Written Answers Nos. 27-46
27. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the spending in 2021 on Sports Inclusion Grants; and the spending per stream of the grant and the cohort each stream is aimed at supporting. [33117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
28. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to increase investment in boxing and give further support to both grass roots boxing clubs and high performance boxers to further advance the potential of Irish boxing given the exceptional success of Irish boxing, both female and male; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33254/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This includes the allocation of funding to sporting organisations, including the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA), across its various programmes.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
In relation to possible capital supports for boxing, my Department oversees two schemes of relevance.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.1 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas. The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted.
Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August, 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. The assessment of all appeals is complete and the consequent allocations amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May.
The total allocation of €150 million for capital projects represents the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. All boxing clubs are entitled to apply directly for SCEP funding up to a value of €150,000 for local projects. It should be noted that 49 boxing clubs received funding under the 2020 SCEP round which is indicative of our commitment to the sport.
IABA also received an allocation of €259,000 under the 2021 Sport Ireland Targeted Equipment scheme, funded by the SCEP, for the provision of equipment to each club and county to support participation.
Funding is also provided by my Department for sports facilities under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The LSSIF is designed for projects where the grant sought is greater than the maximum available under the SCEP. The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals including an allocation to the IABA. Full details of the LSSIF including all allocations can be found at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/.
In relation to ongoing governance issues in boxing, The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) has recently published online its finalised Governance Review and its upcoming EGM on 10 July will provide the opportunity for the organisation and its members to affect meaningful and positive change in boxing. I would encourage them to accept and implement the recommendations of the review in full.
It is important to note that the Review is the IABA’s own review and was underpinned by a comprehensive consultation process. Many of the actions which it recommends are considered best practice. The implementation of recommendations would result in better governance, better engagement between grassroots clubs and high performance, greater diversity within the organisation, and improve the skillset available to the IABA to govern its sport. The IABA has the opportunity now to move forward and accept the review and its recommendations.
Delegates at the EGM will vote on a motion to create a new board which will be charged with implementing the recommendations of the Review.
If the review is accepted, there will be an immediate pathway for the IABA to make progress. However, if the IABA does not accept the review, there will be immediate financial consequences and they will be disallowed from future funding streams. This will be to the detriment of boxing and will, unfortunately, hinder them from reaching their potential as an organisation.
If the IABA accepts the review Sport Ireland will work with the IABA to develop an implementation plan for the 64 recommendations in the review within three months. Sport Ireland stands ready to support the IABA in this; they will assist with the necessary resources and will ensure that progress is monitored, overseen and reported to Sport Ireland on a monthly basis.
I hope that every effort will be made by the IABA to ensure acceptance of its own Review and I would encourage all of those involved in boxing, from the grassroots of the clubs to the county, provincial and national committee rooms, to encourage acceptance of the motion.
29. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the working group established in 2018 to examine ways to improve fish access at Parteen Weir on the River Shannon has completed its work; if so, the agreed outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32911/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the working group established to examine ways to improve fish passage at Parteen Weir has completed its work, the output of which includes an assessment of the feasibility of a number of options to improve fish passage at Parteen Weir.
A roadmap of actions has been proposed and the installation of a suitable new fish pass at Parteen Weir represents the first step of that roadmap. This proposal is currently under consideration, in addition to a proposal to address hydromorphological pressures on a National scale. This work will form part of a new National Hydromorphology Programme currently being established to address these pressures, meeting commitments under the Water Framework Directive and the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy.
30. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the large number of families in Ballymun and Finglas who are on the Dublin City Council housing list but who are living in the Fingal area who are receiving notices to quit their accommodation; if he will request his Department to devise a strategy to ensure that families are not made homeless in cases in which it can be prevented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32837/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.
Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of 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.
It is the local authority which assesses housing applicants, taking into account factors such as the condition and affordability of existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds, etc. The authority then prioritises the needs of approved applicants in accordance with its allocation scheme
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and, with this, to reduce the numbers of social homes delivered through acquisition programmes. In January 2022 my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities advising that social housing acquisitions by local authorities and AHB CALF acquisitions in 2022 would be focused on a number of priority areas, as follows:
- One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this
category;
- Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and
- Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs.
Local authorities were also advised that limited acquisitions through the Capital Assistance Scheme will also be approved, subject to the available budget for specific vulnerable cohorts, such as housing for older people, accommodation for individuals and families who are homeless and for people with a disability.
