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Tuesday, 5 Apr 2022

Written Answers Nos. 356-378

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (356)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

356. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the preferential caravan loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18014/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department sought and received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to roll out a pilot Caravan Loan Scheme to improve access to traditional Traveller-specific accommodation options for Traveller families. My Department commenced the pilot scheme in July 2021 for a trial period of 6 months, following consultation with stakeholders including the local authorities, the National Traveller MABS and the Traveller representative organisations.

The participating local authorities are Cork City Council, Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council and Limerick City and County Council. The maximum funding available under the pilot Caravan Loan Scheme is €30,000 per loan. The terms of the Caravan Loan Scheme do not specify that units must be new or second hand, allowing the loan recipient the freedom to source a unit suitable to their needs.

With the pilot phase now complete, officials from my Department are reviewing the operation of the pilot Caravan Loan Scheme with input from the local authorities and other stakeholders. A report will be prepared for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and options for the expansion of the pilot scheme will be considered at the conclusion of this process.

Departmental Policies

Ceisteanna (357)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

357. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his plans to liaise with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in relation to the feasibility of an all-island approach to the provision of a network of transient sites across the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18015/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department met with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on 3 November 2021 to explore the feasibility of an all island approach to the provision of a network of Transient Sites. While the shared membership between the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will assist close cooperation to facilitate continuing exploration, as a next step, my Department is liaising with The Housing Agency in relation to the timely initiation of a research project on the provision of transient sites.

Planning Issues

Ceisteanna (358, 394)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

358. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review and consolidation of planning legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18016/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

394. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of planning guidelines will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18388/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 394 together.

Housing 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 Planning Legislation Review forms one of the actions in Housing for All and is set in the context of the broad policy outlined therein, and it is assumed that this is the review being referred to in both questions.

The review is being led by the Attorney General and he has appointed a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. Extensive work is underway on the review and my Department is engaging with the Attorney General and the working group on it. The review is due to be finalised by September 2022 to allow updated legislation to be enacted by December 2022.

My Department is also engaging with stakeholders with regard to the review and in this regard, has established a Planning Advisory Forum consisting of representatives from a broad range of sectors, including the public sector, business, environmental, social and knowledge based sectors. The role of this Forum, which I chair, is to input to the evolving policy and legal agenda, particularly in relation to the Planning Legislation Review.

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna (359)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

359. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to commence section 9 of the Local Government Rates and other Matters Act 2019; the guidance he is issuing to local authorities to offer rates-based incentives for the conversion of suitable vacant commercial properties to residential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18017/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Local authorities have a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details in the valuation lists prepared by the Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.

Legislative provision is made for the refund of rates paid on vacant commercial properties in certain circumstances. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 allows local authorities to offer less than 100% refund and to vary the level of refund for vacant properties at its annual budget meeting. Since the introduction of the Act, a number of local authorities have taken the decision to reduce the percentage refund of rates available. In agreeing budgets for 2022, 19 local authorities made the decision to offer less than 100% refund to vacant properties, ensuring in those local authorities that some rates are paid on vacant commercial properties, helping discourage prolonged vacancy.

The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 modernised the legislation governing commercial rates and contains provision for schemes for the abatement of rates on vacant properties. Section 9 of the Act provides that the Minister may specify the maximum vacancy relief to be applied and that schemes can be made to provide abatement to a specific class or classes of vacant property. The main objective of section 9 of the Act is to discourage commercial vacancy and incentivise occupancy by ensuring all vacant properties pay some rates. This marries with the main objectives in “Town Centres First”.

Amendments are required to address key issues in the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019. The remaining provisions of the Act cannot be commenced until these issues are addressed. Plans to achieve necessary amendments, commence the legislation and introduce associated regulations were delayed due to the COVID crisis, with the revised aim of commencement in 2022.

Maximising the use of existing housing stock and properties is a critical element of a sustainable housing policy. Action 19.13 of Housing For All commits to commencing section 9 of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019. Guidance for elected members on the making of schemes under section 9, and on the flexibility and potential provided by the provision, will be key to empowering them to make schemes that will affect improvements locally to commercial vacancy. It is expected that guidance in this regard will issue to local authorities concurrently with the commencement of the legislation and taking effect of associated regulations.

