Closing Contribution on SF Private Members’ Bill

Private Members’ Bill

Sinn Féin Eoin Ó Broin, T.D., and Kathleen Funchion, T.D.

 Residential Tenancies (Student Rents, Rights and Protections) Bill 2018

 Closing Contribution by Minister of State, Damien English, T.D

Tuesday, 29th May 2018

Ceann Comhairle,

• On behalf of the Government, I wish to thank Deputies Ó Broin and Funchion for tabling their Private Members Bill to propose extending the protections of the Residential Tenancies Acts, which currently apply to dwellings under certain tenancies, to also apply to dwellings provided under a licence agreement for student accommodation.
• While the Government cannot at this juncture endorse this specific legislation, as it is premature until such time as the legal considerations and implications are more thoroughly evaluated, we can readily acknowledge and welcome the broad spirit and objective of the Bill, as a genuine attempt to improve the situation for students at a time of under-supply in the residential rental sector.
• It is in the interest of Government to ensure student accommodation is affordable, and not subject to excessive increases.
• The existing Government financial support for students is finite in terms of taxpayers’ money. Do you propose cuts to the maintenance grant? Do you propose cuts to grants and funds for mature students in third level education? Or do you propose to cut the wages of our lecturers in the third level sector?.
• Equally, parents’ or students’ own resources are hard earned and should not be swallowed up either. Students should not have to face entering the work-force with a massive debt to re-pay. We need affordable rents across the country and not just for students.
• Unreasonable accommodation costs have the potential to prohibit individual students from pursuing studies in their preferred field because their choice of course might not be on offer close to where they live. Location comes into play and for some, an educational course in Dublin is becoming less attainable for financial reasons, predominantly because of high accommodation costs.
• We need to provide certainty to students whose finances are tight and finite and help limit their financial burdens.
• As Minister Mitchell O’Connor highlighted earlier, the Government published its National Student Accommodation Strategy (NSAS) to increase the supply of student accommodation and increase the take-up of digs accommodation. The Government has set a target to see an extra 7,000 bed spaces built by the end 2019 and a total of 21,000 additional beds by 2024. We are currently on track to exceed these targets.
• A greater supply of student accommodation to meet demand has the potential to ease overall pressures on the rental market, including moderating rent increases, on the basis of increased competition and choice.

Sinn Féin’s Private Members Bill

• However, I do not believe that Sinn Féin’s Private Members Bill will achieve the outcome of having all student accommodation subject to ongoing regulation. I do believe that this is the right outcome to seek, but this Bill won’t deliver that.
• The Sinn Féin Bill proposes to apply the protections afforded to tenancies under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 to students living in student specific accommodation under licence agreements.
• The Bill focuses, in particular, on ensuring that the annual rent increase limit of 4%, as it applies to certain dwellings in Rent Pressure Zones, will also apply to student specific accommodation provided under licence.
• However, a licensing framework might best suit the business model of student-specific accommodation providers, rather than trying to bring them in under the provisions of Residential Tenancies Acts which do not naturally fit with students, who generally occupy their accommodation for around 8 months of the years.
• There is a risk that the expected supply of student accommodation coming on stream could be negatively affected by the proposed application of the Residential Tenancies Acts to student specific accommodation provided under licence agreement.
• We need to explore how we can legally protect all students from high accommodation costs, whether they live in public or private accommodation and whether they have signed a tenancy or licence agreement.
• We need to provide students with a choice on where they wish to live during their college life. Students should not be forced to take whatever accommodation they can get, come August. They should get value for money and reasonable accommodation that best suits their needs.
• It’s also worth pointing out that the 4% RPZ limit, if applied to student accommodation, would not be retrospective and would not cover new properties.
• The measures proposed by Sinn Féin cannot be supported at this juncture, on the basis that a more thorough analysis of the impacts by the Department of Education and Skills and the Minister’s Department, as to whether amending the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 is the best approach to regulate student specific accommodation provided under licence.
• It may well be that bespoke legislation, subject to further legal advice, might better achieve the intended purposes of the Bill, without adding significantly to the already very heavy workload of the Residential Tenancies Board.
• The Department of Education and Skills (DES) is liaising with officials from my Department, including through the forum of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Student Accommodation which is convened by the DES, to examine the wide range of student accommodation types (and ancillary services) available with a view to considering how best to regulate pricing arrangements.
• While Government is not in a position to support the Sinn Féin Bill at this stage, we do not oppose it. The Departments of Education and Skills and Housing, Planning and Local Government will consider the Bill’s proposals further.
• In the event that it is considered that there is a policy-based case for legislation in this area, proposals will be brought forward, either in a standalone Bill or in the context of the second of two Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bills envisaged this year.

Thank you.

Launch of Report: Evaluation Phase 1 of Dublin City Age Friendly Housing with Support Model

Launch of Report: Evaluation Phase 1 of Dublin City Age Friendly Housing with Support Model

Damien English, T.D., Minister for Housing and Urban Development

Mansion House

4 May 2018

Opening Remarks

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to be with you for the launch of this report on age friendly housing.

The report, which Dr. Kathy Walsh set out for us so clearly this morning, contains the results of an evaluation of the first phase of the Housing with Support Demonstration project.

It is a key priority for Government under the Rebuilding Ireland Plan, with which I am very proud to be associated.

I would like to congratulate Dr. Walsh for her hard work in producing this valuable report on this important issue.

