Written Answers Nos. 371-390
371. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities are including the cost-of-living increases when calculating rents under the differential rent scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36126/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved administration of rent schemes and different approaches are taken to rent setting across local authorities. Accordingly, decisions regarding the sources of income included and disregarded for rent assessment purposes, including any cost of living related increases, are matters for individual local authorities.
372. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has a policy, or has issued guidance to staff on the use of artificial intelligence, large language model, natural language processing, generative or otherwise, or products based thereon in the course of their duties; if this has been communicated to staff; if he will publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36144/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra373. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department, or any agency under his auspices, has ever used any artificial intelligence software in the preparation of response to parliamentary questions, or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation; the details of same if applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36163/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together.
My Department does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct business. As with all new technologies, my Department is assessing the potential of AI in the delivery of services, in line with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on its usage in the public service, and works closely with the NCSC.
My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies under its aegis. These State Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas at the email addresses set out in the table attached.
374. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if social welfare money can be taken into account when a tenant wishes to secure a local authority loan to purchase their property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36176/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
As part of clarifications issued in March 2023, eligibility for the Local Authority Home Loan is based on gross annual income being under the relevant income thresholds. Gross annual income is the income reported for the payment of tax. As disability allowance is not taxable, it is also not considered as part of repayment capacity. Furthermore, under the Local Authority Home Loan scheme social welfare payments are not generally considered as part of repayment capacity. However, certain long-term State benefit payments may be considered as repayment income only where the main income source is of an earned nature (i.e. more than 50% of the income that forms the full Home Loan application is from a source other than State benefits payments).
Long-term State benefit payments considered will be:
• State Pension (Contributory and Non-contributory);
• Widow’s/Widower’s Pension;
• Blind Pension;
• Invalidity Pension;
The long-term nature of the payment must be confirmed by the Department of Social Protection or other relevant Government Department.
The final decision regarding Local Authority Home Loan applications are made by the relevant Local Authority 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 lending local authority.
Further details can be found on localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
375. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, under section 26 of the Disability Act 2005, each public body is required to have an access officer; the number and which local authorities have employed local access officers to improve public services for people with disabilities; if she will encourage local authorities to fill these roles immediately; the way local authorities fund these roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36186/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible and each local authority is an individual employer. Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions.
The Disability Act 2005 places a statutory obligation on public bodies, including local authorities, to support access to services and facilities, for people with disabilities. Under Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005 each public body is required to have at least one officer authorised to act in the capacity of an access officer. That officer is responsible, where appropriate, for providing or arranging for and co-ordinating assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the services provided by that body.
Further information regarding access officers would be available from each local authority.
376. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units that have been provided for disabled people in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [36197/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department jointly published the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in January 2022 and the Implementation Plan for the Strategy on 22 June 2023. The Strategy and Implementation Plan may be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/60d76-national-housing-strategy-for-disabled-people-2022-2027/.
The Strategy and Implementation Plan operate under the framework of Housing for All.
Disabled people are allocated social housing support through all of the available routes, namely, standard local authority housing, Rental Assistance Scheme, Approved Housing Bodies and the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme. Data from local authorities indicate increased allocations of social housing to households with disability as a primary basis of need. The number of allocations to households with disability as a primary basis of need across all local authorities is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Number of allocations to Households with Disability as a Primary Basis of Need Across Local Authorities |
|
2020 |
2,093 |
|
2021 |
2,394 |
|
2022 |
2,472 |
The above data is also published in the Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027. Data in relation to the number of allocations to households with disability as a primary basis of need across local authorities for 2023 will be available shortly.
Housing for disabled people is funded, in particular, under the capital schemes for local authority housing including the Social Housing Capital Investment Programme (SHCIP) and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). CAS provides funding of up to 100% to Approved Housing Bodies for the provision of independent living accommodation to meet the needs of people requiring specific categories of needs, including disabled people. The number of units of housing delivered under CAS for Disabled Households and De-congregation for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Total Number of Units of CAS for Disabled Households and De-congregation |
|
2020 |
102 |
|
2021 |
121 |
|
2022 |
112 |
|
2023 |
93 |
There were four units delivered under CAS for disabled people by the end of Q2 2024.
