Written Answers Nos. 135-148
135. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland home loans/local authority home loans from Cork; the total number that have been successful; the total number that have been refused; the average time from application to decision, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30176/24]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants 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, when it replaced the Rebuilding Ireland home Loan which was in operation from Jan 2018 to Jan 2022. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
The Housing Agency provides a central underwriting service that assesses valid applications for the Local Authority Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to local authorities to approve or refuse applications. The most recent figures provided by the Agency on the number of valid Rebuilding Ireland and Local Authority Home Loan applications that it has assessed for the Cork City and County Local Authorities up to the end of May 2024 are set out in the below table:
|
Cork City and County |
LAHL 2022 - May 2024 |
RIHL 2018 - 2022 |
|
No of Valid Application |
647 |
1342 |
|
No Recommend to Approve |
247 |
621 |
|
No Recommend to Decline |
400 |
721 |
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 lenders, the local authorities.
My Department 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 Local Authority Home Loans are available on my Department’s website at the following link, which is updated as soon as figures are available:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
Information on average processing times is not collected by my Department.
136. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has invited Cork City Council to make an application for the vacant properties (voids) programme; if such an application has been submitted; the total amount of funding his Department proposes to allocate to the authority; the expected timeframe for release of the funding; the number of units this funding will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30177/24]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019. Local authority officials and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
Cork City Council have been allocated funding of €1,529,000 in 2024 which will support the remediation of 139 vacant dwellings. My Department has received a submission from Cork City Council under this Programme, with the selection of these properties a matter for the individual local authority.
Work in relation to the 2024 Programmes is ongoing, however, it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to 2024 output under this programme will be published on my Department’s website early in 2025.
137. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of mortgage to rent applications to date in 2023 through approved housing bodies, local authorities and Home for Life, respectively. [30180/24]
View answerThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012. It offers households with acute, unsustainable mortgage arrears who have little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances, the chance to surrender a property to a lender and in turn become a social housing tenant whilst staying in their own home and community.
The table below sets out the number of mortgage to rent applications completed from AHBs, Home for Life and the Local Authorities in 2023.
|
MTR applications completed by Home for Life |
243 |
|
MTR applications completed by AHBs |
31 |
|
Local Authorities MTR applications completed |
11 |
The pilot scheme with the private MTR provider Home for Life, which had been in operation since 2018, was terminated from 25 May 2023. However, my Department put in place arrangements which allowed Home for Life to continue processing all active MTR cases it had on hand and these cases continue to be finalised by Home for Life.
The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme, which can be accessed on The Housing Agency's website at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics
138. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of purpose-built student accommodation units available in Cork city in September 2024. [30185/24]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is responsible for student accommodation. That Department has advised me that a research report by Frank Knight in September 2023 on Student Housing in Ireland indicated that there were 7,200 PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) beds in Cork. Further information on this matter may be available from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
139. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount collected, by local authority, in vacant sites levy since the levy was established, by year, in tabular form. [30201/24]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions 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 recently issued Circular Letter PL 05/2024 to local authorities requesting the submission of a further progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy in respect of the year 2023. The returns received are currently being reviewed and it is expected that they will be finalised shortly. The information requested for 2019-2022 is provided in the attached Table.
The specific information requested, broken down by Local Authority, is not available for 2019. However, the total amount collected in 2019 in respect of 2018 was €882k in levy payment.
140. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on legislative amendments to allow for the renaming of streets. [30210/24]
View answerIn early 2019, legislative amendments to provisions relating to placename changes in Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001 were commenced. At the same time, previous provisions under local government legislation for the changing of placenames were repealed, and replaced by provisions in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, amending Part 18 of the 2001 Act, which were also commenced.
The commenced provisions under the amended Part 18 of the 2001 Act require updated Regulations to be made for the holding of plebiscites to change placenames. However, issues were identified in respect of the interaction of the amended Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001 and provisions contained in Official Languages legislation, under the aegis of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
In advance of making the necessary Regulations, my Department is engaging with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Proposed amendments to address the identified issues in the interaction between the two legislative codes are under consideration. It is hoped that draft amendments to legislation under the remit of both Departments can be agreed and then placed before the Oireachtas.
141. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE vacant homes officers employed, by local authority, in tabular form. [30212/24]
View answerAddressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All.
In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022. This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that the VHO role in each local authority is full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction.
All 31 local authorities have a full-time Vacant Homes Officer in place.