The evaluation of phase one and the toolkit that has been developed will provide a useful reference and guidebook for others who want to replicate this ‘housing with supports’ model in other parts of the country.

I would like to thank Dublin City Council, who generously provided the site for this project, on their lands in Inchicore.

Thanks especially to Brendan Kenny, Deputy Chief Executive and Céline Reilly, Executive Manager in the Council.

The provision of housing is not just about numbers of houses built. It is about how we plan for the future. What we plan today will have an immense impact on how well people will live in their homes in the years ahead.

A key objective of Rebuilding Ireland is to deliver housing that meets current needs while contributing to wider objectives. Rebuilding Ireland also recognises the importance of planning housing for an ageing population.

The fact that this project was brought forward as a pathfinder housing project was significant. It had to be based on best practice and cost effectiveness. as well as taking a cross departmental, interagency approach to housing initiatives for older people. I would like to acknowledge the cooperation between:

My own Department,

The Department of Health,

Dublin City Council,

The HSE,

Age Friendly Dublin,

The Irish Council for Social Housing,

The Approved Housing Bodies and The Housing Agency.

Thanks to all of you, we have a timely project for the future. This was delivered in no small part thanks to the steering committee and its effective chairing by Maurice O’Connell.

Reading the report, so many more people were involved. I want you to know that your work is very much appreciated.

I would like to acknowledge the older people who took the time and care to tell us exactly what is needed for your future independent living. Your evidence is the bedrock to the success of this phase.

Demographics

While Ireland is a relatively young country, one of the key challenges facing us in the years ahead is planning for and addressing the needs of our rapidly ageing population.

The ageing of our population represents one of the most significant demographic and societal developments that this country faces, with the number of people over the age of 65 expected to reach 1.4 million by 2041.

Across the same period, the number over the age of 80 is set to quadruple to 480,000. The implications for public policy in areas such as housing, health and planning are considerable.

Announcing Funding for Housing Adaptation Grants

With such statistics, it is fitting that as well as launching the Evaluation Report today, I am also announcing the 2018 funding that has been secured for the Housing Adaptation Grants Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability.

I am pleased to say that funding of €66.25m has been secured for the schemes in 2018. This is an increase of 11% on 2017.

Over 9,000 households benefitted under the Scheme last year, and with this additional funding, we aim to support the improvement and adaptation of 10,000 homes this year.

I am very aware of the social benefit accruing from these grants in terms of facilitating older people and people with a disability to remain living in their own homes for longer.

It is also very important that these grants can be readily accessed by those who need them. For that reason, my Department has liaised with local authorities to review the accessibility of the scheme and is now working to streamline the application process.

We are moving to a single application form to cover the three schemes:

1. the grants to assist people with a disability;
2. those to assist older people in poor housing conditions;
3. and the mobility aids funding.

This better application arrangement, along with an ‘Easy Read Guide’ to filling the form, will make the grants more accessible to those who need them.

Further consideration will also be given to increasing the funding over the coming years in line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland.

Government Policy on Older People

In recognising and valuing the achievement and benefits of our population living longer, we need to ensure that their quality of life is maintained and nurtured.

Government policy in relation to housing for older people, as set out in the Programme for Government and Rebuilding Ireland, is to support older people to live with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Research has consistently shown that older people wish to ‘age in place’ close to their families, friends and in the community where they may have lived for many years.

In the past the traditional approach has been to keep older people in their own homes if they can manage, and if not, place them into high support accommodation, such as nursing homes.

It is really good to see more choice in housing types being planned to accommodate our ageing population. This project exemplifies the type of new offering that can be made available for older people in Ireland.

This policy approach is also seen as both contributing to a greater sense of wellbeing for older people and being cost effective. For many, living in adapted or specialist housing reduces reliance on health and social care services and can result in measurably improved health status.

It is important to acknowledge that housing policy for older people is broader and more complex than the mere provision of bricks and mortar.

Indeed, addressing the needs of older people requires a cross-Departmental approach and inter-agency co-operation. The provision of housing for older people, particularly as we look at the future needs of our ageing population, will require a good mix of housing and health policy.

St. Michael’s Estate Pilot Project under Rebuilding Ireland

The St. Michael’s Estate site in Inchicore has been identified as a “Housing with Support” pilot model under Rebuilding Ireland. It will deliver 52 homes.

It is intended to set a new standard for the future of housing provision for older people and to act as an exemplar for others to follow.

The project has been approved for funding of almost €15 million under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme with a contribution of €450,000 from the HSE towards additional communal facilities for the residents.

These homes are being future proofed even before they are built, with extra space in all the homes to allow for care staff and/or family overstays, whichever is the more appropriate as time goes by.

This project offers the opportunity for Circle AHB and Alone to design, build and operate a unique development. The new purpose-built housing units will have a range of on-site supports. My congratulations on winning the commission and I wish you every success in successfully delivering on the project.

The ‘Housing with Support’ model brings together a range of services and supports – principally relating to housing, community, social and care needs.

It enables older persons to live full lives in their own homes within their own community. It enables independence and reduces the need to move into long term residential care.

The overall aim is to develop a new model of housing for older people where the key components, physical environment and care supports are provided on-site, integrated into the community and are designed with older people at the core.

Phasing of the Project

Phase 1 of the project focused on the development of the concept and overall design; Phase 2 will provide the detailed design and build process.

