Thursday, 16 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 241-247

Housing Policy

Ceisteanna (241)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which his Department has identified issues deemed to impede the provision of much-needed affordable housing on State lands throughout the country; if he expects to be in a position to address the issue in due course; if the issues that currently impede a speedy and efficient public authority response to the affordable housing crisis will be resolved at an early date in order to ensure delivery of the Housing For All Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31480/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department has established various structures and supports to oversee affordable housing delivery, and identify and address delivery challenges as they arise. For example, the High Level Affordable Housing Delivery Group draws together the key stakeholders responsible for delivering affordable homes. Its functions include monitoring progress under Housing for All affordable housing delivery streams, identifying and monitoring risks and impediments to delivery and developing mitigation measures as appropriate, with the overarching objective of accelerating the delivery of affordable homes.

Schemes of support are reviewed in my Department in the light of evolving conditions. For example, following consultation with local authorities last year on the operation of the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), the Affordable Housing Fund has now replaced it. Changes include expanding the scope of costs covered to subvent the all-in development cost of delivering the housing, which may include land purchase costs; taking applications as they are developed on a rolling basis as opposed to time constrained funding calls; and, allowing funding support to exceed the SSF maximum of €50,000 per affordable dwelling on a stepped scale to €100,000, based on location and density.

Another important public delivery stream for affordable housing is the Land Development Agency (LDA) and its role in the delivery of homes on State Lands. The LDA is actively developing 12 sites, capable of delivering about 6,000 homes and has recently submitted planning applications for 2,358 social and affordable homes.

Under Housing for All, 20 further sites (additional to the initial tranche of State lands identified) were designated for transfer to the LDA. The establishing of the LDA allows proactive management of the State’s extensive land bank. A State Lands and Property Group monitors progress on the transfer of State lands to the LDA and considers further potential State sites suitable to support housing delivery by the LDA and local authorities. All relevant land-owning Departments and Agencies have been requested to engage fully with the LDA.

In the longer-term, the LDA will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing in a controlled manner, helping to provide essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market.

Housing Schemes

Ceisteanna (242)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

242. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider expanding the rent pressure zone rules to the entire country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31483/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024 and prohibit any necessary rent increase in an RPZ from exceeding general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). The Act also provides that rent reviews outside of RPZs can, until 2025, occur no more frequently than bi-annually. This provides rent certainty for tenants outside of RPZs for a minimum 2 year period at a time.

To address the rent affordability challenges building on foot of the unexpectedly fast rising inflation rate, as recorded by HICP (CSO data for May 2022 shows HICP inflation of 8.3% p.a.), the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted to provide, from 11 December 2021, a cap of 2% per annum pro rata on rent increases in RPZs where the inflation rate is higher.

In all cases, section 19(1) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 prohibits the setting of a rent that exceeds market rent. Section 24A of the Acts provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with housing authorities, may make a proposal to the Minister that an area should be considered as a RPZ. Following receipt of such a proposal, the Minister requests the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to conduct an assessment of the area to establish whether or not it meets the criteria for designation and to report to the Minister on whether the area should be designated as a RPZ.

The criteria to be satisfied by an area under section 24A(4) of the Acts for designation as an RPZ are as follows:

- the information relating to the area, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, shows that the annual rate of increase in the average amount of rent for that area is more than 7% in each of at least 4 of the 6 quarters preceding the period immediately prior to the date of the Housing Agency's proposal, and

- the average rent for the area in the last quarter, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each RTB Rent Index quarterly report, is –

- in the case of counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow or a local electoral area (LEA) in any one of those counties, above the average rent in the State, excluding rents in the 4 Dublin Local Authority areas, or

- in the case of any LEA outside of the Greater Dublin Area (i.e. Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow), above the average rent in the State excluding rents in the Greater Dublin Area.

Each RTB quarterly Rent Index Report includes a table of the data used to establish whether each LEA fulfils the criteria for designation as a RPZ. This ensures transparency in relation to the position of individual areas in terms of average rent levels and increases.

The Housing Agency and the RTB will continue to monitor national rents and if any area meets the designation criteria it will be designated as a RPZ.

Wildlife Protection

Ceisteanna (243)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

243. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the RAPTOR protocol is being fully implemented in terms of testing for secondary poisoning from rodenticides; the number of raptors that have been tested for poison in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 as part of this protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31514/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The RAPTOR (Recording and Addressing Persecution and Threats to Our Raptors) protocol is a collaborative approach between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), of my Department, the Veterinary Laboratory Service and State Laboratory. It was established in 2011 as a formal investigative process for bird of prey injury and mortality in Ireland. The RAPTOR protocol entails a significant amount of cross-departmental effort; from collecting and handling carcasses, injured birds and evidence, to X-rays, post-mortem examinations, DNA sampling, toxicological testing and follow-up investigations, data analysis, interpretation and reporting.

The total number of individuals of raptor species’ that have been submitted under the RAPTOR protocol for toxicology testing for the period between 1st January 2020 and 13th June 2022, is 92 (36 in 2020; 49 in 2021; and 7 to date in 2022).

The full suite of analytes (include rodenticides) tested for, by the State Laboratory under the RAPTOR Protocol, is given in Appendix 3 of the Irish Wildlife Manual number 126: Recording and Addressing Persecution and Threats to Our Raptors (RAPTOR): a review of incidents 2007–2019 which is available on the NPWS website at the following link: www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM126.pdf.