The Capital Assistance Scheme, for which €220m was provided in 2023, is among the key measures to support the delivery of housing for disabled people under the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027.
377. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is correct to calculate a studio apartment as one dwelling unit of density, when calculating the correct density, in student housing accommodation, considering the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlement Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published on 15 of January 2024. [36323/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset, it is important to highlight that my role in relation to local and regional planning matters is to provide the legislative, policy and financial framework at a national level within which local and regional authorities can perform their functions. Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provides that the Minister shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority of the Board is or may be concerned.
In January 2024, I issued the Sustainable Residential Development and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The guidelines set out national policy for planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in relation to the planning and development of urban and rural settlements, including policy and guidance in relation to residential density. Planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to the guidelines in the performance of their functions under the Act.
The guidelines state that dwellings per hectare (dph) will continue to be the primary measure for residential density. This measure is well understood and embedded within the planning system, and when applied alongside other design standards, provides a relatively simple and effective means of reflecting the quantum, scale and form of development within settlements. When calculating net densities for shared accommodation, such as student housing, the guidelines state that four bed spaces shall be the equivalent of one dwelling. It is of note that the Sustainable Urban Housing Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines (2023) describe shared accommodation as a professionally managed rental accommodation, where individual rooms are rented and have access to shared or communal facilities and amenities. The guidelines describe a studio apartment as a unit with a combined living / sleeping area, generally provided for a single person.
378. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount levied, paid, collected, owed, cumulatively owed, assessed value of sites, number of sites, the number of new sites and the number of sites removed from each local authority’s vacant sites register in 2023, in tabular form. [36340/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January of the following year.
My Department issued Circular Letter PL 05/2024 to local authorities requesting the submission of a further progress report on the implementation and collection of the levy in respect of the year 2023. The returns received are under review and it is expected that they will be finalised shortly.
379. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish the work which was undertaken by the Housing Agency to examine the creation of a system of holding rental deposits, informed by best international experience; If not, his reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36356/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra380. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will instruct his Department to undertake the work necessary to deliver a custodial deposit protection scheme for the holding of rental deposits for the benefit of renters and landlords; If not, his reason for not doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36357/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. The Housing for All Action Plan Update published in November 2022, included an action to examine the creation of a system of holding rental deposits, informed by best international experience.
The Housing Agency has completed an examination in line with the Housing for All action, which I am presently considering.
381. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the financial assistance or schemes open to persons (details supplied) to help them acquire a family home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36372/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy and as detailed in the Housing for All strategy, a number of measures have been introduced to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home.
This includes measures which are in place to support first time buyers and those who have experienced a 'Fresh Start' event such as divorce, separation or financial insolvency, bankruptcy.
In order to be eligible under the Fresh Start principle ‘Fresh Start’, under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 (as amended), the following additional provisions must be met:
• the most recently owned dwelling must have been lost as a result of the fresh start event;
• the person has divested themselves of their interest in any previous properties purchased or built;
• if the ‘Fresh Start’ event is due to divorce or separation, the person is now applying to purchase a property on their own or with a different person.
In some cases, applicants who have been through Fresh Start events may have purchased or built other homes prior to the fresh start event. Once they meet the other conditions of fresh start, the purchase/building of these other homes does not render an applicant ineligible, provided that they have sold or divested themselves of these previous homes.
The 'Fresh Start' principle is applied across a number of affordable and mortgage schemes run by my Department such as the Local Authority Home Loan and the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The specific eligibility criteria for each scheme must also be met.
In addition, the independent First Home Scheme also applies the 'Fresh Start' principle and a person or household may also be eligible to apply for support under this Scheme subject to the other eligibility conditions for the Scheme also being met.
382. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the view of industry representative groups and civil society groups in Limerick and the mid-west that the population and housing requirement projections in the draft National Planning Framework are insufficient and, if not increased, the region will be disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36396/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe draft revised National Planning Framework was published on 10 July 2024 and has undergone a 9-week public consultation process which closed on 12 September 2024. Submissions have been received in relation to the draft from a range of public bodies and agencies, sectoral groups and members of the public and these submissions are currently being reviewed by my Department, with consideration being given to whether amendments are required to be applied to the document before it is submitted for final approval.
