Written Answers Nos. 658-682
658. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if work is ongoing within his Department to devise a mechanism that would enable councillors to avail of maternity or paternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14565/21]
View answerTo ensure that local government is accessible to all and representative of the communities it serves, I recognise the need to address with urgency the matter of maternity and paternity leave for local authority elected members.
I recently approved the establishment of a working group of local government stakeholders to examine the non-pay recommendations set out in the Review of the Role and Remuneration of Local Authority Elected Members, led by Ms Sara Moorhead SC. The group met for the first time in early February and a number of times since, and is drafting an Action Plan for the implementation of Ms Moorhead's non-pay recommendations. The terms of reference for the group include examination of the recommendation regarding parental and maternity leave, and this will be explored further by the group. However, as the issue warrants prompt attention and requires consideration of wider supports other than leave, I have asked the working group to establish a councillor subgroup to examine specifically all aspects of the issue of maternity supports. My intention is that there will be developments in this area as soon as is practical.
In parallel, I have directed my officials to liaise with their counterparts in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, who are examining the issue of maternity supports for Oireachtas members, to ensure that there is a consistency in approach. As will be appreciated, there are a number of legal and practical issues that must be comprehensively considered.
I am committed to inputting constructively to consideration of this matter, but also to addressing in a progressive manner obstacles to balanced gender representation in local government in this country.
659. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to allowing councillors to be exempted from paying commercial rates in circumstances in which they wish to set up an office in their constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14566/21]
View answerThe Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020 provide that all buildings used or developed for any purpose are rateable unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 of the Acts.
A review was initiated in 2019 to examine the underlying policy rationale relating to the inclusion of categories of relevant property in Schedule 3 and Schedule 4 of the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2020.
The purpose of the review was to examine the underlying policy rationale and to assess the likely effects, costs and benefits of any proposed changes in categorisation.
My Department has an overarching objective to ensure the sustainable funding of local authorities. As commercial rates provide an important source of funding for local services any recommendations arising from the review must support that sustainability requirement.
The work of the group is ongoing.
660. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of all public housing developments across the four Dublin local authorities under construction or with planning permission approved, by authority; the volume of houses, location and scheduled completion date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14569/21]
View answerThe delivery of housing supports is a key priority of Government and this is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to increase the social housing stock nationally by more than 50,000, with a key emphasis on delivering new build homes. We are ambitious to ramp up the delivery at local authority level and we are committed to developing housing on public land.
My Department provides both capital and current funding to local authorities across a range of funding initiatives to assist them in providing homes for families and individuals on their social housing waiting lists. To provide transparency on the new social housing projects being advanced, my Department publishes a Social Housing Construction Status Report each quarter. The report for Quarter 4 of 2020 is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-2020-social-housing-statistics/. These quarterly reports provide details of the social housing construction schemes completed and those in the pipeline for all local authorities including the four Dublin local authorities.
The Government investment for the delivery of all housing programmes this year is €3.3 billion which, subject to the impact of Covid-related restrictions on the construction sector, is intended to support the delivery of 12,750 new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. The major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build social homes, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes, in addition to 800 acquisitions and 2,450 homes to be delivered through leasing programmes.
661. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of repairs to Coliemore harbour; the details of meetings officials from his Department have had with officials from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to repair the amenity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14570/21]
View answerI refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 255 on 20 January 2021.
In the meantime, the National Monuments Service has advised the local authority that it has no archaeological objections to the proposed works proceeding, subject to it being informed in the event of any archaeological deposits being uncovered while they are in progress.
662. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an issue (details supplied) in relation to a vacant site; if the issue will be investigated and the appropriate action taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14571/21]
View answerMy Department has been advised by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) that it served a notice on 11 February 2021 under section 11 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 on the owner of the property in question to undertake specified works to address the derelict state of the property i.e. cut-back and removal of overgrown vegetation, removal of other litter and debris, repair of entrance gates and boundary wall etc. The owner was given 8 weeks to comply with the section 11 notice. DLRCC has confirmed that the necessary works to comply with the notice are presently ongoing at the site.
With regard to alleged pest infestation at the site, this is a matter which falls under the remit of the Minister for Health under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act 1919. However, DLRCC has further advised in this regard that a private pest control company has visited the site on three occasions which has reported that no rodents have been caught in the laid traps during the three visits.
