Written Answers Nos. 74-88
74. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans to ensure the retrofitting of all social housing stock by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42940/24]
View answerIn 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Local Authority Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.
Works eligible under my Department's EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. The programme has been devised in a way to give local authorities a level of flexibility when selecting properties to retrofit, ranging from those requiring minor levels of works to properties needing the maximum level of retrofitting required to bring them to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard.
Each year the target number of units and funding provided under the EERP are subject to the funding available as part of the National Development Plan and annual Estimates process. The 2024 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support to €90 million to retrofit 2,500 properties. Local authorities have received their individual allocations and work is underway in that regard.
It is important to note however, over the period 2013 to 2023, 79,313 grants for homes retrofitted under the programme have been provided with a total exchequer spend of over €308 million. A further 694 units were retrofitted under the Midlands Retrofit Pilot with additional funding of €20.5m recouped and the number of properties upgraded per local authority is available on my Department's website.
75. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the provision of affordable housing in Mayo; when the scheme will be extended to all areas in Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42868/24]
View answerSupport from the Affordable Housing Fund is available to all local authorities to deliver affordable purchase and cost rental homes where an affordable housing need is evidenced. Approvals for funding are now in place to support delivery of over 4,300 affordable homes by 21 local authorities.
Mayo County Council has Affordable Housing Fund approval to support the delivery of 13 affordable purchase homes at Springcourt, Westport.
My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the affordable housing team in the Housing Agency, is continuing to advise and support Mayo in developing additional affordable housing schemes that will respond effectively to affordability needs identified at the key urban locations of Westport and Castlebar.
Affordable purchase is also being supported in Mayo through the First Home Scheme.
Given the profile of the county, I expect the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which includes the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, is also addressing overall affordability needs. Both schemes have been advertised by Mayo County Council on its official website.
To review activity in Mayo to date, affordable housing delivery reports based on quarterly returns received from all local authorities are published on the statistics page of my Department’s website.
76. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to introduce legislation to retrospectively apply the latest SCSI square meter costs to house recipients of the defective concrete block grant who have already received grant offers under the earlier and lower SCSI cost estimates. [42860/24]
View answerMinister O'Brien received Government approval on 8 October 2024 to increase the overall grant scheme cap and grants rates that are set out in the 2023 Regulations.
The Government made the Order to increase the overall scheme cap on 22 October 2024- this will mean that the total grant funding available under the scheme will rise by 10% to €462,000. Minister O'Brien will very shortly amend the relevant Scheme Regulations to give effect to the rate increases which will benefit all homeowners in the Scheme by between 7 and 9% depending on dwelling type and location.
The 2022 Act provides that any change in the scheme cap or grant rates will apply to eligible relevant owners that are yet to receive a determination in respect of remediation option and grant amount.
In the interest of equity and fairness, and given the passage of a number of months since the review process began, Minister O'Brien has decided that the application of any change in the overall scheme cap and grant rates should apply retrospectively.
Minister O'Brien will shortly bring a proposal to Government to ensure that the increases can be applied retrospectively. This will be a once-off transitional measure which Minister O'Brien believes is an equitable approach that is in keeping with the intention of the Oireachtas when the Act was passed by the Oireachtas in 2022.
77. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that, in response to the Taoiseach’s recent comments attributing increased numbers of people in emergency accommodation to asylum seekers, an organisation (details supplied) has said homelessness problems have been in the making for over a decade, and suggesting that they are somehow a new phenomenon related to immigration is disingenuous and should be avoided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39157/24]
View answerAddressing homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Record state investment of over €5bn has been made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever. Budget 2025 will provide €6bn in capital to help us to deliver more social, affordable and cost rental homes for our people.
An allocation of €303 million, an increase of €61m on the 2024 provision, has been made under Budget 2025 to provide homeless prevention services, emergency accommodation and other services for households experiencing homelessness. There is a 25% increase on the 2024 budget in the overall 2025 allocation for homelessness.
However, it is important that in formulating policy and measures to address homelessness we understand the reasons for the increase and have a clear picture in terms of the cohorts most at risk. As such my Department and local authorities monitor demographic trends and the reasons for presentations.
The available data regarding the demographic make-up of adults accessing emergency accommodation in Dublin, shows a marked increase in the percentage of non-Irish citizens, from 44% in August 2022, to 54% in August 2024. In addition, data shows that households leaving Direct Provision have become an increasing proportion of the number of new households presenting to homeless services, particularly in the Dublin area where adults leaving Direct Provision has become the main reason for single adults presenting to homeless services. My Department is working with the relevant stakeholders to support all households experiencing homelessness to exit homelessness to a home.
78. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered extending the remit of approved housing bodies to include a proportion of homes for affordable purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42875/24]
View answerThe Government has targeted delivery of 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and via the First Home scheme, a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 sets out the statutory arrangements for the administration of Affordable Purchase schemes by local authorities.
In line with the Act, local authorities may develop affordable purchase schemes in conjunction with other delivery partners who may include private contractors, the Land Development Agency or Approved Housing Bodies. Funding and contractual arrangements will be a matter for agreement between the parties concerned i.e. the local authority as client and the Approved Housing Body or other party as contractor.
As Minister, I have no role or function in relation to the administration of individual affordable purchase schemes which, in line with the Act, are a matter for the local authority. It is a matter for each Approved Housing Body to decide whether or not to extend their remit to the provision of affordable purchase homes in any scheme and partner with a local authority to avail of the statutory local authority affordable purchase framework and supports.
79. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has plans to stimulate the opportunity for people to right-size, where people wish to consider such options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42936/24]
View answerHousing for All commits to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, including the development of a policy on right-sizing. The Housing for All policy objective to make more efficient use of existing housing stock includes tasking my Department with the development of a national policy on right-sizing and to explore options to support and incentivise right-sizing on a voluntary basis.
Work continues to be advanced in my Department to inform and progress the development of national policy on right-sizing with the objective of bringing forward a draft national policy as soon as possible.
81. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out any updated commencement schedule for the Planning and Development Act 2023, in tabular form. [42862/24]
View answerMy Department is currently putting arrangements in place regarding a phased commencement of the enacted Planning and Development Bill 2023 to facilitate the transition to the new legislation across the planning system and to take into account the need to liaise further with local authorities, planning bodies and other stakeholders.
It should be noted that the existing provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2000 will remain in place until the relevant provisions in the Bill are commenced.
A comprehensive implementation strategy will be published on my Department's website in due course which will include a detailed commencement schedule.
An important element of the implementation strategy is the preparation of revised Planning and Development Regulations. These are required to enable the commencement of the different provisions of the enacted Bill, and to ensure a suitable training and awareness/information programme can be put in place.
While the exact timing of the commencement of provisions is being determined, it is anticipated that Part 17 will be commenced first to provide for the establishment of An Coimisiún Pleanála and it will take up to 24 months to commence the Bill in full.
82. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant property refurbishment grant applications received to date by each local authority; the number processed and approved; and the most recent figures his Department has on the number of vacant properties per local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42941/24]
View answer440. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for details on the vacant property refurbishment scheme, by county, in tabular form: the number of applications received; the number applications successful; if possible, the average value of applications per county; and if possible, the most common reason applications were unsuccessful. [42935/24]
View answer441. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration could be given to the introduction of a grant that covers the safe removal and disposal of asbestos from houses in view that the cost of renovating properties with asbestos leads to these houses remaining derelict and or creates unsuitable living conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42960/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 440 and 441 together.
Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. Earlier this year I published an update on the Action Plan which shows the significant progress that is being made.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. 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 prior to 2008, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas. Properties considered for inclusion must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application with evidence supporting this required as part of the grant application.
A list of the categories of works eligible for grant assistance is provided in the scheme outline and grant application form. Works carried out relating to the removal of asbestos can be undertaken under the category of 'Demolitions / Strip-outs / Site Clearance including removal of hazardous materials'.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2006-2010 are the remit of the Minister of Enterprise Trade and Employment. These apply to all work activities which expose persons to risks arising from the inhalation of dust from asbestos or asbestos containing materials. The Regulations apply to all workplaces (including domestic construction work) where there is a risk of asbestos exposure during the course of work activities and it is the responsibility of the building owner to comply with all relevant legislation. Further information is available here: www.hsa.ie/eng/your_industry/chemicals/legislation_enforcement/asbestos/legislation_and_guidance/asbestos_legislation/
My Department publishes data on number of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis. The Q3 2024 statistics were published on Monday, 21 October and can be accessed at the following link: gov.ie - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics (www.gov.ie)
The most common reasons for unsuccessful grant applications include failing to submit a complete application or being unable to satisfy the eligibility criteria.
In relation to the number of vacant properties, data is available from a number of sources such as Census and GeoDirectory publications. More recently the CSO has developed an indicator of residential vacancy using electricity consumption data and my Department has engaged with the CSO in relation to this indicator. While varying levels and rates of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing.
A Vacancy Survey project, to be undertaken by local authorities, supported by my Department, commenced in December 2022. Its objective is to provide local authorities with a database of vacant and derelict properties in their administrative area, which they can update on an ongoing basis and use to engage with property owners to bring them back into use as homes.
83. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta maidir leis na Treoirlínte Tithíochta Gaeltachta, cé mhéad cruinniú a bhí ann idir oifigigh óna Roinn agus oifigigh ón Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán le trí bliana anuas agus cad é toradh na gcruinnithe sin; agus an bhfoilseofar na miontuairiscí a ghabhann leo. [42507/24]
View answerTá Grúpa Idir-Rannach (a chuimsíonn mo Roinnse, an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán (RTCEGSM) agus Údarás na Gaeltachta) fós ag leanúint lena chuid oibre chun treoir phleanála faoi leith a fhorbairt do cheantair Ghaeltachta. Tá Grúpa Oibre ar leith ann chomh maith atá comhdhéanta de mo Roinn, RTCEGSM agus Údarás na Gaeltachta agus na húdaráis áitiúla ábhartha a bhaineann le ceantair Ghaeltachta.
Ag cruinniú an Ghrúpa Idir-Rannaigh ar an 15 Nollaig 2022, comhaontaíodh go gcuirfeadh an RTCEGSM tús le staidéar in 2023 ar mhodheolaíocht agus ar fhormáid na Ráiteas Tionchair Teangeolaíochta mar phríomhghnéithe de threoirlínte pleanála do cheantair Ghaeltachta amach anseo. Tá an staidéar sin á ordú ag an Roinn Turasóireachta. Bhí cruinnithe an Ghrúpa Idir-Rannaigh agus an Ghrúpa Oibre ar siúl in 2023 agus leanadh le rannpháirtíocht dhéthaobhach na Roinne in 2024 agus tá an rannpháirtíocht sin ar siúl go leanúnach.
Tá na dréacht-treoirlínte pleanála do cheantair Ghaeltachta á dtabhairt chun críche faoi láthair le go ndéanfaidh mé athbhreithniú orthu ar an gcéad ásc agus ansin go ndéanfaí scagadh éigeantach faoi dhlí an AE do Mheasúnacht Straitéiseach Timpeallachta (MST), agus chun críoch Measúnachta Cuí (MC) freisin. Tá sé i gceist, faoi réir thoradh na gcleachtaí scagtha, go bhfoilseofar dréacht-treoirlínte ansin le haghaidh comhairliúchán poiblí.
Beidh gach eagras áitiúil i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus gach duine den phobal lena n-áirítear grúpaí teanga in ann a gcuid tuairimí a chur isteach maidir leis an dréacht le linn na céime comhairliúcháin sin lena meas ag mo Roinnse.
Tá sé ar intinn agam na Treoirlínte sin a fhoilsiú, ag féachaint don ghá atá ann na hábhair chasta atá i gceist a bhreithniú agus tuilleadh rannpháirtíochta a dhéanamh leis an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán.
Maidir leis sin, agus ag tabhairt faoi deara an tábhacht a bhaineann le comhairliúchán ar na hábhair seo chun a chinntiú go mbainfear seasamh beartais láidir agus éifeachtach amach, tá sé i gceist agam beartas beartaithe a fhoilsiú
cur chuige maidir le comhairliúchán a luaithe is féidir chun bonn eolais a chur faoi thabhairt chun críche na ndréacht-treoirlínte.
84. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if action will be taken to increase the delivery of affordable purchase and cost rental housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42666/24]
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, the Land Development Agency and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
The Plan set ambitious targets for affordable housing and significant efforts have been made across our delivery partners to meet those targets from a standing start.
Since 2021 over 8,500 affordable housing supports have now been delivered via our delivery partners. In the first half of 2024 alone, a total of 2,669 affordable housing options were delivered being more than double that delivered in the first six months of last year. Anticipating a continued strong performance in the second half of the year will leave us on track to meet this year’s delivery target of 6,400 affordable housing supports. Data for affordable housing delivery is readily available and the latest Quarter 2 2024 stats are posted on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/?#affordable-housing-delivery.
Affordable housing schemes are now operating at scale and this momentum will continue as the pipeline is developed by local authorities, based on their respective Housing Delivery Action Plans, alongside the Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency.
85. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the State properties in Dublin 8, 10 and 12 that have been identified by the Land Development Agency to have social, affordable and private residences built upon them, including social housing regenerative programmes; the schedule of works identified to date for each of those sites; the number of homes on each site; and the estimated build cost of these schemes. [42508/24]
View answerGovernment maintains a strong focus on the use of vacant and underutilised public land for housing.
The transfer of over 30 state owned sites to the Land Development Agency (LDA) for regeneration and development of affordable and social housing has now been agreed under the Government’s Housing for All Plan, and following assessment of state lands identified in the LDA’s first Report on Relevant Public Lands published in 2023.
In addition, the LDA partner with local authorities to plan and develop housing on key local authority owned sites. LDA activity in Dublin 8, 10 and 12 to secure housing delivery is, to date, focused on local authority owned sites.
