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PRODUCT INFO
-Key commitment in Programme for Government approved by cabinet- -Will result in accelerated delivery of social housing
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the approval at Cabinet of one of the key commitments in the Programme for Government.
The Programme for Government proposed that appropriate controls be put in place to allow local authority discretionary funding to increase from €2m to €6m for social housing projects.
Minister O’Brien said that Cabinet approval for the introduction of a single stage approval process for capital expenditure on social housing construction projects up to €6m meant that local authorities would have greater autonomy in constructing social housing leading to accelerated delivery. It will be operational from September 2020.
He explained, “This single stage approvals process strikes a balance between appropriate oversight and the need to deliver on a core Government policy of local authorities building more social housing at greater pace.
“By streamlining the approvals process further, the pre-construction programme can be shortened thus accelerating the delivery of much needed social housing construction projects.
“Having listened to local authorities across the country I know that they are anxious to get on with building social housing. For our part, the Government has put the funding and framework in place to support that accelerated delivery by local authorities. Importantly, this will mean that those most in need of social housing will be able to get it quicker.
“The Department will work with local authorities in relation to the new process and detailed guidance will be provided to ensure the accelerated delivery of quality homes consistent with the principles of value for money and cost certainty,” he concluded.
Minister O’Brien announces allocation of funds which will see over 2,500 vacant social housing units returned to use
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien has announced the allocation of funding of €40 million for the return of approximately 2,500 vacant local authority properties to productive use.
Minister O’Brien said “As part of the July Stimulus I secured an extra €40 million in funding for the refurbishment of social housing stock.
“This funding will be used to target 2,500 social housing units across the country so that they can be re-let to individuals and fami-lies struggling with homelessness or on the social housing list.
“I have asked local authorities to take immediate steps to ensure that work on refurbishing vacant homes begins straight away.
“The funding will make extra social housing stock available quickly and will have a knock on economic benefit by generating further employment to local builders, carpenters, painters, plumbers and electricians etc ,” he concluded.
Allocation of funding is as follows:
VOIDS JULY STIMULUS FUNDING Preliminary Funding Allocations
Overall Stock €40m Allocationbut Assign €30m initially Local Authority Per-centage (hold €10m for reassignment post NOAC 2018 receipt of submissions) Carlow 1.26
Cavan 1.50
Clare 1.84
Cork City 6.66 Cork County 5.69 Donegal 3.55 Dublin City 19.01 DLR 3.26
Fingal 3.86 Galway City 1.73 Galway County 1.77 Kerry 3.12 Kildare 3.03
Kilkenny 1.76 Laois 1.59
Limerick 3.91
Longford 1.44 Louth 2.83
Mayo 1.54 Meath 2.31
Monaghan 1.14 Offaly 1.34 Roscommon 1.00
Sligo 1.58 South Dublin 7.06
Tipperary 3.70 Waterford 3.78
Westmeath 1.41
Wexford 3.33
Wicklow 3.27
100
€30,000,00
To achieve the maximum impact across all local authorities there will be a three-pronged approach to the Voids stimulus programme:
1. Standard Refurbishment:
This is a fast-tracked standard refurbishment programme with a maximum funding level of €12,500 per unit. The Department is tar-geting 2,000 social housing units to be refurbished and re-let to in-dividuals and families on the social housing list this year.
2. Homelessness Refurbishment:
Under the homeless category, the Department will be seeking pro-posals for the refurbishment of local authority housing targeted to-wards long-term homeless households. The maximum funding pro-vision is €20,000 per unit to cover extra works/supports as required. The target is for 300 social housing units to be refurbished and re-let to house long-term homeless individuals and families.
3. Long-Term Vacant Refurbishment:
Under this category the Department is seeking proposals for the re-furbishment of local authority housing targeted at long-term vacant units (greater than 12 months) which require extensive works. There will be no upper limit set and individual submissions will be assessed on a case by case basis. It is hoped that funding can be provided for 200 units under this category (a capped work schedule is not applicable).
Minister O’Brien announces over €73 million for Housing Adaptation Grant
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, has today (6 August, 2020) announced the national allocations for the €73.75 million made available in 2020 for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability living in private houses.
The increased funding continues to support home adaptations for older people, people with a disability and people with mobility issues. It will enable older people and people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own homes for longer should they wish and will also facilitate early return from hospital.
Announcing the allocations, Minister O’Brien said “I am pleased to be in a position to increase the funding again for this important scheme in 2020, with all local authorities receiving an increase in funding compared to their 2019 allocation.
These grants have had a huge impact on the quality of life of the many beneficiaries and play a vitally important role in helping people with a disability and people who are reaching an age in life when they are less mobile, to continue to live independently in their own homes.”
Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs, up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out and up to €6,000 for mobility aids to address mobility problems for a member of the household.
The grants are 80% funded from the exchequer by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with 20% funding from the relevant local authority. The grants also create employment opportunities for builders and local businesses and help reduce the dependency on our health services by supporting independent living for as long as possible.
Minister O’Brien continued, “I am confident that today’s allocation will demonstrate the Government’s continued commitment to older people and people with a disability and is in line with commitments made in the Programme for Government,” he concluded.
