Written Answers Nos. 181-200
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she expects to assist in the provision of sporting and recreational facilities throughout the country with maximum community benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24543/24]
View answerOn Friday 3 May I launched the ‘Participation Nation Outdoor Fund’ for the purchase and installation of barrier-free permanent sport equipment that can be placed on public land for community use. A portion of that fund, under the heading “Amuigh Faoin Spéir”, is earmarked for biodiversity measures at sports facilities and details of this funding were confirmed by Minister Martin on Thursday 23 May.
The fund will be overseen by my department and administered by Sport Ireland with applications open to the network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs). Engaging in physical exercise and connecting to nature are recognised as two key wellbeing measures and this fund encourages the LSPs to work with their local sports sectors to develop initiatives that are of wide benefit and accessible to the community.
In line with the Programme for Government target of reaching 60% overall participation in sport by 2027, the outdoor sports equipment stream is designed to spur physical activity in local community settings by supporting LSPs with the development of sport projects on publicly-accessible land.
On 9 May 2024, Minister Martin and I announced over €26 million in equipment grants under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. The grants have been provisionally allocated to organisations across the country and to over fifty sports and activities.
Minister Martin and I were pleased to confirm yesterday that at least €250 million is to be made available for the 2023 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme. This is on foot of positive recent enagement on revised allocations for the National Development Plan with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., which has facilitated this largest-ever investment in sports facilities across the country.
The funding now available represents a 50% increase on the funding allocated in early 2022 under the 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme and it should mean positive allocation decisions for all valid applications under the current 2023 Programme. I expect allocations to be announced by the Autumn.
Separately, on 26 April 2024, Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund which is open for applications until 3pm on Monday 1 July 2024. I encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process.
182. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the latest up-to-date figures regarding TV licence renewal and purchase of TV licences for 2024 versus 2023; the figures for July 2022 to May 2023 inclusive versus July 2023 to May 2024 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24578/24]
View answerThe statutory basis for the current TV licence system is provided for under Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The legislation also provides for An Post acting as the statutory issuing agent for licence fee collection.
The most up to date figures of TV licences issued by An Post for 2024, in respect of the week ending 26 May, show that to date this year An Post has recorded a total of 300,945 TV licences sales with the equivalent figure for the same period in 2023 being 351,903. A breakdown of first time licences/renewals is not yet available to the Department for week ending 26th May.
Total TV licence sales recorded by An Post for July 2023 to 19 May 2024, the last week of full data that the Department holds, amount to 668,232 consisting of 64,467 first time licences and 603,765 renewals. The equivalent figures for July 2022 – 19 May 2023 are 842,284 total licences recorded, consisting of 112,209 first time licences and 730,075 renewals.
Weekly TV Licence figures are available are updated by the Department online on a weekly basis at www.gov.ie/en/publication/d5f84-tv-licence-sales/.
The TV licence supports not only RTÉ but also the wider broadcasting sector such as TG4, Virgin Media, and the radio sector who are supported through the Sound and Vision Scheme. I continue to urge everyone who is required to have a TV Licence to purchase or renew and enable the continuation of this important funding for our public service media. Not only is it the law, but it supports a wide range of public service content created by the independent sector for a number of other broadcasters, not only RTÉ .
183. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will legislate to restrict no-fault evictions. [24573/24]
View answerThe Government agreed on 7 March 2023 that the ‘Winter Emergency Period’ under the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Act 2022 would come to an end on 31 March 2023, with deferred tenancy terminations taking effect over a staggered period from 1 April to 18 June 2023 as planned and legislated for under that Act.
The Government at that time considered that extending the emergency period to restrict 'no fault' tenancy terminations from taking effect would be detrimental to medium and long-term supply of private rental accommodation. That position has not changed. My Department and local authorities are instead focusing on implementing the additional measures that I announced in March 2023 to increase the supply of social and affordable homes.
