Written Answers Nos. 16-31
16. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average length of time from initial inquiry regarding the tenant-in-situ scheme to completed purchase under the tenant-in-situ scheme in the Fingal County Council area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15029/24]
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 agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions. This has continued into 2024 and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire up to 1,500 social homes this year. The additional acquisitions are 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 2024, setting out details of the arrangements for 2024 and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions.
It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. The time required to complete a social housing acquisition can vary, depending on the circumstances involved. Individual property purchases can be delayed for various reasons such as title difficulties, planning issues, outstanding property taxes, general contractual conditions of sale not in place etc. The process is also reliant on timely progress from the vendor’s legal and sales agents, so timeframes vary from purchase to purchase. My Department does not hold data on the timelines for such acquisitions. This information, and the details for requesting a review on decisions made, may be available from individual local authorities.
17. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the review into the differential rent scheme for local authority housing support will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15685/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within high level broad principles set out by the Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay. This system is known as the ‘differential rents’ system.
It is a critical piece of State’s welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who can’t meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources. Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved administration of rent schemes and different approaches are taken to rent setting across local authorities.
The system currently comprises 32 income-based schemes which differ across local authorities, with amounts charged and approaches to calculating rent varying considerably. The Programme for Government and Housing for All have committed to developing proposals for a standardised, national local authority social housing rent model. The objective is to develop and implement a model that provides the best blend between fairness, progressivity and sustainability.
My Department has completed an initial scoping exercise to determine the focus of the review, with an emphasis on achieving the best blend of equity, progressivity and sustainability and on protecting those on lowest incomes. This is a complex area and requires detailed and careful analysis. My view is that further work is required to consider the practical application of such a scheme in the context of other reform package measures, as well as the broader circumstances of social housing funding programmes and the cost of living issues at this time.
Proposals will be submitted for my consideration in due course and a decision to implement a standardised national rents scheme will be considered thereafter, as appropriate.
18. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the social housing target for Cork city was missed by almost 30% in 2023. [15678/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCork City Council have exceeded their social housing target in all areas by 5% in 2023
The social housing targets for Cork City Council in 2023 were 538 for new build, 86 for leasing and an allocation of 80 units for second hand tenant in situ acquisitions.
In 2023, Cork City Council achieved its target, delivering 540 new build social housing units and 90 for leasing in addition to 109 acquisitions.
This included:
• 265 via local authority delivery through the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP)
• 37 delivered via local authority Part V
• 238 via Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery including:
• 234 through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility, and;
• 4 through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) turnkey units.
Details of social housing delivery is published as part of the comprehensive programme level statistics published by my Department on a quarterly basis. This data is available for all local authorities to the end of Quarter 4 2023 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website.
20. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many new affordable homes were delivered in 2023 and how this compares to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15670/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 comprising of 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
The Plan set ambitious targets for affordable housing and huge efforts have been made across our delivery partners to meet those targets from a standing start.
In 2023, over 4,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered via our delivery partners, an output which has more than doubled since the previous year, and representing an increase of 128% on 2022 activity, which highlights the significant progress achieved to date in relation to affordable housing.
Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale and this momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency.
Data for affordable housing delivery is published on a quarterly basis, similar to social housing delivery. This data is published up to Quarter 4 2023 and is available on my Department's website.
My Department continues to liaise with all local authorities, and other delivery partners in relation to the on-going development of an affordable housing delivery programme which responds effectively to all affordable housing requirements identified at a local level.
21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the recent report to area committee from DLR that only 140 affordable Purchase and 406 Cost rental are planned up to 2026 and does he agree this is wholly inadequate and what measures does he intend to take to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15656/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has targeted delivery of 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and via the First Home scheme, a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
My Department is supporting the acceleration of affordable housing delivery with funding and other practical measures, both in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and more widely, with delivery by these key partners who work alongside local authorities.
I note that Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, in collaboration with the Land Development Agency, is currently delivering , with support from the Affordable Housing Fund, the largest public housing project in the State at Shanganagh Castle which includes 306 cost rental homes and 91 affordable purchase homes, and which will begin to come on stream this year.
I also note that Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's currently projected delivery of affordable purchase and cost rental homes, set out in the report referenced, will be supplemented by additional affordable homes being delivered by the Land Development Agency, Approved Housing Bodies and via the First Home Scheme.
The affordable housing pipeline continues to grow as new schemes are identified, planned and approved and will be enhanced further as the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021 begin to bear fruit.
23. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline plans to utilise State owned land and modular homes to address the homeless crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15701/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraModern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All.
MMC is the term used to describe a range of manufacturing and innovative construction alternatives to traditional construction, including modular construction. MMC has the potential to boost productivity, increase efficiency and improve sustainability in the construction sector.
The co-ordination of initiatives to promote MMC adoption is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), through the inter-departmental MMC Leadership and Integration Group.
These initiatives include the Accelerated Social Housing Delivery programme; the Roadmap for increased adoption of MMC in Public Housing; the Construct Innovate Technology Centre; the National Demonstration Park for MMC, and training for industry and public sector professionals.
