Written Answers Nos. 669-688
669. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of proposed guidelines regarding the development of industrial wind turbine farms; the date for the publication of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2501/19]
View answer670. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if consideration has been given to implementing a pause on all planning permission applications regarding industrial wind turbine farms nationwide until the publication of proposed guidelines for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2502/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 669 and 670 together.
My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including sound or noise, visual amenity setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being undertaken on the revised Guidelines before they come into effect, in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, otherwise known as the SEA Directive.
SEA is a process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process. Following a tendering process, my Department appointed SEA experts in December 2017 to assist in this regard. It is expected that a public consultation on the revised draft Guidelines, together with the comprehensive environmental report under the SEA process, will be commenced later in Q1 2019, with the aim of issuing the finalised Guidelines, following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions and views received during the consultation phase, in mid 2019.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. In the meantime, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
Proposals for wind energy developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning Acts, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Therefore, it is not intended to place a moratorium on applications for planning permission for wind farm developments as referred to pending the finalisation of the revisions to the 2006 Guidelines.
671. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the right of United Kingdom citizens resident here to vote in European Parliament elections will be maintained in the miscellaneous provisions (withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2624/19]
View answerIt is intended to bring legislative proposals to Government shortly to amend the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 (as amended) in order to give effect to the recommendations in the Report on European Parliament Constituencies 2018 in connection with the configuration of our European Parliament constituencies and the number of members to be elected from each such constituency. This report was prepared by the European Parliament Constituency Committee following the adoption of European Council Decision (EU) 2018/937 of 28 June 2018 on the composition of the European Parliament. In the case of Ireland, the Council Decision provides for 13 members to be elected to the 2019-2024 European Parliament, an increase from the present 11 members. The legislative process will provide the vehicle for making such other amendments as may be necessary for the implementation of policy decisions taken and the holding of the European Parliament elections later this year. I expect the Bill to be published in the coming weeks.
672. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding the residential tenancies (amendment) Bill; when he will publish the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2313/19]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018 was published on 19 December 2018. The Bill is scheduled for second stage debate in Dáil Éireann on 22, 23 and 24 January 2019 with the intention of progressing through the legislative process in the Houses of the Oireachtas as quickly as possible during the current Oireachtas session.
673. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has finalised the regulations for the affordable purchase scheme; when he expects to publish the regulations and circulate them to the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2314/19]
View answerThe relevant provisions of Part 5 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 have been commenced. It provides a statutory basis for the delivery of affordable housing for purchase by local authorities. Part 5 contains significant detail on the procedures and operation of the new Affordable Purchase Scheme.
The Scheme is based on local authorities providing, directly or indirectly, below market price housing. The local authority takes a charge against the property equal to the discount provided. The Act provides for a charge up to a maximum of 40% of the market value. The charge is fully repayable at re-sale or at the end of the charge period. Repayments will be paid into a centralised affordable housing fund which will administered by the Housing Finance Agency.
The new affordable housing scheme will be specifically targeted at low- to middle-income households earning a maximum annual gross income of less than €50,000 for single income applicants and less than €75,000 for dual income applicant).
The primary legislation will be supported by associated regulations, which are currently at the final legal drafting stage, following extensive consultation between my Department, the Housing Agency and local authorities. The regulations, once finalised shortly, together with guidance, will be issued to local authorities.
674. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if consideration has been given to amending the cost involved in making planning objections with local authorities and An Bord Pleanála (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2365/19]
View answerThe fees for making submissions or observations on planning applications and appeals are set at levels intended to prevent frivolous or vexatious submissions, while not acting as a deterrent to persons with genuine concerns or interest in proposed developments from making submissions. Furthermore, An Bord Pleanála has discretion to dismiss an appeal where it is satisfied that the appeal is vexatious, frivolous or without substance or foundation, or where the appeal is made with the sole intention of delaying development or of securing the payment of money, gifts, considerations or other inducement by any person.
Section 33 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the 2000 Act), provides that the Minister may make regulations in relation to the planning fees applied by planning authorities, including in relation to the making of a submission or observation on a planning application. The current planning related fees payable to planning authorities have been in place since 2002. It is proposed to review the fees involved in the context of the introduction of e-planning (the online submission of planning applications and appeals), which it is envisaged will be rolled out during 2019.
