Written Answers Nos. 293-312
293. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidelines or plans that the Government has in place to ensure that there is a comprehensive and meaningful consultation process between offshore windfarm companies and local community fishers particularly in the south-east region, including Rosslare, Kilmore Quay, Duncannon and Fethard-on-Sea. [52766/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has made significant advances in the development of marine policy over the last number of years, culminating in the launch of the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) in June of last year, and the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act in December 2021, elements of which have already been commenced.
The NMPF creates an overarching framework for decision-making that is consistent, evidence-based and secures a sustainable future for all activities in the maritime area. It contains the objectives, policies and supporting actions which the Government considers necessary to support the effective management of marine activities and more sustainable use of our marine resources.
Public consultation, including consultation with fishermen and fishing organisations, was a key element throughout the development of the NMPF. Strong protections for the rights of the fishing community are enshrined in the legally binding NMPF Fisheries policies. These polices reflect the public consultation responses received from the fishing community during the development of the NMPF. Consequently, the NMPF includes a detailed section on fisheries (section 16) and a series of policies on fisheries, which will inform the assessment of all planning applications in the maritime area.
Furthermore, in response to some specific issues raised during these consultations, and in agreement with my colleagues the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a seafood/ORE working group has been established to assist the managed introduction of the offshore renewables industry into the maritime area. Captain Robert McCabe was appointed as the independent Chairperson to the Working Group for a 2 year period in May 2022.
The initial aim of the group is to agree on a binding communications protocol between the Seafood and ORE sectors by April 2023. The relevant Government Departments have also outlined some longer term objectives for the group to consider once this initial aim has been met. These include:
- Identification of opportunities for mutually beneficial co-existence between the two sectors;
- Agreement on best practice measures to ensure harmonious and safe operations at sea; and
- Potential input to the development of Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP2) and statutory Marine Planning Guidelines
The way in which Fisheries Policy 2 within the NMPF will be implemented will be also be a subject for consideration at the seafood/ORE working group, with the aim being that the group will provide expert guidance and support on the development of Fisheries Management and Mitigation Strategies as set out in the NMPF.
The inception meeting of the group took place on July 20th 2022, and was attended by 17 separate Fisheries and Aquaculture representative bodies, including the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation, the National Inshore Fisheries Association, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, and several Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFF) including the South East RIFF. A second meeting of the group took place in September.
I understand that the working group will continue to meet on a monthly basis until the Communications Guidance document is agreed on by the participants. At that point, the Chair will make recommendations on appropriate future arrangements for the group, including the prioritisation of next issues to be discussed and resolved, consideration of the most relevant / suitable participants in each case, and the format and frequency of those engagements.
294. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons working in his Department’s press office, communications team and social media team in tabular form. [52784/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 12 staff in my Department’s Communications Team who have a wide range of responsibilities including dealing with media queries and other standard press office duties related to the broad range of responsibilities within my Department. Their duties also include working with social media as well as other communications functions such as public and stakeholder engagement and consultations. A breakdown of these staff by grade is set out in the table below.
|
Grade |
Number of staff |
|
PO |
1 |
|
AP |
3 |
|
HEO |
3 |
|
AO |
1 |
|
EO |
3 |
|
CO |
1 |
|
Total |
12 |
295. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of affordable homes that have been delivered to date via the serviced sites fund, affordable housing fund, cost-rental equity loan, project tosaigh, IDA new builds and Croí Cónaithe cities, broken down by location and average cost of rent or buy in tabular form. [52805/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes 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.
2022 represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. Significant funding has been secured and is being made available to support delivery of affordable housing for purchase or for cost rental by local authorities, AHB's and by the LDA.
In respect of the LDA, details of the work that the LDA is progressing on public lands that will deliver affordable purchase and cost rental can be found here: lda.ie/projects-schemes/.
