Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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185. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of social housing projects currently in his Department’s approval process; the average length of time these projects have been in that process by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21851/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department administers a number of funding schemes to support local authority delivery of social housing. Each scheme, depending on its objectives and delivery mechanism, has a process in place whereby local authorities secure approval for funding for social housing projects.

The overall pre-construction process for local authority capital-funded, social housing build projects involves local authorities undertaking a range of work including site investigations, needs assessment, planning under Part 8 including community and local elected members’ consultations, project design and procurement of design teams and contractors under the Capital Works Management Framework. The majority of local authority projects are assessed and approved by my Department via a 4-stage process and this assessment of projects by my Department within that process over the last 12 months averaged 24 weeks. 

Local authorities also have the option of using a single stage approval process for social housing projects up to €6 million in value and the pre-construction process in such cases can be reduced by approximately eight weeks. Local authorities also deliver social housing via turnkey contracts with developers and the approval process for such projects would ordinarily be from two to six weeks as the proposals ordinarily have planning approval, have an agreed design and have a contractor in place. 

Specific challenges can arise with individual projects that will impact on the average time for particular local authorities in the pre-construction process, such as challenges within the planning process, difficulties with sites, etc. To support the capacity of local authorities to develop and deliver social housing build projects, I have approved funding for an additional 250 posts in local authority housing teams. Furthermore, in January 2022, I published a new Design Manual for Quality Housing and a Review of the Pre-Construction Processes undertaken in cooperation with the local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) sectors. These initiatives are important to improve the quality, cost-effectiveness and pace of delivery of social homes.

The table below outlines the social housing capital projects by local authority which are currently in the pre-construction process including assessment/approval by my Department.

out details of projects with my Department for approval. The average time for the approval of a CALF project is six weeks.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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186. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total amount spent on HAP, RAS, rent supplement and leasing programmes in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21852/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) are forms of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. 

Exchequer expenditure on the schemes in 2021, is set out in the following table:

Under Housing for All, the Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 new build social homes. As new build supply of social housing ramps up, there will be reducing reliance on the HAP and RAS schemes. Long term leasing will be phased out by 2025 and my Department is continuing to engage with local authorities in this regard.

Responsibility for the Rent Supplement Scheme falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. 

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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187. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current number of households with HAP tenancies; the number of these households that have requested flexibility to breech HAP rental limits; the number of these households to which flexibility has been approved to breech HAP rental limits for the local authority area of County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21871/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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At the end of 2021, 100,077 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were 61,907 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,400 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.

Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. At the end of 2021, 57% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility, at an average rate of discretion of 24.2% above the relevant limit.

When the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, 51.2%, of households nationally were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 17.3% above the relevant limit.

At end 2021, there were 1,792 households actively in receipt of HAP support in Donegal. 12% of the total number of households being supported by HAP in Donegal were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 19.9% above rent limits provided.

Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of the 20% discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP is required, in order to maintain adequate levels of HAP support.

The Housing Agency undertook to carry out this analytical exercise on behalf of my Department. The review was submitted on 20 December 2021. It is undergoing analysis by my Department and I expect to receive recommendations following that analysis.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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188. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a Rebuilding Ireland home loan application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if the decision will be reconsidered given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21931/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.

Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions.  Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions should not be construed as enabling the Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned.  I am, therefore, precluded from intervening in relation to individual cases.

The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis.  Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants.