Written Answers Nos. 112-129
112. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications received under flood compensation schemes from 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by local authority in tabular form. [27733/20]
View answer113. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications approved for flood compensation schemes from 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the value of the awarded amounts by local authority in tabular form. [27734/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
In April 2017, the Government agreed the administrative arrangements for a once-off Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded during the flooding event in Winter 2015/2016. It was a national scheme of humanitarian assistance, targeting aid at those worst affected properties, for which there were no alternative feasible measures. The OPW liaised with homeowners and local authorities to identify those homes that flooded during this flood event. Through the scheme, engineering solutions have been identified to protect the majority of homes that flooded in the floods of Winter 2015/2016.
To date, 40 applications have been received by homeowners for the Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme with 25 approved to date at an estimated cost of approximately €7m.
The overall number of homes currently under consideration for the scheme is relatively low which presents a risk that individual homeowners could be identified by providing data at local authority level. For that reason, it is not possible to provide figures at local authority level as requested by the Deputy.
115. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of flood defence works by local authority in tabular form. [27737/20]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with the Local Authorities, has completed 46 flood relief schemes and is currently progressing another 151 flood relief projects nationwide. Approximately 90 of these are either at construction or at other stages of design or consultant appointment, while the remainder will be progressed as part of the National Development Plan 2018-2027. 119 of these projects were identified in the National Flood Risk Management Plans launched in 2018 which were in addition to projects already underway at the time. These schemes will, together with the 46 already complete, mean that 95% of at risk properties in the State will be protected by Flood Relief Schemes.
The table below sets out the number of flood relief projects completed and those that are currently being progressed or will be progressed in the National Development Plan for each county.
|
County |
Number of projects completed |
Number of projects being/to be progressed |
|
Carlow |
2 |
2 |
|
Cavan |
|
1 |
|
Clare |
2 |
8 |
|
Cork |
6 |
21 |
|
Donegal |
|
16 |
|
Dublin |
6 |
15 |
|
Galway |
5 |
5 |
|
Kerry |
|
9 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
6 |
|
Laois |
|
4 |
|
Leitrim |
|
4 |
|
Limerick |
6 |
9 |
|
Longford |
|
1 |
|
Louth |
1 |
5 |
|
Mayo |
|
3 |
|
Meath |
4 |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
|
3 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
|
3 |
|
Sligo |
|
1 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
12 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
3 |
|
Westmeath |
|
1 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
6 |
Since 2009, OPW has also supported Local Authorities through funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Works Scheme.
116. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being put in place to expedite public works contract tendering (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27746/20]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have responsibility for the development of policy to ensure adequate expenditure oversight on capital projects and for public procurement. The Department or agency proposing and implementing a capital project is responsible for appraisal, planning, implementation, management, and post project review of the project and for any procurements necessary in line with the policies developed by my Department.
My Department, through the Office of Government Procurement, is responsible for the preparation of template forms of tender and contracts which are published under the Capital Works Management Framework and available for use by all contracting authorities. It is a matter for the sponsoring agency to ensure that the detailed information necessary to describe the project such as drawings, specifications, pricing documents, etc. is available in order to commence the tender process.
117. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the new Garda headquarters at Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8; the estimated initial cost of the project; the updated estimate as of September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27826/20]
View answerConstruction work on the new Garda Security and Crime Operations Centre at Military Rd commenced in March 2020. In line with the majority of construction sites in the country, the site was closed down for a period of seven weeks due to the Covid-19 restrictions and reopened on 18 May 2020. Works are ongoing on the project, which is now scheduled for completion by the end of September 2022.
The contract value is €78.5m including VAT and presently the project is within Total Project Budget. In accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines, two Covid-19 related ex-gratia payments, total VAT inclusive value €167,078, were agreed with the contractor.
118. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the transfer value of a site from the OPW portfolio to the Courts Service portfolio for the Family Court complex at Hammond Lane, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27827/20]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland (CPW) acquired/assembled a development site at Hammond Lane, Dublin 8, over a number of years. The purpose of this acquisition was to facilitate the development of a Family Court complex and office accommodation for the Court Service.
Earlier this year, my colleague Helen Mc Entee, Minister for Justice and Equality announced funding from Budget 2020 to cover ongoing preparatory work for the Family Court complex and architects in my Department are currently engaging with the Courts Service on the design of that facility.
