Written Answers Nos. 147-166
147. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can clarify the additional supports or arrangements that he has in place in terms of emergency provision of beds and accommodation for those persons who face eviction in April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11881/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 my Department has no function in relation to operational matters. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area.
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. 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. 600 lease arrangements were put in place to provide further capacity. In addition, 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.
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.
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.
148. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a report on the delivery of affordable housing in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11864/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication of Housing for All, I asked local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. 18 local authorities, including Carlow, were set five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets and asked to include planned affordable housing delivery in those Plans. Carlow County Council published its final Plan last July.
My Department has met with Carlow County Council to discuss their need for affordable housing, their targets and their plans and funding is available from my Department to assist in the delivery of affordable housing under the Affordable Housing Fund.
In addition, recognising the resourcing implications of providing affordable housing, I have sanctioned two additional staff to support delivery of affordable housing in Carlow which I expect will assist Carlow County Council to develop their affordable housing pipeline.
To date, my Department has not received any proposals from Carlow but assistance is available from my Department, the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office in the LGMA with developing proposals and housing schemes.
Finally, the First Home Scheme, launched last July, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market from 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available in Carlow and nationwide.
149. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in the delivery of affordable housing schemes for County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11884/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Affordable Housing Fund application was submitted by Mayo County Council to my Department in September 2022 seeking funding to assist in the delivery of 13 affordable purchase homes in Springfield, Westport. I granted approval in principle to this application in November 2022 and scheduled delivery of these affordable homes will be in 2024.
My Department, the Housing Agency and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office are available to assist Mayo County Council, and indeed all local authorities, to develop and deliver affordable housing and, where a sufficient need for affordable housing is suitably evidenced, will consider any application for funding in support of an affordable housing scheme submitted for consideration.
151. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the review of the Housing Aid for Older People Housing Adaptation Grants and Mobility Aids Grants to reflect the additional costs of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11920/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist eligible people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the full suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. A report on the review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability has been prepared by my Department. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds, the grant limits, the application and decision making processes, including supplementary documentation required.I will be giving careful consideration to the review report and expect to make a decision on the recommendations in the report as soon as possible.
152. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the reform of Technical Guidance Document B of the Building Regulations. [11818/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 20 January 2023, I launched a three-month public consultation on proposed amendments to Building Regulations relating to fire safety (Part B) and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document B (TGD B).
Fire safety regulations for dwelling houses were updated in 2017. The regulations currently out for public consultation relate to fire safety requirements in all other buildings.
The proposed changes aim to improve fire safety in new buildings and support the re-use of existing buildings by simplifying, clarifying and rationalising fire safety requirements.
Changes in the design and construction of buildings, with taller and larger, more complex layouts; the use of new and innovative building systems and materials; changes in the provision of heating, ventilation, and access for the health and safety of occupants; and improvements in energy performance, have necessitated a review of Part B and TGD B.
The review has also taken into account common and emerging building trends; developments and events from a global perspective; matters relating to external fire spread; external fire resistance; internal fire resistance; cladding systems, sprinklers; and the review into the Grenfell fire.
In carrying out the review, specific regard was given to the holistic requirements of the Building Regulations in Ireland; the framework of administration set out under the Building Control Regulations; fire safety; planning, and Irish health and safety laws; and Irish policy documents outlining national strategy and objectives, such as Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland; and Fire Safety in Ireland – The Report of the Fire Safety Task Force 2018.
The proposed amendments to the Building Regulations in respect of fire safety include updates to means of alert in case of fire, an inhibition to the spread of fire over the face of the building, and the provision of information to building owners in respect of fire safety systems installed in the building.
Details of the public consultation page can be found at www.gov.ie/en/consultation/1ed7c-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-part-b-fire-safety-of-the-building-regulations/ . I encourage all interested parties to make a submission to partbconsultation@housing.gov.ie by 5pm on 21 April 2023.
