To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government his plans to change the conditions of the tenant purchase incremental scheme 2016 due to the small take-up of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY

The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 provide the basis for 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 Scheme has been finalised and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations.   This has included an examination of the minimum income requirements of the scheme.

What is intended now is that a comprehensive package of social housing reform measures will be brought to Government in the near future and the review of the Tenant Purchase Scheme will be included in that package, with the report to be published thereafter.   Until such time as these reforms are completed, the 2016 scheme remains open and is being utilised. 

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of the review group of establishing a special purpose vehicle to enable credit union funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY



The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the potential role that Credit Unions can play in housing finance and supported the efforts of the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current investment restrictions as appropriate, including for housing.

Credit Union bodies have set out proposed means by which funding could be provided by the sector to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the development of social housing.  This follows on from the amendments introduced by the Central Bank to the regulatory regime within which Credit Unions operate.

My Department referred the Credit Unions’ representative bodies to the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) with a view to both sectors sharing, as far as practical, the benefits of their respective work in this area, including the work undertaken by the ICSH on the development of special purpose vehicles for social housing financing purposes. The work of the ICSH was supported by grant funding from my Department.  In addition, both my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, and I have met with the Credit Union movement and the AHB sector on this matter.

The ICSH, along with 6 Tier 3 AHBs, have worked with specialist financial advisors to establish a funding mechanism or vehicle which would source suitable sources of non-state finance to fund the delivery of social housing by AHBs, based on best value for money. Market testing undertaken revealed good interest in lending to the AHB sector from various lenders including banks, institutional investors and the Credit Union sector. So far, one AHB has set up an SPV, 2 AHBs have sourced private finance from  a private institution and there are 2 AHBs looking at the next phase of establishing a structure to work collectively in securing private finance. As such, the work in this area is ongoing and has led to individual AHBs establishing SPVs for financing social housing.

The Credit Union sector is one potential funder whose terms are assessed as part of the process of market testing to establish best value for money and optimum terms and conditions from lenders.  While my Department will continue to be available to provide any clarifications that may be required in relation to social housing delivery, it falls to the relevant parties, i.e. the AHBs, on the one hand, and potential investors on the other, to agree a workable and mutually acceptable approach in order to bring potential investment possibilities to a successful conclusion.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government when final guidance on cost-effective analysis cases will be issued to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY



My Department provides advice to local authorities, on an ongoing basis, to support them in delivering social housing projects, including undertaking cost effectiveness analyses in respect of high value projects. It should be noted that local authorities have primary responsibility for evaluating, planning and managing their public investment projects under the Public Spending Code.

Against this background, my Department has recently provided final draft guidance documents to local authorities to support them in undertaking cost effectiveness analyses.  The final draft documents provided include 'Draft Sectoral Guidance for Social Housing Appraisals' and 'Worked Examples of Preliminary Appraisal and Detailed Appraisals'.

Final observations on the draft documents have been sought from the local authorities and adjustments may be made based on that feedback, and also to take account of the review of the Public Spending Code, which was considered by Government yesterday.  However, in the meantime, local authorities can continue to use the draft guidance for any of their projects that require a cost effectiveness analysis.

It is intended that the documentation will be finalised shortly and the final Sectoral Guidance for Social Housing Appraisal will be issued in early

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government his plans to review the €2 million eligibility spending threshold for single stage approval for local authority social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY



The Review of the Public Spending Code, carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, was considered by Government yesterday. The Code is the central framework for the control and governance of all public expenditure activities, including social housing construction projects, where our responsibility is to ensure value for money in the essential work we undertake to provide housing for our citizens.

In relation to the €2million eligibility threshold for the single stage process for social housing projects, this threshold was reviewed as part of the recent review of the Code. This has had regard to the level of public funding involved and the fact that raising the €2m threshold would remove significant oversight from the Department over a substantial element of the social housing build programme, leading potentially to an increased risk of cost overruns and/or time delays.  Taking account of these issues, as well as the importance of delivering quality and sustainable housing, no change to the €2m threshold level is proposed in the revised Code.

To date, the uptake of the single stage process has been modest, at best.  Of around 660 capital-funded social housing projects since 2016, around 280 are within the €2m threshold.  Of these, only approximately 45 are using the single stage arrangement.

The reality is that the time involved in approving projects is only a small element in the process of bringing social housing projects from initial conception all the way through to construction.  This is borne out by the fact that the single stage process has the potential to save, at most, 6-8 weeks off the pre-construction target programme of 59 weeks.  Most of the time within that 59 week period is required to allow local authorities to complete their work in relation to design, planning, procurement and engagement with contractors.

