Written Answers Nos. 286-305
286. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of increasing the social housing retrofitting over a five-year period, rising incrementally between 20% in year 1, by 30% in year 2, by 50% in year 3, by 75% in year 4 and by 100% in year 5, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23865/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra287. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of increasing the social housing retrofitting budget by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23866/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together.
The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) aims to retrofit a local authority home to a BER of B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent. It is expected that 36,500 local authority owned homes will be retrofitted under this programme out to 2030. €90m is available to the programme this year and the table below indicates the increase in funding required based on the percentage increase.
|
Percentage increase on 2024 allocation of €90m |
Total expenditure |
Cost of increase from €90m |
|
Year 1 - 20% |
€108m |
€18m |
|
Year 2 - 30% |
€117m |
€27m |
|
Year 3 - 50% |
€135m |
€45m |
|
Year 4 – 75% |
€157.5m |
€67.5m |
|
Year 5 – 100% |
€180m |
€90m |
288. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a planned affordable housing scheme (details supplied) is no longer going ahead despite the new homes being advertised; if the local authority is obligated to advertise that the scheme is no longer going ahead for people who were waiting to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23926/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed administration of each affordable purchase scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority in line with Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. My Department liaises closely with all relevant local authorities in relation to the ongoing development and delivery of their affordable housing delivery programmes.
I understand that the affordable purchase scheme in question was reliant on the advance purchase of homes in a private development that are no longer available to the local authority concerned. I am satisfied that local authority concerned is fully aware of the importance which prospective affordable housing applicants attached to this scheme and is actively exploring alternatives in the locality. It is important to note that the full range of affordability supports which the Government has put in place, including the Revenue Help to Buy Scheme, the First Home Scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan, are available to assist eligible persons interested in the homes in the private development concerned, and in any development generally, to secure a home suited to their needs.
289. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline, with regard to his Department's removal of tents in Dublin and the recent moving of asylum applicants, what measures are being taken to ensure that these tents are being recycled or environmentally disposed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23927/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWaterways Ireland is a North/South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
The information requested is not held in my Department.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for Waterways Ireland is ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org.
290. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities will publish the specific address of political candidates; the actions his Department have taken to clarify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23956/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder electoral law, a nomination paper must state the name, address and occupation (if any) of a candidate at a local election. A ballot paper must contain the name and description of the candidate standing nominated, as shown in the nomination paper. This requirement is intended as a means of identifying a candidate and ensuring the transparency of elections. In ruling on the validity of a nomination paper, the independent Returning Officer must, amongst other things, object to the description of a candidate which is, in his or her opinion, incorrect or insufficient to identify the candidate.
Guidance provided to Local Authority Returning Officers by my Department in advance of the upcoming local elections states that a candidate’s address need not necessarily relate to their residence but could, for example, refer to their place of business.
Article 50 of the Local Elections Regulations 1995 provides for the publication of a Notice of Poll as soon as practicable after the adjournment of an election for the purposes of the taking of a poll. The Notice of Poll must include, among other things, the names and descriptions of the candidates as given in their respective nomination papers.
During the Committee Stage debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023, the issue of the requirement for the address of a candidate on ballot papers was raised. During the debate, I highlighted that An Coimisiún Toghcháin had prepared its first draft research programme and was seeking the views of the Oireachtas, the public and other interested parties on its research priorities. In response to An Coimisiún's call for submissions I asked it to consider the issue of the address of candidates on ballot papers.
Changes to electoral law in respect of the issue would have regard to any recommendations made by An Coimisiún Toghcháin.
291. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 18 October 2022, if he will provide an update on the Government’s response to TRIS notification numbers 2022/376/IRL and 2022/184/IRL; the details and a timeline of plans to amend the Electoral Reform Act 2022 to address the issues raised by these TRIS notifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24048/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the TRIS 2022/376/IRL and 2022/184/IRL, my Department, over the course of 2023, engaged extensively on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the transparency and targeting of political advertising as that proposal progressed through the inter-institutional negotiations.
In this context, Regulation (EU) 2024/900 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2024 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising was adopted earlier this year by the European institutions and will apply throughout the European Union on and from 10 October 2025.
