Written Answers Nos. 179-194
179. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are supports for owners of commercial premises which have been vacant for a long time to allow them to install the necessary services within the building to rent it out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlanning regulations, introduced in 2018, which provide a temporary exemption for certain vacant commercial premises, including shops, services, offices, and guesthouses; from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes such as ‘over the shop’ living, have been extended until 2025. The scope of the exemption was also extended to include ‘public houses’.
An analysis undertaken by my Department on the housing data related to the Planning & Development (Amendment) Regulations 2018, indicates over 600 notifications received from developers intending to avail of the exemption in the four years to 2021, which, if enacted, would result in c 1400 homes being provided.
Owners of vacant commercial properties may be able to avail of the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS). RLS provides an upfront loan, to a maximum of €60,000 (including VAT) per unit, to owners of vacant properties which require work to bring the units up to the required standard for rental properties and have been assessed by the local authority as being required for social housing.
Under the Repair and Leasing Scheme, the local authority, or approved housing body, pays for the repairs upfront and the home is taken into social housing stock by way of lease for a period of between 5 and 25 years. The cost of repairs is offset against reduced lease payments to the property owner.
Owners of vacant commercial units who wish to bring their property back into use as social housing may apply to the relevant local authority under the Repair and Leasing Scheme.
180. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm the contracts that his Department has with top security. [49262/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has any contracts with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49169/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 188 together.
I refer to the reply to Dáil Question No. 152 of 5 October 2022 which sets out the position on this matter.
181. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in receipt of HAP payments on 1 January for each local authority in each of the past three years in tabular form. [49123/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra182. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in receipt of RAS payments on 1 January for each local authority in each of the past three years in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) are forms of social housing support, provided by my Department, for people who have a long-term housing need.
The table below details the number of active HAP tenancies, by local authority, on the 1st January 2020, 2021 and 2022:-
|
Local authority |
1 January 2020 |
1 January 2021 |
1 January 2022 |
|
Carlow County Council |
730 |
743 |
695 |
|
Cavan County Council |
342 |
429 |
463 |
|
Clare County Council |
1,369 |
1,423 |
1,347 |
|
Cork City Council |
2,749 |
3,133 |
3,185 |
|
Cork County Council |
3,431 |
3,722 |
3,650 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1,805 |
1,833 |
1,792 |
|
Dublin City Council |
3,602 |
4,863 |
5,434 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
562 |
735 |
917 |
|
Fingal County Council |
1,898 |
2,089 |
2,565 |
|
Galway City Council |
1,723 |
1,951 |
1,918 |
|
Galway County Council |
1,229 |
1,428 |
1,491 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1,236 |
1,623 |
1,708 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2,195 |
2,398 |
2,320 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
867 |
854 |
774 |
|
Laois County Council |
888 |
982 |
929 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
254 |
293 |
285 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
2,308 |
2,442 |
2,425 |
|
Longford County Council |
330 |
379 |
377 |
|
Louth County Council |
3,046 |
3,280 |
3,271 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,280 |
1,356 |
1,336 |
|
Meath County Council |
2,089 |
2,275 |
2,210 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
586 |
628 |
566 |
|
Offaly County Council |
883 |
877 |
804 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
421 |
468 |
443 |
|
Sligo County Council |
758 |
831 |
834 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2,726 |
2,936 |
2,957 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1,778 |
1,868 |
1,843 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
1,952 |
2,127 |
2,009 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
901 |
1,014 |
975 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1,377 |
1,613 |
1,518 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1,448 |
1,668 |
1,711 |
|
Subtotal |
46,763 |
52,261 |
52,752 |
|
Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE)* |
5,766 |
7,560 |
9,155 |
|
Grand total |
52,529 |
59,821 |
61,907 |
*The DRHE is operating the HAP Homeless Place Finder Service on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.
