Written Answers Nos. 363-393
363. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education if she will consider increasing a school (details supplied) to three streams to accommodate a rise in the number of young children in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55385/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a new school building project for the school in question has been recently completed.
As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.
The school referred to above by the Deputy is within the Scribblestown_FinglasWest School Planning Area. The Department is not aware of pressure at primary level in the Scribblestown_FinglasWest School Planning Area and a growth in primary enrolments is not currently anticipated. However, continued close engagement with schools and patrons will allow the Department to identify any unanticipated local pressures, and particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years that may require further solutions to be put in place to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.
The Department currently have no plans to increase provision at Pelletstown Educate Together National School to three streams but school place demand in the area will continue to be kept under review.
I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in the Scribblestown_FinglasWest School Planning Area for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.
364. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education for an update on a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55386/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
I can confirm that approval was granted to provide 2 special education classrooms for the current school year and these have been provided at the school.
My officials are continuing to assess the requirement for additional permanent accommodation on this site and in consideration to the educational requirements of the area more broadly. Engagement with the school authorities will continue in this regard.
365. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education for an update on the permanent site for a school (details supplied) which has been in temporary accommodation for three years without any update on its future and final location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55387/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the site identification and assessment exercise for the new Ériu Community College is ongoing. Potential site options have been identified, including a Minister-owned property.
The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further information at this time.
366. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the criteria for allocating special education teaching hours to a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55388/23]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2023, the spend by my department on special education has been substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where an additional €113m has been provided which will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Special education teachers provide additional teaching support for students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes in primary and post primary schools.
The special education teaching (SET) allocation model provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.
The SET model has been in place since 2017. It was recommended by the NCSE and is designed to distribute the total available number of special education teachers across primary and post-primary schools based on the relative need of each school, as evidenced by a number of key indicators.
The SET model is a fairer and more transparent way of allocating teaching resources to schools and represents a significant shift in the way that students with special education needs are supported in mainstream classes.
Previously, students needing additional teaching support required a diagnosis in order to access support which caused delays in providing the support and also imposed a burden on both schools and parents. The change in policy was welcomed by both schools and parents as the model is based on the principle that those students with the greatest need receive the most support.
The model encourages schools to support students with special educational needs in mainstream classes alongside their peers. In fact most students with special educational needs are enrolled in these classes. This approach is also consistent with the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act (2004).
When the SET model was introduced it was designed to be updated on a regular basis so as to distribute the total available resources across the school system based on profile of need. As the level of student need may change in a school over time, some schools will gain under this distribution, with these gains balanced by equivalent reductions in schools where the model indicates reduced need.
Re-profiling is the means of ensuring that new or increasing need in schools is met by transfer/redistribution of teaching resources from other schools whose need has reduced as shown by the model.
The SET resources provided to schools is based on special education needs of the pupils enrolled in the school and the resources must be utilised to ensure that students with special education needs are supported so that they can achieve the best possible educational outcome.
In general schools are front-loaded with resources, based on each school’s profile. The allocations to schools include provision to support all pupils in the schools, including where a child receives a diagnosis after the allocation is received by a school, or where there are newly enrolling pupils to the school.
The model, including the data and indicators used to inform the distribution of special education teacher resources, is currently being reviewed in advance of the 2024/25 school year, to ensure that these valuable resources are allocated fairly and transparently across our primary and post-primary schools.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
367. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the timeline of correspondence, communications and events since a commitment was given by her Department in 2021 to provide a school (details supplied) with a permanent extension by 2024 and facilitate its growth to a 1,500 student post-primary school, including any decisions taken by either her Department or the patron, DDLETB, to change that commitment between 2021 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55389/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department and DDLETB agreed in early 2021 to increase the capacity of the school in question to 1,500 places. There was no timeframe determined for this increase but it was expected that there would be a gradual increase in enrolments over a number of years.