I also informed Government of plans to give a number of new opportunities to tenants who wish to become homeowners, giving tenants the opportunity to buy their homes, by requiring a landlord selling a property to first offer it to the tenant. The General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill was approved by Government on 24 October 2023. Priority drafting is now underway with a view to publication of the Bill during this Quarter.
Under Housing for All the Government is committed to increasing supply and protecting renters while trying to keep small landlords in the system. My Department is currently finalising a review of the Private Rental sector which will inform Government on a number of potential policy measures which could be taken to support a well-functioning private rental sector in Ireland.
184. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 414 of 30 April 2024, to outline the conditions under which local authority section 48 development contributions may be waived; how far houses must have been progressed in order to have the development contributions waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24433/24]
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.
In order to be included in the scheme, developers must submit a competed application form and associated commencement notice to their local authority where a development is deemed to fall within the scope of the scheme - and in the case of new single unit developments, it has been verified that development works have commenced on the site - the local authority should issue the applicants a waiver letter and undertaking form.
On receipt of the completed undertaking and if the local authority is satisfied that the development will likely be completed by the conclusion of the waiver scheme period, the waiver application can be approved. Local authorities should then confirm in the waiver approval letter to the applicant that their waiver application has been successful and the level of waiver that has been applied.
The full details in relation to the implementation and operation of the waiver and refund arrangements were notified to local authorities by way of Department of Housing Circular Letter PL 08/2023 dated 28 April 2023, supplemented by an associated detailed guidance document. It is noted in this guidance that the submission of a valid ‘Certificate of Compliance on Completion’ will provide a formal indication of development completion.
Some residential developments that are eligible for the development contribution waiver may avail of Article 9(5) of the Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2015 which enables an owner of a single dwelling, on single-unit development site, to ‘opt out’ of the statutory certification requirements - including in relation to relevant certification to confirm completion - under the Building Control Regulations. In these circumstances, the local authority should satisfy itself that the dwelling concerned has been completed, to a level that the submission of a valid ‘Certificate of Compliance on Completion’ would be possible if the development had not been opted out.
In order to ensure that the measure operates as intended, it is important that appropriate arrangements are put in place to ensure compliance with the terms of the scheme. For this reason, the undertaking form includes details of the application of clawback/refund arrangements in relation to development contributions paid to local authorities by the Department on behalf of the person liable for the contribution where the conditions of the scheme have not been met, including that the development has not been completed by the end date of the scheme i.e. 31 December 2026.
185. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on his Department’s support for Ireland’s built heritage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19787/24]
View answerMy Department supports the built heritage sector principally through the work of the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), which oversees funding schemes, surveys historic buildings, contributes to policy development, provides technical advice to owners and professionals, and promotes community engagement with our built heritage.
In relation to funding support in particular:
The NBHS provides direct financial assistance for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). The HSF is for conservation of heritage structures and historic buildings, in both private and public ownership, for the benefit of communities and the public. The BHIS is a scheme for the repair and conservation of structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures (RPS). This year these schemes have a budget of €4.5 million each. We will shortly announce a new stream of funding within the HSF to provide expert conservation advice to support the repair and re-use of vacant traditional homes.
The NBHS also advises on the Town Centre First Heritage Revival (THRIVE) Scheme, which has been rolled out by my Department in conjunction with the Regional Assemblies to address European, national and regional policy objectives. THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and is providing €120m to support local authorities and their citizens to re-imagine town centres and to transform publicly owned vacant or derelict heritage buildings within those town centres through renovation, renewal, and adaptive reuse.
The NBHS also oversees the governance and funding for the Heritage Council, which this year has awarded a range of funding to the built heritage sector, including €1.2m to town regeneration projects and plans through the Historic Towns Initiative. I would note also that the National Monuments Service within my Department operates the Community Monuments Fund (CMF), which this year will provide €7m to assist in the conservation and promotion of monuments and historic sites.
While these are the government schemes specifically dedicated to conservation projects, significant additional funding is provided to the built heritage sector via several other government grant schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Alongside the work carried out by the NBHS and other stakeholders in collecting data, providing expert advice, enhancing public engagement etc., these supports promote the protection and careful adaptation of our built heritage, so that we can realise its full potential and pass it on to future generations with its historic fabric and character intact.
186. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons who have availed of the vacant property refurbishment grant in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024 [24444/24]
View answer187. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of money that has been paid out under the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [24445/24]
View answer188. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any local authorities have drawn down money under the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme; if so, if he will list the local authorities; and the amount of grants and the total funding that each received in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24446/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 188, inclusive, together.
Tackling vacancy is a key priority for Government and 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, introduced in July 2022, supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up €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, with a top-up grant of €20,000 available for derelict properties.
Over 8,000 grant applications have been received to date with over 4,900 approved. Payment of the Grant to applicants is made on completion of works, as is normal for these kinds of grants. Drawdown of grants commenced at the end of 2023 as works started to be completed and this has steadily increased with 364 grants now paid. I expect this to significantly increase over 2024 as more refurbishment 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.
In acknowledgement of the administrative overheads in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, my Department provided initial support of up to €180,000 to each local authority. This support was linked to the number of applications received.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes a breakdown of the grants paid per local authority and the total amount of grants paid, which can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics
Grant recoupments to local authorities for grants paid commenced in 2023, with over €13 million in funding issued to local authorities by my Department. The table in the attached document provides a breakdown of grant recoupments per local authority. My Department actively engages with local authorities to submit recoupment claims in a timely manner and ongoing basis.
Grants Recouped to LA's 27/05/24
|
Local Authority |
Grants recouped |
Amount recouped to 27/05/24 |
|
Carlow County Council |
1 |
€14,954.75 |
|
Cavan County Council |
11 |
€1,007,649.22 |
|
Clare County Council |
14 |
€840,000.00 |
|
Cork City Council |
0 |
€0.00 |
|
Cork County Council |
0 |
€0.00 |
|
Donegal County Council |
11 |
€576,960.00 |
|
Dublin City Council |
7 |
€357,790.00 |
|
DLR County Council |
9 |
€510,000.00 |
|
Fingal County Council |
6 |
€300,000.00 |
|
Galway City Council |
0 |
€0.00 |
|
Galway County Council |
1 |
€70,000.00 |
|
Kerry County Council |
4 |
€220,000.00 |
|
Kildare County Council |
31 |
€1,689,700.00 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
3 |
€186,949.98 |
|
Laois County Council |
13 |
€606,283.00 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
10 |
€432,271.00 |
|
Limerick County Council |
19 |
€930,910.48 |
|
Longford County Council |
2 |
€112,800.00 |
|
Louth County Council |
5 |
€223,190.90 |
|
Mayo County Council |
25 |
€1,143,402.84 |
|
Meath County Council |
5 |
€205,196.28 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
13 |
€691,833.52 |
|
Offaly County Council |
6 |
€318,631.17 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
7 |
€364,379.08 |
|
Sligo County Council |
15 |
€731,620.85 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
0 |
€0.00 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
19 |
€898,201.39 |
|
Waterford County Council |
9 |
€460,304.09 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
9 |
€50,000.00 |
|
Wexford County Council |
0 |
€0.00 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
3 |
€130,000.00 |
|
Total: |
258 |
€13,073,028.55 |
Question No. 189 answered with Question No. 88.
Question No. 190 answered with Question No. 61.
191. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to change the qualifying criteria for the septic tank grant to enable households to self-report a fault to qualify, rather than just households that have been inspected or those in a prioritised area for action in accordance with the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24475/24]
View answerThe policy of providing grant funding to households for work on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular.
The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority and are available only in circumstances relating to risks to water quality and/or human health and the environment, and are not general in application.
Householders can avail of the grants if their defective DWWTS has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has been issued, or if the DWWTS is located in either a Prioritised Area for Action or a High Status Objective Catchment Area, as identified in the River Basin Management Plan.
Modifications to the conditions and amount of the grants available came into effect from 1 January 2024 following a review of the scheme and I have no plans to make further changes.
192. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will grant the request of retired members of staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland to attend OSI HQ in Phoenix Park on 21 June 2024 (details supplied) as part of the OSI's 200-year anniversary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24487/24]
View answerTailte Éireann is an independent Government agency under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Tailte Éireann provides a property registration system, property valuation service, and national mapping and surveying infrastructure for the State. Under Section 8(6) of the Tailte Éireann Act 2022, Tailte Éireann is independent in the performance of its functions.
Further information may be obtained by contacting Tailte Éireann directly at oireachtas@tailte.ie.
193. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any mechanism in place to guarantee developers follow through on agreements with local authorities for affordable purchase schemes; if he will ensure that developers follow through on their agreements with local authorities where these schemes are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24491/24]
View answerIn line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the administration of affordable purchase agreements and the sale of affordable purchase homes is a matter for the local authority concerned.
A developer agreement, once signed by both parties, is a binding legal agreement between a local authority and a developer. Any issues arising are a matter for engagement between the parties in the first instance. I am not a party to such agreements or contracts and have no role in that regard.
To support overall delivery and facilitate the administration of affordable housing schemes under the Act, my Department has supplied pro forma legal documentation, including template developer agreements, and conveyancing material to all local authorities, following engagement with key stakeholders including the Law Society, participating banks, local authorities, the Property Registration Authority and others.
Standardised documentation and common procedural approaches now in place in this way will greatly assist the effective administration of affordability schemes as we scale up the delivery programme in line with our Housing for All commitment to deliver 54,000 affordable purchase and cost rental homes by 2030.
194. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the fresh start principal can apply to a person who sold the family home following legal separation or divorce, either by voluntary agreement with their former partner or on foot of a court order as part of the separation or divorce settlement. [24513/24]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
A ‘Fresh Start’ principle applies for applications to the Local Authority Home Loan. In recognition of instances where an individual has undergone a separation/legal separation/divorce or otherwise and has relinquished their rights to the family home property, an exemption to the First Time Buyer eligibility criteria can be applied under the Fresh Start Principle.
Persons who previously purchased or built a property, together with a spouse, a civil partner or a person with whom they were in an intimate and committed relationship, are eligible under the Fresh Start principle if the following conditions are met;
• the marriage, civil partnership or relationship concerned has ended, and
• the person is now applying to purchase a property on their own or with a different person, and
• the person has divested themselves of their interest in any previous properties purchased or built and
• their most recently owned dwelling must have been lost as a result of the fresh start event.
The final decision regarding the Local Authority Home Loan application is made by the relevant Local Authority Credit Committee on a case by case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and lending local authority.
Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.
195. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the drafting of new guidelines for renewable energy projects includes the requirement that an SEA be carried out in advance to address environmental and health issues; if in this regard he will outline any practical basis for setting a target of producing 80% of Ireland's energy from renewable sources; if measures to protect the rural environment, landscape and the health of rural dwellers will be part of the consideration in this process; the forward planning measures that are in place or that will be put in place to deal with the Issue of turbine carcasses and other materials that cannot be recycled when they become obsolete; if he will consider putting the guidelines before Dáil Éireann for debate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24516/24]
View answerThere are no consolidated planning guidelines in place for all forms of renewable energy development at present.
Planning guidelines are in place for wind energy in the form of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 and these Guidelines are currently under review by my Department. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of the Guidelines, which is the main outstanding issue and is highly technical in nature.
The two Departments have been engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose having regard to, inter alia, the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources. The setting of this target is a matter for DECC in the context of its climate and renewable energy policy remit and the Government Climate Action Plan, while also having regard to EU renewable energy and climate targets which Member States are required to comply with.
Further to this engagement, DECC appointed noise consultants in May 2023 to inform any amendments on the noise aspect of the Guidelines. This work is substantially complete. My Department, in conjunction with DECC having regard to its environmental noise remit, will make any further changes to the draft Guidelines which are deemed necessary or appropriate in the wake of this work to ensure that the finalised Guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose to provide guidance in line with renewable energy and climate targets, whilst having appropriate regard to the impacts of wind energy development, including in relation to noise annoyance.
