Written Answers Nos. 101-124
101. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant-in-situ properties bought by local authorities over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11974/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of notice to quit properties that were bought since permission was given to local authorities to purchase these properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11600/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 124 together.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Under Housing for All, there was provision for 200 social housing acquisitions each year. However, with increased pressures on housing and the exit of landlords from the market, my Department reinstated delegated sanction to local authorities in April 2022 to acquire social housing properties for a number of specific categories which included:
- One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category;
- Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and
- Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs;
Local authorities were also advised that limited acquisitions through the Capital Assistance Scheme will also be approved, subject to the available budget for specific vulnerable cohorts, such as housing for older people, accommodation for individuals and families who are homeless and for people with a disability.For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local to acquire up to 1,500 social homes. This represents an increase of 1,300 on the original target for acquisitions. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.
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 acquisitions. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website. Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published shortly. For 2023, an amendment is being made to my Department's statistical returns to collate information on the number of such properties acquired.
102. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on ensuring that all marine protected areas only begin 500m offshore. [11613/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government approved the General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the designation and effective management of Marine Protected Areas on the 13th of December last year. It is intended that the area of application of the Bill will extend from the high water mark on the shore to the 200 nautical mile limits of the national Exclusive Economic Zone.
It would be important not to limit marine protected areas to beyond 500 meters from shore. Significant or critical species, habitats and ecosystem services that are under threat also exist on the coastline and in inshore areas. Where these cannot be protected by existing instruments under the Birds and Habitats Directives, these may need protection under the forthcoming MPA legislation. This would include areas vital to climate protection, coastal protection and biodiversity services such as certain seagrass beds, kelp forests and salt marshes.
It is also important to ensure the area of application of the Act corresponds with the area covered by the Maritime Area Planning Act as well as Ireland's maritime area in accordance with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Both of these legal instruments have the same area of application as that it is intended to apply under the proposed MPA legislation.
103. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the measures that have been taken to improve the residential tenancies board to support tenancy registrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11885/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Board, or RTB, was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 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 Board covers the private rental sector, the not-for-profit housing providers commonly known as Approved Housing Bodies and Student-specific Accommodation providers. The day-to-day operations of the RTB are a matter for the Board.
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. 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 the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, 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 an additional Principal Officer post, who will have responsibility for Digital and Data Services, 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 staffing level at the outsourced call centre has been doubled in size to deal with the issues that have arisen following the introduction of annual registration. 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.
104. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the recent record levels of persons accessing emergency accommodation; the action he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11821/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to tackle the rising homeless levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11558/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of persons becoming homeless. [11118/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 136 and 155 together.
The continuing increase in the numbers accessing emergency accommodation is a serious concern for me and for the Government. We are doing everything in our power to tackle this problem, both by increasing housing supply and investing in homelessness prevention.
The budget for 2023 makes provision for €215m in funding for homeless services, an increase from €194m in 2022. The extra funding for Homeless services reflects the priority that this Government is giving to tackling Homelessness.
I have introduced further measures to increase supply, including the voids programme with an emphasis on quick turnaround and re-letting, the pilot expansion of the Repair and Leasing scheme and the reinstatement of the delegated sanction to local authorities for social housing acquisitions, particularly where the tenant is at risk of homelessness. I also want to make it abundantly clear that there are no impediments, from my Department’s point of view, to the acquisition of homes with HAP or RAS tenants in situ and I have strongly advised the local authorities to be proactive in this regard.
To enhance security of tenure for tenants, all new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 will become tenancies of unlimited duration once the tenancy has lasted more than six months and no valid notice of termination has been served on the tenant. A landlord may also consent to an existing tenancy being treated as of unlimited duration. The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 continues to provide that a landlord may validly terminate a tenancy on limited grounds.