In order to facilitate an initial increase in enrolments, modular accommodation was provided at the school in 2022. As a result of continued engagement between my Department and DDLETB it has been agreed to provide further modular accommodation at the school for the 2024/25 school year and a subsequent traditional construction project to deliver the remaining accommodation.
My Department continues to work closely with DDLETB to advance both of these projects as quickly as possible.
School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. There are also 200 modular accommodation projects that are very well advanced for delivery or at construction stage. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my department. My officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider school planning area for future years.
368. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media regarding the funding to support news and current affairs on independent radio in the run-up to the local and European elections 2024, when she will provide the specific details of this funding to the European Commission for examination under State aid rules; if she is confident that the European Commission will issue approval in time for the funding to be rolled out for the 2024 local and European elections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55181/23]
View answerThe independent radio sector plays an essential role in sharing reliable and relevant news and bringing communities together. The wider media sector in Ireland, which is a vital element of our democracy and society as a whole, is undergoing fundamental change. This is in part due to the increased digitalisation of news and media content generally and the associated decline in advertising revenue as a consequence.
The Report of the Future of Media Commission examined the challenges faced by the media sector, including the radio sector, and consequent impact on the provision of public service content. The Report made a number of recommendations to counter these challenges and to support the provision of public service content.
One recommendation made by the Future of Media Commission was the establishment of a new Media Fund to provide support for the provision of public service content by the wider media and journalism sector at local, regional and national levels on a platform neutral basis. The Media Fund is being established on an administrative basis, with the Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes being prioritised for implementation by Coimisiún na Meán, with €6m allocated in Budget 2024 for this purpose.
My officials have consulted extensively with members of the Future of Media Commission Stakeholder Consultative Forum, which includes representatives from the independent radio sector, throughout the year as part of the high level policy development process for the schemes. My officials will continue to engage with these members and indeed with all stakeholders to keep them informed of developments on this matter.
It is considered that the draft Schemes may constitute State Aid to economic operators in the news and current affairs market. Accordingly, the schemes may require a full State Aid notification to, and the approval of, the European Commission. The pre-notification form for the media fund schemes was received by the European Commission on 6th September 2023 and a response from the European Commission is awaited. Once the pre-notification process is complete, a formal State Aid notification, if required, will be submitted to the European Commission. Following State aid approval, Coimisiún na Meán will be in a position to implement the schemes.
In the meantime, the detailed design of the schemes based on the high level policy principles developed by my Department is currently being undertaken by Coimisiún na Meán. It is expected that Coimisiún na Meán will progress further stakeholder consultation on the detailed design of the schemes in early 2024. Subject to State Aid approval, it is expected that the schemes will commence in 2024 but it is not possible to provide a precise timeline.
It should be noted that the purpose and delivery of the Schemes is not directly linked to the local and European elections, The overall purpose of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme is to support local democracy reporting on a general basis through the provision of comprehensive coverage of the proceedings of local authorities and associated committees.
In addition, it is intended that local democracy reporters will carry out other tasks outside of providing reports of meetings, including reporting on the functions and activities of local authorities, reviewing publications and records to identify stories of public interest and to report on other matters relevant to local democracy which are in the public interest. While the role of a local democracy reporter could include the provision of coverage relating to elections, this is not the core purpose of the scheme.
369. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of funding that has been awarded directly to the Irish Arts Centre in New York by his Department and its agencies in each year since 2005; the amount that has been granted to others for the purpose of performing at or attending the Irish Arts Centre, and in other indirect ways since 2005, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54666/23]
View answerThrough Culture Ireland my Department continues to work towards the Global Ireland 2025 aim, to double Ireland’s global cultural footprint by supporting our artists to present work to audiences worldwide.
Culture Ireland has responsibility for promoting Irish arts worldwide and does this by providing grants to create and support opportunities for Irish artists to present their work at prestigious venues, festivals and events internationally. Culture Ireland also develops platforms to present outstanding Irish work to international audiences, through showcases at key global arts events.
