Tuesday, 28 Feb 2023

Written Answers Nos. 287-301

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (287)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

287. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a schedule of social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities engaged by his Department and bodies under his aegis in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; if he will include the fees expended, name of personality and campaign they were engaged on; and if he will also provide the key performance indicators in respect of their engagement [9902/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The information requested in relation to my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded in accordance with Standing Orders.

The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:

State Body	Contact E-mails
An Bord Pleanála	[e-mail]
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum)	[e-mail]
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum	[e-mail]
Ervia	[e-mail]
Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Heritage Council	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Uisce Éireann	[e-mail]
Land Development Agency	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
National Oversight and Audit Commission	[e-mail]
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee	[e-mail]
Office of the Planning Regulator	[e-mail]
Ordnance Survey Ireland	[e-mail]
Property Registration Authority	[e-mail]
Pyrite Resolution Board	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Valuation Office	[e-mail]
Valuation Tribunal	[e-mail]
Water Advisory Body	[e-mail]
Waterways Ireland	[e-mail]

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (288)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

288. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social houses confirmed built by Cork City Council in 2022. [9928/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Cork City Council.

This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.

The Quarter 4 2022 social housing statistics are being collated and will be published in due course.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (289)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

289. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities include homes marked as 'significantly complete' in their build statistics submitted to his Department for Housing for All quarterly updates. [9929/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities. The published data is based on statistical returns submitted by each local authority to my Department. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (290)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

290. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to reports that an organisation (details supplied) has pulled out of the affordable housing market; if he has engaged with them on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9930/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.

The Ó Cualann Co-Housing Alliance is a not for profit approved housing body making a valued contribution to the provision of affordable housing in Ireland and are currently overseeing the construction of a mixed tenure development of 51 homes at Dun Emer in Lusk, Co Dublin, where 39 affordable purchase homes are being delivered in conjunction with Fingal County Council.

Ó Cualann have recently worked with Dublin City Council to deliver 37 affordable purchase homes at Oileain na Cranóige in Poppintree, Ballymun, and have also partnered with Dublin City Council to deliver other affordable purchase homes in the Ballymun area.

I am advised by Ó Cualann that they remain very active in affordable housing provision. They have informed my Department that they are currently working with a number of local authorities to develop 7 projects intended to yield homes for purchase and cost rental along with some general needs social homes and homes for older people.

Vacant Properties

Ceisteanna (291)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

291. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of voids brought back into the housing stock in the year 2022; and the number of these that were previously vacant for longer than six months, in tabular form, broken down by local authority. [9933/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The 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.

Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.

An annualised breakdown by local authority of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme for the years 2014-2022 is available on my Department's website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme.

Statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the level of vacancy and by local authority. The most recent report, relating to 2021, is available on the NOAC website at the following link:

noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NOAC-PI-Report-2021-FINAL.pdf.

Further details in relation to vacancy periods should be available upon request from each local authority.

Derelict Sites

Ceisteanna (292)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

292. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict buildings have been purchased through compulsory purchase orders in each year since 2018, broken down by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10005/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The information requested is not collected by my Department, as the approval or confirmation of proposals for the compulsory purchase of land or property by statutory authorities is a matter for An Bord Pleanála.

In this connection, arrangements have been put in place by each Agency under the remit of my Department, including An Bord Pleanála, to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is [e-mail].

Local Area Plans

Ceisteanna (293)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

293. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional resources will be made available to councils to deal with the potential influx of tenants issued with eviction notices following the removal of the eviction ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10031/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

My Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department.

Under the Exchequer funding arrangements in place between the Department and housing authorities, decisions on the funding, organisation and range of accommodation services to be provided are a matter for the individual housing authorities in consultation with the Statutory Management Group of the relevant regional Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum, and the Department has no function in relation to operational matters. As such the identification of the need for additional resources is a matter for the local authorities in the first instance.

The budget for 2023 makes provision for €215m in funding for homeless services, an increase from €194 in 2022. The extra funding for Homelessness reflects the priority that this Government is giving to Homelessness.

The funding will allow local authorities to continue to focus on preventing homelessness in the first instance and to provide support to those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It will also aid in the further expansion of the Housing First approach in line with commitments made in Housing for All, provide for a planned extension of outreach and intensive engagement services to our most vulnerable and provide accommodation to those experiencing homelessness. Additionally there remains a firm focus on ensuring that pathways out of homelessness for those individuals and families in emergency accommodation are secured as quickly as possible.

The aim of the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 is to afford time for housing supply to increase and to reduce the burden on homelessness services and the pressure on tenants and the residential tenancies market. To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter emergency period and ensure that there is no cliff edge impact on 1 April, the Act provides for deferred Notices of Termination to take effect on a phased basis over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.

My Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure sufficient funding is made available to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (294, 295)

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

294. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the establishment of the defective apartments redress scheme; when further details will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10035/23]

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

295. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the retrospective aspects of the defective apartments redress scheme will work; when further details will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10036/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 295 together.

I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing, and the stress that is caused when defects arise in relation to their buildings. The Government is committed to helping those whose lives have been impacted by this issue.

In this regard, on 18 January 2023 I received Government approval to draft legislation to establish supports for 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 with such defects.

It is intended that a whole building approach will be taken to remediate relevant defects and to improve the safety of all occupants in the building. This means that all parts of the building (e.g. the common areas, the individual apartments etc.) must be considered together when addressing defects. In light of their existing legal responsibilities and ownership of common areas, it is envisaged that Owners’ Management Companies will be funded to carry out the necessary remediation works, with specific limitations or exemptions on certain commercial owners.

In order to ensure that important life-safety works are not paused, remediation works related to fire safety defects, entered into or commenced from 18 January 2023, will form part of the remediation scheme, subject to terms and conditions. Such works will need to be agreed with local authority Fire Services. The details of this process will be worked out. In this regard, it would not be appropriate for those in charge of affected buildings to delay the undertaking of any remediation work that is considered necessary from a life safety point of view.

I have listened to calls from homeowner representative bodies and Government has approved the principle of allowing remediation costs already incurred or levied to be covered under this scheme once such costs fall within the scope and defined parameters of the scheme. The details and mechanics of this will be worked out as the legislation is drafted.

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.

Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 294.

Fuel Prices

Ceisteanna (296)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

296. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has a plan to address issues with regard to fuel affordability for social housing tenants whose homes are being upgraded from solid fuel to oil heating systems, given that this work may be done in advance of any potential energy efficiency works such as insulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10068/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 local authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. 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 and provide good comfort levels for occupants.

Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities, my Department launched the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme (EERP) in 2013 with the aim of funding retrofit of social homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Since the programme commenced in 2013, over 77,500 local authority social housing dwellings have been retrofitted with a total exchequer spend of over €251 million.

In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the programme, designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.

Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. Works are typically carried out in this order. The installation of gas/oil boilers or solid fuel/inset stoves including wood pellet stoves are not supported by the Department under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme.

The 2023 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support from €85 million allocated in 2022 to €87 million in 2023 with details of this years programme including target allocations being finalised. Due to the BER requirement of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent under the programme, it will ensure that each property will have improved energy efficiency performance post upgrade works. With regard to the local authority properties which are selected to be retrofitted through funding available from the EERP, the selection of properties is a matter for each individual local authority.

Rental Sector

Ceisteanna (297)

Paul Donnelly

Ceist:

297. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Residential Tenancies Board will complete a review of a file (details supplied). [10072/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the case you have outlined is an operational matter for the RTB.

It would be inappropriate for me, as Minister, or my Department to comment on, or to intervene in the specifics of any individual case.

Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at [e-mail]

Complaints directly relating to the quality of the service provided by the RTB should be made in writing (email or letter) to the Quality Customer Service Officer (QCSO). The QCSO can be contacted by email at [e-mail] or by letter addressed to the Quality Customer Service Officer, Residential Tenancies Board, PO Box 47, Clonakilty, County Cork.

Full details of the RTB’s complaints procedure is outlined in their Customer Charter and is available to download from their website at: www.rtb.ie/rtb-freedom-of-information-publication-scheme/customer-charter

Complaints concerning operational matters of the RTB should be forwarded to the Director of the RTB, Mr. Niall Byrne, or if the complaint involves the Director, it should be forwarded to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Mr. Thomas Dunne. Complaints to the Director or Chairperson of the RTB can be directed to:

Mr. Niall Byrne / Mr. Thomas Dunne,

Residential Tenancies Board,

PO Box 47,

Clonakilty,

Co. Cork.

Public Sector Staff

Ceisteanna (298, 299, 300)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

298. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the work currently being undertaken by the RTB to recruit and train additional staff; the number of additional staff that have been hired to date in 2023; and the number of additional staff the agency needs to ensure that responses to queries and adjudication decisions made are communicated to both landlords and tenants in a timely manner. [10073/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

299. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any concerns with the performance of the RTB under the Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement in place between the agency and his Department. [10074/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

300. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement there has been with the RTB Executive, the RTB Board and his Department in relation to ongoing IT issues around the registration of tenancies; and when the new IT system to tackle this issue will be in place. [10075/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 to 300, inclusive, together.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy). The remit of the RTB covers the private rental sector, the not-for-profit housing providers commonly known as Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and Student-specific Accommodation providers (SSA).

