Written Answers Nos. 36-60
36. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will agree to homeowner amendments to the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act, passed almost one year ago, considering that the reason he refused these amendments at the time was his urgency to get the new scheme up and running. [32741/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra58. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the dismay caused to hundreds of homeowners in defective block homes in Donegal, who have had their application under the defective concrete block grant scheme referred by Donegal County Council to the Housing Agency to adjudicate on, under the remediation of dwellings damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks scheme; and to confirm that these referrals are down to the emerging science that has severely undermined the IS465, and to the serious delays in the review of IS 465 that he ordered. [32740/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI commenced the 2022 Act on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The Regulations provide the details for the enhanced scheme not included in the 2022 Act such as square metre grant rates and the definition of damage. The enhanced grant scheme is now open to applications with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
With respect to applications transferred to the scheme from the previous scheme, the 2022 Act provides for transitional arrangements from the previous scheme to the Enhanced Grant Scheme. In respect of applicants who have applied under the previous scheme but have not received a confirmation of eligibility from the relevant local authority (stage 1 approval), the designated local authority will write to the applicant informing them that their application will be dealt with under the provisions of the Enhanced scheme and the determination of the damage threshold, determination of the remediation grant option and amount will be assessed by the Housing Agency subject to various modifications which may allow the current scheme engineering reports to be considered by the Housing Agency under the Enhanced scheme.
The Regulations were subject to a consultation process with key stakeholders, including with homeowners’ action groups. I included a number of amendments agreed in the drafting stage based on submissions received from key stakeholders in the final Regulations.
I am also establishing an Implementation Steering Group made up of officials from the relevant local authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency and the Homeowner’s Liaison Officer to aid in the implementation of the enhanced scheme. My Department has requested that each of the four local authorities and the Housing Agency nominate a representative to sit on the Group together with the Homeowner Liaison Officer. The focus will be on the detailed operational and implementation matters pertaining to the Enhanced Scheme. I have also requested a Report be prepared and submitted to within six months of the Scheme's launch. That will then be an appropriate time to reflect on the workings of the Scheme and to assess the need for any amendments to the regulations and guidelines and how they operate.
37. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the number of people in Limerick currently residing in State supported emergency accommodation including hotels, hostels, B&Bs, student accommodation, family hubs and short-term private lettings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32906/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's open data portal data.gov.ie/. The most recently published data is in respect of May 2023.
The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The report also includes information on the accommodation relating to adults in emergency accommodation on a regional basis. The categories included are: Private Emergency Accommodation; Supported Temporary Accommodation (including family hubs); Temporary Emergency Accommodation; and Other. Further details on accommodation type are unavailable to my Department.
38. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures put in place by his Department to ensure that those families that are not eligible for the cost-rental tenant-in-situ scheme are not made homeless as a result of their current property being put up for sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32923/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra91. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans, if any, to adjust the cost rental tenant-in-situ scheme to take into account families whose household income exceeds the limit specified in the scheme and where, because of the age of the applicant, a mortgage is not an option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32922/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme was introduced, initially on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 1 April 2023. This scheme is available where a tenant faces the termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. The scheme is available if the tenant household:
• is not able to or intending to purchase the property from the landlord,
• does not own other residential property,
• is assessed by the Local Authority to be at risk of homelessness,
• is not in receipt of social housing supports (i.e. the Housing Assistance Payment or the Residential Accommodation Scheme), and
• has an annual net household income of no more than €53,000.
Local Authority Housing Officers have responsibility for assessing the risk of homelessness to tenants who have received a valid notification of termination due to an intended sale of a property, and so it is the local authority that tenants should first approach.
If the local authority is satisfied that the applicant tenant household is eligible for CRTiS, it will pass the details of the tenant and the property to the Housing Agency for consideration. The Agency will then engage with the tenant and the landlord with a view to acquiring the property.
It is the longer-term intention to transition these tenancies and homes to the standard framework for Cost Rental, where rents are set at a level to meet the costs of acquiring, managing, and maintaining the home. It is for this reason that the net household income limit of €53,000 (gross income less income tax, PRSI, USC and superannuation contributions) aligns with the standard income limit for Cost Rental.