The Irish Arts Centre (IAC) in New York is a key strategic partner in delivering on the Department's remit to promote the Irish arts abroad through Culture Ireland. The IAC receives an annual programming grant from Culture Ireland to present and promote a wide range of contemporary Irish culture in all its aspects including theatre, literature and music. Culture Ireland supports Irish artists to present their work by providing annual funding to the IAC for programming purposes and the IAC directly fund the Irish artists performing at the IAC from this allocation.
My department has also provided funding towards the IAC redevelopment capital project as a flagship venue and gateway for Irish artists to reach New York and U.S audiences.
The details sought in respect of funding that has been allocated to the IAC since this department was established in its current configuration in September 2020, are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Programming€ |
Capital € |
|
2020 |
245,000 |
600,000 |
|
2021 |
400,000 |
500,000 |
|
2022 |
410,000 |
800,000 |
|
2023 |
550,000 |
2,000,000 |
370. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the key policy achievements realised and new initiatives taken by her Department during 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54796/23]
View answerDetails on all of the recent policy achievements of this Department can be found in my Departments’ 2022 Annual Report (www.gov.ie/en/publication/7153c-annual-report-2022). I also would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 89 of Wednesday 6 December 2023, in which I set out the main policy achievements of my Department in 2023.
In relation to new initiatives taken, the main policy and legislative priorities for my Department are detailed in its Statement of Strategy 2023-2025 (www.gov.ie/en/publication/502f6-statement-of-strategy-2023-2025).
As stated in this document, the mission of my Department is to lead the sustainable development of Tourism, Media and the Gaeltacht and promote participation in the Culture, Arts, and Sports sectors and the Irish language, supporting social progress, and enhancing cultural and economic growth across Irish society. My Department implements policy to ensure the achievement of this mission.
The strategies to be followed by my Department in the delivery of these diverse but critical work programmes, and the indicators to be used in tracking progress towards achieving the intended outcomes, are set out in the Statement of Strategy.
I would also refer the Deputy to the extensive package of supports announced under Budget 2024 which will enable the delivery on the priorities under each sector, available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/5a08e-details-of-budget-2024-announced-for-the-department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media
371. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a person was appointed to the role of night-time economy adviser (details supplied). [54895/23]
View answerLast year, in direct response to Action 19 in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, I announced the locations of the 9 towns and cities which will take part in the new Night-Time Advisor pilot initiative. The selected pilots are Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana and Longford Town.
My Department has been liaising with the CCMA, who have been leading on this process, in relation to the recruitment of all 9 Night-Time Economy Advisors. I have approved funding for a two-year full-time post in the Local Authority for each of the selected towns and cities and the post has been advertised at Local Authority Grade VII scale. I understand that 6 of the 9 posts are now filled and that the Night-Time Advisor for Cork City has been recently appointed. The following Night-Time Advisors have now been appointed:
|
Location |
Name |
|
Cork City |
Ms. Fiona Collins |
|
Galway City |
Ms. Kate Howard |
|
Kilkenny |
Mr. Conor Sweeney |
|
Drogheda |
Mr. Mark Davies |
|
Sligo |
Mr. Brendan Tierney |
|
Longford |
Due to start in early 2024 – details not yet available |
372. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of vacant and derelict properties and sites that are owned by her Department; her plans to bring each of these properties and sites into use; where no plans are in place, the reasons why; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55055/23]
View answerIn general, matters relating to property for my Department are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works as my Department does not own any properties. I am advised that my Department does not have control of any vacant or derelict properties.
373. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there has been any request for funding for capital improvement works at a facility (details supplied). [55081/23]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September. The scope of the programme has been extended to include, for the first time, consideration of applications for renovation works on local authority swimming pools.
A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications, and it is evident that the total number will exceed the previous record of 3,106 applications submitted under the last (2020) round. However no application has been received in respect of the facility to which the Deputy refers.
