Written Answers Nos. 176-189
176. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that New Era is undertaking a review of the LDA; to confirm the terms of reference of that review; and to state when it will be completed and when it will be published. [45563/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraNewERA provide financial and business advisory services with respect to the LDA to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in an ongoing capacity. Under the terms of reference agreed with NewERA and the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, NewERA provide advice to the Ministers and Departments with respect to Annual Accounts and Interim Accounts. When requested NewERA also provide advice on:
• Corporate Strategy, Investment Plans and Budgets
• Memoranda/Proposals for Government
• Shareholder Expectation Letter
• Ministerial Consents/Approvals
• Appointments to the Board of the LDA
• Remuneration of the Chief Executive
As the LDA's main shareholders, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, requested NewERA to provide advice on the DRAFT LDA Business Plan 2024-2028. Due to the potentially sensitive, commercial nature of such advice, it is considered confidential and will not published.
177. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when details of the 2023 retrofit scheme will issue to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45720/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2 (BER)/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.
An annualised breakdown of the funding and number of properties completed by each local authority since 2013 is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/.
In 2023, my Department announced that funding of €87 million is available for the retrofit of approximately 2,400 social homes. Local Authorities were notified of their target number of units to be retrofit earlier in the year and available funding. Work in relation to the programme is ongoing,
178. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; and the costs associated with same in each of those years. [45400/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Year |
Number of cases |
Cost € |
|
2013 |
35 |
€4,587.00 |
|
2014 |
20 |
€130,071.75 |
|
2015 |
22 |
€81,123.00 |
|
2016 |
13 |
€346,030.06 |
|
2017 |
20 |
€310,584.90 |
|
2018 |
24 |
€207,563.01 |
|
2019 |
17 |
€439,154.50 |
|
2020 |
52 |
€235,924.50 |
|
2021 |
31 |
€143,784.00 |
|
2022 |
33 |
€100,433.00 |
|
2023 (to date) |
29 |
€438,051.44 |
179. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 531 of 19 January 2022, and 192 of 4 May 2022, the current status of the social housing passport reforms; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45436/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government provides for a package of social housing reforms, including a social housing passport to allow households move from one local authority waiting list to another.
An initial scoping exercise was carried out which identified a range of practical and administrative issues, including those related to the maintenance of seniority on housing waiting lists, local connection requirements, the efficient allocation of existing housing stock, and resource implications for local authorities. Further work is required to assess the practical application of such a scheme in the context of other reform package measures.
It should be noted however, there is already a degree of flexibility regarding housing waiting lists. The four Dublin local authorities have arrangements allowing social housing applicants apply for housing in up to two of the other Dublin authorities simultaneously. Similar arrangements apply in the two Cork and two Galway local authorities. Households may also move and relocate between housing authority areas under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme where the household income is within the relevant income limits.
180. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the €8 million additional funding for housing adaptation grants in Budget 2024, in terms of the disability and older persons' grants. [45488/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra181. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide more detail on the funding announced as part of Budget 2024, for pilot housing schemes around older people and people with disabilities. [45489/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra182. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline how much funding for the capital assistance scheme will be allocated in Budget 2024. [45490/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra183. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how much funding has been allocated for the disabled persons grant and improvement works in lieu schemes in Budget 2024. [45491/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether funding was provided in Budget 2024 to increase the income thresholds for housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability. [45519/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how much funding for the capital advance leasing facility will be allocated in Budget 2024. [45596/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 to 183, inclusive, 186 and 188 together.
The Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service (REV) is published in mid-December every year. This provides final detail on the allocations by subhead for the following year and takes into account both the Programme level allocations announced at Budget and any additional allocations, for example just transition, carbon fund, etc. Accordingly, the numbers presented below may vary.
Reflecting the priority placed on Housing for All, the Government’s national housing strategy, there will be record €5bn capital investment in housing in 2024 - comprising €2.6bn Exchequer, €978m Land Development Agency (LDA) and €1.5bn Housing Finance Agency (HFA) funding. Current and Capital allocations in 2024 will be further supplemented though additional funding of €151m for housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts.
The National Development Plan (NDP) Capital Ceiling provision in 2024 represents an increase of €358m on the 2023 provision. Furthermore, additional NDP Capital funding of €250m for 2024 will be distributed in the coming months further increasing the allocation to Vote 34.
In addition to Vote 34 the LDA and HFA are crucial to our Housing for All plans and I will be seeking Cabinet approval in the coming weeks to capitalise the LDA in the order of €6bn and increase the HFA borrowing limit from €10bn to €12bn as part of Ireland’s long term housing investment plans.
