Written Answers Nos. 257-274
257. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals relating to financial assistance packages for first-time buyers or renovators that have been brought to his Department for costing and consideration; if he is giving consideration to any such packages; if so, when they will be available for drawdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupports for first time buyers are provided for under the Housing for All strategy which delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system. Housing for All has an ambitious target of 300,000 homes over the next decade for social, affordable and cost rental, private rental and private ownership housing.
Under pathway 1 of this strategy, “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”, I have introduced a range of schemes primarily targeted at supporting first-time buyers to purchase their own home.
Specifically, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme assists first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit. Affordable Purchase homes will be advertised on the relevant Local Authority’s website in advance of their sale, as well as eligibility requirements such as household income limits. The delivery of affordable housing by Local Authorities is supported by the Affordable Housing Fund, with €60 million being made available in 2022, increasing to €90 million in 2023.
The First Home affordable purchase shared equity scheme, which is available nationally, acts in a similar way to the Local Authority-led scheme, though it applies to homes purchased through the private market through the use of an equity share model. The scheme was launched on 7th July and, subject to eligibility criteria, it can provide funds up to 30% of the value of the property (or 20% if you use the Help to Buy Scheme).
Overall, the Scheme is intended to support up to 8,000 affordable purchases in the period out to 2026. The State has committed an overall funding envelope of €200m over the lifetime of the scheme to be matched by the participating lenders. Full details of the Scheme, including eligibility criteria, are available on the website: www.firsthomescheme.ie
Other measures, such as the Help to Buy Scheme (www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx) and the Local Authority Homeloan are also nationally available to eligible first-time purchasers to make home ownership more affordable.
The new Local Authority Home Loan commenced on 4 January 2022 and is a Government backed mortgage scheme for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used by first-time buyers for both for new and second-hand properties, or for self-builds. €250 million will be available in 2023 for lending under the expanded scheme. More details on the Local Authority Home Loan scheme are available on the following link: localauthorityhomeloan.ie
The Help-to-Buy incentive supports First-time Buyers in meeting the deposit requirements for newly-built houses or apartments, as well as self-build homes. Subject to the level of income tax and DIRT paid over the previous 4 years, the Help-to-Buy scheme provides a maximum benefit to First-Time Buyers of €30,000 or 10% of the cost of the newly constructed home. As of the end of September 2022, over 35,000 first-time buyers have been supported by the incentive. As part of Budget 2023, the Minister for Finance confirmed the continuation of the scheme until the end of 2024.
In relation to supports available to those looking to renovate vacant properties, Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.
Schemes under the Fund, which are delivered by local authorities, provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties and by providing serviced sites in towns and villages to people in order to build their own homes.
On the 14 July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant will benefit those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000. I am pleased to say that just today, I formally launched the extension of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme to eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas in addition to towns and villages.
On 21 September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.
In addition to the above, my colleague, Mr. Eamon Ryan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has introduced a range of retrofitting and renovation programmes for existing homeowners and communities which are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. More information is available at the following link: www.seai.ie
258. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the position of chairperson of An Bord Pleanála has been advertised; and the timeline for recruitment of the position. [56127/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the decision on 3 November 2022 of the Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála to retire early from his position, I announced my intention to initiate the process of appointing a new Chairperson. My Department is currently making the necessary arrangements to initiate the appointment process in accordance with the Planning and Development Act.
259. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish all reports given to him by various Departments on derelict properties in their ownership. [56128/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Action 19.9 of Housing for All (September 2021) it was agreed that all Government Departments examine their existing portfolio of properties and, subject to any obligations under the Public Spending Code, the Land Development Agency (LDA) Act 2021 or the State Property Act 1954, would place them on the market if they were not required and may be suitable for residential housing. This would allow for more efficient use of those buildings and provide opportunities for individuals and families to convert suitable buildings into homes.
