Written Answers Nos. 721-740
721. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average construction and all-in cost of building 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom public houses by region including Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford cities and surrounding commuter and non-urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10392/20]
View answerThere are a number of variables involved in estimating the cost of providing social housing units, such as the form of delivery, size of unit, land, funding, etc. In terms of construction and 'all-in' costs, the averages as sought for the various sized units, based on full capital costs, are set out in the following tables, where the data is shown in terms of houses and apartments, both for Dublin and nationally.
|
HOUSES - DUBLIN |
|||||
|
1 bed |
2 bed(1 storey) |
2 bed(2 storey) |
3 bed |
4 bed |
|
|
Construction |
€197,850 |
€207,975 |
€216,975 |
€227,275 |
€243,125 |
|
All-in Cost |
€258,450 |
€270,575 |
€280,675 |
€292,500 |
€311,325 |
|
APARTMENTS - DUBLIN |
|||
|
1 bed |
2 bed |
3 bed |
|
|
Construction |
€221,450 |
€238,625 |
€261,425 |
|
All-in Cost |
€289,250 |
€310,425 |
€338,150 |
|
HOUSES - NATIONALLY |
|||||
|
1 bed |
2 bed(1 storey) |
2 bed(2 storey) |
3 bed |
4 bed |
|
|
Construction |
€155,818 |
€165,132 |
€174,206 |
€184,685 |
€199,491 |
|
All-in Cost |
€201,359 |
€212,624 |
€222,582 |
€234,571 |
€252,047 |
|
APARTMENTS - NATIONALLY |
|||
|
1 bed |
2 bed |
3 bed |
|
|
Construction |
€174,159 |
€189,112 |
€209,482 |
|
All-in Cost |
€225,082 |
€243,476 |
€267,629 |
The above figures are based on returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period. ‘Construction’ cost is reflective of building costs (including VAT) and also includes normal site works and site development. ‘All-in Cost’ includes cost of construction, land cost, professional fees, utility connections, site investigations/surveys, archaeology where appropriate, VAT and contribution to public art. Abnormal costs are excluded from these figures.
722. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the case of a housing estate (details supplied) will be investigated. [10404/20]
View answerSection 10 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended), enabled the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to prescribe a list of unfinished housing developments to which an exemption from the local property tax applies. An exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the Schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 91/2013).
The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities, utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey. Only developments (and parts of developments) that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included in the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. These Regulations applied to 421 developments, comprising approximately 5,100 homes, which remain exempt from LPT.
In response to the specific matter in question, my Department has been in contact with Kerry County Council and my officials have been advised by the Council that the Estate was not included within the list of “unfinished housing estates” developments listed in the Schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013, as it did not meet the criteria for inclusion of a development or part thereof for Property Tax Waiver. Accordingly, the occupier of any house within the Estate is liable for the local property tax. I understand, however, that the Bond provider has relinquished the bond to Kerry County Council. The Council, with this funding, will now be arranging to have the outstanding works completed in the Estate.
There were a number of approaches adopted towards addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments, including the development of Site Resolution Plans (SRPs) for the finalisation of works on site to render estates as habitable as possible and the launch of the Public Safety Initiative (PSI) to address immediate public safety issues. In addition, Budget 2014 contained a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF).
An Annual Progress Report was compiled and published every year from 2012 to 2018. These reports are available on the Department’s website. For ease of access, the most recent report published in February 2018 is available at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/national-housing-development-survey/publication-2017-annual-progress
As outlined in the Annual Progress Report 2017 (link provided above), the number of unfinished housing developments has reduced by 91% from around 3,000 developments in 2010, to 256 developments in 2017. A list of unfinished housing estates can also be found under the ‘unfinished’ tab layer on the MyPlan website available at the following link: www.myplan.ie
Given the significant progress made, there are no plans at this time to revise the list of developments included in the Schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013, either by removing or adding developments to it. Local authorities will continue to assess the best options for resolution of unfinished developments and/or developments that are to be taken in charge.
723. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recommendation of a report (details supplied) that a refuge centre be established in the county; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that during the Covid-19 crisis the incidences of domestic violence have increased; if the necessary funds will be provided to the county council to acquire a suitable building for a refuge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10416/20]
View answerResponsibility for Children and Young People's Services Committees (CYPSCs) and the management and the provision of services to support victims of domestic abuse rests with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and are delivered through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
Under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), capital funding may be provided, through housing authorities, to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the delivery of accommodation for people with specific categories of need. It is a matter for individual housing authorities to prioritise projects to be advanced under CAS. To date no proposal has been submitted from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown to my Department for consideration.
724. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be provided to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to acquire the 21 units at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10417/20]
View answerAs housing authorities, local authorities are responsible for the identification of the social housing need in their area. The statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) carried out annually since 2016 captures the total number of households qualified for social housing support to better inform policy and to allow local authorities, such as Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, to develop appropriate responses to meet this need.
Through the supports made available from my Department under Rebuilding Ireland, funding is available to deliver additional social housing stock through a range of initiatives, including, where appropriate, the acquisition or leasing of new and previously owned houses/apartments from the private market. As housing authorities, it is a matter for each local authority to determine the suitability of any units for acquisition and similarly for leasing, on the basis that the houses are suitable for social housing use and are suitable also in terms of a range of other considerations, including family size, sustainable communities and value for money.
As such, it is a matter for Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to determine the most appropriate response to the need for social housing supports in their area.
725. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of council house completions across the four Dublin local authorities was 228 in 2019 in comparison to 634 in 2018; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the projections for 2020 are lower again; his plans to improve these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10418/20]
View answerIn relation to the figure of 228 council house completions across the four Dublin local authorities cited by the Deputy, the total build output of the four Dublin local authorities in 2019 was in fact 1,665 social housing homes. This comprised 381 homes built directly by the local authorities, a further 658 homes delivered in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), 526 homes delivered through the Part V mechanisms and 100 homes restored to use under the Voids (capped) programme. This output represents 27.4% of the build output for the country.
Looking at a single delivery stream, i.e. local authority build, in isolation does not accurately portray the housing delivery activity in a local authority area. AHBs are significant delivery partners, providing homes for social housing eligible households on local authority waiting lists.
It should be noted that the four Dublin local authorities face particular challenges regarding the availability and cost of land for new builds and in the context of this challenge, the four local authorities also delivered a further 844 homes through acquisitions (30% of the national output); speeding up the availability of homes for families in the Dublin region. A further 332 homes were delivered through the leasing programme.
Nationally, more than 10,000 (10,007) new social housing homes were delivered through the delivery mechanisms of build (6,074), acquisition (2,772) and leasing (1,161) of which just under 29% (2,871) were delivered by the Dublin local authorities.
The latest Construction Status Report covers the period up to end Q4 2019 and shows that since the beginning of Rebuilding Ireland, a total of 233 schemes have been completed by the four Dublin local authorities delivering 4,007 homes. In addition to this, the report shows that there are already a further 121 schemes currently at planning, design, tender or construction stage, which will deliver 3,518 additional homes when complete. The timing of these completions may cross annual reporting periods, resulting in variations from year to year, however the objective is certainly to increase annual outputs.
My Department continues to provide funding, as well as technical support, advice and guidance to local authorities and AHBs to expand and accelerate their housing delivery, particularly around new build activity. Increasing build capacity is not an immediate input/output activity, it takes time to build capacity and supply, however this steady increase is visible in the outputs since 2016 when there were 657 new social home completions across 31 local authorities (excluding Voids) to over 5,770 in 2019.
726. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will make contact with the Spanish Government to offer assistance to Valladolid City Council and the team undertaking works to locate the resting place of Red Hugh O’Donnell (details supplied); and if she will pursue the objective of returning the remains back to County Donegal. [9787/20]
View answerMy Department's National Monuments Service and colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are in regular contact with their Spanish counterparts and local authorities in Vallodolid in relation to this case.
I understand that the excavation team is currently compiling a detailed report for Valladolid City Council outlining the results of the archaeological investigations that have taken place, including the recording of the remains of some 15 individuals. While to date there is no archaeological or scientific evidence that the remains of Red Hugh O'Donnell have been discovered, I am aware that his dying wishes were be buried in Valladolid, as recorded in his last will and testament.