The LDA will also deliver Cost Rental and affordable purchase homes under Project Tosaigh, a market engagement initiative to unlock land with full planning permission that is not being developed by private sector owners. The overall target under Project Tosaigh is to deliver 5,000 new homes by 2026 through cost rental or affordable purchase to eligible households. The scheme will deliver its first homes before the end of the year and details of the initiative can be found here: lda.ie/home-building-partnership.
It should be noted that the the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme is a scheme to support viability. The fund supports the building of apartments for sale to owner-occupiers and 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). Details of the scheme, which was launched in May last (and as such would not yet have resulted in the completion of newly constructed apartment blocks in the period since then) can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/883b1-croi-conaithe-cities-scheme/
Local authorities have been asked to begin systematically collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently undertaken for social housing. It is intended that information on delivery across all delivery streams will be gathered by my Department and I expect that the Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly delivery statistics later this year.
In the meantime and to date in 2022, 373 affordable purchase homes and 50 Cost Rental have been delivered/made available under the Serviced Site Fund and Affordable Housing Fund. This includes LDA-sourced affordable purchase homes to be sold via the LA scheme’s legislative provisions (Part 2 Affordable Housing Act 2021). Details are set down in the table below:
|
Local Authority |
Name of project |
No. of affordable purchase/Cost Rental units |
Indicative Affordable Purchase Price/Cost Rent |
|
Cork City Council |
Boherboy Road |
117 |
€218,000 to €243,000 |
|
Cork City Council |
Cluain Chaoin, Tower |
36 |
€243,000 to €304,000 |
|
Cork County Council |
Clonmore, Mallow |
38 |
€260,000 to €300,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
Dun Emer, Lusk |
39 |
€166,000 to €269,000 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
Enniskerry Road, Stepaside |
50 |
€1,200 per month |
|
Soouth Dublin Councty Council |
Kilcarbery Grange |
16 |
€245,600 to €285,3000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Elder Walk, Summerfields, Kilbarry |
92 |
€226,000 to €256,000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Deer Park, Williamstown |
25 |
€205,000 to €212,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Bower Hill, Athlone |
10 |
€248,000 to €288,000 |
|
Total |
423 |
In relation to the Cost Rental Equity Loan, supported homes delivered by Approved Housing Bodies, a total of 490 Cost Rental homes have been delivered/ advertised to date, including 73 Cost Rental units set to be launched on Friday 28th October in Lancaster Gate, Cork City.
|
Local Authority |
Name of Project |
No. of Cost Rental Units |
Weighted Average Cost Rent per unit |
|
Cork City Council |
Glanmire, Cork City |
32 |
€971 |
|
Cork City Council |
Lancaster Gate, Cork City |
73 |
€1,083 |
|
Fingal County Council |
Taylor Hill, Balbriggan |
25 (delivered in 2021) |
€1,056 |
|
Kildare County Council |
Barnhall, Leixlip |
56 (40 were delivered in 2021) |
€1,279 |
|
Kildare County Council |
Belin Woods, Newbridge |
50 |
€1,235 |
|
Kildare County Council |
The Paddocks, Newbridge |
96 |
€1,199 |
|
Kildare County Council |
Walkers Gate, Kildare Town |
40 |
€1,250 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin |
74 |
€1,114 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
Parklands, Citywest |
44 |
€1,282 |
|
Total |
490 |
As reported on Friday 21st October by the First Home DAC’s quarterly report, since the First Home Share Equity Scheme launched on 7th July, 508 buyers in 23 counties have been approved by the Scheme and have received approvals which will allow them to purchase their chosen affordable purchase home. A further 203 applications are currently being processed, with approvals expected to issue shortly in most of these cases. A total of 1,862 potential buyers have registered their interest in the Scheme (823 individual buyers and 1,039 couples), with the average purchase price for approvals being €359,000, and the average maximum support of €79,000 sought.
296. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of authorised officers under Article 11 of the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 225 of 2013) who have been appointed since 2013; and the number who are currently employed in each Markey surveillance expressed as full-time equivalents in tabular form. [52814/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of individual roles in local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
297. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of authorised officers under section 11 of the Building Control Act 1990 who are currently employed, by local authority, confirming the number expressed as full-time equivalents in tabular form. [52815/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the local authorities which might have numbers employed at this grade (building control officers) is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
298. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next obligatory Report on the Status of Ireland’s Seabirds to the EU Commission is due to be completed and published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service; if the report will comprehensively address the proliferation of urban breeding and living gull species as evidenced in the National Urban Gull Survey September 2021 and the severe negative impacts these species are having on human communities, including the now officially declared threat they are posing to public health and safety; and, if the urban gull issue will not be comprehensively addressed in the Report to the Commission, if he will provide an explanation. [52884/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s next Birds Directive Article 12 report on the implementation of national provisions taken under that Directive is due to be submitted to the European Commission in 2025.
The report will include information on the status of seabird species that naturally occur in this country, and will incorporate the results of my Department’s National Urban Gull Survey of 2021. The European Commission, with Member States, sets out guidelines on the type of information to be submitted as part of the Article 12 reporting process.
It will contain information on status and trends of bird populations, as well as information on the main pressures and threats to those species, the impact of the Natura 2000 Network and conservation measures. The Reporting guidelines do not include the submission of information on public health and safety issues that may arise, unless it is related to the threats and pressures on the bird species themselves.
299. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next formal review of the wild birds derogation process will be carried out; if it will be put out to tender; if so, the date of same; the primary and secondary legislation that will be within the scope of the review in the context of the derogation; and the primary and-or secondary legislation, if any, that will be deemed to be outside the scope of the review. [52885/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no current plans to review the Wild Birds Declaration process.
300. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of one-off houses purchased by each local authority in each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52912/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on social housing delivery in all local authorities on a quarterly basis, including information on social housing acquisitions. This 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/.
301. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have recently been given an instruction to purchase one-off houses for tenants with a notice to quit or to prevent homelessness; if so, if he will outline the instruction given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52913/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra311. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes that local authorities have bought with tenants in situ; the number of local authorities that are in the process of buying same; the number that have made enquiries in relation to buying same broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53030/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra319. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenants given notice that the local government would house them in situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53378/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra322. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the details of a circular or directive issued by his Department, empowering local authorities to purchase HAP, RAS or rent supplement-subsidised properties where a notice to quit has been issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53422/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra323. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will communicate to Kerry County Council the details of a circular or directive issued by his Department, empowering local authorities to purchase HAP, RAS or rent supplement-subsidised properties where a notice to quit has been issued, including the particulars of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53423/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra324. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties purchased and in the process of being purchased, under a circular or directive issued by his Department, empowering local authorities to purchase HAP, RAS or rent supplement-subsidised properties where a notice to quit has been issued, by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53424/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 301, 311, 319, 322, 323 and 324 together.
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. However, acquisitions of second hand properties for social housing fall under a number of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) acquisitions 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) 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. I have requested local authorities to be proactive in acquiring properties which can prevent homelessness, including properties where a notice of termination has been issued to the tenant.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities, including information on social housing acquisitions. This data is available until 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/.
My Department does not hold data on the occupation status of properties acquired for social housing. This information may be available from individual local authorities.
302. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that will be given to local authorities to employ disability officers by local authority in tabular form. [52936/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI do not currently have plans or funding available to fund a role of the nature outlined; policy responsibility for disability issues lies with my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth. 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.
303. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of biodiversity officers who will be funded centrally in Cork City Council; and the funding allocation for biodiversity officers by local authority in tabular form. [52937/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme to provide funding for biodiversity officer roles within local authorities is being delivered by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost-effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie.
304. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the income threshold for social housing was increased in only five of 31 local authority areas; if he will outline the premise for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52949/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have recently approved proposals to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it and I expect that the work will complete by end Q4 2022.