It would be my wish and hope that this project will continue with all speed – funding is in place – and that building would commence as soon as possible so that we get to Phase 3, which will see residents move in and occupy the housing by 2020.

It is important that all the key stakeholders continue to work together on this project and drive it forward.

Concluding Remarks

The project we are discussing today is an important element of the Rebuilding Ireland Plan and is all the more significant for the cohort it seeks to support – our older people.

I hope the Inchicore project is the first of many such projects around the country and while I am delighted that Dublin City Council provided the site for this demonstrator project, I see no reason why others can’t replicate this model with private sites and funding.

I want to thank you all once for your efforts to date in turning this concept into reality and I look forward to the day when the homes in Inchicore are complete and occupied.

I want to especially single out the contribution of the chair of the Steering Group, Maurice O’Connell for mention. Maurice has shown a personal commitment to the project, over and above anything that could have been expected. His enthusiasm and drive for the project is infectious and in no small way has brought us to this day.

We have a good news story here and Maurice’s role in bringing housing, social and care supports together within a single scheme is to be commended. He and his Steering Committee deserve our heartiest congratulations.

In conclusion ladies and gentlemen:

• The groundwork is now complete.
• We now have a new practical model for housing in Ireland.
• I look forward to seeing the next two phases of this project completed; and
• Reaching the stage where people are moving into their new homes for what will be the next new adventure in their lives.

Well done and thank you.

ENDS

Project Ireland 2040 launched today

‘Project Ireland 2040’, launched today, is a key element in how we plan
and build for the Meath/Westmeath and the Ireland of 2040 and beyond.  I am
delighted that encouraging local jobs near to where people live, and
providing vital infrastructure – both social and transport, are the
key drivers of this new investment plan. As one of the Ministers
responsible at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local
Government for the National Planning Framework , which forms a
crucial component of this plan, I welcome this jobs focussed and
sustainable vision.  This marks a major re-balancing of previous
failed Fianna Fail plans.

Some of the highlights of the plan include:

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Locally, in Meath West I welcome specifically the Rural Regeneration
and Development Fund. Investment projects in towns and villages with
populations of less than 10,000 in Meath and Westmeath will be in a
position to benefit from a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
which will invest €1bn in promoting rural renewal, to help towns,
villages and rural areas to grow in a sustainable way. Our larger Urban centres will also have access to an Urban Regeneration Fund.  This is good
news for many parts of rural Meath and Westmeath. Project Ireland 2040
also supports Gaeltacht areas across the country with increased
investment to enable the creation of 1,000 jobs every year in
Gaeltacht areas including Meath.

Social Housing

For social housing, the target up to the 2021 period is to deliver
approximately 26,120 additional social homes under this programme
across the Greater Dublin Region (Meath/Kildare/Wicklow). Over two
thirds of this will be through new build and a healthy pipeline of
activity is already in place with around 5,000 units completed, on
site or progressing through approval stages.  Of the 5,000 additional
social housing units in current delivery, specific examples would
include projects in Meath at Ratoath 17 homes, Kells 40 homes and
Connaught Grove, Athboy, 32 homes.

Dunboyne Rail and possible extension to Dunshaughlin and Navan

The National Transport Authority is required to review its Greater
Dublin Area Transport Strategy before the end of 2021. This review
will include a reappraisal of the project to extend the rail line from
Dunboyne to Dunshaughlin and Navan, taking into account the scale of
new and planned development along the route and will allow for its
consideration during the Mid Term Review of Project Ireland 2040.

Greenway

Projects ready to be delivered in 2018/2019 include the completion of
the Kildare and Meath sections of the Galway to Dublin Greenway. It is
expected that a number of new greenways projects will be funded and
delivered over the period of the National Development Plan, the
funding for which will be allocated on the basis of a competitive
bid-based approach. The goal of an iconic coast-to- coast greenway
from Dublin to Galway remains a priority for the Government and in
light of the development of the Greenways Strategy.

ENDS

Minister Damien English introduces New Planning Regulations

Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English, T.D., today (8 February 2018) signed three new sets of exempted development regulations.

The Planning Act provides that the Minister may make regulations to provide that certain classes of development be exempted from the requirement to obtain planning permission, thereby streamlining and creating efficiencies in the planning system but also reducing the regulatory and administrative burden on those undertaking such works.

As required under the Planning Act, the regulations received a positive resolution from both Houses of the Oireachtas on 25 January 2018.

The new regulations now provide for the following exemptions:

• development by Irish Water related to the provision of water services and the undertaking of normal day to day activities relating to same, such as maintenance type works,
• the change of use, and any related works, relating to the conversion of vacant commercial premises – including “over the shop” type premises – for residential use, on foot of the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland in this regard, and
• amending existing provisions relating to certain works by statutory undertakers in providing telecommunications services, to support the rollout of the National Broadband Plan and extended mobile phone coverage.

Minister English said “Following detailed engagement with the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government and with Oireachtas members last week, I am pleased to sign these regulations and bring the new planning provisions into force.”

“These are important regulations which are intended to benefit and have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives. For example, reliable mobile and broadband service across the country is essential in our modern lives and the regulations will assist in the accelerated roll-out of the National Broadband Plan and support the provision of enhanced mobile phone services, particularly in rural and remote areas. The regulations will also support Irish Water in the efficient delivery of the vital service that it provides and allow it to respond quickly in emergency situations to ensure the continued supply of essential water services”, he continued.

