Presentation by Chairman of Housing, Social and Community

Affairs Strategic Policy Committee

Councillor Eric Byrne 20/05/2010

Funding/Development/Construction

Construction

Funded by the DOEHLG from the Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) to

provide new build accommodation for general and special needs housing

Buybacks

Funded by the DOEHLG from SHIP to provide for the acquisition of second hand

properties throughout the city.

CAS: Capital Assistance Scheme

Funded by the DOEHLG under the Capital Funding Scheme for approved housing bodies

to provide housing for special needs e.g. homeless, elderly, etc.

CLSS: Capital Loan & Subsidy Scheme

Funded by the DOEHLG under the Capital Funding Scheme for Approved Housing Bodies

to provide general needs housing. This funding stream will cease in 2011.

Part V

• 20% of private residential developments acquired for Social/Affordable housing.

• Funding to meet cost of social units acquired from SHIP, cost of affordable units met from sale of the properties to affordable applicants.

Social Housing Leasing Initiative

• Long-term leasing of private property to meet housing needs. Lease terms of between 10 and 20 years.

• Cost of leasing the properties to be met from a separate fund additional to the SHIP allocation.

RAS: Rental Accommodation Scheme

Under RAS local authorities accommodate households who have been in receipt of rent supplement continuously for a period of at

least 18 months and have an identified long-term housing need. The accommodation is

sourced from private landlords.

Rent to Buy

DCC will operate a pilot “ Rent-to-buy” Scheme for unsold affordable units. Under the Scheme an affordable home can be rented for a period of up to 3 years. The applicant may purchase the home at any time during the 3 years at an agreed price, a proportion of the rent paid can

be used towards the purchase.

The Future

DCC is exploring new options of funding mixed tenure housing through a combination of

public and private financing.

Capital Works Programme 2010

•Main Construction/Acquisition Programme - €52.935m•Capital Assistance Scheme - €9.2m•Remedial Works – €2.7m•Regeneration - €17.295m•Retrofitting Voids/Energy Upgrades - €7.0m•Compliance with new Rented Standards - €2.0m•IWILs/Extensions/DPG Extensions - €1.75m

Main Construction/ Acquisition Programme 2010 est. spend

New Projects• Spencer Dock – 112 units - €12.5m• Buttercup Park – 37 units - €0.2m• Liberty House – 56 units - €0.1m• North King Street – 30 units - €0.2m

Projects on site• McKee Park – 38 units - €5.15m• Rafters Road – 3 units - €0.3m

Main Construction/ Acquisition Programme 2010 est. spend

Part V Social Housing• 10 units - €2.4m

Acquisition• 120 units - €30.0m

Unsold Affordable Units Leasing• 314 units - €1.0m

Capital Assistance Scheme

Approved 2010 Projects• Catholic Housing Aid Society – Gardiner Street – 100 units• Cuan Mhuire – Gardiner Street – 23 units• Alone – Doyles Cottages – 2 units• Fr. McVerry Trust – Lisin Glen and Marlborough Court – 2units

Remedial Works

Project on site• Bunratty Road, Phase 1 – 58 units - €3.679m

New Project• Bunratty Road, Phase 2 – 32 units – €0.9m

Regeneration

Projects on site• Lourdes House – 26 units - €3.248m• Sean Tracey House - 53 units - €5.0m

New Projects• St. Michael’s Estate – 32 units – €3.394m

Other Housing Improvement Works

• 450 flats and 157 houses - €7.0m

• Compliance with new Rented Standards - €2.0m

• IWILs/Extensions/DPG Extensions - €1.75m

Regeneration Boards

O’Devaney Gardens Regeneration Board

Cllr Ray McAdam -

DCC

Nadine Murphy

Resident Rep & Regen Worker

Cllr/Lord Mayor Emer

Costello - DCC

Evelyn Hanlon – Senior

Executive Officer DCC

Charlie Lowe Area

Manager- DCC

Noreen Murphy - HSE

Owen Bonner Neighbouring Community

Rep - Voluntary

Sinead O’Keeffe

Resident Rep & Former CE Participant

Christine Sillery

Resident Rep - Voluntary

Lena Jordan Community

Worker – ODG Community

Forum

Pat Gates -ODG

Community Forum Rep

John Murphy Garda

Superintendent

Gerry Barrett – Garda Inspector

Peter Ward - Independent Chairperson

Ruth Murray Resident Rep

& Regen Worker

DCC

Voluntary & Not Paid

State Agency

Funded by the State

Chairperson

Dominick Street Regeneration Board

Cllr Christy Burke - DCC

Gerry Carney – Community

Liaison Worker - DCC

Cllr Claire O’Regan -

DCC

Joe Farrell– Project

Manager DCC

Charlie Lowe Area Manager

- DCC

Anna Breen – Chairperson Residents

Redevelopment Group

Liz Fitzpatrick -Residents

Redevelopment Group

Andrew Diggins –

Business Rep. Ilac Centre Manager

Mick Finn - Independent Chairperson

DCC

Voluntary & Not Paid

Chairperson

Funded by the State

Dolphin House Regeneration Board

Cllr Críona Ní Dhalaigh -

DCC

Cllr Claire - Byrne DCC

Cllr John Gallagher -

DCC

Gerry O’Donoghue –

Project Manager DCC

Veronica Lally – Resident

Dolphin House

Jim Lawlor Chair Dolphin

House Community Dev Assoc

Wally Bowden Community

Worker

Fergus Finlay - Independent Chairperson

Maire Twomey Area Manager

-DCC

Cllr Rebecca Moynihan -

DCC

Tony McCartaigh Secretary

Dolphin House Community Dev Assoc

Carol Donovan –

Resident Dolphin House

Denis Bowes – Resident

Dolphin House

DCC

Voluntary & Not Paid

Funded by the State

Chairperson

St.Michael’s Estate Regeneration Board

Cllr Críona Ní Dhalaigh - DCC

Cllr Claire - Byrne DCC

Cllr John Gallagher -

DCC

Gerry O’Donoghue –

Project Manager DCC

Eadaoin Ní Chleirigh - DCC

John Burns – Canal

Communities Partnership

Insp.Declan Downey - Gardaí

Gerry McDermott -

St.Michael’s Est Youth Project

Derek Bunyan - Bulfin Est

Residents Assoc

Rita Fagan – Family Resource

Centre

Natasha Farrell – St.Michael’s Estate Block Committee

Nicola Fahy - St.Michael’s Estate Block Committee

Michael Flanagan –

Emmet Road Residents'

Assoc

Mary Fagan – St.Michael’s Estate Parish Community

John Bissett – Canal

Communities Drugs Taskforce

Finbar Flood - Independent Chairperson

DCC

Voluntary & Not Paid

State Agency

Funded by the State

Caroline McNulty - St.Michael’s Estate Block Committee

Celine Martin – Inchicore

Community Drugs Team

Chairperson

St.Teresa’s Gardens Regeneration Board

Cllr Críona Ní Dhalaigh -

DCC

Maire Twomey - DCC

Cllr John Gallagher -

DCC

Cllr Claire Byrne - DCC

Cllr Rebecca Moynihan -

DCC

Evan Moore – South West Inner City Network

Kristine Taylor – Resident of St.Teresa’s

Gardens

Sean Daly - Independent Chairperson

DCC

Stephen Sheils Project

Manager - DCC

Chairperson

Seamus Sheppard – Resident of St.Teresa’s

Gardens

Patricia Hanlon –

Resident of St.Teresa’s

Gardens

Paula Byrne – Resident of St.Teresa’s

Gardens

Elaine Reid – Resident of St.Teresa’s

Gardens

Bernie Murray – Resident of St.Teresa’s

Gardens

Voluntary & Not Paid

Funded by the State

Allocations & Transfers

• The Allocations and Transfers Section allocate Dublin City Council housing stock to persons in need of housing who are approved by Dublin City Council.

• Applicants for housing are prioritised under the Scheme of Letting Priorities which is a scheme approved by the City Council and subject to the provisions of the Housing Acts.

• An Assessment of Housing Need is carried out every 3 years as required by Section 9 of the 1988 Housing Act . The last assessment was carried out in 2008.

