Written Answers Nos. 336-350
338. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Ireland has taken a position at an EU-level on the proposed date for the next European elections; and if Ireland has expressed a preference for 23 to 26 May 2024 or 6 to 9 June 2024. [21406/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procedure for fixing the election period in respect of elections to the European Parliament is set out in the European Union's Electoral Act of 1976 (i.e. the Act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Decision 76/787/ECSE, EEC, Euratom) and, in accordance with that Act, the 2024 elections would be due to be held in the period 6-9 June 2024.
The European Union's Electoral Act of 1976 also makes provision to change the period for the European Parliament elections should it prove impossible to hold the elections during the default period in question. In very broad terms, the dates may be revised to a period not more than two months before or one month after the default period.
In the event that Member States opt to change the normally applicable dates of 6-9 June 2024, the deadline for doing so is one year before the end of the European Parliament's five-year term. The new electoral period would therefore have to be fixed by the end of June 2023 at the latest.
As matters currently stand, fixing the election period for the next European Parliament elections in 2024 is the subject of ongoing discussions at the Working Party on General Affairs. A number of alternative dates have recently been proposed for the months of May and June 2024 and the Swedish Presidency has requested Member States to provide feedback on the various options. In this context, Ireland has signalled its preference for the default dates (i.e. 6-9 June 2024).
339. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to his announcement that an analysis into the availability of land for the delivery of social and affordable homes through to 2030 has concluded, if he will provide the estimated number of social and affordable homes for which land will have to be acquired. [21407/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 180 of 4 May 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
340. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm the amount of funding allocated to the Land Acquisition Fund; and the estimated number of social and affordable homes for which this amount of funding could provide land. [21408/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 180 of 4 May 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
341. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the allocation put in place for 2022 and 2023 for the caravan loan pilot scheme nationally; the amount approved for each local authority; the spend to date for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21419/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra342. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the review of the caravan loan pilot scheme has been completed; the process used to carry out the review; when the findings of the review will be published and a new scheme put in its place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21420/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 342 together.
The 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 nationwide pilot Caravan Loan Scheme was introduced to support the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation through local authorities to provide preferential loans to Travellers to purchase their own caravan or mobile home for use as their primary residence. The 2022 nationwide pilot scheme was limited to the provision of up to 75 caravans or €3 million, whichever was the lessor, across all local authorities, until the end of 2022. At the conclusion of the 2022 nationwide pilot, €2.66 million had been drawn down by local authorities to provide 77 caravans.
The information on the number of loans and the amount drawn down by each local authority under the 2022 nationwide pilot Caravan Loan Scheme is set out in the following table.
|
Local authority |
Number of loans |
Draw down |
|
Carlow |
- |
- |
|
Cavan |
- |
- |
|
Clare |
- |
- |
|
Cork City |
13 |
€527,417.70 |
|
Cork County |
1 |
€40,000 |
|
Donegal |
- |
- |
|
Dublin City |
18 |
€633,685 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
6 |
€234,000 |
|
Fingal |
10 |
€236,498.05 |
|
South Dublin |
13 |
€422, 855.27 |
|
Galway City |
4 |
€159,989.60 |
|
Galway County |
- |
- |
|
Kerry |
- |
|
|
Kildare |
2 |
€70,725 |
|
Kilkenny |
- |
- |
|
Laois |
- |
- |
|
Leitrim |
- |
- |
|
Limerick City & County |
3 |
€106,500 |
|
Longford |
- |
- |
|
Louth |
1 |
€25,650 |
|
Mayo |
- |
- |
|
Meath |
- |
- |
|
Monaghan |
- |
- |
|
Offaly |
- |
- |
|
Roscommon |
- |
- |
|
Sligo |
6 |
€202,329.02 |
|
Tipperary |
- |
- |
|
Waterford City & County |
- |
- |
|
Westmeath |
- |
- |
|
Wexford |
- |
- |
|
Wicklow |
- |
- |
|
Total |
77 |
€2,659,649.64 |
In addition, under the 2021 pilot Caravan Loan Scheme from the participating local authorities of Cork City Council, Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council and Limerick City and County Council, 9 loans were drawn down by Cork City Council in early 2022, bringing the total number of loans provided in 2022 to 86. My Department funded €210,000 towards the cost of these loans and €60,000 was funded through Local Property Tax (LPT) resulting in €2.93 million expenditure on both pilot Caravan Loan Schemes in 2022.
