Holly Cairns
Question:122. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a date for the opening of the public consultation on the new draft Wind Energy Development guidelines. [30062/24]
View answerWind Energy Guidelines
Questions (122)
Written answers
My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including noise, setback distance, 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 Guidelines, which 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.
Further to this engagement, DECC appointed noise consultants in May 2023 to inform any amendments to the noise aspect of the Guidelines. This work is substantially complete. My Department, in conjunction with DECC in respect of 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.
Further to this work and in advance of the finalisation of the Guidelines, there will be a public consultation on the revised draft Guidelines, together with the SEA Environmental Report. Finalised Guidelines will be prepared following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions received during the consultation phase.
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, having regard to the intended public consultation. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended 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.
Planning Issues
Questions (123)
Holly Cairns
Question:123. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the measures being taken to ensure that the planning system can process applications related to vital energy infrastructure in a timely manner. [30065/24]
View answerWritten answers
An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
In order to ensure the continued outturn of cases within the Board, my Department has provided additional resourcing in the form of increased staffing, an increased number of Board members and an increase in funding allocation to assist the Board in carrying out its functions effectively.
Since October 2021, the Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in An Bord Pleanála. As of 31 May 2024, 267 people are working in ABP (including Board Members). It is intended that when all the approved posts are filled, over 300 people will be employed by the Board. This will represent an increase in the overall agreed staffing at An Bord Pleanála to in excess of 50% since 2021.
The recruitment process for the appointment of a full-term Chairperson has been completed and in January the Government appointed Mr. Peter Mullan for a 7-year term. The recruitment process for full-term board members has recently concluded and it is expected that appointments will be made shortly.
The Board has received an Exchequer allocation of €33.9 million for 2024, which is an increase of €6.5million, including €1.5million of capital allocation, on the 2023 allocation. This increased allocation will enable sanctioned staffing levels to increase to more than 300 people and 15 decision-making board members to be maintained
The Planning and Development Bill 2023 provides for the introduction of statutory mandatory timelines for all consent processes, including appeals and consent applications made to An Bord Pleanála. Timelines for the Board will be introduced on a phased basis, starting with those for Strategic Infrastructure Developments (including energy and transport projects).
The Bill also outlines the proposed new structure for the Board. The new Bill contains a number of provisions reflecting this new organisational structure and will clearly outline the separate roles of:
• Planning Commissioners - who will be responsible for all decision making regarding appeals and applications made and they will be overseen by a newly created position of Chief Planning Commissioner.
• The Governing Board - which will be responsible for the governance and organisation.
• Corporate Spine – will provide support to all of the organisations and functions will be overseen by a Chief Executive Officer.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (124, 126)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:124. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with respect to the square metre rates for the defective block grant scheme for each county; and when he next intends to have an organisation (details supplied) review these square metre rates. [30021/24]
View answerEoin Ó Broin
Question:126. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the per square meter grant rate paid to homeowners under the defective concrete block grant scheme is paid at the rate in place on the date the grant is approved or the rate in place on the date the construction contract is signed. [30041/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 126 together.
I 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.
Following a request from my Department, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) provided updated cost reports for the North West and Midwest Regions. My Department has now asked the Expert Group, who were originally established to advise on a number of technical issues prior to the introduction of the scheme, to reconvene to examine the issue and advise accordingly. Once this advice is received from the Expert Group, I will consider what changes, if any, will be made to the scheme rates and/or the scheme threshold.
Housing Schemes
Questions (125)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:125. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the croí cónaithe cities fund will take the form of equity, a grant to the developer or a loan to the purchaser. [30022/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) scheme launched in May 2022 with a view to supporting the building of 5,000 apartments for sale to owner-occupiers. The Scheme aims to bridge the current “Viability Gap” between the delivery cost of building apartments and the market sale price ( where the cost of building is greater).
The scheme is managed by the Housing Agency and full details of how it operates are available on their website via the following link: www.housingagency.ie/CroiConaitheCities
Question No. 126 answered with Question No. 124.
Departmental Functions
Questions (127)
Michael McGrath
Question:127. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position in relation to the CCMA Section 10 funding review for a homeless service organisation in Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30056/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by local authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
Under the funding arrangements, the Department recoups up to 90% of the costs of regional homeless services programmes with local authorities providing at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Local authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the funding arrangements with the Department.
Significant progress has been made in relation to the addressing concerns within the sector in relation to adequate levels of Section 10 funding, the Department has been working with local authorities and the NGO sector in relation to these issues, and a number of uplifts in recognition of cost of living increases were agreed and applied to SLAs over the course of 2023.
Following intensive engagement with local authorities, budgets for 2024 that include, in some instances, inflationary increases and also pay increases awarded as a result of negotiations at the Work Place Relations Commission are currently being finalised and will issue to local authorities in the coming days.
In addition, in 2023, Terms of Reference were agreed by local authorities, the Department and the NGO sector in relation to a Section 10 Funding Review led by the local authority sector. The Working Group comprises of an independent Chair, officials from the CCMA, local authorities and Department officials. The Working Group is also engaging with nominated representatives from the NGO sector, including Cork Simon. The work of the Group is expected to conclude by Q3 2024.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (128)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:128. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications to the enhanced defective block redress scheme; the number of transfers from the old scheme; where these applications are at in terms of the stages of the process, in tabular form; the number who have drawn down funds to date; and the number who have drawn down their full grant, broken down by local authority area and year; and to provide a breakdown of all of the information, by local authority. [30059/24]
View answerWritten answers
I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 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 out clearly in the 2022 Act.
The Housing Agency acts as agent on behalf of the local authorities under the Enhanced Grant Scheme. Once a home has met the damage threshold for entry to the scheme, the Housing Agency engage 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 accordance with the provision of the Act.
The table below sets out the position in regard to how the Scheme has been operating in the broad areas requested.
|
Summary of Statistics for DCB Grant Scheme to 31 May 2024 |
Clare |
Donegal |
Limerick |
Mayo |
Total |
|
Total Number of Applications (both schemes) |
92 |
1,652 |
31 |
383 |
2,158 |
|
Applications Approved to Stage 1 from Previous Scheme |
N/A |
849 |
N/A |
332 |
1,181 |
|
New Applications from the Enhanced Scheme validated by LA and referred to HA |
86 |
276 |
27 |
16 |
405 |
|
New Applications - Damage Threshold Determination met |
73 |
186 |
26 |
3 |
288 |
|
Transitional Applications Referred to Housing Agency that met Damage Threshold Determination |
N/A |
385 |
N/A |
10 |
395 |
|
Applications Approved to Stage 2 from Previous Scheme |
N/A |
94 |
N/A |
99 |
193 |
|
Stage 2 Number of Remedial Options/Grants Determined by Housing Agency |
11 |
223 |
0 |
10 |
244 |
|
Funding approved at Stage 2 from previous scheme |
N/A |
€16,398,951 |
N/A |
€22,390,935 |
€38,789,886 * |
|
Total Value of Remedial Options/Grants Determined by Housing Agency |
€3,354,364 |
€74,770,311 |
0 |
€3,026,450 |
€81,151,125 |
|
Total LA Drawdown since June 2020 |
€219,568 |
€22,153,558 |
€100,558 |
€25,503,348 |
€47,977,031 |
|
Number of Payments made to Applicants to scheme (includes professional fees, stage payments and ancillary grants) |
0 |
1,444 |
0 |
821 |
2,265 |
|
No. of Applicants who have Completed Remediation Works |
0 |
43 |
0 |
11 |
54 |
* Figures from May and June 2023 which do not reflect recalculation due as part of the Enhanced Scheme
Legislative Process
Questions (129)
David Stanton
Question:129. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any time limit exists between the enactment of a Bill to change the constitution and the holding of a referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30067/24]
View answerWritten answers
The legal framework for the holding of referendums is set out in the Constitution and the Referendum Act 1994.
Article 46(2) of the Constitution provides that every proposal for an amendment of the Constitution shall upon having been passed or deemed to have been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, be submitted by Referendum to the decision of the people in accordance with the law for the time being in force relating to the Referendum.
Section 10(1) of the Referendum Act 1994 provides that whenever a Bill containing a proposal for the amendment of the Constitution shall have been passed, or deemed to have been passed, by both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall, by order, appoint the polling day on which the poll at the referendum on the proposal shall be taken. Section 10(2) of the 1994 Act provides that the polling day shall be not less than thirty days and not more than ninety days after the date of the order.
Housing Provision
Questions (130)
Bernard Durkan
Question:130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of houses likely to be approved to Kildare County Council for reletting or affordable sale from the various developments currently taking place across north Kildare with particular reference to the towns of Naas, Sallins, Clane, Kilcock, Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge given the urgent need arising from the termination of leases which will a considerable number of households in danger of homelessness with obvious consequences; if the number of ten or twenty per cent accruals on foot of the various planning permissions could be identified with a view to meeting this emergency in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30071/24]
View answerWritten answers
Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for Government.