Work is now underway on finalising the "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this published shortly. Simultaneously, I also plan to publish the full list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. Once these documents are published, the detailed assessment work can commence. In this regard, it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.
374. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the level of land bank that Údarás na Gaeltachta has that is suitable for housing broken down, by county and by size; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55103/23]
View answerI understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that the organisation is currently developing a strategy in relation to housing, which includes a full review of its land portfolio.
An tÚdarás is keen to contribute to the success of Housing for All and an outline plan and approach for housing solutions using the organisation's lands is being developed, accordingly. This plan is scheduled to be presented to the Údarás na Gaeltachta board this month.
375. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to detail the discussion between Údarás na Gaeltachta and Irish Water; if there are plans to put Údarás na Gaeltachta wastewater treatment plants under Irish Water’s control; if there are plans to put Údarás na Gaeltachta wastewater treatment plants under Irish Water’s control after they have been upgraded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55104/23]
View answerÚdarás na Gaeltachta has advised that the it has had engagement with Uisce Éireann in relation to its wastewater treatment plants and that it has recently transferred two of its facilities at An Spidéal and Gaoth Dobhair to the stewardship of Uisce Éireann.
An tÚdarás has upgraded 14 of its treatment plants over the past 3 years and plans to upgrade the remainder over the coming years. An tÚdarás has advised that it will work closely with Uisce Éireann in relation to any future transfer of control.
376. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her main policy and legislative priorities for 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55217/23]
View answerThe main policy and legislative priorities for my Department are detailed in its Statement of Strategy 2023-2025 (www.gov.ie/en/publication/502f6-statement-of-strategy-2023-2025/).
As stated in this document, the mission of my Department is to lead the sustainable development of Tourism, Media and the Gaeltacht and promote participation in the Culture, Arts, and Sports sectors and the Irish language, supporting social progress, and enhancing cultural and economic growth across Irish society. My Department implements policy to ensure the achievement of this mission.
The strategies to be followed by my Department in the delivery of these diverse but critical work programmes, and the indicators to be used in tracking progress towards achieving the intended outcomes, are set out in the Statement of Strategy.
I would also refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question 221 of Thursday, 19 October 2023 (www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-10-19/221/), in which I set out the measures being undertaken to ensure the continued growth and viability of each sector under my Department's remit. Furthermore, I would also refer the Deputy to the extensive package of supports announced under Budget 2024 which will enable the delivery on the priorities under each sector, available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/5a08e-details-of-budget-2024-announced-for-the-department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/
Details on all of the recent policy achievements of this Department can be found in my Departments’ 2022 Annual Report (www.gov.ie/en/publication/7153c-annual-report-2022/).
377. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports provided to strengthen and develop sports facilities and organisations since 27 June 2020. [55283/23]
View answerI recognise both the importance of sport and physical activity for the health and well-being of our society and the need to support the sporting sector to ensure that opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in sport.
Since 2020, this Government has provided over €177 million in Covid-19 funding to support the sport sector in addressing the challenges presented by the pandemic. In addition, we have directed significant funding to help sports clubs, organisations and facilities to cope with the significant spike in energy costs in 2022 and 2023. In this context, Sport Ireland has paid €23.5 million to date under the Sports Energy Support Scheme, supporting over 1,900 clubs, community-led sports facilities, national facilities and major stadiums.
In October 2023, Minister Martin and I announced an overall 2024 budget allocation of €183.3 million for sport. That is an increase of €8 million (4.6%) compared to this year and places us well on track to meet the target of doubling funding to sport within the lifetime of the National Sports Policy, 2018 - 2027.
The 2024 Budget allocation for Sport Ireland will deliver an increase of over €7 million in its budget, bringing it to €106.7 million. This level of funding will allow Sport Ireland to continue to support the sport sector which is still recovering from the challenges of Covid-19 and, like all sectors, continues to face difficulties around rising energy costs. It will also allow Sport Ireland to increase its funding support in a number of very important areas next year, including a €2 million increase in core funding for sporting organisations.
