Local Authority News - Vol. 38 No. 2

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• SEAI’s Annual Public Sector Energy Conference – Calling all leaders in the Local Authority sector to attend and progress decarbonisation plans • Fingal County Council is 2019 Local Authority of the Year • Contract Awarded For 465 Social Housing Units Under Bundle 2 Of PPP Programme

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CONTENTS Vol 38. No 5.

FEATURES RANDRIDGE TECHNOLOGIES

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SEAI’S ANNUAL PUBLIC SECTOR ENERGY CONFERENCE – CALLING ALL LEADERS IN THE LOCAL AUTHORITY SECTOR TO ATTEND AND PROGRESS DECARBONISATION PLANS 4

Published by:

GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH. Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

FIREBIRD HEATING SOLUTIONS PROVIDES TOTAL HEATING PACKAGE READY FOR NZEB 2020

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CONTRACT AWARDED FOR 465 SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS UNDER BUNDLE 2 OF PPP PROGRAMME

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UFLEX UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEM LAUNCHED BY GRANT

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FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL IS 2019 LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD FOR DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

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ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS is available FREE OF CHARGE and ON LINE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland.

Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

FIRST OF ITS KIND PUBLIC-PRIVATE SOCIAL HOUSING DEAL WORTH €51M AGREED 20 THE STORY OF WATER, A NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPLORING THE DEVELOPMENT AND CURRENT STATE OF IRELAND’S PUBLIC WATER NETWORK 22 WASTE WATER PUMPS (CALPEDA)

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REGULARS IRISH WATER UPDATES

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DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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CLASSIFIEDS

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SEAI’s Annual Public Sector Energy Conference – Calling all leaders in the Local Authority sector to attend and progress decarbonisation plans The 4th Annual Public Sector Energy Conference will take place on Thursday 6th February 2020 at The Helix, DCU and will focus on Accelerating Leadership towards 2030.

This annual conference, hosted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), has become the key learning, planning and networking event for the 350+ public bodies in Ireland. Last year saw over 600 attendees from across the public sector. This year we envisage more Senior Management and Energy Performance Officer (EPO) level engagement throughout the day.

The session will open with Mary Robinson as keynote speaker. She will focus on the challenges facing Irish people regarding climate change and our responsibilities in relation to energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets. Public sector bodies must take a leadership role in this fight against climate change. The purpose of the conference is to examine strategies and solutions that the Irish public sector can adopt for long term, large scale planning for improvements in energy efficiency, increases in alternative energy sources and reduction of carbon emissions.

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson

The morning Sectoral Breakout Groups will focus on common solutions, large scale initiatives and strategic supports commenced or planned for each sector. Leaders in the sector will discuss how their sector can be mobilised to achieve greater savings through aggregated projects and supports.

The afternoon Project Action Workshops will see a cross pollination of sectors and international experts sharing and learning best practice solutions on a variety of specific topics and technologies aimed at reducing energy consumption and decarbonisation.

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The Local Authority sector as a whole, is actively working to improve energy efficiency and has achieved substantial savings to date. However, there are still significant challenges ahead to meet the 33% target by end of 2020 and even greater ambitions and efforts will be required to meet the 2030 targets of 50% energy efficiency coupled with a 30% reduction in actual CO2 emissions as set out in the 2019 Climate Action Plan.

Overall savings for the Local Authority sector to 2018 stand at 25% which puts this sector slightly behind on the glidepath to target.

The glidepath is calculated by dividing the 33% target by the 11 years from baseline (2009) to 2020. This averages at 3% savings required per annum. By end of 2018 public bodies should be at 27% savings to be on glidepath to achieving the targets. The 2020 conference is an opportunity for the sector to explore how it can scale up in the final year to ensure targets are achieved and begin to discuss 2030 targets.

Advancing energy efficiency in Local Authorities through Energy Performance Officers As part of the new governance structure outlined in the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy, all Local Authorities must designate an Energy Performance Officer (EPO) from among their senior management team to be accountable for energy management and performance within the council. This should be a Director level within the Local Authority. The first meeting of EPOs in this sector took place on October 24th facilitated by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and the CCMA. The meeting was well attended with very positive feedback. SEAI outlined the sector’s performance to date, the challenges ahead and some of the potential solutions through aggregation of projects and mobilisation supports. A number of the Climate Action Regional Offices (CARO’s) presented on proposals currently being developed for aggregated supports in their regions.

The EPOs agreed to meet again on 6th February at the Public Sector Conference with a further two meetings to be scheduled in May and October 2020. These ongoing strategic meetings at senior level will be crucial to formulate and implement ambitious plans for the sector to achieve their targets.

The RMO Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Upgrade project is just one example of how this sector can think bigger and on an aggregated basis. Other ideas circulating include a combined Energy performance Contract for local authority leisure centre upgrades, aggregated project applications for EU funding through Horizon 2020 and Carbon Action Fund, large scale PV generation sites and energy bureau support services linked to the CAROs. There are many more innovative and progressive ideas and solutions out there and we hope to hear from all the Local Authorities on 6th Feb on their plans.

The Public Sector Energy Conference is open to public sector personnel or those invited by public bodies to attend on their behalf. It is highly relevant to Energy Performance Officers, Energy Managers and all members of energy teams. Certain aspects of the conference especially the technology focused breakout sessions will also be of interest to fleet managers, procurement managers, finance managers and others within the Local Authorities.

Registration is via SEAI’s communications portal Energylink at https://energylink.seai.ie/event/view/326.

If you have any comments or queries in relation to the conference, please email publicsector@seai.ie

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Firebird Heating Solutions Provides Total Heating Package Ready for NZEB 2020 All new buildings that are occupied after the 31st of December 2020 will need to comply with the new Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) requirement outlined in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

The nearly zero amount of energy required should be covered to a significant extent by energy from renewable sources. In Technical Guidance Document L (TGDL) 2011, Ireland had a renewables contribution of 10kWh/m2 whereas for TGDL 2019 Ireland must have a renewables contribution of 20% overall.

Firebird Heating Solutions are market-leading manufacturers of heating products with a proven track record built on the global supply of heating systems. Established in Ireland in 1980, the Firebird name has become synonymous with performance, quality and innovative design.

At the forefront of technology, Firebird Heating Solutions are committed to providing cost-effective, energyefficient heating solutions that not only meet, but easily exceed today’s stringent legislative requirements.

Historically an oil-fired boiler manufacturer, the product range has been expanded to include Enviroair Heat Pumps, Envirofloor Underfloor heating, Radiators, Solar Panels, Quick Fit Unit Pre-Plumbed Cylinders, System Controllers and Mechanical Heat Ventilation Recovery.

