Written Answers Nos. 23-42
23. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the number of special advisers of each Minister as well as the Taoiseach and Tánaiste; the related costs in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31091/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware on the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues Government-approved Guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices.
The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister, subject to the terms of the aforementioned Guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval in accordance with Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997.
My Department maintains a Listing of Special Advisers to the 33rd Dáil once their statutory appointment has fully concluded and is notified to my officials. This includes details of individual advisers, the Minister or Minister of State to whom they are assigned, their respective date of appointment, salary scale and starting rate of pay at the time of their appointment. This Listing is updated to reflect periodic changes and is published on gov.ie alongside the aforementioned Guidelines at
www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ad159-special-advisers-pay/
In the case of my own Department, I have set out details of the costs of Special Advisers assigned to my Department for each of the last 2 years in the table below.
|
Year |
Total Gross Salary Paid |
Total Expenses Paid |
|
2021 |
€195,242 |
n/a |
|
2022 (to date) |
€92,701 |
€591 |
24. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the vacant properties currently owned by the Office of Public Works in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31095/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe former military barracks at Mitchelstown, Co Cork is the only vacant property owned or managed by the Commissioners of Public Works in the Cork East Constituency.
The military barracks was occupied by the Department of Defence from 1934 until October 2014 when it was handed back to the OPW.
The OPW offered to sell the property to Cork County Council at an independent valuation, under the Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets (DPER Circular 11/2015), or to transfer it to the Council on the basis of a long lease. Cork County Council have advised that they are not interested in either purchasing the property or taking it on a leasehold basis.
There are complex title issues associated with the former military barracks, which are currently being examined. When these issues have been resolved, the property will be prepared for disposal in line with the OPW’s aforementioned policy on disposals.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), like other State bodies, is obliged to follow central Government policies and protocols on the disposal of surplus properties. The approach to managing vacant properties is firstly, to establish if the property is required for alternative State use, including the potential for it to be re-purposed either for Government Departments or for the wider public service.
As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is certainty that there is no alternative State use for that property. The OPW, as a matter of course, consults with the Land Development Agency, Local Authorities, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Education and other State bodies in advance of any decision on the future of a property.
In addition, a list of vacant properties and sites has been provided to the Departments managing the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine.
Once it has been established that surplus properties are not suitable for alternative State use, the OPW then considers if open market disposal is a viable option. Prior to disposing of a property, the OPW may re-evaluate the property’s potential and decide whether there may be a benefit to retaining a strategic property or site for future use or development. In this specific context, the OPW must take a long-term view on the potential future utility of such properties rather than seeking short-term commercial gain.
Finally, the OPW may consider community involvement, subject to a detailed submission that demonstrates that the community or voluntary group seeking to use the property has the means to insure, maintain and manage it in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer.
The OPW has recently entered into a Licence Agreement with Carrigtwohill Community Council for the development of a vacant site at Carrigtwohill as a temporary community garden, pending any alternative State requirement for the site.
25. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will disaggregate the estimated cost of €30,000 to service and accommodate each Ukrainian refugee for the year 2022; his views on the comments made in the latest Fiscal Assessment Report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that this figure is an upper bound in terms of likely costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31291/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Stability Programme Update, published in April 2022, set out a contingency provision of €3 billion for Ukraine humanitarian supports for 2023. At the time, an estimated 4½ million people had fled Ukraine, with the majority arriving in European Union Member States.
This prudent provision is included to address the crisis while not impacting on the Core Expenditure amounts for delivery of public services and of the National Development Plan. Given the evolving nature of the situation, it is difficult to provide exact costings as the number of arrivals fluctuate on a daily basis. The demographic profile of arrivals, a key determinant of costings, is also subject to considerable change.
Initial estimates suggest costs in the region of a half billion per 10,000 refugees. These estimates were based on a number of assumptions including the use of emergency hotel accommodation for which there are significant capacity constraints. The cost per refugee is highly sensitive to the accommodation solution provided—accommodation solutions are currently being developed and may change over the medium term—this complicates providing an annual cost per refugee.
