Written Answers Nos. 215-224
217. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of external consultant's reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date of the report in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13565/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
218. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grants or financial supports are available from his Department for private home owners who purchased their home from a local authority and are now experiencing subsidence issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13668/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not operate a grant scheme or financial support for private homeowners whose property is experiencing subsidence issues.
219. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the capital cost ceilings for each local authority for the Social Housing Investment Programme, part V, turnkey and acquisitions in tabular form; and if these ceilings have been reviewed recently or are in the process of being reviewed. [13678/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra220. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing developments and units currently delayed due to the cost being above the capital cost ceilings in tabular form. [13679/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.
The current cost guidelines for the acquisition of houses and apartments for social housing use were updated and issued to local authorities in May 2021. A copy of these, in tabular format will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders. The guidelines are generally reviewed annually and the intention is to conduct a further review in Q2 of 2022.
It is not the case that social housing developments are delayed due to costs being above the Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) for social housing construction projects. The range of social housing developments being advanced will always include projects with costs that are, on occasion, below or above the Department’s issued UCCs. As UCCs are based on previously tendered social housing construction projects, they act as useful guide costs for local authorities and AHBs to benchmark their projects against.
However, it is understood by all involved in advancing social housing projects that a range of factors can impact on the costs for individual projects. Project-specific issues will always arise and will be central to how a project can be advanced and the costs for same. These factors are part of the regular engagement that happens between my Department and local authorities/AHBs which is focussed on facilitating the earliest possible delivery of new social homes that are both high quality and value for money.
To that end, as well as sharing UCCs with local authorities, my Department has previously shared outline specifications for new social housing and has also recently issued a new 'Design Manual' which will guide local authorities, AHBs and their Design Teams/consultants, on the design of social housing site layouts and the internal layouts of individual social homes.
|
HOUSES |
APARTMENTS |
||||||||||||||
|
2 BED TOWNHOUSES |
3 BED HOUSES |
4 BED HOUSES |
1 BED APARTMENTS |
2 BED APARTMENTS |
|||||||||||
|
LA |
Range - Low/High |
Average |
Range - Low/High |
Average |
Range - Low/High |
Average |
Range - Low/High |
Average |
Range - Low/High |
Average |
|||||
|
Carlow |
93,000 |
199,200 |
146,100 |
119,500 |
265,700 |
192,600 |
199,200 |
292,200 |
245,700 |
71,800 |
103,700 |
87,750 |
95,000 |
181,300 |
138,150 |
|
Cavan |
85,100 |
170,400 |
127,750 |
106,400 |
201,300 |
153,850 |
128,700 |
243,900 |
186,300 |
59,300 |
74,200 |
66,750 |
74,200 |
148,300 |
111,250 |
|
Clare |
101,300 |
158,300 |
129,800 |
156,400 |
247,000 |
201,700 |
171,000 |
267,400 |
219,200 |
64,800 |
97,100 |
80,950 |
90,700 |
155,400 |
123,050 |
|
Cork City |
151,200 |
265,900 |
208,550 |
175,300 |
356,600 |
265,950 |
271,900 |
414,800 |
343,350 |
113,200 |
214,400 |
163,800 |
175,000 |
245,000 |
210,000 |
|
Cork County |
106,900 |
237,100 |
172,000 |
145,300 |
331,200 |
238,250 |
197,500 |
359,000 |
278,250 |
75,600 |
197,500 |
136,550 |
87,200 |
215,000 |
151,100 |
|
Donegal |
80,400 |
168,800 |
124,600 |
88,800 |
186,100 |
137,450 |
107,500 |
212,700 |
160,100 |
50,600 |
78,800 |
64,700 |
67,500 |
135,000 |
101,250 |
|
Dublin City |
211,300 |
526,700 |
369,000 |
320,600 |
584,000 |
452,300 |
435,100 |
