Written Answers Nos. 333-355
333. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to publish the general scheme of the legislation for the enhanced defective block remediation scheme for counties Donegal and Mayo; and if other counties including County Clare will be included in this scheme. [17729/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the 30 November 2021. It included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2 billion.
I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the Oireachtas as soon as possible with Spring 2022 being the indicative target timeline.
In the interim three enhancements from the new scheme have been brought into effect through amendments to the existing scheme regulations. On the 24 February 2022 I signed the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 which amend the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020, so as;
1) to make provision, in the case of an application for confirmation of eligibility received before the date of the coming into operation of these regulations, for the recoupment of the fees connected with the provision of the engineer’s report without the need for a prior stage 1 confirmation of eligibility
2) to make provision for the inclusion as an allowable cost ‘essential immediate repair works’, up to a value of €5,555, which are identified by a competent engineer in a ‘building condition assessment report’ and relate to the structural stability of any part of a home affected by defective concrete blocks
3) to make provision for an increase from 75% to 85% in the value of stage payments which can be recouped to an approved applicant prior to the final grant payment
There has been ongoing engagement between Clare County Council and my Department in respect of the Defective Concrete Block Grant scheme. I understand that Clare County Council are now finalising the I.S. 465 reports in respect of a number of properties and will submit details to my Department as soon as possible for further consideration. I may, with Government approval, extend the scheme beyond the counties of Donegal and Mayo to additional counties, where the evidence supports such an extension.
334. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the derogations that are proposed to farmers that have habitually used heather and gorse mountain burning as a means of regenerating new growth for sheep grazing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17785/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wildlife Act 1976 prohibits the burning of vegetation growing on uncultivated land between 1 March and 31 August annually. I have no power to permit burning during that period.
In relation to the six month period between 1 September and the end of February annually, the Wildlife Act 1976 does not prohibit such burning, although special rules may apply in certain areas such as in Special Areas of Conservation.
335. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend housing assistance payments as outlined in correspondence (details supplied). [17832/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response. It is examining all options as part of its humanitarian response, including the accommodation issues arising in the short, medium and long-term and the appropriate responses to address these.
As part of its response, Government is currently providing accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and is working closely with Local Authorities to provide accommodation for Ukrainian arrivals in a variety of settings including:
- Hotels, guest houses and B&Bs;
- Accommodation pledged by the general public, which is being assessed for suitability;
- State-owned or private properties, which may be suitable for short-term accommodation;
- Religious properties; and
- Local authority community facilities.
Regarding pledged accommodation, the Red Cross is the centre point for offers of assistance for accommodation coming in through local authorities or the public and will liaise directly with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on same. The Housing Assistance Payment or HAP is not available for accommodation pledged to the Irish Red Cross.
337. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to safeguard, protect and conserve ancient raths, also known as ringforts or fairy forts, particularly given the decision not to designate raths as areas for nature under the new iteration of the Common Agricultural Policy and the potential impact this could have on discouraging farmers from protecting raths on their land and given that half of the 60,000 raths have already been wiped out in recent decades; and if he has discussed or will discuss the matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Minister of State with special responsibility for land use and biodiversity, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media or with the Heritage Council given the importance of raths to heritage, land use, biodiversity, tourism and culture, with a view to ensuring their protection. [17954/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, my Department has established and maintains a Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) which affords legal protection to all recorded archaeological sites and monuments in the State, including those on agricultural land. I am advised that reports of the decision referred to were erroneous and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has since clarified that all such monuments are to be included for payments under the next CAP, designated as landscape features. My Department’s National Monuments Service is engaging with DAFM over the CAP Strategic Plan and stands ready to further advise as to the role archaeological heritage may play in meeting the objectives of the new CAP.
338. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 22 March 2022, if his Department has clarified the matter regarding the refusal by South Dublin County Council of applicants for social housing support on the basis of savings or capital; if local authorities are free to create their own policies regarding the assessment of means in this manner; and his views on whether it is appropriate or correct for a local authority to assess capital or savings, including inheritance, pension lump sums and redundancy payments when considering an application for social housing support. [17961/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions on eligibility for social housing support are a matter solely for local authorities with reference to eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations.
The 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. My Department issued a guidance note to assist local authorities when applying the Household Means Policy.
More recently, my Department has also advised South Dublin County Council that the guidance provides that savings are relevant to the income assessment only in so far as they generate an income for applicants, by way of dividend or interest. Households may re-apply for social housing support at any stage subject to meeting the eligibility and need criteria at the time they re-apply.
339. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commence section 212 of the Local Government Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17971/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans at this time to commence section 212 of the Local Government Act 2001 which deals with the holding of public local inquiries.
The establishment of public local inquiries is a legally complex matter, particularly with regard to how such inquiries would function in practice. Careful consideration would be needed regarding the powers of such inquiries to compel persons to appear before them, how the Constitutional rights of such persons could be protected and how they could seek to assert their rights through the Courts.
The potential costs of public local inquiries would also need very careful consideration and whether such an option would represent best value for money as a means for addressing issues of local concern.