With regard to the protection of rural dwellers, in addition to the aforementioned key aspects of the review, the 2006 Guidelines provide guidance to assist planning authorities as part of their development plan process, to identify the most suitable locations for wind energy development, having regard to key environmental, landscape, technical and economic criteria and the need to balance this criteria in a manner consistent with proper planning and sustainable development.
The 2006 Guidelines also provide guidance for planning authorities regarding general considerations in the assessment of wind energy planning applications and identify, inter alia, landscape issues, visual impact of ancillary development and local environmental impacts - including noise and shadow flicker - as matters for consideration in this regard. Finally, the 2006 Guidelines provide guidance for planning authorities on the decommissioning and reinstatement of wind energy developments, including on the landscape impact of decommissioning. These issues are being further looked at in the context of the current review. More generally however, matters regarding recycling, end-of-life waste and the circular economy come under the remit of DECC.
As part of the review of the 2006 Guidelines, and in line with EU Directive requirements, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being carried out on the draft Guidelines. The SEA assesses the likely significant effects on the environment, including on issues such as biodiversity, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage (including architectural and archaeological heritage), landscape and the interrelationship between the above factors. As part of the SEA process, my Department intends to undertake a public consultation on the draft Guidelines before they are finalised whereby individuals, communities and organisations will have an opportunity to submit observations on the draft Guidelines.
With regard to the finalisation of the review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, the Climate Action Plan 2024 sets out a timeline of Q4 2024 for publication of the final updated Guidelines and my Department is working towards meeting this commitment. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Planning Act) or, subject to enactment of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, as a National Planning Statement, as appropriate. The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force pending the finalisation of the review.
In accordance with section 28 of the Planning Act, there is no requirement for draft planning guidelines to be submitted to the Houses of Oireachtas and it is not my intention to bring the draft wind energy development guidelines to the Houses for debate in advance of being finalised.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he has in mind plans for the protection and restoration of heritage structures/listed buildings which might be deemed at risk throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24544/24]
View answerThe Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) sets out the framework for the protection of historic buildings, giving local authorities power to add buildings to their record of protected structures, which then places obligations on owners and on the planning authority itself to prevent endangerment of the building.
My Department supports local authorities and owners through the work of the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), which oversees funding schemes, identifies and surveys historic structures, contributes to policy development, provides technical advice to owners and professionals, and promotes community engagement with our built heritage.
In relation to funding support for at-risk buildings:
The NBHS provides direct financial assistance for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). The HSF is for conservation of heritage structures and historic buildings, in both private and public ownership, for the benefit of communities and the public. The BHIS is a scheme for the repair and conservation of structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures (RPS). This year these schemes have a budget of €4.5 million each. We will shortly announce a new stream of funding within the HSF to provide expert conservation advice to support the repair and re-use of vacant traditional homes.
The NBHS also advises on the Town Centre First Heritage Revival (THRIVE) Scheme, which has been rolled out by my Department in conjunction with the Regional Assemblies to address European, national and regional policy objectives. THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and is providing €120m to support local authorities and their citizens to re-imagine town centres and to transform under-used or derelict heritage buildings in public ownership through renovation, renewal, and adaptive reuse.
The NBHS also oversees the governance and funding for the Heritage Council, which this year has awarded a range of funding to the built heritage sector, including €1.2m to town regeneration projects and plans through the Historic Towns Initiative. I would note also that the National Monuments Service within my Department operates the Community Monuments Fund (CMF), which this year will provide €7m to assist in the conservation and promotion of monuments and historic sites.
While these are the government schemes specifically dedicated to conservation projects, significant additional funding is provided to the built heritage sector via several other government grant schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Alongside the work carried out by the NBHS and other stakeholders in collecting data, providing expert advice, enhancing public engagement etc., these supports promote the protection and careful adaptation of our built heritage, so that we can realise its full potential and pass it on to future generations with its historic fabric and character intact.
