Written Answers Nos. 153-167
153. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the maximum amount that an applicant who is applying for social housing support can have in their bank account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5824/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Means Policy and accompanying guidance, which sets out how local authorities should assess household means, provides savings are only relevant to the assessment in so far as they generate income for applicant households through dividends or interest.
Determining whether a household meets the income criteria when applying for social housing support is based on a calculation of their preceding 12 months net average income prior to the date of receipt of application. Net income means income tax, universal social charge, additional superannuation contribution and PRSI are deducted from the relevant gross assessable income.
154. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the regulations to facilitate the commencement of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022; and when further details will be available. [5834/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. The administrative areas of the following counties have been designated by the Act for the purposes of the enhanced grant scheme: Clare County Council; Donegal County Council; Limerick City and County Council; Mayo County Council.
The 2022 Act will be commenced once the related Regulations have been finalised. Draft Regulations have been prepared, which will be the subject of consultation with key stakeholders before the Regulation are finalised and adopted in early 2023. It is intended that the consultation with key stakeholders, which will be conducted by the appointed Homeowners’ Liaison Officer, will commence shortly.
The Regulations will provide for detailed matters within the 2022 Act which are to be prescribed, for example the grant rates, the damage threshold, and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, and declarations. Grant rates, to be included in the final Regulations, will be based upon updated regional construction costs for 2023 to be provided by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.
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 are also being drafted by my Department. 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.
Pending the opening of the enhanced grant scheme, applications can continue to be made to relevant local authorities (comprising Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council) and processed under the current Defective Concrete Block grant scheme. The current scheme is underpinned by the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations, 2020, as amended by the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2022.
My Department has published a comprehensive “Your Questions Answered” to ensure homeowners have the most up to date information available to them. It can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/775c0-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme-your-questions-answered/
155. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications that have been received for the croí cónaithe scheme to date; and the number of applications that were received from people with Kerry addresses. [5910/23]
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. In July 2022, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched 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, which was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages, was expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas from November 15 2022.
On 21 September 2022, the Ready to Build Scheme was launched, 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.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis. This data includes numbers of applications received by local authority, applications approved and rejected and application type. Data on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: gov.ie - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Statistics (www.gov.ie)
156. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way he will ensure the outcomes of the public consultation on the Review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations will be included in the drafting of legislation to support the remediation of apartments and duplexes with fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects, constructed between 1991 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5941/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra157. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the legislation for remediation of apartments and duplexes with fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects, constructed between 1991 and 2013, will ensure the replacement of cladding systems paid for by public redress funds will be targeted towards the application of non-combustible materials only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5942/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.
On 20 January 2023, I launched a three-month public consultation on proposed amendments to Part B of the Building Regulations relating to fire safety. The details of the public consultation can be found on my Department’s website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/consultation/1ed7c-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-part-b-fire-safety-of-the-building-regulations/. Submissions in this regard may be made to partbconsultation@housing.gov.ie before 5pm on 21 April 2023.
Following consideration of the comments from the consultation process, amending regulations to Part B of the Building Regulations will be made and the associated TGD B will be finalised. After which, the existing regulations and TGD will cease to have effect subject transitional arrangements.
In respect of defects in apartments, I received Government approval on 18 January 2023 to draft legislation to support the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. This legislation will provide a statutory basis for the establishment of a remediation scheme aimed at protecting the safety and welfare of those living in apartments or duplexes.
It is intended that the scheme will support the remediation of relevant defects, where practicable, to the standard that applied at the time of their original construction. Where this is not practicable, alternative approaches and options will be considered that provide a reasonable level of life safety protection. In this regard, a Code of Practice in the context of the Fire Services Acts, to provide guidance to relevant professionals, including guidance on interim safety measures is currently being developed.
Work is now underway to draft the required legislation which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme which will become operational following implementation of the required legislation. Subject to the legislative process, it is intended that a scheme would be in place in 2024.
158. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update and timeline on the progress on the Housing for All action plan for a standardised national differential rents scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5975/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 560 of 18 January 2023 which sets out the position in the matter.
159. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a foreshore licence for the maintenance of Wicklow harbour has been received by his Department; if he is aware of the considerable constraints placed on the users of the harbour currently due to the extreme siltation of the harbour; if there have been recent discussions with Wicklow County Council in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5977/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra160. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process by which emergency dredging works could be undertaken in Wicklow harbour to address the immediate issues of siltation in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5978/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra161. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe required for the assessment of an application for a foreshore licence currently within his Department; if he will expedite any application made with respect to Wicklow harbour maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5979/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 160 and 161 together.
My Department operates the consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933,as amended, managing the regulation of a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. The volume of applications made under the Act in recent years has grown significantly. In parallel, my Department is leading an extensive marine planning and consenting reform programme, the likes of which the State has never seen.
The expected time for processing and determining foreshore applications can vary considerably and is influenced by the quality of the application and supporting documents received, the nature and complexity of the application, the level of public engagement during the consultation process among other matters. Each application must be assessed appropriately in accordance with the applicable requirements of domestic and EU law including the EIA Directive, Birds and Habitats Regulations and the Foreshore Act. It is anticipated that these applications will take circa 40 weeks to progress once a valid application has been confirmed.
