Written Answers Nos 81-111
89. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any plans to change the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability so as to take sensory disabilities into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3421/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides exchequer funding to local authorities to support the Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability which supports disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs.
This grant is for people with a physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability. In general, it can be used for works such as level access showers, accessible bathrooms, access ramps, stair lifts or extensions.
I can confirm that the grant is available for the carrying out of works of adaptation that, in the opinion of the local authority, are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for a member of the household who has an enduring sensory impairment.
The focus of the grants is on infrastructural and adaptation works. The types of works allowable under the scheme for those with specific sensory needs include the provision, or adaptation of, rooms to provide a sensory space or other works which are reasonably necessary.
Applications of this nature should be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment of the applicant by specialist healthcare professionals.
The total funding available for the suite of Housing Adaptation grants has increased to over €83 million for 2023, continuing the year on year increase since 2014 for these extremely important grants.
90. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 1 December 2022, the status of the development of the promised section 28 guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht areas; when it is expected that the public consultation will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3532/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Interdepartmental Group (comprising of officials from my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is in place to support and accelerate the ongoing work in relation to planning in Gaeltacht areas.
One of the key aims of this interdepartmental group is to ensure that procedures and systems will be tailored, as appropriate to facilitate an effective and consistent approach by the relevant local authorities in managing planning related issues in Gaeltacht areas.
The Interdepartmental Group has been examining how current practices in the application of these provisions could be strengthened in the overall interest of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht and in the interests of proper planning and sustainable development, underpinned by a policy currently being finalised by the Department Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. This policy is critical to the development of the Section 28 Guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht Areas, which my Department is in the process of finalising a draft for my review.
These draft guidelines must be subject to screening for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). Subject to the outcome of the screening assessments, which will commence shortly, a draft of the guidelines will be published for consultation in Q2 2023.
91. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of rural one-off houses completed in each local authority area in 2022; the percentage of overall completions that these houses represent in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3664/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraData relating to new dwelling completions is published by the CSO on a quarterly basis. There are three new dwelling classification types:- single house, scheme house and apartment. Single dwellings are defined as one-off dwellings connected to the ESB network. The ESB domestic connections dataset provides information on the type of connection and whether it is in an urban or rural area.
CSO data on new dwelling completions is currently available for the first three quarters of 2022. A breakdown of new completions by the three dwelling types in each local authority area is available on the CSO website at www.data.cso.ie. However, the breakdown of single houses by urban or rural area is only available at a nationwide level.
In the first three quarters of 2022, 20,807 new dwellings were completed. This is more than the 20,560 new dwellings completed in the whole of 2021. Of these 20,807 dwellings, 3,221 or 15.5% were single, one-off dwellings in rural areas. The 3,221 single dwellings completed in rural areas represents 81% of the total single dwellings completed nationwide, with the remaining 19% or 753 being completed in urban areas.
92. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the legislation for a directly elected mayor with executive functions in Limerick; the date for the publication of the legislation; if he plans to proceed with the mayoral election in Limerick in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3654/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in relation to the drafting of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick city and county) Bill, which is well advanced.
Finalisation of this complex Bill has been identified as a priority and I am working towards the Bill being published in April. It is my hope that the Bill would be able to progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas during the 2023 summer session.
The timing of the Limerick Mayoral Election will be a matter for Government once the Bill is enacted.
A public information campaign about this significant change in the way in which Limerick will be governed will be very important.
93. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans he has for further reform in the rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3714/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government and I are committed to supporting and developing a fair and effective residential rental sector that is efficient, stable and responsive and that provides long-term and secure tenancies and investment returns.
As set out in the Housing for All Action Plan Update (published in November, 2022), my Department has commissioned a comprehensive review of the private rental sector. This review will take into account the significant regulatory changes over the past several years will report on how our housing system provides an efficient, affordable, safe and secure framework for both landlords and tenants.
This review will include a thematic review of the principal and relevant elements of the Rental Market and the Government will act on its recommendations. Its conclusion will be utilised to inform future policy direction for the Rental Market.
The review which is already underway and will be concluded as early as possible, will include a public consultation as well as targeted engagement of various external stakeholders.
In terms of the operation of the Residential Tenancies Acts more generally, any changes to the Acts require careful consideration and my Department engages with all relevant stakeholders, including the Attorney General, the Residential Tenancies Board, as well as landlord and tenant representative bodies, to ensure that legislative change is made in a careful, fair, measured and balanced manner.
94. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delays in the publication of measures considered by the rural water working group for inclusion in the 2022-2025 multi-annual rural water programme; when the framework for local authority submissions will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3631/23]
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.