Firebird Heating Solutions can provide a total heating package designed to suit individual requirements for domestic new homes, renovations and commercial buildings.

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New to Firebird is the fully pre-plumbed and pre-wired Quick Fit Unit. This is an indoor product developed by Firebird Heating Solutions and is unique in that it allows for the combination of different heat sources in an efficient, space saving and cost-effective manner. It is designed to support the mechanical and electrical contractor, leaving the homeowner stress free, with a contemporary kitchen-like finished product.

Firebird Heating Solutions Quick Fit Unit provides an easy solution when installing a Firebird Enviroair heat pump as a heat source and using our specifically designed low running cost PCB controller to manage your hot water and zoned heating system on gradient curved weather compensation.

Priority hot water is enabled on all units, meaning that hot water is available on demand. The Quick Fit Unit comes with wheels for easy movable access, a built-in drip tray for a quick drain down safe system and child safety in mind with a chain lockable door. Our single heat exchanger cylinder coil has a larger surface area for low temperature appliances, and it can also be manufactured with a twin coil adapted for solar and a heat pump. This now takes the emphasis off the higher side of energy demand required in a BER Assessment for water heating and adds to the renewables contribution.

For further information on any Firebird products please visit www.firebird.ie or contact Firebird Heating Solutions:

Tel: 026 45253

Email: info@firebird.ie

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Contract Awarded For 465 Social Housing Units Under Bundle 2 Of PPP Programme

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Construction to start immediately across eight sites in Cork, Clare, Galway, Kildare, Roscommon and Waterford

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Brings the number of social housing units under construction across Ireland through PPP to 999 across 10 local authorities

On behalf of the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), today announced contract award of the Social Housing Bundle 2 PPP project to Torc Housing Partnership.

Bundle 2 comprises eight sites for the development of 465 social housing homes across counties Cork, Clare, Galway, Kildare, Roscommon and Waterford. Construction of the 465 units will commence immediately following the award of the contract, with construction expected to take between 14-18 months (depending on the site in question).

County Cork is leading the way in Bundle 2 of the PPP Programme, with 152 of the 465 new social homes being delivered on three sites across the county. In 2016 only 45 social homes were delivered in Cork City and County. Since then 680 new social homes have been built, and another 885 are currently on site. All of this has happened under Rebuilding Ireland.

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Site (Local Authority)

Number of Units

The Walk, Roscommon Town (Roscommon)

53

The Miles, Clonakilty (Cork County)

52

Slievekeale (Waterford City and County)

58

Ballyburke (Galway City)

74

Shannon East (Clare)

51

Poundhill, Skibbereen (Cork County)

50

Oakwood, Macroom (Cork County)

50

Butterstream, Clane (Kildare)

77

Total

465

The PPP Process for Social Housing The NDFA acted as agent for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (the Sanctioning Authority) and Cork County Council (the Sponsoring Agency on behalf of all local authorities involved).

Using a payment and availability Public Private Partnership agreement to construct social housing is a new innovation in Ireland, with the first such homes commencing construction under Bundle 1 earlier this year.[1] This approach leverages economies of scale through large numbers of homes being tendered, constructed and maintained for 25 years in bundles of sites. Competitive private financing and cooperation between construction, facilities management and tenancy management bodies are brought together through consortia that bid for each Bundle.

The procurement process that was followed for Bundle 2 saw four consortia shortlisted and invited to tender, with the competing bids submitted in February 2019 and evaluated on technical and financial criteria. Following this process, and in line with the detailed PPP procurement procedures as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the preferred tender was compared against the pre-approved Public Sector Benchmark, in order to confirm that it offers a Value for Money solution for the Exchequer.

The contract for Bundle 2 has been awarded to Torc Housing Partnership. Under the contract, the construction works on these developments will be delivered by a joint venture between JJ Rhatigan & Co. and the Spanish firm Obrascon Huarte Lain S.A. Upon completion of construction on each site, facilities management services will be provided by Derwent FM and Tuath Housing Association for a 25-year service period. Tuath will also provide tenancy management services. These bodies are also providing equity for the project in conjunction with the lead equity providers Equitix Ltd. and Kajima Partnerships Ltd. The German bank Nord/LB are providing debt funding for the project.

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Details in respect of the development sites can be found here: https://www.ndfa.ie/project/socialhousing-ppp-bundle-2 The above project is the second bundle of units being delivered through the Social Housing PPP Programme, and it follows on from the successful awarding of the contract for the first bundle of sites to Comhar in March 2019. Construction on the 534 social housing homes across six sites in the greater Dublin region has commenced, with the first units scheduled to be delivered under Bundle 1 from mid-2020.

PPPs represent one strand in the plan to accelerate the supply of social housing, which is the second pillar of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness. These Social Housing Public Private Partnerships will deliver up to 1,500 social housing units across three bundles of sites.

Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, said: “Today’s announcement represents an important milestone in the provision of social housing through the innovative Social Housing PPP programme, under which 534 social homes are already under construction.

Firstly, I am delighted to announce that the second bundle of sites under this programme has reached Financial Close, with contracts being signed with the Torc Housing Partnership, who successfully tendered for this project. This will see the delivery of 465 homes across eight locations in five local authorities. Not only will these units help contribute to our national targets for social housing delivery under Rebuilding Ireland, but each development will form an important part of their associated communities, and will provide long-term secure homes for people across the country.

The structure of the PPP process ensures that construction of these units will commence immediately, with the first homes from this bundle being available for occupation by their new tenants from in early 2021.

I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of staff from the relevant local authorities, in particular Cork County Council in their role as lead local authority; the National Development Finance Agency who led the procurement process for this project, as well as officials from my Department. The contribution of the various members of the Torc Housing Partnership is also very important, and the delivery of these units is now entrusted to them.

I look forward to watching the progress of this second bundle, and would like to wish our partners in the local authorities and the NDFA well in undertaking this process over the coming months.”

Tim Lucey, Chief Executive, Cork County Council, said: “The PPP model is an integral part of delivering local authority social housing requirements. Cork County Council is particularly proud to have the opportunity to be the lead authority for the PPP Bundle 2 Project and to be part of the successful collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the NDFA, and the Local Authorities. This is a collaboration which will have a real and meaningful impact in social housing provision.”

Andrew O’Flanagan, Director of the NDFA, said: “This is the second social housing PPP to begin construction this year, delivering significant additional social housing capacity for six local authorities.

The project is a strong example of effective collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, local authorities and the NDFA, using a model that will deliver homes for people who need them as quickly as possible and ensure the effective management and maintenance of these homes for many years to come.”

