Written Answers Nos. 80-97
81. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider removing the broadcasting levy that is paid by independent radio stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58187/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ('the Act') provides that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) may impose a levy on broadcasters for the purposes of meeting the cost of fulfilling their functions ('the broadcasting levy'). The design and implementation of the broadcasting levy is matter for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as an independent regulatory body.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas, will dissolve the BAI and established a new body, Coimisiún na Meán, to oversee the regulatory framework for broadcasting, video-on-demand services and online safety set out in the Bill.
The new body will be funded by a levy which will be placed on all regulated entities, including broadcasters, which will ultimately replace the broadcasting levy. Specifically, section 7 of the OSMR Bill will substitute a new section 21 of the Act, which will provide the legal basis for Coimisiún na Meán to prepare and impose the levy or levies. Under that section, each category of regulated entity will be required to contribute proportionally to the cost of the functions relating to that category. In addition, community broadcasters will be exempt from the levy, which is not the case with the existing broadcasting levy.
Under the transitional provisions of the OSMR Bill, the existing broadcasting levy will remain in place until it is replaced by a levy made under section 21 of the Act (as substituted by the Bill), but only insofar as it is required to fund the broadcasting-related activities of Coimisiún na Meán.
A reduction in the broadcasting levy is not the only way to support the independent radio sector. At present, a number of schemes are available to the sector:
- the Sound and Vision Scheme operated by the BAI; and,
- in Budget 2023, I secured €6 million for the establishment of the Media Fund. This will initially fund two schemes, a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and Court Reporting Schemes which will be administered by Coimisiún na Meán on a platform-neutral basis.
In addition to the 7% of net licence fee receipts which is used to fund Sound and Vision Scheme, I have allocated an additional €25.4 million in Exchequer funding to the Scheme since 2020. Over that period the Scheme has ring-fenced €5 million for independent radio and €1.2 million for community radio to be distributed through dedicated funding rounds. Any open rounds of the Scheme were also open to the independent radio sector.
82. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has considered any measures to allow the change of use for vacant office blocks in town and city centres, in view of predictions of an increase in office vacancy rates; and if so, if he will detail these measures. [58201/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has introduced a number of significant measures to incentivise the increased use of vacant housing stock. These initiatives include the Repair and Leasing Scheme and the Buy and Renew Scheme, as well as the introduction of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2018, which came into operation on 8 February 2018 providing for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises, including the conversion of vacant areas above ground floor commercial premises, to residential use.
This last-mentioned measure was aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply. The original expiry date of the Regulations was 31 December 2021 which was subsequently extended to 25 February 2022 arising from the Covid-related shutdown of the planning system for 8 weeks during the period March to May 2020, which extended all planning timelines by 8 weeks.
Both Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 to 2025 and the recently published Housing Plan for Ireland - Housing for All committed to reviewing and extending the 2018 regulations to the end of 2025.
New regulations entitled the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 75 of 2022) were signed into law by Minister O'Brien on 21 February last, thereby delivering on this commitment. In addition a new class of use eligible to avail of the planning exemption was also included in the regulations – that of public houses (up to a maximum of 9 residential units). This is designed to ease the burden of converting pubs, which are no longer viable and have ceased to operate, to residential accommodation.
In addition to the foregoing, 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.
In July, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund was launched. 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 as of the 15 November, the grant has been expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas (in addition to those in towns and villages, which have been eligible since July).
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.
Earlier this month, my colleague Mr Malcolm Noonan presented Draft Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2022 to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for consideration. These draft regulations provide for the temporary change of use by or on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of a wide list of buildings and structures, including vacant commercial property and office blocks, to accommodate or support persons seeking international protection. I propose to sign these regulations into law following approval by the Oireachtas.
Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for, when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. These exemptions provided for in the Planning and Development Regulations are kept under regular review. I have no plans to introduce any further measures in this regard at this point in time but I would propose to keep possible further measures in this area under ongoing review.
83. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social houses built in circumstances in which the State is leasing the house from a private developer in each of the past five years to date; the number of social houses funded through housing agencies that are leased from private development companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58232/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments.
Long term lease arrangements can be entered into by either local authorities or approved housing bodies for periods of between 10 and 25 years.
Local authorities lease dwellings taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable communities’ considerations and value for money. These properties are allocated to households on the social housing waiting list. As such, the type and size of dwelling leased, the new or existing dwelling status, the entities from whom the houses are leased and the allocation of those dwellings, is a matter for the relevant local authority having regard to its most recent housing needs assessment.
