Written Answers Nos. 1-20
6. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number currently on the social housing waiting list in Cavan; the current wait time for social housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32980/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent summary, conducted in November 2022, indicates there were 460 households on the social housing waiting list in Cavan, a decrease of 24.3% from 2019 . In 2022, the local authority delivered 116 new social housing dwellings using build, acquisition and leasing mechanisms. In addition, 97 new tenancies were supported using HAP and RAS. Further ambitious targets for new housing delivery have been set for the local authority in 2023. While the oversight and management of the housing waiting list, including the allocation of tenancies, is a matter solely for Cavan County Council, I expect the delivery of these homes to contribute significantly to meeting the accommodation needs of households on the Council's waiting list.
Individual applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. These Regulations prescribe the timescales for the processing of applications by local authorities and provides that, subject to conditions, a local authority shall deal with an application within a period of 12 weeks.
I understand that local authorities, including Cavan County Council ordinarily prioritise housing needs assessments for those in greatest need. Likewise, they also ensure that such applications are dealt with within time-frames that are significantly shorter that the statutory maximum. I’m not aware of a particular difficulty in Cavan that is leading to a delay in applications being assessed.
8. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions that are being taken to increase the number of homes built by local authorities beyond the 1,666 that were constructed last year. [32921/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraNew build social housing delivery is achieved through a number of funding programmes available to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). Local authorities and AHBs can deliver new build social housing through direct construction, in partnership with developers through 'turnkey' projects and through the Part V process.
In 2023, a total of 7,443 new build social homes were delivered through these delivery mechanisms. This represented the highest level of new build social housing delivery since 1975.
Under Housing for All, local authorities are responsible for approximately 60% of new build social homes (including homes delivered under Part V) and AHBs are responsible for approximately 40% of new build delivery (also including homes delivered under Part V). Details of local authority and AHB delivery are set out in the Housing Delivery Action Plans prepared by each local authority.
In relation to local authority construction, my Department is working closely with local authorities to support an increase in construction projects in accordance with social housing targets. Housing for All also commits to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects. In this regard, my Department has approved an additional 250 staff specifically to support the delivery of social housing. In addition the Housing for All Land Acquisition Fund was established and is being managed by the Housing Agency. Capital funding of €125m has been allocated to this Fund, which will acquire sites for local authorities to deliver construction projects.
Strengthening the capacity of local authorities and the provision of suitable land are important measures to increase the pipeline of local authority construction projects.
11. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Department’s efforts to deliver the additional 15% affordable housing in the Poolbeg SDZ including whether he or his cabinet colleagues has met with NAMA and discussed the transfer of NAMAs 20% equity stake in the SDZ lands to Dublin City Council to assist them in ensuring the delivery of genuinely affordable homes in the SDZ. [33130/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regeneration of Poolbeg West is an important step in the transformation of the Dublin Docklands area, with the potential to provide for 3,500 homes. A novel condition of the planning scheme for the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone, is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes in the SDZ, in addition to the 10% statutory social housing requirement under Part V arrangements.
The developers are engaging with Dublin City Council regarding the provision of the 10% Part V social housing in the first phase which involves 570 apartments.
My Department has been working with Dublin City Council and the developers of the Poolbeg SDZ area to progress an agreement on the delivery of additional social and affordable housing in this first phase, subject to the SDZ requirements and value for money considerations.
I understand that NAMA held a percentage stake in the company that owns the site, as opposed to owning 20% of the site itself, and as such they were represented at those tripartite talks by the lead negotiators for the Consortium. I understand that NAMA has recently sold its interest to the majority stakeholders. This has no effect on the SDZ requirement and negotiations in relation to the 15% requirement continue.
I understand drafting of an agreement is now underway. I am not in a position to comment further on the contents until an agreement is finalised but I note it is intended that the full additional 15% social and affordable homes will be achieved across the phases of development on the site.
15. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the new pilot scheme that offers grants to ready vacant farmhouses for refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32917/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses is primarily a built heritage scheme, intended to support the conservation of an important and historically neglected part of our traditional building stock. I am pleased to note that it may also make a contribution to our broader efforts to tackle vacancy and dereliction.
Owners of traditional farmhouses often undertake renovation works without professional advice, and may carry out unnecessary demolition or use materials that damage the historic fabric of the building. In general this results in a loss of historic character and, in some cases, further expenditure for the owner. It is hoped that these outcomes can be avoided through the timely provision of expert advice.
I would emphasise to the Deputy that this is a pilot scheme intended to trial the provision of conservation grants for vacant historic buildings. My officials are currently looking into options for extending the scheme beyond vernacular farmhouses, to cover a wider range of historic buildings in both urban and rural areas, subject to appropriate sanction and to the estimates process.
In the meantime, I would call attention to the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund, grant programmes offered by my Department which fund conservation works in a wide range of historic buildings. €9m was allocated to these schemes in 2023, more than double the 2019 allocation. It is expected that the 2024 schemes will be announced in November coming.
16. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the social housing waiting list in Cork County Council now compares with that in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33198/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recent summary, conducted in November 2022, shows Cork County Council have 2,318 households on their social housing waiting list, a reduction of 8.5% from 2019. This compares to 2,533 households in 2019. Therefore, when comparing the two years, there has been a reduction of 215 households on the social housing waiting list for Cork County Council.
I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026. The targets for Cork County Council include the delivery of 3,198 new build social homes between 2022 and 2026.
In 2022, the local authority, using the range of social housing delivery mechanisms delivered 662 additional social housing homes.
While the oversight and management of the housing waiting list, including the allocation of tenancies, is a matter solely for Cork County Council, I expect the delivery of these homes to contribute significantly to meeting the accommodation needs of households on the Council's waiting list.
17. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the completion of the single utility for water services and to outline what additional funding his Department intends to provide to cover the full costs of water service workers remaining in local authorities on their current full terms and conditions. [33134/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services (Amendment) Act 2022 was published in December of last year. This Act provides for the establishment of Uisce Eireann as the stand-alone national water services authority.
In terms of governance, the authority will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, and will be accountable to the Public Accounts Committee, in recognition of the level of Exchequer funding now provided to Uisce Eireann.
To further strengthen the position of Uisce Eireann as Ireland’s national water services authority I have previously outlined the Government’s planned approach to bring forward a referendum proposal on water ownership in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing from the Commission on Housing.
In relation to the transformation programme to support the transfer of water services functions from local authorities to Uisce Eireann, the Framework for future delivery of water services sets out the options for water services workers.
With regard to the specific point about workers that choose to remain within their own local authority, my Department will ensure that any additional cost burden on local authorities will be met.
I am optimistic that many water services workers will accept the very attractive offer to transfer to Uisce Eireann and continue their career with the national water services authority.
18. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in response to my Leader’s Question on Part V segregation the Minister made statements (details supplied); is it Government policy to ‘pepper-pot’ Part V tenants across developments or to continue to allow the segregation of Part V tenants into separate areas or blocks, as seen in The Davitt apartment complex. [33096/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Part V mechanism is intended to achieve integrated development and reduce housing segregation by facilitating a mix of a tenure types - social, affordable and cost rental housing. The Ministerial Guidelines on Part V issued to local authorities under section 28 of the 2000 Act, emphasise the need for consultation with developers regarding the delivery of appropriately located properties at the earliest stage possible, preferably in advance of planning.
This early consultation allows local authorities to consider the need, and the likely future need, for housing for persons who have different levels of income, as well as the need to ensure that a mixture of house types and sizes is developed to reasonably match the requirements of the different categories of households, as may be determined by the local authority.
While Part V negotiations are a matter for the relevant local authority operating within the Guidelines, the need to counteract undue segregation in housing between persons of different social backgrounds is a specific requirement of local authorities provided in the 2000 Act. In this way, local authorities preference is that social housing in a large development is “pepper- potted” throughout rather than being concentrated in one particular area. There are a range of funding programmes available to local authorities to support achieving such a mix of tenure types in the context of Part V. However, neither I or my Department have a role in the process of the local authority reaching an agreement with a developer, the details of which, is also dependent on the characteristics of the development itself.
19. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the local authority home loan scheme which enables successful applicants to borrow up to 90% of the market value of the property; if he will detail the number of people who have applied for the scheme; and the number who have been successful. [32083/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting home ownership is a key objective of Housing for All, under which the Local Authority Home Loan was established and which launched on 4 January 2022 with annual funding of €250 million.
This is a Government backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The Loan can provide up to 90% of the value of a property and is available to first buyers and those under the Fresh Start principle. It can be used for both new and second-hand homes, as well as self-builds.
In March Minister O'Brien announced significant changes to the house price and income limits which apply in the Local Authority Home Loan, which have resulted in more people being eligible to apply.
The house price ceilings were increased and range from €275,000 in areas like Longford and Monaghan, up as far as €360,000 in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare.
Income limits were also increased for all applicants, up to €85,000 for joint applications or €70,000 for a single applicant. The increase for single applicants was particularly necessary to address the ability of single persons to access homeownership.
Combined with the predecessor Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, 3,169 households have borrowed €524m between February 2018 and September 2022.
The Housing Agency has assessed 707 valid applications (for both Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans and Local Authority Home Loans) in 2023 to date. Of these, 281 were recommended for approval to the local authorities.
20. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the Land Development Agency is providing new homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33186/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra72. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding Project Tosaigh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33118/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 72 together.
Under Housing for All, the Government aims to deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through the First Home Scheme.
The LDA is tasked with delivering social and affordable homes in a number of ways. Firstly, it manages the State’s own lands by developing and assembling land banks for housing delivery from a mix of public and private sites and regenerating under-utilised sites, providing longer-term stability and a steady stream of social and affordable housing in the medium to longer term.
Of the first lands identified for transfer to the LDA, planning has been granted on such key sites as the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, 852 units, Castlelands in Balbriggan, 817 units, Hackettstown in Skerries, 345 units and Devoy Barracks in Kildare, 219 units. In addition, construction work has commenced on the site of the former St Kevin’s Hospital in Cork City where 265 homes will be delivered.
The LDA is also delivering housing through its working partnerships with local authorities. Those partnerships include working with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at Shanganagh Castle to deliver 597 homes, which is under construction. It is also working with Dublin City Council to deliver over 540 homes at the Donore Project in Dublin 8 which just received planning permission, as well as working on delivering over 140 affordable homes at Cromcastle, Dublin 5 and an expected 1,200 homes in Cherry Orchard.
Under its market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh, the LDA works with developers to unlock stalled private, planning-consented developments, targeting 5,000 homes by 2026. Following two calls for Expressions of Interest in 2021 and 2022, the second of which was focused on Dublin and Cork, the LDA has secured or is in negotiations for a significant pipeline of delivery using advance purchase arrangements.
Already, affordable housing delivery sourced from Project Tosaigh has seen the LDA deliver cost rental houses and apartments in Delgany, Co. Wicklow with rents in a range from €1220 to €1550 per month and cost rental homes at Parklands, Citywest with rents of €1350 to €1450 per month.
Affordable purchase homes hasv also been delivered in Mallow, Co. Cork and in Waterford, in partnership with the local authorities.
I welcome the recent advancing of Project Tosaigh Phase 2 last week which will see the LDA procuring framework agreements with preferred delivery partners. Such procured agreements, in addition to enabling more programmed delivery on a multi-annual basis, will provide options for a range of approaches to be contemplated under the framework.