Property Registration

Ceisteanna (244)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

244. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that are being taken to streamline the Residential Tenancies Board annual registration and payment process and to improve waiting time for phone calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31716/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the implementation of the new tenancy management system is an operational matter for the RTB.

I am aware that some landlord and agent customers are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy management system, but it is important that landlords and agents complete the process for account verification on the new system. This is a one-off procedure and the RTB has assured me that it is working collaboratively and constructively with the sector to assist anyone experiencing difficulties.

The RTB is experiencing significantly high volumes of calls, web-chat and action is underway to reduce these waiting times, with the recruitment of significant additional staff in its customer service centre, and the implementation of some technical changes to the online registration system which will ease some of the issues for landlords and letting agents.

The RTB customer service teams are spending considerable time with landlords supporting their transition over to the new system and have been engaging directly with landlord stakeholder groups, over the more recent months, to support landlords, AHBs and property professionals understand the requirements to register annually. Over the past two years, the RTB has been engaging across various stakeholders listed and indeed others, about the change to annual registration and has established a short-term working group with IPAV which has met on a fortnightly basis since the start of April.

The RTB has created online support materials such as videos and FAQs for landlord customers to support them to understand the online registration system and annual registration requirements, which can be found on its website at: www.rtb.ie/annual-registration.

Full details of the RTB’s complaints procedure is outlined in their Customer Charter and is available to download from their website at:

www.rtb.ie/rtb-freedom-of-information-publication-scheme/customer-charter

Should further information be required by the Deputy, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose and may be contacted at [e-mail].

Departmental Policies

Ceisteanna (245, 246)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

245. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that operate in direct contact with members of the public have policies in place for members of the public to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur on the property of his Department or each public body and agency under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31746/22]

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

246. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place for employees to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur involving other employees or members of the public or on the property of his Department or each public body and agency that operate under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31765/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.

The Civil Service is committed to protecting the dignity and respect of staff across all organisations. My Department operates under the Dignity at Work policy which is the centralised Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for all of the Irish civil service.

The policy aims to promote respect, dignity, safety and equality in the workplace. The policy has been brought to the attention of all staff and a copy of the policy at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/eaf3ec8c24904a08905f4c2d142f97cc/.

This policy sets out how employees of my department can make reports of sexual harassment or assaults that may occur by another department employee.

While my Department does not have a specific policy for making sexual harassment or assaults reports for members of the public, any such reports can be made in line with our customer service policy which is published on the my Department's website, and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/935746-customer-feedbackcomplaints-procedure/

My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies under its aegis. Arrangements have been made that these State Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below.

State Body	Contact E-mails
An Bord Pleanála	[e-mail]
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum)	[e-mail]
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum	[e-mail]
Ervia	[e-mail]
Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Heritage Council	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Irish Water	[e-mail]
Land Development Agency	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
National Oversight and Audit Commission	[e-mail]
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee	[e-mail]
Office of the Planning Regulator	[e-mail]
Ordnance Survey Ireland	[e-mail]
Property Registration Authority	[e-mail]
Pyrite Resolution Board	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Valuation Office	[e-mail]
Water Advisory Body	[e-mail]
Waterways Ireland	[e-mail]

Question No. 246 answered with Question No. 245.

Wildlife Protection

Ceisteanna (247)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

247. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that he is taking to protect the bee population. [31774/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The second All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021-2025 is supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It identifies a clear need for long-term monitoring mechanisms for wild pollinators, so that the impact of the Plan's actions can be properly assessed.

On 8 July 2021, Minister Pippa Hackett and I announced support for a pilot initiative to establish a National Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. The scheme will track changes in wild pollinators across Ireland and is part of an initiative across much of Europe.

The scheme will monitor wild pollinators (bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies) across a network of 50 sites incorporating farmland, semi-natural and public land. It involves collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the NPWS.

The scheme supports the All Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) and proposed EU pollinator monitoring by establishing a robust national monitoring framework. This will deliver key metrics on pollinator population status and trends, and complement the long-term citizen science monitoring that is already being done through the All-Ireland Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme.

There is a commitment to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan in the Programme for Government and the AIPP is a substantial contribution to improving our understanding of, and conservation of, bees and other important pollinators.

I would like to acknowledge the important role of the Heritage Council in facilitating this collaboration between the two Departments and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, who are responsible for coordinating implementation of the AIPP.

Objective 2 of the AIPP is to make public land more pollinator friendly. The AIPP advocates prioritising the protection of existing natural and semi-natural habitats, creating natural meadows and verges through reduced mowing, sustainable pollinator-friendly planting, and reducing pesticide use.

Local Authorities have embraced this and their positive actions for pollinators across the island are changing the way our landscape is managed for the better.

Great strides have been made in recent years in caring for pollinators in cities, towns and villages across Ireland. Pollinator friendly areas are increasingly visible in our parks and public spaces as well as in housing and retail developments.

The Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme, operated by the NPWS, offers funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). Projects supported by the grant scheme in recent years include a number of projects to support and protect pollinators, including wild bees.

Responsibility for matters relating to managed bee populations rests with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.