Housing for All committed to reviewing the suite of Private Housing Grants and a report on the review has been prepared. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the review report, and this engagement is ongoing at present.
In addition, my Department also supports a pilot project to assist older homeowners to remain in their homes by upgrading and adapting the home to incorporate redesigned space upstairs as rental accommodation.
The Budget 2024 allocations for the respective subheads referred to in the Questions are set out below:
A.7 - Capital Assistance Scheme capital allocation is €140m.
A.11 - Capital Advance Leasing Facility capital allocation is €315m.
A.14 - Housing for People with a Disability & Older People current allocation is €2m and capital allocation is €1.3m.
A.18 - Private Housing Grants capital allocation is €75m.
A.29 - DPG/Improvements/Remedials capital allocation is €25m.
184. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated to Limerick City and County Council for the provision of the housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45495/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to support the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
The initial Exchequer allocation for Limerick City and County Council in 2023 is €3,052,350. Following requests for increased funding Limerick City and County Council received additional Exchequer allocation of €1,600,000, bringing the total amount of Exchequer funding available in 2023 to €4,652,350.
Details of the funding allocations and drawdown for previous years, including for Limerick City and County Council, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
185. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure that social housing tenants will not be subject to higher rents because of social welfare rate increases in Budget 2024. [45510/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe making or amending of differential rent schemes are matters for individual local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department. Accordingly, rent schemes are generally based on a percentage of household income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Local authority rent schemes also contain hardship clauses which can be used to support households experiencing financial difficulties. In such cases, for example, local authorities may accept a lesser sum from a tenant for a specified period where payment of rent would give rise to hardship for the household.
187. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will be bringing a memo to Cabinet regarding the issue of alleged historic planning irregularities in County Donegal. [45562/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., received by my Department in June, 2017, remains under consideration. This matter is extremely complex and requires very careful consideration. My Department is engaging with various stakeholders on this matter, namely the Attorney Generals Office and the Office of the Planning Regulator. Following this engagement I hope to be in a position to bring a Memo to Government regarding my proposed next steps by the end of the year.
The Report is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. Following an initial analysis and assessment of the Report’s findings and recommendations, the advices of the Attorney General's office on a comprehensive set of queries, including the potential dissemination or publication of the Report, were sought and have been taken into account. I continue to consider the Report and the extensive legal advices received, given that the Report details unproven allegations against named persons.
Where access to the report has been withheld by my Department from Access to Information on the Environment requests or Freedom of Information requests, the decisions by both the Commissioner for Environmental Information (OCE-103174-W9G4J2 (Legacy Reference CEI-18-0019)) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020, were taken into account.
It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites. Further, the Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals."
189. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of any current schemes which may help second-time house purchasers to purchase second-hand homes; if Budget 2024 has provided for any such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45663/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan is a scheme established by my Department which can assist the purchase of second-hand homes by individuals who have previously owned a residential property, in certain circumstances where the second-time buyers qualify under the Fresh Start Principle.
The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022.
The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
This loan is available for first-time buyers or Fresh Start applicants. Fresh Start applicants, as set out below, are persons who previously purchased a home but can qualify for the loan if they meet certain conditions.
The following categories of persons are eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan under the Fresh Start principle:
• Applicant(s) who previously purchased or built a dwelling, together with a spouse, a civil partner or a person with whom he or she was in an intimate and committed relationship are eligible under the Fresh Start principle where this relationship has ended, and they have divested themselves of their interest in the previous property.
• Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but has been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. However a separate assessment of creditworthiness will be conducted by the underwriters. This applies when the applicant has exited the insolvency/bankruptcy proceedings
To be eligible for a Local Authority Home Loan an applicant must meet the income eligibility, be of good credit standing and have sufficient repayment capacity to service the mortgage offered.
If a person applies for a loan, they will be subject to the same credit assessment process that applies to all applicants, which is carried out in accordance with the credit policy for the scheme. The Housing Agency provides a central assessment service to local authorities and credit checks are undertaken as part of that assessment process. This assessment calculates an applicant's mortgage repayment capacity. Income required to service outstanding debts cannot be used to repay a mortgage, so generally persons in this situation end up being offered a reduced mortgage amount.
The final decision on Local Authority Home Loan applications is a matter for the relevant local authority. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority.
Funding of €250 million is available for 2023 and this was provided for again in Budget 2024. No changes were made to the operation of the scheme in Budget 2024.