Question No. 360 answered with Question No. 316.

Housing Schemes

Ceisteanna (361)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

361. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the introduction of a targeted energy efficiency retrofit scheme for approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18019/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In 2021, my Department launched a 'deeper' retrofit programme designed around the Programme for Government commitment to 'retrofit' 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030. It is expected that approximately 36,500 of the overall target will be local authority owned homes. In 2022, my Department will fund the retrofit of 2,400 local authority owned social homes at a cost of €85 million.

My Department does not run an energy efficiency retrofit scheme for Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). AHBs have traditionally accessed SEAI grants for this purpose. The recently announced new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is available to homeowners, non-corporate landlords and AHBs, whose property or home was built and occupied prior to 2011 offers. The new scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade. This is a significant increase on the previous grant levels of 30-35%.

The scheme introduces a new way to undertake home energy upgrades with SEAI registered one stop shops providing an end-to-end service. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work. Other key elements of the Scheme include:

- Applications are made to the Scheme through SEAI-registered, privately-owned one stop shops.

- Grants will be paid through the one stop shops.

- Grants are available for Home Energy Assessments; Heat Pumps; Wall and Roof Insulation; Solar PV; Windows and Doors; Ventilation Systems and Project Management.

- Upgrades completed under the scheme must reach a post works BER rating of B2 or better.

- All upgrades completed must deliver a minimum primary energy uplift of at least 100 kWh/m2/year

A new system is being established by the SEAI which will streamline and automate the grant application process. One stop shops will provide AHBs with the appropriate documents in electronic and paper form, as required.

Registration for companies wishing to apply to be a one stop shop is open via SEAI’s website: www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/one-stop-shop/.

Water Supply

Ceisteanna (362)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

362. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the roll-out of a national water supply capacity register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18020/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, I have no direct function in relation to this matter.

However, as part of Irish Water’s commitment to support growth and development, it publishes annual water supply and waste water treatment capacity registers, details of which are available on the Irish Water website at www.water.ie/connections/developer-services/capacity-registers/.

Irish Water has also 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, 0818 578 578.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (363)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

363. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had to date with Longford County Council and an approved housing body in relation to an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18136/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making an important contribution to social housing delivery, as envisaged under current Government policy. My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to construct, purchase and lease new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that AHBs progress construction projects through is the Capital Advance Loan Facility (CALF).

CALF funding is capital support provided to Approved Housing Bodies (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. 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.

With regard to the specific project to which the Question refers, I can confirm that the project received conditional CALF funding approval in 2018. The most recent update from both the AHB and Local Authority is that they are currently working collaboratively to progress the project to Tender stage, which is anticipated shortly, with expected final delivery in 2023.

My Department publishes a quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which sets out the continuing progress being made in advancing the national local authority and AHB new-build pipeline. The latest report, setting out the position at end Q4 2021, can be accessed at the following weblink: www.gov.ie/en/publication/af746-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q4-2021/.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (364)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

364. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons from outside of the local authority area that were allocated social housing in Athlone, Mullingar, Moate and Kilbeggan, County Westmeath in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18137/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department does not hold information on the allocations of the specific type requested by the Deputy.

The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations. Section 22 of the Act requires local authorities to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded when allocating dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.

Regeneration Projects

Ceisteanna (365)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

365. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proportion of funding allocated to Vote 34, subhead A15, estate regeneration and refurbishment, which will be used to achieve the output target for 2022 of 100 units; and the average cost of delivering each unit. [18140/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Through the voted capital funding under subhead A15, my Department supports multi-annual programmes of large-scale regeneration projects in Limerick, Cork and Dublin and smaller projects in Tralee, Sligo and Dundalk. These projects seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through a holistic programme of physical, social and economic regeneration. Projects funded under this subhead include the provision of social housing, other capital projects, social interventions and thermal upgrade programmes. The regeneration projects being funded by my Department target the country’s most disadvantaged communities, including those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour.

