Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of his review on co-living. [28370/20]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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89. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on his review of co-living and shared accommodation; the way in which the review is being conducted; when the review is due for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28231/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 89 together.

Section 5.0 of Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities, published by my Department in 2018, addresses the ‘Build-to-Rent’ and ‘Shared Accommodation’ sectors.

Paragraphs 5.13 to 5.24 including Specific Planning Policy Requirement (SPPR) 9 of the Sustainable Urban Housingdocument, provide guidance and policy in respect of ‘Shared Accommodation Developments’, also known as ‘Co-living’.

I have been clear in my intention to review the provisions Co-living set out in the Sustainable Urban Housingguidelines. It is also the case that the final paragraph (5.24) of the relevant section of the guidance commits my Department to monitor the emerging shared accommodation sector, with a view to issuing further technical updates of the Sustainable Urban Housing guidelines document, given the relatively new nature of this form of accommodation.

Accordingly, I have instructed officials in my Department to review Paragraphs 5.13 to 5.24 of the Sustainable Urban Housingdocument. This includes analysis of development proposals for co-living that have come forward since publication of the guidelines and in particular, how such proposals compare to apartment development standards generally. My officials will report within the coming weeks and this input will assist in informing my ultimate decision in respect of the matter.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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82. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which he expects to address the housing needs of families nationwide that are unable to provide themselves with affordable housing on the open market; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to meet the requirements of the local authorities in respect of housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28441/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling thriving housing supply, complimented by a commitment to deliver more than 50,000 social homes over the coming five years are central to ensuring affordability for families. Housing supply has increased year on year in recent years and the number of families on waiting lists for social housing has reduced by 25% between 2016 and 2019.

I am acutely aware that middle-income households feel left behind, locked out, and need our help to buy high-quality new homes. The July Stimulus announced by this Government increased the amount that first-time buyers can now claim up to 10% of the cost of a home.

My Department also operates the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which is targeted at first time buyers who wish to own their own home, have access to an adequate deposit and have the capacity to repay a mortgage, but who are unable to access a mortgage sufficient for them to purchase their first home. The scheme has been successful since its launch. For example approximately 1,100 persons were able to purchase their own home via RIHL mortgages in 2019.

This Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. I am committed to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing, and I will outline further plans in terms of affordable housing later in the Autumn.

The Government is also committed to helping to meet the specific housing needs of people with disabilities and older people. There is a recognised quality of life benefit in terms of facilitating the continued independent living by older people and people with a disability in their own homes. This year, my Department continued to support local authorities with €18 million being allocated under the Disabled Persons Grant scheme for local authority housing stock, and a further €73.75 million provided for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, in respect of private housing. Funding for these schemes has been prioritised and increased year on year since 2014, and further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years in the context of the range of housing supports under consideration.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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83. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the anti-eviction legislation will be reinstated for renters. [27754/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided for a temporary moratorium on tenancy terminations, other than in exceptional and limited cases, and on all increases in rent during the emergency period from 27 March to 1 August 2020. The emergency measures aimed to urgently assist in restricting the movement of people to suppress the spread of Covid-19 and applied to all tenants, irrespective of their financial circumstances.

The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 targets enhanced protections to the most vulnerable tenants until 10 January 2021 and respects the constitutionally protected property rights of landlords. As we learn to live with Covid-19, these provisions enable the residential rental sector to resume activity in as near as normal manner as possible.

With effect from 1 August 2020, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 introduced protections for those tenants who are facing rent arrears and, as a result, are at risk of losing their tenancy. If a tenant’s ability to pay rent has been impacted by Covid-19 and the tenant meets specific criteria, new procedures and protections apply. Tenants who follow these procedures cannot be required to vacate their rental accommodation before 11 January 2021, and are not required to pay any rent increase in respect of the period ending 10 January 2021.

My Department has published a guidance document, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020: What this Means for Landlords and Tenants, which sets out exactly what is expected as the rental protections under the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 expire, and provides details on the new protections for tenants in rent arrears and the income and other supports available to tenants and landlords.

This guidance document clearly explains the new rent arrears procedure for both landlords and tenants facing rent arrears. The Guidance document is available on the Department's website - www.housing.gov.ie - and on the RTB's website - .

The RTB has engaged with stakeholders with regard to the recent tenancy protection enhancements and launched a related YouTube video. The RTB also launched targeted advertising campaigns informing the public of the enhanced protections and directing people to its website for more information. The advertising campaigns ran from 15 April until to 1 August 2020 and a mail-shot to tenants and landlords is underway since mid-September.

Any further measures with regard to restricting tenancy terminations will be informed by the extent to which restrictions of movement introduced on public health grounds under the Governments Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19 are of such a nature as to inhibit the normal functioning of the rental market. My officials are currently developing proposals to address such a situation should the need arise.