Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:247. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to monitor the quality of water in rivers and lakes. [34563/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWater Quality
Ceisteanna (247)
Freagraí scríofa
The EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy), which establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater, has been transposed into Irish law primarily through the following Regulations:
- European Union (Water Policy) Regulations 2014(S.I. No. 350 of 2014)
- European Communities (Technical Specifications for the Chemical Analysis and Monitoring of Water Status) Regulations, 2011 (S.I. No. 489 of 2011)
- European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No. 610 of 2010)
- European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations, 2010 (S.I. No. 9 of 2010)
- European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations, 2009 (S.I. No. 272 of 2009)
- European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 722 of 2003)
These Regulations cover governance, the shape of the Directive’s characterisation, monitoring and status assessment programmes, determining the quality elements and undertaking the characterisation and classification assessments for both surface and groundwater bodies.
Under Regulation 10 of the 2003 Regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been assigned the responsibility of developing the appropriate monitoring programmes to be applied by public authorities assigned a duty of monitoring by the EPA.
Further details of the various monitoring programmes (Rivers, Lakes, Marine and Groundwater), which establishes the monitoring measures necessary for compliance with Articles 7(1) and 8 of the Directive, are available on the EPA’s website at the following link; www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/
Wildlife Protection
Ceisteanna (248)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:248. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 16 June 2022, if the State bodies referenced in his response have been in contact with the European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility or other European colleagues to ensure that the most effective testing practices are in place; if meaningful conclusions can be drawn from the number of specimens tested as part of the RAPTOR protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33602/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department liaises with colleagues collaborating on the European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility. An online meeting programme, to discuss and share best practice, guidance and knowledge, is in place and met most recently in 2021.
All toxicology testing under the RAPTOR protocol is carried out by the State Laboratory. The suite of analytes tested for, where possible in toxicology analyses of specimens carried out, includes first generation rodenticides (e.g. Chlorophacinone, Diphacinone ) and second generation anticoagulant rodenticides or SGARs (e.g. Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Difethialone, Difenacoum, Flucomafen).
The lowest detectible ranges of those analytes routinely tested for by the State Laboratory, using accredited methods, are described in Appendix 3 of the most recent Irish Wildlife Manual; www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM126.pdf
These specific rodenticides are tested for all bird carcases recovered in suitable condition and sent forward for toxicology testing under the RAPTOR Protocol. All results are compiled to allow for conclusions to be drawn. For example, during the period 1st January 2020 – 13th June 2022, a total of 40% of specimens tested had detectible residues of secondary rodenticides, 11% of specimens had elevated levels. Further details will be reported, as the information becomes available.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (249)
David Stanton
Ceist:249. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the direction and supports that he has given to local authorities to enable them to purchase houses that are being put on the market but are the homes of HAP tenants who have received notices to quit the accommodation and who may face homelessness unless the local authority purchases the property and facilitates the continuation of the tenancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33617/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Housing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
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 (AHB) and, with this, to reduce the numbers of social homes delivered through acquisition programmes. On 19 January 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 focussed 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.
On 20 April, 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.
Question No. 250 answered with Question No. 243.
Fire Safety
Ceisteanna (251)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:251. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to develop a compensation package for homeowners affected by fire remediation issues as a result of the failure of builders and developers to put in adequate fire safety measure which require remediation at the cost of the homeowners given that the Government has agreed to compensate homeowners affected by mica and pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33631/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. These include a commitment to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report "Safe as Houses?" and to assist owners of latent defect properties, by identifying options for those impacted by defects, to access lowcost, long-term finance. Housing for All, the Government’s national plan on housing to 2030, reiterates these commitments.
In this regard, I established a working group to examine defects in housing. This working group has been meeting monthly since March 2021 (except for August). In addition, regular subgroup meetings take place to advance elements of the work.
The group’s terms of reference, adopted in May 2021, are focused on fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. The full terms of reference of the Working Group are to:
- Examine defects in housing having regard to the recommendations in Item 4 “Addressing the legacy of bad building and poor regulation” in Chapter 4 of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government report - ‘Safe as Houses? A Report on Building Standards, Building Controls and Consumer Protection’.