My Department does not collate the figures requested in relation to the anticipated yield of housing units arising from Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. However, the data sought may be available from Kildare County Council.
Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness and prevent homelessness in the first instance, is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through Build, Acquisition and Leasing, including 8,110 new build homes, the highest level of new build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2023.
Record state investment of over €5bn has been made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,300 new build social homes. This funding will also support the Tenant in Situ scheme, with provision to acquire 1,500 homes where a social housing tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. This scheme delivered 1,830 acquisitions in 2023 and was a key prevention measure. For private tenants at risk of homelessness who are not in receipt of social housing supports, the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme has also been introduced.
It is also worth noting that the Part V provisions were amended by the Affordable Housing Act 2021 which came into operation on 3 September 2021. The effect of the amendments is to increase the Part V contribution to 20% in housing developments of 5 or more houses, and to broaden the use of Part V to cost rental and affordable purchase as well as social housing.
At least half the Part V contribution must be for social housing provision. The other half of the Part V contribution may be used for the provision of affordable homes which will be made available to approved affordable housing candidates in accordance with the Affordable Housing Act 2021.
The contribution of Part V units to social, and in due course also, affordable housing delivery will be reflected in the quarterly social and affordable housing delivery statistics published by my Department.
Departmental Funding
Questions (131)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:131. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the resources and support given by his Department in relation to a recent oil spill between Dublin and Wexford, which is posing a threat to the local wildlife; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30091/24]
View answerWritten answers
As part of the combined response to the discovery of oiled seabirds off the South-East coast in early May this year, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department liaised with the coastguard and the relevant local authorities in relation to both the response to and investigation into this pollution event. The NPWS has also been in contact with non-governmental organisations such as Birdwatch Ireland and Kildare Wildlife Rescue who have played a vital and much appreciated role in dealing with the birds affected by this serious event.
In terms of on-the-ground response, the NPWS monitored the coastline and collected oiled birds, both dead and alive. The live oiled birds collected were sent to Kildare Wildlife Rescue for appropriate care. A large proportion of these birds have now been treated and released.
In light of the additional costs borne by the voluntary/third party bodies assisting in this emergency, I committed to making funding of €50,000 available via the NPWS to aid with the rescue and rehabilitation of oiled birds.
Housing Schemes
Questions (132)
Frankie Feighan
Question:132. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he would consider amending the vacant home grant from homes built up to, and including, the year 2013 and authorising an extension of five years (from 2008) under the present scheme (details supplied). [30107/24]
View answerWritten answers
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 €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 top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
The objective of the grant scheme is to support the carrying out of refurbishment works to bring existing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
The property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant application and proof of vacancy is required to support grant applications.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that a comprehensive review of the schemes under it, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, would be undertaken by mid 2024. The review has been completed and is under consideration.
The progress report on the Vacant Homes Action Plan 2023-2023, published in April 2024 provides an update on the progress being made by local authorities in addressing housing estates categorised as "unfinished" to minimise vacancy levels. The link to the report is contained here; www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/Action plan update April 24.pdf
Wastewater Treatment
Questions (133)
Robert Troy
Question:133. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any grant to assist businesses in the hospitality sector to upgrade their sewage treatment facilities. [30120/24]
View answerWritten answers
Grant schemes for water services funded by my Department are provided for certain private domestic water and wastewater services such as Group Water Schemes and Septic Tanks.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment provides a range of information and resource supports for businesses. Further information can be found on their website National Enterprise Hub which brings together information and resources on over 180 government supports from 19 different departments and state agencies.
Housing Schemes
Questions (134)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:134. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homes in each local authority supported under the first home scheme since its introduction in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30125/24]
View answerWritten answers
The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home. The Scheme was expanded on 17th April 2023 to include the Tenant Home Purchase Product, enabling tenants who have received a notice of termination to buy the home they were renting, subject to the other terms and conditions of the First Home Scheme.The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company is responsible for the operation and management of the First Home Scheme on behalf of its shareholders - the State, Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB and, as such, is responsible for First Home Scheme reporting.
Quarterly and annual updates are made available on the First Home Scheme website. The most recent report, that of Q1 2024, is available at the following link: www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/5i0f2bd0/2024-q1-update.pdf.
Furthermore, the First Home 2023 Annual Report, including information in relation to the number of homes in each local authority area supported under the scheme, is available here: www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/05cl52ij/fhs-annual-report-20232.pdf.
My Department also publishes quarterly data on overall affordable housing provision, with the delivery figures for First Home broken down by Local Authority area, available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.