Written Answers Nos. 1323-1344
1323. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there is a benefit solution to make up the shortfall in the cost of providing a purposed room for an autistic child in a private house after the housing adaptation grant has been granted in circumstances in which the parents, who are not entitled to social welfare due to employment, cannot avail of a financial institution loan due to health grounds. [25366/18]
View answerMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, in respect of adaptations to private houses. There are three separate grants available and local authorities receive an overall allocation, with responsibility for the apportionment between the schemes being a matter for each local authority. The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability scheme provides grants of up to €30,000 to assist people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out. The detailed administration of the schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
There is no further funding available from my Department to make up the shortfall between the grant and cost of works; however, the means of the applicant are taken into account in the calculation of the grant.
1324. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on his announcement on 30 May 2018 regarding the urban regeneration and development fund. [25358/18]
View answerOn 30th May, An Taoiseach, along with myself and relevant Ministers, launched €4 billion in Project Ireland 2040 funds for rural development, urban regeneration, climate action and technological innovation, the details of which can be found online at the following link:
https://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/News/Government_launches_four_funds_for_rural_development_urban_regeneration_climate_action_innovation.html
The announcement includes the establishment of a €2 billion fund for urban regeneration and development purposes, focusing on cities and towns in excess of 10,000 in population, complemented by a €1 billion fund for rural regeneration of smaller towns and villages, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development.
The €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) will secure more compact, sustainable growth in Ireland’s five cities and other large urban centres. This funding, separate and in addition to normal sectoral funding streams, is designed to leverage a greater proportion of residential and commercial development, supported by infrastructure, services and amenities, within the existing built-up areas of our larger urban settlements.
The URDF will be a competitive, bid-based programme that will operate on a multi-annual basis over the period to 2027.
An outline of the approach that the Government intends to take in relation to the URDF along with other complementary National Development Plan (NDP) funds will be published shortly, with URDF bids for funding invited for an initial three-year period to 2021, with the scope for further bids in 2019 and subsequently over the lifetime of the NDP.
1325. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there are grants available to convert an old farm dwelling into a modern, liveable dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25547/18]
View answerThere are no specific grants available from my Department for this purpose. The range of housing grants available from my Department mainly relate to the delivery and improvement of social housing.
1326. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his Department's capital allocation in each of the years 2019 to 2023, inclusive; and the areas to which funds will be allocated in each of those years. [25574/18]
View answerThe capital expenditure provisions for my Department over the period 2019-22, as announced in Project Ireland 2040: National Development Plan 2018-2027, are set out in the following table (no specific Departmental allocations were made in respect of 2023):
|
Capital Allocations 2019-22 (€m) |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government |
2,033 |
2,079 |
2,209 |
2,280 |
These funding allocations will be used to advance capital investment across a range of programme areas within my Department’s remit, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, estate regeneration, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, urban regeneration and development, water and wastewater services, and fire and emergency services. Details of specific allocations towards individual programmes will be finalised as part of the annual Estimates processes, as normal.
1327. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the rules that govern the exclusion of certain members of An Bord Pleanála from participating in decision-making at board level on the grounds of conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25605/18]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála operates under a Code of Conduct as required by section 150 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, one of the purposes of which is to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest relating to its statutory functions are dealt with in an appropriate manner. This Code is available for viewing on the Board's website at the following link:
http://www.pleanala.ie/about/conduct.htm
Section 13 of the Code outlines the procedures for dealing with conflicts of interest in the context of Board meetings, where appeals and other planning cases are determined. Section 15.2 of the Code specifically requires that a Board member shall not deal with any case in any capacity on behalf of the Board where the member had any involvement at any time in the matter, either on a personal basis or on behalf of a previous employer or as a member of any other organisation or voluntary body.
Furthermore, section 15.4 requires that a Board member shall not knowingly deal with a file relating to a planning authority or a private practice where he or she was previously employed during the previous 2-year period or any voluntary or professional organisation of which the person is or was a member during the previous 2-year period.
1328. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the receiver acting for NAMA has been allowed to appeal against a decision agreed in 2017 between all the parties concerned, including NAMA, to set aside 900 social and affordable homes as part of the Poolbeg West strategic development zone, SDZ (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25619/18]
View answerMy Department understands that the receiver, appointed by NAMA, in respect of the lands at Poolbeg West SDZ is the legal owner of the lands in question and, like all receivers, is subject to certain legal obligations under the Companies Act in recovering the value of the relevant assets and is therefore entitled to make an appeal to An Bord Pleanála with regard to the planning conditions on the site that may affect that value.