From 6 July 2022, Part 11 of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 amends the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 to:
- Extend notice periods, by approximately two months, to be given to tenants when serving a notice of termination (where there has been no breach of tenant obligations) in tenancies of less than three years duration;
- Improve procedures where a landlord is required to make an offer of re-let;
- Require landlords to copy the RTB when serving a notice of termination; and
- Increase from 28 days to 90 days, the period from the date of receipt of a ‘no fault’ NOT for a tenant to submit a dispute as to the NOT’s validity to the RTB for resolution.
Local authorities already oversee a range of homeless prevention and tenancy sustainment measures. Many of these services, including those operated on behalf of local authorities by NGOs, are funded by my Department, including Threshold’s Tenancy Protection Service. This service has been instrumental in preventing homelessness in the first instance and supporting people to remain in their homes.
Furthermore, I have tasked the National Homelessness Action Committee to make recommendations on new prevention measures and I published the Youth Homeless Strategy on 9 November 2022 that sets out 27 distinct actions to prevent young people entering homelessness.
I have also increased the HAP discretion rate from the previous 20%, to a maximum of 35% for all local authority areas.
New income eligibility limits for social housing came into effect on 1 January 2023, the first changes in over a decade. Eligibility thresholds in local authorities across the country have been increased by €5,000, with an estimated 16,000 additional households potentially eligible for social housing support as a result.
Ultimately, increased supply across all tenures is key to eradicating homelessness. Housing supply is increasing under Housing for All. Record State investment of €4.5bn will be made available in 2023 to support the largest State home building programme ever, with 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes. This week, I announced further measures to increase the supply of social homes including:
- an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness;
- an additional 1,000 homes through Targeted Leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024; and
- the amendment of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility used by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to assist them in their efforts in delivering social homes.
I have also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners. These include:
- requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant on an independent valuation basis for sale;
- working with AHBs and local authorities to develop a bespoke ‘cost rental’ model for tenants at risk of homelessness but not on social housing supports to continue to rent their homes at existing or market rates.
We are providing more social homes, we are completing more homes in general and we have a strong pipeline of homes commenced. This supply activity, as well as targeted measures specifically to prevent homelessness, will allow us to meet the challenge of reducing the unacceptable numbers currently in emergency accommodation and ultimately to eradicate homelessness.
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.
105. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the implementation of Housing for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11755/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All was published 2 September 2021 and the Government published its first annual update of the plan's actions on 2 November 2022.Progress reports are published quarterly. The sixth of these reports, covering progress in Q4 2022 was published on 7 February 2023. These reports can be accessed my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/ Under Housing for All, the supply of new homes is increasing:
- In 2022, nearly 30,000 homes were completed. That is an increase of 45% from 2021 and 41% from 2019, pre-pandemic. The 2022 total exceeds the Housing for All target by 21%;
- Planning permission has been approved for over 40,000 homes in the year ending Q3 2022. This is a 2.4% increase when compared to the same time period to Q3 2021;
- Commencement Notices for over 27,000 new homes were received in the 12 months to end of January 2023. In January alone, 2,108 Commencement Notices were received, the highest number received in the month of January since the data series began in 2014.
The plan is delivering through increased housing supply; a range of affordable purchase and rental measures; new initiatives to tackle homelessness; and ongoing, long-term reforms of the housing and planning systems. This week, I announced further measures to increase the supply of social homes including:
- an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness;
- an additional 1,000 homes through Targeted Leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024; and
- the amendment of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility used by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to assist them in their efforts in delivering social homes.
I have also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners. These include:
- requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant on an independent valuation basis for sale;
- working with AHBs and local authorities to develop a bespoke ‘cost rental’ model for tenants at risk of homelessness but not on social housing supports to continue to rent their homes at existing or market rates.