The Government is committed to ensuring increased opportunities for female participation in sport at all levels and for 2024, an additional €2 million will be made available under the Women in sport programme, doubling the funding under this programme.
An additional €1m in Government funding is also being provided for high-performance sport next year, which will support Team Ireland as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as assisting with the continued development of coaching and pathways support.
With regard to capital assistance, the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas.
Recognition of the increasing pressures sports clubs face was reflected in the significant additional grants allocated under the last round of the SCEP (2020). Under that round alone, €166.6 million was allocated – the highest level of funding for any single round of the Programme to date. All allocations under the SCEP including those since 2020 can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/.
With regard to future allocations, the 2023 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September. Work is now underway on finalising the "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this published shortly. Once published, the detailed assessment work can commence. In this regard, it is planned to assess the "Equipment-only" applications first with a view to announcing these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on the assessment of the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024. Once all allocations are finalised, an announcement will be made in relation to the next call for proposals.
In addition to the SCEP, the National Sports Policy which was published in 2018 provided for a new Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the fund is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports projects and facilities where the required Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the SCEP. In terms of the initial allocations, approximately €86.4 million was awarded to 33 different proposals.
The first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic obviously gave rise to significant financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees.
Minister Martin and I recently announced additional funding amounting to a total of €37.6 million, with 27 existing LSSIF projects benefitting, bringing the total awarded to date to Large Scale Sport Infrastructure funded projects to €124 million. The additional funding for projects is being provided, in response to delays experienced by grantees arising from the pandemic and construction inflation, following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
It was also confirmed recently that a new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course.
378. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when a decision will be made on the applications submitted under the 2023 sports capital and equipment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55320/23]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a large number of applications and it is evident that the total number will exceed the previous record of 3,106 applications submitted under the last (2020) round.
Work is now underway on finalising the "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this published shortly. Simultaneously, I also plan to publish the full list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. Once these documents are published, the detailed assessment work can commence. In this regard, it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.
379. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of staffing for environmental planning in NPWS, and the full cost per post level in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in Budget 2024, in tabular form. [54986/23]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is an Executive Agency within my Department with responsibility for, inter alia, the management of our National Parks. The NPWS does not employ personnel as Environmental Planners and does not have such a grade or title of position. Divisional Ecologist and some regional staff in the NPWS addressing planning applications would carry out functions related to environmental planning as part of their role. However, as this is not their sole function, it is not possible to apportion costs for this aspect of their work.
380. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE and HTE staff, by grade, in the NWPS, in tabular form. [54991/23]
View answerThe Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staffing figure for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was 494.49 at the end of October 2023.