Minister English highlighted, “The regulations relating to the change of use of vacant buildings for residential purposes are vitally important and have three-fold benefits – firstly, facilitating the bringing on stream of urgently needed housing supply in high demand areas; secondly, maximising the use of vacant underutilised spaces; and thirdly, rejuvenating and breathing new life into inner-core urban areas in towns and cities. I hope that as many property owners of vacant premises around the country will utilise these provisions as soon as possible.”

The new regulations will be available on the Department’s website and on the electronic statute book.

ENDS

Speech at Launch of Advanced Leasing Arrangements, Mont Clare Hotel

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Introduction

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

I am delighted to be here this morning to officially launch the new enhanced arrangements for long term leasing of private property, to provide additional social housing homes. This important initiative is just one of a large number of actions being taken to implement Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

As I am sure you are aware, Rebuilding Ireland is the Government’s Plan to deal with the housing shortage in this country. Taken together, it comprises a €6 billion, multi-annual action plan, which seeks to increase the overall supply of new homes to 25,000 per annum by 2020; deliver an additional 50,000 social housing units in the period to 2021; and meet the housing needs of some 87,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme.

Strong progress on the implementation of this plan is already being made. On the social housing construction front, we have a programme of works on 770 sites that will deliver over 12,300 new homes, with the number of schemes in the programme continuing to grow on a weekly basis.

Clearly, we want to see a greater emphasis on direct building of social housing than was envisaged originally under Rebuilding Ireland. In this regard, we will see almost 5,000 new social homes built in 2018, including 3,800 by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).

In addition to the established Local Authority and AHB direct-build programme, activity continues apace across a range of other measures. These include social housing homes through local authorities and AHBs; the Housing Assistance Payment scheme; and the Rental Accommodation Scheme.

Recognising that measures introduced to date are beginning to have an impact, and will have a greater impact in time, on 22 January my colleague Minister Murphy announced a further package of initiatives to help alleviate affordability pressures faced by households, particularly in areas of high housing demand and high accommodation costs. This included the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, along with an Affordable Purchase Scheme, and an Affordable Rental Scheme.

Background to Enhanced Leasing Scheme

It is among these broader efforts that the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme must be viewed. As the latest element of Rebuilding Ireland housing policy, I am delighted to launch the scheme this morning.

The enhancements made to the Leasing programme represent a strategic policy approach, signalled in Rebuilding Ireland, to harness the capacity of institutional investment, and the increasing activity in the wider construction market, in order to achieve the delivery of high quality social housing homes, in places where people want to live.

Over the course of Rebuilding Ireland, 10,000 new social homes are targeted for delivery using a leasing model. We don’t expect all of the 10,000 new units to be delivered using the new leasing arrangements but the Government is committed to providing the resources necessary to achieve our ambition in that context.

The existing Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), administered by my Department, already provides a means whereby properties can be leased by Local Authorities from private providers. However, we would all acknowledge that there are limitations to the scheme as it currently exists, particularly if we are looking at targeted new build units and delivery at scale. It is for this reason that we been working on improvements to make the leasing scheme more attractive to private investors, who can provide social housing for leasing to local authorities on a larger scale. A core necessity as part of the development of these new arrangements is to ensure that the contracts that underpin the security of these units do not have a negative impact on the General Government Balance. In other words, that we are actively benefitting from the institutional investment in such a way that does not limit our ability to continue to invest in our local authority and approved housing body building programmes.

Officials from my Department, together with the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), the Housing Agency, representatives of the local authorities, and their legal advisors Eversheds Sutherland Solicitors, have worked closely to finalise the details of the scheme. Through their work in bringing the initiative to the market and undertaking the market testing of outline provisions of the lease, the NDFA has established that there is a demand among potential investors for what is being proposed.

Objectives & Operation of the Scheme

The main objective of this scheme is to have about 2,500 units leased for social housing by the end of 2021.

It will mainly target newly built or yet to be built houses and apartments for leasing. Private or institutional investors will finance 100% of the cost of purchasing or constructing residential units and they will retain ownership of the property during and after the term of the lease. The lease will be for a period of 25 years.

The scheme will be governed by my Department and operated by Local Authorities. It will be funded through the Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), which provides financial support to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies for the long-term leasing of houses and apartments from private owners and developers. The Department will recoup to local authorities the cost of meeting the contractual costs of each leased unit. Properties made available under the scheme will be used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists on a long term basis.

The Housing Agency will administer the scheme on behalf of the Department. It will assess proposals from prospective providers and their capacity to deliver the required number of properties. Following the assessment, the Agency will act as the point of contact between the provider and the local authorities. The Local Authorities will determine the suitability of the proposed properties, having regard to the standard of the properties, the requirement for social housing in the area, and the criteria set out in each authority’s Development Plans.

Providers will be invited to indicate their capacity to fund the purchase or construction of a minimum of 20 properties in a Local Authority area for the purposes of scheme. Alternatively, they may propose vacant properties in their existing portfolio if these units are either new to the housing market, or have not been leased or rented in the previous two years.

The Local Authority will retain their important role as landlord to the tenants, an area in which they have decades of experience. Tenants will be nominated by the appropriate Local Authority in accordance with their accepted allocation scheme.

The provider will be required to assist the Local Authority in managing the tenancy, and they may engage a property management company or Approved Housing Body to provide facilities management services to the tenants on their behalf.