Pending completion of this work, I have approved changes to the social housing income eligibility bands. Five local authorities - Carlow, Clare, Galway County, Laois and Westmeath - will be moved from Band 3 to Band 2. Accordingly, the baseline income eligibility threshold for these areas will increase from €25,000 to €30,000. The change reflects the movement in rents in recent years in these areas and will ensure local authority areas with similar accommodation costs continue to be grouped together in the respective bands. The changes came into effect from 1 October 2022.
I am currently considering further potential changes.
305. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will meet an association (details supplied) in relation to amending Part M of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52975/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlong with my colleague, Ms. Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability and relevant officials, I met with a delegation from the association referred to in the question on 12 October 2022 in relation to the Building Regulations and I intend to meet with them again in due course.
This followed a meeting with the same association on 8 March 2022 by my colleague Mr. Peter Burke, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, together with officials from my Department.
306. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he and his Department are taking to meet their public sector duties under Article 19 of the United Nations CRPD, which states that disabled people have a right to live in the community with choices equal to others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52976/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched a new joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027 on 14 January 2022, together with my colleagues Minister Darragh O'Brien T.D. and Ms. Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability (available at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1c6c5-new-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027-launched)
My Department's remit in relation to providing housing for disabled people is set out in the NHDSP. Among the objectives of the Strategy is to promote the purposes of Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by ensuring that disabled people have equal access to housing and clearer pathways to accessing support services, promoting their inclusion in the community from a housing perspective.
The areas that are to be addressed to deliver on the vision of the Strategy are set out as themes. In particular, Theme 1 of the NHSDP, ‘Accessible Housing and Communities’, is focused on the provision of accessible housing for disabled people, the promotion of accessible communities and universally designed homes.
The NHSDP will operate within the framework of Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities. Preparation of the Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People is at an advanced stage and will be completed by year end.
307. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for not including dwelling design for wheelchair users to a UD ++ standard in the design manual for quality housing; the steps that will be taken to include UD ++ in the next edition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52977/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Design Manual for Quality Housing, which is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/b3e02-design-manual-for-quality-housing/, contains a wide variety of internal layouts for houses, duplexes and apartments, as optional standard internal layout type templates. The Manual sets out acceptable dwelling sizes, internal layouts, room sizes and configurations for new dwellings.
The Manual was prepared following consultation with local authorities and other stakeholders including the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD), The Housing Agency, the HSE and others. Section 5 of the Manual includes detailed guidance on dwelling design, including accessibility with Section 5.3.2 in particular, relating to ‘Housing for People with Disability’ and Section 5.3.3 to ‘Age-Friendly Housing’.
The Manual includes internal layouts which meet the requirements of ‘UD home’ as set out in the CEUD’s ‘Universal Design Guidelines for Homes in Ireland’. The policy document National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 published December 2021, sets a requirement for local authorities in the delivery of social housing, to ensure that ‘50% of the new pipeline delivery [of dwellings] being reserved for disabled people in each LA being wheelchair liveable i.e. meeting Centre for Excellence in Universal Design ‘UD Home’’.
The CEUD has recently advised my Department in relation to the UD home standard adopted in the Design Manual, that “UD Home optimises flexibility, adaptability and usability for everyone... Universal Design Homes are accessible to all people regardless of age, size, ability or disability. A home designed from a Universal Design approach allows ease of access and use for people with mobility issues, persons using wheelchairs, for children in strollers and buggies and to allow easy access for the delivery of furniture and appliances. They are homes that demonstrate good, practical design quality that is affordable”.
UD++ homes propose a very high standard of requirements intended for persons with very specific space requirements as a result of their disability or illness. By way of clarification, the CEUD recently advised my Department that “UD Home ++ is a more person-focused approach to home design and construction. A UD ++ home may be provided for a person with a long-term illness or disability. The home would be planned and designed with the end user’s needs in mind as well as taking on board their family and carer’s needs, however the home is to look and feel no different to other homes. Through good design and consultation with the end user(s), the home should be easy to use and future-proofed. A UD Home ++ provides greater use of space and provides more elements and features to ensure the home is fit for purpose”.