In acknowledgement of the administrative overheads for local authorities in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, the Department provides a supporting allocation of up to €180,000 to each local authority in respect of processing applications for both schemes, which are funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund.
VHOs across local authorities are supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department.
142. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the draft planning guidelines for the Gaeltacht, promised since 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30214/24]
View answerAn Interdepartmental Group (comprising my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is still continuing its work in developing specific planning guidance for Gaeltacht areas. There is also a separate Working Group made up of my Department, the DTCAGSM and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the relevant local authorities with Gaeltacht areas.
At the Interdepartmental Group meeting of 15 December 2022, it was agreed that the DTCAGSM would commence a study in 2023 on the methodology and format for Linguistic Impact Statements as a key elements of future planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas. This study was subsequently commenced in February 2023. Initial proposals have been developed, and this is informing the draft of planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas. Several Interdepartmental Group meetings took place in 2023 and bilateral Departmental engagement is ongoing.
The draft planning guidelines for Gaeltacht areas are currently being finalised for my review in the first instance and then for mandatory screening under EU law for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as well as for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment (AA). It is intended that, subject to the outcome of the screening exercises, that draft guidelines will then be published for public consultation.
All local organisations in Gaeltacht areas and members of the public including language groups will be able to submit their views on the draft during this consultation phase for the consideration of my Department.
It is my intention to publish these Guidelines, having regard to the need to consider the complex matters involved and further to engagement with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
In this regard, and noting the importance of consultation on these matters in ensuring that a robust and effective policy position is reached, I intend to publish a proposed policy approach for consultation as soon as possible in order to inform the finalisation of the draft guidelines.
143. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by his Department from EU sources in respect of covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details supplied). [30226/24]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
144. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options local authorities have in implementing Part V planning in terms of accepting payment in lieu of houses and accepting houses in another location which would be more beneficial to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30249/24]
View answerThe purpose of Part V is for the State to capture a portion of the increase in land value resulting from the granting of planning permission for residential development. The current Part V legislation provides for local authorities to acquire up to 20% of this land at existing use value and to use it to deliver homes to those households who qualify for social and affordable housing support.
Part V also allows the local authority to avail of other options to satisfy the Part V requirement as an alternative to the transfer of land including:
i) the transfer of completed housing units on the land subject to the application;
ii) the transfer of completed housing units on other land within the functional area of the local authority;
iii) the grant of a lease of houses on the land subject to the application, or on any other land within the functional area of the local authority; or
iv) any combination of the aforementioned options.
The option for developers to satisfy the Part V requirement by means of a cash payment to local authorities is no longer available having been abolished under previous amendments to Part V in 2015.
145. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he has taken to improve the provision of affordable housing since July 2020; his assessment of the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30296/24]
View answerHousing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 comprising of 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Since the launch of Housing for All, over 5,800 affordable housing solutions have been delivered. In 2023 alone, over 4,000 affordable housing supports have been delivered via our delivery partners, an output which has more than doubled since the previous year, and represents an increase of 128% on 2022 activity, which highlights the significant progress achieved to date in relation to affordable housing from a standing start. Our various schemes are now operating at scale, with this momentum continuing as the pipeline is developed.
In addition, Government measures such as the increased financial support for delivery of Cost Rental homes by Approved Housing Bodies through the revised Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) and the Secure Tenancy Affordable Rental scheme (STAR) have directly assisted in addressing viability challenges in the sector while activating uncommenced sites for the provision of affordable housing. These measures are kept under constant review to ensure that both the supply of cost rental and affordable housing is secured.
Other measures such as the Local Authority Home Loan, the Help to Buy Incentive, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and the Ready to Build Scheme are also available to help make homeownership more affordable.
Finally, to incentivise the activation of increased housing supply and help reduce housing construction costs, 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.
146. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of increasing housing adaptation grant thresholds by 10%. [30348/24]
View answer147. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of increasing housing adaptation expenditure by 10%. [30349/24]
View answer148. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of increasing the housing adaptation grant by 10%. [30350/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 to 148, inclusive, together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
The Exchequer funding provision for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €8 million in 2024 to €74.5 million and any proposed percentage increase would be applied to this provision. Local authorities were informed of their 2024 allocations with each local authority receiving an increase on the 2023 allocation, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. Among the areas the review considered are the income thresholds (including the means test provisions) and grant limits, and the application and decision-making processes including the supplementary documentation required. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible with a view to also publishing the final report.
