Written Answers Nos. 92-111
92. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport the way the decision to cancel several of the evening express 51 services from Galway to Cork was made; if there was an assessment of service users who would be impacted; and when the cancellations will be subject to review and potentially reinstated. [30156/21]
View answerBoth the National Transport Authority (NTA) and my Department have been engaging directly with commercial bus operators throughout the Covid-19 Emergency. The public transport system in Ireland has played an essential service role over the course of the pandemic, especially in carrying essential workers and others making necessary journeys.
In this regard, the Government agreed substantial increases to the PSO budget to support continuation of PSO services during the Covid situation in 2020 and 2021. In addition, the Government has recognised the situation of the licenced bus sector - which normally operates on a commercial basis without public subvention but which, during the Covid crisis, was in a situation where its operations were no longer commercially viable, owing to the impact of Covid-19 on passenger numbers and the associated drop in fare revenue.
Therefore, last June the Government decided to introduce new, temporary financial support for certain licensed services provided by commercial bus operators to ensure the continued operation of these essential services. The Expressway business operated by Bus Éireann is one of the many commercial operations of licenced public transport services that have been able to avail of this new, temporary, Covid-related support.
The temporary support was initially introduced for a period of 6-months, with a view to protecting capacity across the public transport sector throughout the crisis. The NTA on behalf of my Department, entered into contracts with the licensed bus sector to provide funding for routes where a clear public interest justification supports such intervention.
As it remains the case that commercial bus operators are still under severe financial distress due to the fall in passenger numbers and associated drop in fare revenue as a result of Covid-19, on 26 January 2021, Government decided to extend the temporary funding supports for the licensed bus sector for a further period of 3 months, with an option to extend contracts on a monthly basis thereafter. The NTA, following consultation with operators, has recently finalised a review of the scheme and as a result some changes to services are being implemented.
Given the NTA's statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, I have also forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
93. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance if exemptions will be made to the newly increased stamp duty rate for inheritance cases and so on (details supplied) [29929/21]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that there is no stamp duty payable on the inheritance of property. However, the transfer of a property that is residential property during their lifetime, including a holiday rental cottage, to a son or daughter constitutes a conveyance on sale for the purposes of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act (SDCA) 1999. Stamp duty is payable by the transferee, whether or not the property is transferred by way of sale or gift. Where a property is sold, or otherwise transferred, for less than market value, section 30 SDCA imposes a charge to stamp duty on the market value of the property.
Stamp duty on transfers of residential property is usually chargeable at the rate of 1% where the consideration or market value does not exceed €1 million. Where the consideration or market value exceeds €1 million, stamp duty is chargeable at 1% on the first €1 million and 2% on the amount that exceeds €1 million.
In addition, the recent Financial Resolution passed by the Dáil on 19 May last provides for a new higher stamp duty rate of 10% where at least 10 residential units (excluding apartments) are acquired by an individual or a corporate entity such as a company in any 12-month period, whether by way of gift or purchase. This new measure is ‘triggered’ when a residential unit is acquired on or after 20 May 2021, with the ‘look-back’ 12-month period commencing at this time on a rolling basis. The units acquired during that period are aggregated. When the 10th unit is acquired, it is chargeable at the 10% rate and this rate also then applies to the other 9 units and to any other units acquired at the same time as the 10th unit. However, while any units acquired before 20 May 2021 are taken into account in establishing whether the threshold of 10 units has been reached, the 10% rate of stamp duty is not applied to these units but only to those units acquired on or after this date.
There are no stamp duty exemptions or reliefs in relation to transfers of residential property from a parent to a child.
94. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Finance the penalties a business will face that has received the Covid restrictions support scheme payment to date but has decided not to reopen the business and return to work as a PAYE employee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29947/21]
View answerThe CRSS is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Details of the CRSS are set out in Finance Act 2020 and detailed operational guidelines, which are based on the terms and conditions of the scheme as set out in the legislation, have been published on the Revenue website.
To qualify under the scheme, a business must carry on a trade or trading activities, the profits from which are chargeable to tax under Case I of Schedule D. The trade must be carried on from a business premises that is located in a region subject to restrictions introduced in line with the Government’s ‘Living with Covid-19 Plan’, with the result that the business is required to prohibit or significantly restrict customers from accessing its business premises. A business must be able to demonstrate that, because of the Covid restrictions, the turnover of the business in the period for which the restrictions are in operation, and for which a claim is made, will be no more than 25% of an amount equal to the average weekly turnover of the business in 2019 (or average weekly turnover in 2020 in the case of a new business) multiplied by the number of weeks in the period for which a claim is made.
