Written Answers Nos. 595-617
597. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way he can create realistic opportunities for first-time and other house buyers to gain access to the housing market in the short-term in the context of public expenditure and reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20847/21]
View answerHousing remains a top priority for the Government and the Exchequer investment is evidence of this. In Budget 2021 I provided €5.2 billion to the Department of Housing, Planning and Heritage. This was an increase of €773 million on 2020 and a record level of funding. An extra €500 million was directed towards capital expenditure and will facilitate the construction of new social homes and the retrofitting of social housing stock.
In Budget 2021 €110 million was allocated for an affordability package to provide for affordable housing and cost rental schemes. Both the Serviced Sites Fund and the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund will progress the delivery of over 2,000 affordable homes on both private and public land this year and subsequent years.
Final elements of the Affordable Housing Bill are being completed and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government expects the Bill to be brought back to Government shortly. This Bill will facilitate the introduction of the Local Authority led Affordable Housing Scheme, providing homes on public land. It includes provisions to put the National Affordable Shared Equity scheme on a statutory footing, providing homes on private land and it puts Cost rental on a statutory basis.
In addition the Exchequer has committed to providing €1.25 billion of funding to the Land Development Agency. This funding is in addition to the €66 million of Exchequer funding allocated to the Agency this year and in addition to borrowings the Agency may undertake to significantly improve the utilisation of public land and increase the delivery of Affordable purchase and Cost rental units.
There is compelling international evidence that efficient capital public investment is central to long term economic wellbeing. Efficient public capital investment allows the economy to grow faster on a sustainable basis by raising productivity and supply capacity. This has an important role to play in alleviating capacity constraints that might otherwise restrict economic and social progress. In this regard my Department is also currently undertaking a review of the National Development Plan. The Plan will set out the Government's agreed view on infrastructure development to enable and sustain businesses, societies and economic growth.
598. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he considers reform to be an integral part and necessity in the housing markets with a view to creating opportunities for first-time home buyers other than the corporate sector to gain access towards providing a home of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20848/21]
View answerThis Government is committed to better understanding and therefore tackling the ongoing housing crisis. In June 2020 my Department requested the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) to undertake research on the following question;
What are the policy options available to facilitate the delivery of public and private housing in line with the compact growth targets set out in the National Planning Framework (NPF) and related policies in a new Programme for Government?
The work of NESC provides a toolkit which can be utilised to look at new ways of achieving this target. The research is concerned with two basic issues – first bridging the supply gap and second bridging the affordability gap. In addition the Council has included recommendations on adopting more sustainable form of urban development based on transport oriented development.
The recommendations from the NESC report will form an integral part of my Department’s ongoing work in reviewing the National Development Plan and the Councils recommendations will feed into the work of the Commission on Housing.
My Department is also supporting innovation in the construction industry in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs, including in sectors such as housing. The Building Innovation Report published by my Department sets out a range of actions to be progressed in this regard through the Construction Sector Group and its Innovation Sub-Group e.g. establishing a digital centre of excellence and Enterprise Ireland examining the possibility of a construction technology centre.
600. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department can facilitate recruitment throughout the public sector with particular reference to essential services such as the health services and others impacted by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20854/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, as part of its national response to the global pandemic, Government continues to make significant additional financial resources available to support frontline public services. In the 2021 Budget, the Minister for Finance and I announced budgetary measures that are supporting up to 16,000 additional posts in our health services, up to 990 additional SNAs and 403 additional teaching posts for our schools, as well as the recruitment of some 600 new Garda recruits and 500 civilian staff to facilitate the continued redeployment of trained Gardaí to frontline policing.
In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning in, and recruitment to, the Civil Service. The Public Appointments Service (PAS), which is a statutory body under my Department’s aegis, is the principal recruiter for the civil service.
In the context of the wider public service, PAS assists with the sourcing of candidates for Local Authorities, leadership positions and Hospital Consultant roles within the HSE, trainees for An Garda Síochána, and a range more specialist technical and professional roles across the public sector. I understand that PAS has and will continue to actively supporting the HSE Health Business Services Directorate.