Conclusion

The delivery of this project has involved the cooperation of a range of State bodies and agencies. The role of the NDFA as financial advisor to my Department in this work has been an important one. The Housing Agency has also had a major input into developing the scheme, in consultation with the local authorities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their involvement and expertise in this process, as well as Eversheds Sutherland, and also my Department’s officials, for their work in bringing this scheme to fruition.

I believe that the changes being unveiled today in this Enhanced Leasing scheme will allow potential investors from the private sector to assist in the delivery of housing services and supports. The details of the scheme are now on the Housing Agency’s website which contains the Call for Proposals and the related legal documents. Jim Baneham, who is here today on behalf of the Agency, will give you the details in his presentation.

This initiative is another important policy instrument that will help us to meet our ambitious goals for improving the delivery of social housing as set out in Rebuilding Ireland.

Combined with other recently announced initiatives; the additional measures announced under Budget 2018; and those announced just last week; Rebuilding Ireland continues to provide a robust framework to address the housing and homelessness challenges we face.

Our focus will remain firmly on implementation and delivery to ensure that the range of objectives and targets set are achieved.

Once again, thank you all for coming, and I hope you find the material presented at this morning’s event informative.

Seanad Housing Statement Wednesday 31st January 2018

Seanad Housing Statement Wednesday 31st January 2018

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Introduction

A Chathaoirleach, I’d like to thank you and the members of the Seanad for the opportunity to update the House on the Government’s progress in responding to the housing challenges and highlight the actions we have taken and are taking to increase the social housing stock, meet the needs of those on the waiting lists and those at risk of becoming homeless, as well as drive the increased supply of new housing across all tenure and maximise our existing housing stock to meet current and future needs.

I want in the first instance to acknowledge the delivery of almost 26,000 social housing supports, by local authorities and approved housing bodies and other housing stakeholders, to those who needed support and help in 2017. We have over-achieved most of our targets, but need to maintain and build on this progress in 2018 and beyond.

I also want to acknowledge the hard work across the country in terms tackling homelessness. It was encouraging to see the reduction in homeless numbers in December. We must, however, do more and especially advance additional preventative measures.

2017 outcomes

I’d like to briefly highlight some key outcomes from the range of actions that we have taken under Rebuilding Ireland:

• 25,892 is the number of new households that had their housing need met in 2017. To put it another way, 100 new households had their social housing need met each working day of the week last year.
• The Government exceeded its overall target for new social housing supports last year by 23%. That’s more than 4,800 additional tenancies.
• Comparing with 2016, last year we increased our social housing supports by 36% or 6,847 more households supported.
• Over 7,000 new homes were brought into the active social housing stock through build, acquisitions, voids and leasing programmes in 2017. This is a 40% increase (almost 2,000 new homes) on what was planned for the year; and it’s a 24% increase over what was achieved in 2016.
• We came in slightly shy on our LA and AHB Build target for the year, but hitting 92% or our target – 2,245 newly built homes – is still a very positive result.  In fact, it’s over three times the level in 2016.
• Furthermore, when we look at the combined delivery for both built and acquired social housing homes in 2017, the delivery was 4,511 new homes. That’s 22% (or 827 additional homes) more than had been originally planned.
• We have changed the delivery mix for 2018 though, meaning we will be aiming to do more on the build side and less on the acquisitions side. But where buying makes sense, and where it’s not competing with young families or couples in the market, Local Authorities will continue to do it.
• Construction figures from September of 2017 show 3,700 new social housing homes being built across 190 sites. These are being added to on a weekly basis.
• Activity under Part V in 2017 reflects the overall increase in activity in the wider residential construction sector. The 388 homes delivered represent an almost six-fold increase on the number of new social homes delivered using this mechanism in 2016.
• The target for HAP of 15,000 was exceeded by nearly 3,000, with 17,916 new HAP tenancies established in 2017.
• Overall, some 4,000 exits from homelessness were achieved in 2017; this is 33% higher than in 2016.

Looking across the residential sector more generally:

• In 2017, over 17,500 new homes commenced construction. This is an increase of 33% on 2016.
• Last year, we saw over 9,500 registrations in larger developments, a level not seen since March 2009.
• Over 19,000 homes were connected to the ESB network. This is an increase of more than 29% on 2016. This number includes newly built homes and those lying empty more than 2 years.
• In the year to the end of September 2017, planning permissions were granted for more than 18,000 new homes.
• As of 31st December, 2017, An Bord Pleanála had received 13 applications for large scale developments under the new fast track process which I signed in to law six months ago, including 1,900 houses, 1,750 apartments and over 4,000 student bed spaces, all due for decision in 2018.
• And we’ve recently had the first positive decision under this scheme, which is welcome news.

Of course in recognising these positive developments in 2017, that’s not to say that our work is finished – not by a long shot.

And I’m not saying that all is now well with our housing system and that further interventions will not be needed to continue to repair our recently broken housing system. There is more that we need to do and both Minister Murphy and I know that.

It’s also important to note that Rebuilding Ireland is a 5-year plan, and we are only about 18 months into that plan.

These figures tell us that Rebuilding Ireland is working, that we are moving in the right direction – and we are moving there more quickly than had originally been planned.

People can have confidence in the work that we are doing to repair a recently broken housing system and to get tens of thousands of new homes built.

