Written Answers Nos. 261-283
265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail if any consideration has been given to the reintroduction of over the shop grants to compliment the croí cónaithe schemes to ensure the Government are doing all they can to reduce vacancies in towns and villages across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20269/24]
View answer268. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of people working in his Department's vacant homes unit. [20293/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 268 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.
Eligible properties include residential properties, former commercial and public use properties which have been vacant for 2 years.
Upper floors of commercial buildings which have been used as residential and have been vacant for two years or more and built up to and including 2007 are eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, regardless of whether the ground floor is currently vacant or derelict.
Planning regulations, introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes have been extended until 2025.
I note that applicants can avail of other Government supported grant schemes to address vacancy. For example, owners of vacant commercial units who wish to bring their property back into use as social housing may apply to the relevant local authority under the Repair and Leasing Scheme. Local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for the scheme by taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable community considerations and value for money.
The Social Housing Capital Funding Programmes (Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS)) support local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to tackle dereliction and vacancy through the repurposing/renewing of vacant buildings and blocks as new social homes. The funding for re-purposing/renewing vacant buildings or blocks as new social homes, including single ‘Buy & Renew’ properties is drawn from the €1.4 billion capital funding available under the SHIP and CAS programmes and is demand-led. There is, therefore, significant available funding that local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies can draw on in relation to these initiatives.
Under Action 97 of the updated Housing for All Action Plan, my Department has convened a Working Group “to assess and make recommendations in relation to the overall potential for the development of vacant commercial properties for housing and examine the scope for planning exception, subject to planning considerations and housing need ”. The group, which is chaired by my Department, is comprised of senior officials from my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Office of Public Works, local authorities, the Local Government Management Agency and private sector professionals.
Further information on available schemes and supports is contained in the following link: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/ef77b-refurbishing-vacant-property/.
Since the launch of the Grant some 7,730 applications have been received, with over 4,600 approved and with 298 grants paid out as works are completed. At the outset, the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund aimed to deliver 2,000 homes by 2025. This has since been increased to 4,000.
At present, the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department has 8 staff. The Unit plays a key part in delivering on the Government commitments under Housing for All, Pathway Four designed to tackle vacancy and ensure the more efficient use of our existing housing stock. The unit liaises with dedicated Vacant Homes Officers across the 31 Local Authorities and with the Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency, as well as working with a larger network of stakeholders and staff in local authorities dealing with dereliction, town regeneration and vacancy.
266. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of families who have been in homeless emergency accommodation for over six months; the number who have been in homeless emergency accommodation for over one year; broken down by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20285/24]
View answerMy Department publishes quarterly progress reports which are based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level. The quarterly performance reports include details of the numbers of individuals prevented from entering emergency accommodation, and those exiting emergency accommodation, into tenancies, and the duration of stay in emergency accommodation. The quarterly progress report summarises the data submitted to the Department.
The duration of stay data is reported as six-monthly bands ranging from less than six months to more than 24 months and is also disaggregated by household type. These bands refer to consecutive stays in emergency accommodation and are based on a point-in-time count, informed by emergency accommodation usage on the last night in the quarter. The most recent published data is in respect of Q4 2023 and the report is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data
267. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to the Exchequer of the affordable homes delivered with the affordable housing fund in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20292/24]
View answerHousing 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 54,000 affordable homes to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through First Home, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
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, including AHB and LDA cost rental delivery, and is available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery
The data published shows that over 5,800 affordable housing solutions have been delivered to date. This figure includes 521 homes delivered by local authorities with AHF assistance during 2023 as affordable homes for purchase or for cost rental by eligible applicants.
Cost information on the delivery of affordable homes through the various construction streams, is collated at development/project level rather than at individual housing unit level. The cost of delivering new homes is dependent on a range of variables, such as the location, the scale of the development and the size and type of the homes involved.
The level of subvention provided from the AHF towards the capital cost of an affordable purchase or cost rental home varies having regard to factors such as density of affordable homes per hectare achieved and the location of the development. Subventions ranging from €50,000 to €150,000 per home are provided, with the Exchequer cost representing 95% of the subvention and the remaining 5% coming from a Local Authority contribution. Housing delivery being supported by funding approved originally under the earlier Serviced Sites Fund is also progressing with funding comprised of 89% Exchequer contribution matched by an 11% Local Authority contribution.