The review is also a key action of the government’s Housing for All plan, which commits to an ongoing review of Building Regulations to drive compliance and standards through regulatory reform.
153. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to work with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and other bodies to ensure the immediate servicing of the public housing lands in Old Conna and Rathmichael to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11857/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working closely with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR) to accelerate the delivery of housing on the local authority-owned sites at Old Conna and Rathmichael. Two such sites (Ballyman and Old Connaught) are part of my Department's accelerated delivery programme. In December 2022 my Department funded the pay-off of Housing Finance Agency site debts for these sites. DLR has agreed to progress these projects to be on-site by end 2024 and using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
DLR has advised my Department that works to enable development are being progressed. My Department is working closely with the Council to advance these areas for delivery of social housing.
DLR has also advised that initial work has begun on the preparation of the Local Area Plans for Old Connaught and Rathmichael. The Local Area Plans are being advanced to accelerate the delivery of new communities in the area and delivering on the Council’s housing programme.
156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on measures to increase the supply of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11757/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All sets out the range of actions intended to increase the overall supply of housing to 33,000 new homes on average per year over the next decade. Under the strategy, 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. This includes 36,000 affordable homes for purchase and 18,000 for cost rental.
To allow the development of these homes, I introduced the Affordable Housing Act 2021, which provided for two new Affordable Purchase schemes (the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme and the First Home shared equity scheme), as well as a new form of tenure in Cost Rental.
To implement 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 delivery from 2022 to 2026. These plans were published on the local authorities’ respective websites in July 2022.
The first Cost Rental homes were delivered in 2021 and 2022 saw significant delivery of further Cost Rental homes by AHBs and the first Cost Rental homes delivered by the LDA.
Separately, the LDA has an immediate focus on managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands making these available for housing, which is expected to bring more long-term stability to the Irish housing market.
In the shorter-term, the LDA is also tasked with unlocking stalled private planning-consented developments through its market engagement initiative - Project Tosaigh. The initial expressions of interest process was launched at the end of 2021, with a renewed expressions of interest process launched in October last year. Work is underway in assessing the recent proposals submitted to supplement the pipeline of affordable housing already in place.
Finally, the First Home shared equity scheme was launched last July to support affordability-constrained First Time Buyers purchasing newly constructed homes on the private market. In its first six months of operation to the end of 2022, it received over 1,000 applications and issued 750 approvals. Full details of the Scheme, including eligibility criteria, are available on the website: www.firsthomescheme.ie .
Other measures available to support affordability constrained households include the Local Authority Home Loan and the Help-to-Buy incentive scheme.
157. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the contacts that have taken place between his Department and Kerry County Council or the HSE/Department of Health or any other State agency in relation to the possible change of use of the St. Finan's Hospital building and site for housing provision for the people of Killarney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11915/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not had any formal contact or discussions regarding the property referred to in the Question. Notwithstanding this, my Department is advised by Kerry County Council that the potential reuse of the former psychiatric hospital, St. Finan’s Killarney, for social and affordable housing purposes is under review by the Council in the context of its responsibility for developing social and affordable housing delivery pipelines under Housing for All.
158. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he is making more homebuyers eligible for local authority home loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11597/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment in Housing for All, the expanded Local Authority Home Loan was launched in January 2022. It is a Government backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It is available to first-time buyers and "fresh start" applicants to purchase a new or second-hand property, or to self-build.
Supporting home ownership is a key objective for this Government and as part of achieving this I recently announced significant changes to the house price and income limits which apply in the Local Authority Home Loan, which will result in more people being eligible to apply. The house price limits have been increased as follows:Increase from €320,000 to €360,000 – Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, South Dublin, Dublin City, Fingal, Wicklow, Kildare Increase from €320,00 to €330,000 – Galway City, Cork City, Louth, Meath, Galway County, Cork County Increase from €250,000 to €300,000 – Limerick, Waterford, Clare, Wexford, Westmeath, Kilkenny Increase from €250,000 to €275,000 – Offaly, Laois, Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Tipperary, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, Carlow
The income limits have also increased for all applicants as follows:Increase from €50,000 and €65,000 to €70,000 for all single applications nationwide Increase from €75,000 to €85,000 for all joint applications nationwide
These changes came into effect on 1 March 2023.