In this context, my Department wrote to all Government Departments in December 2021 requesting that they review their respective portfolio of properties and assess what properties, if any, may be suitable for housing. All Departments responded to this request and further direct engagement is now taking place, led by the Housing for All State Lands Subgroup with those Departments who manage large property portfolios, albeit in the ownership of Office of Public Works (OPW), to identify potential underutilised properties which could be released for use for residential purposes. The importance of this work has been reinforced in the recently published Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022). Under Action 10.5 of the Update, there is a commitment to continue this engagement across Government Departments and Agencies to identity further State lands and property which could be made available for residential use (for example by local authorities, the LDA etc) and to report progress to Government in this regard by end Q2 2023.
Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland (September 2021) and the Housing for All Action Plan Update (November 2022) can be accessed on my Department’s website at the respective links:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/
www.gov.ie/en/publication/da0d1-action-plan-update-and-q3-2022-progress-report/
260. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the number of properties that have availed of the repair and lease scheme by county to date in 2022. [56164/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraData on the repair and leasing scheme in respect of all local authorities to end Q2 2022 is published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls
This includes the number of units delivered by each local authority since the launch of the scheme.
261. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the Housing for All targets localised to County Kerry to date in 2022. [56165/22]
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, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. 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; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026.
The table below shows the breakdown of the Housing for All social housing targets in Kerry for 2022.
|
- |
2022 Build Target |
2022 Lease Target |
2022 Build & Lease Target |
|
Kerry |
315 |
31 |
346 |
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity which provides a breakdown by local authority, including Kerry. 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/
262. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the eviction ban covers those in emergency accommodation who receive an eviction notice for refusal of alternative accommodation. [56184/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented, approved housing body, cost rental and student specific accommodation sectors and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. Subject to a limited number of exceptions, the Acts apply to every dwelling that is the subject of a tenancy. The Acts also apply to dwellings that are subject of a student licence in student specific accommodation.
When a household has been assessed as homeless by a local authority, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household. The provision of such accommodation and services is not subject to the Residential Tenancies Acts.
The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022 and relates to tenancy/licence agreements that fall within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022. Accordingly, the 2022 Act does not apply to the provision of emergency accommodation support to those experiencing Homelessness.
263. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider allocating space and funding for a public allotment in all new public parks, particularly those under the URDF scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56187/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of allotments is addressed within the guidelines on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas, a copy of which issued as Ministerial Guidance within the meaning of Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act (as amended) in 2009.
Within these guidelines, Section 4.18 - Recommended Qualitative Standards – refers to the need for a focus on the quality of public open space and the activities which take place therein in addition to addressing the reasonable expectations of users. This includes the consideration of allotments and community gardens, noting that they are of particular value in higher density areas. Local authorities must ‘have regard’ to these Section 28 Guidelines when carrying out their strategic planning or development management functions.
In terms of planning, providing, enabling and supporting allotments, legislation is in place in the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and the Local Government Act 2000 (as amended) to identify locations in development plans for allotment development, and to establish allotments as a part of local government’s role in promoting the interests of local communities. Identifying land for allotment development in a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members in considering and making the plan, while the provision of allotment or similar facilities on local authority land is a matter for each individual local authority including their elected members and is subject to availability of resources and community inputs and support for such proposals.
Regarding the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan, the URDF is currently providing part-funding to applicant-led 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. To this end, the URDF has already allocated in excess of €1.6 billion in funding to regeneration projects under two separate calls for proposals since its inception in 2018.
The criteria for the third call for proposals, the details of which I expect to announce in the coming weeks, are currently under development in cooperation with stakeholders. A key criteria will be for projects to contribute to the activation of vacant properties and the acceleration of residential developments within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and other large towns. This approach will ensure the projects supported by the URDF align with the objectives of other government policies such as Housing for All and Town Centre First.
My Department will continue to work closely with local authorities in respect of project development under Call 3. It should be noted however that responsibility for the composition of any proposals and their advancement through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the sponsoring agency.
264. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent on Traveller housing by each local authority in each of the years from 2019 to 2022, in tabular form. [56231/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra265. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to each local authority for Traveller housing in each of the years from 2019 to 2022. [56232/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
My Department ceased the practice of allocating specific budgets to individual local authorities and implemented a new allocation process following a review of arrangements for the disbursement of funding provision and related supports for Traveller specific accommodation. Since 2020, it is open to all local authorities to apply for and draw down funds at any time throughout the year and this is actively encouraged by my Department. Full spend of the Traveller specific accommodation budget has been achieved in both 2020 and 2021. The Traveller specific accommodation budget for 2022 is €18 million.
