Statement from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management on Severe Weather9/2/2021
A Severe Weather Coordination meeting was held today (Tuesday, 09 February 2021) to review the weather forecast for the coming days, including the potential impact of snow, and to provide all key stakeholders with this information directly to enable relevant preparations to take place.
The Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) Crisis Management Team continues to meet daily, working with Met Éireann, OPW, local authorities and other Government Departments and agencies to monitor the forecasts and their predicted impacts. A yellow weather warning for snow / ice is in place for counties Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Cavan and Monaghan until Wednesday evening, with snow already reported in many areas. Forecasts at present indicate scattered, wintry showers of sleet or snow, mainly affecting the east and northeast today (Tuesday). Overnight tonight temperatures are forecast to drop as low as -5oC in some areas. Wintry showers are likely to continue throughout Wednesday, mainly affecting the midlands, north Leinster and east Ulster. A yellow warning for snow / ice has been issued for Thursday for Munster, Connaught and Leinster. It is likely that precipitation will fall as snow, with accumulations leading to hazardous conditions in some areas. This has the potential for disruption to transport. There is a potential for wintry showers to continue in some areas into Friday, but current indications are for milder conditions for the weekend, albeit with rain in some areas also. Local authorities outlined preparedness actions which local authorities are leading on, including:
Department of Transport, An Garda Síochána and HSE all outlined their levels of preparedness also. NDFEM Crisis Management Team are continuing to monitor this evolving situation with Met Éireann, and the relevant stakeholders. It should be emphasised that all unnecessary travel should continue to be avoided in line with current Public Health advice. Statement from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management on Severe Weather8/2/2021
A Severe Weather Coordination meeting, was held today (Monday, 08 February 2021), to review the weather forecast for the coming days, including the potential impact of snow and provide all key stakeholders with this information directly to enable relevant preparations to take place.
The Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) Crisis Management Team has been meeting daily and working with Met Éireann, OPW, local authorities and other Government Departments and agencies since last Wednesday to monitor the forecasts and their predicted impacts. A weather advisory is in place until Wednesday evening for cold conditions and wintry showers. Forecasts at present indicate scattered, wintry showers of sleet or snow, mainly affecting the east and northeast today (Monday). Overnight tonight and into tomorrow, Tuesday, the sleet and snow showers will spread further westwards, but remaining frequent in the east and northeast where accumulations may reach 4 to 5cm. There is a potential for yellow snow/ice warning to be issued for this. Wintry showers will remain in the east and northeast again on Wednesday. Given the low temperatures, it is unlikely any remaining snow from Tuesday will thaw. Cold temperatures are predicted throughout the coming days, with night temperatures likely to be below freezing in most areas, and daytime temperatures will remain low also. Thursday could potentially bring widespread snowfall and significant accumulations across the country, bringing a potential for considerable disruption. Local authorities outlined preparedness actions which local authorities are leading on, including:
NDFEM Crisis Management Team are continuing to monitor this evolving situation with Met Éireann, and the relevant stakeholders. It should be emphasised that all unnecessary travel should continue to be avoided in line with current Public Health advice. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has today (Monday 8th February) given approval in principle for Ireland’s first Cost Rental Homes, delivering on a key commitment in the Programme for Government, under Housing for All.
In Budget 2021, €35 million was made available to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to deliver approximately 350 cost rental homes in 2021 at rates which are a minimum 25% below open market values. An additional 50 cost rental homes at Enniskerry Road, Dun Laoighaire Rathdown are also due to be completed this year supported by the Department’s Serviced Sites Fund. Following a competitive assessment process, approval is being given today to three AHBs, Clúid, Respond and Tuath, for a total of 390 cost rental homes. These developments are spread across Dublin, the GDA and Cork, with precise locations to be published on completion of commercial and contractual arrangements. Subject to the application, the Housing Finance Agency has also made financing of up to €100m available to support schemes approved under this measure. Minister O’Brien commented, “Shortly before Christmas I put out a call to our AHBs asking them to submit proposals for Cost Rental homes. They responded enthusiastically and the standard of the proposals received is extremely high. I believe this is really encouraging for the future expansion of the scheme.” “Cost Rental is a new form of tenure in Ireland where tenants will pay rent that covers the costs of delivering, managing, and maintaining the homes only. Through the Affordable Housing Bill 2020, Cost Rental will be placed on a statutory footing and the conditions and operational matters for cost rental are being finalised as part of this process.” “The collective experience in bringing on stream these first cost rental homes in the State will be used to inform the ongoing policy development process. This will support the wider roll out of the model across local authorities, the Land Development Agency and Approved Housing Bodies.” “These homes will be made available to middle income households with a reduction of at least 25% on open market rental values. It is my firm commitment that we build on this new scheme and expand it further so that many more tenants live securely in cost rental homes,” he concluded. Local Minister Darragh O’Brien TD has welcomed the announcement that Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance has been appointed to oversee the construction of 39 affordable and 12 social homes in Dun Emer in Lusk.