I’ll continue to drive that work, because it needs to be driven, and further interventions will need to be made, over the coming months and years, until Rebuilding Ireland is completed.

As a Government we are fixing our housing problems – as quickly as they can be fixed; and we are doing it in a sustainable way that won’t expose us to the risks and mistakes of the past.

There is more work to do, clearly. We have even greater ambitions for 2018, particularly on the build side.

Housing Summit with LA CEs

Minister Murphy and I hosted a valuable all-day Housing Summit with all 31 Local Authority Chief Executives last week, and discussed how each authority will implement the target number of social houses to be delivered in each Local Authority area out to 2021, with a particular focus on 2018 delivery and accelerating delivery across the country.

The targets for delivery in each Local Authority area are based on the Social Housing Needs Assessment and waiting lists, which were published earlier this month.

The targets also take account of two changes in the latter half of last year: the move towards a greater percentage of build by Local Authorities; and the additional €500m secured in last year’s budget for the capital plan.

Each Local Authority Chief Executive is now required to furnish a report by mid-February, confirming and setting out how their Local Authority will deliver on its social housing targets over the coming years. The targets and details of the delivery programme of each Local Authority will then be published on an ongoing basis, with this transparency helping to achieve greater accountability and drive delivery.

Better coordination & support

In terms of improving coordination and sharing of best practice across the local government sector, my Department’s Housing Delivery Unit is now up and running and working on the ground with Local Authorities to support and accelerate delivery.

We do not need a new agency or quango to accelerate the building of homes – but we do need better coordination of resources, and ensure that the right people with the right skills are in place within my Department and across local authorities to deliver on these ambitious targets.

New leasing Initiatives

Tackling vacancy continues to be a key focus and we have agreed a range of improvements to the existing Repair and Leasing Scheme, which has not been successful to date. There is also progress at local level in developing Vacant Homes Actions Plans and targeting vacancy hot-spot areas is advancing, especially in our cities and urban areas.

I also outlined at the LA Housing Summit details of an enhanced scheme for long-term leasing of private dwellings for social housing.  It aims to supply at least an additional 2,500 social housing homes by 2021.  The Scheme will allow the private sector to invest in providing housing which can then be leased to local authorities for up to 25 years for use as social housing. This leasing initiative was launched earlier today and I expect to see a lot of interest to deliver new homes quickly and cost-effectively.

Affordable Housing

There was an extensive discussion in the Dáil last night around the challenge of affordability and what actions are being progressed. As tens of thousands of new homes are built across the country over the coming years, we must ensure that they are affordable.

Given that our residential construction was on its knees following the crash, we first needed to remove costs and obstacles for builders to make projects viable, so they can deliver more affordable homes.

To achieve this, we have taken action by:

• streamlining planning with a new fast-track process for large developments;
• a dedicated €200m infrastructure fund;
• new apartment guidelines to remove unnecessary costs; and,
• Home Building Finance Ireland HBFI, a new State-funded bank to provide competitive loans for builders,

These actions and others have resuscitated the residential construction industry and facilitated the construction of thousands of new homes at more affordable prices. The Help-to-Buy Scheme is also great help to many in securing a deposit, with nearly 5,000 approvals so far.

Still, as a Government we are going to do more on housing affordability.

As Minister Murphy announced on 22 January and reiterated last night, initially we are doing this in three ways:

• The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan;
• An Affordable Purchase Scheme, and
• An Affordable Rental Scheme.
• The measures are targeted at households with low to moderate incomes with a maximum of €50,000 for a single applicant or €75,000 for joint applicants.

Conclusion

We have made strong progress across a wide range of areas during 2017 – we are not there yet but the signs and data trends are very promising.

Rebuilding Ireland is working.

Social housing provision is ahead of target.

The Government is committed to delivering on the new affordable housing schemes.

Myself, Minister Murphy, our Department and our delivery partners will continue to do all in our power to drive on that delivery.

Minister English announces new social housing scheme for Navan

8th January 2018

Damien English, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government today (Monday) announced approval to the construction of over 40 units in Farganstown, Navan, Co. Meath. Funding of €11.2 million is being provided by the Department for this project, which is part of a wider development. 

Meath County Council have received approval for funding of €4.26 million under Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), also from the Department, for the provision of an access road for Farganstown which will enable the delivery of these social housing units and a further 360 private housing units.  The grant agreement for the LIHAF project was signed by the Minister in December 2017.

Minister English welcomed the project which, importantly, will advance in tandem with the LIHAF infrastructure works. 

Rebuilding Ireland, Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness has put in place the necessary funding to accelerate the delivery of social housing, with a greater emphasis now being placed on direct build activity for local authorities and approved housing bodies. 

Minister English acknowledged progress nationally with the construction status report to Quarter 3 2017 showing significant growth in the area of new build activity with over 770 schemes, which will deliver some 12,300 associated units in the pipeline. 

In Meath in particular he said “there are already 14 projects in the construction pipeline, which will deliver in excess of 243 units at an estimated cost of €50 million, which along with this project will bring Meath County Council’s current pipeline to over 280 units”. Local Authorities have been asked to continue to add to their pipeline of construction projects.

In Budget 2018, €1.9 billion has been secured for housing programmes, representing a 46% increase over 2017.  This investment will ensure that the housing needs of 25,500 households will be met next year, 4,420 more households than in 2017. 