The transfer of the site to the Courts Service will take place at a future date and the matter of the value of the transfer will form part of the process.
119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW plans to sell or redevelop Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2; if so, the status of the project; the estimated cost of same; the timeline for the project; the relocation plans for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Houses of the Oireachtas Service and the National Emergency Coordination Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27828/20]
View answerIt is the long-term strategic objective of the Commissioners of Public Works to modernise the State owned office portfolio under its management. These upgrading projects present an array of complex property challenges which cannot be considered in isolation.
Agriculture House, Kildare St, Dublin 2 is a property that will require extensive refurbishment in the medium term to ensure it meets all necessary, modern standards for long term occupation including the updating of energy efficiency ratings.
This project is not scheduled immediately and, as such, detailed planning has not commenced. Programming of projects such as Agriculture Hse are very much dependent on other competing priorities and ongoing, substantial demands on public funds.
120. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to the decision of December 2019 to invest €7 million to advance a maintenance programme on the River Shannon; the detailed steps taken to date; the funds committed and drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27991/20]
View answer121. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the dates of the meetings of the Shannon flood risk State agency co-ordination working group in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27992/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.
The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established in early 2016 by the Government to support existing plans in place and planned to address flooding and to enhance the ongoing co-operation of all state agencies involved with the River Shannon. The Group was established, at that time, following severe flooding arising from exceptional weather conditions from December, 2015 to January, 2016.
The Group meets bi-annually, once in Autumn to review the Work Programme and once in Spring to assess progress and issues arising during the Winter period. The Group met on two occasions in the last 12 months. The first of these meetings took place on 31st October, 2019 and a further meeting took place on 30th April, 2020. In 2017, the Group established a Sub-committee on Work Programme and Measures. The Sub-committee typically meets between each meeting of the main Group. Additional meetings are held to progress work measures as necessary.
In October 2019, the Group agreed to a €7 million strategic programme of maintenance works and the removal of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ on the bed of the River Shannon between Athlone and Meelick Weir to improve the conveyancing of the River Shannon. The decision to undertake these works was noted by the Government in December 2019. Public consultation will be required and progression will be subject to full environmental assessment and planning permission. These works are being implemented by Waterways Ireland.
In 2020, the OPW has transferred funding of €500,000 to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the co-sponsor of Waterways Ireland, to enable the preparatory and enabling phase of these works.
Waterways Ireland has advised the OPW that it has commenced work on advancing the various interventions for these works, with implementation expected to commence in 2021.
The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established in early 2016 by the Government to support existing plans in place and planned to address flooding and to enhance the ongoing co-operation of all state agencies involved with the River Shannon. The Group was established, at that time, following severe flooding arising from exceptional weather conditions from December, 2015 to January, 2016.
The Group meets bi-annually, once in Autumn to review the Work Programme and once in Spring to assess progress and issues arising during the Winter period. The Group met on two occasions in the last 12 months. The first of these meetings took place on 31st October, 2019 and a further meeting took place on 30th April, 2020. In 2017, the Group established a Sub-committee on Work Programme and Measures. The Sub-committee typically meets between each meeting of the main Group. Additional meetings are held to progress work measures as necessary.
In October 2019, the Group agreed to a €7 million strategic programme of maintenance works and the removal of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ on the bed of the River Shannon between Athlone and Meelick Weir to improve the conveyancing of the River Shannon. The decision to undertake these works was noted by the Government in December 2019. Public consultation will be required and progression will be subject to full environmental assessment and planning permission. These works are being implemented by Waterways Ireland.
In 2020, the OPW has transferred funding of €500,000 to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the co-sponsor of Waterways Ireland, to enable the preparatory and enabling phase of these works.
Waterways Ireland has advised the OPW that it has commenced work on advancing the various interventions for these works, with implementation expected to commence in 2021.
122. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her views on the importance of investment in sport as set out in the national sports policy; if she will continue to increase investment in sport along the trajectory established in budgets 2019 and 2020 following the publication of the national sports policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27747/20]
View answerI recognise the importance of sport and physical activity for our society and the need to ensure that opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in sport.
The implementation of the actions set out National Sports Policy 2018-2027 is key to achieving our vision for sport in Ireland by 2027. The three main policy aims of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 are to increase participation by children and adults from all sectors of society, to have more Irish athletes and teams systematically and fairly achieving world-class results at the highest level of international competition, and to improve capacity to have Irish sporting bodies with strong leadership, ethics and governance at all levels, professionals and volunteers suitably trained and developed, and modernised working methods and systems.