The notice regarding this case. DLRCC has confirmed to my Department that no specific report has been prepared in this case. DLRCC provided an update that there has been an undertaking by the property owner to carry out all of the works that were set out under in the notice that was issued by the Council under section 11 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990, and that these works are due to be undertaken in the coming weeks.
Although the specific matter of pest infestation is not a matter in which I, as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage have any statutory function. Pest control referred to in the question falls under the remit of the Minister for Health under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act 1919. However, DLRCC conveyed to my Department that a pest control company has visited the site on three separate occasions and that no mice or rats have been caught in traps during these three visits.
663. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14582/21]
View answerThe oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.
Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
It is the local authority which assesses housing applicants, taking into account factors such as the condition and affordability of existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds, etc. The authority then prioritises the needs of approved applicants in accordance with its allocation scheme. Ultimately, it is a matter for the local authority to decide the conditions to be met in relation to transfer applications.
As Minister, I am precluded by law from becoming involved in individual cases.
664. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14644/21]
View answerIreland, like all Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Nature Directives. The Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. The Directives have been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, the Planning Acts and the Wildlife Acts.
In advance of the designation of the site referred to in the Deputy's Question, the Department wrote to identified landowners, outlining the intention to designate the site, the appeals process and how to get further information. Government Departments, public authorities, State and semi-State agencies and bodies representing environmental, farming and business interests were also notified. Public notices in relation to the proposed designation were placed in the media.
In 2012, the site, referred to in the Deputy's Question, was formally designated by Statutory Instrument.
Therefore, it would not be permissible to consider changes to the boundary of the site.
666. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown by local authority of projects currently underway under the auspices of the Land Development Agency; and the numerical breakdown of these projects with respect to the size of the settlement (details supplied). [14693/21]
View answerThe Land Development Agency (LDA) was established on an interim basis in September 2018, by way of an Establishment Order made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971, pending the enactment of primary legislation when it will be established as a commercial State agency.
The LDA is currently developing 10 sites across 7 local authorities which are all in urban centres with populations in excess of 10,000. It has secured planning permission for 597 units at Shanganagh in conjunction with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and has submitted a Strategic Housing Development application for the St. Kevin’s Hospital site in Cork City. The exact number of units on other sites will not be known until planning permission has been secured.
|
Site |
Local Authority |
Projected Units |
|
St. Kevin's Hospital, Cork |
Cork City Council |
266 |
|
Donore Project, St Teresa’s Gardens |
Dublin City Council |
700 (estimated) |
|
Meath Hospital, Dublin 8 |
Dublin City Council |
100 (under review) |
|
Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
1,300 (estimated) |
|
Shanganagh |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
597 |
|
Hackettstown, Skerries |
Fingal County Council |
344 (estimated) |
|
Castlelands, Balbriggan |
Fingal County Council |
815 (estimated) |
|
Dyke Road, Galway |
Galway City Council |
TBC |
|
Devoy Barracks, Naas |
Kildare County Council |
221 (estimated) |
|
Columb Barracks, Mullingar |
Westmeath County Council |
100 in Phase 1 (estimated) |
As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters - in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie.
667. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown by local authority of housing vacancies. [14694/21]
View answerThe level of local authority vacancy in its housing stock will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process.
Data in relation to the number and location of vacant local authority units are not collated by my Department, however, statistics in relation to the social housing stock are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the level of vacancy broken down by local authority. The most recent report, relating to 2019, is available on the NOAC website at the following link: https://noac.ie/noac_publications/noac-performance-indicators-report-2019/.
668. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider proposals (details supplied) to adapt the hierarchy of settlements and related infrastructure outlined in Project Ireland 2040. [14696/21]
View answerAcross the EU, the European Commission classifies regions within the Union as either being a “Less Developed Region”, a “Transition Region” or a “More Developed Region”, based on their GDP per head of population relative to the EU27 Average. As the Deputy has identified, the Commission recently re-classified the Northern & Western Region from a “More Developed Region” to a “Transition Region” taking account of economic performance in recent years. Available data at the time estimated that the Northern & Western region’s GDP per capita was 85% of the EU average, while the region remained below 100% of the EU average in every year since 2007.
This re-classification of the Northern and Western Region by the Commission highlights the need for collective efforts by Government and others to ensure that the Northern and Western Region is supported in efforts to strongly grow and achieve its economic potential.