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UFLEX UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEM LAUNCHED BY GRANT Continuing to drive the industry forward and diversify their product portfolio, leading heating technology manufacturer Grant has launched their new Uflex underfloor heating offering. Adding to their existing range of modern heat emitters including the Grant Afinia aluminium radiators and Grant Solo fan convector radiators, Grant’s Uflex underfloor heating is a viable option for a wide range of projects, from one-off new builds and room extensions through to larger multi-property developments.

The Uflex system offers convenient and highly efficient heating, especially when paired with a heat source like the Grant Aerona3 R32 air source heat pump. The pipework is installed during the initial stages of the property’s development, therefore causing no delay times in terms of drying and in addition to supplying the mechanical components, Grant also supply the necessary mechanical components and controls to operate the underfloor heating system as efficiently as possible. Controls can be set to provide different room temperatures and different time intervals on individual heating zones, with a wireless option also available.

Commenting on the Uflex underfloor heating Barry Gorman, Grant technical sales said, “Launching our Uflex underfloor heating system was a natural step for us following the success of the Afinia and Solo ranges of radiators. These products have been well received within the industry and the Uflex system complements the offering and enables us to provide customers with a well-rounded choice of modern heat emitters.”

The Uflex underfloor heating system is a key component within Grant’s Multiple Package Solutions offering which provides those within the trade working on new build or deep retrofit projects with the opportunity to save time by having a property’s full heating requirements designed, quoted and supplied by the technical specialists at Grant, who can ensure optimum efficiencies by accurately combining multiple heating technologies. This free of charge service also ensures correct product sizing to meet the property’s exact heating requirements, helping to maximise efficiencies and bring the home heating system into a new class of efficiency which can result in greater long-term savings for the property owner and a reduction in carbon emissions.

Grant’s Multiple Package Solutions offering incorporates a range of high and low temperature heat sources including the A+++ Aerona3 R32 inverter-driven air source heat pump. Following selection of a heat source, supporting technologies are specified to support the systems overall efficiency including Grant’s new preplumbed hot water cylinders which provide high performance and can work with one or more heat source. The final stage in the process focuses on selecting the correct heat emitters to suit both the property and the heat source’s needs and may include Grant Uflex underfloor heating, Grant Afinia aluminium radiators and Grant Solo fan convector radiators.

Grant Uflex Underfloor Heating -

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Offers an efficient heating solution Suitable for both new builds and retrofits Highly efficient when paired with a Grant Aerona3 heat pump Easy installation Optimal control and comfort Operates at lower flow temperatures Can provide individual zone control Increased hygiene due to reduced air circulation transferring dust particles

Visit www.grant.eu for more information on Grant’s range of innovative heating solutions and how you can avail of the Multiple Package Solutions offering.

You can also follow Grant on Facebook and Twitter @GrantIRL or Instagram @Grant_IRL

For more information visit www.grant.eu 13

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Fingal County Council is 2019 Local Authority of the Year Fingal County Council was named Local Authority of the Year at last night's Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards which were held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O'Brien, and Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, receive the Local Authority of the Year award presented by Siobhan Kinsella, President of Chambers Ireland, Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, and John Paul Phelan, TD, Minister of State for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.

Fingal had been nominated in 11 different categories and picked up two awards as Our Balbriggan was named Best Practice in Citizen Engagement and the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival was named Festival of the Year.

The Award was presented to the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien and the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, by Siobhan Kinsella, President of Chambers Ireland, at the Awards Banquet which was held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry.

In accepting the award, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, said: “This is a huge honour for Fingal County Council, its elected members and its staff. We all work together to make Fingal the best place to live, work, visit and do business in and it is extremely humbling to be recognised as the best Council in Ireland, especially in the year that we celebrate our 25th anniversary.”

This is the third time in 11 years that Fingal County Council has been named Local Authority of the Year at the Excellence in Local Government Awards having previously received the accolade in 2009 and 2016.

The Chief Executive said: "Being named as Local Authority of the Year is recognition of the excellent work all our staff and elected members do every day on behalf of the citizens of Fingal. It also shows we are a progressive Council and one that is always looking for new and better ways to deliver our services.”

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Congratulating Fingal County CounciI on winning the Local Authority of the Year Award for the second time in four years, the Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, Ian Talbot, said: “Fingal County Council is the welldeserved winner of the overall Local Authority of the Year Award.

They have shown engagement across the different facets of the Fingal Community, and with the development and sustainability of Fingal’s localities and environment, to achieve this accolade. For their commitment to serving their community, and also raising their area’s profile nationally as a stand-out destination, Fingal County Council deserve to be commended and have earned their Award title Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, collects the of Local Authority of the Year.” award for Festival of the Year alongside the Events Team of Fingal County Council and the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O'Brien.

The other Fingal County Council projects short-listed for Awards were: • Healthy Fingal Learning Portal in Health & Wellbeing • The Fingal Events Unit in Supporting Tourism • End to end Mobile Solution for Private Rented Dwelling Inspections in Local Authority Innovation • Pollinator Friendly Free Tree Initiative in Sustainable Environment • STEAM through Fingal in Best Library Service • Smart Street Furniture in Enhancing the Urban Environment • The Conservation, Restoration and Extension of The Casino building, Malahide in Heritage and Built Environment • Irish Aphasia Theatre in Disability Services Provision • The Acorn Project in Age Friendly Initiatives

The Excellence in Local Government Awards showcase best practice in local government and recognise the skills, hard work, innovation and enthusiasm within local government that can often go unrecognised.

They highlight the sector’s commitment to the best possible public service standards for businesses and citizens across the country. Each nomination demonstrates the hard work, innovation and enthusiasm that go into the delivery of these projects.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O'Brien collects the award for Best Practice in Citizen Engagement with the Our Balbriggan team and Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farre

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Excellence in Local Government Award for Donegal County Council onegal County Council scooped the Outstanding Initiative through the Municipal Districts award at this year’s Excellence in Local Government Awards which were held last night in Dublin.

D

The award recognises the outstanding work done by Donegal County Council and especially the councillors and staff in the Inishowen Municipal District during the hosting of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July 2018.

Cllr. Martin McDermott, Chair of Inishowen Municipal District being presented with award for winning the Outstanding Initiative through the Municipal Districts award at Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards which were held on Thursday night in Dublin. Picture also includes Cllr. Paul Canning, Liam Ward, Fiona Doherty, Seamus Hopkins, Eamonn Mahon, Patrick McLaughlin and Brendan Moyne from Donegal County Council.

The Excellence in Local Government Awards are hosted by Chambers Ireland and are held each year to showcase best practice in local government, recognising the skills, hard work, innovation and enthusiasm within local government that can often go unrecognised.