The Client Relations Management structures within PAS ensure that there is continuous engagement in relation to the resourcing needs of its public service clients. Adopting a demand-led approach to recruitment, vacancies are filled as and when required by employing Departments or Agencies subject to compliance with overall pay and numbers allocation.
PAS recognises the critical role it plays in supporting the Government response to Covid-19 and successfully transferred its service to a digital delivery model. This has ensured continuity in recruitment and PAS have been proactive in responding to the needs of clients and candidates throughout the pandemic.
601. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he expects to be in a position to meet in full the expenditure anticipated in 2020 and subsequent years in the National Capital Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20855/21]
View answerThe Revised Estimates for 2021 have been published, and were referred to the Dáil Select Committees on 16 December 2020. The Estimates provide Departments and agencies with a capital allocation of €10,081 million for 2021. In addition, and with support from the House, capital carryover of just under €710 million has been approved. This will bring the total Exchequer capital available for spending in 2021 to approximately €10.8 billion.
The Deputy will be aware that 2020 was far from an ordinary year, as reflected in the higher than usual requests for capital carry-over. Some of this relates to additional stimulus measures introduced in 2020 to help support economic resilience and recovery, which will now continue to be supported into 2021. As we know, the construction industry was not immune to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in delays to the delivery of some projects. The disruption has unfortunately continued in 2021 but some key public infrastructure projects have been allowed to continue as they have been deemed essential.
A review of the NDP is underway, with the objective of updating the existing plan in line with commitments outlined in the Programme for Government. The review will take on board developments since 2018 such as the impacts of Covid-19 and consider important areas such as climate action, housing, balanced regional development, healthcare, transport, education, and the associated resourcing requirements. As part of the NDP review I will be looking at evaluating and improving the capacity to deliver public capital projects.
In addition, my Department will continue to engage with other Departments over the course of the year in respect of the management of expenditure within the agreed expenditure allocations.
602. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider a restart type grant to wet pubs similar to the grant scheme to help restaurant and dry pubs repurpose and provide outdoor seating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20305/21]
View answerOn 31 March I announced details of a €17million Scheme for developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide. The Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme comprises two parts and will be delivered in partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities across the country. Part One of the Scheme will provide funding for individual tourism and hospitality businesses to develop and increase their own outdoor seating capacity. Funding allocated under Part Two will enable Local Authorities to develop permanent outdoor public dining spaces in towns and urban centres.
In regard to further supports, as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, Government will be considering how it can help people return to work, support sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Crucially as part of that plan, the Government will consider more targeted measures to help reboot those sectors, such as tourism, which will face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens.
603. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the 1926 census will be available to the public in digital format. [20662/21]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the gathering of census data in Ireland. It has published data taken from the 1926 Census in 10 volumes as follows:
- Volume 1 - Population, area and valuation of each DED and each larger Unit of Area
- Volume 2 - Occupations
- Volume 3 - Religion and birthplaces
- Volume 4 - Housing
- Volume 5 - Ages, orphanhood and conjugal conditions
- Volume 6 - Industrial status
- Volume 7 - Industries
- Volume 8 - Irish language
- Volume 9 - Dependency
- Volume 10 - General Report
These volumes can be viewed on the CSO website at the following link: Census 1926 Reports - CSO - Central Statistics Office. Sections 33 and 35 of the Statistics Act 1993 allow for the release of information gathered by a Census that relates either directly or indirectly to an identifiable person 100 years after the date that the census was taken. As the 1926 Census was taken on 18 April 1926, information on the individuals can be made available from 18 April 2026. It is hoped that the information will be available to the public in a digital format from that date.
604. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding reopening of park runs in a safe controlled setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18120/21]
View answerUnder current Level 5 restrictions, no organised outdoor gatherings such as park runs should take place.