Accommodation for Traveller households is provided across a range of housing options including Traveller-specific projects and developments which provide group housing schemes and halting sites. The majority of Travellers live in standard housing, including local authority and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) housing and Housing Assistance Payments /Rental Assistance Scheme supported tenancies in the private rented sector. Funding for these housing supports are provided through the respective budget lines.
|
- |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Drawdown |
Drawdown |
Drawdown |
|
2019 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 To Date |
|
|
Carlow |
€ 70,000 |
€ 381,898 |
€ 206,986 |
€ - |
€ - |
|
Cavan |
€ 95,458 |
€ 94,500 |
€ 13,114 |
€ 518 |
€ - |
|
Clare |
€ 635,000 |
€ 669,389 |
€ 174,032 |
€ 954,403 |
€ 367,428 |
|
Cork City |
€ 275,799 |
€ 42,319 |
€ 1,504,850 |
€ 520,881 |
€ 664,986 |
|
Cork County |
€ 258,390 |
€ 184,745 |
€ 133,684 |
€ 55,496 |
€ 115,703 |
|
Donegal |
€ 161,816 |
€ - |
€ 245,498 |
€ 89,531 |
€ 386,560 |
|
Dublin City |
€ 1,628,695 |
€ 895,197 |
€ 2,066,977 |
€ 351,661 |
€ 1,014,320 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
€ - |
€ 32,834 |
€ 747,750 |
€ 371,077 |
€ 206,801 |
|
Fingal |
€ - |
€ 848,957 |
€ 486,858 |
€ 3,423,575 |
€ - |
|
Galway City |
€ - |
€ - |
€ 861,334 |
€ 2,005,132 |
€ 357,555 |
|
Galway County |
€ 1,412,596 |
€ 670,440 |
€ 1,107,714 |
€ 284,443 |
€ 287,272 |
|
Kerry |
€ 77,200 |
€ 75,131 |
€ 15,773 |
€ 80,165 |
€ 2,355,873 |
|
Kildare |
€ 1,000,000 |
€ 360,231 |
€ 261,110 |
€ 32,588 |
€ 167,627 |
|
Kilkenny |
€ 21,682 |
€ 408,856 |
€ 125,638 |
€ 145,184 |
€ 405,886 |
|
Laois |
€ - |
€ - |
€ 192,520 |
€ 129,826 |
€ 1,172,251 |
|
Leitrim |
€ 178,390 |
€ - |
€ 375,635 |
€ 369,810 |
|
|
Limerick City |
€ 1,015,179 |
€1,424,782 |
€ 2,370,922 |
€ 2,284,555 |
€ 133,949 |
|
Longford |
€ 2,922 |
€ - |
€ 406,014 |
€ 93,833 |
|
|
Louth |
€ 132,531 |
€ 341,863 |
€ 287,087 |
€ 15,000 |
€ 199,343 |
|
Mayo |
€ - |
€ - |
€ 215,951 |
€ 591,614 |
€ 172,698 |
|
Meath |
€ 75,000 |
€ 91,790 |
€ 58,845 |
€ 927,111 |
€ 325,633 |
|
Monaghan |
€ 100,000 |
€ - |
€ 423,201 |
€ 413,028 |
€ 448,191 |
|
Offaly |
€ 815,117 |
€ 692,329 |
€ 499,833 |
€ 246,126 |
€ 196,204 |
|
Roscommon |
€ 253,084 |
€ 73,843 |
€ 148,168 |
€ 96,829 |
€ 927,104 |
|
Sligo |
€ 1,435,913 |
€1,131,397 |
€ 1,193,489 |
€ 86,345 |
€ 215,855 |
|
South Dublin |
€ 130,557 |
€ 106,719 |
€ 284,390 |
€ 358,873 |
€ 46,601 |
|
Tipperary |
€ 25,655 |
€ - |
€ 156,731 |
€ 873,547 |
€ 1,332,304 |
|
Waterford City |
€ 170,000 |
€ 77,562 |
€ 14,549 |
€ 173,817 |
€ 200,039 |
|
Westmeath |
€ 100,000 |
€ - |
€ 114,326 |
€ - |
|
|
Wexford |
€ 335,000 |
€ 52,870 |
€ 30,382 |
€ 113,610 |
€ 165,948 |
|
Wicklow |
€ 104,533 |
€ - |
€ 180,305 |
€ 469,014 |
€ 225,481 |
|
Reserve |
€ 2,489,484 |
||||
|
Total allocation |
€10,510,516 |
||||
|
TOTAL |
€13,000,000 |
€8,657,652 |
€14,497,654 |
€15,499,963 |
€ 12,555,254 |
266. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter regarding a complaint made to the Ombudsman Office concerning a breach of a statutory requirement, under section 53(1) of the Building Control Act 2007 by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56252/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Control Act 2007 provides for the registration of persons entitled to use the professional title of Building Surveyor.
