Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 932: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007; the number of its recommendations which have been realised since then; and when the remainder will be addressed and delivered. [27739/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 934: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation in the Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27741/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 935: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007 which suggested that a review of minimum standards in the private rented sector be completed, and that measures be taken to improve local authority enforcement of these standards and other aspects of regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27742/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 936: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007 which suggested that a new incremental purchase scheme be introduced to broaden access to home ownership for lower income groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27743/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 937: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007 which suggested that a sustainable communities fund be established to provide revenue funding to local authorities to support the various steps involved in housing renewal and improving housing stock and that an element of that fund would be devoted to measures taken to address anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27744/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 938: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007 which suggested that audits of housing stock be undertaken every decade, with a benchmark audit being conducted in 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27745/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 939: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007 which suggested that supports available to local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour needed to be strengthened through increasing their statutory powers and actions to facilitate a targeted approach to combating anti-social behaviour in particular estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27746/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 932 and 934 to 939, inclusive, together.

Considerable progress has been made to date on implementation of the reforms set out in the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, since its publication in February 2007. Relevant sections of my Department's 2007 Annual Report and Annual Output Statement, which are available in the Oireachtas Library, provide comprehensive material in relation to the progress made by my Department on housing matters last year.

I expect to be in a position to submit the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to Government shortly, with a view to securing approval to its publication. The Bill will give effect to a range of social housing reforms outlined in Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, including new provisions on the assessment of social housing needs, updated management and control powers, provisions in relation to anti-social behaviour, and the introduction of a statutory basis for Housing Action Plans. The proposed Incremental Purchase Scheme is also being progressed in the context of the Bill.

The Sustainable Communities Fund envisaged under Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities was introduced in late 2007. Funding of some €7.6 million over a three-year period has been allocated across some 23 housing authorities to support a variety of projects including regeneration initiatives, tenancy liaison services and measures to reduce anti-social behaviour.

In relation to the audit of the housing stock, the National Building Agency has undertaken a scoping study in preparation for a National Estate Condition Survey. The results of this study will inform the next steps to be taken by my Department.

The review of private rented accommodation standards is progressing well and I expect to be in a position to submit proposals to Government in September, with revised regulations to be made shortly thereafter. Issues requiring primary legislative support will be progressed in the context of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

The National Property Services Regulatory Authority falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who I understand is currently arranging for the drafting of legislation to underpin the Authority.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 933: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation in the Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities report published in February 2007 which suggested that a use it or lose it scheme be introduced through new legislation that would give local authorities powers to accelerate development of land zoned for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27740/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department's February 2007 statement on housing policy Delivering Homes Sustaining Communities indicated that legislation was being developed to give powers to planning authorities to act on a selective basis to accelerate the development of appropriate zoned land for housing, through a "use it or lose it" scheme. The Government has approved the drafting of a Designated Land (Housing Development) Bill to provide for such a "use it or lose it" scheme. The General Scheme of the Bill provides for:

powers for planning authorities to enter into a binding agreement with, or impose requirements on, the owners of designated land in order to bring such land into housing development;

an amended compensation mechanism whereby designated land, if not developed in agreement with, or in accordance with requirements imposed by, the relevant planning authority, could be compulsorily acquired at below market value; and

as a possible alternative to compulsory acquisition, the imposition by planning authorities of an annual development incentive levy on designated land.

It is anticipated that the Bill will be published by the end of 2008.