The Government recognises, however, that there are challenges. Price inflation, rising interest rates and other inter-related factors arising from the war in Ukraine have increased the cost of construction, leading to a very uncertain and unstable environment. The first annual update of Housing for All sets out how the Government is responding to these changed circumstances and ensuring focus remains on delivery. The stability provided by a clear and comprehensive plan is now more important than ever. Acting now, with measures like the extension of the LDA’s Project Tosaigh; the Croí Cónaithe (Cities) initiative; increasing the subvention to local authorities under the Affordable Housing Fund; and the recent increase in the Cost Rental Equity Loan for AHBs, will further improve viability, and get sites activated that might not otherwise be developed.In parallel, we will continue to deliver on the fundamental reforms set out in the Plan, such as addressing the cost of construction; accelerating the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction, particularly in the delivery of public housing; and reforming the planning system to ensure a simpler, more streamlined process for all stakeholders.A record €4.5 billion in State housing investment will be made available in 2023. This will underpin the ambitious Housing for All plan and deliver the largest state home building programme ever with 9,100 direct build social homes, and 5,500 affordable homes. Over €1 billion will be spent on affordability measures, supporting homeownership in 2023.A copy of the Housing for All Action Plan Update can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/da0d1-action-plan-update-and-q3-2022-progress-report/
106. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase funding for local authorities in the upcoming budget to increase staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11929/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to ensuring that the local government sector remains vibrant and sustainable and is well equipped and properly resourced to deliver the key functions within its remit. My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions including local authority housing, voluntary housing, homeless services, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, housing grants, rural water schemes, urban renewal/regeneration, fire services, and natural and built heritage, each of which includes a number of funding schemes. Furthermore, the local government sector is embarking on a significant expansion of activities across a range of areas. Across all schemes and funding programmes, my Department provided a total of €4,193 million to local authorities in 2022.
The funding system for local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services, Local Property Tax (LPT) as well as funding from Government Departments and other bodies. Elected members have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget. Accordingly, it is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.
On the broader question of the funding for the provision of additional staff resources; under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department engages regularly and constructively with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on their financial situations and additional staffing requirements. Should the need arise for additional staff, a Chief Executive must ensure that there are adequate resources available to his or her local authority prior to sanction being sought from my Department.
In addition to local authorities funding staffing from existing resources, for certain programme initiatives, central funding may be provided to fund the costs of additional staff. In the case of Housing for All for example, my Department has approved funding for over 250 additional housing posts in local authorities nationally to deliver social housing. In general, where a new programme initiative is proposed that requires implementation at local authority level, the initiative will be brought by the relevant Department to the County and City Management Association (CCMA) for discussion and agreement, particularly with regard to the number, grade, length of time and funding of staff required to deliver the programme. The relevant Department will then need to seek funding approval as part of their annual estimates process if they agree to fund the additional staff.
107. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of modular homes constructed for local authorities in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11601/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in view of the growing population and the ever-increasing demand for housing, if he continues to monitor the situation with a view to the use of major numbers of modular houses including log-cabins where appropriate in both urban and rural areas with a view to addressing the acute and present shortage which is likely to worsen in the future; if he will set specific targets well in excess of anything projected so far in respect of housing accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11926/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.
Housing 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.
While my Department does not hold details on the various construction processes used in the delivery of new homes, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address increased housing delivery and methods to support increased use of MMC are set out in Pathway 5 of Housing for All. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction.
The Housing for All Action Plan Update, which was published on 2 November 2022, includes a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of MMC in public housing. My Department is now working closely with the local authorities to increase the use of MMC in social and affordable housing.
All new dwellings must comply with building regulations and have a 60 year durability. The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the second schedule to the building regulations. These requirements are set out in 12 parts (classified as Parts A to M). Building regulations are performance based and technology/material neutral.
Part D (Materials and Workmanship) requires that all works should be carried out in a workmanlike manner using “proper materials…which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used” to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.
The primary responsibility for compliance with the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings.
For new innovative products or systems, not covered by existing standards, compliance with the Building Regulations can be demonstrated by 3rd party certification by an independent approval body, such as National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Agrément.
109. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to deliver affordable housing units in Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11557/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes 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.
2022 represented the first year of a very ambitious programme of affordable housing delivery. Significant funding has been secured and is being made available to support delivery of affordable housing for purchase or for cost rental by local authorities and other delivery partners, including those in Dublin City.