MMC is central to the Government’s Accelerated Social Housing Delivery Programme. This programme is being led by my Department and will see the delivery by 13 local authorities of at least 1,500 social homes using Modern methods of Construction across approximately 36 sites. It is intended to expand the use of the Design and Build procurement approach to enable greater use of MMC in social and affordable housing delivery.
I commenced section 179A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended in March 2023 providing a temporary, time-bound measure to exempt local authorities from the requirement for planning permission and from the use of the local authority own development consent process, commonly referred to as the ‘Part 8’ process. This measure is aimed to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable, and cost-rental housing by local authorities on designated local authority-owned or State-owned land zoned to include residential use.
My Department plays a crucial role in addressing homelessness by providing a comprehensive national framework comprising policy, legislation, and funding. This framework supports local authorities in tackling homelessness in their region. While my Department provides this overarching support, individual local authorities bear statutory responsibility for delivering homeless services.
24. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that only 27 cost rental homes are in the pipeline for Cork city for delivery in 2024. [15677/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra38. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable houses, cost rental and cost purchase, homes planned for Cork City and County Council and on the targets he has set for same. [15707/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 38 together.
Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030, including 54,000 affordable homes for purchase and rent. These homes will be delivered by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency, through the First Home Scheme, and by bringing vacant homes back into use. Significant public funding is being made available to support all of these delivery streams.
Local Authorities have published 5-year Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. Both Cork City and Cork County Council have set out plans to deliver 378 and 189 affordable homes respectively over this period. This Local Authority delivery does not include additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the LDA, AHBs, and the First Home Scheme, and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The Delivery Action Plans for both Cork City and Cork County can be found on the respective Council websites.
I should note that the First Home Scheme, which supports first-time buyers acquiring new homes through the use of an equity share model, is available nationwide and since September 2023 now supports those who wish to build their own home.
Specifically in relation to Cost Rental, AHBs have so far delivered 105 homes in Cork City with funding from my Department’s Cost Rental Equity Loan, and I am pleased to announce that last month I approved CREL funding for another 51 AHB Cost Rental homes for delivery next year in Cork City. Further details, along with the advertisement for applications, will be announced closer to delivery.
I have also approved 5 Local Authority affordable housing projects in Cork County to assist with the delivery of 111 Cost Rental homes with support from the Affordable Housing Fund. Additionally, the Land Development Agency, via Project Tosaigh, is advancing the delivery of over 300 homes in Cork City that are scheduled for completion in 2025. I understand that consideration is being given by the LDA to the appropriate mix of cost rental and affordable purchase homes.
It is anticipated that the momentum created by the initial delivery will be maintained this year, and will ramp up into 2025. My Department and I continue to work closely with Local Authorities, AHBs, and the LDA to develop pipelines for delivery of affordable homes across the country, including Cork City and County.
25. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can provide a breakdown of the number of units across Sligo and Leitrim available under the cost rental scheme and affordable purchase scheme; if he can outline any plans to add units in the coming 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15676/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans to address social and affordable housing needs in their areas over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. A copy of each Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their individual websites.
Sligo and Leitrim do not have specific affordable housing targets as the assessed level of affordability need is not high and house prices are below the national median. However, support is available to both local authorities to develop affordable purchase or cost rental housing from the Affordable Housing Fund where localised affordability needs may arise. Neither local authority has applied for AHF funding to date but assistance in developing schemes is available from my Department, the LGMA and the Housing Agency if required.
Supports to make refurbishing a vacant home more affordable are available also and are likely to be of greater relevance to more rural counties like Sligo and Leitrim. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund provides up to €70k in grant funding to enable vacant and derelict properties to be brought back into use as homes. To date, 240 grant applications have been received and 175 approved by Sligo County Council and 147 have been received by Leitrim, with 91 approved and the grant is proving very successful in making obtaining a home more affordable in those counties.
26. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of modular or rapid build homes constructed in 2023 in County Louth and East-Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15635/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraModern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All.
In December 2022, funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a housing proposal, a commitment to use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and for construction to start in 2023 or no later than 2024. A total of 26 sites received funding as part of an accelerated delivery programme, and with some additional sites since added, my Department is overseeing a project to progress delivery of MMC projects on 36 sites which will deliver more than 1,500 new social homes.
Both Louth and Meath have received funding as part of the accelerated delivery programme. Louth have 5 sites in the programme while Meath have 1 site. Details of each site can be found in the Social Housing Construction Status Report.
While my Department does not hold details on the various construction processes used in the delivery of new homes, the Housing for All Action Plan Update, which was published in November 2022, includes a new action to develop a roadmap with targets for increased use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in public housing. This Roadmap was published on 11 July 2023.
My Department is now working closely with the local authorities to increase the use of MMC in social and affordable housing. The development of MMC will improve productivity in construction and increase efficiency in residential construction.
It's important to note that in 2023, both Louth and Meath well exceeded their overall social housing build targets of 156 and 243 respectively. Louth delivered a total of 365 new build homes while Meath delivered 454 homes and I am keen to see that progress continue.
27. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the results and plans for implementation of the review completed by his Department on local authority adaptation grants and when the new measures contained in the review will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15164/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra39. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the serious delays in the processing and approval of housing adaptation grants; the details of what measures if any can be taken to speed up the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15636/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra72. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of money spent in Cork on housing adaption grants in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15654/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration is being given to provide a grant scheme, independent of the disabled persons grants administered by local authorities, for building or capital works for homeowners who have family members with significant disabilities that mean their homes are not suitable for the person to live in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9353/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 39, 72 and 136 together.
My 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 (including applicants with significant disabilities) 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 Grant, which 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 is not considering the introduction of new grant schemes at this time.
Details of allocations, the number of grants paid and the amount spent by all local authorities in 2023, including for Cork City Council and Cork County Council, are available on my Department's website at the following link: gov - Other local authority housing scheme statistics (www.gov.ie)
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 2024 Exchequer provision of €74.5 million or €93.125 million when accounting for the local authority contribution is an increase of €8 million Exchequer funding continuing the year on year increases since 2014.My Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity and my Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year. My Department encourages all local authorities to ensure all applications on hand are processed to the degree possible for final payment to ensure optimal spend on their annual allocation. Whilst additional Exchequer funding may become available, the local authorities must provide the 20% match funding from their own resources and therefore the local authorities are also managing the scheme within the resources allocated at the local level.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. The review was informed by engagement with external stakeholders, including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Written submissions were also invited and considered as part of this process. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds that apply and the grant limits.
On foot of my consideration of the Review report, my Department shared the report and supplementary analysis with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and is engaging with that Department on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible.
28. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if staged payments will be introduced for the croí cónaithe home renovation grant scheme, given the difficulties being experienced by grant recipients in having to find the finance upfront before drawing back the grant; if the entire process will be streamlined to reduce red-tape and speed up processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15695/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra77. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to stage payments for paying out the croí cónaithe grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14385/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 77 together.
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. 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.
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.
The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications to ensure that the grant conditions are met and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the refurbishment work being applied for and to assess the proposed cost. Following confirmation of a successful application and the works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with the grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, they will then pay the grant.
Payment of the grant at the end of the process is to ensure that the applicant has carried out the works applied for and for which the grant is being paid.
W hen the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that a comprehensive review of the schemes under it, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, would be undertaken by mid 2024. That review is currently underway and is due to be completed in mid 2024. The matter of staged payments will be considered in the review.
29. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the delivery of affordable homes in Poolbeg west SDZ. [15608/24]
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 condition of the planning scheme for the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone, as modified by An Bord Pleanála on 9 April 2019, is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes on this site in addition to the 10% statutory social housing requirement under Part V arrangements.
In March 2022, Dublin City Council approved an application for the first phase of homes at the former Glass Bottle site. My Department has been working with Dublin City Council and the developers of the Poolbeg SDZ area to progress the delivery of social and affordable housing in this first phase of housing delivery, subject to agreement on the SDZ requirements and all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects.
The developers are engaging with Dublin City Council regarding the provision of the 10% Part V social housing in this first phase and tripartite engagement is ongoing with regard to delivery of the additional social and affordable housing in this first phase in accordance with the terms of the SDZ condition. Drafting of an agreement is underway and the parties are not in a position to comment further until an agreement is finalised.
30. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects works, funded by his Department, to develop sewerage schemes in the villages of Broadford and Cooraclare (both in County Clare) to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15641/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2023, I announced the successful applications that are approved funding under the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs for villages without access to Public Waste Water Services.
Following the announcement, my Department wrote to Clare County Council confirming approval of funding for projects in the villages of Broadford and Cooraclare and outlining the next steps required to commence and deliver these projects to completion as quickly as possible.
My Department looks forward to working with the local authority and other key stakeholders to successfully deliver these projects.
31. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for the delivery of affordable housing in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15703/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the nine year period of the plan to 2030. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes to be facilitated by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through First Home, a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans. 18 local authorities, including Carlow, were asked to include their affordable housing delivery projections in those Plans, in line with overall affordable housing need identified in their areas and the five-year Affordable Housing delivery targets assigned in March 2022. A copy of Carlow County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their website.
The Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) is available to all local authorities to assist in responding to localised affordability need where it occurs. AHF funding approval is in place to support the provision of 20 Affordable Purchase homes at Cois Dara, Tullow Road, Carlow.
Comprehensive programme level statistics on affordable housing delivery are published quarterly by my Department at the following weblink:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
These affordable delivery reports include First Home scheme data and Carlow has seen good signs of take-up to date which I anticipate will continue to be significant as the First Home scheme supports more and more households to bridge their affordability gap and buy new homes.
I anticipate that the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which includes funding for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, will prove valuable in addressing overall affordability needs in Carlow. A vacant homes officer is in place who can assist the public with bringing vacant homes back into use, with up to €70,000 in grant support available to do so.
My Department, together with the Housing Agency, and the Housing Delivery Coordination Office of the Local Government Management Association, continues to liaise with local authorities, including Carlow, in relation to their ongoing development of affordability programmes that will respond effectively to identified affordability needs.