“My Department and I will be continuing to engage proactively with all local authorities including Meath County Council and with approved housing bodies to expand further the programme of projects in the weeks and months ahead” concluded Minister English.

ENDS

Vacant shops could be turned into homes to tackle the housing shortage across Meath and Ireland – English

Friday, 15th December 2017

Vacant shops could soon be turned into homes to help tackle the
housing shortage in Meath and Ireland.

This is the proposal of local Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal
and Meath West Fine Gael T.D. Damien English which was brought forward
to Government during the week so that vacant commercial premises can
be made into housing without the need for planning permission.

Minister English said: “These draft regulations, if approved by the
Oireachtas, will allow the conversion of certain vacant commercial
premises here in Meath such as empty retail units and “over the shop”
type spaces to homes without the need for planning permission.

“This will have the dual benefit of creating urgently needed housing
supply in high demand areas, while at the same time breathing new life
into our towns and urban areas- many of which have been adversely
affected by the economic downturn.

“Fine Gael in Government, and myself and Minister Murphy in our
Department are fully committed to bringing as many vacant properties
as possible back into use and maximising the use of existing
resources.”

“These new regulations, brought forward by myself and my colleague
Minister Eoghan Murphy, will make it easier for property owners to
re-imagine the use of vacant and under-used buildings without having
to go through the planning process.

“These are the first of a series of measures being developed by my
Department to streamline the various regulatory requirements relating
to the conversion of vacant spaces for residential use”.

“We want to once again show how the planning system can be responsive
to current needs and demands, by removing the need for planning
consent where appropriate and thereby provide greater efficiencies in
the system.

“All elements of the three sets of proposals brought forward today
have the potential to have a very real and positive impact on the
people of Meath and beyond.

“The Joint Oireachtas Committee will discuss these proposals in early
2018 so that the new provisions can be brought into operation as soon
as possible” concluded Minister English.

ENDS

Note to Editors:

The Planning Act provides that the Minister may make regulations to
provide that certain classes of development shall be exempted from the
requirement to obtain planning permission.  The three sets of draft
exempted development regulations now proposed relate to exemptions
for:

Ø  development by Irish Water related to the provision of water
services and the undertaking of normal day to day activities relating
to same, such as maintenance type works,

Ø  the change of use, and any related works, relating to the
conversion of vacant commercial premises for residential use (subject
to certain limitations), on foot of the commitment in Rebuilding
Ireland in this regard, and

Ø  amending existing provisions relating to certain works by statutory
undertakers in providing telecommunications services, to support the
rollout of the National Broadband Plan and extended mobile phone
coverage.

Address by Damien English, T.D., Minister for Housing and Urban Development at Fine Gael National Conference

Slieve Russell Hotel, 11^th November 2017

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

The ageing of our population is of prime significance to Government and presents challenges and opportunities on many levels.

By 2045, it is projected that there will be double the number of 65-year-olds in this country, and we need to make sure that we plan for and cater for our ageing population.

We must recognise the critical role played by older people in society, many of them with skills and expertise already in short supply, who must be given every opportunity to contribute as active members within their wider community.

We must also seek to increase and enhance the opportunities for active participation. The quality of life of the older members of our communities is something that concerns us all, and demands a cohesive, inclusive and comprehensive approach at all decision making levels.

A vital element of the quality of life of older people lies at the decision making at local authority level.

This is the level that is in immediate contact with the community, and indeed is part of the local community. Decisions made at this level greatly determine safety within local communities, the quality of accommodation and the physical environment, service provision and the accessibility to these services.

Such services are of limited use without the means to access and utilise them, and this is true for all members of our communities. In planning to make our communities age friendly, we also meet the needs of many other service users.

The planning of such services is vital, as poor decision making can have the counter effect of causing rather than solving problems. Of course appropriate decision making and planning will benefit many service users, and it is critical that local authorities take the key leadership role of bringing together relevant agencies and service providers.

Central to the planning of such services is consultation with services users, involving them in the decision making process.

The establishment of Older People Councils has ensured this consultation, and has allowed plans to be developed and agreed locally, providing inclusion, involvement and accountability for all key stakeholders.

This approach represents local government at its best and it is a prime example of giving effect to the need for integrated services through thorough engagement and planning.

It is Government policy to support older people to live independently and with dignity in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

While acknowledging the effect that this can have on reducing reliance on health and social services, the benefits to the individual in terms of well-being and community inclusion are of equal, if not greater importance. After all, it is the individual who is the heart of the community. It’s really about making Ireland a great place to grow old.

In terms of my own brief, older people have specific housing requirements, including proximity to family and social networks. Access to public and other essential services, recreation and amenities is also vital. Therefore, there is a requirement for a range of housing choices and options to be made available to older people, involving a cross Departmental, multi agency approach.

Following a housing summit two years ago, an inter-agency Housing Working Group led by Age Friendly Ireland set out to explore the options to better accommodate older people within their community rather than in residential care. They carried out extensive research, workshops with older persons, and there was active collaboration between stakeholders including the Irish Council for Social Housing, the HSE, the Department of Health, Dublin City Council and my own Department.

Among the recommendations put forward in the Report is the development of a pilot project of 50 – 60 dwellings suitable for the elderly. A steering committee has already been formed to oversee progress.

It is intended that the collaborative process, leading to the commencement of the project, will set the standard for roll-out of future schemes.