In order to provide as much flexibility as possible to local authorities in terms of delivery, I have not allocated specific funding within the subhead to the individual elements of regeneration, that is, the delivery of physical, social or economic projects. This allows my Department to deploy the A15 funding where it is most needed at any particular time to maximise the implementation of the regeneration programme.

For 2022, the allocation for the subhead is €50m and it will be used to advance a wide range of social projects as well as the delivery of housing in the regeneration areas. The target referenced in the Question is comprised of the delivery of new social housing units, the refurbishment and/or thermal upgrade of vacant or existing units, and other projects under the various regeneration delivery streams.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (366)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

366. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proportion of funding allocated to Vote 34, subhead A17, repair and leasing, which will be used to achieve the output target for 2022 of 120 units; and the average cost of delivering each unit. [18141/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The maximum cost of repairs allowable under this scheme was increased from €40,000 (including VAT) to €60,000 (including VAT) in November 2020. Therefore, should 120 properties be delivered in 2022 under the Repair and Leasing scheme, the maximum cost to the Exchequer of refurbishment (capital costs) would be €7,200,000. The allowable cost of the repairs is offset against the agreed rental payment until the capital cost is repaid.

Data on the average cost of delivering each unit in 2022 is not yet available.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (367)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

367. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated impact of voted expenditure for Vote 34, subhead A8, capital advance leasing facility, which amounts to €293,905,000 for 2022 in respect of the general government balance. [18142/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing.

Measures to deliver this housing are supported by over €4 billion in funding annually, representing the highest ever level of Government investment in building social and affordable housing.

Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are important partners for local authorities in the delivery of social housing. My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to construct, purchase and lease new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that AHBs progress projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF).

The specific General Government Balance impacts of Exchequer Investment from the voted expenditure provision is a matter that would fall to be determined by the Central Statistics Office.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (368)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

368. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated impact of voted expenditure for Vote 34, subhead A28, cost rental equity loan, which amounts to €70,000,000 for 2022 including additional approved housing body borrowing in respect of the general government balance. [18143/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under Housing for All, 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered from 2021 to 2026. These new homes will be delivered by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding, and Local Authorities, funded by the Affordable Housing Fund. The Land Development Agency will also deliver Cost Rental, either on its own portfolio of sites or through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh.

Budget 2022 allocated €70 million to the CREL scheme for Cost Rental delivery by AHBs in 2022. Over 900 homes have been approved for funding under the scheme to date, with a total of almost 4,000 CREL-funded homes being targeted for delivery over the 5 years to 2026.

Under the Second Call for Proposals for CREL funding, issued to AHBs in October 2021, I approved in principle the allocation of €53.6 million for the provision of 521 Cost Rental homes across 11 sites in 7 Local Authority areas. Details of the funded projects, including locations, unit types and cost-covering rents will be released when the relevant AHBs have completed necessary financial and commercial arrangements.

With regard to the CREL scheme, the Government provides loans to AHBs to finance up to 30% of the capital costs for new Cost Rental homes. The CREL loans will be for a 40-year term, with simple rather than compound interest, fixed at 1% for the loan term, and will not require any repayment until the end of the loan term. CREL funding will reduce the financing costs of AHB projects and will therefore directly reduce the cost-covering rents to be charged to tenants. While AHBs may invest their own equity, it is anticipated the majority of remaining capital costs will be primarily sourced from long-term commercial debt funding. To this end, the Housing Finance Agency has indicated 40-year loans will be made available for CREL-approved projects, with very competitive interest fixed for the first 30 years and variable rate for the remaining 10 years. The decision to grant CREL funding will always be taken on the basis of value for money.

Furthermore, an open Rolling Call will be established under CREL this year. This will facilitate ongoing applications from AHBs, as projects present themselves, will assist with applications for Cost Rental and social housing, through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility, on the same sites and will facilitate longer-term developments, where AHBs can purchase land and undertake design and build contracts directly.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (369)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

369. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to the Land Development Agency in respect of its non-commercial activities, as included in schedule 12 of the Land Development Agency Act 2021, for the years 2021 and 2022. [18145/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971. The Land Development Act 2021 was signed into law in July 2021. Following the recent commencement of relevant provisions of the LDA Act and the dissolution of the interim LDA entity, the LDA has now been established as a wholly commercial state body, with all functions and staff of the interim LDA entity transferred to the new LDA Designated Activity Company (DAC). This LDA DAC was incorporated by the Company Registration Office in December 2021.