2. Establish the nature of significant, wide-spread fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 – 2013 in Ireland through consultation with affected homeowners, homeowner representative organisations, owners’ management companies, relevant managing agents, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, industry stakeholders, insurance providers, mortgage providers and other relevant parties. Including such matters as:
- Identification and description of defect,
- Nature of defect – design, product, workmanship,
- Non-compliance with building regulations or actual damage,
- Severity/risk to life or serviceability of dwelling,
- Period of construction affected,
- Type of dwelling affected,
- Location of dwellings affected.
1. Establish the scale of the issue – estimate number of dwellings affected by the defects identified including those already remediated.
2. Consider a methodology for the categorisation of defects and the prioritisation of remedial action.
- In the case of defects with fire safety implications, consider how the framework for enhancing fire safety in dwellings can be applied to mitigate the risks arising from fire safety defects pending the remediation of defects and the Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings, which is currently being developed by National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management.
1. Suggest mechanisms for resolving defects, in the context of the legal rights, duties and obligations of developers, builders, building professionals, insurers, mortgage providers, building control authorities, fire authorities, owners’ management companies, owner occupiers, renters and landlords, including:
- Technical options for the remediation of dwellings,
- Efficient means of carrying out work,
- individual dwellings or whole building approach,
- routine maintenance/refurbishment or remediation,
- Structures or delivery channels needed to facilitate resolution – advice and support.
1. Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.
2. Pursue options on possible financial solutions to effect a resolution, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to identify options for those impacted by defects to access low-cost, long-term finance.
3. Report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the Examination of Defects in Housing.
The working group is currently concluding its deliberations in support of the delivery on its extensive terms of reference and working towards finalisation of its report. Once I receive the report I will give full consideration to its contents.
Question No. 252 answered with Question No. 243.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (253)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:253. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units that were delivered under the enhanced leasing scheme in 2021 by local authority and approved housing body; the number that are expected to be delivered in 2022 by local authority and approved housing body; if the enhanced leasing scheme is included in the social housing new builds; the budget that has been provided for 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33680/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2018, the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme was introduced in order to allow local authorities target newly built, or yet to be built, houses and apartments that could provide social housing through long term leasing at a reasonable scale.
The Enhanced Leasing Scheme is one option available to supplement delivery under the local authority leasing programme.
The Table below details the delivery under Enhanced Leasing in 2021, broken down by local authority.
|
Local Authority |
Dwellings Delivered |
|
DLR |
81 |
|
Dublin City |
23 |
|
Kildare |
61 |
|
Louth |
14 |
|
Total |
179 |
Under the Housing for All plan, long term leasing, which includes Enhanced Leasing, will be ended by 2025. Housing for All long term leasing targets have been assigned to 13 Local Authorities to deliver 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing from 2022 to 2025, tapering down from 1,300 units in 2022 to 200 units in 2025.
Enhanced Leasing is funded under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), which funds the ongoing current costs of homes delivered by local authorities through the various leasing programmes, as well as homes secured by Approved Housing Bodies through build and acquisition. The overall budget for the programme in 2022 is €344.65m. The proportion of the 2021 SHCEP budget spent on Enhanced Leasing was €3.65m. This spend figure is based on local authority claims for operational agreements recorded on my Department's SHCEP financial management system and may not directly relate to units delivered, due to the time lag in the submission of claims to my Department in respect of new claims after delivery.
Ukraine War
Ceisteanna (254)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:254. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the old HSE house on the New Road, Donabate which is adjacent to a hotel (details supplied) and is unused and boarded up; if he will give consideration to the upgrading of the property to facilitate housing Ukrainians who fled the war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33684/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is engaging with local authorities, the HSE and other organisations regarding vacant buildings that may be suitable for refurbishment or renovation. Over 500 properties have been identified and analysed to date, with 90 or so capable of accommodating around 5,300 persons already notified to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
My Department is currently focusing on vacant buildings that are most suitable for prompt refurbishment. I am advised that the building referred to would require major work to bring it into use as accommodation. No decision has yet been made on whether it will be included in this programme of works.