Local authorities have published 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. Dublin City Council has a target of 2,114 affordable homes over this period, not including additional affordable homes that will be delivered through AHBs and the higher Part V requirements introduced through the Affordable Housing Act 2021. Dublin City Council's affordable housing delivery plan can be accessed on its website.
To date, I have approved €38.8 million for two affordable home projects at Poppintree and Emmet Road which will cumulatively assist in the delivery of 388 affordable homes for purchase or rent.
€24.8 million of AHF funding has also been approved to assist with the delivery of 248 affordable purchase homes at O'Devaney Gardens. Dublin City Council have made a revised funding application for this scheme to my Department which is now under assessment. Construction of the affordable units is estimated to commence later this year with full delivery expected within 30 months of the commencement date.
Dublin City Council have also submitted revised funding applications to my Department for affordable housing schemes at Oscar Traynor Road and Cherry Orchard. These applications are currently under assessment and a decision on funding approval will be issued to Dublin City Council shortly. Dublin City Council has advised that the delivery of these units would commence in early 2025.
Last December I wrote to local authorities to set out the increased level of Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) subsidy available for applications in respect of Cost Rental apartment developments in cities. The maximum subsidy now available is €150,000 per home.
In addition, 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 that employed in 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 in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide and more information can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie/
110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the eviction ban at the end of March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11854/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to extend the eviction ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11928/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 119 together.
The Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 was signed into law on 29 October 2022. This Act provided for a stay on eviction notices of certain residential tenancies that fall, or would fall, during the 'winter emergency period', beginning on 30 October 2022 and ending on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023. The Government has used the past several months to increase housing supply for those most in need. In the last Quarter of 2022, approximately 4,800 new build social housing homes were delivered, along with some 500 acquisitions, and 600 lease arrangements put in place to provide further capacity. In addition, during the period or the moratorium 1,532 local authority homes were refurbished under the voids programme and restored to use, as well as the provision of 500 emergency beds and 150 cold weather beds.
The Government and I considered a number of courses of action in advance of the ending of the winter moratorium period and believe that a focus on additional new supply is the best way forward.
On 7 March, I announced further measures to increase the supply of social homes to mitigate the impact of the end of the winter emergency period including:
- an increase in the number of social housing acquisitions to 1,500 in 2023 to reduce the number of households at risk of homelessness;
- an additional 1,000 homes through Targeted Leasing initiatives in 2023 and 2024; and
- the amendment of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility used by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to assist them in their efforts in delivering social homes.
I have also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners. These include:
- requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant on an independent valuation basis for sale;
- working with AHBs and local authorities to develop a bespoke ‘cost rental’ model for tenants at risk of homelessness but not on social housing supports to continue to rent their homes at existing or market rates.
Under Housing for All the Government is committed to increase supply and protect renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. I also asked the Government to note that my Department has commenced a review of the Private Rental Sector which will inform Government on the measures which need to be taken to ensure a well-functioning private rental sector in Ireland that works for all.
111. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his plans to provide affordable purchase and cost rental housing in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11975/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes 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.
2022 represented the first year of a very ambitious programme of affordable housing delivery. Significant funding has been secured and is being made available to support delivery of affordable housing for purchase or for cost rental by local authorities, including those in Dublin City.
Funding under the various streams is made available on a programme basis in support of approved affordable housing schemes, rather than by allocations to counties. Housing for All has the largest ever housing budget in the history of the State to transform our housing system, with in excess of €20 billion in funding through the Exchequer, the LDA and the Housing Finance Agency over the five years.
Local authorities have published 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. Dublin City Council has a target of 2,114 affordable homes over this period, not including additional affordable homes that will be delivered through AHBs and the higher Part V requirements introduced through the Affordable Housing Act 2021. Dublin City Council's delivery plan can be accessed on its website.
Local authorities have begun the process of submitting data returns and information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently done for social housing. It is intended that information on delivery across all delivery streams will be gathered by my Department and I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly delivery statistics by the end of Q1 2023.