My Department and I, as Minister, are responsible for the oversight of the RTB which is underpinned by governance arrangements including an Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) in place with the RTB making clear the requirements for reporting to my Department, in line with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

The PDA sets out both inputs and outputs and key performance indicators for which RTB is accountable and any risks to their delivery. The agreement is produced on a three yearly basis and revised annually, to reflect changes to the legislation which in turn impacts on the RTB’s mandate and resources. Monitoring of RTB performance under these agreements is done through regular communication and engagement between the Department and the RTB, including Quarterly Governance Meetings, performance review meetings and other meetings as required.

Following the passing of legislation in 2019, with effect from 4 April 2022, landlords are required to register their tenancies with the RTB every year, within one month of the anniversary of when the tenancy began. This applies to both new and existing tenancies.

To facilitate Annual Registration the RTB implemented a new tenancy Management system which is an operational matter for the RTB. Although many landlords and agents have successfully registered their tenancies on the system, I have been made aware that some landlord and agent customers are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy registration system. The RTB has assured my Department that it is working collaboratively and constructively with the sector to assist anyone experiencing difficulties. The RTB has further assured officials that it is very conscious of the need to ensure that any landlord or letting agent renewing a tenancy during Cycle 2 of Annual Registration has a much-improved experience of the system than they may have had during Cycle 1. During Q1 and Q2 2023, progressive improvements will be implemented in the registration system addressing key areas of functionality and addressing known issues causing difficulty for landlords and agents. The RTB is also implementing incremental improvements and bug fixes within the registration system via regular service patches. These are being released on an ongoing basis.

Following recommendations in the RTB Workforce Plan (2018 – 2021) and engagement with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), the RTB received sanction for significant additional staff over the past three years. The RTB has a sanctioned staffing compliment of 110. It currently has 100 permanent staff and is carrying 10 vacancies. The RTB is actively recruiting to fill the remaining vacancies and to date this year, the RTB has appointed 15 new recruits to permanent positions. Separately, on 18 January 2023 DPER sanctioned a 3rd PO Digital & Data Services post within the RTB Executive Management Team Structure which is now advertised on the RTB website. Additional funding of €2m will be provide to the RTB for 2023, bringing its total allocation to €13.37m.

The RTB is also supported by a third party outsourced service provider who carries out the RTB’s call centre, document management and data entry functions. This contract gives the RTB the flexibility to increase resources as and when required. The outsourcer’s staff are not RTB employees. The RTB has recently almost doubled the staffing in its outsourced call centre to deal with the issues that have arisen following the introduction of annual registration and it has been working hard to find the right balance between ensuring contracted staff are adequately trained and capable of assisting customers with their queries, ranging from linking tenancies, verifying accounts, and data-inputting paper applications. My Department will continue to work with the RTB to ensure it is sufficiently resourced to deliver on its expanded mandate, including any specific requests with regard to annual registration.

Question No. 299 answered with Question No. 298.

Question No. 300 answered with Question No. 298.

Regeneration Projects

Ceisteanna (301, 302)

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

301. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the project has commenced through to the construction tender stage; the associated timeline on works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10085/23]

Alan Dillon

Ceist:

302. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; if his Department will support the local authority in dividing the URDF funding allocated into three separate projects with individual business plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10086/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.

In line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is currently providing part-funding to applicant-led projects, enabling more compact and sustainable development within the existing built-up footprints of our cities and large towns.

To this end, the URDF has already provisionally 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.

In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the URDF, I announced a provisional allocation of €11,027,500 in URDF support for Mayo County Council's two successful projects - Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative Project (€8,527,500) and Castlebar Military Barracks Project (€2,500,000).

This followed Mayo County Council's successful application for €141,391 in URDF support towards technical assistance for the advancement of the Castlebar Military Barracks project under the URDF's first call for proposals in 2018.

A preliminary Business Case for each of the Call 2 projects was recently approved by my Department. This represents Decision Gate 1 in the project life cycle of the Public Spending Code and gives approval to Mayo County Council to proceed to the development of a Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy for submission to the department as part of the approval process for the next decision gate (Decision Gate 2 – Pre Tender Approval).

The overall Castlebar Historic Core Reactivation Initiative Project is made up of a number of sub-projects, including the repurposing of the former Castlebar Post Office as a Community Youth Resource Centre, for which a provisional allocation of €1,500,000 in URDF support has been approved as part of the overall €8,527,500 allocation.

While my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Mayo County Council in respect of project funding, responsibility for the advancement of these URDF supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for the Sponsoring Agency, Mayo County Council. Any queries regarding the timeline of the projects should be directed to the Council.

It should be noted that all URDF supported projects must be carefully developed and managed by the Sponsoring Agency in accordance with the normal conditions and arrangements that apply to public sector managed projects including, exercising appropriate cost control and delivering projects as approved, and in full compliance with the Public Spending Code.

Regarding the progression of subprojects independently, my Department has, where appropriate, been actively encouraging local authorities to consider such an approach. Any proposal from Mayo County Council which demonstrates that progressing the subprojects independently represents the most cost efficient and timely way to deliver the overall project will be supported.