The Rural Water Working Group will shortly finalise the composition of the measures for inclusion for funding under the upcoming multi-annual programme. When I have had an opportunity to consider their report, I expect to announce details of the programme priorities, along with an invitation to local authorities to submit bids, in the coming months.
An Expert Panel will then evaluate all appropriate bids and, based on the recommendations of the Panel, a report will be submitted for my consideration and approval later this year.
In April 2022, I announced funding for a new €50m measure, an advanced element under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme, for the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs of Villages and Settlements without access to public waste water services. Local authorities were given an opportunity to submit early and comprehensive bids for funding under this scheme. Valid bids are currently being evaluated by the Expert Panel and I expect to be in a position to announce successful projects soon.
95. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review of the capital advance leasing facility scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3533/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures for the period to 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play over the period of Housing For All.
The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding model has worked very successfully for more than a decade. Under the Housing for All Action Plan Update, a specific objective, Action 4, is to “review the structure and operation of CALF to assess whether any refinements to the facility are required to support delivery of social housing by the AHB sector across a wider range of Local Authority areas, and to identify resulting actions for implementation.” The review was commenced in Q4 2021 and my Department has had the assistance and support of the Housing Agency during the review process.
One of the key purposes of this review was to consider the structure of the P&A-CALF funding model to determine if it should be adjusted to support delivery by the AHB sector across a wider range of areas and what options might be available to enable this. This is a recognition that the CALF model historically did not work well in areas with lower rental market values. The review is also cognisant of the significant rise in construction inflation and increases in interest rates so these aspects have been considered in the context of the recommendations for a revised funding model.
My Department, in conjunction with colleagues in the Housing Agency and relevant stakeholders, has now prepared a number of draft recommendations and a draft report on the CALF Review. I have considered these draft recommendations and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will shortly consider a request for sanction for the changes to the CALF Funding model. It is planned to implement the new methodology for the P&A-CALF funding model as soon as approval has been obtained. The implementation will be assisted by a Circular to guide the sector along with intensive stakeholder engagement to explain the changes and this will take place in Q1 2023.
97. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new-build social homes that were delivered in 2022 in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3719/23]
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.
Local authorities were provided with multi-annual social housing targets for the period 2022-2026. Mayo County Council had a target to deliver 90 social homes in 2022. Under Housing for All, all local authorities were details to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social housing delivery for the period 2022-2026 Mayo County Council has published their action plan on their website and this outlines an ambitious social housing delivery programme in line with targets I have issued to the Council.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated so I do not have full details on Mayo delivery for 2022. I expect to that this data will be finalised and published in the coming weeks. The most recent Construction Status Report shows that at the end of Quarter 3 there were 120 social homes under construction in Mayo, across nine different schemes, and a further 224 homes across 19 schemes at various stages of the design and pre-tender stages.
98. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to assist communities in improving wastewater infrastructure. [3404/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government supports the uptake of Uisce Éireann's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, to provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Uisce Éireann's capital investment plan.
I understand that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has approved an allocation of almost €100 million for this programme. Across the country Uisce Éireann is working with local authorities to ensure that the investment supports the growth of identified settlements, as prioritised in local authority development plans.
In addition, my Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, using Exchequer funding is delivering improvements to water services, including waste water, in areas of rural Ireland without public water services.
On 28 April 2022 I announced funding for a new measure under 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 the new measure, which will focus on areas of most need based on housing and environmental criteria. The first round of funding will follow a demonstration project model approach and 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.
The closing date for receipt of applications was 15 September 2022. An independent Expert Panel is currently evaluating all valid applications and based on the report from the Panel, recommendations for funding will be made.
99. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on his trip to COP15; the pledges and commitments that were made on behalf of the Government at that conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3472/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attended the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal in December and was delighted to address the High-Level Segment of the meeting on behalf of Ireland.
The Irish delegation, led by my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, negotiated at COP as part of the European Union. The position of the EU and its Member States supported an ambitious global biodiversity framework that will halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
Following two weeks of challenging negotiations and discussions, Parties were able to agree on a new framework that will deliver on many of the priorities set out it the EU position papers leading up to the meeting in Montreal.
I now look forward to working with our colleagues and partners on putting these outcomes into action through implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and Ireland's new National Biodiversity Action Plan which will be published later this year.
The historic agreement reached at COP15 includes targets to restore 30% degraded ecosystems globally (on land and sea) by 2030, and to ensure, that, by 2030, at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas are effectively conserved and managed.
100. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the next call for applications under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund will be made given the need for public realm infrastructure improvements in east Cork as a result of rising population levels in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2525/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan (NDP), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) provides part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns, while also ensuring that more parts of our urban areas can become attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest and to visit.