The information requested is set out in the table below:
|
Grade Stream |
Grade Equiv. |
Grade |
WTE |
|
General Service |
PO |
PRINCIPAL |
7.00 |
|
AP |
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL |
23.20 |
|
|
AO |
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER |
11.00 |
|
|
HEO |
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
36.60 |
|
|
EO |
EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
42.73 |
|
|
CO |
CLERICAL OFFICER |
26.20 |
|
|
CO |
CLERICAL OFF TEMPORARY |
2.00 |
|
|
General Service Staff Total |
148.73 |
||
|
Professional & Technical Staff |
AP |
ENGINEER GRADE 2 CIVIL |
1.00 |
|
AP |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 1 |
20.00 |
|
|
AP |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 2 |
39.00 |
|
|
AO |
ARCHITECT |
1.00 |
|
|
AO |
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT GR 1 |
3.00 |
|
|
AO |
DISTRICT CONSERVATION OFFICER |
25.00 |
|
|
AO |
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 3 |
19.30 |
|
|
EO |
CONSERVATION RANGER |
80.63 |
|
|
Professional & Technical Staff Total |
188.93 |
||
|
Industrial Staff |
CRAFT CHARGEHAND |
3.00 |
|
|
CRAFT FOREPERSON |
5.00 |
||
|
CRAFT WORKER |
6.40 |
||
|
FOREPERSON GRADE 1 |
1.00 |
||
|
FOREPERSON GRADE 3 |
4.00 |
||
|
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 2 |
42.80 |
||
|
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 3 |
13.03 |
||
|
GUIDE |
68.60 |
||
|
GUIDE SUPERVISOR |
4.00 |
||
|
STOREKEEPER CLERK GRADE 1 |
4.00 |
||
|
STOREKEEPER CLERK IN CHARGE |
4.00 |
||
|
STORES/OFFICE SUPERVISOR |
1.00 |
||
|
Industrial Staff Total |
156.83 |
||
|
Grand Total |
494.49 |
381. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff in An Bord Pleanála with climate action expertise; if there are plans to recruit more and the average cost per WTE and HTE per grade, in tabular form. [55002/23]
View answer424. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff in An Bord Pleanála with biodiversity expertise, for example, ecologists, marine biologists or ornithologists; if there are plans to recruit additional staff; and the average cost per WTE and HTE per grade, in tabular form. [54996/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 424 together.
An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board. The Board have advised that as of the 30th November 2023 there were 254 individuals working in the Board including Board Members. The Board has received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts for 2023.
Details of staffing are an operational matter for the Board. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
382. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the workforce plan for biodiversity officers in local authorities; the total average cost for WTE per staffing level; if there are plans to recruit more; if any positions remain unfulfilled; if so, when he expects these positions will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55022/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 106 of 25 October 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
383. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report the workforce plan at An Bord Pleanála; the staffing costs at An Bord Pleanála; the staffing levels; the full year cost to recruit one WTE per staffing level; and the full year cost to recruit one HTE per staffing level [55031/23]
View answer423. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of WTE and HTE staff, by grade, in An Bord Pleanála, in tabular form. [54993/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 423 together.
An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board, as detailed below.
• In October 2021, my Department approved an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades including the setting up of a new Marine and Climate Unit.
• In December 2022, 34 additional posts were sanctioned, and the Board is in the process of filling these positions.
• In April 2023, the Board submitted sanction requests for a total of 59 new posts, all of which were approved by my Department.
Details of specific staffing level and costs are an operational matter for the Board. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
384. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Tusla/CAS social housing units delivered by AHBs for care leavers and others delivered in each year since Tusla/CAS was created, by local authority area; and the average cost of such units by local authority area and year, in tabular form. [55121/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
CAS for Care Leavers – 2018 to end Q3 2023 |
||||||||||||
|
Local Authority |
2018 |
Average Costs |
2019 |
Average Costs |
2020 |
Average Costs |
2021 |
Average Costs |
2022 |
Average Costs |
2023 to Q3 |
Average Costs |
|
CARLOW |
3 |
€106,749 |
1 |
€120,288 |
||||||||
|
CAVAN |
1 |
€149,349 |
||||||||||
|
CLARE |
||||||||||||
|
CORK CITY |
2 |
€200,108 |
||||||||||
|
CORK COUNTY |
||||||||||||
|
DLR |
2 |
€305,513 |
||||||||||
|
DONEGAL |
||||||||||||
|
DUBLIN CITY |
1 |
€265,341 |
9 |
€256,767 |
9 |
€272,949 |
15 |
€291,722 |
2 |
€285,000 |
||
|
FINGAL |
2 |
€254,350 |
3 |
€240,465 |
3 |
€225,281 |
1 |
€279,103 |
2 |
€243,880 |
1 |
€280,000 |