My Department will maintain its ongoing contact with the project over the coming weeks. Whatever the final outcome, the interest there is in the case in both countries again highlights the very strong historical connections between Spain and Ireland that still echo today.
727. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is in receipt of correspondence from a group (details supplied); and her views on the measures outlined in the plan. [9920/20]
View answer731. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will address a matter regarding funding for the arts sector (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10015/20]
View answer733. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she is taking to bring about a recovery in the arts sector following the Covid-19 pandemic; if her attention has been drawn to the campaign by an organisation (details supplied) to address the issue; her views on the actions proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10059/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 727, 731 and 733 together.
I am aware of the correspondence to which the Deputy refers and proposals set out therein. The COVID-19 crisis gives rise to many challenges for the nation as a whole and is having an unprecedented impact on the arts, culture, heritage and Gaeltacht sectors.
From an early stage in the COVID-19 crisis, measures were put in place to sustain our cultural infrastructure, support artists and arts practitioners and ensure the ongoing provision of cultural services. Following a meeting I convened on 12 March with the Arts Council, the national cultural institutions and Screen Ireland, the Arts Council announced a series of immediate measures, including an undertaking to honour all funding commitments made to organisations and allow grantees to draw down up to 90% of their funding commitment.
The Government introduced a range of supports for those affected by COVID-19 and those working in the arts, culture and audiovisual sectors are eligible to apply for these supports. My Department has published an advisory booklet on its website which sets out support and information available to the arts sector in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Officials from my Department are in ongoing contact with the Arts Council and as well as with a broad range of sectoral stakeholders including resource organisations, advocacy groups as well as individual artists and arts practices.
The Council had undertaken a detailed survey of arts organisations to identify the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on audiences, employment and finances for March, April and May as well as a survey of artists seeking information of the economic impact on individual artists and the results are published on their website.
The Arts Council has established a short-term Advisory Group to identify ways to address impacts of the Covid-19 Crisis on the sector. This group brings together a number of leading voices from the arts and other sectors and will report to the Arts Council on measures to sustain the arts sector through the current challenging period. I understand that the Group will complete their work shortly and I look forward to receiving their report.
728. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to a local authority breaching hedge cutting laws during nesting season (details supplied). [9883/20]
View answerThe dates for the cutting of hedges are set down in primary legislation under the Wildlife Acts. Section 40 of the Act prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. There is provision in the legislation for some restricted exemptions from the prohibition during the closed period - for example, for works undertaken in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, for health and safety reasons, for the clearance of vegetation relating to road and other construction works including the preparation of sites for development; in respect of works permitted under statute and for works undertaken for road safety reasons under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1983.
Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are aware of the works being undertaken by the local authority in question and consider that the works are exempted from the provisions of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts as they relate to the preparation of a site for development
729. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9922/20]
View answerI wish to advise that a reply to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy has issued.
The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner Government announced the move on to Phase 2 of the Roadmap last Friday. Organisations should review the Roadmap carefully and carry out a detailed assessment of their activities with regard to the continuing public health measures. These organisations should, based on their assessment, identify which category in which phase of reopening they will be in a position to reopen safely and in line with the continued public health measures. It is not necessary for organisations to seek official authorisation to reopen.
My Department has published a new booklet on its website which sets out support and information available to the arts sector in response to the COVID-19 crisis. My Department also provides a helpdesk advice facility on income support for individuals at artsunit@chg.gov.ie and I would encourage people in the sector to make contact for advice.
The Government is providing a range of income supports for people who have lost employment as a result of the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the corona virus and are outlined as follows:
My colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection is responsible for a range of income supports including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). The PUP is available to employees and the self-employed who have lost their job on (or after) March 13 due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Last Friday, the Government approved an extension to the PUP until 10th August 2020 with a number of changes to the payment. Further details can be accessed at this link https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/. I understand that thousands of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment have now closed or are in the course of closing their claim as they had return to work as part of the first phases of the Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business.