To this end, the URDF has already allocated in excess of €1.6 billion under two separate calls for proposals since its inception in 2018. Providing assistance to 132 proposals, comprising of almost 400 subprojects, URDF projects are now active in every local authority area in the country.
To date, approximately €16.5 million in URDF funding has been provisionally approved to support nine projects in Cork County, five of which contain subprojects relating to improved public realm. Delivery on projects already approved is a key priority going forward. My Department will continue to work closely with local authorities in respect of project development but it should be noted that responsibility for the advancement of projects is a matter for the sponsoring agency, in this instance Cork County Council.
In relation to a further call for applications, Minister O’Brien plans to announce details in the coming days of a third round of funding under the URDF.
102. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the provision of affordable housing in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3424/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication of Housing for All, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. 18 local authorities, including Carlow, were asked to include planned affordable housing delivery in those Plans. I also set five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets for those local authorities last March. Carlow County Council published its final Plan last July.
Funding is available from my Department to assist in the delivery of affordable housing in Carlow. While to date, my Department has not received any application for funding under the Affordable Housing Fund from Carlow, my Department met with Carlow County Council to discuss their affordable housing need and I also discussed affordable housing with them at two Housing Summits last year. Assistance has been offered by both my Department and via the Housing Agency and Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office. Additionally, I have sanctioned two additional staff to support the delivery of affordable housing in Carlow which I expect will assist Carlow County Council to develop their affordable housing pipeline.
Finally, the First Home Scheme, launched last July, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market from 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available in Carlow and nationwide.
104. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can detail, the expected increase in social housing applicants as a result of the recent changes to the income thresholds; the measures his Department is taking to deal with any increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3717/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn estimated 16,000 additional households may be eligible as a result of recent changes to the social housing income eligibility thresholds.
Under Housing for All, the Government is providing significant investment to support the delivery of some 90,000 social homes over the lifetime of the plan. This includes 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 homes through long-term leasing between 2022 and 2026. In 2023, funding is available to deliver 11,800 social homes, including 9,100 new build homes. This substantial uplift in supply will help meet demand for social housing over the period to 2030.
It is estimated that a total of 28,000 public and private dwellings were delivered in 2022, significantly exceeding the Housing for All target of 24,600. Recognising the ongoing challenges in the sector, Government's priority is to ensure that the robust delivery to date is maintained in 2023 and into 2024.
To this end, the Housing for All Action Plan Update focuses on actions that will secure the required levels of supply. The plan includes, for example, a new action to support increased use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in public housing, which should accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing and help meet demand arising in the coming years.
105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline his plans to accelerate the servicing of housing land in order that councils can include plans for social and affordable homes on these lands in their targets to 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3651/23]
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.A key action of Housing for All is that local authorities developed and submitted Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans also include details of the land available to deliver housing projects and details of land acquisition requirements, where a local authority does not have access to sufficient serviced land in the relevant locations. To support local authorities to acquire land to deliver new build schemes, I have established a dedicated land acquisition fund to be funded and overseen by my Department and managed by the Housing Agency. This new fund will support the acquisition of land by local authorities to deliver new build projects.
In addition, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), has agreed housing delivery associated with 24 infrastructure projects contributing to the delivery of 16,150 homes. Construction of housing has started on a number of projects and 4,715 units were completed by September 2022.
106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way that the Government plans to encourage 16-to-18-year-olds to pre-register for the electoral register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3197/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Electoral Reform Act 2022, 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 provisions which modernise electoral registration, including the requirement for each registration authority to establish and maintain a pending elector list. This enables the pre-registration of 16 and 17 year olds, who are then transferred to the electoral register automatically when they turn 18.
A national awareness campaign took place in November 2022 to inform the public of the changes to the registration process and to encourage people to register and update their details. The upgraded checktheregister.ie website enables young people to easily submit requests to pre-register. As part of ongoing awareness raising, posters have also been distributed to organisations working with young people, and a further awareness campaign will be undertaken in 2023 taking account of the outcomes of the 2022 campaign.
In addition, one of the functions of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, once established, will be to promote public awareness of, and participation in, the State’s electoral and democratic processes through public education and public information programmes, including for young people.
107. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the owner occupier guarantee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3710/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the “Supporting Homeownership and Increasing Affordability” pillar of “Housing for All”, the Government committed to introducing a form of ‘owner-occupier guarantee’, which would enable Local Authorities to specify the proportion of houses and duplexes in a development for owner-occupiers.
In support of this commitment the Government introduced a series of measures in May 2021 designed to prohibit the bulk buying of houses and duplexes. This included the Section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities “Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing” which aimed to prevent multiple units being sold to a single buyer.
