QUESTION

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government his plans to hold further plebiscites in relation to directly elected mayors in Waterford and Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.


REPLY

I welcome the decision by the people of the Limerick City and County Council area, in the plebiscite held on 24 May 2019, to support the Government's proposals for a directly elected mayor with executive functions for their area. It is now my intention to deliver on the will of the people of Limerick without delay. Significant work on the proposal has already been carried out in the form of the published document "Directly Elected Mayors with Executive Functions: Detailed Policy Proposals" approved by the Government on 20 March 2019.
Under Section 44 of the Local Government Act 2019, the Minister is now required to prepare and submit to the Houses of the Oireachtas a report with legislative proposals for a directly elected mayor for Limerick. There is a further significant piece of work required to systematically analyse all legislation conferring functions and powers on local authority chief executives and this will involve consultation with key stakeholders.  
Under the Act, the Report and legislative proposals must be submitted by 24 May 2021, two years after the plebiscite vote. However, I have asked my Department to prioritise this work with a view to bringing the Report and legislative proposals forward at the earliest opportunity.  
Under the Government's proposal, a full 5 year term of office for the directly elected mayor with executive functions is envisaged, with elections taking place with local elections. However, a possible election date in 2022 was identified for the first directly elected mayor, with a consequently shorter first term envisaged up to the next local elections in 2024.
In the expectation that the preparatory work can be carried out and the legislative process is prioritised in the Oireachtas, the first election for mayor could take place in Limerick City and County Council in 2021.
The people of Cork City and Waterford City and County narrowly rejected the Government's proposals in the recent plebiscites in those local authority areas, and I fully respect the outcome of the votes there. In accordance with the legislation, the priority now is on delivering the mandate given by the people of Limerick.  
In relation to Dublin, work is underway in the Department of the Taoiseach on proposals for the establishment of a new Citizens’ Assembly to consider a number of issues, including the issue of a directly elected mayor for Dublin and the form that this should take. The function of a Citizens’ Assembly is to inform the public and increase overall awareness of topics being examined. Consideration is being given to the parameters of this and other topics and how best to optimise the use of an Assembly’s time and the taxpayers money. Proposals are expected to come before Government shortly.
Finally, in relation to Galway, as provisions enabling the amalgamation of Galway City and County Councils and the holding of a plebiscite on a directly elected mayor for Galway included in the Local Government Bill were not passed by the Oireachtas, a plebiscite did not proceed there last month.  My Department is now working with the two local authorities to consider and recalibrate the local government modernisation programme in Galway in light of the passage of the Bill.

______________________________________________
For Priority Answer on : 11/06/2019
Question Number(s): 35,36,37 Question Reference(s): 24050/19, 24274/19, 24051/19
Department: Housing, Planning and Local Government
Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D., Eoin Ó Broin T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION


* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of the next round of funding for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; if each local authority is still issuing loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For PRIORITY answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the price range for affordable housing projects to be delivered under the serviced sites fund with respect to the various initiatives on affordable housing; the rents to be charged on the cost rental projects to be delivered in 2019 and 2020; and when a second tranche of funding will be provided to local authorities for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme.
- Eoin Ó Broin T.D.

For PRIORITY answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of the cost rental pilot project scheme; the timeframe for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For PRIORITY answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.
REPLY