Local Authorities
Ceisteanna (255)
Brian Leddin
Ceist:255. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made on the development of live streaming guidelines for official meetings as referenced in his Department’s action plan to deliver non-pay recommendations set out in the Moorhead Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33800/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following the publication of the Independent Review of the Role and Remuneration of Local Authority Elected Members, led by Ms Sara Moorhead SC, I established a working group of local government stakeholders to examine the non-pay related recommendations of the Review and to draw up an Action Plan in that regard. This includes actions to examine the possibility of video conferencing facilities to allow remote attendance at and the live streaming of local authority meetings.
Section 45(5) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that a local authority may, by standing orders, regulate the right of members of the public and members of the media to be present at meetings of the local authority. This provision includes the making, by standing orders, of rules in relation to the recording or relaying of the proceedings as they take place or at a later stage.
It is therefore a matter for the elected members of each local authority to decide in the first instance if they wish to webcast local authority meetings, and then to provide for the necessary resources, including funding from their annual budget, to enable the provision of the necessary facilities to allow for meetings to be webcast or live streamed.
As it is the case that a number of local authorities have already invested in the necessary technology important good practice learnings can be taken from their experiences of live streaming meetings, which can be shared across the local authority network.
Departmental Bodies
Ceisteanna (256)
Michael Ring
Ceist:256. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the State boards that are under his remit; the details of each State board; the details of all the persons who are currently on each board in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33835/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The website Stateboards.ie sets out various boards under each Department and can be found at the following link:
membership.stateboards.per.gov.ie/
More specifically, the details of each board under my Department's aegis along with details of the board and information on each board member can be found at the link below:
membership.stateboards.per.gov.ie/department/Department%20of%20Housing,%20Local%20Government%20and%20Heritage/
Fire Service
Ceisteanna (257)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:257. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that is being made by the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group on the survey of retained firefighters; and if the improvements that are needed in terms and conditions will be expedited as soon as possible. [33865/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing the legislative framework, running a central training programme and issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management manages fire service issues in my Department.
Fire services in Ireland are provided by the local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, 31 authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide deliver local authority fire services, 16 of these stations being staffed by full-time firefighters, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 197 are staffed by retained firefighters, with approximately 2,065 retained firefighters around the country. It is important to note that the numbers of fire service front-line staff have been maintained at a constant high level throughout the economic challenges of the past number of years, even when staffing numbers, by necessity, were reduced in other areas of the local authority sector.
In 2013, my Department published 'Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) - A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland'. The adoption of KCS as national policy saw national norms/ standards established for fire services in Ireland for the first time, against which local authority fire services could benchmark themselves. The report of the Fire Service Validation Group, 'Fire Services in Ireland, Local Delivery - National Consistency', published in 2016, noted the staffing arrangements in place in fire services across Ireland to achieve these standards and that fire services manage staffing levels in fire stations to achieve the national standards of fire service response.
The provision of fire services by local authorities is based on a risk management approach, which involves an analysis of the nature of the fire hazards and the incidence and extent of fires that occur, as well as the fire protection measures in place. There has been a welcome downward trend in the incidence of fire, with the fire fatality rate per million of population, using a three-year average, currently at 4.3 deaths per million of population. While each death is one too many, this figure is a third of what it was twenty years ago when it stood at 12.9 deaths per million of population and positions Ireland among countries with very low fire fatality rates.
In May 2021, the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management mandated a small internal project team to undertake a review of the model of local authority ‘Retained’ fire services delivery. This review will have a particular emphasis on the recruitment and retention of staff, with the proviso that due consideration also be given to input from the County and City Management Association.
The objective of the review is to explore and understand the issues that are impacting on service delivery, to undertake research and analysis and to propose options that will underpin the continuing provision of effective and inclusive local authority fire services into the future.
The initial engagement element of the review is the gathering of appropriate data and information, to inform the needs analysis and option appraisals for further development. To that end, the project team undertook a procurement process and engaged the services of an independent consultant to survey the views of the personnel who work in the retained fire services and those that have recently retired from the retained fire services. In preparing the survey, the project team sought the views of retained services trade union representatives through the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group.
