Pa Daly
Question:818. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his intention to address the issue of dereliction in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1898/25]
View answerDerelict Sites
Questions (818)
Written answers
My Department continues to liaise with local authorities, including Kerry County Council, on the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) with a view to improving its effectiveness.
Under the Act, local authorities are required to maintain a derelict sites register, which includes the name and address of each owner and occupier, where these can be ascertained by reasonable enquiry, of any land which, in the opinion of the local authority, is a derelict site. Section 8(5) of the Act, provides that "The register shall be kept at the offices of the local authority and shall be available for inspection at the offices of the local authority during office hours." There is no legislative requirement for local authorities to publish their Derelict Sites Registers on their website.
A property can be placed on the derelict site register where it is deemed by a local authority to satisfy the criteria of a derelict site under the terms of section 3 of the Act i.e. (i) it is in a dangerous or ruinous condition; (ii) it is in a neglected or unsightly condition; or (iii) there is a presence of litter, waste or debris on the site. It is not the case that a property can be placed on the derelict site register of a local authority simply by being a vacant property.
It is also worth noting that placing sites on the derelict sites register, and collecting levies in respect of those sites, is not the sole mechanism that local authorities apply in relation to bringing sites back into use. They often engage collaboratively with property owners with a view to necessary works being undertaken to bring sites back into use while also occasionally using their powers under the Act to compulsorily acquire derelict sites.
In relation to derelict homes in particular, my Department is funding a full-time Vacant Homes Officer in Kerry County Council to support the bringing back of previously occupied homes into residential use today. The Vacant Home Refurbishment Grant (VHRG) also provides grants of up to €70,000 to eligible properties that are derelict in order to undertake required refurbishment works and make them suitable for residential use once again.
Local Authorities are required to submit an annual return to my Department providing information on the operation of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 in their functional areas. The derelict sites returns are collected in Quarter 2 of the following year. The table below shows the Derelict Site Returns for Kerry County Council for 2023.
|
Local Authority |
No. of sites in respect of which a notice / demand under the Act issued |
No. Of these Sites where issues were resolved and required no further action |
No. of Derelict Sites on Register at 1 January 2023 |
No. of Derelict Sites entered onto Register during the year |
No. of Derelict Sites removed from Register during the year |
No. of Derelict Sites on Register at 31 December 2023 |
No. of Derelict Sites acquired by agreement |
No. of Derelict Sites acquired compulsorily |
No. of Derelict Sites levied during the year |
Amount levied during the year |
Amount received in respect of sites levied during 2023 |
Total Amount received in respect of levies in 2023 |
Cumulative amount of levies outstanding at 31 December 2023 |
|
Kerry |
77 |
6 |
50 |
25 |
11 |
64 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
€231,592 |
€0 |
€979 |
€703,485 |
Vacant Properties
Questions (819, 821)
Pa Daly
Question:819. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the issue of vacancy in County Kerry; the measures he is taking to encourage increased registration of vacant properties and the collection of the vacant sites levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1899/25]
View answerPa Daly
Question:821. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties, by county, in the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [1902/25]
View answerWritten answers
Addressing vacancy and dereliction and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority of Housing for All.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which was 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. In April 2024, an update on the Action Plan was published which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/.
A key initiative under the Action Plan to address vacancy and dereliction has been the introduction of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. From May 2023, a grant of up to is available to support individual owners refurbish a vacant property into a home. Where the property is confirmed as derelict, up to a maximum of €70,000 in grant funding is available.
The Department publishes data on number of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis and these publications include local authority breakdowns. The Quarter 3 2024 statistics were published on Monday, 21 October 2024 and can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/.
As part of the Action Plan, a CPO Activation Programme was launched requiring a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to identifying vacant and derelict properties and engaging with owners to bring those properties back into use. This includes the active use of compulsory purchase powers by local authorities.
This initiative is supported by a €150 million Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties for reuse or sale, using their compulsory purchase powers were necessary.