In April 2022, a further circular letter issued to local authorities in relation to social housing acquisitions. The key purpose of this circular was to advise local authorities that I had reinstated the delegated sanction to local authorities in respect of social housing acquisitions which are: (i) in one of the priority categories set out in the January circular letter; (ii) are in line with acquisition cost guidelines; and (iii) can be completed during 2022. The reinstatement of delegated sanction will allow local authorities to respond more flexibility to secure acquisitions which support a household to exit or to prevent homelessness. It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy.
The prevention of homelessness occurring in the first instance is very much a priority for my Department. The National Homeless Action Committee, which I chair, was established in Q4 2021 in line with the commitment set out in Housing for All. At the first meeting of the Committee, it was agreed that immediate priority would be given to additional measures to prevent homelessness. A number of measures have been identified and are now being advanced. Three separate subgroups have also been established to focus on specific areas of homelessness prevention. One of these subgroups is focused on considering enhanced family support and prevention services for children and their families. Progress on these measures will be reported on at the next meeting of NHAC, due to take place in July. I am committed to ensuring that families are not made homeless under any circumstances, and will continue to work with all our key partners to deliver solutions.
31. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for the establishment of the marine area regulatory authority [32853/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra32. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has considered the appointment of an officer to the Maritime Area Planning Authority. [32854/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together.
The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, which was enacted in December 2021, includes provisions to establish a new agency, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). MARA's role will be wide ranging in scope and extensive preparatory work is required in advance of its establishment in respect of each of its individual functions. It is intended that MARA will be formally established in Q1 2023.
To lead this critical work in a focussed way, and to manage the timely establishment of the agency, a dedicated MARA Establishment Unit is in place within my Department. This unit is in the process of expanding to 11 staff who will then move for a period of secondment to MARA as an ‘advance team’, so that there will continuity of the work. A budget of €2 million is available this year to allow early investment in the structuring of the new agency.
I expect the recruitment campaign for the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairperson and ordinary members of the Board of MARA to be underway in the coming weeks. In respect of the Board, it is my intention to seek nominees from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the County and City Management Association at the same time the campaign for Chair and ordinary members is publicly advertised. It is intended that the Board will be in place later this year in advance of the established of MARA.
The functions of MARA will be commenced on a phased basis, starting with the consenting processes. My Department will continue to accept and assess applications for foreshore consents under the existing Foreshore Acts until MARA is operational. Once MARA is operational, new applications will not be accepted under the current Foreshore consenting regime, but applications on hand (e.g. site investigation applications etc.) will be processed to completion.
33. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the discussions that his Department had with Sligo County Council in relation to the inclusion of the county in the defective concrete blocks scheme; the current status of that work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32858/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing Government approval, I shortly intend to introduce the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill, 2022 to the Oireachtas.
The purpose of this Bill is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the defective concrete blocks grant scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021.
My Department received a submission from Sligo County Council, dated 26 October, 2021 requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to County Sligo. In order to progress matters a meeting was held on 4 November 2021 between officials from my Department and Sligo County Council to review issues which require further elaboration in order to evidentially support an extension of the defective concrete blocks grant scheme to County Sligo.
Sligo County Council undertook to review their submission in light of the discussion which took place and address the gaps in evidential data which have been identified by my Department. In that regard, the relevant local authority are to continue to take the lead, build on the good work to date and demonstrate damage which has been documented has manifested due to the presence of reactive pyrite, which is a crucial burden of proof if the scheme is to be extended to include Sligo.
My Department is eager to progress this matter and to that end, issued a correspondence to Sligo County Council on 8 March 2022 outlining formally the nature of clarifications sought. A follow up meeting in this regard was held with the local authority on the 24 March, 2022. A further submission is awaited from Sligo County Council on the matter and my Department will deal promptly with any such submission.
The extension of the scheme to other local authority areas was considered as part of wider deliberations on the Scheme by Government. I, as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, may, with Government approval, extend the scheme to additional counties, where the evidence supports such an extension and I have recently made such a recommendation to Government with respect to Clare and Limerick.
34. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the housing assistance payment rates for single applicants will be extended; if so, when these rates will be extended in cases in which the options that are available to a HAP approved applicant cannot get accommodation within their allowed limits to ensure that they do not become homeless; if the rates will be increased on a case by case basis in cases in which there are extenuating circumstances; if so, the way that an applicant can get their rate extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32877/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 61,900 households actively in receipt of HAP support.
Local authorities have discretion, because of local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum rent limit by up to 20%, or up to 50% in the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of homelessness. It is a matter for each local authority to determine whether the application of a discretionary increase is warranted, and the level of such an increase, on a case-by-case basis.
Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked to undertake an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of the 20% discretion available to local authorities under the HAP is required, in order to maintain adequate levels of HAP support.