Part 5 of the Act establishes the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) as the registration body for building surveyors. Assessment for registration is the responsibility of the SCSI and is a matter for that body.
Part 53(1) of the Building Control Act provides that a person adversely affected by a decision of the Admissions Board, the Technical Assessment Board or the Professional Conduct Committee may appeal to the Appeals Board against the decision.
It is understood that, in the matter the Question refers to, these procedures were followed and the Office of the Ombudsman has advised that it is precluded from investigating this complaint but that a right of appeal to the High Court is available.
267. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the report on the rural water framework will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56268/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, through Exchequer funding, delivers improvements to water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services.
A working group – the Rural Water Working Group – is considering the composition of the measures for inclusion for funding under the upcoming multi-annual programme and I expect to have their report soon. Once I have had an opportunity to consider it, I will announce details of the programme priorities and an invitation to local authorities to submit bids will follow.
268. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the General Scheme of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Remediation Bill 2022; when further details will be available, including the way that applications can be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing 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 on the 23 July, 2022.
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 necessary Regulations to facilitate the commencement of the Act is ongoing and the Regulations will provide for all matters within the Act which are to be prescribed including but not limited to the grant rates, damage threshold, and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, and declarations. Guidelines to facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme by designated local authorities will also be drafted by my Department as the Regulations are completed. Ensuring that the Regulations and Guidance are comprehensive and that all relevant stakeholders have been consulted and that the enhanced scheme will work for everyone, is the main priority.
My Department recently published a comprehensive and updated “Your Questions Answered” document on the Department’s website to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them. It can be accessed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/
269. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ready to build scheme, serviced sites for new homes will be extended to rural areas as part of the croí cónaithe towns fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56287/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.
Schemes under the Fund, which are delivered by local authorities, provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties and by providing serviced sites in towns and villages to people in order to build their own homes.
In July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages but I am pleased to say that as of the 15 November, the expanded grant also includes eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas (in addition to those in towns and villages, which have been eligible since July). www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/
A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.
On 21 September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded by the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.
At present, there are no plans to extend the Ready to Build Scheme to rural areas. However, both schemes will continue to be kept under review, with the a comprehensive overall review and evaluation of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund to be undertaken no later than mid-2024.
270. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when an increase in the social housing income thresholds in County Tipperary will be increased; the reason that the thresholds were not increased in Tipperary in the last review; the percentage of a household's income that is deemed a reasonable percentage to be paid on rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56319/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra271. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an exception will be made to take into account the pressures that a person (details supplied) was under from the healthcare sector to work the additional shifts to cover leave and which has now resulted in homelessness; if he will consider this case and the urgent need to increase the income thresholds in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56320/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.
I am currently considering potential changes to the social housing income eligibility model.
In the meantime, I have approved proposals to scope and develop options for a new income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency which has been tasked with commissioning it and I expect the work will complete in the next few months.