The projected is being supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Serviced Sites Fund which supports local authorities in the provision of key enabling infrastructure on their land, which means they can get their sites ready for the delivery of affordable housing. Minister O’Brien commended Fingal County Council on bringing the project, which will be the first affordable purchase housing scheme in the county in 11 years, to fruition. Commenting he said, “These two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom duplexes, three-bedroom terraced and three-bedroom semi-detached homes are being delivered at approximately 25% below market value in a great location in North County Dublin. “The next step in the process will see Fingal County Council invite applications from eligible purchasers and this will be advertised on the Council website. They are also continuing in their plans to develop more affordable housing across North County Dublin. “The Serviced Sites Fund is just one of a number of affordability measures provided by my Department to make homes more affordable. We are simultaneously working on bringing forward the Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme and the Land Development Agency Bill both of which will result in more affordable homes. “Home ownership rates have declined in Ireland to below the EU average. The average age of owning your own place has increased by a decade to 35 and it is my firm intention to put the dream of home ownership back in reach for many of our people,” he concluded. ENDS Note to Editor: Under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF), €310 million has been made available in 2021 to provide infrastructure to support the delivery of more affordable homes on local authority lands. With maximum SSF funding amount of €50,000 available per home, at least 6,200 affordable homes, to buy or rent, can be facilitated. To date, SSF funding of approximately €188 million has been allocated in support of 38 projects in 14 local authority areas which will assist in the delivery of almost 4,000 affordable homes Weather Outlook
There is a risk of frost/ice in some areas tonight and tomorrow night. From Sunday night there will be widespread frost and ice and with low daytime temperatures. It will turn increasingly cold over the next few days. Low pressure is currently centred near Ireland and will sink southeastwards from today, introducing a colder northerly airflow over the country. Then as the low continues to move away to the southeast, an even colder easterly airflow will be introduced. From Sunday night, showers will start to turn wintry in nature, but will primarily affect north Leinster and north Ulster. There is potential for yellow snow/ice warnings for these areas. Some showers will penetrate further inland, but are likely to be more isolated in nature. Midweek next week brings a more significant threat of a widespread snow event as low pressure in the mid-Atlantic (and its associated precipitation) moves up and clashes with the colder air underneath. There is potential for countrywide yellow/orange warnings for this. Met Éireann says there are indications of a milder airflow next Friday that will move in across the country bringing more wet and windy conditions. Co-ordinated Response Met Éireann updated the Principal Response Agencies (HSE, local authorities, An Garda Síochána) on the current outlook at a meeting this morning. Local authorities lead on the response to severe weather and are undertaking preparedness actions, including:
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD has today (5th February 2021) published the Land Development Agency (LDA) Bill 2021.
The Bill establishes the LDA on a statutory basis and sets out the core goals of the LDA to undertake strategic land assembly and fully utilise state lands to build affordable homes and sustainable communities. The Bill, which will be brought through the Oireachtas in this Dáil session, will focus initially on public lands in towns of over 10,000 people. It provides that the LDA will periodically report to Government on public lands which could be suitable for housing or urban development and the Government may direct that such lands be transferred to the LDA. The Bill also provides that the LDA will have first refusal to purchase public lands being put up for sale. Under the Bill the Minister for Housing will specify an affordability requirement for the delivery of affordable homes for sale or rent on public lands. This affordability requirement can be varied on sites in different areas depending on local housing needs. The Agency can provide services to local authorities for the development of large scale multi-tenure sites for housing and urban development in urban centres over 30,000. This will assist with the construction of increased social housing on local authority owned sites. Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I am very glad this Bill is now published and look forward to progressing it through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. Increasing housing supply is a key objective for the Government and the LDA will play a key role in this regard. “In response to the pre-legislative scrutiny and by way of amending the initial LDA Bill General Scheme, we have ensured there is greater flexibility on the public lands affordability requirement, more clarity on the transfer of public lands to the LDA including a ‘first refusal’ clause along with appropriate CPO powers for the LDA. “There is also a specific commitment to sustainable communities and best environmental practise, while the agency will be subject to FOI and enhanced Oireachtas committee accountability. “Local Authorities can transfer lands to the LDA without requiring a council vote, accelerating the process, clearing blockages and driving on development. “Ultimately, through this Bill, the LDA will be empowered to provide homes for affordable purchase, cost rental and social housing – another step in the Government’s direction of ‘Housing for All’,” he concluded. ENDS Notes to Editor:
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