I have no role in relation to the functions of the receiver and an oral hearing in relation to the appeal was heard by An Bord Pleanála in April 2018 and the case remains ongoing.
Under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
Notwithstanding the appeal process and subject to the Board’s ultimate decision, I and my Department remain committed to working with both the City Council, any relevant housing bodies (AHBs) and either the receiver and/or developers of the SDZ area in order to secure additional social and affordable housing from this site over and above Part V obligations and of the order of magnitude laid out in the adopted planning scheme, but subject to agreement on all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects.
1329. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to review electoral law (details supplied) to make it easier for Irish citizens living abroad or abroad on holidays to participate in future elections by availing of a postal vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25623/18]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1568 of 17 April 2018, which sets out the position on this matter.
1330. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of clerks of works by local authority in tabular form; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns about the operation of the building control regulation system; if additional clerks of works will be recruited to deal with the growth of the residential construction sector of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25638/18]
View answerMy Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities; however, the data gathered does not provide details in terms of the number of clerks of works employed in each local authority. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department, but may be obtained directly from individual local authorities. High-level staffing numbers for the local authority sector are available on the Public Service Numbers Databank, which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following link: http://databank.per.gov.ie/, providing access to information from 1980 onwards.
The National Building Control Management Project (NBCMP) was set up to provide oversight, direction and support for the development, standardisation and implementation of the Building Control System as an effective shared service in the 31 Building Control Authorities. Dublin City Council has recently been approved to be the lead building control authority. My Department is working closely with the sector on this project in relation to training, compliance support, the IT enabler and a revised inspection policy of risk based targeted inspections, making more efficient and effective use of the resources available to carry out inspections.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is the Chief Executive of each local authority who is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the authority. My Department works closely with all local authorities and staffing sanction requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis with priority given to housing-related posts, as well as those relating to health and safety and economic development. In that context, since 1 January 2015, my Department has approved over 800 housing-related staff sanction requests from local authorities. Additional supports are also being made available to local authorities to meet staffing costs associated with the delivery of their housing programmes.
1331. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the EU fines paid in each of the years 2015 to 2017, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25735/18]
View answerMy Department made no payments of this nature in the period 2015-17.
1332. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24990/18]
View answerThe Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Water Birds (AEWA) was developed under the UN Convention on Migratory Species. Ireland signed up to the Agreement in 2003. The agreement includes a commitment that “Parties shall endeavour to phase out the use of the "ammunition referred in Question" for hunting in wetlands as soon as possible in accordance with self-imposed and published timetables.”
My Department is aware that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has, at the request of the European Commission, prepared a report proposing a restriction on the types of shooting within a wetland or where spent ammunition would land within a wetland. It is expected that the ECHA will forward its proposals to the Commission by mid-2018 for consideration. My Department has no specific proposals in relation to such ammunition at present and will await the final proposals from the European Commission before deciding in consultation with the various hunting organisations on any course of action which may be necessary.
I would point out that any restriction on the use of such ammunition over wetlands should not impact unduly on licensed deer hunters as wetlands are not the natural habitat of deer and it is rare for deer to be hunted over them.
1333. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, employee (details supplied) in County Kerry will be permitted to remain in their position after their 65th birthday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24265/18]
View answerI have been advised by officials in my Department that any Officer wishing to remain in service after the official retiring age of 65 may make an application for retention for a period of up to one year under the terms of Circular 21/2017 (A Temporary Circular to allow for certain Civil Servants to be retained beyond their Compulsory Retirem ent Age of 65 years until they reach the age of eligibility for the Contributory State Pension).
1334. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an exemption to the regulations applied to a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24533/18]
View answerMy Department is responsible for implementing EU law, and specifically the European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No 440 of 2003). My Department has a statutory role to ensure all premises identified as zoos in Ireland are inspected and licensed, if appropriate, each year.
The Irish Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (ISMZP), published by my Department in 2016, support the legislation and provide clarity to zoos on what is expected of them in order to be in compliance with the existing legislative and policy framework. Any premises that exhibits to the public animals of wild species for more than 7 days a year is classed as a zoo for the purpose of the legislation.
At present, 83 establishments that meet this definition of a zoo have been identified in the State. 61 have either licences or exemptions and the remaining establishments will be licensed or exempted this year. My Department has not received an application for an exemption from the facility referred to in the question.
As a licensed zoo, the facility was scheduled to be inspected on the 14th June 2018. However, the owners contacted my Department on the 29th May, stating that they would no longer open to the public and requesting that the inspection be cancelled. Officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service are in contact with the owners on this matter.