Two jobseekers benefit schemes are in place for the self-employed as well as the Social Welfare Scheme for Self-Employed Artists. The latter scheme recognises the unique creative circumstances of artists in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and gives them special assistance in their first year out of work, allowing them to focus on their creative output.
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was introduced on 26 March to support the viability of firms and preserve the relationship between the employer and employee, insofar as is possible, by subsidising a portion of the employer wage bill in circumstances where the employer’s business has been negatively impacted by Covid 19. This scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and along with the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), it is a significant though temporary measure that has been introduced to attempt to minimise the negative impact on the labour market through an exceptional period.
Last Friday the Government agreed that the TWSS would be extended until the end of August. Over 59,000 employers are now registered with Revenue for this scheme and over 520,900 employees have now received at least one payment under the scheme. I understand that as of 8th June, Revenue has generated further payments to employers under the scheme of €34.2 million.. Further details can be accessed at this link - https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/455ce-minister-donohoe-announces-extension-of-temporary-wage-subsidy-scheme-until-end-augus
The Government has introduced a range of business supports for those affected by COVID-19 and many of those working in the arts, culture and audiovisual sectors may be eligible to apply for these supports. These measures aim to help these organisations to restart, reconnect and rehire staff who have been laid off or furloughed. Full details of these measures can be accessed on the gov.ie website at the following link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fe8f00-government-outlines-further-measures-to-support-businesses-impacted-/
The Arts Council has established a short-term Advisory Group to identify ways to address impacts of the Covid-19 Crisis on the sector. This group brings together a number of leading voices from the arts and other sectors and will report to the Arts Council on measures to sustain the arts sector through the current challenging period. I understand that the Group will complete their work shortly and I look forward to receiving their report.
730. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons that availed of and the costs incurred by her Department regarding the cycle to work scheme since it was introduced to date by year and cost in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9979/20]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.. The information supplied covers the period since the establishment of my Department in June 2011 . It should be noted that there is no actual cost to the Department from the Cycle to Work scheme. The Department initially pays an approved supplier for the bicycle, the employee signs an undertaking where the cost of the bicycle is recouped through payroll deduction over a year.
|
Year |
€ Amount initially paid in year |
Number of cases by year |
|
2011 |
13,229 |
16 |
|
2012 |
19,117 |
26 |
|
2013 |
10,871 |
14 |
|
2014 |
18,141 |
22 |
|
2015 |
17,318 |
22 |
|
2016 |
12,324 |
16 |
|
2017 |
12,987 |
16 |
|
2018 |
19,555 |
25 |
|
2019 |
16,675 |
23 |
|
2020 (to date) |
5,603 |
6 |
|
Total |
145,820 |
186 |
732. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the 2020 decision on the built heritage investment scheme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10048/20]
View answerMy Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through 2 grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities.
These Built Heritage Capital Grant schemes, with funding of just over €4m, have the potential to provide much needed economic stimulus as they operate right across the country in all local authority areas and provide employment for the many small businesses, skilled conservation specialists and tradespeople involved in heritage-related construction activity, supporting numerous small-scale conservation projects. This will help to sustain specialist heritage businesses whilst the market recovers.
I will shortly be announcing details of projects to be funded, as public health restrictions allow, under both the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2020 and the Historic Structures Fund 2020. Details of the projects, including the amounts to be allocated to each local authority, will be published on my Department’s website and on local authority websites.
In the light of COVID-19, any grant offer will include a requirement that works be carried out in accordance with the National Return to Work Safely Protocol as well as all public health and safety measures determined by the Government and HSE. It will be the responsibility of each project manager to monitor and ensure compliance with the most up to date and accurate information from the Government and the HSE websites.
734. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports in place to support the bean an tí in the Donegal Gaeltacht in 2020 in view of the fact that all summer courses are cancelled as a result of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10177/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be pleased to learn that I recently approved a once-off emergency measure worth €4.7m to support the stabilisation of the Gaeltacht Irish summer college sector.