A cornerstone policy of both the existing and the draft revised National Planning Framework (NPF) is the achievement of a greater regional balance in population and employment growth. The goal is to see a roughly 50:50 distribution of growth between the Eastern and Midland region, and the respective Southern, and Northern and Western Regions, with 75% of the growth to take place outside of Dublin and its suburbs.
Ministerial Guidelines published under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 on ‘Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning’ complement the objectives of the NPF and have introduced a standardised national approach, to be applied by each planning authority in projecting Housing Supply Targets in their Development Plan over the six-year period of each plan.
Specific housing targets for both urban and rural areas in each local authority functional area are currently set out in the respective Core Strategies of the 31 City and County Development Plans (as may be applicable) having regard to the hierarchy of settlements of different scales in each local authority area and informed by the targets contained in the 2018 NPF and reflected in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies.
The recent results from Census 2022 shows a national population increase of c.390,000, and c.175,000 of this growth occurred in the two regional areas outside of the EMRA region, a proportional split of 55%/45%. This is an improvement when compared with the pre-NPF trends which saw larger population concentration in the eastern region.
The draft First Revision to the NPF, in the same manner as the 2018 NPF, also targets the five cities (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford) for 50% of overall national growth, with large and smaller towns, villages and rural areas accommodating the other 50%. City-based population and employment growth is an important target for the NPF. NPO2(a) of the strategy sets “A target of half (50%) of future population and employment growth will be focused in the existing five cities and their suburbs” as a means of ensuring cities deliver as ‘accessible centres of scale’. The proportion of national population growth achieved in the period to 2022 in the five cities was 124,543 persons or 32% of overall growth. Census 2022 indicates that Limerick (+8%) had a growth rate similar to national average of 8%.
Notwithstanding the challenges to delivering on city-focused growth targets, the Draft Revised NPF strategy maintains the ambitious targets for the cities, with the focus being on the need for enhanced mechanisms to support delivery.
As part of the broader body of work undertaken to inform the draft First Revision to the NPF, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) was engaged to provide updated population projections to 2040, based on demographic and econometric modelling and having regard to the results of Census 2022 and other factors with potential to influence fertility, mortality and migration trends. Under the baseline scenario, the research projects that the population of the State will increase to approximately 5.7 million people by 2030 and 6.1 million by 2040. This projection forms the central core trajectory of projected population growth and underpins the strategy set out in the draft First Revision to the NPF.
The proposed revised NPF plans to apply the additional population on a pro-rata basis, relative to current NPF targets, throughout Ireland. A new element of NPF strategy also involves the identification of opportunities to undertake longer term strategic planning for Transport Orientated Development (TOD) in Ireland’s five Cities to support the delivery of new sustainable communities at brownfield and greenfield locations along existing or planned high capacity public transport corridors. In terms of identifying locations for further growth and housing development at scale, it is critical that planning for these opportunities is aligned with phased infrastructure provision.
Further to the publication of the Draft Revised NPF for public consultation in July 2024, I wrote to local authorities confirming that in the period pending finalisation and approval of the updated NPF and the further work which will be required following finalisation of the NPF Revision process, it would be appropriate to undertake a preliminary assessment of the quantum of zoned and serviced land within their administrative area that is available for residential purposes and to estimate the overall housing capacity of such lands.
The ongoing shift to more regionally-balanced growth supported by urban centres of scale will be important in ensuring effective regional development and in supporting competitiveness, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.
It is envisaged that the final revised NPF will be published in October 2024, once it has been approved by the Oireachtas.
383. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the terms of the State-backed local authority loan mortgage protection scheme; if a verdict of death by suicide by one member of a couple who have taken out such a home loan invalidates the mortgage protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36403/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe local authority Mortgage Protection Insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Local Authority Home Loan introduced on 4 January 2022.The current contract for MPI came into effect from 1 January 2023. This contract offers life cover only. A link to the Master Policy Document is provided below. Section 3.2 sets out the exclusions in this policy.
cornmarket.cdn.prismic.io/cornmarket/ZlRN2Ck0V36pXpd1_LAMPSDeathBenefitPolicyConditions-FinalExecutionVersion-22May2024.pdf
384. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he will take to reduce the number of guesthouses in Dublin city facilitated by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36418/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed Short Term Letting and Tourism (STLT) Bill being developed by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) will provide the statutory basis for the establishment of a register for Short Term Lets in Ireland and for the implementation of the new EU Short Term Rental (STR) Regulation which was adopted by the EU on 11 April 2024.