The ambition is to increase investment in sport over the 10-year lifetime of the National Sports Policy, to reach an annual level that exceeds €220 million by 2027. This figure is approximately double the funding allocated to sport in 2018. Additional funding was allocated for sport in the 2019 and 2020 budgets. This demonstrates the commitment that exists to achieving this ambition.
This increased investment in sport is showing a real return, with improved performances by our high performance athletes and a marked increase in participation across the population, including in hard-to-reach communities.
As the Deputy will be aware, just last week a further €7.3 million in funding support has been allocated from the Dormant Accounts Fund for sports programmes throughout the country, with the objective of increasing participation in sport and physical activity in disadvantaged communities and by people with disabilities.
I am confident that the Government's investment in sport will continue to deliver a real impact and that in the coming years, there will be further increases in funding for sport with a view to achieving the ambition set out in the National Sports Policy.
As the Deputy will be aware, any additional funding for sport in 2021 is subject to the Estimates 2021 process, which is underway. I will be aiming to achieve the best outcome for sport as part of that process.
123. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the specific support she plans to put in place to help operators of an event (details supplied) whose business has crashed due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27825/20]
View answerThe operators to which the Deputy refers provide an important service to the tourism industry and are ambassadors in promoting Ireland as a golfing destination. Tourism enterprises benefit from wider horizontal supports such as the new Employment Wage Support Scheme, liquidity and enterprise investment measures, warehousing of tax liabilities and the extension for a further three months of the waiver of commercial rates. The July Stimulus Package also introduced significant measures to help support Irish tourism businesses to recover following the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Tourism Recovery Taskforce appointed in May has just submitted its report to me. It is making a number of recommendations to help the sector to survive the crisis and eventually recover. Along with my colleagues in Government, I will consider its recommendations as we prepare for the Budget and the subsequent National Economic Plan.
124. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the status of the progression of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019. [27520/20]
View answerFollowing approval by Cabinet, the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill was published in December 2019. Consultation with stakeholders was a key component of the drafting process and my Department has consulted with key stakeholders to ascertain their views and recommendations. More recently, I held meetings with various stakeholders, including Conradh na Gaeilge and An Coimisinéir Teanga, to hear their views on the matter.
Based on the feedback I have received, and as per our commitment in the Programme for Government, I intend to bring the Bill back before the Houses at second stage very shortly.
In line with a commitment made in the Programme for Government, it is proposed to have the Bill enacted before year end.
125. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if a subvention scheme will be reintroduced for public and community-run swimming pools in budget 2021 in order to sustain open access to pools and to ensure people can learn to swim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25974/20]
View answerSwimming pools are important community facilities which support people of all ages to stay active. The Irish Sports Monitor Report 2019, recently published by Sport Ireland, found once again that swimming is among the most popular forms of sport in Ireland. Swimming is particularly popular among women and older people who tend to be less active. Sport Ireland research has found that regrettably the numbers of people swimming has declined substantially in 2020 due to the closure of swimming pools. I am pleased that under the Resilience and Recovery Plan, swimming pools are currently permitted to open in all parts of the country. I have however received representations from many swimming pool operators who are experiencing severe financial strain at present.
As part of the July Jobs Stimulus, I announced a special fund of €2.5 million to support the reopening of publicly accessible swimming pools, in recognition of the particular challenges pool operators face in reopening to the public. This funding will be administered by Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body for the development of sport. Sport Ireland is currently finalising the grant scheme. Full details of the scheme and the application process will be announced shortly.
In addition, under the revised Restart Grant Scheme which was also announced as part of the July Jobs Stimulus, rateable sports, leisure and fitness facilities will be eligible for a grant payment of €4,000. Information on the grant is available on the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation website www.dbei.gov.ie.
In recent contacts with the sport sector, it has been made clear that the financial and operational challenges associated with COVID-19 will continue into 2021. Any additional funding for sport in 2021 is subject to the Estimates 2021 process, which is currently underway.
126. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the oversight in place within her Department to monitor the spending of State funds and governance matters in an organisation (details supplied); and if she is satisfied that all good governance procedures are being adhered to. [27842/20]
View answerMy Department provides annual support for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for their work in the conservation and promotion of Irish traditional music, dance and language. The organisation was founded in 1951 and has grown to have some 400 branches today across Ireland, Europe, the Americas and in the Asia-Pacific region. From the beginning, the organisation has high achievements in compiling a substantial archive of recordings, in the education and training of musicians, dancers and teachers along with their organisation annually of the Fleadh Cheoil – the largest cultural festival in Ireland each year. Additionally, a network of cultural centres at regional and local level operate under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
It is important to note that these impressive outcomes rely entirely on the voluntary effort of the members. Although a national organisation – with international reach – the structure defined in their constitution accords significant autonomy to the members at branch level, in the county boards and the provincial councils, ultimately overseen by a national executive.
In relation to official funding and governance, my Department meets with the management of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann several times each year to review performance in the context of an annual agreement between the parties.
I am satisfied that the Departmental has in place arrangements for oversight in relation to official funding and that Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have a clearly defined constitutional structure with strong internal arrangements for governance in all matters of the organisation, membership and finances.
127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the status of the involvement and-or engagement of a person (details supplied) with Sport Ireland and an organisation; the amount expended on their behalf from public funds on legal representation and advice from 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27976/20]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy has no involvement or engagement in the operations of Sport Ireland.
In respect of the organisation concerned, while the person referred to by the Deputy remains an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, I understand that they have not had any involvement or engagement with that organisation since they announced their self-suspension from the IOC in 2016.
I can confirm to the Deputy that no public funds have been disbursed by Sport Ireland to the person or organisation to which the Deputy refers, to pay for legal services for that person in the period 2016 to 2019, nor have any public funds been expended on same to date in 2020.
I would like to take the opportunity to once again commend the Chairperson and Board of the organisation concerned for the transformative reforms which have been implemented over the past four years. This organisation has been an exemplar for good governance in the sport sector and the lessons learned have been of benefit to many other sporting bodies. The real beneficiaries of this process are of course our high performance athletes and teams who now have a far greater role in decision-making to ensure their interests are paramount in all matters.
I have been advised that Sport Ireland's working relationship with the organisation is excellent and the collaboration with the organisation and other relevant sporting bodies is working very well. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games has been a significant setback for the dedicated athletes and their coaches, who have also had to deal with the wider disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However I am heartened to see many of our athletes performing on the world stage in recent weeks, including Sam Bennett in cycling and Ciara Mageean and Nadia Power in athletics. I am confident that the resilient high performance programme led by Sport Ireland will ensure the athletes have every support as they look to achieve their dream of standing on the podium in Tokyo.
128. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht if An Garda Síochána will be requested to appoint or assign to Gaeltacht areas gardaí who are fluent in the Irish language and able to conduct their everyday business in both written and oral Irish. [28009/20]
View answerThe matter of appointments or assignments of gardaí to Gaeltacht areas is specifically covered under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. Under Section 33(2) of the Act it is provided that:
- The Garda Commissioner shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that members of the Garda Síochána stationed in a district that includes a Gaeltacht area are sufficiently competent in the Irish language to enable them to use it with facility in carrying out their duties.
Responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003 and other legislation relating to the Irish language comes under the specific remit of the Office of An Choimisinéara Teanga.
129. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the procedure for the disposal or distribution of assets and equipment funded by the sports capital scheme in the event of the dissolution of a sports club; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28011/20]
View answerThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
Every grantee under the SCP provides the Department with a guarantee that the equipment or capital works funded will remain in sporting use for a minimum period of time. For large capital grants this guarantee is in the form of a deed of covenant and charge on the property of the grantee. For smaller capital grants and for equipment grants, a declaration is signed by the trustees/directors of the sports organisation.
For sports equipment, the grantee is required to keep the equipment in sporting use for a minimum of five years after the grant has been paid. For capital works, the minimum period of time to be kept in sporting use is 15 years.
If a grantee wishes to dispose of grant aided equipment prior to the end of the five year period the organisation is obliged to repay the unexpired value of the grant to the Department. As the primary aim of the SCP is to ensure that as many people have the opportunity to participate in sporting activity as possible, my Department is however, always willing to discuss the possible transfer of any such equipment to other sporting organisations in the area.
Accordingly, it is recommended that any organisation that is in danger of dissolution should contact the Sports Capital Programmes Division of my Department in the first instance to discuss a mutually acceptable solution.