The stabilisation fund is being provided as a specific once-off measure with the overall objective of ensuring the ongoing viability of the sector - thereby enabling it to continue to contribute to the systematic effort being made to support the language and Gaeltacht regions in line with the overarching objectives of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and the accompanying Plean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022 . (5-Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022). The measure follows the cancellation, on 20th April 2020, of Irish summer college course by my Department in the interests of protecting public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under this measure , up to €3.1m will be directed at supporting the college authorities to refund fees/deposits to parents while a further €1.6m is being allocated under the measure towards supporting the c. 700 certified Gaeltacht householders who normally keep students attending one of the recognised 42 colleges during the summer months.
My Department will continue to engage with the sector, namely the relevant college authorities as well as the Gaeltacht households recognised under the Department's Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge in order to initiate and administer the application process in relation to the measure.
735. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons employed on an agency basis in each State agency under the remit of her Department in 2019 and in quarter 1 of 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10238/20]
View answerI have been advised that the total number of persons employed on an agency basis in the State Agencies under this Department's aegis in 2019 was 49 and in Q1 2020 was 31.
A more detailed breakdown is outlined in the following table.
|
2019 |
Q1 2020 |
|
|
Arts Council |
2 |
Nil |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Heritage Council |
1 |
Nil |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
6 |
4 |
|
National Concert Hall |
1 |
1 |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
24 |
12 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
2 |
2 |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
3 |
3 |
|
Screen Ireland |
5 |
5 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Ulster Scots Agency |
2 |
2 |
|
Waterways Ireland |
3 |
2 |
|
TOTAL |
49 |
31 |
736. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views regarding a potential cut in the arts allocation in the budgets of local authorities following a downturn in the economy post the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. [10302/20]
View answer737. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the loss in income for many artists due to Covid-19; and the supports in place or being prepared for a post-lockdown scenario. [10303/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 736 and 737 together.
The COVID-19 crisis gives rise to many challenges for the nation as a whole and is having an unprecedented impact on the arts, culture, heritage and Gaeltacht sectors. My Department has worked with the Arts Council from an early stage in the COVID-19 crisis, on measures to sustain our cultural infrastructure, support artists and arts practitioners and ensure the ongoing provision of cultural services. The Arts Council announced a series of immediate measures, including an undertaking to honour all funding commitments made to organisations and allow grantees to draw down up to 90% of their funding commitment.
My Department has published a new booklet on its website which sets out support and information available to the arts sector in response to the COVID-19 crisis. My Department also provides a helpdesk advice facility on income support for individuals at artsunit@chg.gov.ie and I would encourage people in the sector to make contact for advice.
The Government is providing a range of income supports for people who have lost employment as a result of the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the corona virus and are outlined as follows:
My colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection is responsible for a range of income supports including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). The PUP is available to employees and the self-employed who have lost their job on (or after) March 13 due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Last Friday, the Government approved an extension to the PUP until 10th August 2020 with a number of changes to the payment. Further details can be accessed at this link https://www.gov.ie/en/service/be74d3-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-payment/. I understand that thousands of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment have now closed or are in the course of closing their claim as they had return to work as part of the first phases of the Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business.
Two jobseekers benefit schemes are in place for the self-employed as well as the Social Welfare Scheme for Self-Employed Artists. The latter scheme recognises the unique creative circumstances of artists in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and gives them special assistance in their first year out of work, allowing them to focus on their creative output.
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was introduced on 26 March to support the viability of firms and preserve the relationship between the employer and employee, insofar as is possible, by subsidising a portion of the employer wage bill in circumstances where the employer’s business has been negatively impacted by Covid 19. This scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and along with the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), it is a significant though temporary measure that has been introduced to attempt to minimise the negative impact on the labour market through an exceptional period.