“This is a wonderful endorsement for the councillors and staff of Donegal County Council and in particular the Inishowen Municipal District” says Cllr Nicholas Crossan, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council. “The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open was a wonderful opportunity to showcase this stunning location to a global audience of almost half a billion people and the event itself surpassed all expectations”.

The tournament has held in July 2018 at Ballyliffin Golf Club less than twelve months after one of the most devastating flooding events ever to strike the North West region causing approximately €15 million worth of infrastructural damage across the Inishowen Peninsula.

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“While the hosting of an event of this calibre is a mammoth task in ordinary circumstances, it was even more remarkable when you consider the challenge that faced our staff in dealing with the devastation following the unprecedented flooding event in August 2017,” says Cllr. Martin McDermott, Chair of Inishowen Municipal District.

“We had a situation where roads and bridges were actually washed away and were new infrastructure had to be designed and constructed in a very short space of time. However, our team surpassed all expectations resulting in a record number of over 90,000 people visiting Ballyliffin over the five days of the tournament in 2018 enjoying what was one of the most memorable tournaments”.

Cathaoirleach Cllr. Crossan adds “the work that was put in by our own local Roads Service led by Seamus Hopkins and Eamonn Mahon under the direction of Director of Service John McLaughlin and Senior Engineer Brendan O’Donnell cannot be over emphasised. This is local government at its best and shows the value of working collaboratively at a very local municipal district level. The support and co-operation we received from everyone in the community including the Gardaí and all the emergency services was second to none and contributed in a very positive way to the success of the tournament.”

In total sixteen awards were presented last night in the Excellence in Local Government Awards and Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said it was an honour for Chambers Ireland to host the Awards as well as a pleasure to highlight the work being done at a local level.

Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform, John Paul Phelan T.D said the awards acknowledge those in local authorities who through their commitment, creativity and skill - continue to meet the dynamic and diverse needs of our changing communities.

Specially commissioned crystal awards, designed by Waterford Crystal, were presented to the winners on the night and the individual awards were sponsored by European Recycling Platform (ERP), TEKenable, Healthy Ireland, LGiU Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and EirGrid.

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First of its kind Public-Private Social Housing deal worth €51m agreed

First of its kind public-private social housing deal worth 51M agreed between Circle Voluntary Housing Association and AIB. Pictured at the development site in Swords, which is almost ready for occupation, is John Hannigan (Circle VHA), Jason Murphy (Centrus), Stuart Muldowney (AIB),

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A landmark financial agreement was reached that offers a new form of funding for social housing

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Deal expected to deliver 250 new social houses nationwide in a matter of 12 months

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Housing to be managed by Circle VHA, funded by AIB and advisory services by Centrus

Circle Voluntary Housing Association (VHA) has agreed a landmark €51 million investment package which will provide social and affordable housing for families across the country. The approved housing body announced its plans today to deliver 250 homes over the course of the next 12 months through an innovative model of financing.

The finance package, structured by Centrus, who acted as Financial Advisor to Circle, and funded

by AIB, provides the housing association with a three-part loan, over a 30-year period, which includes a revolving credit facility, a term loan and a working capital facility. The nature of the agreed package allows Circle VHA to re-use the borrowed funds at any time over the period of the loan, providing a safeguard for ongoing speedy development of social housing.

The deal is now the largest private financing package to any approved housing body in the country, and it is hoped that the initial 250 properties are the first of many thousands to be developed in the coming years in areas such as Greater Dublin Area, Cork, Limerick, Waterford Kildare and Galway.

The positive announcement comes in the midst of negativity as the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government announced latest figures of 10,514 homeless people living in emergency accommodation in recent weeks.

John Hannigan, CEO, Circle VHA says, 20

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“We are absolutely delighted with this historic agreement which has ultimately safeguarded our passage to delivering over 250 homes for social housing across the country in a mere matter of months. This innovative public-private partnership approach is what is needed to solve the housing crisis and now with our 30-year agreement and our existing structures, we estimate we will be able to bring approximately 300 social houses to the market each year. This finance solution was a result of combined-thinking and collaboration between Centrus, AIB and ourselves. What we have achieved is a modern approach to financing that has never been accomplished in this sector before. It is a sustainable model which will benefit thousands of families over the course of many years due to the revolving nature of the credit, allowing us to expand and provide additional homes on an ongoing basis.”

“I must commend Centrus for their leadership in this deal. Their professionalism and commitment is what secured such a workable funding structure for Circle. Also, we must mention AIB who are facilitating the financial package and who once again are showing their commitment to help solve the housing crisis.”

Jason Murphy, CEO, Centrus said, “We are delighted to have been involved in this ground-breaking agreement which will help many families across Ireland. Transactions like this provide sustainable solutions to deliver much needed additional social housing to the market.

Working with both Circle and AIB has been a rewarding experience and has proven the effectiveness and importance of organisations operating collaboratively”.

“Our team are thrilled to see the first of the 250 houses now ready for occupation, 69 in Dublin and Cork. In our experience to deliver real social impact it requires innovative modern financing models which deliver long-term and viable solutions for financing housing.”

“I am confident that if developers, legal teams, financial institutions and approved housing bodies continue to foster collaboration in a similar manner, projects like this will grow and develop, allowing the provision of housing to be expediated.”

Cathy Bryce – Managing Director of Corporate, Institutional and Business Banking said, “AIB Corporate Banking is delighted to have delivered this important financing package for Circle VHA which will ultimately support the housing of up to 300 families. AIB is actively engaged with the social housing sector and we continually seek ways to support the delivery of housing.

This innovative financing is a great example of working in strong collaboration with our clients and their advisors to deliver a long-term sustainable funding source. We look forward to continuing the strong relationship developed with Circle and Centrus on this transaction to support the sector in the future”.

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The Story Of Water, A New Documentary Exploring The Development And Current State Of Ireland’s Public Water Network

Understanding the role that water plays in our daily live Research commissioned by Irish Water and conducted by B&A indicates that 44% of the Irish public admit they ‘know nothing or not very much’ about the work carried out by Irish Water and almost 80% of those surveyed say that they are interested in hearing about water services and ongoing and future plans. In response to this, Irish Water will reveal the full story behind the challenges facing the public water and wastewater network in a new documentary, The Story of Water.

The documentary forms part of what will be an on-going public information programme to help people understand the role that water plays in our daily lives, its value and complex lifecycle, and the process of getting water and wastewater through the public network. It will include insights on the increasing impact of climate change; why in a country like Ireland water conservation is becoming increasingly critical; how rain becomes drinking water and the damage that is caused when people flush inappropriate items; and the work Irish Water is doing to protect the environment, fix the network and support economic development.