If household incomes are above the limit to be eligible for the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ Scheme, tenants can contact their local authority who will be in a position to advise them of other measures which may be appropriate for their specific situation.
39. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to ensure all landlords are registered with the Residential Tenancies Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32536/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Acts to operate national tenancy registration system and as such, the RTB registration system is an operational matter for the RTB.
Section 134 of the Acts requires a landlord to apply to the RTB to register a tenancy of a dwelling within one month of its commencement date and annually thereafter, within 1 month from each anniversary of the tenancy commencement date. All private landlords, Approved Housing Bodies and providers of Student Specific Accommodation and Cost Rental Accommodation are required to register their tenancies with the RTB. Managing the registration of tenancies is a core function of the RTB. This allows the RTB to collect and provide definitive data on the rental sector and for transparency across the rental sector through the public register of tenancies; thus, enabling a better understanding of the sector.
Non-compliance with the requirement to register a tenancy is dealt with by two processes in the RTB, the Registration Enforcement Process or the Investigations and Sanctions Process.
The RTB has registration enforcement powers to pursue landlords who have not complied with their obligation to register their tenancies. Failure to register is an offence which may result in a criminal conviction, a fine of up to €4,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment. The RTB makes every effort to inform landlords of their obligations to register and legal action is taken as a last resort. The RTB, receives information from different sources regarding whether a tenancy is registered or not, including local authorities, members of the public, RTB checks and follow-ups and the Department of Social Protection.
Since 2019, the RTB also has an Investigations and Sanctions Unit empowered to investigate and sanction, if appropriate, improper conduct by a landlord including failure to register a tenancy with the RTB, as legally required. The Investigations and Sanctions Unit may investigate on foot of information received from members of the public or its own information. A sanction may comprise one or all of the following: a written caution, a monetary sanction of up to €15,000 and up to €15,000 in respect of RTB investigation costs.
Following recommendations in the RTB Workforce Plan (2018 – 2021), and engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the RTB received sanction for significant additional staff over the past three years. My Department continues to work with the RTB to ensure that it is sufficiently resourced to deliver on its mandate, including the enforcement of tenancy registrations requirements. To this end, additional funding of €2.352M is being provided to the RTB for 2023, bringing its total allocation to €13.37M.
40. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses purchased by local authority tenants each year since 2016 under the tenant purchase incremental scheme 2016; whether he intends amending the scheme further to encourage more tenants to buy their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32074/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme.
The number of local authority houses purchased by tenants for the period 2016 to 2022 is outlined below:
|
Year |
Houses Purchased |
|
2016 |
9 |
|
2017 |
325 |
|
2018 |
404 |
|
2019 |
374 |
|
2020 |
247 |
|
2021 |
283 |
|
2022 |
350 |
A breakdown of the above sales by local authority area may be found on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#sale-of-local-authority-houses
Both the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future and Housing for All, commit to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their home, subject to a number of reforms. The scheme was amended in February 2022 to include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. This ensured older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, could qualify to buy their homes if they had the financial means to do so. The time tenants had to be in receipt of social housing supports to qualify under the scheme was also revised, increasing from one to ten years.
These changes were introduced to strike an appropriate balance between increasing the scope for those in receipt of long-term housing support to purchase their local authority home, and ensuring the continued sustainability of the Scheme by not unduly diminishing local authority housing stock.
Schemes such as these are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are effective and sustainable. To that end, further changes to the scheme are currently being considered as part of my Department's work on the broader social housing reform agenda.
41. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the Revision Process for the National Planning Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32916/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Planning Framework (NPF) is the long-term, 20 year strategy for the spatial development of Ireland and was published in 2018, and together with the National Development Plan, comprises Project Ireland 2040.
It is important to note that Section 20C of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) includes in-built mechanisms to allow for regular revision and replacement of the NPF. Such revisions are relevant to reflect changing circumstances that have taken place since the NPF was published.
There is also a Programme for Government commitment to the statutory mandate to update the NPF in 2024.
The Government approved the commencement of the process to revise the National Planning Framework (NPF) on 20 June 2023.