I will continue to keep the Local Authority Home Loan under review to ensure it remains a genuine and relevant support for people who want to own their own home.
Further information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available on its dedicated website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
159. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the recommendations on the review of retained firefighters has been brought to Cabinet and accepted by Government; and if so, if there is a timeline for implementation of the 13 measures. [11525/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position on the review of retained fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11823/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 166 together.
The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing the legislative framework, running a central training programme and issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) manages fire service issues in my Department.
Fire services in Ireland are provided by the local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, 31 authorities provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 217 fire stations nationwide deliver local authority fire services, 16 of these stations being staffed by full-time firefighters, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 197 are staffed by retained firefighters, with approximately 2,065 retained firefighters around the country. It is important to note that the numbers of fire service front-line staff have been maintained at a constant high level throughout the economic challenges of the past number of years, even when staffing numbers, by necessity, were reduced in other areas of the local authority sector.
In May 2021, I directed the Management Board of the NDFEM to review the delivery and sustainability of the local authority ‘Retained’ Fire Services, with particular emphasis on the recruitment and retention of personnel.
Following the recommendation of the NDFEM Management Board, I approved the review report for publication by my Department in December 2022. The report can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=assets.gov.ie/242869/d04df987-07f5-40d5-8121-e9767141de49.pdf#page=null
Publication of this review builds on the progress made implementing the “Keeping Communities Safe” policy, setting the future strategic direction of the Retained Fire Service.
The review report is the culmination of:
- the comprehensive engagement of retained firefighters with an independent research survey conducted during 2021, (Over 900 members of the retained firefighting service both serving and those recently retired/ resigned took part).
- the comprehensive engagement of senior fire service management with an independent research survey during 2021.
- a comparative analysis of service delivery models with other EU fire services.
- further direct engagement with staff representatives throughout the process via the Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group (Retained), facilitated by the Local Government Management Association (LGMA).
It is clear from the findings of the review that the work/life balance for retained firefighters should be addressed to make the retained fire service an attractive employment option. It is important that as we move to improve recruitment and retention, we also endeavour to prioritise inclusion and diversity within the Fire Service. The significant challenge in delivering change is balancing the organisational requirement and ability to respond with the life needs of the individual retained firefighters.
In February of this year, I brought forward a Memorandum for the information of Government on the Retained review report, noting the 13 recommendations.
With a view to progressing implementation of all the recommendations, engagement is proceeding via the established forums for the relevant stakeholder representative bodies.
The recommendations are prioritised on the basis of actions that it is felt will create a more positive environment for serving members of the retained fire services and encourage effective recruitment of new retained firefighters in the short to medium term.
The Local Government Management Authority (LGMA) are leading discussions on behalf of the local authorities with staff representative groups on the priority IR issues with two recent engagements on 27 January and 22 February of this year.
I trust that all stakeholders will work together in the coming weeks and months on the implementation of each of the recommendations outlined within the report, to achieve an equitable resolution of the issues identified, thus ensuring sustainable and effective retained fire services into the future.
160. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the implementation of recommendations of the 2019 report by the Expert Group on Traveller Accommodation. [11816/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, published in July 2019, reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers. The Expert Review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller community, has 32 recommendations across 4 categories which are aimed at:
1. Addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used;
2. Removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery;
3. Increasing resources and delivery capacity; and
4. Strengthening governance arrangements.
Delivery and implementation of the recommendations involves several areas within my Department, as well as input from other Departments, local authorities and other external stakeholders.
The Programme Board, established to drive implementation of the recommendations from the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, agreed to report progress on implementation of the recommendations on my Department's website. The progress report, which provides an update on the work of the Programme Board, is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/37910-traveller-accommodation-expert-review-programme-board-update/
161. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the Mulcahy report into allegations of planning malpractice in County Donegal; and the actions he intends to take on foot of the reports findings. [11817/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course.