|
GALWAY CITY |
1 |
€198,280 |
1 |
€193,416 |
1 |
€219,449 |
||||||
|
GALWAY COUNTY |
||||||||||||
|
KERRY |
||||||||||||
|
KILDARE |
1 |
€132,480 |
1 |
€170,775 |
4 |
€186,064 |
||||||
|
KILKENNY |
2 |
€173,058 |
1 |
€183,787 |
1 |
€202,457 |
1 |
€191,101 |
||||
|
LAOIS |
||||||||||||
|
LEITRIM |
||||||||||||
|
LIMERICK |
||||||||||||
|
LONGFORD |
||||||||||||
|
LOUTH |
||||||||||||
|
MAYO |
6 |
€171,770 |
||||||||||
|
MEATH |
1 |
€170,684 |
||||||||||
|
MONAGHAN |
||||||||||||
|
OFFALY |
||||||||||||
|
ROSCOMMON |
||||||||||||
|
SLIGO |
2 |
€119,799 |
4 |
€144,601 |
||||||||
|
SOUTH DUBLIN |
2 |
€186,150 |
3 |
€220,260 |
2 |
€195,387 |
||||||
|
TIPPERARY |
1 |
€122,590 |
||||||||||
|
WATERFORD |
2 |
€124,505 |
||||||||||
|
WESTMEATH |
4 |
€92,538 |
2 |
€108,485 |
||||||||
|
WEXFORD |
1 |
€140,248 |
4 |
€130,833 |
||||||||
|
WICKLOW |
1 |
€227,000 |
385. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether a response could be issued to correspondence (details supplied). [54451/23]
View answerThe correspondence in question was received by my office who subsequently issued a reply on 19 October and 6 December.
Additional correspondence was received on 6 December and a response is currently being drafted and will issue within 10 working days.
386. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated full-year cost to recruit two additional senior archaeologists and seven additional WTE archaeologists for his Department. [54484/23]
View answerBased on the current pay levels, the estimated cost of recruiting an additional two WTE Senior Archaeologists and seven WTE Archaeologist is €434,914 per annum. My Department is currently engaged with the Public Appointments Service in recruiting additional Archaeologists.
387. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it his intention, in line with the EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, to designate 10% of Ireland’s seas as strictly protected, and crucially, whether a 10% strict protection target will be included in the forthcoming Marine Protected Areas Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54488/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
There is not yet scientific consensus on the meaning or necessary level of strict protection in this context. Nevertheless, it is intended to make provision in the Marine Protected Areas Bill for different degrees of protection, including the complete exclusion of damaging human activities which will be linked to the sensitivity, fragility or the degraded condition of the habitats or species being protected within the MPA.
My Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters over the past several months to develop the Marine Protected Areas Bill and I anticipate that the Bill will be ready for publication early in 2024.
Separately, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department continues its significant work to designate Natura sites in the marine under the Birds and Habitats Directives. In the past two years, two Special Areas of Conservation in the northeast Atlantic and one Special Protection Area in the northwest Irish sea, collectively comprising almost 3.25 million hectares of our marine waters, have been newly designated for protection, bringing the total protected area from 2.3% to more than 9%. Work continues to advance the implementation of the EU Nature Directives in Ireland’s marine environment.
388. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a higher HAP discretion is allowable in Dublin despite the enormous rent being sought in Galway, which has priced most new HAP tenants out of the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54490/23]
View answerUnder the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.
Housing for All set out a commitment that My Department would undertake an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of discretion available to local authorities under HAP was required. The Housing Agency carried out this analytical exercise, on behalf of my Department, to better understand what level of discretion should be made available to local authorities under HAP to maintain adequate levels of support.
Following this analysis, since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households.
Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. This additional discretion was made available in 2018 recognising the difficulty this cohort of households faced in sourcing and securing properties in a highly competitive rental market.
It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
389. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the inclusion of Sligo in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54497/23]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023, which provides for the enhanced grant scheme, and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
Section 5 of the Act contains details on the process for the inclusion of additional local authority areas into the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme. This statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Minister, and whereby the Housing Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings in a given local authority administrative area.