I can advise that the Foreshore Unit of my Department received a pre-application form from Wicklow County Council and held a pre-application non-statutory consultation meeting with representatives of the local authority on 6 of October 2022. At this engagement, Wicklow County Council were advised of the various application requirements including the environmental assessment material that is required from them in order to progress to the formal application stage. My Department does not currently have an application from the local authority in respect of this matter.
At that pre-application meeting with the local authority, the applicant was also advised that my Department is leading the reform of the marine planning system and the implementation of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. In that context, the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) will be responsible for consenting licences for activities such as dredging. It is anticipated that MARA will be established in March 2023 and will become operational on a phased basis. My Department is currently working through the practical arrangements for the transition from the existing foreshore application and consenting regime to the new structures. It is worth noting that when MARA and the new consenting bodies become operational with respect to certain functions, my Department will no longer be capable of accepting applications for leases and licences under the Foreshore Act 1933 but will be obliged to continue with the assessment of applications that remain on hand at that point.
It should be noted that the Foreshore Act 1933 does not provide the statutory authority for the Minister to exempt or otherwise structure or activities that are included in the application or assessment process for example, dredging campaigns, to take account of modern methods that may be lower environmental impact etc. Ordinarily a project of this type would take approximately 40 weeks for statutory assessment and determination. However, this is not from the date of receipt of the application but from the commencement of the statutory assessment process. The volume of applications on hand and the level of prioritisation associated with those influences the overall timeframe for the commencement and completion of the assessment process.
My Department have recently contacted the local authority and it is understood it was confirmed the authority are continuing to prepare the application and relevant supporting documentation.
162. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to publish the new planning guidelines for planning authorities concerning short-term lettings in advance of or simultaneously with the consideration of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6009/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUpdated Planning Guidelines on short-term letting are currently being prepared by my Department to complement the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill 2022 being brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. It is intended that the updated guidelines will be published on the enactment of the Bill.
163. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the criteria involved for the setting of price thresholds for the shared equity scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6075/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown of the number of successful applicants under the shared equity scheme in each county since the scheme commenced in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6076/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.
The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, uses an equity share model to support first-time buyers nationally in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market. Further information is available on the Scheme website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie.
The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home DAC), on behalf of scheme founders (the State and participating mortgage lenders). This body is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme. In a press release covering activity up to 31 December 2022, First Home DAC confirmed that applications had been received from 23 counties, with 750 applications approved and 335 contracts issued. Of these approvals, Kildare had 27%, Dublin 26%, Cork (City and County) 15%, Meath 8%, Wicklow 7%, and 17% for other counties. The Scheme confirmed that the average price of supported purchases was €370,000, and that an average of €71,000 equity support was provided for these (19% of the average purchase price).
At its launch, it was announced by the First Home Scheme that a review of the regional price ceilings would be undertaken within 6 months. This review was conducted towards the end of 2022 on the basis of CSO data on the prices of new homes sold in recent months, as well as a study of the prices of new homes currently available on the market. The analysis also considered the recent inflation in construction costs.
On foot of this review, the First Home Scheme put in place revised price ceilings from 1 January 2023. These are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about/property-price-ceilings/. At a press event confirming the new ceilings on 9 January 2023, it was announced by the Scheme that future reviews will be conducted on a six-monthly basis.
165. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will permit Donegal County Council to deliver housing under the affordable housing scheme. [6111/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Affordable Housing Fund is available to assist all local authorities in bringing forward affordable housing schemes. Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. Each local authority was asked to assess the level of housing demand with affordability constraint projected for their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Tool and plan their provision accordingly. A copy of Donegal County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on its website.
Local authorities with the highest levels of affordable housing need were asked to prepare Affordable Delivery Plans as part of their overall Plans and were set five-year Affordable Delivery Targets. Donegal does not have a specific target as average house price levels in the county are still well below the national median, but there may be some localised affordability issues in certain areas which the local authority is examining.
Where there are localised challenges, funding can be made available to develop a scheme in line with Affordable Housing Fund criteria. While, to date, my Department has not received any application for funding under the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) from Donegal, my Department is available to meet with and discuss plans with any local authority who intends to deliver affordable housing. Assistance with developing schemes is available from my Department, the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office within the Local Government Management Association.
In addition, the First Home Scheme, which was launched in July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide, including Co. Donegal. Full information on the scheme is available on the First Home Scheme dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.
Finally, the new Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is also available in Donegal and it provides for grants for refurbishment of vacant properties of up to €30,000 or €50,000 if the property is derelict. I also announced last year, a new Ready to Build serviced sites scheme under the Fund where local authorities will provide sites at a discount to people who want to build their own home. Information on both of these scheme is available directly from Donegal County Council.
166. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will raise the family income threshold for social housing in County Donegal from €30,000. [6112/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment recently agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023.
My Department has also recently begun work to scope options for a new social housing income eligibility model and I expect proposals for a new model to be submitted for my consideration in Q1 2023. Pending completion of this work, it would be inappropriate to make any further changes to the income thresholds.
