Seán Sherlock
Ceist:609. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on reforming the tenant purchase scheme under Housing for All. [43322/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing Schemes
Ceisteanna (609, 631, 651)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:631. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a new Ministerial direction will be announced to allow persons whose pension is their primary source of income to be eligible to apply under the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43464/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:651. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when local authorities will be issued with the new guidelines for the tenant purchase scheme that was launched in January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43840/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 609, 631 and 651 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, with a number of changes subsequently coming into effect from 1 February 2022.
The changes include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years.
Applications received by local authorities prior to 1 February 2022 should be assessed per the regulations and requirements in place at the time, with applications received thereafter assessed in accordance with the new requirements.
While local authorities were formally advised of these changes by Department Circular on 12 January 2022, revised scheme guidelines, and a Ministerial Order giving effect to changes in the treatment of the State contributory and non-contributory pensions for reckonable income purposes, will issue shortly.
Question No. 610 answered with Question No. 535.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (611, 612, 613, 614)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:611. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on working towards eradicating homelessness by 2030 under Housing for All. [43324/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSeán Sherlock
Ceist:612. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on increasing housing first targets to 1,200 tenancies over five years for homeless persons under Housing for All. [43325/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSeán Sherlock
Ceist:613. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on establishing a new national homeless action committee under Housing for All. [43326/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSeán Sherlock
Ceist:614. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on expanding street outreach teams for rough sleepers nationwide under Housing for All. [43327/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 611, 612, 613 and 614 together.
As a signatory of the Lisbon Declaration on the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness, Ireland has committed, along with other member states, to work towards ending homelessness by 2030. This will be done through a number of actions including:
- Increasing the supply of housing. 300,000 homes will be delivered between now and the end of 2030 including 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable homes and 18,000 cost rental homes
- Increasing the number of ‘Housing First’ tenancies
- Establishment of new National Homeless Action Committee
- Developing a Youth Homelessness Strategy
- Expanding outreach services
- Providing capital funding for housing for specific vulnerable cohorts that are eligible for Capital Assistance Scheme funding.
Work on these actions is well underway.
The National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in Q4 2021 and the inaugural meeting took place on 20 December 2021. Membership of the Committee comprises key Government Departments, state bodies and organisations involved in tackling homelessness. I chair the Committee which meets on a quarterly basis.
The overarching objective of NHAC is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness. Beyond this, the Committee also has a role in addressing emerging homeless-related issues and in developing further responses. Initial priorities for the Committee are Homelessness Prevention and the development of a Youth Homelessness Strategy. The Youth Homelessness Strategy is currently in the final stages of development and will be published in Q4 of this year.
Housing for All also commits to publishing a new Housing First National Implementation Plan and targeting 1,200 new Housing First tenancies from 2022 to 2026. Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies.
The new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The new Plan outlines the targets for each region and in each year.
The implementation of the Plan is a joint initiative of my Department, the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE), the criminal justice sector (the Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service) and Local Authorities, in conjunction with NGO partners. Each partner is committing the necessary resources and supports to implement the programme.
A new National Directorate for the Housing First programme has been put in place, based in the Housing Agency. It will manage programme delivery. Governance and oversight is effected through a National Implementation Group which consists of representatives from the partners to the programme.
Crucial to the success of Housing First and the achievement of the targets set out in the National Implementation Plan is ensuring that the most vulnerable and most entrenched homeless individuals receive the support and engagement required. Central to this is the provision of an effective and assertive outreach service that ensures that people without shelter are linked in with appropriate housing and health services and supports and, where appropriate, put on the Housing First pathway.
In the Dublin region, an outreach and intensive engagement service is provided by Dublin Simon Community in partnership with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. This service engages with adults who experience rough sleeping, supports them into temporary homeless accommodation, and makes appropriate referrals to permanent housing options, especially Housing First.
To aid in the further expansion of the Housing First approach, and in line with commitments made in Housing for All, it is planned to extend outreach and intensive engagement services to other key urban areas outside Dublin, ensuring that those most in need of the intense supports provided by Housing First will be able to avail of them.
My Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the costs of homeless accommodation and related services. The Department has invited regional authorities to submit proposals for outreach services for inclusion in their annual expenditure programmes and a number of Outreach services and Housing First projects are in place for 2022 and further proposals will be sought for 2023. The Housing Agency has also completed and published a good practice guide for Assertive Street Outreach for local authorities.
Financial reports from each of the regional fora, setting out total expenditure on homeless services including on outreach services and housing first services are published on my Department’s website at the following link; www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
Question No. 612 answered with Question No. 611.
Question No. 613 answered with Question No. 611.
Question No. 614 answered with Question No. 611.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (615)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:615. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on a new national policy on rightsizing to highlight the potential of rightsizing for households that no longer fully occupy their current privately-owned accommodation and exploration of options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis under Housing for All. [43328/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Housing for All provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.
The Housing for All policy objective to make more efficient use of existing housing stock includes the development of a national policy on rightsizing and to explore options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis. Work is underway through my Department to inform and progress the development of a national policy on rightsizing this year.
Question No. 616 answered with Question No. 598.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (617)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:617. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on introducing radical new modern Kenny Report-style powers to ensure sharing of the increase in land values from re-zoning decisions and greater community gain under Housing for All. [43330/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Housing Policy Objective 12.1 of Housing for All outlined an action to bring forward new ways for the State to share in a fairer way from the land value gains secured through zoning/designation and planning permission decisions, referring to measures previously recommended by the Kenny Report and more recently by NESC. In December 2021 the General Scheme with Heads of Bill relating to Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones was approved by Government for publication and progression.
Since then, independent economic consultants were procured and appointed to assist with defining the most appropriate method to implement Land Value Sharing. An open call was further made on the Department's website seeking public views on the development of any such approach. A data-gathering exercise was also undertaken to with a view to informing trends of uplift over time on land values. Engagement with key stakeholders including the local government sector and valuation experts has also been undertaken.
Following these stakeholder and data-gathering phases, the detail of how Land Value Sharing should operate is currently under examination. Upon finalisation of the economic appraisal and refinement of the proposals, it is proposed to commence detailed drafting and engage with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, with a view to presenting the Bill to the Oireachtas in Q4 2022.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (618)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:618. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on ending strategic housing developments, returning planning decisions to local authorities and reforming the judicial review process under Housing for All. [43331/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future committed to not extending the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) arrangements beyond their legislative expiry date of end December 2021, which was subsequently extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related extension of statutory timelines within the planning system by eight weeks in respect of the period March to May 2020 due to the shutdown of the construction sector.
The Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 (Act of 2021) was signed into law by the President on 14 December 2021. Furthermore, the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 which brings the provisions of the Act into effect was signed with an effective date of 17 December 2021.
The main purpose of the Act of 2021 is to restore the two-stage planning process, with decision making for Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) type applications returning to the local planning authority in the first instance, with the subsequent right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála (the Board), thereby delivering on the commitments in the Programme for Government as well as Housing for All.
The Act of 2021 also includes a number of transitional arrangements in relation to the expiry of the SHD arrangements and their replacement by the new LRD arrangements. Under the Act:
- SHD prospective applicants/ developers already in receipt of an SHD opinion under the SHD arrangements on the commencement of the Act (17 December 2021) had 16 weeks to submit an SHD application to the Board from that date.
- SHD prospective applicants/ developers who had formally commenced consultations with the Board and were awaiting an SHD opinion on the commencement of the Act (17 December 2021) were given 16 weeks to submit an SHD application to the Board from the date of receipt of the SHD opinion.
The judicial review provisions relating to planning decisions are contained in sections 50-50B of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and some amendments were made to these provisions before the Summer under the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation (Amendment) Act 2022. The generality of the provisions are presently being considered as part of the wider Planning Review being led by the Attorney General. It is anticipated that this review will be completed by the end of the year.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (619)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:619. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on introducing a new tax to activate vacant land for residential purposes under Housing for All. [43332/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Action 15.2 of Housing for All requires the introduction of a new tax to activate vacant land for residential purposes (to replace the current Vacant Site Levy). The Residential Zoned Land Tax was introduced by the Minister for Finance in the Finance Act 2021. The tax will apply to all land zoned for residential or a mix of uses including residential and which are serviced throughout all 31 local authorities, with certain lands excluded from scope, as set out within the legislation. The aim of the tax measure is to incentivise the activation of zoned and serviced residential development land.