I would stress that my Department does not necessarily expect that all zoos will meet all the required standards on the first inspection. The zoo inspectorate works closely with zoos on an achievable and agreed plan to bring them up to the standard required and ensure the best possible conditions for animal populations and also to ensure that wider biodiversity and conservation objectives are realized. My Department plays an important role in monitoring zoos and setting policy and guidelines that help raise standards across the sector, benefitting the animal populations in the zoos and ensuring health and safety standards are maintained for all staff and visitors.
1335. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the implementation of the Programme for Partnership Government as it applies to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24573/18]
View answerAs the Taoiseach advised the House on Wednesday 30th May last, the Government has recently approved the second Programme for a Partnership Government annual report which provides a comprehensive update on progress since May 2017. The report will be laid before the Oireachtas in the near future.
In addition to highlighting progress on the specific plans put in place to tackle issues, in the short and longer terms, in the areas of housing, homelessness, education, rural and regional development, job creation, broadband, agriculture and climate action, this report will reflect the progress achieved in relation to those commitments coming within the remit of my Department.
These include the progress of the Creative Ireland Programme, the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and the commitment for capital investment of almost €1.2 billion in Ireland’s culture, language and heritage under Investing in Our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027. Details of this ten year plan, to be undertaken as part of Project Ireland 2040, were announced by the Taoiseach, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself in April.
1336. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an application made by Sligo County Council in April 2018 seeking funds to carry out repair works on the L-7506-0 on Coney Island, County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24663/18]
View answerMy Department received an application on 1 May 2018 for funding towards improvement of the road referred to by the Deputy. This was in response to an invitation to Sligo County Council to submit an application for co-funding for island infrastructure works.
This application, along with applications from other County Councils, is currently being evaluated by my Department. A decision in this regard will be made shortly.
1337. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the budget allocation to the Heritage Council in each year since 2008, in tabular form (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24715/18]
View answerThe Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, is independent in the performance of its functions. It is a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding is allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports.
In 2018, I allocated funding of €6.377M to the Heritage Council as part of the annual Estimates process. This represents an increase of €123,000 on the 2017 allocation, which, in turn, had been increased by over €1 million on the 2016 allocation.
The funding allocations to the Heritage Council, both capital and current, as part of the annual Estimates process for each of the years 2008 to 2018 are set out in the table below.
These figures exclude any additional allocations provided under the Environment Fund which is separate to my Department’s core allocations and administered within the Vote of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
|
2008 Capital |
2008 Current |
Total |
|
€7,874,000 |
€5,529,000 |
€13,403,000 |
|
2009 Capital |
2009 Current |
|
|
€5,000,000 |
€5,142,000 |
€10,142,000 |
|
2010 Capital |
2010 Current |
|
|
€4,500,000 |
€3,982,000 |
€8,482,000 |
|
2011 Capital |
2011 Current |
|
|
€3,000,000 |
€2,992,000 |
€5,992,000 |
|
2012 Capita |
2012 Current |
|
|
€1,969,000 |
€2,842,000 |
€4,811,000 |
|
2013 Capital |
2013 Current |
|
|
€1,781,000 |
€2,665,000 |
€4,446,000 |
|
2014 Capital |
2014 Current |
|
|
€1,688,000 |
€2,805,000 |
€4,493,000 |
|
2015 Capital |
2015 Current |
|
|
€1,688,000 |
€3,055,000 |
€4,743,000 |
|
2016 Capital |
2016 Current |
|
|
€1,688,000 |
€3,555,000 |
€5,243,000 |
|
2017 Capital |
2017 Current |
|
|
€2,688,000 |
€3,566,000 |
€6,254,000 |
|
2018 Capital |
2018 Current |
|
|
€2,688,000 |
€3,689,000 |
€6,377,000 |
1338. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) will be compensated for cessation of turf-cutting on their site, as per agreement with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24900/18]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. With respect to 36 raised bog natural heritage area sites, the qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:
- The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf)) in one of these sites on 25 May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on that date;
- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period up to 14 January 2014;
- The turf resource on the site has not been exhausted; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
The applicant was paid for Year 1 of the scheme (2014) in September 2014. I am advised that a report on an inspection of the plot of bog relevant to the application has recently been received and the application has now been processed. Consequently, the application has now been approved for payment for Year 2 (2015), Year 3 (2016), Year 4 (2017) and Year 5 (2018) of the scheme. Payment will issue to the applicant's bank account shortly.