I understand that the Housing Agency and their appointed Chartered Engineer met with Sligo County Council on 26th Sept to commence their investigations and consultations, as required.
As set out in the Act an order for the inclusion of a local authority in the Enhanced DCB Grant Scheme may only be made by Government where the Housing Agency has made its recommendation. The Housing Agency has confirmed to my Department that its investigations and consultations have completed and its report including a recommendation to myself, as Minister, is currently under draft. It is envisaged the report will be completed in January 2024.
390. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the implications in terms of the calculation of differential rent and social housing income eligibility for a HAP tenant who comes into an inheritance of €20,000, €50,000 and €70,000. [54588/23]
View answerConsistent with the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a payment under the scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list. Section 20(10) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (as amended by section 49 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014) states: A housing authority shall not be required to carry out a social housing assessment in respect of a household in receipt of social housing support that is seeking to transfer to, or to avail of, another form of social housing support.
Tenants in the HAP scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles laid down by my Department including that the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households.
As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. Where a person has a change of circumstances, such as a loss or increase of income or the receipt of inheritance, they should notify the relevant local authority. The local authority can reassess those tenants and adjust their differential rent accordingly in line with the differential rent scheme that it has in place.
391. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 7 November 2023 and No. 97 of 22 November 2023, if he will supply the guidance which has been circulated to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54609/23]
View answerThe Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) Scheme was introduced, on an administrative basis, to address the immediate circumstances of the ending of the 'Winter Emergency Period' on 31 March 2023. This scheme is available where a tenant faces the termination of a tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.
My Department issued Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) in April of this year for each local authority area. These ACGs are updated by my Department on an annual basis. The ACGs provide cost guidelines for the acquisition by housing authorities, of second-hand properties for the provision of social housing. These guidelines reference lower and upper cost ranges along with an average/benchmark cost, which is representative of the average range of current (at the time of issue) prices across the local authority area.
The same ACGs are used by the Housing Agency for the acquisition of homes under the Cost Rental Tenant in Situ (CRTiS) scheme.
I will arrange to share a copy of the ACGs with the Deputy.
392. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm when a decision about supplying Dublin City Council with funding for the upgrade of the bays in Labre Park will be made; if he will acknowledge that this upgrade has been promised since the outbreak of Hepatitis A on the site in January 2021 and that after this outbreak in which numerous children and adults were hospitalised, the HSE and the Ombudsman for children were given a commitment that the work to address the poor living conditions would be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54629/23]
View answer393. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that although some work was carried out in Labre Park, half the site is still living in conditions akin to that experienced in developing countries and that this negates the work that has been carried out, as everyone living in Labre Park is still exposed to the risk of Hepatitis A and many other viruses; if he will outline the steps he will take in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54630/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together.
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
My Department is committed to supporting Dublin City Council in the redevelopment of Labre Park. In April 2016, a Stage 1 application for the redevelopment of Labre Park was submitted to my Department, and in September 2016, my Department granted approval for a budget provision of €8.7m. In July 2019, a Stage 2 application was received by my Department and approval was granted subsequently for increased overall funding of €13.2m and in December 2022, a revised Stage 2 application was received by my Department. In February 2023, further information requested by my Department was submitted by the local authority and subsequently in July 2023 my Department granted approval for an increased overall budget provision of €16.7m for the redevelopment of Labre Park.
My Department provided this funding approval for the redevelopment of accommodation at Labre Park to support the long-term strategy for this site to provide quality accommodation to the residents which will address the current conditions on the site.
Separately, my Department sought further information in relation to a funding application for temporary improvement works previously carried out in response to the Hepatitis A outbreak and a response is awaited from the local authority. In parallel, my Department is also considering a further application for funding for additional temporary works in the context of the overall funding approval of €16.7m issued for the redevelopment of Labre Park.