Following this analysis, I am working with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide for an increase in the HAP discretion rate to 35% and, for new tenancies, to expand the couple’s rate to single persons where required. Further details will be available when the engagement process is complete. These changes will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness.
35. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if community buildings will be included in the changes to planning rules making it easier to install solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32885/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity. This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions for community/educational/religious buildings and apartments.
The draft regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. The draft regulations have also been screened for Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the Habitats Directive by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and the need for AA has been screened out.
A public consultation on the draft solar regulations as part of the SEA process was launched on 15 June 2022. The consultation will run until 13 July 2022. Further information in relation to the consultation, including the full suite of documentation such as the SEA Environmental Report and details regarding how to make a submission, is available on the Department’s website at the following: www.gov.ie/en/consultation/3813e-public-consultation-on-the-draft-planning-and-development-act-2000-exempted-development-no-3-regulations-2022-and-the-draft-planning-and-development-solar-safeguarding-zone-regulations-2022-solar-exemptions/. Written submissions or observations will be taken into consideration before the finalisation of the draft regulations.
As required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made and the SEA process concluded. Accordingly, the process for finalising the solar panel planning exemptions will be completed in the coming months.
36. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to Kerry County Council‘s failure to take steps with the Land Registry to speed up the process of building a house for them; and if he will request Kerry County Council to expedite the registration process by writing to the Land Registry. [32895/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Chief Executive is responsible under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
Under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
In relation to any specific cases with the Property Registration Authority (PRA), arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. Further information in relation to the specific case referred to may be obtained by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of the PRA at reps@prai.ie.
37. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if instructions to pause the consideration of local authority home loan applications have been issued to Donegal County Council by his Department due to the MICA issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL).
The scheme remains open in Donegal County Council and applications should continue to be received and processed up to and including loan drawdowns. I can confirm there have been no instructions issued from my Department to pause the Local Authority Home Loan scheme in Donegal County Council.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority.
38. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the Departmental working group that was set up to investigate potential amendments to building regulations in relation to changing places (details supplied); the progress the group has made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32912/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2020, I established a Working Group to examine the provision of a changing places toilet in certain buildings to promote community participation and social inclusion of people. The Working Group recommended the types and sizes of buildings where a changing places toilet should be required, along with the technical requirements (equipment, room size and layout) of a changing places toilet.
In February 2022, my Department conducted a public consultation seeking submissions, observations and comments on a draft proposed amendment to the Building Regulations and associated Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use to make provision for a changing places toilet in certain buildings.
The consultation period ended on May 12, 2022 and more than 600 individual submissions were received.
The Working Group will reconvene shortly to consider the submissions with the view to finalising documentation on the matter later this year.
39. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses that are currently providing homeless accommodation; the number of beds being provided to homeless persons in hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses; the cost of such emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32913/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/.
My Department does not collect data on the number of hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses providing emergency accommodation or the number of beds provided in such accommodation. However, the monthly homelessness report does include information on the number of adults accommodated in Private Emergency Accommodation (PEA) which includes hotels, B&Bs and other residential facilities that are used on an emergency basis. The most recently published data showed that there were 3,950 adults accessing PEA nationally during the April count week.
In relation to the cost of emergency accommodation, my Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of homeless services are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Financial reports from each of the regional fora, setting out total expenditure on homeless services including emergency accommodation are published on my Department’s website at the following link; www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
40. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the guidelines pertaining to mobile homes can be relaxed or amended to take into account the housing crisis and the difficulties of those who are currently using mobile homes to put a roof over their head; if the planning and housing section of his Department will work on this matter to provide guidance to planning authorities in terms of planning enforcement on such matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32984/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for, when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. These exemptions provided for in the Planning and Development Regulations are kept under regular review.
Under Class 1 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations, an exemption provides for the temporary use of any land for the placing of any tent, campervan or caravan or for the mooring of any boat, barge or other vessel used for the purpose of camping. This exemption is subject to a time limit of a period of not greater than ten days.
Where any person wishes to place a mobile home on land for a period of greater than 10 days, planning permission is required in accordance with section 34 of the Act.
If a person wishes to establish whether or not planning permission is required for a particular development proposal, they can seek a declaration from their local planning authority under Section 5 of the Act.
Under planning legislation, enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority concerned which can take action if a development does not have the required permission or where the terms of a permission have not been respected. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Minister is specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case in which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned, except in very specific circumstances, which do not apply in this case.
41. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application for funding submitted by Kilkenny County Council under the developer provided water services infrastructure scheme relative to Brookfield Estate, Ballyhale, Kilkenny, will be expedited and approved given that the application was made in 2021. [33027/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds the Multi-annual Developer Provided Infrastructure Resolution Programme for the progressive resolution by local authorities of housing estates with this legacy water services infrastructure to enable the taking in charge of these estates.
The programme is focused on housing estates which are not taken in charge by local authorities and do not have their water services connected to the public (Irish Water) network, but rely instead on infrastructure, often temporary in nature, which was provided by developers. The focus of the first tranche of funding was on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public network.
I have announced project approvals and funding allocations across 10 local authorities for a first tranche of funding under the programme. These projects are underway. The announcement also included a request to local authorities to submit further projects that could be resolved by connection to the public network. The project named in the question was one of these. I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement on approvals and allocations for funding shortly.
42. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new cost rental units that have been delivered in Quarter 1 of 2022; the number of cost rental units currently in delivery; the projected total delivery of cost rental units in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra43. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the details of the new cost rental units that have been delivered in Quarter 1 of 2022 including the location of delivery; the number of cost rental units provided at each location; the average monthly rent; and the delivery provider in tabular form. [33042/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra44. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the details of the new cost rental units provided in Quarter 1 of 2022; the number of new builds, acquisitions, turnkeys and other delivery mechanisms in tabular form. [33043/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra45. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the new cost rental units delivered in the four Dublin council areas in Quarter 1 of 2022, in tabular form. [33044/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra46. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the amount of the cost rental equity loan mechanism which has been drawn down by approved housing bodies in Quarter 1 of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33045/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Government's Housing for All strategy, 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered from 2021 to 2026 by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency (LDA). AHBs will be supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding and Local Authorities will be able to avail of funding for Cost Rental delivery through the Affordable Housing Fund. The LDA will also deliver Cost Rental on its own portfolio of sites or through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh.
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 quarter of 2022 saw tenants being allocated homes in a further 50 Cost Rental dwellings at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside. These homes were delivered by the Tuath and Respond AHBs, in a collaboration with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and with €4.5 million of funding provided through the Serviced Sites Fund, the precursor to the Affordable Housing Fund from my Department. The cost-covering rent for these two-bedroom apartments is €1,200 per month, which represents a very significant discount on market prices in the area (c. €2,000). Funds under CREL were not drawn down in Quarter 1 of 2022. A full table of Cost Rental homes delivered to date, through both the SSF/AHF and CREL funding pathways, is set out below:
Cost Rental homes delivered SSF AHF and CREL
This will bring the number of Cost Rental homes in Ireland to 234 less than 12 months since the passing of the Affordable Housing Act last July.
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.
In addition to homes funded through the CREL, additional Cost Rental properties are in development by Local Authorities through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) and by the Land Development Agency.
The central Exchequer funding through the AHF will help facilitate a Local Authority-led financing structure for Cost Rental. Dublin City Council have submitted an application for funding under the AHF for their site at Emmet Road is an important project for the development of the Cost Rental sector in Ireland. Current projections will see 582 homes delivered on this city centre site, 376 of which will be Cost Rental homes. It is anticipated that a Part 10 planning application will be lodged with An Bord Pleanala in the 3rd quarter of 2022.
In respect of the LDA, it is committed to delivering a large proportion of the homes it will be developing through their various methods of delivery through the Cost Rental model. It is pursuing a twin-track approach of accelerating near term construction of affordable homes on both state and private land, whilst also working over the longer term to assemble large state-owned land banks capable of delivering thousands of new homes.
For example, the LDA is collaborating with Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to deliver over 300 cost rental homes on a site at Shanganagh, Shankill. Furthermore, it is working on the former HSE Site at St Kevin’s Hospital in Cork City. The LDA has secured planning permission for 265 social and affordable homes for this development and this includes over 100 cost rental units. The first homes are expected at the end of 2023/Q1 2024.
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 establishment 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.
Details of the work that the LDA is progressing on public lands that will deliver affordable purchase and cost rental can be found here:
lda.ie/projects-schemes/
In addition to the public lands that the LDA is working on, 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. The target under Project Tosaigh is the delivery of 5,000 new homes by 2026 for Cost Rental or sale to eligible households under affordable purchase arrangements. The first strand of Project Tosaigh involved an expressions of interest (EOI) process, launched in November 2021, to engage builders and landowners in forward purchase agreements, with the intention of securing stock in certain developments in the shorter term. Details of all homes that will be made available under Project Tosaigh will be confirmed when commercial agreements are finalised. Full details of the initiative can be found here:
lda.ie/home-building-partnership/