The provision of €3 billion in 2023 would allow for a cost of c.€30,000 per refugee assuming c.100,000 refugees. This is in line with the international experience. Based on OECD analysis during the 2015 refugee crisis, significant amounts were spent by European countries:
- Germany who received as many as 900,000 asylum seekers spent 0.5% of GDP;
- Sweden which received 163,000 asylum seekers (1.6% of total population) spent 1.35% of GDP.
Applying these percentages to 2023 forecasts of GNI* in Ireland would give a range of €1.3 billion to €3.5 billion. Given that c. 100,000 refugees would represent 2% of the Irish population, it is more likely that the costs would be towards the upper end of the range.
This was supported by a bottom up assessment of likely expenditure in key areas, based on assumptions regarding accommodation solutions, demographics and social protection costs. It is too early to estimate the time horizon for, and level at, which supports will be required. The €3 billion contingency included for 2023 will be revised as more information becomes available. Costs will be monitored on an ongoing basis and estimates will be updated as appropriate, taking into account any revised assessments in relation to overall numbers of refugees.
26. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of actions from the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy that have been fully completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31055/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, published in July 2018, provided a targeted, effective and coordinated approach to identifying and tackling vacancy across Ireland. The range of objectives and actions in the strategy have been pursued in partnership with stakeholders and agencies across the housing sector to address vacancy in our housing stock. The key drivers of these actions are local authorities, the Housing Agency, and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), supported by schemes available within my Department specifically designed to tackle vacancy, such as the Repair and Leasing Scheme, and the Buy and Renew Scheme.
On 2 September, 2021, the Government published Housing for All, which has a specific pathway on addressing vacancy and ensuring the efficient use of our housing stock. This builds on the actions undertaken the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, and reflects a range of actions to tackle this aspect of housing. The table attached sets out the position of all the actions in the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, with reference as appropriate to updates from Housing for All under which the recommendations are being taken forward.
27. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of rental inspections undertaken in the past 12 months; the number of these that were virtual inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31057/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra28. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of virtual rental inspections that took place in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31058/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.
The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations rests with the relevant local authority.
The number of inspections undertaken in the period 2019 to Q1 2022 are set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Physical Inspections carried out |
Virtual Inspections carried out |
Total Inspections carried out |
|
2019 |
40,728 |
- |
40,728 |
|
2020 |
24,315 |
1,388 |
25,703 |
|
2021 |
15,131 |
5,109 |
20,240 |
|
Q1/2022 |
10,142 |
490 |
10,632 |
Detailed information in relation to the number of inspections and enforcement actions undertaken in 2019 to 2021 is available on the Department's website at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/
Pandemic restrictions greatly impacted on inspection activity since March 2020. The County and City Management Association’s (CCMA) Local Authority Services Frameworks for Future Covid-19 Pandemic Response did not permit on-site rental inspections for long periods in 2020 and 2021. This was in order to protect tenants, landlords and inspectors. Even when restrictions were relaxed there was still a reluctance on the part of some tenants to allow authorised inspectors access their homes. Inspections have been and continue to be frustrated by some tenants needing to self-isolate due to having Covid-19 or being a close contact.
In response some local authorities piloted virtual inspections which my Department supported with Exchequer funding. Dublin City Council led this initiative and commenced virtual inspections in May 2020. My Department incorporated and standardised the approach taken countrywide into a pilot programme, requesting business cases from participating local authorities to ensure that processes are suitably robust and comprehensive.
It is a key component of the virtual inspection model that local authorities reserve the right to conduct a physical on-site inspection when it is safe to do so and landlords were advised accordingly. Many rented dwellings have been subsequently re-inspected physically, since pandemic restrictions have eased.
29. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons that currently live-in cost-rental accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31059/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra30. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Cost-Rental Equity Loan-funded cost-rental homes that will made available for tenants in 2022; the locations of these; the unit sizes; the estimated costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31060/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.
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.
The CREL funds AHB development of Cost Rental homes through low-interest loans over 40 years for up to 30% of delivery costs. Two Calls for Proposals have issued to date, with the most recent approvals confirmed earlier this year.
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.