Full details of the new or existing dwelling status, as well as details of the owner involved in each social housing leasing project, are not held by my Department.
Data on social housing leasing delivery, funded by my Department, in respect of all local authorities to end Q2 2022 is published on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
84. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses that have been procured or built by the State for persons with disabilities by county in each of the past five years. [58233/22]
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. 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.
In January 2022, I launched the second joint National Housing Strategy for Disabled People (NHSDP) 2022-2027. This strategy operates within the framework of Housing for All 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.
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/. While the data does not include specific details on the numbers of units delivered or acquired on behalf of people with disabilities, this data may be available from the individual local authorities.
The Housing Agency also publishes data in relation to the number of social housing allocations to disabled people. Data from 2016- 2020 is available in the NHSDP at the following website gov.ie - National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022–2027 (www.gov.ie)
The Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), provides that funding of up to 100% of project costs may be advanced by local authorities to Approved Housing Bodies to provide accommodation for priority categories on the housing waiting list including elderly, persons/families who are homeless and people with a disability. Expenditure under this programme from 2017-2021 supported the delivery of 489 units of accommodation for persons with a disability and persons moving out of a congregated setting environment. Details are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Construction |
Acquisitions |
Totals No of units delivered |
Number of units of accommodation delivered for people with a disability to include persons moving out of a congregated setting environment. |
|
2017 |
70 |
357 |
427 |
85 |
|
2018 |
183 |
302 |
485 |
111 |
|
2019 |
142 |
428 |
570 |
80 |
|
2020 |
156 |
248 |
404 |
102 |
|
2021 |
141 |
211 |
352* |
111 |
*In addition to 352 units of accommodation 150 bed spaces were provided for single homeless individuals.
85. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that his Department has allocated to each local authority for the purpose of maintenance and repairs of council houses in each of the past five years. [58235/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities to manage and maintain their own stock, my Department does provide annual funding support to local authorities for management and maintenance under a number of funding programmes.
Under the Voids Programme, my Department has supported local authorities in refurbishing vacant social homes and returning them to productive use. This funding programme was introduced in 2014 and has to the end of 2021 returned 18,527 properties to use with Exchequer funding of €261m from my Department.
Statistics in relation to this scheme are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme
Under the Energy Efficiency Programme, my Department funds the carrying out of retrofitting works to local authority dwellings. From 2013-2020 the Programme was implemented in 2 Phases: Phase 1 Attic Insulation/Cavity Wall Insulation and Phase 2 focuses on the fabric upgrades to dwellings. Over the period 2013 to 2020 over 73,500 units of social housing stock have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of €161 million under the scheme (most of which were completed under Phase 1).
In response to the Programme for Government commitment, my Department launched a newly revised ten year Energy Efficiency Programme in 2021 for local authority owned housing. This new programme set a BER performance requirement of “B2” or cost optimal level. The upscaling of the works included in the programme sees a substantial overall increase in funding being made available for insulation, windows and doors and heating upgrades, specifically the installation of a Heat Pump and associated works. The installation of gas/oil boilers are no longer supported under the energy efficiency programme funded by my Department.
Statistics in relation to this scheme are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020-2022, the details of which are available on the following link:
gov.ie - Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme - Expenditure and Units (www.gov.ie)
Under the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme, my Department funds local authorities in carrying out necessary adaptation works to local authority properties to cater for the needs of elderly and disabled tenants and families living in overcrowded conditions in local authority properties. From 2017-2021 my Department has provided exchequer funding of over €83m to support this programme, the details of which can be found on the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/544a0-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-units-funded-by-the-department/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0d9e5-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-units-funded-by-the-department-2017-2020/
My Department will continue to support local authorities for stock improvement works and details in relation to 2022 outturn will be available on the above links early in 2023. However it is also important that local authorities increasingly seek to move to a planned management and maintenance approach of their housing stock. In this regard, €5 million in funding has been ring-fenced for Planned Maintenance under this years Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme to support the implementation of an ICT asset management system for the local authority sector and to provide a funding contribution for the commencement of stock condition surveys.
86. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses that have been built in Ireland to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58236/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra88. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social houses built in Ireland by county to date in 2022, in tabular form. [58238/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra89. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social houses built, acquired and leased nationally by county in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [58239/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 88 and 89 together.
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 build, acquisition and lease units broken down by local authority. 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: https://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 tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 2 2022 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/5a259-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q2-2022/
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis at the link below: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q2-2022?package_type=dataset
The Quarter 3 statistics are being collated and will be published in due course, in conjunction with the Quarter 3 Construction Status Report.