Importantly, the Northern and Western Region is given specific focus in the National Planning Framework (NPF), due to the historically lower level of development and urbanisation compared to other regions, proximity to the border with Northern Ireland and risks associated with Brexit. The NPF clearly recognises the importance of the future development of Ireland’s regions. To address this, in addition to Galway City, the NPF specifically identifies five regional and cross-border drivers, including Athlone, Sligo and Letterkenny in the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area.
The reference to ‘Ireland 2040: Our Plan’ in the question above appears to relate to an earlier 2017 draft version of the NPF, which did not include such drivers. The final approved NPF strategy that was published in 2018 was revised in response to stakeholder and public consultaion to include enhanced provision for regional growth north of the Dublin-Galway ‘line’ and launched as part of ‘Project Ireland 2040’, which no longer included the ‘Our Plan’ title as referenced above.
Moreover, the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area, approved further to the NPF in January 2020, includes a network of ‘key towns’ as a regional focus for growth, in addition in addition to Galway City, Athlone, Sligo and Letterkenny. While equivalent in status to key towns in the Southern and Eastern and Midland Regions, the average size of the key towns in the NWRA not as large as those in the East and South, recognising the important sub-regional function and opportunities for growth in relatively smaller settlements in the North-West.
‘Closing the gap’ between the Northern and Western Region and Irelands other two regions, the Southern Region and the Eastern & Midlands Region, through sustainable regional development is therefore a primary aim of Project 2040 and wider Government policy. Effectively accessing and utilising the national and EU funding supports available, such as the European Regional Development Fund, will assist in remedying infrastructural and other deficits over the next years and provide increased potential for the region to develop economic capacity and quality employment with such additional resources directed towards policies that have been proven to revitalise regional economies. I am satisfied that these measures will allow us to continue to develop the region to work towards achieving its potential in terms of economic and infrastructural development.
669. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the work he has undertaken to pursue the adoption of an all-island approach to national planning frameworks. [14707/21]
View answerMy Department continues to engage both at official and Ministerial levels in various cross-border fora that support north-south co-operation and an all-island approach to planning. The British-Irish Council, established in 1999, is one such forum through which its members discuss, consult and use best endeavours to reach agreement on co-operation on matters of mutual interest within the competence of its Member Administrations, comprising six constituent members including, inter alia, the NI Executive and the Irish Government.
Most recently, there was a virtual Joint Ministerial meeting of the Collaborative Spatial Planning (CSP) and Housing work sectors on 25th February last, hosted by the Northern Ireland Executive. Ministers agreed forward work plans for both the CSP Housing work sectors, which identify the areas of focus for the work sectors for the next 3 years. Strategic policy priorities agreed by Ministers for the CSP sector for the period February 2021 - January 2023 include (i) the Contribution of Spatial Planning to the revitalisation of towns; (ii) the Contribution of Spatial Planning to ‘Building Better Places’ in the context of the Covid recovery; (iii) Best practice in National/Regional Planning Frameworks; and (iv) promotion of expert learning and experience sharing. The Northern Ireland Executive will be the Lead Administration for the CSP Sector.
In addition to structured fora, my Department fully supports any opportunities that seek to strengthen cross-border co-operation and an all-island approach. For example, Minister O’Brien accepted an invitation from the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) to attend and speak at the virtual launch today, (24 March) of a new strategic initiative for the cross-border region, ‘The Framework of Regional Priorities for the Central Border Region, 2021-2027’ (FRP). I believe that Minister Nichola Mallon from the NI Executive has also been invited to speak.
ICBAN is the local authority-led development organisation for the Central Border Region area, which includes the Councils of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Cavan; Donegal; Fermanagh and Omagh; Leitrim; Mid Ulster; Monaghan; and Sligo. The FRP is supported by the eight member local authorities of the cross-border partnership.
The FRP outlines the region’s response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate disruption, and the exit of the UK from the European Union. The regional priorities encompass a wide range of economic, social, and environmental considerations, including hard infrastructure and quality of life factors. The FRP, which is a non-statutory document, is intended to complement the local regional, national, and international strategies, policies and frameworks impacting on the area, including the Framework for Cooperation – Spatial Strategies of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and is set within the planning framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
670. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps being taken to protect the Hill of Allen and its tower; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14714/21]
View answerNone of the archaeological monuments in the vicinity of the Hill of Allen are in my Department's ownership or guardianship. Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, the Department has established and maintains a Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) which affords legal protection to all recorded archaeological sites and monuments in the State. A number of monuments in the Hill of Allen area are included in the RMP but not the tower/folly referred to by the Deputy.
671. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual amount of commercial rates income from each data centre in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14719/21]
View answer672. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual amount of commercial rates income from each wind farm development in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14720/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.
Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists, prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 - 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority and all rates income accrues to the local government sector.
Local authority total gross rates income is reported in the Income and Expenditure Account of their Annual Financial Statements. However, as this data is not categorised by the different types of property used for business purposes, the information requested in relation to the amount of rates contributed by specific business types is not available in my Department.
673. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he has engaged with insurance providers; the way in which he plans to support affected properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14732/21]
View answerI am aware of the general issue raised by the Deputy. The Building Regulations 1997 - 2019 set out the legal requirements in Ireland for the construction of new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings. Their aim is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations are set out in function terms and are performance based – they do not set limitations on the materials. The associated Technical Guidance Documents provide technical guidance on how to comply with the regulations in practical terms for non-complex buildings. Where works are carried out in accordance with the relevant technical guidance, such works are considered to be, prima facie, in compliance with the relevant regulation(s), and the associated Technical Guidance.
Following the Grenfell Tower fire, in June 2017, a Fire Safety Task Force was established in my Department to examine fire safety in Ireland and to make recommendations.
As part of the work of the Task Force, fire services were asked to identify buildings in their functional areas, in excess of 18m or six storeys in height, fitted with cladding, and to consider if use of the power under section 18(6) of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, to require the owner to provide a fire safety assessment, was warranted.
My Department also issued guidance in December, 2017, dealing with fire safety assessment of cladding systems on existing buildings. The guidance provided detailed information on fire safety assessment of cladding systems, and also provided information on interim fire safety measures, for implementation in buildings, pending completion of remedial works, where required.
The guidance is available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/36040-national-directorate-fire-and-emergency-management/#fire-safety.
Finally, responsibility in relation to insurance is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance, with the insurance sector being subject to regulation by the Central Bank of Ireland.
However, as I understand it, neither the Minister nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept.
Insurance Ireland, which is the representative organisation for the insurance sector in Ireland, operates a free Insurance Information Service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. Insurance Ireland can be contacted at info@insuranceireland.eu or 01-676-1820.
674. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the available grant funding for repair and restoration of church buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14767/21]
View answerMy Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), both of which accept applications for repair and restoration of church buildings.
Last year some 450 heritage projects across every county in the country were allocated funding from a combined sum of over €4.3m under these schemes and an extra €1m in funding was secured for built heritage projects under the July Jobs Stimulus Package 2020, which aimed to offset some of the effects of Covid-19.
The BHIS and HSF for 2021 were launched in November 2020, with a combined allocation of €6m, an increase of nearly 40%. The deadline for receipt of applications has closed and I will shortly be announcing details of projects to be funded, as public health restrictions allow, under both schemes.
Details of the successful projects will be published on my Department’s website and on local authority websites. While applications for the current year have closed, funding of further projects may be considered in the event of additional finance being secured.
In the context of a particular building or historic structure, the best advice is generally to contact the Heritage Officer or Architectural Conservation Officer in the local authority who is well placed to advise on the various types of funding available to assist with renovation.
675. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the five most recent significant capital projects in the major functional responsibilities of his Department which have required his sanction; the time that elapsed between the initial submission of the proposal for consideration until the construction commenced; the significant elements making up this period; the time spent in assessment prior to approval in the planning process; the time spent in assessment prior to approval in the procurement process of contractors; and the way this duration compared with the targeted time to delivery set out at the outset of the process. [14781/21]
View answerMy Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions that are delivered primarily by local authorities and bodies under the aegis of my Department. There is vast range of programmes and schemes, each with its own terms and conditions; decision gates and timelines, including adherence to public financial procedures and the Public Spending Code, where applicable. Expenditure on programmes and schemes that are funded through the Department's Vote is sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The specific projects under these programmes and schemes are, in turn, approved at relevant stages by myself and/or my Officials acting on my behalf.