The Social Housing Capital Funding Programmes (Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS)) also support local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to tackle vacancy and dereliction through the purchase and renewal of vacant buildings and blocks as new social homes.
In relation to the Vacant Sites Levy, local authorities are required to submit an annual return providing information on the implementation of the Vacant Site Levy under the provisions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 in their functional areas.
The Vacant Site Levy will be replaced by the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), which will come into effect on 1 February 2025. The Vacant Site Levy will remain payable for previous calendar years up to the end of 2024.
Data on the number of vacant properties is available from a number of sources such as Census and GeoDirectory publications. While varying levels and rates of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing.
Local Authorities
Questions (820)
Pa Daly
Question:820. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE vacant homes officers employed, by local authority, in the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [1901/25]
View answerWritten answers
Addressing 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.
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. In April 2024, I published an update on the Action Plan which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/.
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 supported the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that the VHO role in each local authority is fulltime. 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.
Since 2023, all 31 local authorities have a fulltime 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, my Department provided 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 and by the Housing Agency.
Question No. 821 answered with Question No. 819.
Housing Provision
Questions (822)
Pa Daly
Question:822. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown of targets for Kerry for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and for each year out to 2030, in tabular form; if and when these targets have been revised over the lifetime of this Government; to provide an update with regard to any proposed revisions upward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1927/25]
View answerWritten answers
Kerry County Council's Housing Delivery Action Plan, which sets out the Council’s annual social housing targets to 2026, can be accessed at the following link: www.kerrycoco.ie/housing-delivery-programme/.
Last November the Government approved new national housing targets up to the year 2030. 303,000 homes will be delivered in the period from 2025 to 2030, equating to an annual average of 50,500 homes, building up to 60,000 in 2030. The revised targets were informed by research and modelling by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) on population projections and long-run housing demand, which was published during the summer.
The revised national housing targets will inform the revision to existing social housing targets in County Kerry. Work is ongoing in this regard.
Housing Provision
Questions (823)
Pa Daly
Question:823. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of LIHAF applications received for Kerry since its inception; the number that were approved and not approved, respectively; the status of all approved applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1928/25]
View answerWritten answers
The objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. The types of infrastructure being provided include roads, bridges, diversion of power-lines, drainage works as well as public amenities (parks).
In July 2016, the Department invited relevant infrastructure project proposals from local authorities, and received over 70 applications.
Ultimately 30 projects were approved for LIHAF grant funding in 2017. Kerry County Council did not submit any applications.
It should be noted that the LIHAF scheme closed in 2017 to new applications.
Departmental Data
Questions (824)
Pa Daly
Question:824. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons who are homeless in County Kerry; to provide a breakdown of the number of homeless persons in County Kerry in the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1929/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
My Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local authorities. These reports are based on data provided by local authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The most recently published data is in respect of November 2024. The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's open data portal data.gov.ie/.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (825)
Holly Cairns
Question:825. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of any public contracts in his Department provided to companies or individuals who do not pay tax in Ireland, including the names of the contractor, value of the contract and purpose of the contract, in tabular form. [2038/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is compliant in respect to Department of Finance and Revenue regulations and guidelines in regard to public contracts. Irish tax clearance certificates are requested for all contracts entered into which exceed a combined value of €10,000 in a twelve month rolling period. My Department does not hold information as to the tax residency of suppliers as this is a matter for the Revenue Commissioner.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (826)
Holly Cairns
Question:826. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of any public contracts issued to a company (details supplied) over the last 10 years, including the value of the contract and the purpose of the contract, in tabular form. [2056/25]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.
My Department has not issued any contracts to the listed companies, in the last ten years.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (827)
Cathal Crowe
Question:827. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address a number of issues in relation to the defective concrete block scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2068/25]
View answerWritten answers
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 the recent receipt of preliminary results from scientific research into damaged dwellings in Donegal, which claims that the underlying mechanism of damage is as a result of Internal Sulfate Attack due to presence of excessive amounts of pyrrhotite, my Department announced changes (on 7 November, 2024) to the way the scheme works for certain homeowners. These changes, mean that all homeowners who have been given a non-demolition option (option 2 to 5) will be offered a choice of continuing with the work on their dwelling under the option determined or the option of a full technical review of their application by the Housing Agency.