Last Friday the Government agreed that the TWSS would be extended until the end of August. Over 59,000 employers are now registered with Revenue for this scheme and over 520,900 employees have now received at least one payment under the scheme. I understand that as of 8th June, Revenue has generated further payments to employers under the scheme of €34.2 million.. Further details can be accessed at this link . https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/455ce-minister-donohoe-announces-extension-of-temporary-wage-subsidy-scheme-until-end-augus
The Government has introduced a range of business supports for those affected by COVID-19 and many of those working in the arts, culture and audiovisual sectors may be eligible to apply for these support. A number of organisations may be eligible for funding supports under the series of measures to support small, medium and larger business that are negatively impacted by COVID-19. These measures aim to help these organisations to restart, reconnect and rehire staff who have been laid off or furloughed. Full details of these measures can be accessed on the gov.ie website at the following link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fe8f00-government-outlines-further-measures-to-support-businesses-impacted-/
The Arts Council has established a short-term Advisory Group to identify ways to address impacts of the Covid-19 Crisis on the sector. This group brings together a number of leading voices from the arts and other sectors and will report to the Arts Council on measures to sustain the arts sector through the current challenging period. I understand that the Group will complete their work shortly and I look forward to receiving their report.
The Council has also undertaken a detailed survey of arts organisations to identify the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on audiences, employment and finances for March, April and May as well as a survey of artists seeking information of the economic impact on individual artists and the results are published on their website. In the context of the wider cultural sector, officials from my Department are continuing to work with the Arts Council as well as other parts of Government, to assess and measure the effects of COVID-19 on the cultural sector and to ensure that optimal use is made of available resources to sustain the sector through this crisis.
While my Department makes allocations to local authorities for a number of cultural and creative purposes, including Commemorations and measures under the Creative Ireland programme, local authority budgets are matters for the local authorities concerned.
738. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the local and national campaign to save the remains of a cottage (details supplied); and if her Department has raised specific concerns with the local authority regarding the building, particularly its historical significance and the fact that many of the 1916 leaders and other historical figures had visited and stayed in the cottage. [10304/20]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I have asked my officials in my Department to contact the Local Authority who are the relevant body responsible for protecting architectural heritage in this instance.
739. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the structural funding from the EU that will be ring-fenced for culture and arts here. [10358/20]
View answerThe EU Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) is comprised of two regulations, Regulation2020/460 (CRII), and Regulation 2020/558 (CRII Plus) which entered into force on 1 April and 23rd April 2020 respectively. The CRII regulations allow Members States to use unspent pre-allocated cohesion support, amounting to €8 billion, to respond to COVID-19 by supporting healthcare systems and the working capital of SMEs to remain in business to cushion the impact of the shock, matched by a further €29 billion in co-financing from the EU budget.
In practice, CRII allows Member States to use funding under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) strand of cohesion support, which ordinarily finances investment into the regions, to assist in the COVID-19 emergency response. There are two regional ERDF Operational Programmes in Ireland, implemented by two Managing Authorities. It is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in consultation with the Managing Authorities, to reorient funding to areas of most need currently, in line with the provisions of CRII.
The Creative Europe Programme is the main financial instrument at EU level to support the cultural and creative sector. At two recent meetings of the EU Council of Culture Ministers to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the actions to be taken to mitigate its effects, I, along with a number of my counterparts, called for an increase in funding to the next Creative Europe Programme as well as additional and immediate direct support to the sector as part of the EU Recovery Plan to help it through this crisis and to rebound in its aftermath.
While discussions on the next EU budget are ongoing, several measures have been introduced with immediate effect in the Creative Europe Programme to protect the cultural and audiovisual sector while shut down, including; a new call for projects for the cross-border mainly digital distribution of performing arts works; €5m in vouchers for hardest-hit cinemas; maximum flexibility for existing projects to reach completion; accelerated selection procedure for many schemes so that artists can start work under pre-funding arrangements; facility to invoke force majeure to recover sunk costs for stalled productions and works; and, maximum flexibility on the repayment of loans.
Finally, the European Commission also recently published the EU Recovery Plan. The Plan includes a new initiative, REACT-EU, with a budget of €55 billion. It is proposed that the funds will support workers and SMEs and will be available across sectors, including culture. While the Plan is now subject to negotiation and approval by the Council and European Parliament, I am confident that measures in the Plan, together with those under the Creative Europe Programme, and the whole suite of measures that have been introduced by the Government are helping to protect the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors during shutdown and as we emerge from public health restrictions.
740. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the investigation into the death of 23 buzzards in County Cork will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10370/20]
View answerOfficials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are continuing their investigations into the deaths of the buzzards in Co. Cork. I am unable at this time to put a target date for completion on this investigation.