The table below details the number of active RAS tenancies, by local authority, on 1st January 2020, 2021 and 2022:-
|
Local authority |
1 January 2020 |
1 January 2021 |
1 January 2022 |
|
Carlow County Council |
477 |
474 |
440 |
|
Cavan County Council |
542 |
527 |
508 |
|
Clare County Council |
397 |
381 |
374 |
|
Cork City Council |
910 |
891 |
829 |
|
Cork County Council |
740 |
734 |
690 |
|
Donegal County Council |
538 |
504 |
504 |
|
Dublin City Council |
1635 |
1660 |
1866 |
|
Dublin South Council |
1193 |
1027 |
958 |
|
Dun/Rathdown County Council |
520 |
517 |
499 |
|
Fingal County Council |
592 |
531 |
475 |
|
Galway City Council |
416 |
401 |
385 |
|
Galway County Council |
311 |
350 |
366 |
|
Kerry County Council |
884 |
879 |
816 |
|
Kildare County Council |
501 |
453 |
377 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
929 |
954 |
912 |
|
Laois County Council |
214 |
202 |
201 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
114 |
105 |
92 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
1229 |
1281 |
1264 |
|
Longford County Council |
209 |
200 |
186 |
|
Louth County Council |
138 |
143 |
143 |
|
Mayo County Council |
821 |
799 |
786 |
|
Meath County Council |
391 |
380 |
368 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
183 |
163 |
176 |
|
Offaly County Council |
131 |
131 |
137 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
391 |
387 |
369 |
|
Sligo County Council |
525 |
507 |
468 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1088 |
1071 |
1041 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
665 |
673 |
690 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
569 |
539 |
507 |
|
Wexford County Council |
554 |
538 |
510 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
347 |
280 |
246 |
|
Totals |
18,154 |
17,682 |
17,183 |
I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP and RAS schemes and central to that is significantly scaling up our social housing supply. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes 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. My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities. This data is available up to the end of Quarter 2 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/
183. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units owned by each local authority as of 1 January in each of the past three years in tabular form. [49125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing 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. My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. Data to the end of Quarter 2 2022 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 Q2 2022. The report is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5a259-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q2-2022/. A version of this file is available to download for analysis at DHLGH Catalog - Business unit - Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
My Department does not collate data on the numbers of housing units owned by individual local authorities. However, the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) produces an annual Performance Indicator Report for local authorities, which details a range of performance indicators for local authorities, including local authority owned social housing stock. The latest report is available on the NOAC website at the following link: Report 44: NOAC Performance Indicator Report 2020 - National Oversight & Audit Commission.
184. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and unoccupied housing units in each local authority on 1 January in each of the past three years in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49126/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra185. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the duration of the vacancies in each vacant and unoccupied housing unit for each local authority for periods of under one, up to three and up to six months in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [49136/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.
Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process.
Data in relation to levels of vacancy, average turnaround times and reasons associated with this are not routinely collated by my Department. However, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including vacancy and the average time taken to re-tenant a dwelling. The most recent report, relating to 2020, is available on the NOAC website at the following link:
noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/NOAC-Local-Authority-Performance-Indicator-Report-2020.pdf
186. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that his Department has made in relation to the options that are being considered to tackle defects such as fire safety failures, water ingress and structural issues in several Celtic Tiger-era apartment buildings. [49147/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that his Department has made in relation to the drafting of legislation required to create a longer-term repair scheme for defective Celtic Tiger-era apartment buildings. [49148/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.
The Programme for Government sets out 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 low-cost, long-term finance. In response, in February 2021, I established a Working Group to examine the matter. The Group was chaired by former Donegal County Council CEO Seamus Neely.
I received the comprehensive report of the Working Group on 28 July titled Defects in Apartments - Report of the Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing , and I published it straight away.
On 27 September, I brought a Memorandum to Government to inform Government of the content of the report and of the next steps that I will be taking.
In that context, I will now, in consultation with Government colleagues, develop options with a view to providing support to homeowners who find themselves in a difficult financial situation through no fault of their own.
Firstly, an inter–departmental/agency group will be established to bring forward specific proposals to Government by the end of the year. In addition, an advisory group to develop a Code of Practice will be established to provide guidance to building professionals and local authority building control / fire services, including guidance on interim safety measures, in line with Recommendation 8 of the Working Group’s report and in the context of the Fire Services Acts.
I also intend on liaising with key stakeholders such as homeowner representatives and the insurance sector, as matters progress. My Department is also engaging with the Housing Agency for the provision of advice in relation to implementation of the recommendations of the Report.
Finally, it should be noted that the Minister for Finance announced the introduction of a 10% levy on concrete blocks and other concrete products, with an expected annual yield of €80m on 27 September. This will provide a sustainable contribution from the construction sector towards the costs of dealing with construction defects over the coming years.
189. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name, function and establishment date of all the organisations and agencies that are funded by his Department; the number of employees in each; the salary of the chief executive in each organisation and agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49189/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
190. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the planning exemptions for solar panels will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49204/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity. This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, including those relating to the installation of solar panels on the roofs of houses, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions for apartments and educational/community/sports buildings.
The draft regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. The draft regulations have also been screened for Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the Habitats Directive by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and the need for AA has been screened out.
A public consultation on the draft solar regulations as part of the SEA process ran from 15 June 2022 to 13 July 2022. My Department has had regard to the written submissions and observations received as part of the public consultation, which have been taken into consideration in the finalisation of the draft regulations.
As required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be signed into law. The Regulations will have immediate effect on signature. I am pleased to confirm that this process is complete and that Minister O’Brien signed the Regulations on 5 October.
191. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has met with the Residential Tenancies Board to discuss the Customer Relations Management and in particular the ease with which clients can raise queries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49235/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the passing of legislation in 2019, with effect from 4 April 2022, landlords are required to register their tenancies with the RTB every year, within one month of the anniversary of when the tenancy began.
I am aware that some landlords and agents are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy management system and I met with the RTB in July and in September to discuss the issues involved. My officials are also keeping in regular contact with the Board on the matter. In addition, last week I secured additional resources to assist the Board in their operations, including in relation to providing customer service, with an increase in the RTB allocation from €11m this year to €13m in 2023.
Recent changes have been made to processes within RTB customer service provision to help alleviate delays and backlog and the RTB has almost doubled the staffing in its outsourced call centre.
Officials in my Department will continue to support the RTB on the matter and ensure the RTB are sufficiently resourced to deal with issues that have arisen.
192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if his Department intends to revise the issued price guidelines for the purchase of turnkey homes in each local authority area following the proposed tax on poured concrete and concrete products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49264/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra193. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has been notified of any possible increases in the cost of turnkey, social or affordable housing following the proposed tax on poured concrete and concrete products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49265/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.
In November 2021 the Government agreed a comprehensive Defective Concrete Block Grant redress scheme. This scheme was designed to support home owners who have been severely affected by issues relating to defective products in the construction of their homes. One of the actions arising from that decision was the development of a levy to offset some of the costs associated with the scheme. In his Budget speech last week, the Minister for Finance confirmed the levy will be applied to concrete blocks, pouring concrete and some other concrete products. The levy is expected to raise around €80 million a year and will go towards the cost of the comprehensive redress scheme. The levy will be set at 10%, and will be charged at the point of first supply in the State, so ensuring that all liable concrete and concrete products manufactured and/or used here will be liable to the new levy. The levy is to come into effect from the 3rd of April next year. Further detail on the levy, and in particular in regards to the specific products it will apply to will be set out in the Finance Bill 2022 when that is published on October 20th. Analysis carried out on the levy estimates that, for a typical dwelling, increases in construction costs will be in the range of approximately 0.4% - 0.9% and are subject to range of variables including- dwelling type, design, location, existing site conditions, external works, car parking requirements.
There are a wide range of factors which impact on housing construction costs. My Department monitors these issues, including through the analysis of data on local authority social housing tenders, and prepares Unit Ceiling Costs (UCCs) for new build social housing schemes. These UCCs which are periodically updated and issued to local authorities as a key reference in the development and costing of social housing scheme proposals. There are no specific price guidelines in place for turnkey developments.
194. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of the €67 million in funding that was announced in Budget 2023 to fund 12,300 grants to adapt the homes of older people and people with a disability that is new and additional funding for 2023. [49271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of the adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability scheme will be published. [49274/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the amounts payable under the housing adaptation grants will be increased in view of the significant increase in building costs; when these grant amounts were last revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49392/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 197 and 210 together.
My Department provides funding to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. These schemes assist eligible applicants living in privately owned homes to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs, with Exchequer funding of €65 million available nationally in 2022. As part of the annual budgetary process the Exchequer funding provision for 2023 has been increased by €2 million to a total of €67 million, continuing the year on year increases since 2014. The maximum grants limits for the scheme are set by secondary legislation, namely, the Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with Disabilities) Regulations 2007, which were updated in 2014.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Among the areas which the review, currently underway, will consider are the income thresholds, the grant limits, the application and decision making processes, including supplementary documentation required. The review is to be completed by the end of 2022.