Exchequer funding of €7.1 million has been allocated to the LDA DAC Commercial Agency in 2022 to cover expenditure associated with their non-commercial functions. These functions are detailed under Section 29 of the LDA Act and include the development of a Register of Relevant Public Lands, the development of a report to Government on relevant public lands and any expenditure incurred by it in the performance of its functions under Part IX of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

In 2021, Exchequer funding was provided to the Interim LDA entity through my Department's Vote to meet its operational costs as well as initial capital funding in relation to the development of its projects. The LDA drew down €10m of capital funding and €6.6m of current funding overall during 2021. It should be noted that Covid related safety restrictions impacted the progression of the LDA's projects during 2021. From a 2021 Exchequer funding perspective, there was not a distinction between commercial and non-commercial activities for the recently dissolved Interim LDA entity under its 2018 Establishment Order.

Under the LDA Act, equity investment funding of up to €1.25 billion will be made available to the LDA for the purposes of its economic activities through transfers from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (“ISIF”). The LDA will also have the ability to borrow up to €1.25 billion to fund these activities. In accordance with Section 25(2) of the LDA Act, an initial €100 million of the LDA’s €1.25 billion ISIF investment capital has now been transferred from ISIF by the National Treasury Management Agency to the LDA DAC.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (370)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

370. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated impact of voted expenditure for Vote 34, subhead A33, Croí Cónaithe, which amounts to €50,000,000 for 2022 in respect of the general government balance. [18146/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government’s “Housing for All, a new Housing Plan for Ireland”, launched in September 2022, sets out four pathways to a sustainable housing system. A key objective is that everyone in the State should have access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard and in the right place, offering a high quality of life.

The new Croí Cónaithe fund as outlined in Housing for All, is intended to ensure that, aligned with the objectives of the National Planning Framework, additional choices are made available to home buyers in our urban cores, and town centres.

In higher density locations, the number of apartments being built for sale poses a challenge. There is a high level of unactivated permissions, particularly for apartments, in our urban areas. A Croí Cónaithe (Cities) fund is being established which, through a competitive bid process, will seek to deliver developments at a viable cost for sale to owner occupiers, targeted principally at activating the planning permissions already in place for such homes over the coming five years. The fund will be managed by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. My Department is working with the Housing Agency in finalising the operational basis for the new fund and expect to engage prospective proposers in a call for proposals in the near future. Different challenges arise for facilitating owner-occupation in towns, where viable sites available for building of new homes are in short supply. There is significant potential for local authorities to support homeownership in these areas by making available serviced sites at a reduced cost or providing support towards the refurbishment of vacant properties where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high. A pathfinder programme will be initiated as part of a Croí Cónaithe (Towns) fund, to facilitate the making available of some 2,000 sites for homes by 2025. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is currently under consideration and it is expected that a call for proposals will issue to local authorities shortly.

The specific General Government Balance impacts of Exchequer Investment from the voted expenditure provision for both schemes is a matter that would fall to be determined by the Central Statistics Office.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (371)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

371. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional funding required to increase the Vote 34 subhead A7, capital assistance scheme outputs target to 1,000 units. [18147/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), capital funding of up to 100% of project costs is advanced by local authorities to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to provide housing for specific categories of housing need including older people, persons/families who are homeless and people with a disability. CAS funding also supports other important and emerging areas of housing need including the development of refuges for victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, housing for care leavers (people exiting State care at the age of 18), and de-congregation (people with a disability being enabled to move from large institutions (congregated settings) to their own homes in the community with the support they need.