It is important to note also that the social housing approval arrangements have already been streamlined, by concentrating the 9 review stages of the Code into just 4.  The Deputy can be assured that my Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure that the streamlined processes are operated efficiently, with a view to moving projects through both the single stage and 4 stage approval processes as expeditiously as possible.  This is evident in the fact that it has been possible, in some cases, to complete the 59 week 4-stage process in as little as 44 weeks.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the number of Rebuilding Ireland home loans approved; the number of loans drawn down; the average loan approved; the amount approved; the draw down in this regard; and the number of loan applications rejected by the Housing Agency in each of the months since the scheme was introduced by county in tabular form.
REPLY



The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications. Housing Agency recommendations are then considered by the Credit Committee in each local authority, which issues loan approvals. 

Each local authority must have in place a Credit Committee and it is a matter for the Committee to make the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, and having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.

 I have asked the Agency to compile figures on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and recommended to approve since the scheme began.  In 2018, the Housing Agency assessed 3,036 valid applications.  Of these, it recommended 1,550 for approval. For 2019, as of end-October 2019, the Housing Agency have assessed 2,271 valid applications of which 1,133 have been recommended for approval.
 
 
 

   Local   Authority  
   Total   Applications Assessed  
   Total   Applications Recommended for Approval  

Carlow County Council
73
28

Cavan County Council
24
9

Clare County Council
87
36

Cork City Council
217
96

Cork County Council
414
209

Donegal County Council
51
22

Dublin City Council
610
368

Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County     Council
142
78

Fingal County Council
756
424

Galway City Council
109
58

Galway County Council
194
63

Kerry County Council
144
59

Kildare County Council
200
107

Kilkenny County Council
61
31

Laois County Council
125
61

Leitrim County Council
19
5

Limerick City & County   Council
143
85

Longford County Council
55
26

Louth County Council
152
59

Mayo County Council
82
32

Meath County Council
324
212

Monaghan County Council
64
21

Offaly County Council
58
23

Roscommon County Council
59
23

Sligo County Council
72
34

South Dublin County Council
373
194

Tipperary County Council
152
67

Waterford City & County   Council
115
39

Westmeath County Council
56
34

Wexford County Council
161
80

Wicklow County Council
215
100

Total
5,307
2,683

 My Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount). Information on the RIHL for Quarter 2 2019, including in relation to the number and value of mortgage approvals and drawdowns, is available on the Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of plans to extend the Threshold Tenancy Protection Service nationwide.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government his plans to roll out a national awareness campaign targeted at families and persons at risk of losing their homes.

REPLY

Supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government. Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness includes a range of measures  relating to the provision of emergency accommodation and the range of supports to be provided to households experiencing homelessness.  In addition the Plan places a strong emphasis on Homeless prevention, both for households at risk in the rented sector and home owners.

The focus of Government remains on preventing homelessness to the greatest extent possible.   Budget 2020 reflects the commitment of the Government in this regard, with an allocation of €166m for homeless services by local authorities this year, an increase of €20m on the 2019 allocation. While much of this funding is used to address families already in homelessness, a significant portion goes towards initiatives aimed at prevention and tenancy sustainment. This funding supports services to prevent families having to enter emergency accommodation and to ensure that those families in emergency accommodation are supported to identify and secure an independent tenancy within the shortest possible timeframe. 

Threshold, the housing charity, already operates the Tenancy Protection Service (TPS) on a national basis.  The service provides advice and support to households living in private rented accommodation who are experiencing tenancy problems, including where a tenancy is at risk of termination. The TPS seeks to protect existing tenancies, keeping people in their home and preventing them from having to access homeless services. This service has been an important contributor to limiting the growth in homelessness.  Following a commitment in the context of Rebuilding Ireland, the Department has been supporting Threshold to deliver these services on an ongoing basis and allocated €800,000 for these purposes in 2019. The Tenancy Protection Service freephone operated by Threshold has been operating nationwide since 2017.

The Rental Tenancies Board (RTB) is also focusing on education and awareness amongst those living and working in the rental sector. Changes to the legislation, such as the introduction of Rent Pressure Zones, continue to feature heavily in education and information provision to landlords and tenants. The RTB continues to highlight the new requirements for tenancies located within Rent Pressure Zones, as well as promoting the role of the RTB to support tenants and landlords understand these new requirements, such as the RTB RPZ Calculator. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to contact the RTB to find out more information about Rent Pressure Zones, or to find out what to do if they believe they are being charged an incorrect rent.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of plans to examine and analyse the reason offers of accommodation are not taken up by households in emergency accommodation in hotels.