• Applicants are assessed under the assessment of needs by Staff in the Housing Allocations Section and awarded points based on specified criteria such as

– Family composition– Current Accommodation– Choice of Area– Time on the List

• There are a number of headings other than General Points under which applicants may be housed including;

– Senior Citizens Accommodation– Medical Priority– Welfare Priority– Homeless– Traveller Accommodation– Financial Contribution Scheme – Surrendering larger Accommodation– De-tenanting

• Once housed for a period of 2 years , and if there is a clear rent account and no history of anti-social behaviour, City Council Tenants are entitled to apply for a transfer to alternative accommodation.

• As of the last Assessment of Housing Need date, 2008, there were 4991 applicants on the Housing waiting list and 2131 applicants on the Transfer List for whom a Dublin City Council tenancy was deemed the best housing option.

• Dublin City Council housed a total of 1908 applicants in 2008 ( 903 Housing list, 1005 Transfer list) and 1499 in 2009 ( 637 Housing List list and 862 Transfer list).

• The number has obviously reduced in 2009 with fewer casual vacancies coming back, less new developments being built.

• The Allocations section provides a Housing Advisory service to Applicants, Tenants, Public Representatives, Councillors and other Voluntary Organisations. A large volume of correspondence is dealt with in the Allocations section on a daily basis.

Housing Maintenance & Estate Management

OVERVIEW• Repair and upkeep – 27,000 housing units

• Maintenance of all common areas, greens, paths, playgrounds etc. in all flat complexes

• Modernising in excess of 700 units per year (Voids)

• Maintenance to Council offices, libraries, pools etc.

• Caretaker service – 12,000 flats/apartments

• Cleaning/washing all common areas

• Bin collections / Regular Junk collections

EMPTY PROPERTIES (VOIDS)• 700+ units currently empty - 3.08 % of housing stock

• National average across all local authorities - 4.7 %

• 700+ units modernised annually

• Work largely carried out by direct labour

• Funding of € 7 m secured from DoE

• Energy efficient works a priority

• Voids module in ANITE (Housing Computer System) to be activated. This will allow the progress of voids to be managed and tracked more efficiently.

HOUSING MAINTENANCE REVIEW

• Council no longer carry out works that are the tenants responsibility

• 30 % reduction in repair requests• No regular maintenance where tenant is over six

weeks in rent arrears• After-hours service strictly for emergencies only• Updated Tenants Handbook being prepared

ESTATE MANAGEMENT

• Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy• Reserved Function – must be in place by 30th

November 2010• Principal Objectives –

* Prevention and reduction* Co-ordination of services* Promote co-operation with Gardai

and other bodies* Promotion of good estate management

Focus on Voids

Introduction

Minimisation of Void Period means –

• Public Assets used fully• Good practice in Housing Management• Housing applicants accommodated quickly• Loss of rent is reduced• Lower security costs• Avoid magnet for anti-social behaviour

