Written Answers Nos. 190-197
190. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of any scenario where the clawback amount on a local authority home purchased 20 years ago can be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45665/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legislation governing the clawback on previous affordable housing schemes is Section 99 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, or Section 9 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002, depending on the home in question. Both pieces of legislation set the same clawback rule: where the property is resold within 20 years, the homeowner must pay a clawback amount equal to a percentage of the proceeds of the sale. The clawback is a legal requirement which all relevant parties would have been made aware of in advance of purchase, but the percentage reduces over time and withers after 20 years.
All issues pertaining to the clawback are processed by the relevant local authority which, as a contracted party to the agreement, is the most appropriate and best placed party to inform the owner of an affordable home on their current position.
The Affordable Housing Act 2021 now applies to all homes currently being made available under the new Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. Rather than a withering clawback, as was the case previously, there is an equity share interest which is effectively the local authority’s share in the value of the affordable home. The equity share is equal to the discount from market price on the home at the time of purchase.
191. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Article 8 of the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive 2014 (2014/61/EU) will be enacted into Irish law by the end of 2023; the reason it has not been implemented to date; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45668/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDraft regulations and associated technical guidance to implement Articles 8(1) and 8(2) of Directive 2014/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks, underwent public consultation from 11 May to 26 July 2023. The results have been reviewed and these regulations will be enacted in the coming weeks.
192. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made on an application submitted to his Department by Galway City Council for a housing grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in making a decision, given that the works involved are essential to deem the property suitable for the tenant who has very poor mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45672/23]
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 administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grant applications under the various measures, is the responsibility of each local authority. Having considered all of the circumstances in any particular case, it is a matter for the local authority to determine grant eligibility. Local authorities, in administering the scheme, work with qualifying applicants to secure the most beneficial outcome possible in line with the applicants' financial circumstances and within the parameters of the Grant Scheme. The information requested may be available directly from the local authority concerned, in this case Galway City Council.
Further details on these schemes is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/
193. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a policy (details supplied) to ensure greater access to housing for individuals and families on lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45673/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, will be undertaken by mid-2024.
194. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many affordable homes have been delivered, by county in 2020, 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45715/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes by 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
With 2022 representing the first full year of affordable housing delivery under the schemes introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, local authorities now complete and submit data returns to my Department on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is done for social housing. The 2022 statistical data is published on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
Statistical data for the first two quarters of 2023 was published on my Department's website in September 2023 at the following link - www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
2022 represented the commencement of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. This momentum will continue with delivery increasing significantly this year, and my Department is working closely with the local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the LDA and other stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing.
195. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the timeframe of 13 months to complete works to vacant and derelict properties under the croí cónaithe scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45736/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
In order to support the timely delivery of properties, from May 2023, once a grant application receives approval, applicants must complete works applied for within a period of 13 months. Currently payment of grants is issuing some 12 months from date of approval, as works are completed.
In exceptional circumstances, where an applicant is experiencing particular issues and cannot complete the works applied for under the grant within the 13 month period, the Local Authority may consider and grant an extension of the approval period at their discretion.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. It is intended that a comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund will be undertaken by mid-2024.
196. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for the tenant in situ scheme from both tenants and landlords, for each local authority for each of the past five years; the number of successful applications where the tenancy was acquired by the local authority; the number of tenancies where the local authority refused to acquire the property; the reasons for not doing so; the number of cases where a landlord or property owner refused to sell to each local authority; the reasons stated for not doing so, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45762/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
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 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.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by my Department. It is matter for each local authority to decide on appropriate acquisitions having regard to the arrangements for the scheme.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 2 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. My Department does not hold the additional details requested.
The Government has developed the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model.
Data on the number of Cost Rental acquisitions are also published on the statistics page of my Departments website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
197. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the people of Clare will benefit from his Department’s allocations in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45777/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, homeless services, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, housing grants, rural water schemes, urban renewal/regeneration, fire services, and natural and built heritage. In order to achieve its business objectives, the Department provides significant resources to an extensive range of organisations, local authorities, Clare County Council, dedicated agencies and other bodies. Some allocations, depending on the programmes concerned, are made on a national or other non-county basis.
The Total Gross allocation for Vote 34 in Budget 2024 is €6,845m. This is made up of €2,966m Current and €3,879m Capital. A further breakdown will be available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2024 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPENDR) later this year. Current and Capital allocations will be further supplemented through additional funding for housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts.