Data in relation to new dwelling completions is published by the Central Statistics Office on a quarterly basis and can be accessed via the following link: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-ndc/newdwellingcompletionsq32022/
87. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties purchased by cuckoo and vulture funds that have housed families exiting emergency accommodation by county in tabular form. [58237/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate data of the type referred to in the Question.
90. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if compensation will be paid to a person (details supplied). [58343/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised that there is no record of an application for compensation received by my Department from the individual mentioned in the question. Officials from my Department will make contact with the individual, at the address provided, to assist with the request to apply for compensation, and a letter will issue in due course.
91. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when compensation will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58344/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme administered by my Department was received on 1st of February 2022 from the individual referred to in the question.
The qualification criteria for the scheme are that:
- The applicant must have had a legal interest/ownership or a Turbary Right (right to cut turf) in one of the 53 Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation encompassed by the scheme on the 25th of May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from that property on that date.
- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the qualifying five year period up to 31st December 2011 and the turf resource has not been exhausted.
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
I am advised that my Department continues to check that all the qualifying criteria of the scheme have been met and that officials from my Department have made contact with the applicant with a view to further processing the application.
92. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding allocation for the disabled persons grant scheme in respect of local authority owned housing, by local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58346/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra93. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total funding drawn down for the disabled persons grant scheme in respect of local authority owned housing, by local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58347/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together.
My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of local authorities.
My Department's approach every year is to issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the varying works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants. The programme is 90% funded by the Department with a 10% contribution from the Local Authority.
The allocation and drawdown of funding for each local authority for the period 2011-2021 for the Disabled Persons Grant, which incorporates Improvement Works in Lieu, is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/061cd-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c472d-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown-2011-2020/
94. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant buildings identified and recommended to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the provision of emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers; the breakdown of the number of buildings per county; and the potential bed capacity in each local authority. [58386/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is continuing to work closely with local authorities and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to identify, refurbish, and bring into use, multi-unit vacant properties that may be suitable and available for accommodation purposes for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.
In cases where buildings identified as vacant do not require refurbishment, my Department notifies DCEDIY, so that the appropriate follow up can take place. As at 21 November 2022, 35 such buildings, with an approximate capacity of 2,130 spaces, have been notified to the DCEDIY.
Noting that many of these buildings are privately owned, it would be inappropriate to publish the details of individual buildings. Final decisions on whether such properties progress for use, including whether they are suitable for refurbishment or conversion into multi-unit emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees are made by DCEDIY with input from my Department.
95. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, under the Electoral Reform Act 2022, it is the intention of Government and local authorities to remove persons from the electoral register in the absence of them registering under the new electoral registration system. [58387/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The reforms include the introduction of rolling (continuously updated) registration; the use of PPSNs and the simplification of the overall registration process.
A national awareness campaign began on 7 November to inform the public of the changes to the registration process and to encourage everyone to check and either confirm or update their details on the register - including by adding their date of birth, PPSN and Eircode. The upgraded check the register website enables people to easily submit requests to update their own details.
Under amendments to the Electoral Act 1992 made by the Electoral Reform Act 2022, the management and maintenance of the electoral register remains a matter for each local authority in respect of its administrative area. The current process aims to encourage people to engage with the register with a view to improving overall data quality. Where there is no engagement, i.e. where entries are not updated, the local authority can follow up in order to check or confirm the accuracy of the information on the register. Where, for the purposes of maintaining an accurate and complete register, a local authority considers it necessary to remove a name, other than the name of a deceased person, from the register, the Act provides a clear process for doing so. The provision requires three documented attempts at contact, which aims to provide a balance between allowing people ample opportunity to engage and ensuring a local authority can fulfil its statutory duty to maintain a complete and accurate register.
96. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Traveller sites in County Clare; the number of individuals that each site has capacity for in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58399/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Housing Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. It is therefore a matter for the local authority concerned, in this case Clare County Council, regarding the assessment and provision of accommodation for Travellers. The information sought is not available in my Department and may be available from the local authority.
97. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there will be any consideration given to the challenges faced by some elderly and disabled persons in accessing the choice-based letting model of provision of social housing; if the attention of his Department has been drawn to reports of constituents struggling to access these platforms due to digital literacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58400/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities operate a number of Choice Based Letting systems. Several offer paper-based systems, while others offer both paper-based and online services.
Local authorities are generally helpful in assisting applicants to apply for their services and anyone who has difficulty in accessing should contact their local authority.