It is also important to recognise that, in October 2011, a referendum was held on a proposed amendment to the Constitution that, if successful, would have granted full investigative powers to Oireachtas committees to hold full inquiries. This proposal was rejected by the electorate. Concerns raised at the time would also apply in the case of public local inquiries held by local authorities. It would not seem appropriate therefore to try to introduce public inquiries at the level of local government when these were rejected by the people at Oireachtas level.
340. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to conduct a full audit of individual local authority finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17972/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended), the Local Government Audit Service conducts a yearly audit of the annual financial statements of each local authority. Once presented to the members of the local authority, the audit reports are published on my Department's website, as is the Annual Overview of the Work of the Local Government Audit Service. These reports are available at this link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/2031c-local-government-audit-service/
341. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority social homes that were subject to retrofitting energy upgrades for each year from 2016 to date, in tabular form; the amount of funding provided each year for these schemes; if there was an underspend in a particular year; if so, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17978/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding the retrofit of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013 up to the end of 2021 over 75,000 units of social housing stock have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €183 million under the scheme.
Up to 2020, the EERP was carried out in two Phases:
- Phase 1 of the programme provided funding targeted at the less intrusive cavity wall/attic insulation
- Phase 2 focused on fabric upgrade works to those dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and included the provision of heating upgrades.
The Phase 1 and Phase 2 approach to retrofitting is now withdrawn with the introduction in 2021 of a 'deeper' retrofit programme designed around the Programme for Government commitment that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.
Works eligible under the revised Programme include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works.
The Programme has experienced significant delays due to the effects of COVID-19 and other obstacles including tendering and supply chain issues particularly concerning Heat Pumps, Windows &Doors, and Insulation. This has led to an increase in prices for certain local authorities in retrofitting properties. Learning from the 2021 programme will inform the 2022 programme.
In 2022, the EERP will see a significant increase in funding support to €85 million, allowing approximately 2,400 homes nationally to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER). Allocations for 2022 will issue to local authorities shortly.
An annualised breakdown of the units retrofitted under both the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme and Midlands Retrofit Programme, is available on my Department's website at the following links:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/
342. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of social housing developments that have availed of the one stage approval process; the total number of social housing units delivered via this process to date; and the total number in the pipeline as yet not completed. [18002/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince introduced in 2018, there are 52 projects delivering 150 new social homes that have availed of the single stage approval arrangement which have been completed or are currently on site. A further 35 projects to deliver 89 new social homes, are in the pipeline and progressing through planning and design before moving to tender stage and onto site.
343. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new staff funded by his Department who have taken up their posts in local authority housing departments in recent months by local authority and the position held in tabular form. [18003/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All recognises the need to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects. It also commits to making additional resources available to local authorities to further build housing delivery teams.
During 2021, the Housing Delivery Coordination Office engaged with each local authority to identify their additional staff requirements to deliver social housing. Following this engagement, my Department approved funding for over 200 housing posts in local authorities nationally to address social housing. The resource requirements for the four Dublin local authorities with respect to the delivery of social housing are still being examined and further posts will be approved for the Dublin local authorities, as appropriate, when this examination has concluded.
The recruitment and filling of posts in the local authority sector is undertaken both by individual local authorities and the Public Appointments Service. Following the approval of a staffing sanction request it is then a matter for the Chief Executive, who is responsible under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible, to progress the appointment as appropriate.
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 new staff funded by my Department who have taken up employment at a point in time in each local authority housing department is not collected and consequently is not available. The relevant information should be available from each local authority.
344. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the resolution of the unsold affordable homes held by the Dublin local authorities; if as part of the use of the unsold affordable units post 2010, some of these units were included in a rent to buy scheme in Dublin city; and if so, the status of these rent-to-buy units. [18029/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn September 2020, I convened a working group to examine the issues relating to unsold affordable properties. The working group has discussed a number of options to date and is keen to develop a long term solution which works for all parties including the tenants, the approved housing bodies who have long established relationships with the tenants, and the local authorities. Any proposals must also achieve the best value for the Exchequer. I expect the group to finalise its work and submit a report and recommendations to me later this year.
I understand that Dublin City Council included some unsold affordable units in a rent to buy scheme. This scheme is a matter for the local authority and these units are not currently being considered by the Working Group.
345. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in finalising the new wind energy guidelines; when the new guidelines will come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18032/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
Guidance on the noise aspect is currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters. Significant work has been undertaken on the noise elements and the two Departments have met to discuss new developments in this regard including consideration of the impact of the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources and the need to ensure that proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines are fit for purpose. These aspects are currently being considered and further engagement between the Departments is expected imminently. Following this inter-departmental engagement, I will be in a better position to provide an update on the expected publication date of the revised Guidelines, the finalisation of which remains a priority.
It should also be noted that the review and finalisation of the Guidelines has been included as a specific action in the recently published Climate Action Plan.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála, must have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. In the meantime, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
347. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his plans to legislate through the Residential Tenancies Acts for default conciliation as part of the dispute resolution process within the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18005/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recognises that it is in the interest of both the tenant and the landlord to resolve any disputes as early as possible without recourse to lengthy adjudication and tribunal processes. Mediation and conciliation are proven to help resolve disputes at an early stage.
