Written Answers Nos. 242-259
242. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on the progress of the digital games relief under section 481A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43578/23]
View answerThe Digital Games Regulations 2022 were signed on 22nd November 2022 and applications for the tax relief are now being accepted.
The tax credit will support the development of indigenous games companies along with increased investment from overseas games companies looking to locate in Ireland.
A requirement of the Scheme is that expenditure spent on projects which commenced before the ‘Digital Games Regulations 2022’ were signed on 22nd November 2022 is not eligible so anticipated demand from Digital Games Development Companies is expected to increase into the future as work on new games commences.
The ‘Safe to Create’ programme is a Dignity at Work intervention and as part of certification for a Digital Games Cultural Certificate, there will be a requirement for training in the areas of tackling bullying and harassment, unconscious bias and bystander training.
243. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Arts Council owns properties or sites which are vacant or derelict; if so, the number and addresses of such properties; if they are recorded on the vacancy or dereliction registers; and the reason for which they are vacant, in tabular form. [43603/23]
View answerThe Arts Council does not own any property. It occupies its premises in Merrion Square under lease.
244. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has had any further notice of the return of Irish artefacts held in overseas museums (details supplied). [43618/23]
View answerAs I outlined to the Deputy under Question No 298/23 on 31 January, the National Museum is charged with maintaining, managing, controlling, protecting, preserving, recording, conducting research and enlarging the collection of museum heritage objectives for the benefit of the public. Its functions also provide for entering into agreements with comparable institutions in support of this primary purpose.
Just as our National Collection contains artworks and objects from around the world, so too are Irish artefacts to be found in various international museums. Prior to the enactment of the relevant legislation (the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 and the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997), and as is the case in many countries, objects from Ireland were often legitimately acquired by antiquarian collectors and ultimately entered the collections of other museums through onward sale or donation. This type of activity dates from a time which predates the current legislation and its provisions relating to the discovery, possession and sale of archaeological objects. This underscores the importance of provenance research relating to these objects.
Additionally, I would note that many Irish objects from collections in overseas museums have been loaned to Irish institutions for specific exhibitions. The National Museum of Ireland maintains close relationships with international museums that hold Irish artefacts and has often borrowed such material for exhibitions. The institutions also collaborate and share research in this area.
My Department, along with the National Museum of Ireland, will continue to consider potential opportunities in this regard.
245. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has received the 2022 annual report from the National Concert Hall; and if so, when the report will be published. [43635/23]
View answerI expect to receive the National Concert Hall’s Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 shortly, following completion of the audit certification process. In line with usual practice, I expect that the Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 will be published by the National Concert Hall after it has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
246. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if Fáilte Ireland owns properties or sites which are vacant or derelict; if so, the number and addresses of such properties; if they are recorded on the vacancy or dereliction registers; and the reason for which they are vacant or derelict, in tabular form. [43699/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. The matter referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
247. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current position regarding an initiative to erect a commemorative plaque at the birthplace of War of Independence leader, Rory O’Connor, as we approach the close of the Decade of Centenaries. [43768/23]
View answerThe proposal to erect a commemorative plaque at the birthplace of War of Independence leader, Rory O’Connor on Kildare Street is an initiative of Dublin City Council under the Council's long-running 'Plaques of Dublin' project.
I understand that the Council is in contact with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as the manager of the relevant building at the address concerned.
I do not have a role in the matter.
248. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to organise the stakeholder forum to discuss how to maximise the benefits of the Section 481 credit for all concerned stakeholders and facilitate discussion of relevant issues, as recommended in the Budgetary Oversight Committee Report on Section 481 Film Tax Credit; when she expects this forum will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43784/23]
View answerThe Government has always adopted a consultative approach to the development of the audiovisual sector and will continue to do so. Consideration is being given to Recommendation 14 (stakeholder forum) of the Report of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight on Section 481 as part of overall considerations of the Committee’s Report and there will be further engagement between the relevant Departments in the coming weeks on a suitable format for a Forum. On the critical issue of copyright, an independent facilitator has been retained by Screen Ireland to meet with key industry stakeholders to understand and discuss issues raised through the implementation of the Copyright Directive. There have been individual stakeholder meetings as well as group discussions with the relevant stakeholders, led by the independent facilitator, with a view to progressing key areas. All stakeholders agreed that the process has been valuable to date with additional meetings requested by all parties. The constructive work being done through Screen Ireland will be an important factor for consideration of the format a Section 481 Stakeholder Forum might take but work is advancing on this as a priority.
249. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what engagements she has had with social media companies with regard to tackling hate speech and sharing of offensive materials online; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43887/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that in March 2023, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 was commenced. In developing, drafting and progressing the Act to commencement, my Department and I engaged with a range of stakeholders, including social media platforms.
