Written Answers Nos. 137-145
137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to improve the income eligibility limits for social housing in 2017 in view of the fact numerous families are slightly above existing income limits but are unable to obtain loan approval from financial institutions; if the eligibility criteria will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2160/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to exclude family income supplement in the assessment of income eligibility for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2161/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.
The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all housing authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge. Most payments received from the Department of Social Protection are assessable, including Family Income Supplement. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and housing authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once off.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. I am satisfied that the current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this and that they provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. These income limits will continue to be kept under review by my Department, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
I am aware of the difficulties experienced by some households in purchasing their own home where they are not eligible for social housing support on income grounds. It may be possible for such households to avail of a mortgage from a local authority which is targeted at lower income first-time buyers who can demonstrate that they are unable to get a loan from a building society or bank. A loan can be up to 97% of the price of the property, subject to a maximum loan of €200,000. The relevant terms and conditions applying to local authority housing loans are set out in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 which prescribe a maximum annual gross income threshold of €50,000 for a single person household or a combined annual gross income of €75,000 for a two person household. The Regulations are available on my Department’s website at: Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012.
Another option is the Home Choice Loan, a Government backed mortgage for first time buyers. The Home Choice Loan is available through authorised mortgage brokers and can be used to provide up to 92% of the market value of the property being purchased, up to a maximum loan amount of €285,000. A new or second hand property may be purchased under the scheme. Further information is available at: www.homechoiceloan.ie.
139. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a proposal contained in the Dublin City Draft Development Plan 2016 - 2022 to redefine low rise to include buildings of nine storeys or 28 metres, that is, twice the height of the typical Georgian buildings that are a feature of Dublin city centre; and his views on whether such a policy constitutes the type of sound planning that must inform housing and urban planning policy. [2166/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022, adopted by the elected members in September 2016, sets out a coherent, robust and cogent development framework for the Dublin City Council area.
During the consultation process on the making of the Plan, my Department, as a prescribed body, made submissions in December 2015 and July 2016 to Dublin City Council which included recommendations on appropriate heights for future development.
National planning policy strongly supports goals relating to avoiding urban sprawl and securing the efficient use of serviced urban land and increased densities, especially in highly accessible inner city areas, where the full range of employment, retail, educational and recreational facilities are within walking or cycling distance and close to frequent public transport.
As with many other cities around the world of comparable function and scale to Dublin, development sites in inner city areas are a critical and finite resource for its people and its economy and among the best locations within which the housing, community facilities and employment opportunities required can be provided.
Considering the varied building pattern across Dublin, including the scope for taller buildings in certain strategic locations near public transport nodes and centres of employment as provided in the City Development Plan, I have no difficulty with the manner in which the low-rise designation has been arrived at. I would furthermore add that, if building heights in Dublin were required to match or be influenced by Georgian building heights generally, considerable difficulties would be experienced in meeting requirements for additional housing and employment space within the city and in a manner appropriate to the European and global role that Dublin now increasingly plays.
Moreover, if Dublin was further constrained in terms of achievable building heights, the city would then tend to spread outwards even more than it already has, to the detriment of people’s quality of life by forcing increased commuting and distance between living and working.
At the same time, it is also vital that the special character and architectural quality of the City is appropriately managed and conserved through the extensive range of City Development Plan policies and objectives, such as Architectural Conservation Areas and residential conservation areas.
140. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if a review of the composition of district electoral divisions, which continue to be delineated as they were in the 1830s, will be included in the terms of reference of the next local electoral area boundary committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2167/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNotwithstanding any decision that might be made to review local electoral areas in advance of the 2019 local elections, there are no plans at present to review the boundaries of the 3,440 electoral divisions across the country. The electoral divisions in the Dublin area were last amended in 1986. These are specified in the County Borough of Dublin (Wards) Regulations 1986 and the Dublin County (District Electoral Divisions) Regulations 1986.
141. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of three-bedroom units which were offered to families in emergency accommodation in 2016; and the number of three-bedroom units which are due to come on stream in 2017 to accommodate large families in emergency accommodation. [2185/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. My Department has no function in relation to operational issues, such as those outlined in the Question, which are a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
142. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the actions the Government has taken with regard to the international emissions scandal surrounding a company (details supplied); if the Government has considered the motor tax implications for the company and other connected models as a consequence of the findings of the US EPA; the investigation of its own the Government has set up to investigate if the company's cars on sale here actually comply with EU emissions standards; if models for sale here achieve the emissions savings outlined in their marketing; if the Government has taken steps to investigate whether the emissions levels advertised by motor manufacturers are actually tested and actually meet their standards in real time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2188/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no function in the matter raised, save for motor tax. The motor tax system in Ireland for private vehicles registered from July 2008 is based on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), whereas the matter referred to in the Question relates to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. There are, therefore, no implications for the motor tax system.
143. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority houses which were constructed by the four Dublin local authorities in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2189/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment and Social Housing Current Expenditure Programmes, funding is provided to local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments. Details on the number of properties constructed and purchased by all local authorities, including all four Dublin Local Authorities, up to Q3 2016, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Information on the full year of 2016 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
144. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost to the Exchequer of any ongoing investigations or inquiries in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2392/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn view of the fact that there are no ongoing Commissions of Investigation or Tribunals of Inquiry in my Department, there are no relevant costs arising for the Exchequer.
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if interim supplementary welfare payment will be provided as matter of urgency to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2101/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application form for Supplementary Welfare Allowance was posted to the person concerned on 10/01/2017. An assessment will be made when the completed application form and any additional documents are received by the Community Welfare Officer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