The first 65 CREL-funded Cost Rental homes were tenanted by the Clúid AHB in 2021, with 25 at Taylor Hill in Balbriggan and a further 40 at Barnhall Meadows in Leixlip. Both developments delivered cost-covering rents at least 40% below comparable open market prices.
The first 50 purpose-built Cost Rental homes were tenanted by the Respond and Tuath AHBs in March 2022 at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside in Dublin. Again, these tenants benefit from rents which are approximately 40% below comparable market rents in the area for their two-bedroom apartments.
So far this year, 20 CREL-funded homes have been tenanted at Parklands in Citywest. The tenanting and allocation process is underway for a further 123 Cost Rental homes across 4 sites in Dublin and Kildare, which are due to be tenanted by the end of June. This will bring the number of Cost Rental homes in Ireland to 258, less than 12 months since the passing of the Affordable Housing Act last July, with 208 of these homes supported by CREL funding.
To date, approval in principle has been confirmed so far for approximately 900 Cost Rental homes to be delivered by AHBs under the CREL scheme in the period to 2023. The necessary financial and commercial arrangements in relation to a number of these projects are being completed by the AHBs concerned. Full details of the projects, including specific locations, housing typologies and cost-covering rents cannot be made public until these arrangements are concluded. Details are set down in the tables below. This table does not include CREL applications at various stages of preparation for submission under an open CREL call, or applications being processed.
|
Funding Stream |
Development Name |
Approved Housing Body |
Local Authority Area |
No. Cost Rental Units |
|
CREL |
Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin |
Tuath |
South Dublin County Council |
74 |
|
CREL |
Barnhall, Leixlip |
Clúid |
Kildare County Council |
16 |
|
CREL |
Parklands, Citywest |
Tuath |
South Dublin County Council |
44 |
|
CREL |
The Paddocks, Newbridge |
Clúid |
Kildare County Council |
46 |
|
CREL |
Lancaster Gate, Cork City |
Clúid |
Cork City County Council |
73 |
|
CREL |
The Paddocks, Newbridge |
Clúid |
Kildare County Council |
50 |
|
CREL |
Mariner's Cove, Rush |
Respond |
Fingal County Council |
55 |
|
CREL |
Hansfield, Fingal |
Respond |
Fingal County Council |
31 |
|
CREL |
TBC |
TBC |
TBC |
457* |
|
Total |
846 |
|||
|
Total 2021 - 2023** |
911 |
*Commercial Agreements set to be concluded
** Includes 50 homes funded under the Serviced Sites Fund
Having regard to the number of people living in Cost Rental Homes, the Cost Rental Landlord has the final discretion over whether to enter into any tenancy agreement. They seek the efficient use of resources by allocating appropriately sized homes, according to household needs, as set out in Section 31 (3) of the Affordable Housing Act 2021:
- eligibility requirements in respect of tenants, including maximum and minimum income levels for tenants and the households of tenants, having regard to the type, size, and location of the dwelling, and the size and composition of the household;
- the placing of tenants into particular dwellings appropriate to their needs.
This direction is to ensure that landlords place tenants into homes of an appropriate size, in order to maximise the efficient use of these properties. As such, and given the potential variations in the size of households, figures are not available for the precise number of people living in the 135 Cost Rental properties tenanted to date.
31. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase homes from the Serviced Sites Fund and affordable housing funding respectively that have been completed and offered for sale to date in 2022; the locations of these; the unit sizes; the sale price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31061/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Funding is made available by Government to assist local authority affordable housing delivery, for purchase and rent, through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), which prior to summer 2021 operated as the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF).
In the past 12 months, the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), which the AHF has now replaced, assisted in the delivery of 50 affordable homes at Enniskerry Road in South Dublin, Ireland's first secure, long term Cost Rental homes. These homes have rents of €1,200 per month, approximately 40% below open market rates in the area.
SSF/AHF funding is currently assisting in the delivery of 117 affordable purchase homes at Boherboy Road in Cork City. Sales prices for this development were quoted at €218,000 for a two bedroom home and €243,000 for a three bedroom home (priced in February 2020).