As provided for by the Act and on its commencement, Coimisiún na Meán was formally established. An Coimisiún is a new independent regulator, responsible for the enforcement of a new regulatory framework for online safety to protect people, particularly children, from some of the most serious forms of harmful online content.
To deliver this, Coimisiún na Meán will develop online safety codes which will tackle, among other things, the availability of online content related to existing offences around hate speech and the publication or sending of threatening or offensive communications. In June 2023, an Coimisiún published its work programme, which targets the adoption of the first online safety code, applying to video-sharing platform services, by the end of this year.
Government has also decided to designate an Coimisiún na Meán as Ireland's Digital Services Coordinator for the purposes of the implementation of the EU Digital Services Act. Work is on-going by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to give operational and legislative effect to that decision and a Digital Services Commissioner has already been appointed to An Coimisiún. The DSA introduces new EU wide rules requiring online services to tackle the availability of illegal content on their services.
250. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the full complement of buildings and lands owned by her Department, or by agencies under the aegis of her Department in County Clare; if they are currently in use, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44166/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the provision of office accommodation for my Department falls within the remit of the Office of Public Works.
However I am advised that my Department does not own any buildings or lands in County Clare.
With regard to ownership of buildings and lands by bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for the relevant Bodies.
251. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on her Department’s implementation of the recommendations contained in the Budgetary Oversight Committee report on the examination of the Section 481 Film Tax Credit. [44213/23]
View answerOfficials from my Department have engaged with the other Departments that have responsibility for various aspects of the Report of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight on Section 481 Film Tax Credit.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Finance are examining the options to convene a stakeholder forum to discuss how to maximise the benefits of the Section 481 credit for all concerned stakeholders, to facilitate best practice in employment rights, industrial relations, collective bargaining, address Copyright and Intellectual Property issues and any other relevant issues.
Consideration is being given to Recommendation 14 as part of overall considerations of the Committee’s Report and further engagement between my Department and the Dept. of Finance is expected shortly on a suitable format for a Forum.
Independently, Screen Ireland, the State Body with responsibility for the development of the Irish audiovisual industry, has retained an independent facilitator to meet with key stakeholders to understand and discuss issues that have arisen as a result of and since the transposition into Irish law of the EU Copyright Directive. Stakeholder meetings have been held over recent months and the next phase of the process will involve further engagement with relevant stakeholders.
252. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding allocated to Ervia in each of the years 2014 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [43956/23]
View answerMy Department has not allocated or provided any funding to Ervia for the period 2014 to date.
In the period to 2022 and while Uisce Éireann was a subsidiary of Ervia, funding was provided by my Department to Uisce Éireann pursuant to the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022. However, due to its share ownership structure, Uisce Éireann did not meet the definition of a subsidiary of Ervia for accounting purposes under International Financial Reporting Standards and, therefore Uisce Éireann was not consolidated within the financial statements of the Ervia Group. Uisce Éireann provided details of all funding provided to it in its Annual Report and Accounts for each of the years since 2014 and copies of these reports are available in the Oireachtas Library.
253. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a significant delay in HAP and HHAP payments being made to landlords from local authorities; if he is aware that tenants in these cases have not received information from HAP services regarding their own rent contributions; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43407/23]
View answerThe administration of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and HAP application processing times within local authorities may vary. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP Shared Service Centre (HAP SSC). If there are delays at the processing stage within a local authority, payment to the landlord will be backdated to the date on which a complete and valid application form was received by the local authority. The landlord is therefore not penalised for any delay.
The HAP application form comes in two parts, Section A to be completed by the applicant tenant and Section B to be completed by the landlord or agent. An application for HAP will only be accepted by the local authority when both Section A and Section B are completed, signed and returned, along with the required supporting documentation. Any delay in tenants and landlords supplying this information will impact on the processing time of the HAP application.
Limerick City and County Council provide a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. The HAP SSC manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is then processed by the HAP SSC. Any rental payment arising for a given month will then be made to a landlord on the last Wednesday of that month.
My Department and the local authorities are aware of the importance of minimising HAP processing times and the critical need to keep this under review at a local level.
