fire services personnel in many fire stations are already trained and equipped to a standard that could enable them to respond to life threatening emergencies. Given the infrastructure of fire services around the country and particularly in rural locations, the Retained Fire Service is well placed to assist the HSE with responses to such life threatening emergency calls.
As Minister with policy and legislative responsibility for fire safety and the provision of fire services by local authorities, a primary concern must remain, in accordance with the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, that local authority provided fire services are meeting their statutory obligations in respect of their primary role in the provision of fire services and fire safety. These responsibilities include the important activity of community and other fire safety initiatives as well as response to emergency calls.
Fire services generally respond to calls for assistance from external bodies in accordance with protocols operated within the three fire services Regional Communications Centres.
The feasibility of fire services, outside the Dublin Fire Brigade area of operations, being commissioned by the HSE to provide a response service in support of the NAS in responding to life-threatening emergency calls was discussed at national level at the Fire Services National Oversight & Implementation Group, which consists of fire service management and staff representatives and it produced a discussion document as the basis to underpin discussions with the Health sector. The document was discussed at the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in July 2018 where a number of issues including the transfer of risk and mechanisms for funding were raised that remain as items of discussion with the Department of Health.
Any proposal for formalising this assistance would need to be subject to appropriate governance and cost reimbursement arrangements and to be set in the context of a service agreement with the HSE/NAS which would not impact on or adversely affect fire services' primary roles. It is critical that local authority and fire services' resources are not inappropriately diverted from their statutory fire service and fire safety responsibilities.
508. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the proposed CPO and sale of derelict and vacant properties by the Housing Agency; the amount of funding that has been made available for 2023; the targets for 2022; if this is part of a Croí Connaithe or in addition to it; and if these properties will be in cities, towns or both. [1078/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra532. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff that have been assigned to the new vacancy unit; the amount that has been allocated to the unit; the full role and remit of the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1586/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra558. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that was provided to each local authority in 2021 to support compulsory purchase orders of houses or buildings suitable for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1952/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 508, 532 and 558 together.
Housing for All commits to a range of measures to address vacancy and maximise the use of existing housing stock such as plans to introduce a new programme for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of vacant properties to ensure their use for residential purposes. Such a new programme for CPO of vacant properties is expected to support a broader programme of affordable housing in order to maximise opportunities to return vacant properties to productive use.
The CPO programme is to be supported by a bridging finance facility from the Housing Finance Agency for property acquisitions. In addition, a central advisory service is to be established in The Housing Agency to assist Local Authorities with the process. The objective is for Local Authorities to acquire at least 2,500 vacant units by 2026 and present them to the market for sale. This advisory support, will be in addition to the Vacant Homes unit being established within my Department, with the Principal Officer already appointed, to co-ordinate the range of measures under the Housing for All pathway to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock.
The detailed arrangements for this CPO programme are currently being developed, with aim of advancing it this year, and will include any synergies with other measures also being considered. It will build on the experience of many Local Authorities that already utilise CPO acquisitions in their delivery of new social homes through the Buy and Renew scheme. As part of this process, my Department is meeting with Vacant Homes Officers later this month, and this will enable targets to be set for 2022 and 2023.
My Department does not have a scheme that specifically funds CPOs by local authorities and therefore such data is not collated by my Department but may be available directly from the local authorities, but CPO may have been used by authorities as part of their programmes, particularly Buy and Renew.
509. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the local authorities that sought funding to provide for asbestos removal in council homes in each of the years since 2000; the amount of funding sought in each case; the funding allocated for this purpose for each local authority in each of the years since 2000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1104/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 accordance with Section 28 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2009.
Notwithstanding the legal obligations on local authorities in the area of management and maintenance of their housing stock, my Department provides funding under various stock improvement programmes such as Voids, Energy Efficiency, Regeneration and the Remedial Works Scheme. There is not, however, a dedicated funding programme that deals with solely with asbestos. Detailed figures are not therefore available in relation to funding provided for asbestos removal by my Department over the years in question. Further information may be available from the local authorities.
My Department is committed to supporting local authorities in the optimum management and maintenance of their housing stock. In line with commitments set out in Housing for All, work is underway with the local authority sector to transition from a largely response-based approach, to a strategic planned maintenance approach based on stock condition surveys. A national standardised stock condition survey template has been discussed with the local authority sector and generally agreed upon. The process of identifying asbestos within local authority homes has already been flagged in the context of the stock condition survey template as part of the transition to planned maintenance.
510. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a campaign organised by a disability group (details supplied) to improve the availability and quality of parking bays for disabled users in local authority managed carparks and on-street parking; when local authorities were last surveyed to check that their carparks are compliant with the standard rate in which 5% of the total car parking bays provision are to contain parking bays for disabled users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1141/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra511. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a campaign organised by a group (details supplied) to improve the availability and quality of parking bays for disabled users in local authority managed carparks and on-street parking; when local authorities were last surveyed to check that disability parking bays provided for disabled users are compliant with international best standards, for example, that the disability parking bays are located beside dropped kerbing, disability parking bays are constructed to the required dimensions, they are correctly signed with the appropriate post and panel signs and painted ground markings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together.
Local authorities are entirely independent corporate entities having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities. Local authorities perform functions across a wide range of sectors which come within the remit of a number of different Departments and central agencies
Ireland’s Disabled Parking Scheme operates under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, as amended in 2011 which comes within the remit of the Minister for Transport, and I have no function in this area.
512. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1179/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received a Stage 3 budget application for the project referred to on 19 October 2021 and issued a budget approval on 7 January 2022. The next step is for Limerick City and County Council to send the Stage 4 tender report submission to my Department.