The Government's housing plan, “Housing for All”, has specifically committed, in the context of making more efficient use of existing housing stock, to developing regulatory controls with a view to ensuring that homes are used to best effect in areas of housing need. The STL register will provide a framework within which planning authorities can identify those STL properties that are operating without the appropriate planning permission.
The Department of Tourism has advised that it is intended to bring the STLT General Scheme to Government in the Autumn for approval and publication and to then proceed with drafting of the Bill.
In parallel to the drafting of the STLT Bill, my Department will develop Planning Guidelines for the Short-Term Letting sector to supplement the introduction of the Bill. This guidance will provide clarity and certainty on the planning permission requirements in respect of short-term letting properties. It is intended that a draft of the updated guidelines will be published simultaneously with the publication of the STTL Bill by DTCAGSM.
385. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE architects employed by his Department in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, by grade, in tabular form. [36497/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not generally keep a record of qualifications held by staff members, and accordingly there may be staff working in various roles in the Department who have a qualification relating to Architecture but who have applied for different positions.
However, please see the below table which sets out in FTE terms, the number of staff working in Architect roles at the end of December 2022, 2023, and up to the end of August 2024.
|
Grade |
Dec. 2022 |
Dec. 2023 |
Aug. 2024 |
|
Architect |
5.00 |
7.00 |
8.00 |
|
Senior Architect |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
386. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities have a funding ceiling for the tenant-in-situ scheme; if not, if his Department will fund as many suitable tenant-in-situ purchases as required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36510/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra409. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to raise the advisory price limits on the tenant-in-situ scheme for county councils, due to the inflation of house prices in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36783/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra416. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if steps can be taken to amend the guidelines for the tenant-in-situ scheme in order that the scheme can operate effectively in Dublin 4 and 6, where property prices are higher than other parts of Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36842/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 386, 409 and 416 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 lease delivery streams.
For 2023 and 2024, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding for local authorities to acquire 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 letter in March 2024, setting out details of these arrangements.
Each local authority has been provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2024 with additional headroom of 50% on the allocation being available under delegated sanction. Acquisitions above this are subject to a sanction request. Additional guidance in this regard issued to local authorities in June.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to acquisitions within their allocation + 50%, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) issued by my Department. Local authorities regularly acquire properties that require repairs, however the cost of acquiring the property and relevant refurbishment costs must 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 April 2024. These guidelines are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department usually on a periodic basis.
The ACGs provide cost guidelines for the acquisition by housing authorities, of second-hand properties for the provision of social housing. These guidelines reference lower and upper cost ranges, along with an average/benchmark cost, which is representative of the average range of current (at the time of issue) prices across the local authority area.
It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. 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.
387. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the nationality of persons who have registered as homeless in each of the past five years. [36528/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 July 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/ .
Since April 2022 my Department has gathered information from local authorities on citizenship of adults accessing emergency accommodation. The citizenship information is broken down by Irish, EEA/UK and Non-EEA and is available on a regional basis at the link above.
388. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the quantum of land zoned under the residential zoned land tax; the quantum of that land being actively farmed, if known; if it is not known, his plans to establish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36536/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities published annual draft Residential Zoned Land Tax maps on 1 February 2024 that identify lands that fall within the scope of the tax, as well as lands which they propose to exclude from the previous year’s annual final maps for 2025. Landowners and other interested parties had until 1 April 2024 to make a submission to the relevant local authority about whether or not land on this annual draft map meets the criteria for being subject to the tax. Further to determinations relating to these submissions and any related appeals to An Bord Pleanála, the maps will be finalised and final maps published on 31 January 2025, in advance of the tax coming into effect on 1 February 2025.
Overall, approximately c.52,000 hectares of land is identified on the draft maps published by all local authorities, which includes land proposed for removal. C.49,300 hectares is land proposed to be retained on the maps. Under the legislation, local authorities are required to publish the total area of land in hectares contained on their maps.