Exchequer funding of €96 million in 2021 delivered 352 units of independent living accommodation for a range of priority categories of housing need and 150 bed spaces for single homeless individuals although it should be noted that delivery of new accommodation units does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and projects may cross a number of payment periods. At the same time, CAS accommodation delivery can range from atypically large units for people with physical disability to group homes for people with intellectual disability to domestic violence refuges and the cost of delivering additional CAS housing will depend on which categories are involved. While the cost per bedroom under CAS build projects varies significantly, the average cost in 2021 was €130,915. The data involved is drawn from a variety of project types ranging from new greenfield build, brownfield, turnkey and renewal projects.

Another factor in relation to additional delivery under CAS is the capacity of the AHBs involved which are frequently smaller, locally-based organisations.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (372)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

372. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of Vote 34, subhead A3, local authority housing, in terms of delivery models and funding streams employed, including corresponding output targets to achieve an overall total of 5,030 units as per the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022. [18148/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Through the Voted capital funding under subhead A3, my Department provides support to local authorities in delivering new social homes via the construction and acquisition of houses/apartments; the construction of new social homes under the Public Private Partnership model (PPPs); delivery through Part V and also through turnkey arrangements in partnership with developers.

For 2022 the allocation to the subhead will be used to advance the 10,000 local authority homes currently in the construction pipeline, including moving those schemes in planning and design stage, through to tender and onto site and completing new social homes currently on site and under construction, as well as adding new homes to the current pipeline.

Under Housing for All, there is a target to deliver 9,200 social homes in 2022 primarily through construction-related activity and also a limited and targeted acquisitions programme. Of this 9,200 new social homes, 5,250 are targeted for delivery through the funding available under subhead A3.

Local authorities work strategically to deliver social homes in line with the targets that have been set. However the advancement of individual projects against a range of milestones cannot be predicted in all cases; for example projects designed by the local authorities can be refused or altered as part of the Part 8 planning process. Accordingly, it's important to allow as much flexibility as possible in local authority delivery across the range of programmes and for the range of individual projects and therefore, I have not allocated specific funding or targets to the individual delivery streams such as construction, PPPs, turnkeys, Part Vs or acquisitions; instead local authorities can draw funding as and when required which allows my Department to deploy the A3 funding where it is needed to ensure that social housing delivery in maximised in every budgetary cycle.

I am keen that all local authorities advance their construction related activity as rapidly as possible and my Department will fully support them in this regard.

Housing Schemes

Ceisteanna (373)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

373. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average subsidy per unit envisaged through the first home scheme as included in Vote 34, subhead A31. [18149/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

With an overall budget of in excess of €4 billion per year, the Government's Housing for All strategy commits to supporting 54,000 new affordable homes by 2030, 36,000 of which will be for purchase and 18,000 for Cost Rental.

Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides the basis for the First Home Scheme, which will be available nationwide. This scheme will support eligible first-time buyers to buy a new-build home in private developments by means of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. This equity support will cover up to 30% of the price of a new home (or 20% if the purchaser also benefits from the Help to Buy incentive), subject to regional price ceilings which will reflect the median prices paid by first-time buyers for new homes.

First Home will be jointly funded on a 50:50 basis by the State and participating mortgage lenders, thereby increasing the pool of funding available to potential new homeowners. Subject to final approvals, it will operate for the period 2022 to 2025, deploying an anticipated funding of c. €400 million and supporting an estimated 8,000 home purchases. Budget 2022 allocated €44 million to my Department for First Home this year.

A new First Home Scheme Ireland DAC, incorporated in December, will operate this scheme. Significant work is continuing on the detailed design and parameters of the scheme, and full details will be confirmed upon completion of this work. Initial activity on key areas of work, including public communications, will be undertaken over the next months in advance of First Home’s first receipt of applications and deployment of equity support, scheduled for Q2 this year.

It should be noted that there is no 'subsidy' element in the support offered by the First Home Scheme. Through the First Home DAC, the State is making an investment in these purchases in order to enable people to achieve home ownership The DAC's equity interest in the homes will be redeemed in time and the State's share of the proceeds returned to the Exchequer. The benefit for purchasers is the opportunity to become a homeowner now at a reduced cost, with the ability to redeem the DAC's equity share at a future time of the homeowner's choosing, but with no obligation for redemption save for particular circumstances such as the sale of the home.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (374)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

374. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the 1,000 units to be delivered by the Land Development Agency in 2022 in terms of affordable purchase and affordable rental homes. [18150/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Housing for All 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. The Land Development Agency (LDA) is at the heart of this plan, advancing their remit to develop land, including public lands, for housing or other purposes.