I have also approved changes to the social housing income eligibility bands. Five local authorities - Carlow, Clare, Galway County, Laois and Westmeath - have moved from Band 3 to Band 2. Accordingly, the baseline income threshold for these areas has increased from €25,000 to €30,000. The change reflected the movement in rents in recent years in these areas and ensures 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.
Household income is assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities have scope to disregard once-off, temporary or short-term income and which is outside the regular pattern of a person’s annual income.
Rent Supplement may be available for persons in the private rented sector who have experienced recent changes in household circumstances and require short-term rent support.
Measures of housing cost affordability typically range from 30% to 40% of total disposable household income.
272. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will be expanding the €50 million scheme providing funding for water services infrastructure in rural villages that currently are outside Irish Water's investment programmes; if he will consider the inclusion of Carrigaholt, Cooraclare and Doolin, County Clare, in any expanded scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56338/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 28 April 2022, I announced a new funding measure, as an advance stage of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2022-2025, for the waste water collection and treatment needs of villages and settlements that do not have access to public waste water services. An allocation of €50 million has been committed under the National Development Plan for up to 2025 for the measure, which will focus on areas of most need based on housing and environmental criteria.
It was open to all rural local authorities to submit, on a priority basis, up to two applications for funding by the deadline of 15 September 2022. Clare County Council have submitted applications for Broadford and Cooraclare.
It is hoped that at least ten demonstration projects nationally will be supported under this first round of funding. The demonstration project model will allow for the development of appropriate longer-term strategies, protocols and better inform future funding needs for the progressive development of public waste water collection and treatment infrastructure in villages/settlements that are currently without these services.
273. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of group sewerage schemes that were approved funding in each county in the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56341/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021 included a measure to fund Community Waste Water Connections (previously called Public Group Sewerage Schemes), Measure 6(b). This measure aims to facilitate the continued expansion of central waste water collection systems by extension off the public (Irish Water) network where it is technically and economically viable to do so.
Allocations under this scheme were announced in October 2019 and a circular issued at the time to local authorities provided details in tabular format of all projects being funded and their allocations. The circular is available on my Department's website at the link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/cf807-circular-l219-approval-of-schemesprojects-under-the-multi-annual-rural-water-programme-2019-2021-and-grant-allocations-to-local-authorities-for-2019/
No further funding allocations have been made.
274. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason certain parts of the Voter.ie website are only available if a person lives in Dublin; when Voter.ie was implemented; and the reason that a public information campaign is not in place to raise public awareness of this service. [56352/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraVoter.ie is an initiative of the Dublin local authorities that offers online registration via MyGovID on its front end portal and a shared back-end database within which each Dublin local authority continues to manage the electoral register for its own administrative area. The public Voter.ie portal went live in 2019 and the Dublin authorities have since run a number of awareness campaigns around Voter.ie to raise awareness of the service.
The Electoral Reform Act 2022, enacted on 25 July, delivers the legislative underpinning for a range of significant electoral reforms set out in the “Programme for Government – Our Shared Future”. Provisions commenced on 13 October under S.I. No. 512 of 2022, included those provisions necessary for the introduction of the new processes in relation to electoral registration.
As part of progressing the commitment to developing a national shared electoral registration system, as provided for in the legislation, a governance structure drawn from central and local government has been put in place to consider the further development of Voter.ie in this regard. Dublin City Council is the lead authority for this project which is expected to go to tender in H1 2023.
To ensure that the benefits of the modernised registration process are available across the country, www.checktheregister.ie site was upgraded for use by all local authorities in the intervening period. People can now use checktheregister.ie to register for the first time and confirm or update their details by adding their PPSN, date of birth and Eircode. As of 14 November almost 20,000 people across all 31 local authority areas have used the site to register or update their details. Voter.ie with MyGovID authentication remains an additional option for electors in Dublin.
This current data quality phase of the electoral registration modernisation project enables people to easily update their own details and will assist all local authorities in improving the quality and integrity of the register and is therefore the subject of a national awareness campaign which began on 7 November and will run to 2 December. The new national system, once available, will facilitate further data quality improvements while enabling a single high level of data protection and security to be applied to the data underpinning the electoral register.