Current Situation

Void Type Number of Voids Voids as % of net stock

Void Awaiting Relet 428 1.71 %

Void New Property 60 0.24 %

Void Long Term Repair 336 1.34 %

Total 824 3.30 %

• DCC average % void -- 2.71 % to 3.36 %

• National average -- 4.7 %

FINANCE

Capital resources have dried up

Revenue budget shrinking

Funding secured from DoEH&LG

€ 7 m available conditional on gains in energy efficiency

Contractors used sparingly

Costing of Void repairs project

Delays in Turnaround of Voids• Death of Tenant

• Condition of property – major refurbishment required

• Level of Refusals still high

• Low demand areas / Bed-sits

• Dispute re succession of Tenancy

RECENT PROGRESS

• Reduction in repair requests

- Adherence to Tenants Handbook

- 30 % reduction in requests received

- resources freed up for void work

• Voids Module in ANITE activated

- Tracking system

- Will identify delays

• Review of Refurbishment Works

- Reduced works but in compliance with Standards

Recent Progress (Continued)• Pre-Transfer Inspections

- Property Inspected before Transfer

- Works to be put right

- Items to be removed / Items to remain

- Inspection after Transfer

- Costs to be charged

• Conversion of 2 Bed-Sits into 1 unit

- Pilot scheme under Void Funding from DoEH&LG

• BER Certificates

- Compilation of valuable information on energy efficiency

- Possible access to funding under Climate Change Strategy

Condition of Voids

Modernisation of Fireplace - Before & After

Wall Plastering & Decoration

Bathroom Upgrade – Before……

After……

CONCLUSION

• Challenging task

• Applicants on Housing Lists

• Funding has been secured

• Actions set out in report will improve efficiency and turnover

Environmental Health

Environmental Health - Housing Standards

Responsible for the inspection of all private rented houses in Dublin City

Section structure is: Principal Environmental Health Officer

Senior Environmental Health Officers x 2

Environmental Health Officers x 9

Environmental Health - Housing Standards

Legislation

Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008

Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009

Environmental Health - Housing Standards

Key area of the legislation

• Structural Conditions• Sanitary Facilities• Heating Facilities• Food Preparation & Storage & Laundry• Ventilation• Lighting• Fire Safety• Refuse Storage• Electricity & Gas

Environmental Health - Housing Standards

Key area of the legislation

Improvement Notice

Prohibition Notice

Offences

Environmental Health - Housing Standards

Returns 2009

Houses inspected 2558

Improvement letters served 955

Number of inspections 3533

Legal Actions 3

Environmental Health - Housing Standards

Private Residential Tenancies Board

Responsible for registering tenancies

Data base of tenancies supplied to City Council

Rented properties not registered are inspected

Environmental Health - Housing Standards

Rental Accommodation Scheme

Social Leasing Scheme

Homeless Services Section

HOMELESSNESS

• Assessment of Housing Need established in 2008 that there were 2,144 Homeless Family Units in the Dublin Region. (Figure has not fluctuated much in meantime)

• Consultants engaged in 2008 to produce set of recommendations to deal with Homelessness.

• Recommendations launched by the Minister in December 2008.

• Recommendations compiled into a working document “Pathway to Home” in early 2009.

• Implementation Advisory Group established to oversee the implementation of all

recommendation.

• This group is made up of representative from: o4 Dublin Local AuthoritiesoHealth Service ExecutiveoVoluntary Bodies, andoThe Homeless Agency

• The main purposes of “Pathway to Home” are:

• Remove need for people to sleep rough.

• Ensure that homeless persons do not remain any longer than 6 months in temporary accommodation.

• Provide a Housing First model whereby Homeless Persons are moved from temporary accommodation to long-term housing with the necessary tenancy supports built in to enable them to sustain their tenancy.

• Reconfigure current services to ensure that they meet the actual needs of homeless persons.

• Timeframe set for recommendations to be in place by end 2010.

• 750 tenancies approximately created in 2009 and a further 1,200 needed in 2010.

• Much work already completed on reconfiguration process.

• New legislation in place from February 1st 2010 requires Local Authorities to draw up 3-year Homelessness Action Plans.

Traveller Accommodation

Staffing

• The Traveller Accommodation Unit (TAU) has a total of 17 staff. Five administrative staff are based in the Civic Offices while there are twelve ‘outdoor’ staff based on various sites throughout the city

Accommodation

• There are 700 Traveller families resident in DCC’s area. (Census November 2009)

• 300 accommodation units are made up in terms of:162 Group Houses and 126 Halting Bays located in Finglas, Ballymun, Coolock, Ballyfermot and Clondalkin

• In addition, there are over 200 Traveller families housed in standard DCC social housing

• The remainder are housed in a combination of private rented, voluntary housing or doubling up on sites, etc.

Functions of the Traveller Accommodation Unit

• The TAU:a) Provides new build unitsb)Manages existing stock with a comprehensive

caretaker and maintenance servicec) Allocates vacant unitsd)Collects rentse)Removes ‘illegals’

• In addition, there is a comprehensive Social Worker service provided to Travellers by five Social Workers

Traveller Accommodation Programme (TAP) 2009 – 2013

The TAP 2009 – 2013 was adopted by the City Council in April 2009. The programme provides for 118 new units citywide over five years. It also provides for all Traveller to be placed on Differential Rent, an Indigenous Traveller Policy, a Maintenance Policy, a Loan Guarantee Scheme and a Scheme of Letting Priorities. The Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (LTACC) comprises of City Councillors, DCC Officials and Traveller Representatives and monitors progress on the Accommodation Programme