SSF/AHF is also assisting in the delivery of 39 affordable homes in Dun Emer in Lusk, Co. Dublin. Sales prices for Dun Emer range from €166,050 for a two bedroom apartment and €258,000 for a three bed semi detached house (prices at February 2021). Construction of these homes began in 2021 and all 39 units have been offered and allocated and will be delivered in 2022.
The AHF is also assisting in the delivery of affordable purchase homes to be completed in 2022 in Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin, which have been offered for sale and allocated at prices for the 16 three bedroom duplex homes ranging from €335,000 - €345,000.
Further schemes being supported under AHF advance purchase and expected to deliver housing in 2022 include schemes at Tower in Cork city and Castleland Park in Balbriggan. Waterford County Council has advised my Department that two of their affordable housing projects, Summerfields, Kilbarry and Deer Park, Williamstown, will deliver their first phases in 2022.
32. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Housing First tenancies delivered and sustained in the past year; the target number of Housing First tenancies for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31062/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing First recognises that a stable home provides the basis for recovery in other areas. With Housing First, the priority is to support a person who has experienced homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, without any preconditions around addiction or mental health treatment. Then, intensive work continues on these issues once they are housed. Housing First has been a key element of Government homelessness policy.
The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).
Data on the number of Housing First tenancies created are published every three months as part of my Department's Homeless Quarterly Progress Reports. At the end of Quarter 1 2022, a total of 232 Housing First tenancies had been created over the previous year. While the exact sustainment rate of these particular tenancies is not known by my Department, the Housing First programme had an overall sustainment rate of 86.6% during the 2018-2021 Implementation Plan period.
Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The new Plan outlines the targets for each region and in each year. In 2022, it is aimed to create a total of 282 Housing First tenancies.
33. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an issue in relation to a person (details supplied); if his Department has plans to address the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31101/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maintenance and management of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is the duty of each authority to ensure, as far as possible, and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register.
The Electoral Reform Bill, which is currently going through the Houses of the Oireachtas, provides for the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission, the regulation of online political advertising and for the legislative underpinning for the modernisation of the electoral registration process. It also provides explicitly for a person to apply to have their information in respect of their citizenship updated where they become a citizen of a State other than Ireland.
As a result of Brexit, British citizens resident in Ireland remain eligible to register as Dáil electors but are no longer entitled to register as European electors. Where a person holds both British citizenship and citizenship of an EU Member State other than Ireland, they would be entitled to register for both types of electoral event. Changes to the administrative and IT processes around the electoral register are required to facilitate this and my Department is working with local authorities to manage this change as part of wider upgrades to support reforms to the process.
34. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the income limits under the Affordable Housing Fund scheme for homes with a market value of €200,000, €250,000, €280,000, €300,000, €320,000, €350,000, €380,000, €400,000, €420,000 and €440,000, in tabular form. [31138/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordable homes supported by the Department's Affordable Housing Fund will be made available to eligible buyers at reduced purchase prices through the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The provisions of the scheme are detailed under Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The percentage difference between the market value of the home and the discounted purchase price is reflected in a redeemable equity stake held by the Local Authority of between a minimum of 5% and a maximum 40% of the value of the home.
The income eligibility criteria for the Local Authority scheme are detailed in the Affordable Housing Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 183/2022), which can be found online at:
www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/183/made/en/print.
Under the provisions of these Regulations, the general rule for eligibility is that an applicant's (or applicants' applying jointly) annual gross income multiplied by 3.5 times cannot exceed 85.5% of the market value of the home in question. This rule can be represented by the formula: 3.5 x A = 0.855 x B
(Where A is the annual gross income of the applicant(s), and B is the market value of the home)
This test looks at whether someone would have the capacity to meet a purchase price of more than 95% of market value through using a standard mortgage of 3.5 times income and for 90% of the purchase price (i.e. the maximum mortgage they could obtain without benefiting from one of the limited exemptions from the Central Bank Mortgage Measures).
In the case of a new home with a market value of €250,000, for example, this equation produces the result that the general eligibility limit is an annual gross income of €61,071 (to the nearest euro). Altering the market value of the home will produce different income values accordingly.