An Expert Group has been appointed to undertake a high-level review of the NPF and it is expected that the work of the group will conclude with the submission of their report to the Minister over the summer. In addition, a number of technical assessments to inform the revision will be undertaken. For example, the full suite of results from Census 2022 published by the CSO over the coming months will be taken into account in the updating of the ESRI Structural Housing Demand methodology. The revision process provides for wide-ranging consultation and engagement with stakeholders and the public, including the reconvening of the Planning Advisory Forum for the purposes of informing the revision process.
The Roadmap for the First Revision outlines the full details of the process and timeline for the revision and can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/deef6-a-road-map-for-the-first-revision-of-the-national-planning-framework/.
43. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on social housing provision in Offaly from 2020 to 2022; the target in place for same in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32973/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data 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/. This provides information for a number of categories of social housing delivery and also contains the targets for each local authority during each year of the programme.
In addition, Offaly County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan, which sets out details of their proposed social housing delivery for the period 2022-2026, is available on the Council’s website at www.offaly.ie/app/uploads/Council/Publications_Reports/Annual-Service-Delivery-Plan-2022.pdf.
The Council has a social housing delivery target of 440 construction units over the period 2022 to 2026 and 67 units for 2023.
44. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of estates which are overdue for taking-in-charge; and if he plans any initiatives to address this problem. [33127/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate data on the taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities. All planning authorities are required to have a policy on taking in charge within their respective functional areas in accordance with Planning Circular PD 1/08 which was issued on 26 February 2008.
The legislative process for the taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities is set out in section 180 of the Act. The prescribed process in this regard applies to residential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under section 34 of the Act.
Under section 180 (1) of the Act, the planning authority is obliged to initiate the taking in charge process where requested by either the developer of, or by the majority of owners of the dwellings in, the estate in question. However, this is subject to the development being completed to the satisfaction of the authority and in accordance with the permission and any conditions attached thereto.
Where developments have not been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority, and where enforcement proceedings in this connection have not been commenced by the planning authority within 4 years of the expiry of the planning permission relating to a development, section 180 (2)(a) of the Act provides that the planning authority shall, where requested by the majority of owners of the houses involved, initiate the taking in charge procedures under section 11 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended (the Roads Act).
Where this particular approach is being progressed, the authority may apply the security or development bond provided as part of the planning application for the purposes of ensuring the satisfactory completion of the development.
With regard to estates which have not been competed satisfactorily, local authorities have been advised to draw up a priority list of requests from residents for the taking in charge of estates within their functional areas, taking into account such factors as the date of the request, the condition of the estate, the length of time that it has been left in an unfinished state and the funding resources available to complete such estates.
Furthermore, where the calling in of the development bond is not possible, section 180(2A) of the Act provides that the initiation of the taking in charge procedures under section 11 of the Roads Act shall not preclude the planning authority concerned from pursuing a developer for any costs incurred by the authority in respect of necessary works undertaken on a development to enable it to be taken in charge by that authority.
In order to conclude the taking in charge process where the development has been deemed to have been satisfactorily completed, a local authority is required to make a declaration under section 11 of the Roads Act following a proposal by the executive. The making of such a declaration, which effectively confirms that the authority is prepared to take over responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of the public works elements of the estate, is a reserved function of the elected members of a local authority.
Therefore, the decision to take any particular estate or estates in charge is ultimately one for the elected members of the local authority who, by way of declaration made under the Roads Act, will make such a decision.
In addition, it should be noted that financial decision making and the accountability of local authorities is a matter for the elected members of a local authority who have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes the adoption of the annual budget of the local authority.
In this regard, section 103 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, provides for the local authority budgetary process. 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 the funding resources available to the local authority. This includes the taking in charge of housing estates.
Under Section 30 of the Act, I, in my role as Minister with responsibility for planning, am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
45. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out in tabular form an update on the progress to date in the implementation of all 32 recommendations from the report of the Independent Group on Traveller Accommodation. [33132/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report was published in July 2019. The Report 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:
• Addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used;
• Removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery;
• Increasing resources and delivery capacity; and
• Strengthening governance arrangements.
A Programme Board was established in 2021 to drive implementation of the recommendations from the Expert Review report. It is independently chaired and includes representatives from Traveller organisations and from local authorities. The Board reports on progress on implementation of the recommendations on my Department's website. It may be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/37910-traveller-accommodation-expert-review-programme-board-update/
The most recent progress report was completed in April 2023 and provides an update on the work of the Programme Board, including on the 10 recommendations which are already completed, and the work which is advancing on the remaining recommendations.
46. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the provision of social housing at Kildonan Lands, Church of the Annunciation and Berryfield in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32999/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of design and tender processes. The most recent CSR (Quarter 4 2022) is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/14f82-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q4-2022/
In November 2021 my Department issued Stage 1 approval under the Capital Assistance scheme for the construction of 10 units in Berryfield Drive in Finglas. The AHB involved in this project issued notice on 13 June 2023 of their intention to withdraw from this project. This is due to project difficulties encountered in pre-construction. Dublin City Council are currently exploring alternative options for this site.
In May 2020 my Department issued Stage 1 approval for the construction of 75 Social Housing units at Kildonan Road. My Department recently met with Dublin City Council regarding this project. Due to a recent rezoning Dublin City Council are exploring providing a higher density on this site with an increase in the previously approved 75 units expected at Stage 2. DCC have advised that they expect to submit a Sage 2 application in the coming months.
The site at the Church of the Annunciation is included in Bundle 4 of the Social Housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme which I announced in June 2022 in conjunction with Bundle 5. I subsequently announced the launch of Bundle 6 in January 2023, and the current PPP Programme will deliver over 3,500 units across six bundles of sites.
The site at the Church of the Annunciation has scope to deliver in the region of 100 social housing units. A Design Team has been appointed for Bundles 4 and 5 and the design development process is underway in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), Dublin City Council and the other relevant local authorities in Bundles 4 and 5.
47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for details of any engagement he and his Department have had with Galway City Council to-date in 2023 with regard to Galway City Council’s targets for the delivery of new social houses in Galway in 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32796/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has continual engagement with Galway City Council regarding their delivery of new social housing against their targets. In particular, quarterly meetings are held between my Department and the Council housing team to cover a range of issues relating to the Council's social housing programme, including reviewing progress in advancing individual projects and to seek to resolve any challenges arising. Two such meetings have so far been held this year, on 20th February and on 28th June and further meetings will be held over the rest of the year. These meetings are in addition to frequent project specific contacts that happen between my Department and Galway City Council and all other local authorities.
Furthermore the Galway Task Force holds quarterly meetings on matters pertaining to housing and housing delivery, with meetings so far held this year on 21st February and 16th May.
48. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress of the tenant-in-situ and the cost-rental tenant-in-situ schemes, including a timeline on bringing in legislation to ensure that the tenant or local authority have first refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33205/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the end of the temporary pause on the effect of Notifications of Termination, the Government decided earlier this year to introduce the initiatives referred to, or in the case of tenant-in-situ to make greater provision of its use. These measures are in the context of the overall Government ambition set out in Housing for All, to deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026.
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023 and these allocations are being kept under review.
While data published to date does not include a breakdown of properties acquired where a tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property, from Q1 2023 an amendment has been made to my Department's statistical returns to collect information in this regard. This data is currently being collated and will be published in due course.
The Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme was introduced as an interim measure, developed on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This temporary scheme is available where a tenant faces the termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. The scheme is available if the tenant household:
• is not able to or intending to purchase the property from the landlord,
• does not own other residential property,
• is assessed by the Local Authority to be at risk of homelessness,
• is not in receipt of social housing supports (i.e. the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or the Residential Accommodation Scheme (RAS)), and
• has an annual net household income of no more than €53,000.
It is the longer-term intention to transition these tenancies and homes to the standard framework for Cost Rental, where rents are set at a level to meet the costs of acquiring, managing, and maintaining the home. It is for this reason that the net household income limit of €53,000 (gross income less income tax, PRSI, USC and superannuation contributions) aligns with the standard income limit set for Cost Rental housing.
If applicant incomes are above the limit to be eligible for cost rental tenant in-situ scheme, tenants can contact their local authority who will be in a position to advise them of other measures which may be appropriate for their specific situation. Data in relation to the Scheme will be published on a quarterly basis from Q2 in the statistical returns.
My Department is continuing to develop policy proposals for the First Right of Refusal, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and I intend to update Government on progress in this regard shortly and to bring legislative proposals forward in the Autumn.