The role of the local authorities is to identify the lands in scope via a mapping process commencing November 2022 with the publication of a draft map followed by a supplemental map if necessary in May 2023 and the publication of a final map in December 2023, ahead of the measure coming into effect in February 2024. The mapping process includes appeal provisions where the relevant landowner considers that a parcel of land does not meet the criteria for falling within the scope of the tax.
In order to facilitate the mapping process, Ministerial Guidelines published under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act were issued to planning authorities in June 2022 to outline the process set out within the legislation and additional support is being provided by my Department through engagement with the local authority sector ahead of the publication of the draft maps.
Following publication of the final maps by local authorities, the tax measure will be managed by the Revenue Commissioners. The maps will be updated annually by local authorities to reflect any changes in circumstances.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (620)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:620. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on a new croí cónaithe (cities) fund to increase owner-occupier apartment development in city centres under Housing for All. [43335/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current “viability gap” between the cost of building apartments and the market sale price (where the cost of building is greater). The scheme is targeted principally at activating planning permissions already in place for such homes.
The scheme launched on the 10th May with an Expressions of Interest process and will be managed and administered by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department. The closing date for receipt of proposals was 21st June 2022.
The Housing Agency has now started the first of the three pre-contract stages:
1. Reviewing eligible proposals,
2. Ranking of suitable proposals,
3. A detailed due diligence process leading to eligibility.
I expect full assessment of proposals received to take a number of months and agreements to deliver apartments to be put in place in the Autumn.
Housing Policy
Ceisteanna (621)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:621. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on increased funding capacity for the Land Development Agency for strategic development of public lands for affordable and social housing in city and town centres under Housing for All. [43336/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Housing for All provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The Land Development Agency (LDA) is at the heart of this plan, advancing its remit to develop land, including public lands, for housing or other purposes.
The enactment of the Land Development Agency Act, 2021, providing for the establishment of the LDA as a commercial State Agency, marked an historic move to use State lands to provide for housing supply and affordability needs.
The Act provided for the establishment of a new LDA Designated Activity Company (DAC) and the initial capitalisation of the LDA DAC by the National Treasury Management Agency from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
Housing for All recognised that additional resourcing, likely to be in the form of borrowing, will be required to meet the increased level of activities envisaged under the plan. Approximately €1 billion will be required to assist in funding the pipeline of housing, including on additional State lands, and accelerated housing through Project Tosaigh.
This additional funding will bring the total capital available to €3.5bn, positioning the LDA as a very significant State-owned participant in this sector.
Urban Development
Ceisteanna (622)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:622. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on targeted funding via the urban regeneration and development fund to support the town centre first approach, as part of the wider objectives for the regeneration of cities, towns and rural areas under Housing for All. [43337/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Jointly developed by my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development and launched earlier this year, the Town Centre First policy aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community. The policy sets out 33 actions which will provide a co-ordinated framework across established national policy objectives (in particular the National Planning Framework, Housing for All and Our Rural Future), to address the decline in the health of our towns.
A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is currently providing funding to projects that will enable a greater proportion of residential development to be delivered within the existing built footprints of both our cities and large towns. In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan, the URDF is making a significant contribution to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns with a view to ensuring that more parts of our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit. To this end, the URDF has already allocated almost €1.7 billion in funding to regeneration projects under two separate calls for proposals since its inception in 2018.
A third call for proposals, to include a focus on projects that will support the delivery of the Town Centre First Policy, is currently under development and will be issued later in 2022.
Planning Issues
Ceisteanna (623)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:623. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on planning exemptions for above shop conversions and guidance relating to protected structures under Housing for All. [43338/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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. The exemptions provided for in the Planning and Development Regulations are kept under regular review.
The Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 - which extend the operation of the previous 2018 Regulations in this regard until end 2025 - provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises to residential use, including the conversion of vacant areas above ground floor commercial premises to residential use. This measure is aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply.