254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties that have been purchased by councils under the tenant-in-situ scheme since it was introduced, by council, in tabular form. [43410/23]
View answer262. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities are experiencing delays in housing acquisitions from members of the public. [43559/23]
View answer263. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of housing acquisitions by local authorities that go beyond 12 weeks during the conveyancing process. [43560/23]
View answer264. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of social housing tenant-in-situ purchases that have been completed broken down, by local authority for 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43563/23]
View answer282. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a tenant-in-situ application, whereby a couple qualifies for the scheme, but it is not the landlord’s intention to sell the house but rather to take up occupancy themselves, can still be processed; and if an applicant can access the help-to-buy scheme and the first-home scheme in respect of the same property. [43761/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 262, 263, 264 and 282 together.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023. Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by the Department.It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. Landlords may issue a valid Notice of Termination in instances where the landlord needs the property for their own use. In such cases the property will not be available for sale to the local authority. Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and where it is not possible to purchase the property, the local authority will seek alternative supports, which may include support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock where possible. Details of social housing acquisitions are published as part of the comprehensive programme level statistics published by my Department on a quarterly basis. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 2 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
The time required to complete a social housing acquisition, including the time involved in the completion of conveyancing, can vary, depending on the circumstances involved. My Department does not collect data on the length of time involved for conveyancing on each acquisition.
255. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the confirmation by Limerick City and County Council that no funding remains to complete housing adaptation grant works in 2023 and that such works are being deferred to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43450/23]
View answer256. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding will be provided to Limerick City and County Council in order that works scheduled for successful applicants for the housing adaptation grant can be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43451/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
I understand that this question refers to social housing adaptations. My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. Extensions to provide for ground floor bathrooms and bedrooms can also be supported. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation of applications is the responsibility of local authorities.
My Department's approach every year, in the first instance, is to allow local authorities complete works up to 65% of the previous year’s allocation in the absence of formal approval to keep this important work going.
Following this and based on the actual need of the sector, my Department issues a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the varying works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants in this year.
Local authorities can apply for additional funding for emergency cases as they arise throughout the year and Limerick City and County Council have received approval for additional funding above their initial allocation for their 2023 programme. Furthermore, my Department will make every effort to accede to any further requests for additional funding this year.
257. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing supports available to women who have suffered domestic abuse and have had to flee the marital home (details supplied); if such persons will be approved for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43495/23]
View answerWhere an applicant for social housing support owns accommodation that is occupied by his or her spouse, from whom he or she is formally separated or divorced, a deed of separation is required. Local authorities may provide such households with social housing support under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme until ownership of the family home is resolved in a formal separation or divorce settlement.
Support in these circumstances will be reviewed by the local authority at prescribed intervals and the household will not be able to transfer to other forms of social housing support while ownership of the family home remains to be determined. However, where the household ultimately qualifies for the full range of social housing supports, the length of time the household was supported under RAS or HAP will be reckonable for the purposes of determining the household’s relative priority for a transfer to local authority social housing.
258. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenant in situ scheme acquisitions in Fingal that have been impacted by the withdrawal of an organisation (details supplied) due to capacity issues; the timeline to expedite these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43511/23]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
For 2023, the Government has agreed that there will be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department will fund local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions will be focused on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter to all local authorities in March, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional target for social housing acquisitions in 2023 and these allocations are being kept under review.
It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. It is a matter for a local authority to determine whether a property should be acquired. The cost of the property, its condition and its suitability for the existing tenants are issues that will be considered by the local authority. I have asked local authorities to be proactive in this area.
Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and where it is not possible to purchase the property, the local authority will seek alternative supports, which will include support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock where possible.
Fingal County Council have informed my Department that the organisation mentioned have completed a small number of Tenant in Situ acquisitions in 2023 and their capacity issues are not impacting any Tenant in Situ acquisitions in the pipeline.
259. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue a response to correspondence from a person (details supplied) to his office; if he will outline the efforts, if any, made by his Department to verify the claims put forward; and if he will outline the plans, if any, to conduct upgrade or refurbishment works at Sí an Bhrú in the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site. [43521/23]
View answerBrú na Bóinne is a complex and multi-layered archaeological ensemble and an extensive UNESCO World Heritage property. The upstanding monuments, most notably the great passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, constitute only a fragment of the overall archaeological resources across the World Heritage property, with new discoveries constantly being made and records often re-interpreted by scholars according to the availability of new information.
New theories and interpretative models arise regularly from such discoveries, along with calls for further direct investigation. The State is not in a position to react immediately to these as they arise, though all are noted. Acknowledging the importance of having a clear picture of the extent of research carried out in the World Heritage landscape up until present, and developing avenues for further research in years ahead to augment the understanding of the landscape, NMS is commencing an initial review of the established Brú na Bóinne Research Framework that will support and inform a revised Management Plan and future research strategies. NMS has acknowledged theories put forward about Newgrange and associated archaeological features, all of which will be considered in this review. It should be noted that any and all works at and in the vicinity of National Monuments are subject to Consent and the full rigour of advanced expert archaeological investigation. NMS will engage with the correspondent again.