With regard to the fees payable to the Board, section 144 of the 2000 Act provides that the Board may determine the fees that it may charge in relation to its functions, subject to Ministerial approval, including the fee for the making of submissions or observations on planning appeals. The Board is further empowered to review such fees at least every three years having regard to any change in the consumer price index (CPI), and it may amend them accordingly without the necessity of Ministerial approval. The last CPI review of the Board’s fees was carried out in 2016 and the fee for making submissions or observations remained unchanged. The Board proposes to conduct both a CPI and a general fees review in 2019.
675. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the per capita funding of local authorities ratio by county. [2441/19]
View answerThe funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of local sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government.
Central Government funding of local authorities similarly presents a complex picture, with transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and Offices for a variety of purposes. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to local authorities, while others are routed through departmental agencies.
Most of the funding sourced from Central Government and provided to local authorities must be used for specified services. These can be grouped into 5 broad programme categories: recreational, education, environment, housing and transport.
In 2017, total transfers of funding from all central government sources to local authorities exceeded €2.6 billion. Additional detail on Central Government funding of local authorities is provided in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Annual Report, which is available at the following link:
https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/Find-Report/Publications/2018/2017-Annual-Report-Chapter-04-Central-government-funding-of-local-authorities1.pdf.
In addition to Local Property Tax allocations and Departmental Grants and Subsidies, local authorities derive income from local sources including commercial rates, and goods and services such as housing rents, environmental and other charges. It is a matter for each local authority as to how it can maximise income sources and manage its own spending, in the context of the annual budgetary process.
My Department works closely with local authorities to ensure the local government sector can meet existing and emerging challenges; however all funding issues have to be considered within the parameters of the national fiscal and budgetary situation and competing priorities.
Across all schemes and funding sources, my Department provided just over €2.6bn to local authorities in 2018. The table below sets out the funding that was allocated to each local authority by my Department in 2018, the population of each local authority and the consequential per capita distribution.
It is important to note that local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, population distribution, public service demands, infrastructure and other income sources; all are factors which should be taken into account when comparing levels of funding in different local authority areas. It is not, therefore, possible to compare absolute levels of funding from my Department to each local authority as to do so does not reflect the significant differences that exist between them. Account would also need to be taken of funding provided by other Government Departments and agencies.
|
LOCAL AUTHORITY |
2018 Total funding from DHPLG € |
Population (2016 Census figures) |
Per Capita Funding € |
|
CARLOW |
30,780,451.63 |
56,932.00 |
540.65 |
|
CAVAN |
29,257,717.50 |
76,176.00 |
384.08 |
|
CLARE |
41,205,977.76 |
118,817.00 |
346.80 |
|
CORK CITY |
104,449,751.88 |
125,657.00 |
831.23 |
|
CORK COUNTY |
120,375,716.12 |
417,211.00 |
288.52 |
|
DONEGAL |
53,469,255.97 |
159,192.00 |
335.88 |
|
DLR |
70,988,600.29 |
218,018.00 |
325.61 |
|
DUBLIN |
500,104,484.63 |
554,554.00 |
901.81 |
|
FINGAL |
151,548,292.21 |
296,020.00 |
511.95 |
|
S. DUBLIN |
144,629,565.54 |
278,767.00 |
518.82 |
|
GALWAY CITY |
34,170,748.39 |
78,668.00 |
434.37 |
|
GALWAY COUNTY |
46,784,764.63 |
179,390.00 |
260.80 |
|
KERRY |
63,506,162.98 |
147,707.00 |
429.95 |
|
KILDARE |
113,059,683.88 |
222,504.00 |
508.12 |
|
KILKENNY |
56,168,694.43 |
99,232.00 |
566.03 |
|
LAOIS |
24,514,842.46 |
84,697.00 |
289.44 |
|
LEITRIM |
15,087,273.95 |
32,044.00 |
470.83 |
|
LIMERICK* |
376,084,748.83 |
194,899.00 |
1,929.64 |
|
LONGFORD |
26,399,233.14 |
40,873.00 |
645.88 |
|
LOUTH |
46,634,888.33 |
128,884.00 |
361.84 |
|
MAYO |
48,569,230.57 |
130,507.00 |
372.16 |
|
MEATH |
81,728,733.99 |
195,044.00 |
419.03 |
|
MONAGHAN |
31,857,085.49 |
61,386.00 |
518.96 |
|
OFFALY |
26,412,505.16 |
77,961.00 |
338.79 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
21,142,322.13 |
64,544.00 |
327.56 |
|
SLIGO |
34,156,831.63 |
65,535.00 |
521.20 |
|
TIPPERARY |
80,046,316.30 |
159,553.00 |
501.69 |
|
WATERFORD |
77,477,396.42 |
116,176.00 |
666.90 |
|
WESTMEATH |
35,028,703.90 |
88,770.00 |
394.60 |
|
WEXFORD |
65,795,845.99 |
149,722.00 |
439.45 |
|
WICKLOW |
59,062,489.09 |
142,425.00 |
414.69 |
|
TOTALS |
2,610,498,315.22 |
4,761,865.00 |
548.21 |
* This includes funding provided to Limerick City and County Council in its role as the shared service provider for the Housing Assistance Payment scheme.
676. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he and-or local authorities have the powers to implement an area-specific, time-bound moratorium on granting of planning permissions for housing developments (details supplied); if so, the person or body responsible for putting in place such a moratorium; the way in which it would operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/19]
View answerI have no powers to implement a moratorium on the granting of planning permissions by a planning authority for any type of development. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned, except in specified circumstances which do not apply in the situation referred to.
In the circumstances concerned, the relevant local authority has adopted a local area plan for the area in question, which sets out the order of scheduled phases of development based on a set of criteria, such as road capacity, environmental considerations, etc. Local area plans are put in place to support appropriate development at the local level, consistent with the planning and sustainable development policies set out in the relevant county or city development plan, and regional and national policies set out in the relevant Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and the National Planning Framework, respectively.
Planning applications within each local authority area are considered by the planning authority in this context, including in relation to the phasing of new development where set out in the relevant statutory development plan or local area plan.
677. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the application by an organisation (details supplied) for a change of use of public spaces in an area in order to provide additional social housing units; the details of the proposed rental scheme that will be offered to new tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2465/19]
View answerI am precluded under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned, except in specified circumstances, which do not apply in this case. As a result, I cannot seek to influence the outcome of a planning case and cannot make any comment in relation to individual cases.
678. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of upgrade funding for a group water scheme (details supplied) in County Kildare. [2537/19]
View answerGroup water schemes are independent community-owned enterprises and are an important means of providing piped water to rural areas where no such supply exists.
While, as Minister, I am responsible for overall policy direction and prioritisation in the area of rural water services and for funding for the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme, local authorities lead on local implementation of the funding measures.
The group water scheme in question is located in South Kildare. The scheme was included by Kildare County Council in their 2017 bids under Measure 1 of the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018. This measure provides for improvements to group water schemes in order to achieve compliance with the quality parameters of the Drinking Water Regulations. In 2017 my Department's funding allocations under the programme included an allocation of €89,490 for works to the scheme. While no specific allocation was made in 2018 the scheme was eligible to receive funding from a retained reserve to support projects not included in the allocations. In doing this my Department undertook to work with the Council with a view to there being a plan in place to ensure the satisfactory progression of works.
I understand that in 2018 Kildare County Council completed an options report on the scheme. This report was compiled by the Council to provide clarity on the best way forward for investment in the scheme. A whole life cost (capital and operation) was used to make this assessment.
I understand the report showed that the best solution, from an economic and compliance point of view is for the scheme to interconnect to, and be taken in charge by, Irish Water. The Irish Water supply would ensure that householders in the supply area for the scheme receive drinking water that is in compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations on a consistent long-term basis. The least favourable option identified was to continue as a private group water scheme. Under this option, the associated costs are considerably higher than for the other options and even with significant capital investment the scheme would still be considered vulnerable to non-compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations. The water supplied by the scheme has a record of containing high levels of nitrates.