The conditions and limitations that applied to the 2018 exempted development provisions continue to apply under the new regulations which includes provision that works to protected structures shall not be allowed under the exemptions save where the relevant planning authority has issued a declaration under section 57 of the Act to the effect that the proposed works would not materially affect the character of the structure or any element of the structure which contributes to its special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
Furthermore works shall not be permitted in a number of limited areas, such as areas of special planning control and areas to which special amenity area orders relate. Under section 82 of the Act, works to the exterior of a structure located in an architectural conservation area shall be exempted development only if those works would not materially affect the character of the area. Where a person wishes to seek advice in relation to whether proposed works might materially affect the character of an architectural conservation area, they should contact the local Heritage Officer or the local planning office.
My Department issued Circular Letter PL 02/2022 to planning authorities advising them of the newly extended exempted development regulations. The Circular references the conditions and limitations that continue to apply under these regulations and makes explicit reference to those conditions mentioned above.
In relation to guidance for the owners of protected structures, my Department has developed and published an information hub which draws together advice about conservation, planning, grant funding, sourcing professional assistance, etc. The information is available at www.buildingsofireland.ie/guidance. It is intended that this resource will be maintained and further developed on an ongoing basis.
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.
Vacant Properties
Ceisteanna (624)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:624. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on a nationwide, local authority-led compulsory purchase order scheme to purchase vacant homes under Housing for All. [43339/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Housing for All which was published in September 2021 provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030, with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.
Pathway 4 of Housing for All, which aims to address vacancy and the efficient use of existing stock, provides for the introduction of a programme for the compulsory purchase by local authorities of vacant properties for sale on the open market.
My Department is working with the Housing Agency on supports to deliver this programme. To this end, a Property Optimisation Unit has been established in The Housing Agency, which will assist local authorities in making Compulsory Purchase Orders, providing a general advisory service including step by step assistance through the process, title and property searches, dealing with third party charges, information gathering and support in drafting documents. The Unit has developed a Compulsory Purchase Order guidance note to inform Local Authorities on the process of obtaining a CPO.
The objective is for Local Authorities to acquire at least 2,500 vacant units and present these to the market for sale by 2026.
Question No. 625 answered with Question No. 579.
Question No. 626 answered with Question No. 579.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (627)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:627. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement that he has had with the Minister for Education on the matter of school transport since June 2022; and if he will publish any correspondence shared with the Minister for Education on same. [43359/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that I made two representations to the Minister for Education in August on behalf of constituents, in relation to the cost and provision of school transport.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (628)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:628. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that his Department has spent on advertising on social media in 2021 and to date in 2022; the amount spent per platform; and the campaigns per platform in tabular form. [43378/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Advertising on social media is generally undertaken by my Department's Communications Unit. My Department undertakes public information campaigns that include social media advertising where there is important information to be brought to the public’s attention. These include public consultations, awareness-raising of significant policies or other campaigns encouraging citizen behaviour such as take-up of a scheme.
The table below sets out expenditure by campaign across different social media channels and the total spend by social media channel.
It shows expenditure on a number of important information campaigns, including:
- Awareness raising of Housing for All, a national plan on housing to 2030, and some of its main initiatives, including schemes to help people access affordable housing, to buy or rent
- My Department’s Franchise Unit incurred expenditure in 2021 on its annual Check the Register campaign, encouraging members of the public to register to vote and to check their voter registration details are correct
- A public consultation on the Draft River Basin Management Plan 2022-27: this consultation encouraged the public to help shape the overall management of Ireland’s water environment.
- A public consultation on the future expansion of Ireland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. MPAs are geographically defined maritime areas with certain protections for conservation purposes. The Government aims to designate 30% of our maritime area as MPAs by 2030.
- A public consultation for homeowners, landlords, directors of Owners’ Management Companies and Property Management Agents to share their experiences of housing defects relating to fire safety, structural safety and water ingress in purpose-built apartment and duplex buildings constructed in Ireland between 1991 and 2013. My Department provided the secretariat to an Independent Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing and managed this public consultation on behalf of the Working Group.