That feedback in conjunction with consultation at appropriate stages with all key stakeholders during the review process, including Local Government, fire service management/staff, and the staffing interest groups will form the basis of the final review report. It is the expectation of the project team that the final review report will be submitted to the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management before the end of the year. At that time, the Management Board of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management will make a determination on the publication of the report.
Following the delivery of the Retained Fire services review report, any recommendations made to the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management’s Board, to address the issues raised in relation to the recruitment and retention of Retained Firefighters, will need to be considered with stakeholders.
Comprehensive updates on the progress of the report have been positively received by the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group. There is broad agreement that the survey outcomes are reflective of feedback received directly from Retained Fire service members previously, and that the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group remains the appropriate forum for feedback on the report as it progresses to its final submission to the National Directorate for Fire Emergency Management Board.
Local Authorities
Ceisteanna (258)
Michael Ring
Ceist:258. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of former county managers or CEOs of local authorities who are currently employed on a freelance basis or otherwise to carry out works for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33871/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not hold the information requested.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
The information should be available from each local authority.
State Bodies
Ceisteanna (259, 260)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Ceist:259. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement, if any, that he has had with the Residential Tenancies Board in relation to its availability to both tenants and the landlord; if it has been flagged with him that there is difficulty in contacting the RTB directly by phone or by email; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33885/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraJennifer Carroll MacNeill
Ceist:260. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will assist a person (details supplied) in contacting the Residential Tenancies Board to register a property in order that a family can continue to reside there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33886/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 together.
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.
Due to the quasi-judicial nature of the RTB, it would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, or my Department to provide legal advice, comment on, or to intervene in the specifics of any individual case.
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 my Department 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 OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie.
Question No. 260 answered with Question No. 259.
Heritage Schemes
Ceisteanna (261)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:261. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that churches and places of worship, which are protected structures and have historical and cultural value have received a smaller proportion of the overall heritage grants available in recent years; the action he will take to deal with this issue; if the overall funding for heritage grants will be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33898/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). A third scheme, the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) provides investment in archaeological heritage, including older graveyards.
It is important to note that neither the HSF nor the BHIS aim to allocate set amounts to particular categories of building. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, so the total amount allocated to buildings of a particular type will naturally vary from year to year depending on the applications received.
My Department does not routinely record the category of structure funded through these programmes, making it difficult to track over time the proportion of funding going to a particular category. However, taking the 2022 HSF as an example, 17 applications in respect of churches or places of worship were successful and awarded funding totalling €816,640, with some due further funding in 2023. A total of 78 projects were awarded funding under the HSF this year, meaning 22% of projects receiving funding are churches or places of worship. By contrast, churches represent only 6% of buildings on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
In relation to the overall funding for built heritage, it is worth noting that the BHIS and HSF saw a combined funding increase of €2m (33%) in 2022, while the CMF received an additional €1m (a 25% increase). In the future I would like to see these schemes continue to grow to the extent possible given competing spending priorities.
Further information on the projects funded under the HSF, BHIS and CMF in 2022, can be found at the links below.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/32ae3-financial-assistance-for-architectural-heritage/
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/136b2-minister-noonan-announces-over-4m-in-funding-for-512-built-heritage-projects-across-ireland/
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b6787-minister-noonan-announces-2022-community-monuments-fund-grants-of-6-million/
State Bodies
Ceisteanna (262)
John Lahart
Ceist:262. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the investigations into An Bord Pleanála. [33899/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department published the terms of reference (attached) for the Report into the management of conflicts of interest and relevant disclosures by the Deputy Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála in relation to certain Decisions of that Board on the 12th of May 2022. In accordance with the terms of reference, Remy Farrell, Senior Counsel, was requested to provide a report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage within a period of 6 weeks from the 12th of May 2022.
On 22th June 2022 I received and acceded to a request from Mr. Remy Farrell for an extension of time to 29th July 2022 in order to allow Mr. Farrell sufficient time to complete his work and finalise the report. The Terms of Reference published on 12th May 2022 remain unchanged.
