Written Answers Nos. 139-146
139. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of the new regulations being drafted by his Department whereby the owners of empty commercial buildings will be able to convert their properties into apartments without seeking planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22236/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposal to allow for the change of use of vacant commercial premises in urban areas into residential units without having to go through the planning process was reflected in the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, published in July 2016.
My Department is currently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the planning regulations to give effect to this action. It is intended that the new regulations, which will require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas, will be made before the Oireachtas Summer recess.
140. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if provisions can be included in the forthcoming rates Bill to allow equine businesses be classified as agriculture enterprises for rates valuation purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22268/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
Commercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. Many of the provisions are outdated and not suitable for business trends in the modern era. My Department has developed legislative proposals to modernise and consolidate the legislation governing commercial rates. The Government approved the drafting of a Rates Bill at its meeting on 11 April 2017. These proposals will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny in due course.
The Commissioner for Valuation has responsibility for valuation matters, including determination under those Acts of relevant property for the purposes of rates. The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015, and any question of amendment to those Acts, fall within the remit of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality.
141. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department is monitoring the progress being made by local authorities in implementing the recommendations on improving fire safety made by the report on the programme to review and enhance local authority provided Traveller accommodation published in September 2016; his views on the fact that has been made to date; and his views on the fact that no progress has been made in view of the continuing underspend by local authorities of central allocations for Traveller accommodation. [22373/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the tragic loss of life in Carrickmines, County Dublin on 10 October 2015, my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) was tasked with overseeing a Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation.
The objective of the review was to ensure that practical and appropriate fire safety measures, which contribute to preventing loss of life and serious injury in local authority Traveller accommodation, have been applied systematically across the country.
The overall Programme concluded with Local Authorities submitting reports to the NDFEM detailing the work that was undertaken as part of the review. This information was collated by the NDFEM resulting in the generation of the Report on the Programme to Review and Enhance Fire Safety in Local Authority Provided Traveller Accommodation, published on 21 September 2016. A copy of the report is available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/report_on_review_of_fire_safety_in_local_authority_provided_traveller_accommodation.pdf.
This report describes fire safety work which was undertaken in Local Authority provided Traveller accommodation across the country up to 1 July 2016. In addition to the physical works, the report describes a parallel programme of community fire safety which has been undertaken incorporating training for key workers and engagement with community groups on fire safety awareness.
Recognising that what has been done is a first stage in a process which needs to be mainstreamed into on-going work programmes, the report made a number of recommendations to clarify recommended approaches and to embed the issue of fire safety in Traveller accommodation into future work programmes. One of the key recommendations in the report is that, in order to mainstream fire safety as an on-going item, it should be included as a standing item at all Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee meetings (LTACC). At the same time, it is recommended that oversight of the LTACCs’ role in relation to fire safety in Traveller accommodation be added to the brief of the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC); the NTACC will seek regular updates that LTACCs are meeting this requirement.
Information regarding the details of the fire safety appraisals and the remedial work undertaken as part of the process, as well as information regarding any further fire safety enhancements carried out since 1 July 2016 and the fire and safety training that has taken place in Traveller accommodation units or with Traveller organisations, can be obtained directly from the relevant local authorities. My Department is committed to providing funding for fire safety works carried out by the local authorities in adherence with the recommendations in the Report published in September 2016.
The capital allocation in respect of Traveller-specific accommodation for 2017 is €9 million. As part of the allocation process, my Department issued a Circular to Local Authorities requesting details of their proposed programme of works and specifically to include details of any fire safety works that will be undertaken in 2017, as a result of the Fire Safety Review conducted by local authorities. Priority in terms of allocations is being given to all these works and local authorities will be notified shortly of their allocations.
Generally, in terms of the non-drawdown of funding, this is due to a range of issues associated with the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation projects. Local authorities have cited a number of reasons including Traveller families refusing offers of accommodation, families only willing to live in certain areas where housing availability may be an issue, difficulties in obtaining Traveller agreement locally, planning and legal problems, difficulties in obtaining site access and anti-social behaviour. These issues are closely monitored by my Department and the NTACC. Local authorities are requested to submit quarterly profiles of their expenditure under the Traveller Accommodation Programme and this expenditure will be closely monitored against the profiles during the year. Where expenditure does not meet the profiled amount, and where my Department is not informed of any reason for this non-drawdown of their allocation, funding will be reallocated to other schemes.
142. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 422 of 21 March 2017, if the pre-2014 figures include spending by local authorities from their own revenues on capital housing projects; and if not, the estimated amount each local authority spent from their own resources on capital housing projects for each year. [22374/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data provided in response to Question No. 422 of 21 March 2017 in respect of the period 2004 to 2014, relates to direct exchequer funding by my Department to local authorities. The data for 2015 and 2016 also includes amounts self-funded by certain local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts.