Given the significant overlap that exists between Part 4 and Regulation (EU) 2024/900, it will now be necessary for Part 4 to be brought into alignment and harmonised with the requirements of the aforesaid Regulation.
In light of these developments, my Department is also examining Part 5 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022 and the amendments that may be needed to commence its provisions as soon as practicable in 2024. In this regard, the Department is engaging with An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the technology sector and other stakeholders in relation to the implementation of Part 5 of the Act and I will bring forward proposed amendments to Part 5 as soon as possible.
293. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the current maximum remediation option grant of €420,000 by 10% as provided for in the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 to account for increased building costs; when he intends to review the level of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24055/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra294. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will implement the updated costs report from an organisation (details supplied) received by his Department on 29 March 2024 to ensure that grants under the defection concrete blocks scheme account for increased construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24056/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra295. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes he plans to make to the defective concrete block scheme; if he will ensure the cost of replacing foundations is provided for; the action he intends to take to address the presence of pyrite and pyrrhotite in aggregates within poured concrete foundations and the risk that these will cause future damage to rebuilt homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24057/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 293 to 295, inclusive, together.
I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
Under section 11 of the Act, the Government can increase or decrease the overall grant scheme cap of €420,000, 12 months after the Act has been commenced (i.e. on or after 29 June 2024) by no more than 10%.
Following a request from my Department, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) recently provided updated cost reports for the North West and Midwest Regions to my Department. My Department received these updated cost reports on 29 March and they will be provided to the Expert Group shortly to review and make recommendations to me.
Arising from the Government Decision of 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) grant scheme, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address a number of technical items. An interagency DCB Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to inform and guide the NSAI review of a number of relevant standards including I.S. 465:2018, and the impact, if any on foundations and the effect, if any, of full cavity fill insulation on homes susceptible to defective blockwork.
A number of research proposals developed by the relevant NSAI Technical Committees, including research to investigate pyrrhotite oxidation in concrete blocks and the potential impact of deleterious materials on foundations, have been commissioned and are making good progress.
The NSAI is Ireland’s official standards body and is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. I understand they are working on drafting interim guidance that will take the form of an amendment to I.S. 465 to enhance the sampling and testing protocols within the standard, taking account of all available findings to date, including the initial research output relating to internal sulphate attack. The NSAI have confirmed the amendment will serve as a step forward in the review and development process of I.S. 465 noting the full evaluation of I.S. 465 continues to be reliant on the delivery of the final outputs of key research projects.
Following the publication of any revised standard published by the NSAI, the DCB grant scheme will, under the terms of the Act, be reviewed at that point, in the event that such amendments are required.
296. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of meetings held by each Minister in his Department with each of two organisations (details supplied), since the formation of the Government on 27 June 2020 and to date in 2024. [24092/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation in relation to my official diary can be found online at my Department’s website: ww.gov.ie/en/collection/5f6f1-ministers-diaries/
In addition to the meetings outlined in my diary, I can confirm that I attended a meeting on 19 April 2020 with Cllr Darragh Butler to discuss the impact on Level 5 Covid restrictions on recreational hunting. A member of the NARGC was also in attendance at this meeting.
Finally, I can advise that a request for a meeting has been received from the NARGC and my office is looking into this at present.
297. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Nature Advisory Committee, as recommended in the 2021 Review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, will be established; the reason such a delay has occurred in establishing this committee which can provide a structured forum for consultation with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24100/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to my reply to Question No. 194 of 16 May which sets out the position in this matter.
298. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date in establishing a sustainable hunting of wild birds stakeholder forum; the timeline for its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24101/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently appointed Mr Teddy Cashman as Chair of the Sustainable Hunting of Wild Birds Stakeholder Forum. A series of bilateral meetings with relevant stakeholders has commenced and the first full Forum meeting of all relevant stakeholders will take place by the end of Q3 2024.
299. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been any purchases of tenant in situ properties where there were issues of pyrite since the scheme commenced. [24105/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has been contacted by Fingal County Council to request delegate sanction to purchase properties for applications that have been refused under the tenant in situ scheme (details supplied). [24106/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra301. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has used delegate sanction to allow the council to purchase properties that had some repairs. [24107/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra302. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ applications that were purchased, refused and withdrawn since the commencement of this scheme; and if, in the interest of transparency, he will compile this, as the local authorities are not providing this detailed information. [24108/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 299 to 302, inclusive, together.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes across the build, acquisition and leasing delivery streams.