The nationwide pilot Caravan Loan Scheme concluded at the end of 2022 and my Department is in the process of reviewing the operation of the pilot scheme with input from local authorities and other stakeholders. A report has been prepared for consideration in advance of submitting it to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
343. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the adaptation grants for people with disabilities to include the changing of windows and doors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21575/23]
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. The suite of grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (max grant €30,000), the Mobility Aids Grant (max grant €6,000) and the Housing Aid for Older People (max grant €8,000). A means test applies to each grant scheme.
The Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability are available to assist in the carrying out of works which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of a person with a disability who has an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment. The detailed administration of the schemes is the responsibility of the local authorities, therefore the qualifying works is a matter for consideration and decision on a case-by-case basis by the local authority within the scope of the grant scheme.
Further details on these schemes are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/
344. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the average Exchequer expenditure per unit of cost rental housing when delivered through the affordable housing fund, the cost rental equity loan, and project tosaigh, broken down by funding stream, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21589/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's Housing for All plan aims to deliver 18,000 Cost Rental homes by 2030, to be facilitated by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), local authorities, and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
With 2022 representing the first full year of delivery under the affordable housing schemes introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, local authorities have begun to submit data returns and information on delivery of affordable homes in their area to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing. Cost rental delivery during 2022 is set out in the statistical data on affordable housing delivery as published last month on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery
Cost information on the delivery of affordable homes through the various construction streams, is collated at development/project level rather than at individual housing unit level. The cost of delivering new homes is dependent on a range of variables, such as the location, the scale of the development and the size and type of the homes involved. In addition, the level of subvention provided under the Affordable Housing Fund towards the capital cost of an affordable housing scheme varies having regard to factors such as density of affordable units per hectare achieved and the location of the development. Subventions ranging from €50,000 to €150,000 are provided for under the Fund, with the Exchequer cost representing 95% of the subvention and the remaining 5% coming from a Local Authority contribution.
To date, I have given approval in principle under the Affordable Housing Fund for the subvention of 1,005 cost rental units across 6 schemes to the value of over €94 million. The average subvention per unit under the fund is therefore €93,532 with a direct exchequer contribution of €88,855 approximately and a local authority contribution of €4,677.
A total of €50.8 million was spent under the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) in 2022, which allowed for the delivery of 470 cost rental units in eleven developments across four counties: Dublin, Cork, Kildare, and Meath. This gives an average exchequer contribution per unit of the order of €108,000 in respect of affordable units delivered with CREL assistance.
The LDA is also delivering Cost Rental homes under the Project Tosaigh initiative to unlock land with full planning permission that is not being developed by private sector owners. Funding to acquire homes is sourced from LDA access to up to €1.25bn of capital funding from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and its access to borrowings up to the same amount. Detailed information on its cost rental delivery can be found on the LDA’s website at: lda.ie/affordable-homes/lda-cost-rental
345. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of farmers who were successful in their applications to have their land dezoned in each local authority as part of the submission process for residential zoned land tax that closed on 1 January 2023, and for which decisions were issued at the start of April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21590/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Finance Act 2021 introduced Part 22A Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The RZLT is designed to prompt residential development by landowners, including farmers, of land that is zoned for residential or mixed-use (including residential) purposes and that is serviced.
RZLT is an annual tax, calculated at a rate of 3% of the market value of the land within its scope. The tax will be due and payable from 2024 onwards in respect of land which fell within the scope of the tax on or before 1 January 2022. Where land is zoned or serviced after 1 January 2022, the tax will be first due in the third year after the year in which it comes within scope.
A draft RZLT map was published by each local authority on 1 November 2022. The purpose of the draft map was to allow landowners, including farmers, to see if their land is within the scope of the tax. If a landowner sees that their land is included on the draft map and believes that it should not be, they had the opportunity to make a submission to the local authority by 1 January 2023 seeking to have the map updated and their land removed from the map, or they could have sought to have their land rezoned.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage published guidelines in June 2022 to assist local authorities in identifying land in scope for the tax and assessing submissions. These guidelines provide clarity on servicing criteria which local authorities will have utilised in assessing submissions where landowners claim that land should not be liable to the tax due not having access to some or all services.