The public are telling us that they want to understand more about their water Niall Gleeson, MD Irish Water

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Sharing the wider story The Story of Water is a key output of Irish Water’s ongoing programme of public education and awareness, which includes Water Conservation Awareness campaigns, Leakage Awareness campaigns, a partnership with Clean Coasts on Think Before You Flush and sponsorship of the Water Theme of the An Taisce Green-Schools programme.

Niall Gleeson, Managing Director, Irish Water, says “The public are telling us that they want to understand more about their water and where it comes from and they have told us that they want us to do a better job of communicating with them. Consumers hear from us when we are managing outages and incidents affecting their water supply and when we have issues with sewage blockages or overflows. But we have never shared the wider story about public water and wastewater services in Ireland, the size and scale of the challenge and the technical expertise required across the industry, including our local authority partners, to deliver clean, safe drinking water for a modern growing economy.”

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It is our responsibility to close the gap in understanding “We know from research that 44% of the Irish public admit they ‘know nothing or not very much’ about the work carried out by Irish Water. It is our responsibility to close the gap in understanding. Public engagement is an essential part of Irish Water’s work. We are on the ground with almost 500 projects, digging up roads and building, repairing and replacing major infrastructure, all of which has a significant impact on local communities. There is massive investment going into water and wastewater infrastructure. It will take time to resolve the challenges and we are making progress.”

Elimination raw sewage The Story of Water will also share the environmental impact of untreated sewage flowing directly into our rivers, lakes, seas and the consequences for plants, fish, wildlife and for amenity uses, and what is being done to address the issue. It will also explain why levels of leakage on the water network are so high and what it will take to fix the problem.

Individual personal stories from all over Ireland are a central part of The Story of Water; how aging infrastructure has resulted in 12,500 people supplied by Lough Talt being on a Boil Water Notice since February 2018; the damage caused to birdlife in Galway caused by flushing baby wipes and plastics; and the impact of raw sewage on human health and on our beautiful coastline in Liscannor.

Cathal Marley, Interim CEO of Ervia, added “Ireland is forecasting strong population and economic growth and we must have good water infrastructure to support that growth. While supplying a clean, safe, sustainable supply of drinking water for everyone we also must ensure that we protect our environment. During the sustained 2018 drought, we all saw the direct impact of climate change on our water network and the difficulty of maintaining supply. I am pleased that The Story of Water will give the public an opportunity to have a greater understanding of how climate change affects their daily lives in our delivery of critical services to their homes and businesses.”

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New regional wastewater treatment facility in North Dublin gets go ahead

Drainage project to safeguard the environment and facilitate sustainable growth An Bord Pleanåla has granted planning permission for Irish Water’s Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) Project in North Dublin. Once operational, this key piece of infrastructure will safeguard the environment and facilitate sustainable growth of new homes and businesses in the region.

Projected growth in population and increased commercial activity means the volume of wastewater generated in the greater Dublin area will increase by more than 50% during the next 30 years. Having adequate wastewater treatment capacity is vital to protect public health, safeguard the environment and facilitate this social and economic growth.

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Seán Laffey, Head of Asset Management, said: “Today’s announcement is a landmark planning decision for the sustainable growth of the Dublin area. The GDD project is vital for residential and commercial development across north Dublin and south Fingal. New homes and businesses can only be built with new wastewater infrastructure to support them. GDD will also alleviate pressure within the wider wastewater network. It will help to ensure that the wastewater generated every day in our homes, schools and workplaces is treated safely, in compliance with the EU and national wastewater treatment regulations.”

An underground pipeline beginning at Blanchardstown will collect and transfer wastewater, via a new pumping station at Abbotstown, north of the M50 to an advanced wastewater treatment facility to be located in the townland of Clonshaugh. The treated water will be safely returned to the Irish Sea via a 6km marine outfall pipeline from Baldoyle to a point 1km north east of Ireland’s Eye.

Regional sludge treatment centre and biosolids facility included The project also includes development of necessary facilities that will ensure the effective running of the new wastewater treatment plant. These will include a regional sludge treatment centre at the GDD site and an associated biosolids storage facility at Newtown near Kilshane Cross.

The delivery of the GDD project is a key investment priority under Project Ireland 2040 and is a key objective of the regional guidelines and local development plans. Progressing this major infrastructural project has been a priority for Irish Water since it took responsibility for water and wastewater services in 2014. Achieving planning consent is an important milestone in the delivery of this essential project.

Facility to be operational in 2026 Irish Water will now progress with a detailed design and contractor procurement process. When this is complete, the construction stage is expected to take three years.

Seán Laffey said, “I want to acknowledge the previous work of Fingal County Council in bringing the GDD project through the early stages and to thank all of the individuals and organisations who took part in the extensive consultations on this project to date. “ It is intended that Dublin’s new regional wastewater treatment facility and associated infrastructure will become operational from 2026 and will have the capacity to provide wastewater treatment for the equivalent of half a million people living and working in this area into the future.

More information Further information on our projects can be found in our Projects and Plans section.

Anyone with questions about the GDD project can contact our project team by: Tel: 1890 44 55 67 (9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri except bank holidays) Email: info@greaterdublindrainage.ie Web: www.greaterdublindrainage.ie

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Homes and businesses of north Wexford to receive a more secure and reliable water supply

The Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD officially turned the sod on the Gorey Regional Water Supply Project at Ballyminaun Hill in Gorey.

The project provides for a new water treatment plant and reservoir at Ballyminaun Hill, upgrade works to an existing reservoir at Ballyminaun Hill and associated interconnecting infrastructure.

Why is it needed?

The existing scheme is operating at maximum capacity and the planned project will increase capacity to the area in order to facilitate growth and development. This project will benefit businesses and residents of Gorey and the surrounding area through the improvement and security of water supply.

Speaking at the event, Minister Murphy welcomed the project saying; “This is a significant project for Gorey and emphasises Irish Water’s commitment to providing safe, clean drinking water to the public. This is also a hugely positive day in terms of creating the right infrastructure for future development in housing and the various services that are dependent on social and economic growth” Irish Water’s Head of Asset Operations, Michael O’Leary added;

“A few years ago, the Gorey and Courtown wastewater treatment plant was upgraded to the tune of 7.2m.

This investment was used to upgrade and extend the existing Courtown Wastewater Treatment Plant which serves Gorey and ensures treated effluent standards are met and maintained to a high quality of water in Courtown's coastal areas.

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Future Development Now we set our sights on upgrading the water supply scheme in the area which will ensure that Gorey and the surrounding areas can develop into the future.

This project provides for a new water treatment plant and reservoir at Ballyminaun Hill, upgrade works to an existing reservoir at Ballyminaun Hill and associated interconnecting infrastructure. The works will be carried out by Glan Agua Limited on behalf of Irish Water and will take approximately 18 months to complete. Once complete, it will safeguard the drinking water supply to a population in excess of 16,000.”