Dublin City Council made an Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) application to my Department last October to assist in the delivery of 12 affordable purchase homes in Poppintree, Ballymun. I approved this funding application last month and Dublin City Council has advised that these homes will be completed by the end of 2024.
Progress is also being made on the Oscar Traynor Road site with planning recently secured. Dublin City Council submitted the final funding application documents to my Department to support affordable housing provision there recently. The application is currently under assessment and a decision on funding approval will be issued to Dublin City Council shortly.
Last December I wrote to local authorities to set out the increased level of Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) subsidy available for applications in respect of Cost Rental apartment developments in cities. The maximum subsidy now available is €150,000 per home.
In addition, 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 that employed in 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 in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide and more information can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie/
112. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he is taking to address the wastewater needs of rural villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11756/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase funding to develop water treatment plants for towns and villages; if he will provide funding to allow existing waste water treatment plants in private estates to be taken in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11923/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on a pilot scheme to provide sewage systems to rural villages. [11543/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 122 and 154 together.
The 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 funding of almost €100 million has been approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities for this. 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.
My Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme, using Exchequer funding, is also 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 shortly.
In addition, funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, to address legacy water services issues including the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI).
The DPI programme is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network and are not in the charge of local authorities but rely instead on infrastructure provided by developers. The DPI programme provides funding for the progressive resolution of the issues involved.
The focus of the first tranches of funding is on estates where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. Additionally, a study completed by Uisce Éireann in 2022, will inform and assist in developing further policy solutions for estates that, due to distance, it is not viable to connect them to the public network.
Although it will take a number of funding programmes, my Department and I are committed to resolving all DPI issues.
113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase homes that were delivered in 2020, 2021 and 2022; the number of planned units for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11786/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra132. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase homes delivered in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10978/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied with the roll-out of the affordable housing scheme; if he is satisfied that the targets are being reached; the number of units that have been built heretofore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11789/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing 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.
In implementing the key objectives under Housing for All, each local authority has prepared and published a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen delivery from 2022 to 2026. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were set affordable housing delivery targets and asked to include their planned affordable housing delivery in their Housing Delivery Action Plans. These plans were published on the local authorities’ respective websites in July 2022.
2022 represented the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery stepping up this year. A pipeline of housing delivery is in place and under continuous development by local authorities, by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and by the LDA.
Local authorities were requested to submit their data returns and information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in 2022 to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing. This process has now been completed and statistical data on delivery across all delivery streams is currently being validated. I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly delivery statistics shortly.
The First Home shared equity scheme was launched in July 2022, and now supports affordability-constrained households who wish to purchase a newly constructed home through the private market. This scheme will bridge the gap between the cost of the newly constructed home and the maximum mortgage the household, the maximum deposit (combined with Help-to-Buy support) that the household can obtain. This scheme is administered by the First Home DAC and is available nationwide. Full details can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie/
Other measures to support affordability constrained households include the Local Authority Home Loan and the Help-to-Buy incentive scheme. The Local Authority Home Loan was introduced in 2022 as an enhanced replacement to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. As announced in Budget 2023, the Help-to-Buy scheme has been extended to end 2024.
114. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans that are in place to advance a Waste Water Treatment Plants under the Multi-Annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme in mid Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11824/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI previously announced funding for individual projects across ten local authorities including for estates in Cork. This was a first tranche of funding under the Multi-Annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme.
Details can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/98ed6-developer-provided-water-services-infrastructure-dpi/
I also made a request to local authorities to submit further projects that could have problems resolved by connecting to Uisce Éireann. This lead to a number of applications including from Cork County Council.
In addition to this, I announced a number of more complex demonstration projects for further examination, including locations in Co Cork. These, after consideration by an Expert Panel, required further development by the local authorities, to achieve sustainable solutions and enable a funding commitment to be made under the multi-annual programme.
In the coming weeks I expect to receive a submission from the Panel addressing the above and will then be in a position to make an announcement for a further tranche of funding.
115. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant social homes brought back into use in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10977/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 144 and 150 together.
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 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 up to and including 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
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. Funding allocations under the 2023 Programme will be announced shortly. Notwithstanding the voids funding being provided by my Department, local authorities have a responsibility to provide adequate housing maintenance budgets for 2023 and this parallel work by local authorities is essential for the development of the planned maintenance approach, which is an objective of Housing for All.
116. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the new €150 million URDF vacancy fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11719/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 30 January, I announced details regarding a third round of funding under the URDF programme. Supporting key objectives of Housing for All, Town Centre First and the Vacant Homes Action Plan, this round of URDF support has been specifically designed to addresses long term vacancy and dereliction across URDF eligible cities and town.
A revolving fund of up to €150m of URDF support will be made available for local authorities to acquire long term vacant or derelict properties (residential and/or commercial) and if necessary carry out works required to de-risk or improve the properties to make them more attractive for re-use or sale. The intention is that the fund would be replenished from the proceeds received from the end use/user thereby allowing the local authority to put in place a rolling programme to tackle long term vacancy and dereliction without recourse to borrowing and the associated financial risk for local authorities.
My Department is currently engaging with the local authority sector on finalising individual allocations, project criteria and reporting arrangements, the details of which will be announced in due course. While the third round of funding is specifically tailored to help deliver specific objectives of Housing for All, Town Centre First and the Vacant Homes Action Plan, a fourth round of funding support will be made available later in 2023. This further Call for proposals will revert to the heretofore wider scope of URDF projects, such as improved public realm and community development projects, which reflect the complex investment proposals required to transform key areas of our cities and towns. It will also provide an opportunity for a number of the ‘pipeline’ projects which have or will emerge from master planning exercises carried out under Calls 1 and 2 to be considered for funding. Support for a number of key settlements that have not yet received the level of funding required to support the growth proposed for them in the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, will also be considered. My Department will engage further with the local government sector on the nature and timing of a future Call after the third round of funding support has been finalised.
117. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for details of the cost to date of the mortgage to rent scheme; if he will provide a breakdown of the funding provided to the scheme in each of the years since 2012, in tabular form; if any analysis has been carried out into the amount of money paid out by approved housing bodies and the approved private company in the purchasing of homes under the scheme; if any analysis has been carried out into the amount of money paid to approved housing bodies and the approved private company in rent under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. In addition, the household must be deemed eligible for social housing support. The borrower surrenders their property to their lender who sells it to a MTR provider which can be either an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or since 2018 a private company, Home for Life Ltd.
The AHB or local authority (in the case where the property is sold to a private company) becomes the landlord and the borrower remains in the property as a tenant paying a differential rent to the landlord based on his or her income.
To the end of 2022, 2,114 households with unsustainable private mortgages have completed the MTR scheme since its introduction. A total of 6,078 individuals are benefitting from the scheme, which comprises of 3,350 adults and 2,728 children. The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme. This information is available on the Housing Agency's website at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics
The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units, including units acquired through the Mortgage to Rent scheme. My Department can provide CALF funding of up to 40% in the case of the Mortgage to Rent scheme for eligible projects, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from my Department. The remainder of the capital cost is sourced by the AHB through other borrowings to which the local authorities are not party. All proposals for CALF are submitted to my Department by AHBs for review, to ensure that each project complies with the terms of the CALF and that there are sufficient funds available.
My Department also supports AHBs on MTR projects by providing CALF funding for eligible start-up costs of up to 1.5% of the total capital cost or since March 2018, up to €3,300 (ex. VAT), whichever is lesser. Up to the 30th November 2021, these costs were paid directly from my Department to the AHB. For cases approved from 1 December 2021, AHBs will submit these claims to the local authority, who will then seek recoupment from my Department for the vouched expenditure.