704,200 |
569,650 |
173,500 |
404,800 |
289,150 |
196,600 |
474,200 |
335,400 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
245,800 |
547,500 |
396,650 |
337,900 |
610,400 |
474,150 |
359,700 |
692,200 |
525,950 |
201,100 |
357,500 |
279,300 |
223,500 |
381,600 |
302,550 |
|
Fingal |
188,300 |
396,000 |
292,150 |
222,200 |
466,600 |
344,400 |
288,900 |
561,100 |
425,000 |
135,300 |
304,400 |
219,850 |
169,100 |
327,000 |
248,050 |
|
South Dublin |
189,100 |
372,500 |
280,800 |
222,400 |
406,400 |
314,400 |
316,900 |
448,200 |
382,550 |
145,900 |
277,900 |
211,900 |
175,200 |
338,700 |
256,950 |
|
Galway |
135,900 |
247,100 |
191,500 |
148,200 |
308,800 |
228,500 |
210,000 |
335,600 |
272,800 |
75,200 |
188,000 |
131,600 |
94,000 |
300,800 |
197,400 |
|
Kerry |
92,500 |
200,400 |
146,450 |
105,700 |
219,900 |
162,800 |
111,400 |
266,000 |
188,700 |
56,300 |
174,300 |
115,300 |
78,800 |
219,300 |
149,050 |
|
Kildare |
136,900 |
309,500 |
223,200 |
171,200 |
386,000 |
278,600 |
319,500 |
421,100 |
370,300 |
112,400 |
174,800 |
143,600 |
121,300 |
258,000 |
189,650 |
|
Kilkenny |
107,900 |
177,000 |
142,450 |
119,900 |
296,800 |
208,350 |
167,800 |
325,400 |
246,600 |
107,900 |
194,100 |
151,000 |
129,000 |
232,200 |
180,600 |
|
Laois |
80,400 |
155,500 |
117,950 |
111,400 |
213,700 |
162,550 |
123,700 |
252,600 |
188,150 |
64,700 |
117,700 |
91,200 |
82,500 |
135,400 |
108,950 |
|
Leitrim |
82,700 |
133,600 |
108,150 |
107,500 |
187,000 |
147,250 |
132,300 |
247,000 |
189,650 |
57,200 |
68,400 |
62,800 |
61,500 |
114,500 |
88,000 |
|
Limerick |
92,500 |
233,000 |
162,750 |
141,800 |
291,200 |
216,500 |
189,800 |
345,200 |
267,500 |
75,000 |
125,000 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
170,000 |
135,000 |
|
Longford |
73,800 |
140,900 |
107,350 |
110,700 |
190,100 |
150,400 |
118,000 |
241,400 |
179,700 |
53,600 |
80,500 |
67,050 |
60,400 |
120,800 |
90,600 |
|
Louth |
96,600 |
193,200 |
144,900 |
181,100 |
332,000 |
256,550 |
217,400 |
358,900 |
288,150 |
90,800 |
125,000 |
107,900 |
103,700 |
200,800 |
152,250 |
|
Mayo |
102,700 |
181,100 |
141,900 |
111,400 |
223,500 |
167,450 |
120,700 |
265,700 |
193,200 |
82,500 |
94,200 |
88,350 |
94,200 |
170,900 |
132,550 |
|
Meath |
154,700 |
240,800 |
197,750 |
192,600 |
349,200 |
270,900 |
216,700 |
389,800 |
303,250 |
80,300 |
195,000 |
137,650 |
86,000 |
229,300 |
157,650 |
|
Monaghan |
100,500 |
177,200 |
138,850 |
117,900 |
276,700 |
197,300 |
200,900 |
301,000 |
250,950 |
60,800 |
75,900 |
68,350 |
101,000 |
173,000 |
137,000 |
|
Offaly |
98,800 |
190,000 |
144,400 |
144,800 |
229,200 |
187,000 |
165,600 |
257,000 |
211,300 |
72,100 |
100,900 |
86,500 |
79,300 |
155,000 |
117,150 |
|
Roscommon |
86,600 |
145,400 |
116,000 |
93,400 |
181,800 |
137,600 |
119,900 |
242,400 |
181,150 |
52,500 |
65,000 |
58,750 |
66,600 |
163,600 |
115,100 |
|
Sligo |
94,700 |
172,000 |
133,350 |
101,300 |
202,700 |
152,000 |
108,900 |
270,300 |
189,600 |
55,000 |
75,000 |
65,000 |
67,500 |
172,000 |
119,750 |
|
Tipperary |
82,500 |
198,600 |
140,550 |
90,200 |
233,200 |
161,700 |
110,000 |
263,600 |
186,800 |
64,500 |
91,700 |
78,100 |
78,800 |
149,000 |
113,900 |
|
Waterford |
93,700 |
219,700 |
156,700 |
143,700 |
281,900 |
212,800 |
201,100 |
347,500 |
274,300 |
80,000 |
140,000 |
110,000 |
90,400 |
211,500 |
150,950 |
|
Westmeath |
110,000 |
160,200 |
135,100 |
137,500 |
249,900 |
193,700 |
168,000 |
287,500 |
227,750 |
93,800 |
128,300 |
111,050 |
109,300 |
162,000 |
135,650 |
|
Wexford |
113,400 |
189,000 |
151,200 |
123,800 |
256,100 |
189,950 |
157,100 |
280,300 |
218,700 |
72,100 |
96,100 |
84,100 |
90,100 |
162,200 |
126,150 |
|
Wicklow |
180,400 |
337,800 |
259,100 |
228,500 |
412,200 |
320,350 |
246,500 |
532,500 |
389,500 |
91,600 |
229,000 |
160,300 |
126,000 |
320,600 |
223,300 |
1. High range thresholds are based on stock in primary County town(s)/areas
2. All recommendations are based on town based location acquistions in good condition
221. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing developments and units currently delayed due to issues arising from the application of the availability agreement formulae; if the formulae are being reviewed; and if so, when the review will be concluded. [13680/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing For All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures for the period to 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play over the next five years.