On this basis, the average Exchequer cost of affordable homes delivered by local authorities with support from the Affordable Housing Fund during 2023 is €78k per affordable home.
269. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all stalled capital advance loan facility-funded social housing projects, indicating the local authority in which they are located and the number of homes involved in each location; the measures he intends to take to get these projects up and running; if he will ensure that other projects are not delayed due to excessive red tape imposed by his Department on social housing projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20294/24]
View answerIn recent years, the main source of funding to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for social housing delivery, is through borrowings and support from local authorities through the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and Payment and Availability (P&A) programme. The P&A-CALF model has shown itself to be an integral part of social housing delivery and has contributed significantly to social housing development since its introduction. The loan (capital advance) facility can support from 25% to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project and it is repayable at the end of the term which can be up to 30 years. The balance of the investment required is borrowed separately by the AHB, and in the main, from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). AHBs can only avail of this funding if they enter into a P&A agreement with the local authority for the same period, making the relevant properties available for social housing - providing accommodation for people on the relevant local authority’s waiting list, for the same period of time.
In March 2023, I announced changes to the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF). The changes addressed the challenges faced by the AHB sector in accessing sufficient income to build social houses, particularly in rural towns and villages. The new methodology for the P&A-CALF funding model was implemented in April 2023 and is now viable across all local authority areas.
As with all Exchequer-supported projects, my Department, as sanctioning authority, assesses each project proposal for suitability as determined by the local authority, value for money and compliance with the various requirements of the funding programme.
As of 1 May 2024 my Department has been made aware of a small number of projects which are on hold. A project submitted for CALF funding can be placed on hold for a myriad of reasons, it should be noted that none of these projects are on hold as a result of applications not being processed by my Department:
|
Local Authority Area. |
Number of Projects. |
Number of homes. |
|
Dublin City |
1 |
30 |
|
Galway County |
1 |
8 |
|
Louth |
1 |
16 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
130 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
58 |
270. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount collected in the vacant sites levy each year from 2019 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20295/24]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions contained in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards, which site owners became liable to pay in January of the following year.My Department has compiled data from local authority returns on the implementation and collection of the levy in respect of the years 2018 to 2022. This information is provided in the attached Table. My Department will shortly issue a request to local authorities for the submission of a further progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy in respect of the year 2023.It should be noted that under section 19 of the Act, unpaid levies due remain a charge on the land in question until they are paid. My Department will continue to engage with local authorities to ensure that all vacant site levies due are paid.
271. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm whether a senior counsel was appointed to pursue accountability from suppliers of defective concrete blocks; if he will provide an update on the work of this appointed SC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20296/24]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
Terms of Reference are being developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General to progress the appointment of a Senior Counsel to review the role of the industry and regulation in this issue. I expect that this process will be finalised shortly.
272. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of minimum standards for private-rented accommodation inspections carried out by environmental health officers between 2020 and 2024; the number of improvement letters issued as a result; the number of improvement notices and the number of enforcement proceedings initiated, broken down by local authority and year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20297/24]
View answerThe standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority. If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what action is necessary and appropriate. Under sections 18A and 18B of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, a housing authority may serve an Improvement Notice or Prohibition Notice, respectively, where a property is found to be non-compliant.
Inspections of private rental accommodation under these Regulations are conducted by a number of different grades, including environmental health officers and, in a small number of local authorities, by authorised contractors.
The Government is committed to ensuring that a stock of high quality accommodation is available for those who live in the private rented sector. Housing for All sets a target of 25% for the inspection of all private residential tenancies from 2021. A total of €9 million in Exchequer funding is being made available by my Department to local authorities this year to help them meet their private rental inspection targets. An all-time high of over 63,500 inspections were conducted last year.
Annual data in respect of the level of inspection and enforcement activity by each local authority is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/#private-rented-inspections
273. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of employees within his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department who are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations; to outline, in tabular form, the length of time these employees have been under suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20318/24]
View answerMy Department manages all disciplinary matters in accordance with the Civil Service Disciplinary Code.
This procedure is initiated where a concern arises about the conduct, work performance, and/or attendance of a civil servant. The procedure provides a fair and efficient process for dealing with any such concern and applies to all civil servants other than new entrants serving in a probationary capacity.
