Written Answers Nos. 573-591
573. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of a fund (details supplied); when the fund will be administered to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17728/19]
View answerResidential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) may be eligible (depending on the grant of planning condition) for taking in charge. The taking in charge of residential estates by local authorities is provided for under section 180 of the 2000 Act and is a reserved function of the elected members.
Under Section 180 (1) of the Act, the planning authority is obliged to initiate taking in charge procedures where requested by either the developer or by the majority of owners of the dwellings. However, this is subject to the development being completed to the satisfaction of the authority and in accordance with the permission and any conditions.
My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure which can include stand-alone treatment plants. Under the terms of the NTICI, which was underpinned by €10 million in funding, developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the associated call for funding proposals. Ultimately, €7.5 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments, containing some 14,930 homes.
Findings and recommendations from the NTICI process were included in a report on the initiative that was published by my Department in December 2018. The report is available at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/national_taking_in_charge_initiative_report_dec2018.pdf.
The publication of the NTICI report is of value to local authorities and other stakeholders in applying the lessons from the pilot authorities, in a more general roll-out of a streamlined approach to taking-in-charge, including through coordination with capital works by Irish Water. In this regard, my Department is liaising with Irish Water in relation to the report.
Ultimately, however, progression of individual developments through the taking-in-charge process is a matter for the relevant housing developer, the residents in such developments and the relevant local authorities, following the procedures laid out in section 180.
The National Development Plan, published last year, includes provision of €31 million for the period 2018-2021 for developer-provided infrastructure, commencing with an estimates provision of €6 million in 2019. The multi-annual programme will be initiated through the invitation of project bids from local authorities followed by their evaluation by an Expert Panel, set up by my Department, to independently evaluate the bid projects and make recommendations to my Department on suitable projects to be approved for funding. It is expected that approval of projects for this first cycle multi-annual programme will take place later in Q2 2019.
574. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding allocated to each local authority under the retrofitting programme scheme in each of the years 2013 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17850/19]
View answerThe Energy Efficiency/Retrofitting Programme was launched in 2013 to improve the insulation standards and overall energy performance of local authority social housing stock. The programme is being implemented in two phases: Phase 1 provides funding targeted at the less intrusive cavity wall/attic insulation, while Phase 2 focuses on the fabric upgrade works to dwellings with solid/hollow block wall construction and includes the provision of heating upgrades. Consequently, the amounts allocated annually to local authorities reflect the implementation of the programme across the different phases.
Since the programme commenced, over 68,000 social homes have been insulation retrofitted, with a total exchequer spend of €128 million. The following is a breakdown, by local authority, of the funding drawn down under the Programme between 2013 and 2018:
|
Local Authority |
2013 Funding Drawndown € |
2014 Funding Drawndown € |
2015 Funding Drawndown € |
2016 Funding Drawndown € |
2017 Funding Drawndown € |
2018 Funding Drawndown € |
Total Funding Drawndown € |
|
Carlow |
329,763 |
385,922 |
788,864 |
48,750 |
169,812 |
236,883 |
1,959,994 |
|
Cavan |
341,138 |
850,818 |
775,874 |
327,346 |
79,337 |
22,197 |
2,396,710 |
|
Clare |
635,724 |
498,635 |
518,285 |
260,960 |
65,522 |
328,632 |
2,307,758 |
|
Cork City |
1,091,105 |
2,002,047 |
3,260,660 |
4,593,455 |
1,761,898 |
2,826,636 |
15,535,801 |
|
Cork County |
1,223,799 |
1,079,181 |
1,340,036 |
2,913,930 |
384,102 |
2,493,573 |
9,434,622 |
|
Donegal |
325,561 |
800,503 |
891,633 |
797,268 |
754,856 |
0 |
3,569,821 |
|
Dublin City |
3,131,363 |
5,244,209 |
3,828,503 |
670,496 |
1,990,878 |
1,825,182 |
16,690,631 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
1,351,270 |
2,009,876 |
957,237 |
182,956 |
0 |
0 |
4,501,339 |
|
Fingal |
3,262,813 |
1,897,600 |
1,548,500 |
983,250 |
0 |
1,347,167 |
9,039,330 |
|
Galway City |
321,828 |
497,190 |
777,569 |
2,344,707 |
44,936 |
0 |
3,986,230 |
|
Galway County |
761,261 |
390,515 |
625,670 |
774,437 |
0 |
0 |
2,551,883 |
|
Kerry |
494,824 |
468,715 |
549,315 |
146,213 |
311,106 |
187,165 |
2,157,338 |
|
Kildare |
453,614 |
1,528,046 |
617,455 |
1,224,403 |
393,189 |
398,384 |
4,615,091 |
|
Kilkenny |
776,234 |
417,279 |
396,662 |
147,093 |
312,184 |
289,975 |
2,339,427 |
|
Laois |
482,937 |
753,953 |
555,936 |
77,999 |
0 |
121,840 |
1,992,665 |
|
Leitrim |
258,978 |
254,259 |
308,382 |
173,231 |
0 |
0 |
994,850 |
|
Limerick City |
801,046 |
964,754 |
65,000 |
0 |
0 |
748,800 |
2,579,600 |
|
Longford |
1,147,820 |
370,286 |
321,974 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,840,080 |
|
Louth |
182,866 |
636,718 |
879,880 |
954,333 |
65,764 |
484,910 |
3,204,471 |
|
Mayo |
481,774 |
410,361 |
464,238 |
330,567 |
117,105 |
477,236 |
2,281,281 |
|
Meath |
642,557 |
676,837 |
1,079,905 |
874,625 |
113,920 |
385,242 |
3,773,086 |
|
Monaghan |
335,406 |
419,118 |
325,345 |
0 |
155,359 |
0 |
1,235,228 |
|
Offaly |
360,276 |
237,467 |
553,963 |
301,861 |
0 |
0 |
1,453,567 |
|
Roscommon |
186,232 |
472,438 |
232,886 |
29,576 |
444,813 |
0 |
1,365,945 |
|
Sligo |
337,015 |
344,450 |
652,028 |
243,399 |
0 |
0 |
1,576,892 |
|
South Dublin |
712,114 |
1,828,879 |
647,231 |
748,330 |
761,731 |
0 |
4,698,285 |
|
Tipperary North |
2,235,544 |
1,301,342 |
810,434 |
326,827 |
282,233 |
424,998 |
5,381,378 |
|
Waterford City |
911,289 |
766,288 |
1,859,600 |
0 |
0 |
236,250 |
3,773,427 |
|
Westmeath |
1,079,494 |
859,733 |
489,788 |
863,517 |
434,441 |
54,801 |
3,781,774 |
|
Wexford |
971,133 |
1,031,290 |
446,196 |
206,428 |
22,082 |
52,762 |
2,729,891 |
|
Wicklow |
1,324,927 |
1,325,039 |
334,732 |
1,986,878 |
0 |
0 |
4,971,576 |
|
TOTAL |
26,951,705 |
30,723,748 |
26,903,781 |
22,532,835 |
8,665,268 |
12,942,633 |
128,719,970 |
575. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the projects and initiatives that will be affected in 2019 from the €2 million adjustment in the 2019 Vote of her Department as a result of further Revised Estimates. [17214/19]
View answerAs per the Further Revised Estimates for 2019, the capital allocation for my Department is €73.8 million.
This allocation reflects a deferral of €2 million of capital expenditure (2.6% of the original allocation) from 2019 into 2020 through changes to the timing of payments relating to certain capital works by my Department.
I am confident that the flow of liabilities maturing in 2019 will be managed in line with the resources available and that this deferral of expenditure will not impact on the overall delivery of the Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht elements of Project Ireland 2040.
576. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if core funding will be made available to a society (details supplied) in order to enable it to continue providing its unique offering in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17220/19]
View answerWilliam Butler Yeats is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. In 1885, he saw his first publication, in the Dublin University Review, of his poetry. He helped to found the Abbey Theatre, and in his later years served as a Senator of the Irish Free State for two terms. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and, in December 1923 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
My Department has been approached by the society to which the Deputy refers and officials have met and are in ongoing discussions with the society to discuss possible funding avenues.
In relation to current funding strands available , my Department operates a Small Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme which is currently open for applications at https://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/culture/grants-and-funding/small-scale-local-festivals-summer-schools/
The maximum funding available under the Scheme is €5,000 and the closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 19th April.
The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government monies and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. The Society may have a specific event eligible under this scheme.
The Festivals Investment Scheme operated by the Arts Council is also currently open for applications for events that will take place between January and June 2020. These applications close on Thursday 9th May and details may be found at http://www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Festivals-Investment-Scheme/
My Department also runs a scheme for improving exhibitions in local and regional museums which is currently open for applications at
https://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/culture/grants-and-funding/regional-museum-exhibitions-scheme/. €150,000 has been allocated to this scheme for 2019.
Finally, under the Creative Ireland Programme, local authorities are receiving funding to support a series of initiatives over the course of 2019 that reflect the strategic priorities outlined in their own Cultural and Creativity Strategies and this could be another avenue open to the society to which the Deputy refers.
577. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the matter to which the European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mr. Vella, is referring in correspondence (details supplied); the reason Ireland has not provided such quantitative information; and if information on the matter pertinent to the description by the Commissioner as ongoing discussions with the Irish authorities will be provided. [17243/19]
View answer578. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if and when Ireland will provide the quantitative information referred to by the European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mr. Vella, in correspondence (details supplied); the implications for Ireland and for persons particularly though not exclusively in relation to Article 9(1)(a) of the EU birds directive; if there are implications for Ireland and persons that arise due to the fact that the quantitative information has not been provided; and the action she is required to take to address such implications. [17244/19]
View answer579. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if policy on high-density urban seagull colonies with effect from the derogation declaration for 2019 and 2020 due to be published by 1 May 2019 and for future years will attribute primacy to availing of Article 9.1(a) in the interests of public health and safety in respect of urban seagull issues in view of correspondence from EU Commissioner Vella (details supplied). [17245/19]
View answer580. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether a statement (details supplied) means that EU member states are solely and fully responsible for the application of derogations and all pertinent policy and decisions in their respective countries and by implication the role of the Commission to monitor national derogation reports and manage and ensure compliance with the directive. [17246/19]
View answer582. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a statement was issued in July 2016 in response to a freedom of information request in which her predecessor acknowledged that her attention had been drawn to the fact that closure of landfill meant that seagull flocks were moving into towns and cities to seek food; and if this is still her view. [17248/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 577 to 580, inclusive, and 582 together.
Firstly, I should point out that all bird species are protected under national and EU legislation. In relation to the impact of seagulls, it has been estimated that the population of herring gulls, the main seagull species, has declined significantly in Ireland over the past 40 years or so, probably due to the improvements in managing landfill sites as well as other factors.
I am aware that my predecessor did respond to Parliamentary Questions in June and July 2016 in relation to the status and impact of gull species.
All EU Member States are obliged under Article 9 of the Birds Directive to report annually to the EU Commission on the issuing of derogations on all bird species. The Commission recently raised with my Department a number of issues relating to the 2015 and 2016 annual reports including matters relating to quantitative information provided. My Department will be working with the Commission in order to ensure that future reports are submitted with the necessary information.
The EU Birds Directive allows Member States to make derogations from its protective measures in respect of certain wild bird species in certain circumstances - for example, where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety or to air safety. The Declarations to implement these derogations are renewed annually. The 2018/19 Declarations expire on 30 April and I want to assure the Deputy that there will not be a delay in this process in the context of a 2019/20 Declaration.
581. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the 90% depletion of the herring gull species regularly quoted by her Department and various bird conservation groups is a statistic that was derived from analyses of censuses carried out in 1970, 1975 and 2000 and applied only to natural seaward and wetlands habitat; and if the national total of urban nesting herring gulls as published in the seabird 2000 census was 209 breeding pairs. [17247/19]
View answer583. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is responsible for conducting censuses of wild birds; if the latest national seabird census commenced on schedule in view of the fact that it was due in 2015; if so, when it will be completed; and if and when the census will publish an up to date national total of urban nesting herring gulls for comparison with the Seabird 2000 national total of 209 urban nesting pairs. [17249/19]
View answer584. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the national seabird census has not incorporated a national count of urban nesting seagulls; and her views on the absence of such quantitative information as having a priority determinant status in relation to availing of Article 9(1)(a) of the EU birds directive in the interest of public health and safety as would appear to be inferred in both the interim report of 18 April 2018 and the final report of 22 October 2018 from the Major Review of the Derogations Process by her Department (details supplied). [17250/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 581, 583 and 584 together.
Since the 1970s, specialists in the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have worked with colleagues from the UK to co-ordinate censuses of breeding seabird populations. This work has resulted in several publications, most recently "Seabird Populations of Britain and Ireland" (Mitchell et al, 2004), which reported on the survey findings of Seabird 2000.
The Seabird 2000 project is a partnership between a number of bodies in Ireland and the UK, including the UK Government’s conservation agencies, RSPB, the Seabird Group, Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG), BirdWatch Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The survey, largely conducted between 1998 and 2002, showed that the Herring gull population across the island of Ireland experienced a decline of almost 86% when compared with similar survey data from the mid-1980s. Furthermore, the Mitchell et al publication in 2004 stated that the establishment of Herring gull colonies on artificial surfaces, mainly roofs of buildings, had extended the distribution of the species since the first major seabird census conducted during the 1969 and 1970 breeding seasons. However, it was noted that this behaviour was very localised in Ireland and western Scotland. During the reporting period of Seabird 2000, some occurrences of Herring gulls nesting on artificial structures in Dublin were recorded but this were very low in the context of the overall breeding population in Ireland.
Work is now well underway on the next collaborative seabird census across Ireland and the UK with two further field seasons, this year and in 2020, planned to collect relevant data. The current initiative is called Seabirds Count.
In support of this, my Department has undertaken a series of surveys over the last four years and will soon be in a position to produce up to date national breeding population estimates for the majority of Ireland’s seabirds. A national report is due to be published later this year. The report will also include data from an urban gull survey conducted by Fingal County Council in 2018.
As the numbers of urban nesting gulls have increased at various locations in Ireland in recent years, it is important to ensure appropriate provision is made to quantify this in proportion to the overall breeding population. Further survey work to target Irish urban gulls is planned for the final year of the Seabirds Count census window in 2020.
The EU Birds Directive allows Member States to make derogations from its protective measures in respect of certain wild bird species in certain circumstances – for example, where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety or to air safety. The Declarations to implement these derogations are renewed annually and an annual review of the Declarations is undertaken prior to their expiry.
My Department completed a review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive which took account of all relevant factors, including perceived threats, distribution and population data available in respect of all the bird species in the derogations. ANIAR Ecology was appointed by my Department to undertake the review following a public tendering process. Their report was published in October 2018 and is available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at www.npws.ie.
The consultants on their report made a number of recommendations in relation to seagulls including the setting up of a group to agree a programme of action in relation to the seagull situation in the certain urban areas. I have agreed to the formation of a Consultative Committee, with an independent chair, whose membership will include representatives of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, Fingal County Council, local community representatives and a conservation group. My Department is finalising the composition of the Committee with a view to convening the first meeting of the Committee shortly.
585. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the annual capital allocation to the Gaeltacht housing grant scheme in each of the years 2005 to 2010, in tabular form. [17266/19]
View answerDetails of these allocations can be found under the Estimates of Public Expenditure Section on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website at https://www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/.