My Department is working with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to better implement its existing mediation powers under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 to deliver faster dispute resolution outcomes, based on mediation agreements between parties. Such outcomes can be achieved under the existing mediation provisions under the Acts. The RTB has agreed that disputes will be resolved via its free mediation service in the first instance, unless one of the dispute parties opt for its adjudication service. The RTB will promote the merits of its mediation service and it is expected that the vast majority of disputes can be resolved through mediation, which is the RTB’s fastest and most successful dispute resolution service. The RTB plan to commence this approach as soon as possible in Q2 2022.
350. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review of the Housing Agency Acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18008/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe €70 million revolving Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAA fund) was established with effect from the 1 January 2017 with the objective of acquiring vacant property portfolios from banks and financial institutions that could then be used for social housing. The target for the HAA fund was to acquire 1,600 units over a four year period to 2020 with this target subsequently extended out to 2021.
The HAA fund has enabled the Housing Agency to actively engage with banks and investment companies in relation to the acquisitions of properties. Through the provision of direct access to capital funding for the Housing Agency, the aim was to simplify the current acquisition process for vacant portfolio purchases; speed up the acquisition process and to encourage investors to make additional supply available. The HAA fund is replenished by the Housing Agency through the sale of units primarily to the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector and the funds received are recycled back into the fund for future acquisitions.
This was intended to be a medium term initiative, targeting the vacant property portfolios of financial institutions and investment companies, in direct response to the social housing shortage that would be designed to complement, not displace, ongoing targeted acquisition activity by local authorities and AHBs.
As at Q3 2021, 888 units were delivered under the Housing Agency Acquisitions fund programme and an additional 562 properties were acquired by the Housing Agency Acquisitions team on behalf of local authorities. The number of homes acquired though the HAA fund and made available to AHBs under Caretaker Lease are included in my Department's overall quarterly reporting which is available at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
The Housing Agency continues to engage with financial institutions and it is clear that the supply of properties that the fund was established to acquire has substantially declined.
Under the commitment in Housing For All, my Department has completed a review of the HAA fund, which investigated the challenges faced by the HAA fund and explored opportunities that centred on potentially repurposing the fund to support other initiatives within Housing for all. This review was recently submitted to me for consideration. It will also be necessary for the conclusions and recommendations of the review to be discussed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in terms of possible amendments to the original sanction for the fund which they provided.
351. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the preparation of housing delivery plans to include social and affordable housing delivery by each local authority; if each local authority has furnished his Department with these plans; when he plans to publish housing delivery action plans for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18009/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key action of Housing for All is that local authorities will develop and submit Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022 - 2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. All local authorities submitted their Housing Delivery Action Plans to me in December and my Department is now working closely with the local authorities to review and finalise the Plans, having regard to the targets and policy objectives set out in Housing for All. The Plans will be published by local authorities before the end of Quarter 2.
353. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs; the changes he plans to make to the range of housing grants available on foot of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18011/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to local authorities under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.
Housing for All commits to undertaking a review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs both for our ageing population and people with a disability. An initial element of this review has begun and is currently focused on the existing grant limits and income thresholds applicable to the grant schemes. The wider scope of the review, to be completed this year, is also under consideration and is being informed by ongoing engagement with external stakeholders including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disability Federation of Ireland.
354. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if disability friendly housing technical advisers have been nominated in each local authority; the number of disability friendly housing technical advisers that have been nominated in each local authority in tabular form; the details of the role specification for disability friendly housing technical advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18012/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Disability Friendly Housing Technical Adviser is to provide technical expertise on housing for disabled people primarily to the local authority and Approved Housing Bodies supporting the delivery of the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 at the local level. Disability Friendly Housing Technical Advisers have been nominated in each local authority as outlined in the table attached.
Local Authority Disability Technical Advisers
|
Local Authority |
Number of Disability Technical Advisers Nominated |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
|
Clare |
1 |
|
Cork City |
1 |
|
Cork County |
1 |
|
D/Laoghaire |
1 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Dublin City |
1 |
|
Fingal |
2 |
|
Galway City |
1 |
|
Galway County |
1 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Laois |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Louth |
1 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
|
Sth Dublin |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
355. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a quarterly report of the housing and disability steering group has been provided to each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18013/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authority Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs) are required under Housing for All to submit a quarterly report on their strategic plans for the housing for disabled people to the Chief Executive and the Strategic Policy Committee. This requirement will also be incorporated into the Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 which is currently being prepared by the Housing Agency in collaboration with my Department and the Department of Health.
The Implementation Plan is the framework on which all of the actions under the NHSDP will progress, including the collation of the quarterly reports from the local authority HDSGs. Following completion of the Implementation Plan the Housing Agency will work with local authorities to ensure that the reports are being submitted to the Chief Executive and the Strategic Policy Committee, as required.
The Housing Agency will collate these quarterly reports into a national report for the National Implementation Subgroup responsible for implementation of the NHSDP and, in addition, will publish them on the Agency's website.