- The Centenary of the Burning of the Custom House in May 2021, an event in the Decade of Centenaries and for which a State remembrance ceremony took place in the Custom House. The event was streamed live on social media.
|
Year |
Campaign Name |
Twitter (inc VAT) |
Facebook/Meta (inc VAT) |
Instagram (inc VAT) |
Youtube (inc VAT) |
(inc VAT) |
|
2021 |
Housing for All |
€218.95 |
€365.26 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
Centenary of the Burning of Custom House and associated State remembrance event |
€196.70 |
€81.88 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
Check the Register campaign |
€366.92 |
€393.21 |
€535.05 |
€343.90 |
|
|
2021 |
Marine Protected Areas public consultation |
€922.52 |
€1,202.64 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
Total |
€1,705.09 |
€2,042.99 |
€535.05 |
€343.90 |
€0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2022 |
Campaign to encourage construction workers work in Ireland |
€311.84 |
€6.33 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
Consultation on defects in apartments and duplex built between 1991 and 2013 |
€332.10 |
€112.07 |
€222.26 |
|
|
|
2022 |
Public consultation on the Draft River Basin Management Plan 2022-27 |
€1,928.83 |
€4,819.15 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
Recruitment Advertisement (Met Eireann) |
|
|
|
|
€172.70 |
|
2022 |
Recruitment Advertisement (Met Eireann) |
|
|
|
|
€210.16 |
|
2022 |
Recruitment Advertisement (Met Eireann) |
|
|
|
|
€731.85 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2022 |
Total |
€2,572.77 |
€4,937.55 |
€222.26 |
€0.00 |
€1,114.71 |
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (629)
Neasa Hourigan
Ceist:629. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, in the interest of transparency, he plans to amend the Electoral Act 1922 in order that donation returns for third parties would be published as they are for Deputies, Senators, Members of the European Parliament and political parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43398/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) provides the statutory framework for dealing with political financing and sets out the regulatory regime covering a wide range of inter-related issues such as the funding of political parties; the reimbursement of election expenses; the establishment of election expenditure limits; the disclosure of election expenditure; the setting of limits on permissible donations; the prohibition of certain donations; the disclosure of donations; and the registration of third parties who accept donations given for political purposes which exceed €100.
The Act also provides for the independent supervision of this regime by the Standards in Public Office (SIPO) Commission who have published a number of guidelines to inform election candidates, members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, members of the European Parliament, political parties, corporate donors and third parties of their obligations under the Act.
The principal objectives of the Electoral Act 1997 are to ensure that there is openness and accountability in the relationships that exist between election candidates, elected members and political parties and those who would support them, whether by way of financial assistance or otherwise. The Act also seeks to achieve equity in the electoral process by limiting expenditure at elections and by providing a system whereby candidates at elections can recoup election expenses subject to certain criteria being met.
Under Part IV of the Act, a third party must, on receipt of a donation exceeding the value of €100, and before incurring any expenses for political purposes, or any further such expenses, furnish to SIPO: –
the name and address of the third party and the name and address of the person responsible for its organisation, management or financial affairs (i.e. the “responsible person”);
a statement of the nature, purpose and estimated amount of donations to, and proposed expenses of, the third party during the year; and
an indication of any connection the third party may have with any political party or candidate at an election or referendum or otherwise.
A third party is also required to open and maintain a political donations account on receipt of a donation exceeding the value of €100 and must lodge all further donations given for political purposes irrespective of value into that account. Not later than 31 March each year, the responsible person of a third party must provide to SIPO a statement, provided by the financial institution with which the third party has opened its political donations account, specifying the transactions that have taken place during the preceding year together with a certificate, in the form directed by SIPO, stating that all monetary donations received by the third party during the preceding year were lodged to that account and that all amounts debited from that account were used for political purpose. The statement and certificate must be accompanied by a statutory declaration.
While SIPO retain the statements, certificates and statutory declarations, they are not disclosed unless by order of a Court. As matters currently stand, third parties do not have to make donation statements for donations received above specified thresholds which differs from the obligations on political parties, candidates and elected members.
The Electoral Reform Act 2022 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in July this year. The Act provides for the establishment of an independent statutory electoral commission – An Coimisiún Toghcháin. Part 7 of the Act provides for a number of amendments to the Electoral Act 1997 aimed at clarifying and strengthening the relevant provisions relating to the political donations and expenditure regime. During the passage of the Electoral Reform Bill through the Oireachtas I committed to an Coimisiún Toghcháin, when established, carrying out a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act 1997. It is envisaged that an Coimisiún will examine the 1997 Act with a view to making recommendations on any aspects of the Act that may require amendment.