The table below shows CALF capital expenditure by my Department for the AHB Mortgage to Rent scheme. It is important to note that owing to the nature of the CALF, expenditure relating to properties may span a number of payment periods.
|
AHB – MTRCALF Funding |
|
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2012 |
€0m |
|
2013 |
€0.227m |
|
2014 |
€0.381m |
|
2015 |
€0.780m |
|
2016 |
€1.794m |
|
2017 |
€3.019m |
|
2018 |
€4.379m |
|
2019 |
€8.902m |
|
2020 |
€6.697m |
|
2021 |
€12.716m |
|
2022 |
€6.679m |
There is no capital funding provided to the private provider in the scheme.
The sale price agreed between a lender and the MTR provider, whether AHB or private company, is a matter for both parties and the Department has no involvement in this.
As outlined above, the AHBs in the scheme are funded through CALF and a long-term lease agreement know as a Payment and Availability (P&A) Agreement. The P&A agreements are based on a variable discount of the market rent of a property. The tenant also pays an affordable rent, known as differential rent, to the AHB. As of end 2022, the average annual P&A agreement payment was €10,734.
In the case of the private MTR provider, they enter into a long-term lease arrangement with the local authority in whose area the property is situated for a defined term at an agreed rent, thereby enabling the borrower to remain living in their own home under a tenancy agreement with the local authority. In each case, the local authority must agree to the rent proposed by the provider, which is based on market rent valuations with a 5% discount then applied.
As of end 2022, the average annual lease agreement payment made to the private provider through the local authority was €13,246. As the local authority is the landlord, the tenants pay differential rent to the local authority – this figure does not take account of the differential rent receipts.
A key benefit of the MTR scheme is that a unit is being brought into social housing rather than an additional social housing unit having to be sourced from the rental market at a time of increasing acute supply issues in the rental market or removing an additional rental unit from the rental market. The availability of the scheme means that people can avoid losing their homes and the associated family upheaval. As the household are at risk of losing their home, the scheme avoids an additional person or household being placed on the social housing list or additional reliance on other housing support schemes such as the Housing Assistance Payment.
118. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 26 January 2023, if he has received the report in respect of 2021 and 2022 to date from the Galway Social Housing Task Force; if so, if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not yet received the report referred to in my reply to Question No. 85 of the 26 of January last. I understand that the report is currently being prepared by the Chair of the task force but in order to finalise this, the Chair is awaiting finalisation of the 2022 social housing delivery data which is currently being validated and should be available in the coming weeks.
I will make the report available to the Deputy when it has been received and reviewed by me.
The Galway Housing Task Force held its most recent quarterly meeting in late February 2023 and will continue to hold quarterly meetings to support progress on the delivery of social and affordable housing as well as dealing with related challenges such as homelessness.
120. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline details of plans to replace by-elections with an alternate system, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10415/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government – Our Shared Future contains a commitment to examine the replacement of by-elections with an alternate list system. The Programme for Government also committed to the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. This was established on the 9 February this year and is known as An Coimisiún Toghcháin.
Article 16.7 of the Constitution provides that 'Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article, elections for membership of Dáil Éireann, including the filling of casual vacancies, shall be regulated in accordance with law’. The law in relation to Dáil by-elections is provided for in section 39 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended.
Similarly, Article 18.10.3 of the Constitution provides that ‘Casual vacancies in the number of the elected members of Seanad Éireann shall be filled in the manner provided by law’ . The law in relation to Seanad by-elections is provided for in section 13 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 and in Part V of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947 as amended by the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1954.
Chapter 9 of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, assigns to An Coimisiún Toghcháin a research and advisory function in respect of electoral policy and procedures. Following its recent establishment, An Coimisiún will be well placed to make recommendations in respect of such matters, if requested. Any reform of electoral law concerning by-elections in the future would have regard to the outcome of any work carried out by An Coimisiún.
123. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the final figure for local authority own build social housing completions in the four Dublin local authorities in 2022; his views that this represents success or failure in terms of addressing the chronic housing crisis in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11853/23]
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.
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. 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/ Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published shortly.
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 procurement processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2022. The report is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/2b4cd-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2022/
Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published shortly.