The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. The Attorney General's office has been consulted on both the content of the report and also on the issue of its potential publication and dissemination
Further, regarding the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.
It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. The Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals." Therefore, this is a matter that requires careful consideration given that the report details unproven allegations against named persons.
162. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider reviewing the MICA redress scheme to allow for penalty-free downsizing to encourage smaller, energy-efficient homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11737/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act'), as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
It should be noted that the scheme, as approved by the Oireachtas in the 2022 Act, is not a compensation or redress scheme, and the State has admitted no liability in this regard. Rather, it is a Remediation Grant scheme of last resort, put in place by the Government to voluntarily assist homeowners.
The grant awarded to an applicant under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, where the remediation option is full demolition and rebuild, will be based on the size of the original dwelling or the size of the home the grant recipient intends to build in the case of downsizing. I and the Government have an obligation to the Exchequer and participants in the scheme to ensure that the grants approved are appropriate to the size of home being rebuilt and that homeowners rebuilding a home of the same size are commensurately grant aided.
I wish to emphasise that the scheme does facilitate downsizing, with reference to Section 17(5) of the 2022 Act, and while downsizing may not be financially rewarded under the scheme, there is no penalty on homeowners who choose to downsize.
163. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department include units marked by local authorities as substantially complete in their quarterly Housing for All social housing delivery statistical updates. [11826/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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/.
The statistics are collated by my Department based on statistical returns submitted by each of the local authorities. The process of gathering and collating social housing delivery statistics is managed by my Department’s Statistics and Data Analytics Unit (SDAU). A circular issues to local authorities each quarter requesting social housing delivery details and returns submitted by the local authorities are collated for publication.
For local authority new build, completion is when the keys have been handed over to the local authority and the ESB meter has been connected. For a local authority Turnkey, completion is the date the contract to purchase is signed.
CALF projects, both construction and turnkey, are typically considered delivered having regard to the effective date of the Payment and Availability Agreement, although in some instances the units will have been completed in advance of the agreement being signed.
The published output figures by my Department are based on the social housing units confirmed as completed on the statistical returns received from each local authority on a quarterly basis.
164. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost-rental units in 2022; and if he will provide a breakdown of units delivered by approved housing bodies, the LDA, and local authorities. [11738/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIntroduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021, Cost Rental is primarily targeted to deliver rents at least 25% below market levels for households with incomes above social housing limits and who have difficulty in affording to purchase or rent their own homes on the open market. Cost rental provides tenants with rent certainty and secure tenancies in long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes.
The first Cost Rental homes were delivered in 2021 and 2022 saw significant delivery of further Cost Rental homes by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and the first Cost Rental homes delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA).
Local Authorities have begun systematically collating information on delivery of affordable purchase and Cost Rental homes in their administrative areas (including returns for AHBs and the LDA), in the same manner as is currently undertaken for social housing. 2022 year end returns have now been submitted by Local Authorities to my Department and are currently being verified against Departmental information. Informed by this data, I expect that my Department will be in a position to report confirmed Local Authority wide 2022 social, affordable purchase and cost rental housing delivery by the end of Q1 2023.
165. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the enhanced defective concrete block redress scheme. [11815/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022, as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
The enhanced grant scheme will be commenced as soon as related Regulations are completed, which Regulations provide details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as application forms and templates, per square metre grant rates and the definition of damage.
Draft Regulations have been prepared, which are the subject of consultation with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups, which consultation must be concluded before the Regulations will be finalised and adopted in early 2023. I have extended the consultation period on the draft Regulations by an additional two weeks, to 14 March 2023, following receipt of requests for time extensions from Donegal County Council and Mayo County Council. Grant rates, to be included in the final Regulations, will be based upon updated regional construction costs for 2023 provided by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.
