Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

392. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of homes provided in each local authority area under the capital advance leasing facility; the value of these homes in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26292/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodie's (AHBs) to construct, purchase and lease new homes and make them available for social housing.

The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units.  This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department. The remainder of the capital cost is sourced by the AHB through other borrowings, to which the local authorities are not party.

The tables attached reflect the number of homes delivered in each Local Authority area, under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility by year and the total associated CALF funding for these units, for 2018-2020, inclusive.

* Please note that these figures do not include PART V units. Owing to the nature of the CALF, delivery of new housing does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and projects delivered under phased programmes may cross a number of payment periods.

Table

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

393. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has considered or investigated the use of 3D printed houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26293/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020. The Act provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations.

The Building Regulations set out the minimum legal performance requirements for the construction of new buildings and certain works to existing buildings. They do not prescribe materials or methods of construction to be used. The purpose of the Building Regulations is primarily to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. 

Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) are published for Parts A - M of the Second Schedule to the Building Regualtions. Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant TGD, such works are considered to be, prima facie, in compliance with that Part of the Regulations. However, the adoption of an approach other than that outlined in the guidance is not precluded provided that the relevant requirements of the Regulations are complied with.

Part D of the Building Regulations sets out the legal requirements for materials and workmanship. It requires that all works must be carried out

- using “proper materials” which are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used, and

- in a workmanlike manner 

to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.

The process of Agrément certification applies to those products and processes which do not fall within the scope of existing construction standards, either because they are innovative or because they deviate from established norms. NSAI Agrément assesses, specifies testing, and where appropriate, issues Agrément certificates confirming that new building products, materials, techniques and equipment are safe and fit for purpose in accordance with the Irish Building Regulations and with the terms of the certificate. Such certificates may be in addition to, but not conflict with CE marking.

Finally, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform convenes the Construction Sector Group (CSG). The CSG facilitates regular and open dialogue between Government and industry on topics such as productivity, environmental sustainability and skills/capacity and digital innovation. In this context, an Innovation and Digital Adoption Team to improve industry productivity across 7 actions has been established including Research and Modern Methods of Construction. My Department is engaging with these initiatives in the interests of improving efficiency, sustainability and value for money, while maintaining compliance with Building Regulations and other minimum quality standards.