The information requested by the Deputy is, for convenience, provided in the following table:
|
Year |
Allocation |
|
2005 |
€4,000,000 |
|
2006 |
€4,000,000 |
|
2007 |
€4,000,000 |
|
2008 |
€4,000,000 |
|
2009 |
€2,950,000 |
|
2010 |
€2,000,000 |
586. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the schools that received and did not receive a copy of a book (details supplied), respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17281/19]
View answerI was very pleased to provide a funding allocation of over €6,400 earlier this year to History Ireland to support the distribution of a special publication on the revolutionary period - 'The Irish Revolution: 1919-1921, a Global History' - to post-primary schools around the country.
This engaging and accessible publication places the Struggle for Independence within a wider global context and will provide a significant learning resource to support history teachers and students alike in navigating this challenging period in our history.
I can advise the Deputy that this publication was distributed to all voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive post-primary schools that are aided by the Department of Education and Skills, i.e. all schools that were assigned a Roll Number.
If the Deputy is aware that a particular school has not received a copy of the publication, I would be happy to ask my officials to make enquiries in this regard.
587. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grant aid provided to a charity (details supplied) or to each of the museums it opens to the public in each of the past 15 years. [17329/19]
View answerDetails of the grant aid provided to the charity mentioned since the establishment of my Department in 2011 are set out in the following table. The grants are to the organisation for use across the properties it manages. Currently, two of those are open to the public and it has plans to make two further historic properties open to the public in the future.
|
Year |
Funding |
|
2011 |
€375,000 |
|
2012 |
€373,000 |
|
2013 |
€353,000 |
|
2014 |
€324,000 |
|
2015 |
€324,000 |
|
2016 |
€324,000 |
|
2017 |
€400,000 |
|
2018 |
€400,000 |
|
2019 |
€650,000 |
588. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grant aid provided to a society (details supplied) in each of the past 15 years. [17330/19]
View answerMy Department does not provide grant aid funding to the society in question.
589. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grant aid provided to a charity (details supplied) in each of the past 15 years. [17331/19]
View answerThe requested details of payments made by my Department, since its establishment on 2nd June 2011, to the body specified by the Deputy are set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Grant |
Expenditure € |
|
2011 |
Green Schools Programme |
49,800 |
|
2011 |
Booklet on Bogs and Pollinators |
14,914 |
|
2012 |
Green Schools Programme |
49,800 |
|
2012 |
Design and Print of Nature's Way: Invasive Species Booklet |
10,000 |
|
2013 |
Development of the Green Schools Biodiversity Theme |
50,000 |
|
2013 |
Printing of Nature’s Way Booklets |
9,415 |
|
2014 |
Green Schools Programme |
40,000 |
|
2015 |
Green Schools Programme |
40,000 |
|
2016 |
Green Schools Programme |
40,000 |
|
2017 |
Green Schools Programme |
40,000 |
|
2018 |
Green Schools Programme |
40,000 |
|
Total |
|
383,929 |
590. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason when issuing the compensation under the cessation of turf compensation scheme one of the terms was that the claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the previous five years of 2010 to 2015 (details supplied). [17400/19]
View answerThe cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500. In 2014, the scheme was extended to active turf cutters from 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.
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 25 May 2010 in respect of the 29 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999, up to 31 December 2011 in respect of the 24 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation in 2002 and up to 14 January 2014 for the 36 raised bog natural heritage areas);
- The turf resource on the site has not been exhausted; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme is focused on turf cutters who had been cutting turf on raised bog protected sites during the five year period prior to the cessation, to address their immediate loss of a source of household fuel.
591. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that planning permission has been sought for over 200 housing units on a historical site (details supplied); her views on the significance of the find; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17438/19]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ No. 1432 of 26th March 2019 which is copied below.
The archaeological excavations are being carried out on this site under a licence granted by my Department under the National Monuments Acts and in accordance with the Method Statement approved by the Department as part of the licensing process. The Department’s National Monuments Service will receive a full report of the excavation findings in due course.