As requested, please see below table outlining the number of staff currently suspended on full pay in accordance with the Civil Service Disciplinary Code within my Department:
|
Number of staff suspended on full pay in accordance with the Disciplinary Code* |
Length of time under suspension |
|
1 |
4 years 11 months |
*As a protective measure, in line with 3.2.16 of the Disciplinary Code
The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email addresses for each agency are set out in the table below:
|
Bodies under the Aegis of DHLGH |
Oireachtas email |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Electoral Commission |
info@electoralcommission.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
Maritime Area Regulatory Authority |
oireachtas@mara.gov.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Tailte Éireann |
reps@tailte.ie |
|
Uisce Éireann |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
274. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the legal mechanism to establish a new right of way; the procedure in instances of disputes over rights of way; the process whereby rights of way are assessed and confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20327/24]
View answerIt is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider where there is a need for a public right of way.In this connection, the relevant planning authority may enter into discussions with the relevant landowners under section 206 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) in order to achieve the creation of a public right of way by agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached and where it appears to the planning authority that there is need for a public right of way over any land, the planning authority may, by resolution, make an order creating a public right of way over the land in accordance with section 207 of the Act. The planning authority must follow the process prescribed under section 207 of the Act.The process under section 207 of the Act is a reserved function of the elected members of the relevant planning authority and a process in which I, in my role as Minister have no function.
Where a planning authority proposes to make an order under section 207 of the Act, it shall serve a notice (which shall include particulars of the proposed order) of its intention to do so on the owner and the occupier of the land over which the public right of way is proposed to be created and on any other person who in its opinion will be affected by the creation of the public right of way, and cause notice of the proposed order to be published in one or more newspapers circulating in its functional area.A notice under section 207(2) of the Act shall state that the planning authority proposes to make an order creating the public right of way, and submissions or observations regarding the proposed order may be made to the planning authority within a stated period of not less than 6 weeks and that the submissions or observations will be taken into consideration by the planning authority.Section 207(4) of the Act provides that the planning authority, having considered the proposal and any submissions or observations made in respect of it, may by resolution, as it considers appropriate, make the order, with or without modifications, or refuse to make the order and any person on whom notice has been served under subsection (2) shall be notified accordingly.
The decision to create a compulsory right of way by a planning authority may be appealed to An Bord Pleanála in accordance with section 207(5) of the Act within four weeks of being notified of an order under section 207(4) of the Act. It is then a matter for An Bord Pleanála to consider any appeal.
Following the decision of An Board Pleanála regarding an appeal on a Right of Way under section 207 of the Act, a person may make an application for leave to apply for Judicial Review in accordance with sections 50 and 50A of the Act.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), I, in my role as the Minister with responsibility for planning shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
275. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the incremental tenant purchase scheme; if consideration is being given to including tenants of approved housing body housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20328/24]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Schemes provide for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority properties which are available for sale under the terms of the particular scheme. All applications for the Scheme must satisfy the requirements outlined in the relevant legislation. However, the schemes only provide for the purchase of local authority properties and do not extend to properties owned by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
AHBs (also called housing associations or voluntary housing associations) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes; or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. Any sale of an AHB property must be in compliance with their Memorandum and Articles of Association and it is also advisable for the AHB to consult with the Charities Regulator in this regard if it is a registered charity. However, as not-for-profit bodies, AHBs are limited in their ability to sell any property on the open market at a value which is less than the market value of the property.
My Department monitors schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, as above, consideration cannot be given to extending the schemes to tenants residing in properties owned by AHBs.
276. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department or the OPW has engaged with An Post in relation to buying the listed Skibbereen and Bantry post offices in order to keep them in community use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20343/24]
View answerMy Department, through the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), has responsibility for supporting and promoting our built heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. However, my Department does not acquire individual protected structures for conservation purposes, both because of the limited resources available and because, in line with the Planning and Development Acts (2000), primary responsibility for safeguarding protected structures rests with owners and with the relevant planning authorities.