In the context of the Government’s COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021 – The Path Ahead, it has been agreed that the public health restrictions will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. Any easing of measures should be slow and gradual with sufficient time between phases to assess impact and to respond if the epidemiological situation was to deteriorate. It will take account of emerging international and national evidence and experience and with a specific focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing.
The question of the resumption of outdoor gatherings such as park runs, which would involve the mixing of people between many different households as opposed to the current permitted maximum number of two, will be further considered by Government in the context of the planned gradual easing of existing restrictive measures and will be informed by the prevailing public health advice and the epidemiological situation.
605. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the process by which a sports club is determined to be in a disadvantaged area or not; if a club can seek to be included in one of the grounds of demographic changes; the way in which a club might make such a case; the regularity with which the classifications are reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18214/21]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) 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. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.
The scoring system and assessment procedures for the 2020 round are being finalised at present and will be published prior to the detailed assessment of individual applications commencing. In assessing applications, the Department primarily uses the Pobal Index of Deprivation to award marks to projects from disadvantaged areas. The index is based on information from the national census and is updated by Pobal after each census has been taken. Under this round it is also intended to award marks based on information supplied by applicants on how they intend to attract disadvantaged groups to use their proposed facilities. Full details in regard to this marking will be contained in the published scoring system.
606. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a club (details supplied) can or could qualify as a club serving a disadvantaged community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18215/21]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) 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.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.
The scoring system and assessment procedures are currently being finalised and will be published prior to the detailed assessment of all applications commencing. All applications, including the application referred to by the Deputy, will be assessed in accordance with these procedures. The prioritisation of the needs of disadvantaged areas and groups is a key objective of the SCEP and all applications will be assessed on how well they cater for such groups. When all applications have been assessed all applicants will be informed of the outcome of the assessment process.
607. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the responsibilities under her Department for the Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18303/21]
View answer608. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of any changes to the responsibilities for the Gaeltacht under her Department from 2020 to date; the rationale for such changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18304/21]
View answer609. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the rationale for such changes in which responsibilities for the Gaeltacht under her Department have moved to another Department in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18305/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 607 to 609, inclusive, together.
There has been no change in relation to Departmental responsibility for Gaeltacht regions, which remains with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. These functions are set out in relevant legislation, including
- the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956 (No. 21 of 1956);
- the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979 (No. 5 of 1979) as amended;
- the Official Languages Act 2003 (No. 32 of 2003);
- the Gaeltacht Act 2012 (No. 34 of 2012).
Details of the various schemes operated by my Department can be found on the Government's website www.gov.ie.
610. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by her; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed in tabular form. [18340/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of those live studies, reviews and research projects currently underway or commissioned by my Department is set out in the table following:
|
Title, Research Body and Date commenced |
Details of Study / Review / Research |
Completion Date |
|
EPIC-MUSS DCU School of Arts Education and Movement. Commenced October 2018 |
The purpose of this study is to explore the processes of creative and inclusive music making within a wide geographical spread of primary and post primary schools that have created showcase performances of their musical endeavours. |
Completion date May 2021 |
|
National Survey of children, their parents and adults regarding online safety. Ipsos - MRBI Commenced September 2019 |
The objectives of the new primary research are: a. To describe the demographic profile of internet users in Ireland, b. To determine how internet users in Ireland (adults, children and parents) use and access the internet and their digital skills, c. To estimate the prevalence of online risks and abuse experienced by internet users, d. To identify opportunities and benefits obtained through the use of the internet, e.To identify the safety practices of adults and children when using the internet, and, f. To identify how parents mediate in the use of the internet by their children. This piece of research was commissioned by the Department on behalf of the National Advisory Council for Online Safety (NACOS). The terms of reference of the Council include, among other things, the provision of advice to Government on online safety issues and reviewing national and international research and disseminating key findings to Government, stakeholders and the wider public. |