For 2023, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding for local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions have primarily focused on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular in March 2023, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2023.
For 2024, Government has again agreed to an increased provision to acquire 1,500 social homes with the primary focus on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) issued by the Department. Local authorities regularly acquire properties that require repairs but given the delegated sanction my Department would not keep records in relation to such repairs. Local authorities are however required to ensure that the cost of acquiring each property and the required refurbishment costs fall within the ACGs. An independent valuation must also be obtained for each acquisition, in line with established practice for local authorities for social housing acquisitions. The current Acquisition Cost Guidelines were updated and issued to local authorities in May 2024. These guidelines are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department usually on a periodic basis.
Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and offer the available supports, which may include a tenant in situ acquisition or support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock.
It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. My Department does not hold data, therefore, on the number of social housing acquisitions applications that have been withdrawn or rejected, nor on the reasons for such withdrawals or rejections. Further information may be available from individual local authorities.
Local authorities take appropriate steps to ensure that their first response will be to support households to try to prevent homelessness in cases where tenants have been served with a notice of termination by their landlord. It is important to acknowledge that the Tenant in Situ scheme has been a key measure in preventing homelessness and as such has mitigated such impacts for many households in 2023.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 4 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
303. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the review of the suite engineering qualifications declared under section 160 of the Local Government Act 2001; the membership of the expert panel established as part of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24122/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMembership of the Working Group recently established to undertake a review of engineering qualifications in the local government sector is detailed in the table below:
|
Shane Tiernan |
Chief Executive, Roscommon County Council (Chair) |
|
Eamonn Hunt |
Local Government Management Agency |
|
Lorna Maxwell |
South Dublin County Council |
|
Colm Fitzpatrick |
Dublin City Council |
|
Mary Quinn |
Leitrim County Council |
|
Alan Dunney |
Kildare County Council |
|
Sinéad Coleman |
Public Appointments Service |
|
Padraic O’Donoghue |
Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Galway |
|
Sarah Neary |
Principal Building Standards Adviser, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
|
Sharon Finegan |
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
The purpose of this Working Group is to review the existing suite of engineering qualifications in the local government sector and to propose changes to those qualifications where necessary. The review of the engineering qualifications is being progressed as a priority with a view to concluding it at the earliest possible date.
304. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the recourse a person (details supplied) has in circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23534/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Supports from my Department are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has the primary responsibility. The responsibility for the provision of assistance to those who require dental services rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for an ANP on 15/02/2024 to assist with the cost of emergency dental treatment. This claim was disallowed on the basis that dental expenses are of a recurring and predictable nature and therefore an exceptional need could not be established. In addition, dental expenses do not fall under the remit of the SWA Scheme. The person concerned was advised of the outcome of their application in writing on 05/03/2024 and afforded the option of seeking a review of the Designated Person’s decision.
Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Reviewing Officer under Section 323 of that Act.
Following a request from the person concerned, a SWA Reviewing Officer reviewed the claim and considering the circumstances of the case, upheld the original decision made by the Designated Person, on the basis that an exceptional need could not be established as dental work is not considered exceptional and does not fall under the remit of the SWA Scheme. Correspondence issued to the person concerned on 30/04/2024 advising them of the outcome of the review.
If the person concerned feels that they have been treated unfairly, they have the right of recourse to contact The Office of the Ombudsman, 6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773, Telephone number: 01-639 5600 / 1890 22 30 30, Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie.
If the person concerned is experiencing financial difficulties with other essential expenses, it is open to them to make a new application for assistance by completing a SWA1 form. This form is available in all Intreo Centres and can also be requested by calling the National CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80 or at www.eforms.gov.ie/en/forms/5.
Alternatively, if the person has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
305. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of further medical and financial evidence submitted for a review of a decision on a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23537/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on the 4 July 2023.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review the original appeal decision on foot of this additional evidence. Regrettably the Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of his earlier decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