The Section 28 Guidelines provide an ‘owner-occupier’ guarantee by ensuring that new ‘own-door’ houses and duplex units in housing developments can no longer be bulk-purchased by institutional investors in a manner that causes the displacement of individual purchasers or social and affordable housing, including cost-rental. The Guidelines included requirements that a new form of condition be inserted in applicable new planning permissions, to the effect that:
(1) all houses would have to be made available for sale and for first occupation by separate, individual households for a period of years after completion of the home. (In the case of mixed developments, the provision only applies to the houses and duplex units and not apartments.);(2) exempts housing to be provided for social or affordable purposes from this requirement; and(3) if, after a period of two years, the local authority is satisfied that despite reasonable efforts, a market has not emerged, the condition will lapse.
On 9 June 2022, Minister O’Brien published a 12 month progress update on the Section 28 planning measures introduced in May 2021 to increase home ownership and restrict the practice of bulk purchasing by institutional investors. It demonstrated that almost 16,000 residential units had been ring-fenced for individual buyers and restricted from bulk buying or multiple sales to a single purchaser. As of December 2022, this estimate had increased further to over 23,000 residential units.
109. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the publication of a report from the Commission on Housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3577/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with commitments in the Programme for Government and Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland, The Housing Commission was established by Government in December 2021 to independently examine and review the housing system in Ireland. The Commission has been tasked to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing, all of which have long-term impacts on communities. This will include efficient functioning of the markets for construction and provision. The Commission will also bring forward proposals on the wording for a referendum on housing.
The Commission is scheduled to conclude its work by the third quarter of this year.
110. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on any work that is happening in his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service in relation to management of Ireland's uplands, including issues around degradation of blanket bog coverage, upland burning, invasive species management and overgrazing; if the National Parks and Wildlife Service is adequately resourced to support and implement management changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3471/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of Ireland’s upland areas is a responsibility shared by many with various sectors and organisations all having responsibilities in this regard.
The substantial increase in budget and resources for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in recent years demonstrates the government’s commitment to enabling NPWS to deliver its mandate in protecting our natural heritage. For 2023, some €52.6m, an 83% increase in programme funding since 2020, has been allocated to NPWS. As part of the Strategic Action Plan for the Renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service its capacity is being significantly enhanced through the recruitment of additional resources across the entire organisation.
NPWS, and in partnership with other bodies, is implementing a range of measures which promote the sustainable management of uplands across Ireland. Of significance, is the LIFE Integrated Project Wild Atlantic Nature aimed at the delivery of biodiversity, climate and water benefits for blanket bog habitat in northwest Ireland. There are plans to further expand this project across a wider geographical area with a focus on 55 blanket bog Special Areas of Conservation. An additional investment of €15m for the project (€10m from Shared Island funding and €5m from my Department) will also help build capacity for long-term habitat management, the control of alien invasives and address grazing pressures across a range of sites.
Local task forces and ongoing communications campaigns have been established to address illegal upland burning. NPWS has provisions put in place for air support in the context of both surveillance, monitoring and addressing any fire breaks in upland areas. NPWS has also invested significantly in drone technology and training and have advanced cross-compliance regime in place in respect of breaches of wildlife legislation.
In addition, as part of the NPWS’s continuing commitment to optimising the sustainable potential of heritage sites in a way that is compatible with conservation objectives, NPWS negotiated the extension of Wicklow Mountains National Park by purchasing almost 4,900 acres of Dublin Uplands at Glenasmole in 2016 and in 2017, the entire Wild Nephin area was consolidated into the ownership and management of the State. This creates an area of over 11,000 hectares which can provide increased nature conservation benefits and biodiversity as well as enhanced recreational and social benefits.
111. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the large delays experienced by renters who try to contact the Residential Tenancies Board to retrieve their details in order to claim the renters’ tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3567/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the implementation of the new tenancy management system is an operational matter for the RTB.
The RTB is experiencing an exceptionally high volume of calls and emails, which has led to a delay in responding to some queries, including those from tenants applying for the tax credit, where the majority of tenants are contacting the RTB for their RT (Registered Tenancy) number. It is important to note that the RTB supplies this number to all tenants at the beginning of their tenancy in their tenancy confirmation letters. If a tenant has misplaced their number, the RTB has created a designated webpage, www.rtb.ie/beginning-a-tenancy/types-of-tenancy-agreements-and-leases, which signposts tenants on how to find the number without necessarily needing to contact customer service.
The RTB is working with its contracted partner to recruit, train and deploy additional resources to alleviate the wait times and backlogs. The RTB will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that tenants are supported to apply for their credit without delay.
Information regarding the rent tax credit can be found on the Revenue Commissioners' website at www.revenue.ie/en/personal-tax-credits-reliefs-and-exemptions/land-and-property/rent-credit/index.aspx.