Authority EXCHEQUER FUNDING LA FUNDING COMBINED (80%) (20%) TOTAL
Carlow €1,278,068 €319,517 €1,597,585
Cavan Clare Cork City Cork County Donegal Dublin City Dun Laoghaire /Rathdown Fingal Galway City Galway County Kerry Kildare Kilkenny Laois Leitrim Limerick Longford Louth Mayo Meath Monaghan Offaly Roscommon Sligo South Dublin €1,206,584 €1,778,004 €1,747,783 €4,698,206 €1,340,100 €6,817,442 €2,079,292
Tipperary Waterford Westmeath Wexford Wicklow €2,596,936 €1,634,300 € 1,105,898 €1,943,305 €1,519,771 €649,234 €408,575 €276,475 €485,826 €379,943 €3,246,170 €2,042,875 €1,382,373 €2,429,131 €1,899,714
Total: €59,000,000 €14,750,000 €73,750,000
Composite Access Covers and EN 124:2015. Raising the standard for Traffic Systems Infrastructure
In recent years, the arrival of composite access covers to the market has delivered new advantages and a new level of choice for project managers of utilities and municipalities, engineers and specifiers. A substantial revision of the performance standard from the EU in the shape of EN 124:2015 has provided a clear framework for composite manufacturers like EJ to adhere to and confirms that composites are here to stay.
The advantages of using composite access covers
Composite materials are used today for a wide range of applications from construction to the aerospace industry. When it comes to manhole covers and access solutions, high quality composite products now offer many benefits.
Composite access covers..
Are easy to handle and install, due to their low weight. Have no resale value to the scrap market, therefore eliminating theft. Are corrosion-resistant -composite products will remain unchanged, even in the most aggressive environments. This can apply to areas with exposure to sewers, petrochemicals, diesel, de-icing solutions, and salt water Exhibit no signal interference with wireless communication devices which makes them particularly suitable for applications associated with water metering automation or electrical switching for smart grid technology. Do not conduct stray voltage nor heat and can shield pedestrians from the underground environment. Can be colour-customised to display a personalised logo or service identification. While composite products offer many advantages, how composite products are made and what standards they are produced to, can vary widely - and this is the primary reason why the European standard was expanded.
Meeting the new standards – the EJ approach
In Ireland the standard EN 124 : 1994 has been superseded by EN 124 : 2015 (please refer to www.nsai.ie for more details). The revised standard moves to standardise the design and manufacture of composite covers to ensure good quality, durable products are brought to market as there was no specific composite testing in EN124:1994. There are now extensive test requirements for load and fatigue testing, fuel absorption, water absorption, UV protection, etc; all specified to ensure there are no future issues with the product, offering peace of mind to the contractor, client and public.
To find out more about the EJ range of composite access covers manufactured in Birr, Co Offaly please contact Caroline O’Brien on 057 91 23100.
Red Card for Microplastics
Surface water flowing off artificial playing pitches will be contaminated with microplastics from both the infill material and the artificial grass itself. Sportfix Clean is a filter substrate channel to treat surface water runoff from artificial pitches.
Whether for football, hockey or rugby, pitches where artificial turf sports facilities are used will require drainage systems. Surface water flowing off artificial playing pitches will be contaminated with microplastics from both the infill material and the artificial grass itself. Larger microplastic particles that are transported to the edge of the field during play are safely collected along the pitch.
By using a channel drain with a filter substrate included around the pitch, it is possible to collect the water and filter it in the channel preventing these microplastic particles from being released into the local water course. In this system particles as small as 0.45 µm (0.00045 mm) are reliably filtered out by the filter substrate Carbotec 60. The filter substrate consists of natural, inorganic components.
Effectiveness of the system
The rainfall is intercepted via the Sportfix Clean drainage channel and is filtered through the specially designed substrate before being discharged via a collection and overflow shaft in the trash box. In the trash box there is a special particle trap bucket which is lined with geotextile. This also cleans the water that enters the trash box unfiltered in the event of heavy rainfall.
The system also works to prevent flooding during heavy rain events and runs dry naturally. This means that the channel filter is not permanently filled with an accumulation of water, thus preventing the residue of pollutants and germs. The water purified by Sportfix Clean can be used to irrigate playing fields or green areas, therefore saving valuable drinking water.
During the renovation of the former school and club sports field in the Baden town of Bühl, the existing hard pitch was converted into an artificial turf pitch offering athletes a comfortable and weather-independent surface for their regular training.
During the reconstruction more than 200 meters of the filter system Sportfix Clean were installed in order to retain microplastics and at the same time to provide surface drainage of the sports field. This allows large quantities of solids to be absorbed and retained. Function is guaranteed even during heavy rainfall events.
Sportfix Clean particle trap
Part of the granulate and the broken plastic fibres get stuck on the clothes and shoes of the athletes. The Sportfix Clean particle trap element was specially developed for this purpose: Ideally, it is installed at the player's exit where it collects and retains microplastic from the shoes and clothing. This also means that less microplastic gets into changing rooms and washing machines.
Functions of Sportfix Clean:
• Continuous retention and filtering of particulate pollutants. • Large filter surface for the absorption of particle loads. • Safe linear drainage surrounding the artificial turf surface. • The filter system can also be retrofitted to existing installations.