Completed December 2020 The National Advisory Council for Online Safety will consider this research and findings are expected to be published in Q2 2021. |
|
Participation in social and creative activities in Ireland among adults aged 50 and over and the effects of this on health and wellbeing. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at TCD; Commenced September 2020 |
COVID-19 has magnified the health and wellbeing of older people in society and highlighted potential for research on the impacts on wellbeing. This Fellowship aims to determine participation in social and creative activities among adults aged 50 and over and the effects on health and wellbeing. |
September 2021 |
|
Inclusion and engagement of Children of Muslim background in creative activities in Ireland. UCD Commenced March 2021 |
Exploring its relevance, describing hurdles and barriers, identifying national and international best practices and experience in mitigating them. |
December 2021 |
|
Creative Capacity in Ireland: Working towards Wellbeing. Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. Commenced March 2021 |
This project will examine international research to better understand what impact creative activity can have on wellbeing. It will seek out and celebrate best practice in this domain in Ireland and showcase what makes good projects work. It will also illuminate what impedes best practice in order to recommend structural and policy changes to enable more valuable practice and a greater range of work to emerge in this area. |
December 2021 |
|
2020 Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) Customer Survey1 - 12 April 2021 |
The purpose of this survey is to measure the performance of the application process for the 2020 SCEP. |
Results will form part of a review of all aspects of the SCEP. |
611. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she expects the Night-time Economy Taskforce to report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18434/21]
View answerI have been advised that the work of the Night Time Economy Taskforce is nearing completion and that they expect to conclude their report in the coming weeks.
612. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if chartered boat companies that take day-trip tourists on off-shore fishing expeditions qualify for supports under the tourism business continuity scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18480/21]
View answerLast February, Fáilte Ireland launched the first stage of the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme, which, subject to eligibility criteria, was open to certain tourism businesses including cruise hire companies and tourism boat tour operators. This phase of the scheme closed for applications on 8th March.
The administration of the Tourism Business Continuity Scheme is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland, I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for further information and direct reply to the Deputy. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
613. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the jurisdictions in which the arts sector has specifically been chosen for universal basic income pilots as she stated it had been in an article (details supplied); and if she will provide citations for studies or reports conducted into these universal basic income pilot schemes that were specific to the arts sector describing their success or otherwise. [18563/21]
View answer614. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide or cite any evidence or studies upon which she based her statement that universal basic income is proven to encourage entrepreneurship and enhanced creativity in an article (details supplied). [18564/21]
View answer615. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether basic income for artists must be index-linked to take account of inflation. [18565/21]
View answer616. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether basic income for artists must be based on the living wage rather than the minimum wage alone in order to cover basic living costs. [18566/21]
View answer617. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated annual cost of providing the universal basic income pilot as proposed by the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce in the A Life Worth Living report published in November 2020 to all workers in the arts sector including those not currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. [18567/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 to 617, inclusive, together.
The Programme for Government contained a commitment to request the Low Pay Commission to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots, and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government.
The Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report titled Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. The recommendations included a proposal to pilot a universal basic income scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors. The Taskforce considered that a pilot basic income would keep the sector intact, minimising the loss of skills and contributing to its gradual regrowth, with ongoing benefits: social and economic, local and national.
Over the past 50 years or so, basic income pilots have been carried out at varying scales in some of countries including the US, Germany, Italy, Finland and the Netherlands. Under the French intermittents du spectacle system, an actor or technician who works for 507 hours in 10-and-a-half months gains benefits for the fallow periods between intermittent contracts.
I believe the arts sector represents an appropriate area for a pilot basic income scheme for many reasons. It is characterised by low, precarious and often seasonal income. Artistic and creative work is intrinsically valuable to society; it includes a broad mix of employment types and it has been chosen for similar pilots in other jurisdictions.
Action on a pilot basic income scheme will not come primarily from my Department. Like many financial supports before and during the pandemic, appraisal of the proposal will be a matter for relevant Government Departments. I am at present establishing an Oversight Group to report back to me on outstanding recommendations made by the Taskforce and I will be asking the group to prioritise consideration of the Taskforce's recommendation in relation to a basic income scheme.