In October 2018 the Council wrote to the management of the scheme outlining the funding position and enclosing a copy of the options report. The letter advised that funding was available to upgrade the scheme to the standard required by Irish Water in order to take the scheme in charge. I am advised that officials from Kildare County Council met with the scheme on 10 January 2019.
Funding is not an impediment to a solution that is sustainable and cost effective in the long-term. Funding was available under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018 for an agreed sustainable and economic long-term solution. Funding for such an approach remains available under the 2019-2021 cycle of the funding programme.
679. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the consequences for the legality of a grant of planning permission for a site if there was an element of fraud in the application that was discovered after the grant of planning permission, for example, if the document outlining the consent of the owner of the site to the planning application being sought was not genuine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2563/19]
View answerThe legal interest of an applicant for planning permission in the land or structure concerned has to be stated in the completed planning application form. Where the applicant is not the owner of the land or structure, the name and address of the owner has to be stated on the planning application form. The written consent of the owner to the party making the planning application must also be submitted as part of the application.
The planning process operates on the expectation that applicants and those representing them provide decision makers with true and correct information upon which the planning authority can base its decision.
Furthermore, an applicant for planning permission or an agent acting on behalf of the applicant is required to sign a declaration as part of the planning application form, stating that to the best of their knowledge and belief, the information provided on the completed form is correct and accurate and fully compliant with the 2000 Act and Regulations made thereunder.
Any dispute arising between the owner of land and the applicant for planning permission in relation to the use of land is a civil matter and not one in which I as Minister, or the planning authorities have any function. Section 34(13) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 makes it clear that a person shall not be entitled solely by reason of a permission granted under that section to carry out any development.
680. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps open to a person who has been offered a tenancy of a residential property but knows the rent being charged is in breach of the rent pressure zone limits compared to the rent charged to the previous tenant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2636/19]
View answerThe Strategy for the Rental Sector, published in December 2016, introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising resulting in great difficulty for households finding affordable accommodation. In these areas, called Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ), rents can only increase by a maximum of 4% annually. The measure applies to new and existing tenancies. This means that it applies when rents are set at the start of a tenancy and when rents are set in a rent review during an ongoing tenancy or new tenancy, unless otherwise exempted. An area may be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone for up to three years. The designation of an area may be lifted earlier than this if the pressures on rent levels are deemed to have eased. The Housing Agency continues to monitor the rental market and may recommend further areas for designation.
A Rent Pressure Zone calculator is available on the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) website at: https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/calculator/rpz, to assist landlords and tenants in determining if their dwelling is in a Rent Pressure Zone and to calculate the maximum rent amount permitted for their dwelling.
The first rent review in relation to a property in a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) can only take place 24 months after the time that the tenancy was established or the time that the rent was last set. Thereafter, rent reviews can take place annually. The existing requirement that the rent set is not above the local market rents for similar properties still applies in designated Rent Pressure Zones. The landlord must also provide three examples of rents for similar properties in a comparable area to demonstrate this. In addition, in the case of a tenancy of a dwelling in an RPZ, a landlord must, at the commencement of the tenancy, furnish the tenant with details of the amount of the previous rent for the dwelling and the date it was set.
Tenants must be given 90 days’ notice of new rent and can make an application for dispute resolution to the RTB where they feel the rent increase is in excess of the market rent or, if applicable, does not comply with the Rent Predictability Measure.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2018 was published on 19 December 2018 to deliver on a number of commitments flowing from Rebuilding Ireland and commitments made in September 2017 to provide powers to the RTB to investigate and sanction landlords who engage in improper conduct including non-compliance with the rent increase restriction in Rent Pressure Zones.
These key measures and reforms are designed to enhance enforcement powers for the RTB, provide greater security of tenure for tenants and further underpin the operation of the RPZ arrangements, and will not only protect those who are renting but will also deliver greater stability and transparency to the rental sector.
This Bill will make it a criminal offence for landlords to implement rent increases that contravene the law, do not adhere to new definitions of a substantial change and fail to cooperate with an investigation or to register and update tenancies with the RTB. It will allow the RTB to initiate an investigation without the need for a complaint to be made.
681. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of new housing applicants that have come onto local authority housing lists on an annual basis in each of the past three years; and if he will direct the Housing Agency to include these data in the summary of housing needs assessment in 2019 and all future years. [2670/19]
View answerDetails on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are set out in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). Since 2016, the summary process has been carried out on an annual basis.
The most recent summary, which was carried out in 2018, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 11 June 2018 and can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/summary_of_social_housing_assessments_2018_-_key_findings.pdf.
It is important to note that the SSHA is a point in time snapshot of the demand for social housing support in each local authority area. It does not explicitly provide data on the number of new applicants that joined the social housing list each year. However, Table 2.8 of the SSHA details the length of time each qualified household has spent on the waiting list. My Department is currently working with the Housing Agency on the proposed 2019 summary and is examining the data sets already collected and the potential new data sets that might be collected in the context of the annual summary, including that referred to by the Deputy.
682. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if consideration is being given to the idea of a housing list passport as suggested in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 to allow persons to move from one local authority area to another for specified reasons (details supplied) without losing their time on the housing list. [2671/19]
View answerUnder the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, a household may apply to one housing authority only, for social housing support, at a time. Furthermore, it is not possible for a household on the waiting list of one housing authority to transfer its application to another authority and to carry the time spent on the previous list.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 included a commitment to examine the possibility of introducing a “housing passport”. The basic premise is that households in receipt of, or qualified for, social housing support in one local authority area could potentially transfer to, or be allocated, social housing in another local authority area.
My Department is currently developing proposals in relation to this matter, details of which will be outlined when the work involved is complete.
683. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he will publish the report into alleged planning malpractice in Donegal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2672/19]
View answerThe Review Into Certain Planning Matters In Respect Of Donegal County Council, by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., was received by my Department in June, 2017.
Following initial analysis and assessment of the report’s findings and recommendations, including interaction with the Department’s own legal advisers and the Attorney General’s Office, a comprehensive set of queries and a request for advice in relation to certain matters, including potential dissemination or publication of the report, was submitted to the Attorney General's Office.
Following the receipt of the Attorney's advice, officials in my Department have considered the matter further and prepared a submission for my consideration in respect of, inter alia, the issue of publication or dissemination of the report. Once I have concluded my deliberations, I will be in a position to make a further statement.
684. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will publish the airline costs for his Department for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2695/19]
View answerOfficials from my Department attend meetings in respect of EU-related issues and international agreements as necessary to ensure that the State is suitably represented at such engagements. Other events and meetings will also be attended by Ministers or officials as deemed appropriate. The cost to the Department of providing airline travel in 2018 was €75,023.
685. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will publish the cost of newspapers in his Department in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/19]
View answerMy Department avails of an electronic press cuttings service which serves for most of its printed media monitoring needs. In terms of hard-copy printed newspapers, the cost of purchase for my Department in 2018 totalled approximately €10,824. In general, the Department relies on online versions of the daily newspapers but not all newspapers have an online presence and there can be differences between online and printed content.
686. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of casual vacancies relet by local authorities each year since 2014, in tabular form. [2754/19]
View answerMy Department does not hold information on the number of casual vacancies relet by local authorities each year. The allocation of dwellings is a matter for each local authority.
687. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding is available to enable local authorities to carry out renovation and refurbishment works at existing Traveller homes; and if so, the procedure for obtaining this funding. [2784/19]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, 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’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
A dedicated budget is in place to fund the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation including renovation and refurbishment work. A budget of €13m is available for this purpose in 2019, an increase of €1m on the €12m available in 2018.
Housing authorities submit funding proposals to my Department annually for individual Traveller-specific projects, both new developments and renovation and refurbishments. These projects are assessed in my Department in advance of allocations being made. Local authorities may apply for additional funding throughout the year as needs arise.
688. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1191 of 15 January 2019, if consideration will be given to running a pilot scheme similar to one which operated in the UK from 2012 to 2015 to provide election candidates with disabilities with financial assistance for disability-related costs related to standing for election. [2790/19]
View answerI have no current plans to introduce a pilot scheme to specifically financially assist candidates with disabilities who wish to stand for election. The focus of my Department's work in this area relates to progressing the accessibility of voting and voter information, which is set down in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 -2021 as an action point for my Department in order to improve the participation of persons with disability in political and public life.