Wexford County Council Chief Executive Tom Enright echoed those words saying; “Gorey is already a great place to live, work and to holiday in. This upgrade will ensure the town has the security in terms of water supply that a modern Irish town needs in order to grow and prosper. The Council recently acquired the 70 acres St. Waleran’s site and the upgrade in water supply will facilitate the development of this site for affordable social and private housing and communality facilities to meet residential demand into the future. Gorey and the surrounding areas welcome thousands of tourists each year and this upgrade demonstrates that the town will have the capacity to develop in the coming years.”

The works will be carried out by Glan Agua Limited on behalf of Irish Water and will take approximately 18 months to complete.

Investment in wastewater set to match investment in drinking water for the first time in 2020

Wastewater infrastructure investment is to increase to almost €400 million Irish Water’s investment in wastewater infrastructure is to increase to almost 400 million in 2020 as the amount invested in upgrading wastewater infrastructure matches the investment in drinking water for the first time. This reflects a steady increase in investment as more projects move from the design and planning

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The progress made by Irish Water in 2018 to ensure the development and delivery of solutions to support the safe return of wastewater to the environment is demonstrated in the EPA’s annual Urban Wastewater Treatment Report, which was published today.

Irish Water is on track to deliver a programme of unprecedented scale to stop the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater into our seas, lakes and rivers. Since 2014, Irish Water has stopped approximately 44% of untreated and inadequately treated wastewater that was being discharged to our rivers, lakes and the sea.

In 2018, Irish Water invested a total of €230 million in its wastewater infrastructure programme to improve Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure, removing 12 areas from the priority list and bringing seven large urban areas into compliance with the EU standards. This investment is reflective of the phase of project development where spending ramps up when construction starts.

Irish Water upgraded or built wastewater treatment plants in 20 locations across the country to safeguard the environment, support economic development and provide capacity for new homes and future development.

Many more wastewater projects are currently in the design and planning stage to address the remaining noncompliant areas including Arklow and Ringsend.

One of the challenges associated with wastewater infrastructure is the lack of data and models on the national sewer network, which is essential for understanding the causes of deficiencies such as overflows and sewer flooding. Irish Water is undertaking a number of national programmes to map, monitor and assess the wastewater networks for the first time.

Under these programmes, in 2018 Irish Water assessed over 10,000 Kilometers of sewer, carried-out cleaning works on over 120 Kilometers and rehabilitation works on over 45 Kilometers of sewer to allow them to function more effectively.

The estimated 2,200 storm water overflows on the wastewater network carry out a vital function in preventing flooding to property and roads. However some storm water overflows can temporarily impact on waterbodies particularly sensitive ones such as Bathing Waters. The scale of this challenge and the associated capital requirement means that prolonged and substantial investment will be required in this area over multiple investment periods in order to achieve satisfactory levels of performance while also mitigating against risks posed by climate change.

Speaking about the progress made by Irish Water, Head of Asset Management Sean Laffey said, “Irish Water’s investment plan prioritises public health and safety by targeting locations where there is no treatment for raw sewage or where the treatment is not in compliance with the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Irish Water is fully committed to meeting the timescales associated with the European Court of Justice Urban Wastewater Treatment Case.

“In some cases, progress has been slower than we would like. This is due to re-scoping of plans or where we have planning or other statutory issues. It is imperative that we meet all of the necessary statutory and legal obligations when developing plans to support the safe return of wastewater to the environment. The size and scale of the challenge we have faced over the past five years has been considerable, but we are confident that with the expertise and capability of Irish Water and local authority engineers and other staff that we will efficiently deliver capital investments to address wastewater management requirements across the country.

“In order to protect public health, we have targeted expenditure on drinking water infrastructure since 2014 and we have made huge improvements on the drinking water quality with over 99% of drinking water in compliance with EU standards as per the recent EPA report. As the recent incidents at the Leixlip Water Treatment Plant have shown, it is vital that we continue to upgrade and maintain drinking water infrastructure as well as putting emphasis on ensuring that Ireland’s wastewater reaches the same high standard of compliance. In 2020, for the first time, expenditure of wastewater projects will match the expenditure on drinking water as key projects reach important construction milestones. This is an important development in Irish Water’s delivery of wastewater infrastructure and one that ensures we will meet the ambitious delivery targets set for us.”

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The development of new boreholes (ground water) sources to supplement the existing sources of water in Clonmel in the event of unplanned outages or water quality issues. In addition to this, we are working with our partners in Tipperary County Council to enhance the treatment processes at the Poulavanogue and Glenary Water Treatment Plants to ensure that when issues arise at any time, they can be resolved as quickly as possible.

Actions completed The construction of a new reservoir in the townland of Giantsgrave and over 4km of new water mains and booster station, as part of the Clonmel Regional Water Supply Scheme North Storage project. This has increased the security of drinking water supply to businesses and residents in the northern areas of Clonmel.

Series of short, medium and long term actions Duane O’Brien, Irish Water’s Operations Lead for Tipperary, explained “We are working to safeguard Clonmel’s water supply through a series of short, medium and long term actions. The Poulavanogue water treatment plant in particular has been identified as being at risk of inadequate treatment, and is included on the EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL). This is partly due to the nature of the raw water being supplied to the plant from an upland source. During periods of heavy rainfall the water can become cloudy as it picks up silt and other materials from the surrounding catchment. This can impact on the water supply, particularly in higher areas of the town.

Investigating alternative groundwater sources

“Irish Water is investigating the feasibility of utilising alternative groundwater sources to provide drinking water to the consumers on the Poulavanogue supply, to ensure the delivery of clean, safe drinking water, and remove this water supply from the Remedial Action List. In the meantime we will continue to work with our partners in Tipperary County Council to maintain a high quality water supply for the town.”

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Works to safeguard water supplies in the Clonmel area

Significant investments to improve water network and safeguard water supplies Irish Water, in partnership with Tipperary County Council, is committed to providing our customers in the Clonmel area with a safe, secure and reliable supply of water.

Clonmel Town and surrounding area is served by a combination of ground and surface water sources, with Water Treatment Plants at Monroe (ground water), Glenary (surface water) and Poulavanogue (surface water).

Outages in recent months have highlighted ongoing issues with the town’s water supply which are associated with an ageing infrastructure for treating and supplying water in the town and surrounding areas.

To address this, we are making significant investments in the area and are continuing our work to improve the water network and safeguard water supplies.

Actions underway Ongoing investment in tackling leakage and replacing old water mains and back yard service pipes throughout the town as part of the Leakage Reduction Programme. This project will see â‚Ź500m invested nationally in the period to 2021 to reduce leakage and deliver a more secure and reliable water supply.