1339. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has a policy, strategy and budget in respect of the development of music for screen here; her plans to develop cultural capital in this sector; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that much of the music composition and performance contained in section 481 productions is sourced abroad; if she will consider amending section 481 to rebalance more screen composition and performance here; if the sector will be included in a report (details supplied) that is to be published shortly; and when this report will be published. [24947/18]
View answerSection 481 Tax Relief is matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. Section 481 is a critical support for the Irish audiovisual industry. The present scheme will expire at the end of 2020 and the Department of Finance is reviewing Section 481 in advance of a decision on its extension beyond 2020.
The Pillar 4 of Creative Ireland Programme focuses on Ireland's potential to be a global leader in film production, TV drama, documentary, children's storytelling and animation. Central to this pillar is the production of an Audiovisual Action Plan which will aim to put in place a strategic and coherent approach to making Ireland a leader in this sector. The Departments of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; Communications, Climate Action and Environment; and Business, Enterprise and Innovation and their agencies are key partners in this Action Plan.
The Audiovisual Action Plan is being produced out of a number of key inputs including:
a. The report by Olsberg SPI with Nordicity (OSN Report) on an economic analysis of the Irish audiovisual sector together with policy recommendations which was commissioned by the key partners described above.
b. The outcomes of the Media Production Workshop at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, hosted by my Department last year, which was attended by over 150 representatives of the film, broadcast and animation sectors.
c. The report on a Strategy for the Development of Skills for the Audiovisual industry in Ireland, which was commissioned jointly by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the Irish Film Board, prepared by consultants Crowe Horwath.
This Audiovisual Action Plan will set out an agenda to further develop the Irish Audiovisual Industry and in that context my Department will work with the Film Board and all sectors of the industry to address any barriers to continued success.
The Government’s capital investment plan Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027 provides for funding of €200m to be invested in media production and audio visual industries through the Irish Film Board over the next 10 years, which will have a positive impact right across the country.
This will assist in realising the vision under Pillar 4 of the Creative Ireland Programme to develop Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production. The proposed Action Plan for the Audiovisual Industry will set out in greater detail how it is proposed to develop the industry further. I intend to publish this Action Plan and economic report shortly.
1340. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the spending on the programmes and projects since 2008 under headings (details supplied). [24948/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is published in both the Revised Estimates Volume and the Annual Report and Accounts of Údarás na Gaeltachta, both of which are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas annually.
1341. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the all-party consultation group on commemorations will be re-established; her plans to proceed with convening the first meeting (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25045/18]
View answerI intend to convene a meeting of the All-Party Group within the next few weeks.
1342. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén fáth nach mbeidh cúntóirí teanga breise á gcur ar fáil Meán Fómhair seo chugainn i scoileanna ina bhfuil gá leo agus atá páirteach sa Scéim Aitheantais mar Scoil Ghaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [25071/18]
View answer1343. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén fáth a bhfuil cúntóirí teanga breise geallta ó Mheán Fómhair seo chugainn do roinnt scoileanna nach bhfuil páirteach sa Scéim Aitheantais mar Scoil Ghaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [25072/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1342 and 1343 together.
Níl aon fógra déanta agam fós maidir leis na scoileanna a bheidh ag fáil tacaíochta faoi Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga don scoilbhliain 2018/19.
I láthair na huaire, tá mo Roinn ag tabhairt faoi athbhreithniú ar Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga lena chinntiú go bhfuil an scéim ag feidhmiú ar an gcaoi is fearr is féidir mar thaca don Phróiseas Pleanála Teanga agus an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta araon. Is é Lárionad Taighde agus Foghlama Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath atá i mbun an athbreithnithe thar ceann na Roinne.
Mar is iondúil ag an tráth seo den bhliain, tá na socruithe idir lámha faoi láthair ag mo Roinn, i gcomhar leis na páirtithe leasmhara atá ag plé le riar na scéime thar ceann na Roinne, i dtreo allúntas na scoilbhliana 2018/2019 a fhógairt go luath.
Is féidir leis an Teachta glacadh leis gur i dtreo cur leis an líon scoileanna atá aitheanta faoi Scéim na gCúntóirí Teanga, agus í a threisiú tuilleadh de thoradh an athbhreithnithe, atá mo Roinn ag díriú i rith an ama.
1344. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding allocation to the Heritage Council in each of the years 2008 to 2017, inclusive, and to date in 2018. [25096/18]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 642 of 29 May 2018, reference No. 23114/18. The position has not changed.