The LDA’s Project Tosaigh is a market engagement initiative to unlock land with full planning permission that is not being developed by private sector owners due to financing and other constraints and use it to accelerate the supply of affordable housing. It allows the LDA to supplement the State lands it is already working on and accelerate the delivery of cost rental and affordable purchase homes by unlocking private land that is ready to be developed but where construction has stalled or not commenced.

It is characterised by:

- Activation of planning consents that have not commenced or are proceeding more slowly than optimal;

- Achieving delivery both in the near term, as well as providing a 5-year programme of delivery;

- An open and transparent process, compliant with procurement rules;

- A focus on delivery of affordable homes with some social homes to be secured if conditions allow, while securing value for money for the State.

Under this initiative, the target is to deliver 5,000 new homes by 2026 through cost rental or affordable purchase to eligible households. I am advised by the LDA that the proposals they received on foot of their Expressions of Interest call for Phase 1 of Project Tosaigh related to delivery in 2022, 2023, 2024 and beyond. Negotiations with housebuilders for homes for cost rental and affordable purchase, with priority afforded to schemes with 2022 and 2023 delivery, are ongoing. While it is challenging to secure delivery at the targeted scale within 2022, the LDA is focussed on this through its negotiations and is clear on the Government’s priorities in this respect. The LDA will be able to provide a clearer view on numbers and tenures as it gets closer to contractual commitments.

Housing Schemes

Ceisteanna (375, 376, 377)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

375. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of active HAP tenancies in place at the end of each year from 2016 to 2021. [18180/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

376. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of active RAS tenancies in place at the end of each year from 2016 to 2021. [18181/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

377. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of active long-term leases of privately owned properties for social housing including those leased by local authorities, associated housing bodies and enhanced leases at the end of each year from 2016 to 2021. [18182/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 to 377, inclusive, together.

The number of active tenancies relating to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Long Term Leasing schemes, for the years 2016-2021, as at year end, is set out in the following table:

Scheme

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Leasing*

1,886

2,174

2,331

2,607

3,269

4,312

HAP

16,493

31,228

43,443

52,529

59,821

61,907

RAS

20,306

19,756

18,916

18,154

17,682

17,183

*Leasing data in the table above comprises Local Authority Long-term Leasing, Approved Housing Body Leasing and Enhanced Leasing.

Under the Government's Housing for All Plan, long term leasing will be phased out by 2025 and my Department is continuing to engage with local authorities in this regard. Under the Plan, the Government also plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 new build social homes. As new build supply of social housing ramps up, there will be reducing reliance on the HAP and RAS schemes.

Question No. 376 answered with Question No. 375.
Question No. 377 answered with Question No. 375.

Flexible Work Practices

Ceisteanna (378)

David Stanton

Ceist:

378. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current policy with respect to remote working options for staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18169/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The vast majority of staff in my Department worked remotely in line with COVID-19 restrictions since end of March 2020, attending the workplace only for essential business purposes. Since the Government in September 2021 announced the lifting of restrictions to allow for a phased return to physical attendance in the workplace, staff in my Department have resumed attendance. Staff are now generally attending on a 2 days a week basis, as part of the transition back to the workplace, subject to prevailing public health advice.

A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service has been developed and was published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 31 March 2022. The term blended working refers to a combination of working from the employer’s work premises and working remotely. This framework will ensure a consistency of approach across Government Departments and Offices.

The framework will inform the development of organisation-level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of Departments. It is intended to offer employees of my Department with qualifying roles, performance and remote workstations the option to apply for blended working, later in 2022.

The framework may be viewed at this link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/67fed-minister-mcgrath-and-minister-of-state-smyth-publish-civil-service-blended-working-policy-framework/

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