Wildlife Conservation
Ceisteanna (630)
Bríd Smith
Ceist:630. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the species of birds which are on the open season hunting list; if these include birds that are amber and red listed or for which there are conservation concerns; and if the working group that was established in 2021 has reported to him yet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43423/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The conservation status of some of the species that may be hunted in Ireland is declining. In order to continue to protect and preserve the conservation status of these species, and to support sustainable hunting practices, a new way forward is required. This must be collaborative and based on scientific evidence.
The internal NPWS working group set up to review the status of Birds Directive Annex II species on the Open Seasons Order is carrying out considerable work to develop a range of options available for future Orders. Once this process has been completed, the working group will report to me.
Based on the information currently available, the number of species under conservation threat, and our legal obligations under the Birds Directive, changes in the ambit of the 2023/2024 order are possible, such as the removal of certain species from the order. A wide ranging consultation with stakeholders and interest groups in relation to future orders will be undertaken over the coming months. While there is no doubt that this will be a challenging process, I am keen to listen to the views of all of the interested parties in advance of any potential changes.
Details of the species currently on the Open Seasons Order are outlined in the table below, including their status on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (BOCCI) list and as reported on under the Birds Directive.
Table: Birds Directive Annex II species that are currently on Ireland’s Open Seasons Order, whether conservation concerns have been identified by the Department at the national level via the Birds Directive Article 12 reporting process, and their status on the BOCCI list
Breeding= breeding; W= wintering.
*Hunting of Red-Legged Partridge in Ireland is of intentionally released birds.
|
Species |
On the Open Seasons Order |
Conservation Concerns |
BOCCI |
|
Red Grouse |
Yes |
Yes |
Red |
|
Mallard |
Yes |
|
Amber (B & W) |
|
Teal |
Yes |
Yes |
Amber (B & W) |
|
Gadwall |
Yes |
Yes |
Amber (B & W) |
|
Wigeon |
Yes |
Yes |
Amber (B & W) |
|
Pintail |
Yes |
Yes |
Amber (W) |
|
Shoveler |
Yes |
Yes |
Red (B & W) |
|
Scaup |
Yes |
Yes |
Red (W) |
|
Tufted Duck |
Yes |
Yes |
Amber (B & W) |
|
Pochard |
Yes |
Yes |
Red (B & W) |
|
Goldeneye |
Yes |
Yes |
Red (W) |
|
Golden Plover |
Yes |
Yes |
Red (B & W) |
|
Snipe |
Yes |
Yes |
Red (B & W) |
|
Jack Snipe |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Red-legged Partridge* |
Yes |
|
|
|
Pheasant |
Yes (males only) |
|
|
|
Woodcock |
Yes |
Yes |
Red (B) |
|
Woodpigeon |
Yes |
|
|
|
Canada Goose |
Yes |
|
|
|
Greylag Goose |
Yes (feral/resident population only) |
|
Amber (W) |
|
Ruddy Duck |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Question No. 631 answered with Question No. 609.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (632)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:632. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if married persons are eligible to apply as single applicants to Government housing purchase schemes for example the local authority home loan and shared equity scheme. [43491/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Applicant(s) who are married, in a civil partnership or in an intimate and committed relationship cannot apply for the Local Authority Home Loan, Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme or First Home Scheme as single applicants. Applicant(s) who are married, in a civil partnership or in an intimate and committed relationship must apply for these schemes jointly with their spouse, civil partner or partner, as the case may be.
More information on all Affordable Housing schemes can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/3d575-affordable-housing/
Local Authorities
Ceisteanna (633)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:633. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details on the total amounts of monies awarded to Louth County Council by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will seek details on the total monies drawn down and spent by Louth County Council over the same years in tabular form, and if not spent, the total monies that were returned to his Department respectively over the same years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43523/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The funding system that applies to local authorities in Ireland is a complex one, as those authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government including my Department but also other government departments and state agencies. Most of the funding from Central Government to local authorities must be used for specified services. These can be grouped into 5 broad programme categories: housing, transport, recreational, education and environment.
My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, homeless services, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, housing grants, rural water schemes, urban renewal/regeneration, and fire services. In order to achieve its business objectives, my Department allocates significant resources to an extensive range of organisations, including local authorities, dedicated agencies, and other bodies; some allocations, depending on the programmes concerned, are made on a national or other non-county basis in the form of grant funding.