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loans approved and drawn down in each local authority area in the past two years to date; the number of such loans likely to be issued in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24545/24]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan which commenced on 1 February 2018.
My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals for both the LAHL and RIHL up to Q4 2023 is available at the following link, which will be updated as soon as figures are available: www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Local Authority Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. According to the Housing Agency, 252 applications have been recommended for approval up until the end of April this year. As the Local Authority Home Loan is demand led, and the level of loan drawdowns depends upon the individual outcomes of applicants' home searches, it is not possible to predict the likely level of drawdowns this year.
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses likely to become available from the private sector developments to meet the needs of local authority housing applicants over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24547/24]
View answer203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to indicate, based on the current numbers of applicants on local authority housing lists, in respect of each county, if the estimated time by which he expects sufficient reduction of applicants on local authority waiting lists to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24552/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 203 together.
Under 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).
Housing for All required each local authority to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan to address social and affordable housing needs in their areas over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans include details of planned local authority, AHB and Part V delivery for social housing schemes. A copy of each local authority's Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their websites.
A review and refresh of housing targets has commenced. The work will be underpinned by independent, peer-reviewed research by the ESRI. It will inform national and local housing targets, as well as subsets of social, affordable and private housing, and will ensure we provide enough of the right type of homes, in the right locations, to meet overall need. This work will have regard to detailed Census 2022 data published by the CSO.
In 2023, there were 58,824 qualified for social housing whose need had not yet been met nationally. This shows a decline from 91,600 households in 2016 whose need had not yet been met when the SSHA began to be conducted annually. Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA provides a breakdown of categories such as age, household size and household composition. The published summaries for each SSHA since 2013 are available on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and AHBs in each local authority area. This data is available to the end of 2023 and is published 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 also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. This includes details of which local authority or AHB delivered or is delivering the development. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2023. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis by local authority, funding stream etc. at this link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2023.
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the degree to which he proposes, through the various local authorities, to utilise abandoned or derelict buildings in the centres of villages or towns throughout the country to meet the needs of those who require affordable or local authority houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24548/24]
View answerTackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The reuse and regeneration of vacant and derelict properties in cities, towns, villages and rural areas not only provides much needed housing, it can also transform and revitalise communities.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan Progress Report, which I recently published on my Department's website, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. See gov - Vacant Homes Action Plan 2023-2026 (www.gov.ie) .
The new Town Centre First policy is now being implemented with twenty-six Town Regeneration Officers in place across local authorities and twenty-six town teams established with town plans developed, as part of the first phase of Town Centre First. Addressing vacancy and dereliction is a key feature of these plans and Town Regeneration Officers are working closely with the Vacant Homes Officers in local authorities in this regard.
The introduction of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund in July 2022, supports the objectives of the Town Centre First policy by making the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties an affordable option for home owners and buyers, and in turn, supporting the regeneration of towns and villages throughout the country.
Another key measure in supporting bringing vacant an derelict properties into use as homes is the CPO Activation Programme. This was launched by my Department in April 2023 and provides for a proactive approach by local authorities to identifying vacant properties and engaging with the property owners to return them into residential use. This may include the use of compulsory purchase powers where necessary.
Tackling vacancy is also supported through the €150 million Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). The Fund supports local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties for reuse or sale, using their compulsory purchase powers were necessary. The Fund will be replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of a site, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle vacancy.
In addition to URDF funding, 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 and renewing of vacant buildings as new social homes.
Planning regulations 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.
The most efficient home to deliver is one which already exists. I firmly believe that the commitment this Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction and the actions we have taken will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes and revitalising local communities.
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which young people seeking to remain resident in their native areas can be facilitated throughout rural Ireland thereby assuring the future of schools, shops and community life while maintaining good environmental and planning practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24549/24]
View answerSince the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and adapting to and mitigating climate change have become more central to the operation of the planning system.
Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
Having regard to these complex considerations, the draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.