This review will be informed by the current research once the full review of the national standard (IS465:2018) is complete. If homeowners choose to continue with their works they continue to avail of the 40-year government guarantee. Homeowners who receive an option 1 (demolition) are unaffected by these changes. Final outputs and conclusions from research are critical in understanding the long-term risk associated with the presence of certain deleterious materials and to support the next revision of the standard.
Furthermore and as a direct result of the research findings that have come to light, I have asked the Expert Group under the Chair of Paul Forde to examine all the research completed to date and to provide advice as to the implications to the grant scheme of this research. Advice will also be sought on any potential changes that could be made to the scheme’s Ministerial Guidelines in advance of the revised I.S. 465:2018 standard.
It is important that the review progresses as quickly as possible and my Department continues to take the lead on engaging with the NSAI who will require time to assess this research and input that assessment to their ongoing review of the relevant national standard, I.S. 465:2018.
A review mechanism is provided within the 2022 Act, which provides for an increase or decrease in the overall grant scheme cap (originally set at €420,000) a year after the Act has been commenced by no more than 10%, in accordance with the conditions of Section 11 of the Act.
Following receipt of the expert group report on the scheme cap and grant rates I received Government approval, to increase the scheme cap and ancillary grants on 22 October 2024 (S.I. 577 of 2024 -www.gov.ie/pdf/311795/?page=null&lang=en) and regulations to provide for the increase in the grant rates payable under the scheme on 7 November 2024 (S.I. No. 621 of 2024 - www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/311799/a3911723-20bf-4aee-ab90-b7e34abea3b3.pdf#page=null). Further information on these increases can be found on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/38a04-defective-concrete-blocks-rates/ . The 2022 Act provides that any increase in the scheme cap or grant rates will apply to eligible relevant owners that are yet to receive a determination from The Housing Agency in respect of their remediation option and grant amount.
Providing any change in the overall scheme cap and grant rates retrospectively requires legislative change, which is a matter for the Oireachtas and the intention is this will progress after the formation of the new Government.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (828)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:828. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the review of the IS465 standard used for testing for defective blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2082/25]
View answerWritten answers
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.
As Ireland’s official Standards Body, The National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI) has been tasked with the review of I.S. 465. The NSAI have published an update outlining the status of the review of I.S. 465, details of which can be found at www.nsai.ie/about/news/status-of-review-of-i.s-465-13th-december-2024/.
Question No. 829 answered with Question No. 741.
Housing Schemes
Questions (830)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:830. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority mortgages approved in 2024 and drawn down in 2024; the average amount approved; and the average amount drawn down, with a breakdown by local authority area, in tabular form. [2092/25]
View answerWritten answers
Applications for a Local Authority Home Loan and the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan are made through the individual Local Authorities and 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 [and its predecessor] are available on my Department’s website at the following link, which will be updated for Q4 2024 as soon as figures are available:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
Housing Provision
Questions (831)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:831. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Q4 2024 social and affordable housing delivery figures will be published; and to provide a breakdown of these figures by delivery stream (SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, CAS construction, CAS turnkey, Part V, PPP, other) in the Q4 report. [2094/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q3 2024, 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. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2024. 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 of completions, locations, approvals stage etc at the link below: opendata.housing.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2024 .
The CSR and Q3 2024 social housing delivery statistics were published on 20 December 2024. Data for Q4 2024 is currently being collated and will be verified and published in due course.