There were 1,687 submissions made to local authorities during the public display period for the draft maps challenging the inclusion of lands on the maps in respect of the criteria for being in scope, with 210 rezoning submissions received. Local authorities will have now considered the submissions received and made written determinations on whether the land should stay on the maps in respect of the criteria for being in scope, and where a landowner disagreed with the determination of the landowner, they were permitted to lodge an appeal with An Bord Pleanála by 1 May. If a landowner requested a rezoning of their land, the local authority would consider the request and, if appropriate, they would commence a variation procedure to alter the zoning of the land. This variation procedure, and the local authority’s decision on whether or not to commence one, is part of the normal zoning process as set out under Section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Whilst Section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides that a planning authority may commence the process of variation of their development plan at any time, it was recommended within Circular NRUP 07/2022 that the process of reviewing all rezoning submissions received should be undertaken as a single, collective variation process after the current public notification period for the supplemental map ends on 1 June 2023. This approach will enable the full and cumulative assessment of the impact of all rezoning submissions received in relation to the publication of draft and supplemental maps on the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. A local authority may decide to provide a report on the rezoning submissions and the opinion of the Chief Executive in respect of those submissions received, to its Elected Members. As the public display period for supplemental maps is ongoing, local authorities have not concluded the process of cumulatively considering rezoning requests.
It is expected there will be greater clarity on the number of variations proposed to statutory land use plans after 1 June.
346. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm that the residential zoned land tax will not be applicable to farm lands currently being used as part of a functional farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21591/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFinance Act 2021 introduced Part 22A Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The RZLT is designed to prompt residential development by landowners, including farmers, of land that is zoned for residential or mixed-use (including residential) purposes and that is serviced.
RZLT is an annual tax, calculated at a rate of 3% of the market value of the land within its scope. The tax will be due and payable from 2024 onwards in respect of land which fell within the scope of the tax on or before 1 January 2022. Where land is zoned or serviced after 1 January 2022, the tax will be first due in the third year after the year in which it comes within scope.
It is important to note that, to come within the scope of RZLT, farmland must be both zoned for residential use and serviced. Farmland that is zoned for residential use, but which is not currently serviced, is not within the scope of the tax and will only come within the scope of the tax should the land become serviced at some point in the future.
Land will be considered to be serviced for the purposes of the tax where it is reasonable to consider that the land has access to, or may be connected to, public infrastructure and facilities, including roads and footpaths, public lighting, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage and water supply, necessary for dwellings to be developed on the land and with sufficient service capacity available for such development.
Agricultural land which is zoned solely or primarily for residential use meets the criteria set out within the legislation and therefore falls within the scope of the tax.
Agricultural land that is zoned for a mixture of uses including residential is not in scope as farming is a trade or profession benefitting from an exemption in the legislation.
A draft RZLT map was published by local authorities on 1 November 2022. The purpose of the draft map was to allow landowners, including farmers, to see if their land is within the scope of the tax. If a landowner sees that their land is included on the draft map and believes that it should not be, they had the opportunity to make a submission to the local authority by 1 January 2023 seeking to have the map updated and their land removed from the map, or they could have sought to have their land rezoned.
Local authorities will have now considered the submissions received in respect of the draft map and made written determinations on whether the land should stay on the map or be removed from it having regard to the criteria set out within the legislation. If the landowner disagreed with the determination, they could appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála by 1 May. These appeals are currently being considered by the Board. If a landowner requested a rezoning of their land, the local authority would consider the request and, if appropriate, they would commence a variation procedure to alter the zoning of the land. This variation procedure, and the local authority’s decision on whether or not to commence one, is part of the normal zoning process.
Furthermore, Finance Act 2022 introduced an exemption for land that is within the scope of the tax but is subject to a contract that precludes the landowner from developing it. For the exemption to apply, the contract must have been entered into prior to 1 January 2022, i.e., prior to the introduction of RZLT. For example, where a farmer leased land prior to 1 January 2022 and the requisite conditions are met, the farmer may claim an exemption from the tax for the period of the lease.
Supplemental maps were published on 1 May 2023 by certain local authorities where additional lands have been identified as being in scope, further to the publication of the draft maps. Landowners may make submissions to the relevant local authority in respect of lands included on the supplemental maps by 1 June 2023.
These residential zonings are considered to reflect the housing need set out within the core strategy for the relevant local authority area. The RZLT aims to ensure that lands which are zoned for residential purposes and which have benefitted from investment in services are actively managed to ensure a constant supply of housing to meet identified need.
This measure is a key pillar of the Government's plan to ensure a sufficient supply of housing is delivered on appropriately zoned and serviced lands.
347. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm that the residential zoned land tax does not apply to lands that are zoned phase 2 in local area plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21592/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), a key commitment under Housing for All, is a new tax which was established in Finance Act 2021. It is designed to activate all land which is zoned for residential and mixed use, including residential purposes and have benefitted from investment in servicing or which are able to connect to services for housing. The tax is a key pillar of the Government’s response to address the urgent need to increase housing supply in suitable locations.