Standards set by UD++ are, accordingly, person-specific in approach and can be very bespoke, responding to the specific requirements of the intended resident(s). Such needs are unique and require a person-centred design approach and are therefore, not within the ambit of promoting standard internal layouts as intended by the Design Manual.
However, my Department continues to fully support and provide funding for the provision by local authorities and AHBs of specialised housing for persons with such specific disabilities and long-term illnesses, such that the dwelling needs to be designed with the specific end user’s requirements in mind, as well as taking on board their family and carers' needs.
308. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will carry out an audit on the response times between Irish Water and local authorities; if his Department will carry out an audit on response times to the public representative line; if an audit will be carried out on the reasons for the long delays in obtaining updates from Irish Water; the reasons for such poor communication between the two bodies and public representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52990/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra309. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the number of outstanding representations between Irish Water and Tipperary County Council; the reasons for the inability of Irish Water to obtain updates from Tipperary County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52992/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.
Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the planning, delivery and operation of water and wastewater services at national, regional and local levels.
The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities or CRU. A key aspect of the CRU’s regulatory role is to ensure that Irish Water's approach to the management and delivery of water services is counter-balanced appropriately to take account of the best interests of its customers.
To facilitate this, the CRU has put a Performance Assessment Framework in place against which it monitors Irish Water’s performance and progress over time. This Framework currently includes 28 metrics covering customer service, security of supply, quality of supply, sewer incidents, environmental performance, and energy and emissions. This arrangement is in place to ensure that Irish Water performs to a high standard, keeps the public and other key stakeholders informed of its performance, and supports the CRU in making evidence-based decisions in the interests of customers.
In addition to the above, section 8 of the Water Services Act 2014 makes provision for the CRU to provide a dispute resolution service for any unresolved complaints of customers of Irish Water. Further information on pursuing complaints with Irish Water or with the CRU is available on the website of the CRU and can be accessed from the following weblink - www.cru.ie/home/complaint-form/water/.
As will be clear from the above, neither I nor my Department has a role in relation to matters raised in the question which are operational matters for Irish Water in the first instance, or, where a satisfactory outcome is not forthcoming, for the CRU in its capacity as independent economic regulator.
I have brought the matters raised to the attention of Irish Water, and I understand that it will respond directly to the Deputy in relation to his concerns.
310. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to provide housing-with-care accommodation schemes in County Mayo (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53024/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to enabling disabled people living independently with supports.
I launched the second joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027, on 14 January 2022 together with Minister O'Brien and Ms Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability. The new Strategy sets out the vision for the cooperation and collaboration of Government Departments, state agencies and others in delivering housing and the related supports for disabled people over the next five years. The areas that are to be addressed to deliver on the vision of the Strategy are set out as themes. Theme 2 of the NHSDP which is entitled ‘Interagency Collaboration and the Provision of Supports’ includes outcomes relating to the improvement of effective collaboration between local authorities and the HSE, better inter-departmental cooperation, aligning housing and support services and the sharing of relevant information between agencies.
The new Strategy operates within the framework of Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing with an appropriate mix of housing design types provided within social housing, including universally designed units, is available to everyone in Irish society, including those with disabilities and older people. Preparation of the Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People is at an advanced stage and will be completed by year end.
312. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the local adjustment factor for each local authority since the introduction of the local property tax by local authority, year and local adjustment factor in tabular form. [53033/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra314. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that was distributed to each local authority from the local property tax since its introduction each year. [53039/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 314 together.
Detailed information for the years 2015 to date, in respect of local property tax allocations to local authorities, including a breakdown of the local adjustment factors implemented by each local authority, is published by my Department on an annual basis and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ea27d-local-property-tax-allocations/.