Traveller Accommodation
Questions (832)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:832. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new accommodation units provided in 2024 through the Traveller accommodation programme funding, with a breakdown by local authority area; and to provide an average cost Statewide, broken down by local authority area. [2095/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist local authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
Traveller-specific accommodation is focused primarily on the provision of group housing schemes and halting sites including the acquisition of properties and the provision of mobiles and caravans in certain circumstances. The timeline for the initiation, design, planning approval, tendering and contract management of Traveller-specific accommodation can take several years with the exception of the acquisition of properties and the provision of mobiles and caravans. Therefore, payments made from the Traveller-specific accommodation budget over the last year in respect of construction projects would not give a reliable indication of average costs, as they may not include all payments from initiation to completion in respect of a sufficient quantity of projects to provide a reliable average cost.
The information requested on the number of new accommodation units provided in 2024 and the average costs relating to acquisitions and mobiles/caravans is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as available.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (833)
Charles Ward
Question:833. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the increases to the cap and square foot rates of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme have been fully implemented; and whether retrospective payments for homeowners currently in the scheme have been processed. [2102/25]
View answerWritten answers
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.
A review mechanism is provided within the 2022 Act, which provides for an increase or decrease in the overall grant scheme cap (originally set at €420,000) a year after the Act has been commenced by no more than 10%, in accordance with the conditions of Section 11 of the Act.
Following receipt of the expert group report on the scheme cap and grant rates I received Government approval, to increase the scheme cap and ancillary grants on 22 October 2024 (S.I. 577 of 2024 - www.gov.ie/pdf/311795/?page=null&lang=en) and for regulations to provide for the increase in the grant rates payable under the scheme on 7 November 2024 (S.I. No. 621 of 2024 - www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/311799/a3911723-20bf-4aee-ab90-b7e34abea3b3.pdf#page=null). Further information on these increases can be found on my department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/38a04-defective-concrete-blocks-rates/ . The 2022 Act provides that any increase in the scheme cap or grant rates will apply to eligible relevant owners that are yet to receive a determination from The Housing Agency in respect of their remediation option and grant amount and this has been fully implemented.
Providing any change in the overall scheme cap and grant rates retrospectively requires legislative change, which is a matter for the Oireachtas and the intention is this will progress after the formation of the new Government.
Housing Provision
Questions (834)
Mark Wall
Question:834. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a new housing scheme in Kildare south (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2114/25]
View answerWritten answers
Kildare County Council presented a proposal to my Department to support a new Approved Housing Body (AHB) to take responsibility for the housing development in question. In March 2024 my Department confirmed funding approval for the necessary works to restore and re-tenant these homes.
I understand from Kildare County Council that certain legal matters need to be regularised between them and the Health Service Executive on site ownership and boundaries and this is currently being attended to by both parties.
I look forward to these homes being brought back into productive use which will provide secure and comfortable accommodation for the intended residents. Further details on the advancement of the project will be available directly from the Council and I have assured the Council and AHB that funding is in place to support its earliest possible advancement.
Housing Schemes
Questions (835)
Mark Wall
Question:835. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a new housing scheme in Kildare south (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/25]
View answerWritten answers
Kildare County Council made a proposal to my Department, in conjunction with an Approved Housing Body (AHB), for the development of age-friendly homes on the site referred to in the question. Stage 2/Pre-Planning approval on this project was confirmed to the Council by my Department in April 2022 and I understand that planning permission was granted for the proposed development in August 2023.
The Council has advised my Department that they expect the AHB to proceed to tender for the main construction contract in the coming weeks, with their projection being to commence on site in Q4 2025. A 15 month construction programme is expected for the project.
Waterways Issues
Questions (836)
Mark Wall
Question:836. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current option with a project in south Kildare (details supplied); the expected opening date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2119/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative which will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives.
The project is progressing well with all of the canalside paths completed. Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the canal-side works elements while the roadside works elements are being undertaken by Kildare County Council (KCC). KCC is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for overall project delivery.
The project objectives are to:
Provide upgraded and new physical infrastructure in accordance with planning permission:
The provision of infrastructure to achieve ‘Accredited Blueway’ status for the route: and
Co-ordinate marketing activity to maximise the potential of the Blueway.
KCC publishes project updates regularly on its website www.kildarecoco.ie.