Traveller Accommodation Programme (TAP) 2009 – 2013

The 2010 priorities are:• Finish Avila Park (8 extensions & 1 new house)• Commence schemes for:

a) Pigeon House Road (6 houses)b) Belcamp Lane (6 houses)c) Labre Park (11 houses, 11 bays & Community Centre)d) St. Oliver’s Park (new Day Houses)e) Avila Gardens (new windows and doors)

Traveller Accommodation Programme (TAP) 2009 – 2013

• Differential Rent: All Traveller rents to be placed on Differential Rents from June 2010

• Inter Agency Groups: Continue to progress Labre Park and Coolock Inter Agency Groups

• Maintenance: New maintenance contractor about to be appointed

• CCTV: Camera already operational in Coolock. Camera in Labre Park to be reinstated shortly.

Presentation by Chairman of Housing, Social and Community

Affairs Strategic Policy Committee

Councillor Eric Byrne 20/05/2010

IntegrationThe City Council is taking a lead role in developing a cohesive city level response on integration. With 10

to 15 per cent of our population of migrant origin the City Council is responding with the

development of strategic and community based initiatives.

The City Council will hold two Social Inclusion Weeks this year as part of the 2010 European Year

for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Children’s ServicesThis unit provides advice and support to staff and communities developing childcare facilities and

services in Dublin City. It also promotes the benefits of allowing children to play and actively

encourages and assists communities to help make their neighbourhoods more play friendly.

The unit works closely with other departments and agencies to meet the City Council's objective

of making Dublin a more child friendly city.

City Development BoardDublin City Development Board (DCDB) was set up under the

Local Government Act 2001 to bring about enhanced integration and co-ordination between local government,

local development, social and state agencies within the City. The Board is a strategic development partnership of key

stakeholder interests in the City led by Dublin City Council and is responsible for the implementation of an integrated

social, economic and cultural strategy 'Dublin - A City of Possibilities 2002-2012'.

The Board has representation from:•Local Government •State Agencies •Local Development Agencies •Social Partners (Business, Trade Unions, and Community Organisations)

The Strategy represents a broad thematic canvas of the core issues, which impact on the city and its people,

which are required to be addressed within the period to 2012. A midterm review of the strategy was

completed in 2006 and set out priority actions for the period to 2008:

• Social Inclusion• Family and Children• Active Citizenship• Neighbourhoods: Building Communities• Enterprise and Economy• Migrant New Communities

The Board, through its broad membership, continues to communicate, promote and

facilitate a strategic response to current and emerging issues within an ever-changing City context. Integrating its strategic vision within

the corporate policy framework of the City Council will strengthen and mainstream

delivery on measures to enhance the life of the city and its citizens.

Wider Dublin City Community Infrastructure includes the

following projects/initiatives:

RAPIDRAPID is a government programme of targeted investment and intervention led by Dublin City

Council through Rapid Area Coordinators in 9 areas of the city experiencing significant social and economic disadvantage. Through AITs (Area

Implementation Teams) communities can access funding to address local issues such as Estate

Enhancement, Traffic Calming, Health, Education, Crime and Security. Significant funding has been

invested in communities in the city since the beginning of the programme.

Drug Task ForcesLocal Drugs Task Forces comprise a partnership between the statutory, voluntary and community sectors and were established in 1997 in the areas experiencing the worst levels of opiate misuse. The type of projects receiving support as part of the plans include local information, advice and support centres for drug users and their families, Community Drug Teams, special projects aimed at children involved in drugs or at risk etc. in the following areas:

Ballyfermot BallymunCanal Communities Dublin 12Dublin North East Finglas CabraNorth Inner City South Inner City

Family Resource CentresFamily Resource Centres provide a wide variety of supports and services to people within their own

community including:

•Information, advice and support to families•Practical assistance to community groups•Education courses and training opportunities•Childcare Facilities•Lone Parents Groups•Women’s Groups•After School Clubs etc.

Partnership Companies

A number of Local Development Companies operate in the Dublin City Area under the Governments Local Development Social

Inclusion Programme (LDISP) managed by Pobail.

The work of the Local Development Companies is to counter disadvantage and promote Social

Inclusion.