Grant funding is provided primarily on the basis of vouched expenditure, as opposed to specific up front annual allocations, once all necessary requirements as detailed in grant assistance schemes are met by the bodies/organisations concerned and that appropriate systems and procedures are in place to ensure the exercise of proper financial controls. Accordingly, the circumstances of funding being returned to the Central Exchequer do not arise. However in May 2022, Louth County Council returned €1,390 to the Local Government Fund. This arose from an over claim for the Outdoor Summer support scheme for 2021.
Across all schemes and funding sources, my department, as it was then configured, provided the amounts set out in the table below to Louth County Council between 2016 and the end of June 2022.
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
June 2022 |
|
€33.4m |
€31.7m |
€46.6m |
€61.4m |
€126.5m |
€107.8m |
€27.5m |
Wastewater Treatment
Ceisteanna (634, 635)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:634. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidelines that have issued to local authorities in relation to the assessment of proposed waste water systems for single houses by county council-planning staff that are submitted and certified by qualified agents with professional indemnity insurance as complying with the Environmental Protection Agency guidelines; the qualifications that these planning staff are required to have to assess these proposals; if he intends on reviewing these guidelines and procedures given the large number of applications with certified waste water proposals that are refused by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43581/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraÉamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:635. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends on carrying out a survey of each county council of the number of such proposals for waste water systems for single houses as part of a single house planning application received by each council in the past year given the large number of certified waste water treatment proposals for single houses being rejected by local councils; the number that have a rejection of the waste water proposal as one of the reasons for refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43582/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 634 and 635 together.
It is understood that the guidelines referred to is the Code of Practice for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems.
In relation to the assessment of proposed waste water systems for single houses, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an updated Code of Practice in March 2021, which replaced the previous version issued in 2009.
The 2021 Code of Practice applies to site assessments and associated installations carried out on or after 7 June 2021. The Code of Practice establishes an overall framework of best practice in relation to the development of domestic waste water treatment systems, in unsewered areas, for protection of the environment and specifically water quality and human health.
The reasons for the Code of Practice were communicated to local authorities by an Explanatory Letter dated 24 March 2021. Reviewing the Code of Practice is a matter for the EPA to consider.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 as amended, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements as necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which they are responsible.
In relation to the statistics requested in the question, my Department does not compile this information. While I cannot comment on individual planning decisions it is important that that water quality and human health is protected and the EPA provides appropriate advice in this regard. My Department has no plans. at this stage to carry out a survey as suggested.
Question No. 635 answered with Question No. 634.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (636)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:636. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of his affordable housing targets as set out in figure 3 on page 32 of Housing For All for each year by scheme (details supplied). [43632/22]
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. It will see 54,000 affordable home interventions including 36,000 affordable purchase and 18,000 Cost Rental homes delivered between now and 2030 by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through ‘First Home’ a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Approximately 28,500 affordable purchase and Cost Rental homes will be delivered in the period to 2026 broadly on the basis of 2:1 affordable purchase to Cost Rental. In that period, over 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered by AHBs, Local Authorities and the LDA, with delivery increasing incrementally to an average of 2,000 Cost Rental homes per year. 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.
In relation to affordable purchase, the First Home Scheme was launched on 7 July last, and primarily supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The remaining affordable homes for purchase will be delivered by a combination of local authorities and the Land Development Agency.
Affordable homes delivered by local authorities will be supported by the Affordable Housing Fund with any funding being made available will be underpinned by local authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans. Each local authority has now prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan for 2022 to 2026, details of which are available from the respective local authority websites.
In respect of the LDA, it is pursuing a twin-track approach of accelerating near term construction of affordable homes on both State and private land, while also working over the longer term to assemble strategic State-owned development sites capable of delivering thousands of new homes. Details of the work that the LDA is progressing on public lands, in partnership with local authorities, 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. Details of all homes that will be made available under Project Tosaigh will be confirmed when commercial agreements are finalised. Details of the initiative can be found at the following link;
lda.ie/home-building-partnership/
Additional affordable housing delivery will also be facilitated under the provisions of the expanded 20% Part V requirement as and when they arise, and subject to the planning process.