Details in relation to specific projects (which are being advanced primarily by local authorities and Irish Water) under my Department's range of capital programmes as part of Project Ireland 2040: National Development Plan 2018-2027 are set out in the Investments Projects and Programmes Tracker published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on their website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6db7c4-investment-projects-and-programmes-tracker/.
In addition, MyProjectIreland, a new citizen-focused interactive map developed as part of Project Ireland 2040 in partnership with Ordnance Survey Ireland, provides details of projects around the country. This is available to be viewed at the following weblink: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/09022006-project-ireland-2040/?referrer=/2040.
Further detailed information on projects of this nature is a matter for the organisations concerned including procurement, planning matters, and project management. With regard to the stages of the project life-cycle which require input or approval from my Department, it should be noted that a very high focus is placed on streamlining processes and encouraging parallel activity streams where feasible to ensure the best outcome in terms of time, but absolutely ensuring that the highest standards of review and financial management are adhered to.
In terms of Social Housing, the Construction Status Report is published on a quarterly basis, and contains detailed information on the status and scale of the social housing construction programme by local authority. The most recent report is available at the following weblink: https://rebuildingireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Final-Report.pdf.
With respect to water services projects, the prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for determination by Irish Water. Irish Water has established a team to deal with queries from Oireachtas members on issues arising in relation to its activities. The team may be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 578 578. Alternatively, Irish Water provides full details of their projects and plans to improve water and wastewater services on their website at the following link: www.water.ie/projects-plans/.
676. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 189 of 25 February 2021, his views on whether those receiving the carer’s allowance should be excluded from the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme as secondary applicants if it is not possible to produce an average length of time for the allowance; if there could be a mechanism to assess a person receiving the carer’s allowance to see if they are long-term recipients in order to access the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14830/21]
View answerAs part of the eligibiity criteria for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan an applicant must be in continuous employment for a minimum of two years, as a primary earner or be in continuous employment for a minimum of one year, as a secondary earner.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants and to protect both borrowers and local authorities, as lenders, alike.
The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is not, as a general rule, available to those in receipt of unemployment or other social welfare benefits. However, where there is a primary income of a waged or salaried nature, long term state benefit payments may be considered.
State benefit payments allowable are:
- State Pension (Contributory);
- State pension (Non-Contributory);
- Widow’s / Widower’s Pension;
- Blind Pension;
- Invalidity Pension;
- Disability Allowance.
The long-term nature of the payment must be confirmed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection or other relevant Government Department. Independent confirmation is required in such circumstances.
Further information is available on the dedicated Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan website, www.rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie.
679. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there has been a survey conduction on the deer population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14911/21]
View answerThere are three species of deer recorded as occurring in Ireland; these are red deer, fallow deer and sika deer. A fourth species, muntjac deer, has been reported from the wild on a number of occasions, but my Department does not have evidence that this invasive species of deer has established itself in the wild in Ireland.
Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts but there is an annual Open Season during which deer can be legally shot under licence. The Open Season for deer operates generally from the beginning of September to the end of February, depending on the species and gender of deer.
No national census of deer populations has been carried out to date. However, my Department carries out localised annual deer counts on State lands such as National Parks and the indications are that all three deer species are increasing in range and numbers.
Although not a direct measure of deer population size, the licence returns from deer hunters also provide some indication of wild deer numbers. The number of deer reported shot during the hunting season rose steadily from c10,000 in 2000 to over 30,000 in 2010 and this figure has increased again in recent seasons, reaching 40,000 for the first time in the 2017/2018 season.
Where appropriate, and depending on the annual count and instances of damage caused by deer to habitats, especially woodland, culls may be carried out on State land to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences.
680. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of section 42 licences that have been issued in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14912/21]
View answerTher have been 744 Section 42 licences issued in 2020.
682. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria for selection of projects under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund; and if there is a detailed weighting and scoring scheme that can be made available for those developing potential projects. [14927/21]
View answerThe primary focus of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) capital is on supporting projects that will contribute to compact growth and that will improve the liveability of our cities and towns. All proposals for URDF support are assessed in terms of their alignment with the intended purpose of the URDF and also their viability before being considered for approval.
The second call for proposal under the URDF was launched early last year and a copy of the Call 2 circular which sets out the objectives of the Fund together with the application form and assessment criteria can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/908737-how-to-apply-for-the-urban-regeneration-and-development-fund/.