When the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was initially being developed, it was estimated that the drawdown of loans under the scheme would be approximately €200 million over three years. From the data collated on the scheme to date, the RIHL has proven to be more successful than initially anticipated.   The Housing Agency, which provides a central support service to assess loan applications, has confirmed that up to the end of May 2019, 4,193 applications have been assessed, of which 2,153 (or 51%) have been recommended for approval.  The latest information available from local authorities indicates that 823 loans, totalling some €139.9m, had been drawn down at end March 2019.
As a result of this very significant level of activity, the scheme requires a further tranche of funds to be borrowed by the Housing Finance Agency in order to enable its continuation. My Department is currently in discussions with the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance with regard to this amount, which I anticipate will be finalised very soon. When these discussions are concluded I will be in a position to make an announcement on the matter.  Ahead of such an announcement, the operation of the scheme is not affected; the scheme remains open and all local authorities have been advised to continue to receive and process applications up to and including the issuing of loans.
The delivery of affordable housing remains a key priority for this Government. To support the delivery of 6,200 affordable homes, €310 million is being made available under the Serviced Site Fund, from 2019 to 2021, to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure on local authority sites. Last December, €43 million was approved under the Fund for 10 infrastructure projects in Dublin and Cork, which will deliver 1,400 affordable homes. Under the second Serviced Sites Fund call, 30 submissions have been received from 15 local authorities. These are currently being assessed, and I expect to issue approvals under this second call in the coming weeks.
The Serviced Sites Fund will also play an important role in making cost rental projects as affordable as possible. Two ‘pathfinder’ pilot projects are currently being progressed in order to facilitate the development of the cost rental model. These pilot projects are at Enniskerry Road in Stepaside, and at St. Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, both of which will inform further the development of a cost rental model for the Irish context.
The Enniskerry Road project comprises 155 homes, 50 of which will be cost rental. Funding of €4.5 million under the Serviced Sites Fund is being made available to this project and construction is due to commence later this month, with completion of the homes scheduled for 2021.  
The St. Michael’s Estate project is estimated to have the potential to accommodate more than 470 social and cost rental homes in a high quality development. Dublin City Council has appointed a dedicated project manager and a project team to move this development forward and professional advisers have also been appointed to develop an Urban Design Framework Plan for the site. This is a key project and my Department is currently working closely with the Council with a view to accelerating the delivery of much needed cost rental homes and community facilities in the area.
The price of individual homes, or the reductions on market rents, to be delivered with the support of the Serviced Sites Fund will be determined on a project-by-project basis. Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which was commenced last June, provides for a discount of up to 40% on the market value of affordable homes for purchase, with the discount being held as an equity stake by the local authority until it is repaid by the household or captured on resale.
 
These new schemes are set in the context of moderating growth in house prices and rental levels in the market and will complement other key Government affordability initiatives.  These include the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which I referred to earlier, and the Help to Buy scheme, under which some 11,500 applications, to a value of some €169m, have been approved.
 
In addition, approximately 2,350 affordable homes will be delivered on mainly publicly owned lands supported through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, while 5,600 further homes will benefit from a LIHAF-related cost reduction, some of which are already coming to market.  The work of the Land Development Agency will also be of crucial importance in terms of delivering more affordable housing.  The initial portfolio of sites that the Agency has access to will have the potential, over the short to medium term, to deliver 3,000 affordable homes in line with the Government policy of achieving 30% affordable housing on State lands generally.
 
Taken together, programmes are in place under which nearly 18,000 affordable homes or homes with a LIHAF-related reduction will be delivered, with over 12,200 households also supported through the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan or the Help to Buy Scheme.  
 
 


______________________________________________
For Oral Answer on : 11/06/2019
Question Number(s): 54,67,79 Question Reference(s): 23632/19, 23880/19, 23633/19
Department: Housing, Planning and Local Government
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D., Darragh O'Brien T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION


* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government when he plans to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Brendan Smith T.D.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of the review of the income eligibility limits for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government when he plans to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Brendan Smith T.D.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.
REPLY

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge.  The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once off in nature.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support.  The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.
However, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is underway. The review will also have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.


______________________________________________
For Oral Answer on : 11/06/2019
Question Number(s): 57,88 Question Reference(s): 23881/19, 23999/19
Department: Housing, Planning and Local Government
Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D., Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION


* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government when new rural housing guidelines will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government when the revised rural housing planning guidelines will issue taking into account the Flemish Decree judgement of the European Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.
REPLY

Following engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group was established to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.  The working group comprises senior officials from the Planning Division of my Department and senior officials from the Planning Divisions of local authorities, nominated by the local government sector.
Taking account of the engagement with the European Commission regarding revisions to the 2005 Rural Housing Guidelines and subject to the completion of the ongoing deliberations by the working group, I will be in a position to finalise and issue to planning authorities revisions to the 2005 Guidelines that take account of the relevant European Court of Justice judgment.
 


______________________________________________
For Oral Answer on : 11/06/2019
Question Number(s): 60,91 Question Reference(s): 23879/19, 23998/19
Department: Housing, Planning and Local Government
Asked by: Darragh O'Brien T.D., Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION


* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government when the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government when the revised terms of the tenant (incremental) purchase scheme 2016 will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.

For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11 June, 2019.
REPLY

The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 set 1 January 2016 as the commencement date for the introduction of the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses.  The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.  To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
In line with the commitment given in the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, a review of the operation of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase (Incremental) Scheme has been completed and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations.  
Following consideration of a number of implementation issues arising, I expect to be in a position to publish the Review shortly. I intend to bring a comprehensive package of social housing reform measures to Government in the near future and the relevant recommendations made in the Review of the Tenant Purchase Scheme will be progressed as part of that process.