Operating in tandem with these affordable delivery streams, my Department has launched separate supply measures aimed at addressing issues of viability, vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities, namely the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme and the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme is intended to support household-ownership in urban centres and are not included ihe Scheme is expected to deliver up to 5,000 additional apartments for individuals seeking to buy a home in the 5 cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. This figure is not included in the Housing for All affordable housing-specific delivery targets.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (637)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:637. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the social housing output figures for Q2 2022 with a full breakdown by delivery stream including SHIP, CALF and CAS turnkey and construction streams. [43633/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data is available until the end of Quarter 1 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/ .
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and pre-tender process. The most recent publication was for Quarter 1 2022 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6912a-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q1-2022/
The Quarter 2 statistics are being collated and will be published in due course, in conjunction with the Quarter 2 Construction Status Report.
Question No. 638 answered with Question No. 597.
Defective Building Materials
Ceisteanna (639)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:639. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the regulations for the defective block remediation scheme including a list of all regulations currently being drafted; and the estimated date for the completion of those regulations. [43636/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President.
The purpose of this Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
Work on drafting the regulations is being undertaken by my officials and will apply in respect of all matters within the Act which are to be or may be prescribed by the Minister e.g. the damage threshold, the grant rates and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, declarations etc. Guidelines to facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme will also be drafted by my Department. I intend that the regulations and guidelines be finalised before the end of the year but ensuring they are comprehensive and that they will work for everyone is the main priority.
Pending the opening of the new scheme, applications can continue to be made to local authorities and processed under the current Defective Concrete Block grant scheme, underpinned by the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations, 2020 and the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
Defective Building Materials
Ceisteanna (640)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:640. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to publish the Mulcahy Report into certain planning matters in County Donegal; and the actions that he intends to take on foot of the contents of the report. [43637/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course.
With regard to the question of the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.
It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. The Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals." Therefore, this is a matter that requires careful consideration given that the report details unproven allegations against named individuals.
Question No. 641 answered with Question No. 562.
Energy Conservation
Ceisteanna (642)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:642. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority homes that have been retrofitted to date in 2022, broken down by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43661/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A new enhanced ten year energy efficiency programme was launched in 2021 in response to a commitment made under the Programme for Government, which called for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER standard by 2030, of which approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.
This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.
An annualised breakdown of the total funding provided and the number of properties upgraded under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit programme for the years 2013-2021 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020-2022, the details of which are found below. A further 146 properties were retrofitted to a BER of B2/ Cost Optimal Equivalent and these figures are in addition to the National Retrofit Programme.
gov.ie - Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme - Expenditure and Units (www.gov.ie)
Earlier this year, my Department announced a significant increase in funding available of €85 million which will provided for the upgrade of approximately 2,400 social homes in 2022. Each local authority received an individual allocation along with a minimum target of homes they are required to retrofit. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2/Cost Optimum standard.
Work in relation to the 2022 programme is underway but it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the 2022 Energy Efficiency Programme will be available early in 2023.
Vacant Properties
Ceisteanna (643)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:643. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant units in REITs at any given time; and the strategy that is being considered to ensure that given the housing and homelessness crisis that all purpose-built rental homes, houses or apartments are occupied. [43665/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not have access to data on the number of vacant units in Real Estate Investment Trusts.
My Department is currently reviewing opportunities to harness vacancy data. This will include working with the Vacant Homes Officer in each local authority to assess and monitor vacancy data locally, including potentially through field based surveys. This will add to the recent data provided through the preliminary analysis of the Local Property Tax (LPT) 2022 and Census 2022 data on vacancy in informing policy and scheme development to address vacancy.
Foreshore Issues
Ceisteanna (644)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:644. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a foreshore licence will issue to a sports club (details supplied) in County Kerry. [43672/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer to my previous reply to Question No 1196 (Written) which sets out the position in this matter and which is still on going.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has approved the granting of a State Property Lease, pursuant to the State Property Act 1954 (as amended), to Callinafercy Rowing Club for a term of 35 years.
The Chief State Solicitors Office (CSSO) and legal representatives acting on behalf of the Club are currently working on finalising the content and terms of the lease in this regard.