Of course, the challenge will then be how to take local models of good practice to a wider network, in a way that consistently applies age friendly initiatives.

Key to this is innovation, and developing adaptable and smart homes to support assisted living for older people in their homes.

In this context, the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness committed to supporting a design challenge to provide solutions for older people within the built environment.

As mentioned, the challenge for all of us is to ensure cooperation and teamwork between service providers.

An example of this is the case of the Age Friendly Programme, which provides a real opportunity to transform communities in a positive and collaborative environment, to make them as age friendly and inclusive as possible.

The programme allows us to learn from each other and be better placed to deliver the services older people within our communities deserve.

We all need to be involved in taking the strong foundations of the community and building on them.

It is, without a doubt, the people that make a community work, as the old Irish saying goes ‘Ní neart go chur le chéile’ – there is no strength without unity!

Together, we need to build and perpetuate that vital sense of community that has and always will be the bedrock of Irish society, whether that is through leading, or supporting those leaders, towards the development of age friendly communities throughout Ireland and across Europe.

Thank you.

Property Industry Ireland Conference Speech

Speech by Minister of State for Housing and Planning – Damien English T.D. at the Property Industry Ireland Conference on Living and working in Ireland to 2040 – impacts on Irish Property Industry

Marker Hotel Dublin 27^th September 8.15 am

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY N.B.

• I am delighted to open this prestigious event this morning in Dublin’s docklands, an area whose regeneration is very visible evidence of both the success of our government’s economic policies and demonstrating what real plan-led development delivers for our society.

 

• Your event today comes hot on the heels of yesterday’s Government approval of the publication of a consultation draft of Ireland 2040 – The National Planning Framework.

 

• The views of the public, including your organisation, are now invited up until 3^rd November 2017 and indeed Mr Niall Cussen, my Department’s Chief Planner will give a brief run-through the document later this morning.

 

• Furthermore, when finalised later this year after the current public consultation phase, the Government intends to publish the final version of the NPF with a 10 year capital investment programme or National Investment Plan as both a strategic vision and the investment strategy to transform our country.

 

• We will ensure that investment in housing, transport, communications, energy systems, amenities and community facilities are sequenced properly, achieving long-term agreed planning aims.

 

• The key elements of the strategy behind Ireland 2040 are:

1. Better strategically planning for our cities, including Dublin as our capital and key international driver;
2. Growing Ireland’s four other cities (Cork, Waterford, Galway and Limerick), by 40-50% in the two decades ahead, (a faster rate than our capital).
3. Addressing connectivity to and opportunities within Ireland’s regions and rural areas; and
4. Securing more compact forms of development to reduce sprawl and to provide more choice.

 

• With our population expected to grow by 1million people by 2040, we need to manage such growth effectively, this means
  • a quarter of those being facilitated in the Greater Dublin Area,
  • a further quarter catered for in the other four cities; and
  • the remaining 50% within the towns, villages and rural areas across the country and on a proportionate basis.

 

• Successful implementation of the NPF will translate into a more strategic development path for our country with a better distribution of regional growth, employment and prosperity.

 

Housing & Rebuilding Ireland

• Beyond the strategic focus of Ireland 2040, the number one issue the Government currently faces is housing and homelessness.

 

• Currently, every working day, we provide housing for 80 individuals and families.  There are 20,000 new tenancies a year because we believe everyone should have a home.

 

• We are being imaginative in how we approach the crisis, and we will do all that is necessary to solve it.

 

• We will build more council houses and apartments and we will service the ample amounts of development land our planning process has already identified, not fuelling a further urban sprawl by zoning more land.

 

• To deliver more homes in the places we need them most – in our cities, as well as to deliver on the aims and objectives of Ireland 2040 in terms of compact development over the longer-term, we will make apartments more affordable to provide, in greater numbers in our city centre areas.

 

• In this regard, Ireland 2040 clearly signals that we need to develop upwards, rather than outwards in our cities using the huge potential from state owned lands through a new estate and portfolio management approach.

 

• We have made significant progress under Rebuilding Ireland – the Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, for example over 19,000 new social housing solutions were provided in 2016, with a further 21,000 such supports to be delivered in 2017.

 

• However, significant challenges remain and, one year on from Rebuilding Ireland’s publication, a focused review has been carried out, to assess the impacts of the new investments, policies and initiatives and consider where to focus and redouble efforts to address the supply and affordability issues that persist.

 

• Amongst other things, the review is aiming to:
• identify additional measures, particularly, new/additional supply side measures for social, private and rented accommodation, with an emphasis on affordability;
• deliver a range of ambitious and realistic measures to address vacant housing and provide a disincentive to vacancy in future;
  • find ways of reducing construction costs and improving the viability of apartment and house building;
  • identify ways of delivering sustainable mixed tenure solutions on sites of scale;
  • Further ramp up of the direct local authority social housing building programme; and introduce of a new affordable housing policy.

 

• Your organisation is unique because of the way in which it brings the many facets of our property sector together, from funding to planning and from construction to property management.

 

• Your organisation has a huge role to play in helping Government to develop and adjust the regulatory and policy framework for the development of a healthy property sector and one that plays a proper and proportionate role in our society and economy.

 

• My Department looks forward to working with Property Industry Ireland in the ongoing implementation of Rebuilding Ireland and in finalising and implementing Ireland 2040 and very much appreciates the valuable input and submissions received from your organisation to these processes.

 

 

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