Local retention of LPT commenced in 2015. Some local authorities received higher levels of funding in 2015 and 2016 from the Local Government Fund as a result of local retention of 80% of LPT when compared to the level of funding they previously received from General Purpose Grants. The Government decided that these local authorities would use this surplus funding in two ways, with a portion available for their own discretionary purposes and the remainder, if any, to fund some local services in the Housing and Roads areas for which they previously received Central Government funding.
Local authorities may also decide to fund certain capital projects from within their own resources, in line with the authority's agreed budget. The amounts expended annually are primarily a matter for the local authority concerned and that particular data is not readily available within my Department.
143. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of new apartments and apartment buildings that have been completed and the number for which planning permission has been sought since the introduction of the new national apartment planning guidelines reducing the cost of apartment building; and if his Department or a body under its aegis has undertaken a review of the impact of these new guidelines on reducing costs and accelerating apartment development. [22375/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe document “Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments – Guidelines for Planning Authorities” was published in December 2015 and had legislative and policy effect from January 2016. Given the time period necessary for prospective applicants to prepare proposals in the light of the Guidelines, submit such proposals to planning authorities for planning permission, obtain consent and then move their sites towards construction, the general information available to my Department is that we are only just beginning to see significant starts in apartment projects that have the benefit of these Guidelines, such as a number of projects in Dublin Docklands and other city centre areas.
My Department would also be aware of other apartment developments that were commenced before the Guidelines, stalled during the economic crash and have since recommenced, but on the basis of older planning permissions. Accordingly, a detailed breakdown between apartments completed under the new Guidelines and those under previously granted planning permissions is not yet available. However, it is worth noting that planning permissions granted for apartments in 2016 stood at 3,894 units, representing a 39% increase on 2015.
While my Department has received positive feedback with regard to the impact and value of the Guidelines, not least in ensuring a more consistent approach to such development, addressing a plethora of different local authority minimum requirements, issues continue to be raised regarding the viability of apartment developments in certain locations. With this in mind, my Department is engaged in a broadly-based review of apartment construction costs which is at an advanced stage and is expected to be completed this Summer. This review is taking into account the benefit of the updated apartment Guidelines while also examining other issues that may be acting as barriers to substantial acceleration of apartment construction, particularly in metropolitan city areas, which is a key part of achieving wider policy aims in relation to housing, sustainable development and urban regeneration.
Once the cost review is complete, I intend to publish its broad findings and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that apartment construction plays its full part in delivering on the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
144. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 9 March 2017, when the figures on Part V acquisitions will be published; the number of units acquired under Part V in 2016 and to date in 2017 in order that the Houses of Oireachtas can assess the progress being made as part of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, of at least 4,700 new social homes being delivered through the Part V mechanism by 2021. [22376/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics in relation to new social housing obtained under Part V will be published on my Department's website in respect of the full year 2016 within a month, approximately. Statistics in relation to 2017 will also be published when assembled and validated.
As with all elements of Rebuilding Ireland, progress in respect of Part V delivery will be covered within the reporting and governance arrangements that apply to the Plan, including engagement with the Oireachtas.
145. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of changing the averaging system for the calculation of the State contributory pension back to the system that was in place prior to the changes introduced in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22289/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs provided for in Budget 2012, from September 2012, new rate bands for State pension (contributory) were introduced. This resulted in one of the bands (in respect of those with a yearly average of 20-47 contributions) being replaced with three bands (in respect of yearly averages of 40-47, 30-39, and 20-29 respectively). These additional bands more accurately reflect the social insurance history of a person and ensure that those who contribute more during a working life are likely to benefit more in retirement than those with lesser contributions.
It is estimated that the cost of reverting to the rate-bands which existed between 2000 and 2012 would be over €60 million in 2018, if introduced from January 2018, and that this annual cost would rise at a rate of some €10 million each year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
146. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of changing the calculation system for contributory pensions by halving the threshold to qualify for a pension from 520 contributions, which it is as present, to 260 contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22290/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of significant reforms to State pensions were introduced in recent years which have allowed my Department maintain the value of the State pension, and indeed increase it in the last two Budgets. With effect from April 2012, the number of paid contributions required to qualify for a State Pension increased from 260 paid contributions to 520 paid contributions. At the time this measure was introduced, the annual Exchequer savings were expected to be in the region of €6m per annum but rising substantially on a cumulative basis in the long term. Therefore, the true figure now would be significantly higher. However, as people with 260-519 paid contributions no longer make claims to SPC, the data is not available to update this costing.
Officials of my Department are currently working on the detailed development of the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) with a view to making proposals for consideration later in the year. This is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical elements in its implementation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