All applications under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF), with a Payment and Availability Agreement (P&A), scheme are compliant with the scheme guidelines, and comply with the underpinning financial assessment model. Currently there are no delays on these proposals.
The CALF funding model has worked very successfully over the past 10 years, particularly for the larger AHBs that have adapted their delivery plans to utilise P&A-CALF funding. The increase in market rents over the intervening period has extended the geographic range of areas where dwellings can be delivered to the extent that projects have been completed in all local authority areas.
Under Housing For All, a specific objective, Action 4.10, is to “ review the structure and operation of CALF to assess whether any refinements to the facility are required to support delivery of social housing by the AHB sector across a wider range of Local Authority areas.”
One of the key purposes of this exercise is to review the structure of the P&A-CALF funding model to determine if it should be adjusted to support delivery by the AHB sector across a wider range of areas and what options might be available to enable this.
Work is underway on this review with the support of the Housing Agency and is on track to be completed by Q4 this year.
222. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approved housing body, capital advance leasing facility and capital assistance scheme units delivered in 2021 in each local authority; the average capital advance leasing facility and capital assistance scheme payment in each local authority per unit; the average all-in cost of the social housing units per county for each schemes; and if all figures will be provided with a breakdown between capital advance leasing construction and capital advance leasing facility turnkey in tabular form. [13681/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are important delivery partners for local authorities in the delivery of social housing. My Department and local authorities administer a number of funding programmes to assist AHBs with the cost of building, acquiring and leasing new social housing units.
The housing and accommodation needs of a range of vulnerable individuals and families, whether permanent housing or temporary/emergency needs, are supported through funding provided under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). This funding supports priority areas such as age-friendly housing, accommodation for individuals and families who are homeless, housing for people with a disability and in the last few years CAS funding is also being used to support other important and emerging areas of housing need delivered by AHBs including the development of new refuges for victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, housing for care leavers (people exiting State care at the age of 18), de-congregation and returning emigrants.
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. This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements.
The details of delivery and average costs for CAS and CALF funded schemes in 2021 are available at the following link.
223. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will revise the decision to reject the recommendations of the Working Group Report on Horticultural Peat given the increased need for food security following the Ukrainian crisis and its impact of food supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13712/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Working Group referred to by the Deputy, was established following a series of High Court decisions which determined that large-scale peat harvesting requires planning permission and licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Working Group was tasked in particular with examining the potential of alternatives to peat for the horticultural industry.
Following on from the Chair’s report, officials in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, worked to develop a series of actions to address these important issues. Officials in my Department assisted in that process.
On 17th January, my colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has responsibility for Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the series of actions developed to support Irish horticultural growers who are dependent on peat.
The Working Paper setting out the Series of Actions can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/39315-working-paper-to-address-challenges-related-to-peat-supply-in-the-horticulture-sector/
The actions are being led by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which is the Department with responsibility for Horticulture. The range of actions in the series are those which, in the shared view of the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Environment, Climate and Communications, inter alia, can reasonably, legally and practically be put in place to support the €469 million horticulture industry, the people employed and the many families that depend on this important sector.
224. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the response of his Department to the Ukrainian war crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13726/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has acknowledged the scale and scope of the potential implications for the State arising from the conflict in Ukraine and has agreed that a coordinated, whole-of-Government response will be essential in response.
Given the potential implications for a wide range of Departments, the Department of the Taoiseach has convened interdepartmental meetings to further assess the implications of the activation of the temporary protection measure. My Department is involved in these meetings.
In the immediate-term, my Department is working with the Department of Equality, Children, Disability, Integration and Youth (DECDIY) and exploring options to meet the temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and coming to Ireland.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), based in DECDIY, is currently managing arrangements to receive those fleeing the conflict into IPAS accommodation, either directly from airports to IPAS or to family and from there to IPAS. In terms of offers of assistance for accommodation coming in through local authorities or the public, the Red Cross will be the centre point for these offers and will liaise directly with DECDIY on same.
There are already provisions in planning legislation to deal with emergency situations of this nature, which have been used in the past, such as in response to the Syrian refugee crisis or during the COVID pandemic. These provisions allow for the development of new facilities and structures, or for the conversion or repurposing of existing buildings in certain circumstances, without planning requirements, and to provide other appropriate solutions that may be useful in dealing with this current crisis for any displaced persons arriving from Ukraine.
My Department continues to liaise with DECDIY on further development of plans to accommodate Ukrainian’s fleeing the crisis in the weeks ahead.