The LDA received planning permission in June 2023 for 543 new homes at the Donore project at the site of the former St Teresa’s Gardens, Dublin 8, which is a delivery partnership with Dublin City Council. The development will include 543 apartments (389 Cost Rental units and 154 social homes) incorporating a mix of studios, 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments. The plans include a crèche, a multi-sports playing pitch, commercial/retail space, community/cultural/arts space and associated public open space. Enabling works have commenced on site and are scheduled to run until December 2024, with a main construction contract commencement target of Q1 2025.
The LDA and Dublin City Council have also announced plans for development of over 1,200 homes at Cherry Orchard Point in Dublin 10, with a proposed mix of cost rental and social homes, along with retail and community space, to be developed on greenfield land owned by Dublin City Council. Planning was granted in September 2024 for Phase 1 (708 units) with a current indicative mix of 547 Cost Rental and 161 Social homes. Phase 2 is currently at preplanning stage and is expected to include affordable purchase homes.
Furthermore, the LDA in partnership with Dublin City Council are planning for the regeneration of and delivery of approximately 390 new Cost Rental and Social homes at Bluebell Waterways in Dublin 12. A planning application is targeted to be lodged in early 2025, with construction targeted to commence on site in 2026.
Estimated build costs for each of these projects will be determined on completion of the planning, design, and construction tendering process. Further information on these development schemes can be found on the LDA's website lda.ie/projects.
86. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is Government policy to sell off public land to private developers at minimal cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42878/24]
View answerThe Land Development Agency Act 2021 (The Act) was commenced in July 2021, with a number of objectives including the regulation of relevant public land in order to increase the amount of land available for the provision of housing.
In accordance with Section 53 of the Act, a relevant public body is not permitted to dispose of relevant public land unless the body has given prior notice, and offered the land for sale to the Land Development Agency (LDA). This requirement ensures that any relevant public land being disposed of is assessed to determine whether it is fit for use for the purposes of the Act, primarily the provision of affordable and social housing.
Land Development Agency Act 2021 (Valuation of Relevant Public Land) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 106/2023), prescribe the manner in which relevant public land can be transferred or sold to the LDA by other relevant public bodies. Tailte Éireann is responsible for valuing the relevant public lands being transferred to the LDA in accordance with Part 1 of the Regulation, and utilises the Existing Use Value (EUV) method of valuation pursuant to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
Furthermore, the Act requires the LDA to establish and maintain a Register of Relevant Lands and a Report on Relevant Public Land. Both of these tools facilitate the identification and assessment of the potential of relevant public land for the provision of affordable and social housing both now, and in the future.
87. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the defective concrete block remediation scheme in Clare; if he has plans to expand eligibility for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42932/24]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The scheme as set down in legislation, confirms eligibility where the relevant dwelling must be a house that:
• is located in the administrative area of a relevant local authority;
• the construction of which was completed prior to 31 January 2020;
• defective concrete blocks containing excessive amounts of mica or pyrite were used in its construction, and damage was caused to the dwelling as a result of the use of those blocks;
• it is not an unauthorised structure; and
• is either an owner occupied principal residence purchased prior to 31 January 2020 or a property registered with the Residential Tenancies Board on or before the 1 November, 2021
The DCB Scheme is neither a redress nor a compensation scheme, rather it is a grant scheme of last resort to enable affected homeowners remediate their homes and move on with their lives.
The priority must be to ensure that homes being occupied as Principal Private Residences (PPRs) are remediated and Government when passing the relevant legislation therefore prioritised owner occupied PPRs and rental properties which were registered with the Residential Tenancies Board on or before the 1 November 2021. I am satisfied that this continues to be the right approach.
Section 51 of the Act mandates myself as Minister to commence a review of the operation of the Act by June 2026 (three years after the Act's commencement) and make a report to each House of the Oireachtas regarding the findings and conclusions of such a review within a further 12 month period.
88. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what is being done to ensure the provision of affordable housing in Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42644/24]
View answerFunding approvals are now in place to support the delivery of over 4,300 affordable homes by 21 local authorities with subsidy from the Affordable Housing Fund. The legislative framework and arrangements in place to support local authority affordable purchase schemes are proving effective.
My Department, in conjunction with the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office of the Local Government Management Association and the Housing Agency, is available to advise and support local authorities in responding effectively to localised affordability needs i.e. where some new households being formed would not be able to access housing for purchase or rent at prices/rents affordable to them. Department officials met recently with the Monaghan County Council housing delivery team to outline how the Affordable Housing Fund is available to address such needs where identified.
The First Home scheme is also available and actively supporting affordable home purchase nationwide.
The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, which includes the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, is also contributing to addressing the needs of affordably constrained purchasers in both counties.
To review activity to date, affordable housing delivery reports based on quarterly returns received from all local authorities are published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/?#affordable-housing-delivery