Flexible Work Practices
Ceisteanna (263)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:263. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of persons who are employed by his Department; the number who are currently working remotely; and the estimated number of persons in his Department who ordinarily worked from home prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. [33978/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There were 1,522 staff employed in my Department at the end of May 2022.
The vast majority of staff worked remotely in line with COVID-19 restrictions since end of March 2020, attending the workplace only for essential business purposes. Since the Government announced the lifting of restrictions in September 2021 to allow for a phased return to physical attendance in the workplace, staff in my Department have resumed attendance. Staff are now generally attending on a 2 days a week basis, as part of the transition back to the workplace, subject to prevailing public health advice.
A small number of staff (fewer than 10) who are considered extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 (as per the HSE guidelines) have, in line with the Chief Medical Officer’s advice, been granted permission to remain working at home temporarily. This temporary arrangement will be reviewed on an ongoing basis in line with the prevailing public health advice.
A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service has been developed and was published by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on 31 March 2022. The term blended working refers to a combination of working from the employer’s work premises and working remotely. This framework will ensure a consistency of approach across Government Departments and Offices.
The framework has informed the development of organisation-level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of Departments, and my Department's policy will be finalised by the end of June. It is intended to offer employees of my Department with qualifying roles, performance, and remote workstations, the option to apply for blended working, later in 2022.
Three members of staff ordinarily worked from home prior to the start of the pandemic.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (264)
Robert Troy
Ceist:264. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that bank mandates were not sent to landlords partaking in the HAP scheme (details supplied). [34074/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Limerick City and County Council provide a highly effective transactional-shared service on behalf of all local authorities with Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenants. The HAP Shared Services Centre (HAP SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord.
The HAP SSC do not change any data in respect of a HAP tenancy account. For a change to be made the local authority will create an amendment and these are then approved by the HAP SSC. The amendment process ensures there is an audit trail for all change requests.
In order to amend bank account details, a landlord must provide their local authority with either their new bank header or welcome letter. The local authority will then create an amendment which will be approved by the HAP SSC.
While my Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review, the day-to-day operation of the social housing system is a matter for the relevant local authority.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (265)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:265. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage it is intended that councils will maintain standing waiting lists for affordable housing; if not, if priority for early applications will only apply after the advertisement of each new scheme. [34101/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The allocation of homes under the Local Authority Affordable Housing Scheme is laid out in Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and accompanying Regulations. The Regulations can be found at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/si/184/made/en/print.
Homes to be made available under the scheme may vary by size, price, location, and other factors. Each individual affordable housing scheme must be advertised separately. Applications for each scheme will only be accepted once the scheme itself is advertised. Allocation of these homes thereafter will be in accordance with the Scheme of Priority adopted by each local authority.
Regulation 5 of the Regulations specifically governs the allocation of housing under the scheme. Regulation 5 (1) (b) states that, where certain listed criteria have been applied, and the number of eligible applicants still exceeds the number of dwellings for which applications have been accepted, a housing authority shall give priority to the eligible applicants in the order in which their applications were received.
It is not intended that standing waiting lists for affordable housing will be maintained.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (266)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:266. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if affordable homes that are developed by the Land Development Agency will be allocated under the council priority scheme applied to the council’s own affordable homes; and if it is intended that all Land Development Agency affordable homes for sale will be sold under a shared equity model. [34102/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Housing for All Strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system, with an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing. 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.
The LDA has an immediate focus on managing the State's own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands, making these available for housing in a controlled manner, which brings essential long-term stability to the Irish housing market.
All affordable purchase homes made available under the Housing for All targeted delivery streams will be sold under the provisions of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and its associated regulations.
The LDA has advised my department this it is their intention to partner with Local Authorities in the sale of affordable purchase homes under the local authority affordable purchase scheme for Project Tosaigh contracted schemes. Units sold under the local authority affordable purchase scheme will be subject to the scheme of priority adopted by the local authority in the normal way. The local authority affordable purchase scheme is an equity based model.
For delivery of housing from state lands, the LDA’s intention is that the homes will be primarily owned and managed by the LDA for the provision of affordable rental accommodation. Details of the mechanism under the Affordable Housing Act under which it is intended the affordable purchase homes will be sold are being worked through.