A wide range of funding supports have been put in place across my Department, the Heritage Council, and the Department of Rural and Community Development which can assist owners and local authorities in discharging their responsibilities in this regard. These include the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Historic Structures Fund, and the Historic Towns Initiative, which all focus primarily on conservation of historic buildings. Other schemes with wider regeneration objectives such as the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme (THRIVE), the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund also provide very substantial support for conservation and re-use of historic buildings such as those mentioned.
277. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the EU programmes or funds outside of the multiannual financial framework that Ireland has paid into from the year 2014 to date; any receipts from same, by programme or fund, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20359/24]
View answerDetails on all EU funding made available to my Department each year under the multiannual financial framework are set out in The Revised Estimates for Public Services, which are published annually by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and are available at The Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service (www.gov.ie)). Information on relevant programmes and associated funding available to my Department are set out in the EU Receipts table, with these provisions also set out in the attached table - EU Receipts from 2014-2024.
In relation to 2024, €7.2m in ERDF funding has also been allocated to my Department and relates to funding designated for the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme (THRIVE). This Scheme is a new €120 million grant scheme for local authorities and is delivered under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programmes.
Further to the above, my Department has also received €1.5m in 2023 and €2.5m in 2024 from the EU Just Transition fund and €2.9m from 2022 to date from the Recovery and Resilience Fund.
278. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine a matter (details provided); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20437/24]
View answerI was pleased to announce on 12 April that I secured approval for an increase in the mandatory retirement age for both full-time and retained firefighters up to the age of 62, details of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/eea5a-mandatory-retirement-age-for-full-time-and-retained-firefighters-to-rise-to-62/.
This extension of the mandatory retirement age up to 62 will serve to further strengthen fire services, not only through the retention of long serving personnel during a period of change but will also allow the opportunity for that knowledge and expertise of existing experienced personnel to transfer to new recruits at their regular training, drill nights and operationally where it matters most.
This is the latest in a number of initiatives aimed at improving retention and recruitment within the retained fire services. Local authorities are implementing WRC recommendations that will see an increase in retained firefighter numbers, structured time off, flexibility to attend calls and guaranteed fixed minimum earnings.
This increase in the mandatory retirement age in the uniformed services, including the fire services, will be facilitated by amendments to the relevant pension legislation to be brought forward by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. This is being brought forward as a priority and it is expected that the relevant Bill will be published shortly and that the necessary legislative provisions can be enacted before the Dáil summer recess.
My Department has been exploring transitional arrangements for those who will reach the age of 60 before the legislation is enacted and I am pleased to be able to confirm that the current transitional arrangements will be extended to allow these retained fire fighters to be employed on a contract basis up to age 62, pending enactment of the legislation. My Department will issue an updated circular to this effect in the coming days.
I have asked my Department to explore the issues raised in the details provided alongside the Question, which relate to the calculation of the gratuity paid to retained firefighters. These matters relate to complex provisions in the relevant legislation and my Department is exploring these matters in detail in consultation with the Department for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
279. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the safeguards in place to ensure that public monies committed to owners’ management companies under the defects remediation schemes will be spent in their entirety on remediation works. [20475/24]
View answerMy Department is currently, as a matter of priority, preparing legislation to put in place a statutory remediation scheme for owners of certain apartments affected by fire safety, water ingress and structural defects. This legislation will establish supports for the remediation of these defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. Given the complexity of the issues, including the significant amount of Exchequer funding that this Government has committed to assist affected homeowners, sufficient time is required to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, provides value for tax payers' money and contains appropriate oversight and governance measures. It is expected the draft legislation will be published in 2024 and that, subject to the legislative process, the statutory scheme will be in place shortly thereafter.
Pending the introduction of the statutory scheme, an Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in apartments and duplexes has been in place since December 2023. The Scheme, which is being administered by the Housing Agency on a nationwide basis, is open to applications from apartment Owner Management Companies (OMCs) via the Housing Agency’s website. In the period since the Scheme’s launch, up to and including 30 April 2024, 238 applications for fire safety remediation work are being progressed across 27 local authority areas, representing a total of 14,018 residential units.