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Official opening of upgrades to six wastewater treatment plants in Co Leitrim

Upgrades to six wastewater treatment plants part of €5.5 million investment Fine Gael TD for Sligo – Leitrim and Assistant Government Chief Whip Tony McLoughlin joined Irish Water and Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Cllr Enda McGloin in Leitrim today to officially open upgrades to six wastewater treatment plants in the county.

Over €5.5 million was invested by Irish Water, working in partnership with Leitrim County Council on upgrades to Manorhamilton, Mohill, Ballinamore, Carrigallen, Drumshanbo, and Leitrim Village wastewater treatment plants.

Support population and economic growth These important works will ensure that all six plants comply with national and European environmental regulations and that receiving waters are protected at all locations. The upgrades have modernised the plants, improved energy efficiency, and ensure there is adequate spare capacity at each location to support population and economic growth across the county.

The works were carried out in two projects - the Mohill and Manorhamilton works delivered by Coffey Water Ltd on behalf of Irish Water, and the Ballinamore, Carrigallen, Drumshanbo and Leitrim Village project delivered

by RCC Engineering Limited.

Speaking at the event, Deputy McLoughlin said “Ensuring that the wastewater which is generated every day in our homes, schools and workplaces is treated in compliance with the EU and national wastewater regulations and is safely returned to the environment is a key priority for Leitrim County Council, for Irish Water and for the Government. The investment Irish Water is making in upgrading our wastewater plants around the country will improve the environment for all of us and is to be welcomed. These projects in Leitrim are another step in the right direction in this regard.”

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National strategy Colm Boyd, Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead at Irish Water said “This €5.5 million investment in Co Leitrim is being made as part of Irish Water’s national strategy which aims to bring Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure to an acceptable standard, capable of supporting growing populations and economic development.

“This strategy is addressing issues where partially treated wastewater is being discharged into our environment, causing environmental damage and breaching environmental legislation.”

David McLoone, Irish Water’s Capital Programme Delivery Lead added: “It is really important that everyone thinks about the possible impact of what they flush down the toilet. Items like wet wipes, nappies and cotton buds can prevent the wastewater network from working efficiently, as well as damaging the plumbing in our homes. Placing a bin in the bathroom and disposing of sanitary items safely will help to prevent the pollution of our beaches and river ways.”

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Enda McGloin added “Today marks a significant milestone in Irish Water’s investment in the wastewater infrastructure in Co Leitrim. The investment will ensure that in both Manorhamilton and Mohill, and also in Ballinamore, Carrigallen, Drumshanbo and Leitrim Village wastewater is collected and treated to the highest environmental standard while at the same time allowing for future growth in the local population and economic activity.”

Roscommon Main Drainage Sewerage Scheme gets the thumbs up from Roscommon County Council Works to reduce risk of sewers flooding and improve water quality Irish Water is committed to improving the sewer network in Roscommon town by upgrading the existing network and constructing new sewers, pumping stations and storm water holding tanks. These works when completed will reduce the risk of sewers flooding; improve water quality in the Jiggy and Hind Rivers, ensure compliance with Irish and EU regulations and facilitate economic development. Roscommon County Council has recently granted planning permission for these essential works.

Colm Claffey, Irish Water’s Infrastructure Lead explained further “Irish Water is committed to improving the wastewater network in Roscommon which has experienced increased storm water overflows and pollution events. These events are negatively affecting the water quality in the Hind and Jiggy rivers. The existing sewer system collects and combines rain/surface water and wastewater. This results in high volumes of both surface water and wastewater to be managed. Upgrades are required to the collection system to improve the situation and to this end Irish Water has recently been granted planning permission which we welcome.”

What is involved?

This project will include the construction of new higher capacity sewers; construction of new pumping stations; and construction of new storm water holding tanks.

It is anticipated that construction will commence at the end of 2020 and is expected to be completed within 18 months. Irish Water will be in contact with local businesses and residents who will benefit from these works ahead of construction.

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Sod-turning marks beginning of next phase of major sewerage scheme in Kildare

Beginning of works marked at sod-turning event Irish Water, working in partnership with Kildare County Council, have marked the beginning of works on the Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme Contract 2B at a sod-turning event in Naas. The project will support future population and economic growth in Sallins, Clane, Prosperous, Naas, Kill and Johnstown and the surrounding areas.

The investment will also ensure that wastewater is treated and discharged in compliance with Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations 2001, ensure compliance with conditions set out in EPA’s Wastewater Discharge Licence and help Ireland avoid substantial EU penalties. The million project includes the laying of over 18km of new sewers to reinforce and improve wastewater network.

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Why is this needed?

The project is needed as the current wastewater infrastructure is unable to support the needs of the area and it is not compliant with Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations 2001 and conditions as set out in the EPA’s Wastewater Discharge Licence.

Speaking at the event, Councillor Seamie Moore, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, said: “I’m delighted to be here to witness the start of works on this vital project. Here in north Kildare, we have seen massive development and growth in recent decades. This development has put strain on the vital infrastructure that supports homes and businesses every day. To enable future growth in the area, significant upgrades are required. This project will safeguard the wastewater system, and ensure there is capacity for future growth in towns across our area.”

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD, said: “This Government has long recognised the need to invest in our water and wastewater infrastructure and is committed to providing funding to Irish Water to enable the national utility to deliver on the critical projects, like this one, that are so badly needed. We are addressing and achieving success by delivering on our promise to invest and upgrade our water and wastewater infrastructure bringing it in line with international standards. This investment is needed to provide the area with the infrastructure to support the building of houses, schools, attract new industry and allow the companies we have to expand and grow.”

Investment of water and wastewater Brian Sheehan, Head of Asset Delivery with Irish Water, said: “Our long–term plan is to support people’s daily lives through the delivery of essential water and wastewater services. Projects such as this one are an example of how we are delivering on that promise. The size and scale of the challenge facing Irish Water shouldn’t be underestimated. Nor should the significant progress the company has made to date. Investing in our water and wastewater infrastructure will ensure we provide and maintain the strong foundations on which the Irish economy is built, so Ireland can continue to grow by supporting economic development now and into the future.”

More information For more information on projects in your local area and across the country visit our Projects and Plans section.

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Taoiseach and Minister Murphy turn sod on affordable scheme in Cork

First project supported under the Serviced Site Fund –2,000 new affordable homes will be available by end 2020 An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy T.D officially turned the sod on a new affordable housing scheme in Boherboy, Co Cork, the first such scheme to be delivered under the Serviced Site Fund. By the end of next year, 2,000 new affordable homes will be available nationwide in developments which have been subsidised by the Government.

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The Boherboy project will see the development of 153 homes in total. There will be 116 new energy efficient affordable homes available to buy; 24 Two Bedroom Homes and 92 Three Bedroom Units, as well as a crèche on site. The houses are expected to be ready by this time next year. In addition, a portion of the site is being made available for 37 apartments which will be used for social housing.

This housing development is being made possible thanks to a grant of almost €5 million under the Serviced Site Scheme, which is operated by the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government. The Scheme is designed to fund the servicing of the site, including upgrades to the nearby road network and local drainage services, which helps make the homes more affordable. The houses on this site will range in price from €198,000 to €223,000.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “The supply of new homes is steadily increasing all the time; we now expect about 22,000 new homes will be built this year and more than 50,000 new homes have been built over the last 3 years. As supply increases, we need to ensure we have new housing of all forms – home to buy, homes to rent, social housing for people on the housing list and, of course, subsidised affordable housing. We set up the Serviced Site Fund to increase the supply of affordable housing schemes and these are now becoming a reality around the country.

By the end of next year, 2,000 new affordable homes – in developments subsidised by the Government – will be available, and that will ramp up further in the years ahead.”

In launching the project Minister Murphy said “The financial support provided by Government will allow the deliver at homes on this site at prices which range from 198,000 to 223,000.This project today is a real example of how the Government is delivering and helping people achieve the dream of home ownership.”

The Government has initiated a number of supporting instruments such as the Local Infrastructure Housing Affordable Fund (LIHAF) and the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) to help fund the cost of public infrastructure to ensure that more affordable housing development can take place on key sites in urban areas of high demand.

The Minister noted that “The grant funding for the LIHAF and Serviced Sites Fund, which cumulatively amounts to over €500m, is helping to open up sites both in private and in local authority ownership – providing for the delivery of much needed affordable homes, for purchase and rent, in areas where prices are challenging for lower to middle-income earners. By the end of 2020, some 2,000 more affordable and cost reduced homes will have been added to the housing stock. Funding is in place and projects being developed to ensure a significant escalation in affordable housing output over the coming years.”

Local authorities are embracing supports offered by Government by making the best use of the available funding to open up residential lands in their efforts to deliver new, affordable homes. The Minister said “Funding the delivery of affordable homes in areas where the affordability challenge is most pronounced is not an issue. There is a budget of 310m in the Serviced Sites Fund, aimed at supporting the delivery of 6,200 homes. 127m has been allocated to date. The remainder – 187m – remains available to the end of 2021 to support local authorities in delivering affordable housing plans. A further Call for Proposals will issue next year. Working together, the government and the local authority sector are now beginning to see real progress on the ambition to deliver housing in our urban center at prices people can better afford.”

The Minister also remarked that these interventions constitute just one part of a comprehensive programme to support the delivery of discounted homes and noted that “Together with other complementary and targeted affordability measures under Rebuilding Ireland, the delivery of affordable homes will have a really positive impact on the availability of affordable housing.’

Finally, the Minister acknowledged that the progress demonstrated does not diminish the need to continue to work with local authorities in supporting them with their delivery of discounted and affordable homes to buy and rent. There is still a lot to do, but the Minister concluded by saying he was encouraged ‘both in terms of the ambition and scope of how projects were developing, and in terms of local authorities’ willingness to put their own resources to work to play their part in delivering affordable homes”.

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Getting Ireland Electric Vehicles Ready – Minister Murphy launches a public consultation on draft building regulation requirements for electric vehicle recharging infrastructure •

Proposal for all new dwelling houses with a car parking space within the property boundary to be future proofed for electric vehicle recharging points

•

Proposed requirements for new and existing buildings undergoing major renovation to install ducting infrastructure for electric vehicle recharging points

•

Proposed requirements for certain existing non-residential buildings to have at least one recharging point installed by 2025

The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, T.D., has launched a public consultation on proposed requirements for infrastructure for recharging electric vehicles in new buildings, and those undergoing major renovation, from 10 March 2020, and for certain existing non-residential buildings by 01 January 2025.

The proposed regulations include the requirement to install infrastructure to facilitate a future electric vehicle recharging point in all new houses with a car parking space inside the property boundary. All apartment blocks with parking spaces inside their property boundary will also require the installation of electric cable ducts (which will allow the future installation of electric vehicle recharging cables). These regulations will ensure that all new homes with a car parking space inside their property boundary will be future proofed to install electric vehicles.

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The proposed regulations will help facilitate recharging points for electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are critical to Ireland’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. The public consultation will last two months. The draft regulations fulfil obligations under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive but also exceed obligations by requiring electric infrastructure for new dwelling houses and ducting infrastructure for all new apartments.

The proposed requirements for electric vehicle infrastructure are summarised in table 1 below: Table 1: Summary of draft electric infrastructure requirements for electric vehicle recharging within property boundary Building type

Requirement Ensure the installation of at least 1 recharging point.

New buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation

Non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces within property boundary.

Ensure the installation of ducting infrastructure for at least 1 in 5 parking spaces.

Residential multi-unit buildings

Ensure the installation of ducting infrastructure for every parking space within property boundary.

New (single-unit residential) buildings

New dwelling with car parking space located within the property boundary.

Ensure the installation of appropriate infrastructure to enable the installation of recharging points for electric vehicles.

Certain existing (non-residential) buildings

All non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces within property boundary.

Ensure the installation of at least one recharging point by2025.

In implementing the above requirements, provisions are included for disability access in accordance with Part M of the building regulations for new buildings.

Commenting on the proposed regulations, Minister Murphy said: “Today we are publishing proposed regulations that will help ensure Ireland has cleaner, more sustainable transport in a low-carbon future. With costs steadily falling, the national transition to electric vehicles continues to become more feasible. Demand for electric vehicles will increase and people will inevitably expect new housing and non-residential car parks to have recharging points. These regulations will help meet those expectations. Going electric on our roads will also help reduce local air pollution, which is to everyone’s benefit.”

“These proposals are aimed at meeting the Government’s ambition of having over 950,000 electric vehicles on the road in Ireland by 2030. That is why I am proposing today that all new residential dwellings with their own car parking space within the property boundary will have to facilitate the future installation of recharging points for electric vehicles.”

These regulations, when implemented, will implement two measures related to Action 74 of the Government’s Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Breakdown to “Ensure our regulatory regime for buildings requires the installation of EV recharging infrastructure.”

Minister Murphy concluded: “I would urge all with an interest in this issue to read the proposals and give my department their views before February 5th. I hope to bring regulations into effect early next year so we can implement another important part of our plan for a more sustainable, low-carbon future.”

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