The Department of Finance leads on its implementation with the involvement of my Department, the Revenue Commissioners and the 31 local authorities. In this regard, my Department published section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the Residential Zoned Land Tax on 29 June 2022, which provided guidance on identifying the land which is in scope for the tax. A copy of the Guidelines can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fbc41-residential-zoned-land-tax-guidelines-for-planning-authorities/
Exemptions from the tax are contained within S.653B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (as amended) relating to, for example, land needed for community and infrastructural requirements; while land which is affected by its physical condition such that it is unable to be developed due to significant contamination or known historic remains is not liable, in addition to lands which have an infrastructural constraint. The legislative provisions do not include exemptions relating to phase 2 lands within development plans or local area plans and if such lands are zoned and serviced (within the meaning set out in the legislation), they are in scope.
The Department of Finance and my Department are currently considering a range of matters raised, including the issue raised in the Question, through the ongoing map publication and submission process.
Further details with regard to the RZLT, including a full description of the submission process and milestones, can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fbad0-residential-zoned-land-tax/
348. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can confirm that the recently announced exemption from development charges includes exemption from water charge connection fees from group water schemes and connection charges to the ESB networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21593/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 25 April 2023 the Government approved additional measures under Housing for All to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges.
My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities on 28 April, setting out the broad parameters of the scheme, a copy of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/circular/10e02-circular-pl-042023-temporary-time-limited-waiver-in-respect-of-development-contributions/
My Department is currently working on the detailed arrangements in relation to the operation and administration of the development contribution waiver scheme. However, I can confirm that ESB Network connection charges or Group Water Scheme charges do not fall within the scope of the measures recently approved by Government. The water connection charge refund scheme will only apply to water and waste water connection charges payable to Uisce Éireann.
349. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action a person can take when they are looking to avail of the mortgage-to-rent scheme where they are not named on the title deeds (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21618/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 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. In order for a borrower to qualify for the MTR scheme, the mortgage, property and household must meet detailed eligibility criteria. In addition, the MTR process has to be carefully implemented with so many parties involved, including the homeowner, the lender, the relevant local authority and the Approved Housing Body or Private Company willing to acquire the property to enable the borrower to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.
While I am not in a position to comment on any particular case, as part of the normal administration of the scheme, The Housing Agency, who administer the scheme on my Department's behalf, must ensure that all the criteria underpinning the scheme are complied with in each case. The reasons why a case may not progress are varied and can depend on the lender, the property or the circumstances of the particular household. One of the requirements of the scheme is that the applicant (mortgage holder) must be residing in the property in question and that the residing person is included on the Title to the Mortgage of the property.
Should it transpire that MTR is not an option in a particular case, I would encourage the borrower to discuss with their lender if there are other options available to resolve their mortgage arrears situation.
My focus, and that of the Government, is to ensure that as many households as possible remain in their homes and I would encourage borrowers to engage with the Abhaile Service, the national mortgage arrears resolution service, which is available free of charge to the borrower. The unique element of Abhaile is that it brings together, for the first time, the full range of supports and services required by borrowers in home mortgage arrears. A dedicated adviser will work with the borrower and their lender to find the best solution for their particular situation. MABS acts as the gateway for the service and can be contacted by telephoning (076)1072000 or by accessing their website at: www.mabs.ie/abhaile
For those borrowers in danger of losing their home who are ineligible for the MTR scheme but qualify for social housing support, it is recommended that they engage as early as possible with their local authority regarding their long-term housing needs.
350. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the targets set out in Appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government were met in respect of Fingal County Council; if he will confirm whether the proposed 1,376 units were delivered from 2015 to 2017; if not, the number delivered; the final spend on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21621/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra353. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the targets set out in Appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government were met in respect of Tipperary County Council; if he will confirm whether the proposed 832 units were delivered from 2015 to 2017; if not, how many were delivered; the final spend on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21624/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra361. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the targets set out in Appendix 1 of the Laying the Foundations: Housing Action Report produced in 2016 by the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government were met in respect of Louth County Council; if he will confirm whether the proposed 778 units were delivered from 2015 to 2017; if not, how many were delivered; the final spend on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21663/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 350, 353 and 361 together.
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 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 total funding provided by my Department to the relevant local authorities for the delivery of capital and current Housing programmes for the period in question is set out in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Capital €m |
Current €m |
Total €m |
|
Fingal |
120 |
52 |
172 |
|
Louth |
31 |
90 |
121 |
|
Tipperary |
41 |
36 |
77 |