It should be noted however that a significant quantum of the overall land included on the maps is land that is zoned for existing residential development, and where a property is liable for Local Property Tax (LPT), the relevant land is not liable for RZLT. The overall amount of land zoned for ‘new residential’ development which will be subject to activation from the tax is estimated to be approximately c6,200 ha. This figure is based on estimates undertaken by assigning an overall general zoning category to a range of local authority 'new residential' zonings contained in the RZLT draft maps, and accordingly should not be considered an exact amount, especially where a local authority has a wide range of residential zoning types or utilises a combined zoning type for existing and new residential development zoning.
In addition to 'new residential' development land, local authorities have identified 'vacant and idle' ‘mixed use’ zoned land which is in scope for the tax. In addition, lands zoned for ‘existing residential’ identified on the RZLT draft maps may also provide opportunities for infill and other development. Accordingly, the amount of development land liable to the tax is likely, subject to ongoing processes related to submissions and appeals, to exceed 6,200ha. Further clarity will be available when final maps are published on 31 January 2025.
The RZLT maps published by local authorities identify lands in scope for the tax, based on land use zonings included within city and county development plans. The maps are not broken down on the basis of ownership or existing land use such as farming, and accordingly it is not possible to ascertain the quantum of land that is in agricultural use. The measure applies broadly to all land zoned for residential development, with the existing use of such land not being a factor for consideration as to whether or not the land is in scope, as set out in the relevant legislation.
389. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of home completions in Tullow, County Carlow; the number of vacant properties brought back into use in Tullow; the number of homes scheduled for delivery, and dates for same from now until Q4 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36540/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes an average of 10,000 new build social homes each year in the period to 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. Increased delivery of social housing is a key Housing for All objective and is supported through a range of funding streams delivered via local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). The number of completed new build social homes, and the number in the pipeline, continues to grow year-on-year, with new construction projects added to the pipeline regularly.
Housing for All required each local authority to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan to address social and affordable housing needs in their areas over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. The Plans include details of planned local authority, AHB and Part V delivery for social housing schemes. The Plans do not include additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the LDA, AHBs, First Home and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. A copy of each local authority's Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on their websites.
Since the start of 2020, 1,049 homes have been completed in Carlow. There were 123 new homes completed in H1 2024, up 29% year-on-year. 271 new homes completed in the rolling 12-months to end-June 2024, up 26% on the same period last year.
Since the start of 2020, 216 homes have been completed in Tullow. There were 24 new homes completed in H1 2024, up 20% year-on-year. 57 new homes completed in the rolling 12-months to end-June 2024, up 53% on the same period last year.
My Department 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 1 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 by local authority at the link below: www.gov.ie/en/publication/cbe5c-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q1-2024/
390. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 883 of 9 September 2024, to list the 36 sites that will deliver more than 1,500 new social homes; the names of the 13 local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36560/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraModern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All.
In December 2022, funding of €94m was provided to local authorities to address legacy land debts. The provision of this funding was linked to the immediate development of a housing proposal, a commitment to allow for the use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and for construction to start in 2023 or no later than 2024. A total of 26 sites received funding as part of an accelerated delivery programme, and with some additional sites since added, my Department is overseeing a project to progress delivery of MMC projects on 36 sites which will deliver more than 1,500 new social homes across 13 local authorities.
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 Q4 2023, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: gov.ie - Overall social and affordable housing provision (www.gov.ie ) - Data for Q1 2024 is currently being collated and will be published shortly.
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. This includes details of which local authority or AHB delivered or is delivering the development. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2023. 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 by local authority, funding stream etc. at this link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2023
The table below shows the breakdown of the sites in the programme by local authority.
|
Local authority |
No of Projects |
No. of Homes (approx.) |
|
Cork City |
1 |
222 |
|
Cork County |
4 |
71 |
|
DLR |
3 |
300 |
|
Fingal |
4 |
266 |
|
Galway City |
1 |
84 |
|
Kerry |
4 |
169 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
65 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
26 |
|
Louth |
5 |
315 |
|
Meath |
1 |
47 |
|
Sligo |
9 |
281 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
38 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
12 |