REPLY

Supporting families and individuals experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government.  Local authorities and their service delivery partners work with households to identify and secure an exit from homelessness into an independent tenancy. Where appropriate, households are provided with the necessary supports to ensure that they are equipped to sustain a tenancy. 

Local authorities have reported incidences of households refusing offers of housing. Generally, the reasons for the refusal of an offer of a home relate to the location of the property or the tenure type.  In such instances, local authorities and their service delivery partners continue to work with the household to identify and secure a suitable home.  The introduction of the Homeless HAP Place Finder service on a national basis, in 2018, is assisting households to identify and secure HAP-supported tenancies in the private rented market. The Department has approved funding for 23 dedicated Place Finder Officers to work directly with families in this regard.

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of plans to enhance inter-agency arrangements to ensure that accommodation, welfare and health supports for prisoners are in place prior to their release.

REPLY

One of the commitments made in Rebuilding Ireland, Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is that the State will enhance inter-agency arrangements to ensure that accommodation, welfare and health supports for prisoners are in place prior to their release. 

An inter-agency protocol, developed by the Irish Prison Service in consultation with the Health Service Executive, Department of Employment and Social Protection and the City and County Managers Association, is now in place.  Under Rebuilding Ireland, the Irish Prison Service funds the Irish Association for Social Integration Opportunities to provide 11 Resettlement Coordinators in its closed prisons.  Resettlement Officers liaise with single-points-of-contact in local authorities in advancing applications for housing supports.

The Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, is delivering permanent housing solutions with appropriate wrap around supports for rough sleepers and long-term users of emergency accommodation. A dedicated Housing First stream is in place for prisoners and other persons convicted before the courts with high support needs who would otherwise be homeless on release from custody.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of plans to extend the Threshold Tenancy Protection Service nationwide.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 4 December, 2019.

* To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government his plans to roll out a national awareness campaign targeted at families and persons at risk of losing their homes.
- Darragh O'Brien T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 4 December, 2019.
REPLY



Supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government. Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness includes a range of measures  relating to the provision of emergency accommodation and the range of supports to be provided to households experiencing homelessness.  In addition the Plan places a strong emphasis on Homeless prevention, both for households at risk in the rented sector and home owners.

 

The focus of Government remains on preventing homelessness to the greatest extent possible.   Budget 2020 reflects the commitment of the Government in this regard, with an allocation of €166m for homeless services by local authorities this year, an increase of €20m on the 2019 allocation. While much of this funding is used to address families already in homelessness, a significant portion goes towards initiatives aimed at prevention and tenancy sustainment. This funding supports services to prevent families having to enter emergency accommodation and to ensure that those families in emergency accommodation are supported to identify and secure an independent tenancy within the shortest possible timeframe. 

 

Threshold, the housing charity, already operates the Tenancy Protection Service (TPS) on a national basis.  The service provides advice and support to households living in private rented accommodation who are experiencing tenancy problems, including where a tenancy is at risk of termination. The TPS seeks to protect existing tenancies, keeping people in their home and preventing them from having to access homeless services. This service has been an important contributor to limiting the growth in homelessness.  Following a commitment in the context of Rebuilding Ireland, the Department has been supporting Threshold to deliver these services on an ongoing basis and allocated €800,000 for these purposes in 2019. The Tenancy Protection Service freephone operated by Threshold has been operating nationwide since 2017.

The Rental Tenancies Board (RTB) is also focusing on education and awareness amongst those living and working in the rental sector. Changes to the legislation, such as the introduction of Rent Pressure Zones, continue to feature heavily in education and information provision to landlords and tenants. The RTB continues to highlight the new requirements for tenancies located within Rent Pressure Zones, as well as promoting the role of the RTB to support tenants and landlords understand these new requirements, such as the RTB RPZ Calculator. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to contact the RTB to find out more information about Rent Pressure Zones, or to find out what to do if they believe they are being charged an incorrect rent.

To ask the Minister for Housing; Planning and Local Government the status of plans to examine and analyse the reason offers of accommodation are not taken up by households in emergency accommodation in hotels.
REPLY



Supporting families and individuals experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government.  Local authorities and their service delivery partners work with households to identify and secure an exit from homelessness into an independent tenancy. Where appropriate, households are provided with the necessary supports to ensure that they are equipped to sustain a tenancy. 

Local authorities have reported incidences of households refusing offers of housing. Generally, the reasons for the refusal of an offer of a home relate to the location of the property or the tenure type.  In such instances, local authorities and their service delivery partners continue to work with the household to identify and secure a suitable home.  The introduction of the Homeless HAP Place Finder service on a national basis, in 2018, is assisting households to identify and secure HAP-supported tenancies in the private rented market. The Department has approved funding for 23 dedicated Place Finder Officers to work directly with families in this regard.