As detailed in the Affordable Housing (No. 2) Regulations 2022, once eligibility has been established, affordable homes will be sold to purchasers at discounted prices set according to the purchasing capacity of each applicant household and the minimum level of support which they require. This is subject, however, to minimum prices set by Local Authorities to reflect economic realities and ensure scheme viability.
35. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of new build social housing units delivered in 2021 and if he can provide a reason for the different figures presented in the Q4 social housing pipeline report and subsequent parliamentary questions answered by his Department. [31139/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is available to the end of 2021, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department also published the Quarter 4 2021 Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments that have been completed or were under construction in each local authority at the end of 2021. The report is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/af746-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q4-2021/
The Social Housing Construction Status Report does not include data on Part V schemes funded through local authority part V delivery or the Capital Assistance Scheme. The CSR does contain a number of AHB Part Vs which are advancing as part of larger schemes approved under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility. Details on all Part V delivery is published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/fd048-affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics/.
36. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the changes to the incremental tenant purchase scheme announced earlier this year have taken effect; if applicants can now apply under the new rules; if the revisions to the scheme are not yet in place, when they will be in place and the instrument that is required for the new rules to apply such as circular, ministerial order and so on. [31140/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments.
The amendments, which came into effect on 1st February 2022, include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years. Local authorities were formally advised of these amendments by Circular on 12 January 2022.
Applications received by local authorities prior to 1 February 2022 should be assessed with reference to the regulations and requirements in place at the time, with applications received after 1 February 2022 assessed in accordance with the new requirements.
While local authorities have already been formally advised of these changes, revised scheme guidelines, and a Ministerial Order giving effect to changes in the treatment of the State contributory and non-contributory pensions for reckonable income purposes, will issue shortly.
37. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on Project Tosaigh; the procedures in place to ensure that any project availing of the scheme will be additional to supplies already in train and that adequate safeguards will be in place to prevent the Land Development Agency from using the projects funding to bid for and purchase apartment developments already underway and subject to forward purchase agreement from approved housing bodies, local authorities or other entities. [31141/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Land Development Agency’s (LDA) Project Tosaigh is a market engagement initiative to unlock land that is not being developed by private sector owners due to financing and other constraints. This initiative allows the LDA to supplement the development of housing on State lands it is already working on.
Project Tosaigh Phase 1 was launched in November 2021 via an Expressions of Interest process and a large volume of proposals of varying feasibility were received from house builders. The LDA is advancing work on a second phase of Project Tosaigh which will target more comprehensive partnerships with developers to deliver a stable flow of affordable homes over the five-year term of the initiative.
The intention of Project Tosaigh is to collaborate with the development sector to unlock stalled development and achieve economies of scale, and not to compete against other publicly funded affordable housing schemes. Affordable housing delivery across the various delivery streams is considered and co-ordinated nationally at the High Level Affordable Housing Delivery Group, at which local authorities, the AHB sector and the LDA are represented. Affordable housing delivery across delivery streams is co-ordinated locally by housing authorities liaising with AHBs and the LDA, including in the preparation of Local Delivery Action Plans.
38. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of funding provided by his Department to each local authority to date in 2022 under the Traveller Accommodation Programme and to provide a further breakdown by local authority of the funding that is to be used for new Traveller accommodation, refurbishment of existing accommodation, caravan loans, site improvement and so on. [31144/22]
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.
The following table outlines the capital drawdown for each local authority to date in 2022 under the Traveller Accommodation Programme:
|
Local Authority |
Capital Drawdown 2022 To Date |
|
Carlow |
- |
|
Cavan |
- |
|
Clare |
€212,045.30 |
|
Cork City |
€311,695.57 |
|
Cork County |
€47,400.00 |
|
Donegal |
€256,843.95 |
|
Dublin City |
€311,434.88 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
- |
|
Fingal |
- |
|
South Dublin |
- |
|
Galway City |
€243,430.14 |
|
Galway County |
€113,611.09 |
|
Kerry |
€81,646.88 |
|
Kildare |
€65,885.85 |
|
Kilkenny |
€727,168.47 |
|
Laois |
€13,106.90 |
|
Leitrim |
€39,197.05 |
|
Limerick City & County |
€91,903.54 |
|
Longford |
€176,923.80 |
|
Louth |
- |
|
Mayo |
- |
|
Meath |
€110,571.67 |
|
Monaghan |
- |
|
Offaly |
€674,502.37 |
|
Roscommon |
€209,079.52 |
|
Sligo |
- |
|
Tipperary |
€283,691.21 |
|
Waterford City & County |
€200,038.72 |
|
Westmeath |
- |
|
Wexford |
€17,658.50 |
|
Wicklow |
€34,553.52 |
|
Total |
€4,222,388.93 |
Expenditure to date is broadly in line with profiles indicating increasing expenditure arising in the second half of the year. My Department does not allocate specific budgets to individual local authorities. Instead, it is open to local authorities to apply for and drawdown funds from the budget at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. Full spend of the Traveller accommodation capital budget has been achieved in both 2020 and 2021.
39. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of electric vehicles within each local authority fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31164/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation in relation to the number of electric vehicles within each local authority fleet is not held by my Department and I, as Minister have no function in this regard.
40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a foreshore application (details supplied); if a foreshore determination has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31166/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department requested further information from the applicant on 22 April 2021 which remains outstanding and a reminder is being sent to the applicant as the application cannot proceed until the requested documentation is provided.
41. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the procedure for informing the public of the receipt of foreshore applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31167/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe responsibility for the development on Ireland’s foreshore is regulated under the provisions of the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended. The Foreshore Act 1933 requires that a lease or licence must be obtained from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the carrying out of works or placing structures or material on, or for the occupation of or removal of material from, State-owned foreshore, which represents the greater part of the foreshore. The Act provides for the issuing of licences or leases which are in the public interest and provides for the removal of any material within the foreshore and not more than thirty feet below the surface thereof.
The Department’s provides guidance on how to apply for Foreshore Consent, the first step of which is to meet with Department officials to discuss the proposal. At this pre-application phase, applicants are advised to ensure they are aware of the validation, screening process, planning, environmental impact assessment, appropriate assessment rules, technical assessment requirements, including public participation requirements and so on. The path which each application takes through the assessment process can vary depending on the nature and scale of the proposed activity or development.
The processing times for foreshore licenses may also vary from application to application depending on the nature of the works proposed, the complexity of the environmental reports to be considered and the nature of the engagement of the applicant with the process overall. Once a completed formal application has been validated by the Foreshore Section details will be published on our website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/f2196-foreshore-applications-and-determinations/. A public consultation will be arranged by the Department as part of the application process in due course.
42. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for a three year delay in drawing down funding from his Department and progressing a group water scheme in (details supplied) County Kerry notwithstanding repeated representations from this Deputy to relevant officials; if he will liaise with both Irish Water and Kerry County Council to help progress the matter for the benefit of the waiting householders; if a drawdown deadline exists in relation to this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31238/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2019, my Department announced funding for capital works under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. An allocation of €53,550 was provided to Kerry County Council for the project, a Community Water Connection, named in the details supplied.
I am keenly aware of the importance and vital significance of these Community Water Connections that are funded under the Programme. The funding provided gives the households concerned an opportunity to obtain a piped supply of water for the first time replacing deficient private supplies in many cases.
Among the benefits of the multi-annual funding approach is that it provides assurances to applicants that expenditure may be recouped over the course of the Programme as projects progress. Projects that have not commenced should progress to completion quickly but if necessary, as is the case here, may carry over into the next funding cycle.
My Department is responsible for policy while the day to day management of the Programme is devolved to the local authorities. Each local authority has appointed a Rural Water Liaison Officer (RWLO). The RWLO deals with the day to day issues for the Programme and can be contacted at the local authority offices.
However, to be helpful in this case my Department has contacted Irish Water and asked them to reply to Kerry County Council on the matter raised by the Council as quickly as possible. In addition my Department is liaising with the Council on the matter.
Local authorities work in conjunction with communities to complete the process to deliver projects under the Programme as quickly as possible through engagement with all stakeholders including Irish Water as required. Project delivery face considerable challenges not least of which was the Covid-19 restrictions in the 2019-2021 funding cycle. In the circumstance, good will and patience is also required for projects that remain to be completed.