The Interim Remediation Scheme only covers defects caused by defective design, workmanship or materials that breached the Building Regulations that applied when the property was built. It will not cover defects that came about because of inadequate maintenance, insufficient sinking funds or later building work that was not managed correctly. Application for funding through the Scheme will need to pass several stages of oversight, including:
• Submission of a valid application with development particulars and authorised contact information;
• Provision of an application pack to valid applicants only;
• Selection and engagement of a Competent Professional for the discovery of fire safety defects and identification of necessary works;
• Completion of a Fire Safety Risk Assessment (FSRA) and the preparation of a proposed Interim Remediation Works Plan, subject to engagement with Local Authority Fire Services (LAFS);
• Procurement of a Competent Builder and determination of costs;
• Works eligibility assessment and provisional funding approval by the Housing Agency;
• Issuing of a Grant Agreement for the OMC's review, signature and return. By signing the Grant Agreement, the OMC will agree to the terms and conditions specified;
• Remedial works then proceed in accordance with the particulars submitted and as outlined in the Grant Agreement;
• The OMC provides the Housing Agency with the necessary certificates of completion/compliance and supporting documentation agreed.
To ensure value for money and good governance regarding Exchequer funding, appropriate terms and conditions in accordance with DPER Circular 13/2014, 'Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds', will apply to such funding. These details will be outlined in the Grant Agreement.
280. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the development charge waiver and water charge waiver can be extended to cover cases where a house had commenced but planning had expired and a new planning permission was then granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20509/24]
View answerOn 25 April 2023, the Government approved additional measures under the Housing for All Action Plan to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, including the introduction of temporary time-limited arrangements for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges.
The schemes originally applied for 1 year to all permitted residential development that commenced on site between 25 April 2023 (the date of the Government Decision approving the measure) and 24 April 2024, and is completed not later than 31 December 2025. On 23 April 2024, the Government approved an extension for the waiving of local authority “section 48” development contributions in respect of residential development commenced up to 31 December 2024 and the refunding of Uisce Éireann water and waste water connection charges in respect of residential development commenced up to 30 September 2024.
The date for the completion of development works on qualifying houses under the schemes has been extended from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2026.
These temporary arrangements are being applied irrespective of the date of planning permission for the residential development. In line with the Government decision, the arrangements cannot be applied retrospectively in respect of housing development that had already commenced prior to 25 April 2023 irrespective of the circumstances in any individual cases.
281. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue a compulsory purchase order for the lands at Castletown House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20541/24]
View answerI understand that the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for this property, continues to engage with all stakeholders with the aim of resolving issues surrounding Castletown House by agreement.
282. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a technical review will be completed for a defective block scheme application (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20542/24]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on the 22 of June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on the 29 of June 2023.
The detailed operation of the Scheme is a matter for the designated local authorities and the Housing Agency in the first instance. Their respective roles are set our clearly in the 2022 Act.
Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme. This includes the initial validation of applications, notifying homeowners of the Housing Agency's determinations on damage threshold, the appropriate remediation option and grant amount, determination of the grant payable for alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works and the subsequent payment of grants to successful applicants.
The Housing Agency acts as agent on behalf of the local authorities under the Enhanced Grant Scheme. Applications received by a local authority are referred to the Housing Agency to review the 'Building Condition Assessment Report' and determine if the home has met the 'damage threshold' for entry to the scheme. Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency engages its Framework Chartered Engineers to undertake the assessment, survey, sampling, testing and categorisation of the dwelling thereafter on a priority basis in accordance with the national standard I.S. 465:2018 and thereafter determine the appropriate remediation option and grant amount.
In undertaking this work of assessing dwellings, a practical approach is taken where the Housing Agency prioritises dwellings on relative severity and impact of damage and proximity of dwellings to other affected properties.
283. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of long-term social housing leases in place in 2021, 2022 and 2023; the annual cost of these leases; and the allocation for such leases in 2024. [20551/24]
View answerThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Dwellings under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Part V and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Long term lease arrangements can be entered into by either local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) for periods of between 10 and 25 years.
Details of the number of long term leases and funding of such long term leasing scheme from 2021 to 2023 can be found in Table 1 below:
Table 1
|
- |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Leases supported at Year End |
4,455 |
6,127 |
7,743 |
|
Annual Cost of Leases |
€57.01m |
€89.37m |
€104.68m |
The long term leasing scheme includes properties leased by AHBs directly, leased by local authorities from private owners, Enhanced leasing, and Part V Leasing.
There is no specific financial allocation for long term leasing, which is funded under SHCEP. The total budget allocated for SHCEP in 2024 is €517.4m.