It is important to note that there is currently no legal obstacle to a sitting tenant and a landlord agreeing a contract for sale of a rented home, where the tenant has the means to do so. Tenants are encouraged to ask if they can purchase the property if they feel they are in a position to do so or to contact their local authority for help to remain in the property, either as owner occupier or renter.
49. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans for a scheme to compensate businesses that have lost revenue due to water outages (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32909/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUisce Éireann has a strong customer service focus throughout its Water Charges Plan and Customer Charter, which outlines the standard of service customers should expect to receive. The Water Charges Plan outlines the manner and method by which Uisce Éireann charges its customers.
The Water Charges Plan also sets out an existing compensation mechanism for business customers when water quality is compromised and unfit for human consumption such as when Boil Water and Drinking Water Restriction Notices apply, where discounts of up to 40% may be applied to customer bills.
I have no role in the development of the Water Charges plan, which determines charges, tariffs and rebates. This is developed by Uisce Éireann and approved by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) following a public consultation process.
Implementation of the Water Charges Plan is a matter in the first instance for Uisce Éireann. Any issues, which cannot be resolved by Uisce Éireann to the satisfaction of the customer can be referred under the formal complaints process to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
50. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have any role in overholding cases when the tenant is a HAP recipient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32979/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Housing assistance Payment (HAP), a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. The tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord and is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended. HAP supported tenancies are afforded the same protections as all private rented tenancies.
51. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many of the promised 1,850 cost rental homes with State-backed rent of at least 25% below what they would be on in the private market, for 2023, have thus far been delivered [32084/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra71. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a report on the cost-rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33187/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 71 together.
Housing for All commits to delivering a total of 18,000 Cost Rental homes over the period to 2030, and significant funding is being made available to support provision by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), Local Authorities, and by the Land Development Agency (LDA).
Delivery will increase incrementally to an average of 2,000 Cost Rental homes per year, and 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered from 2021 to 2026. AHBs are supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding and Local Authorities will be able to avail of funding through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). The LDA will also deliver Cost Rental on its own portfolio of sites, or through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh.
Cost Rental was introduced through the Affordable Housing Act 2021. Cost Rental is targeted to deliver starting rents at least 25% below comparable market level and at households who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own home on the open market. Cost Rental provides tenants with secure tenancies in sustainable, 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. Importantly, one of the conditions of this scheme is that households must have net income (i.e. the level of income after tax) of less than €53,000.
The very first Cost Rental homes in Ireland were delivered in 2021, and 2022 saw significant acceleration of delivery by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), supported by the Cost Rental Equity Loan, and the first Cost Rental homes delivered via the Land Development Agency (LDA). A total of 684 new Cost Rental homes were delivered in 2022. Cost Rental Delivery is continuing this year, with a pipeline of housing delivery which is being progressively developed by Local Authorities, AHBs, and the LDA.
Local authorities have begun systematically collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area, including delivery by AHBs and the LDA, in the same manner as is currently done for social housing delivery. Informed by returns of this data, which are currently being validated, I expect that my Department will be in a position to report the Q1 2023 affordable housing delivery shortly.
52. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to change the requirement for applicants for social housing to have medical certificates signed by two practitioners as this is placing a cost on them of up to €120, and more in some cases. [32920/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplications 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, as amended. The allocation of local authority dwellings, including the prioritisation of certain households, is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
A revised Social Housing Support Application Form was introduced with effect from 19 April 2021. The new form includes an additional form which an applicant who wants to apply for assessment for priority support based on medical need or disability must complete (HMD-Form 1). The new form is for anyone applying for social housing or a social housing transfer due to a disability or medical grounds. It provides for a variety and wider range of healthcare professionals to complete the form than previous iterations. This can include professionals involved with the person with a disability or medical condition, such as a consultant, general practitioner, mental health nurse, public health nurse, occupational therapist or social worker. The requirement for two healthcare professionals from this wider cohort ensures that the local authority has enough information to enable it to make informed decisions on the appropriate housing need of the applicant.
Where an applicant household cannot provide the necessary documentation, the local authority has discretion to request alternate documentation in order to satisfy itself in relation to any or all of the requirements. I am therefore satisfied that there is no necessity to change the requirements.
53. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on social housing provision in Cork County Council from 2020 to 2022; the target in place for same in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33197/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data 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/. This provides information for a number of categories of social housing delivery in terms of the various delivery streams and also contains the targets for each local authority during each year of the programme.
In addition, Cork County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan, which sets out details of social and affordable housing delivery in the period 2022-2026, is available on the Council’s website at www.corkcoco.ie/en/resident/housing/housing-delivery-action-plan-2022-2026. The Council has a social housing delivery target of 3,198 units over the period 2022 to 2026. The Action Plan will be subject to ongoing review to ensure that it reflects changing social housing pipelines and needs as they arise.
54. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has any plans to review the threshold for housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33143/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra83. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline what alternatives are open to people in County Louth who need a housing adaptation grant but who cannot apply to Louth County Council because the applications process is closed until January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33037/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 83 together.
My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of these schemes including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities. My Department advises local authorities annually that, as far as practicable, a percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring fenced in respect of any emergency applications which might arise under these schemes during the course of the year. Consequently, all local authorities manage their schemes to ensure access to the grants programme is maintained to the extent possible throughout the year in the highest priority cases and further information in this regard would be available directly from the local authorities. It should be noted that Louth County Council have confirmed that urgent cases involving hospital discharges are still being processed.
My Department recently considered and approved a further Exchequer allocation provision of over €570,000 in 2023 as requested by Louth County Council. Housing for All commits to reviewing the grants scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. 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 and the grant limits. On foot of my careful consideration of the Review report, I have asked my Department officials to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the Review report. I will publish the report, including the agreed grant levels and income thresholds, once that engagement has concluded.
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department might seek quotations from builders/developers for the provision of a specific number of public authority houses, aimed at filling gaps not currently being met for various reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33081/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. 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.
Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. In preparing the Plans, local authorities were required to include details of land available to deliver housing and details of land acquisition requirements. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on local authority websites.
Local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) also engage with builders and developers on an ongoing basis in relation to opportunities for ‘turnkey projects’. The delivery of projects through such development agreements supports the delivery of housing in areas where there is a housing need. In particular the delivery of turnkey projects supports the delivery of housing in areas where a local authority or AHB may not have land immediately available to deliver construction projects.
My Department publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) which provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2022. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
59. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will update the Dáil Éireann on the level of home purchases by first-time-buyers; and the progress of Government initiatives to support this. [33128/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. As detailed in the Housing for All strategy, the Government has introduced a number of measures to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home, as well as increasing the overall supply of new homes, with an ambitious target of 300,000 new homes up to 2030.
In relation to the level of home purchases by first-time-buyers, my Department is not responsible for the collection of such data, however the CSO reports that, based on stamp duty executions, there have been 16,364 first time buyer transactions in the 12 months up to the end of April 2023, including 5,087 transactions for new build homes. More information on the latest first time buyer statistics can be found on the website: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/prices/residentialpropertypriceindex/.
60. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on number of housing commencements to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33116/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra74. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to comment on the record number of commencement notifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32908/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra82. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview on his Department’s latest monthly data on the number of commencements notices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32914/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraData on on the commencement of residential new builds are published monthly on my Department's website at gov.ie - Construction Activity Statistics (www.gov.ie).
The most recent data published show almost 28,000 homes commenced construction in the year to end-May 2023. More than 3,000 of these were commenced in May, an increase of 11% on the same month in 2022.
The strong uptick in commencements in Q4 2022 has continued into the first five months of 2023, with almost 13,000 commencements from January to May, the most for this period since records began in 2014 and 7% higher than the in same in period last year.
Housing for All is working and delivery is increasing. We have made a very positive start to 2023 across the the key leading construction indicators. More than 6,700 homes were completed in Q1 2023, the most completions since Q1 2011; while almost 31,000 homes were completed in the 12-months to end-March 2023, the first time since 2009 rolling 12-month home completions surpassed 30,000.
In addition, a strong pipeline of social and affordable housing exists, with over 19,000 new-build social homes in the pipeline and over 2,700 more local authority affordable homes already approved for funding, along with further affordable housing being planned by the LDA and Approved Housing Bodies.
I am optimistic, given recent upward trends in planning permissions, commencements and completions, that we will meet our overall targets for new homes in 2023 and the recent substantial uplift can be sustained into 2024 and 2025.