In order to make a claim under the scheme, a business must meet other eligibility criteria, including the requirement that the business would, but for the Covid restrictions, carry on the business activity and intends to carry on the activity when the Covid restrictions cease to be in operation. In circumstances where a business ceases to be subject to Covid restrictions which require it to prohibit or significantly restrict customers from accessing its business premises, and the business chooses not to reopen, it will not qualify for payments under the CRSS.
In addition, if during a period of Covid restrictions, a business that is significantly restricted from operating (and which would otherwise be eligible to claim under the CRSS) decides to cease trading, including in circumstances where the business owner ceases trading to pursue employment, the business concerned will no longer qualify for the CRSS. This is because the business will no longer meet the requirement that it intends to carry on the business activity when the Covid restrictions cease to be in operation. Any amounts claimed by a business that does not meet all the requirements to make a claim under the CRSS should be repaid to Revenue or will be recouped by Revenue through the relevant mechanisms contained in the CRSS legislation.
There is no provision in the CRSS legislation to recoup monies received by a business for a claim period where, in that claim period, the business held a genuine intention to trade after the cessation of Covid restrictions and the business met all other eligibility criteria for making a claim under the CRSS.
95. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Clare who is seeking to get access to their full file with a bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29950/21]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that, as Minister for Finance, I have no role in how any bank manages its dealings with its customers, including those in which the State has a shareholding. Such matters are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks which must be run on an independent and commercial basis.
The independence of banks in which the State has a shareholding is protected by Relationship Frameworks which are legally binding documents that cannot be changed unilaterally. These frameworks, which are publicly available, were insisted upon by the European Commission to protect competition in the Irish market. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene on behalf of an individual customer.
The person who has contacted you may wish to make an appeal to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) to have the matter independently investigated. It should be noted that the FSPO will only accept an appeal when an individual has first gone through their bank’s own appeals’ process.
96. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if he will assist a company (details supplied) under the Covid restrictions support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29955/21]
View answerThe Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) is a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government under public health regulations to combat the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The support is available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carry on a trade or trading activities, the profits from which are chargeable to tax under Case I of Schedule D. The legislative basis for the scheme is set out in Finance Act 2020 and detailed operational guidelines, which are based on the terms and conditions of the scheme as set out in the legislation, have been published on the Revenue website.
A qualifying business must operate from a business premises located in a region that is subject to restrictions introduced in line with the Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan. For the purposes of the scheme, a business premises is defined as a building or other similar fixed physical structure from which a business activity is ordinarily carried on.
Trading activities which are carried on from a customer facing premises such as a shop qualify for the scheme but activities that are ordinarily carried on outside of the business premises or through online activity are not eligible. Where a business carries on both types of trading activity, a partial CRSS payment may apply, based on an apportionment of turnover between the two activities.
I am advised by Revenue that the business in question appears to carry on both types of trading activity, i.e. trading from a business premises and from outside the business premises, and as such may be entitled to a partial payment of CRSS. Revenue has confirmed that it will contact the business to clarify the position and to advise on any necessary apportionment of its turnover.
Revenue has also confirmed that the business is in receipt of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and is availing of the Debt Warehousing Scheme.
97. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the amount of local property tax foregone on an annual basis to date since 2013 on exempted and properties liable for the tax that have not had local property tax applied to them in tabular form. [29983/21]
View answerLocal Property Tax (LPT) provides for certain properties to be exempt from the tax during a ‘valuation period’. For the current ‘valuation period’ (2013 to 2021), these exemptions include properties purchased between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 and trading stock of builders/developers unsold at 1 May 2013 or sold in the period 1 January 2013 to 31 October 2021.
I am advised by Revenue that information relating to the amount of LPT foregone on exempt properties on an annual basis to 2019 is provided at link www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/statistics/tax-expenditures/costs-tax-expenditures.pdf. For 2020, the cost is provisionally estimated at €14m. These amounts are estimated, based on valuations returned by property owners. However, in some cases where an exemption is claimed, the property owner is not required to value the property.
While new properties built since 2013 are outside the scope of LPT in the current ‘valuation period’, Revenue estimates there could be approximately €30 million per annum in additional receipts if these properties were subject to the tax. This estimate is based on Stamp Duty records and other information available to Revenue.
98. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Finance the amount raised by the 1% insurance levy each year since its introduction; if he is currently reviewing the operation of the levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30023/21]
View answerAt the outset, it is important to note there are various levies and contributions in existence on insurance premiums. These serve different, defined purposes with some having been in place for a number of years. I should also state that there are no plans to discontinue them at this time. These various levies and contributions are briefly detailed below.
The 2 per cent Insurance Compensation Fund (ICF) levy is the only pure "levy" charged on insurance premiums. This is charged to fund the ICF which covers the cost of claims in this State where an insurer goes into liquidation. This levy was in place from 1984 to 1992 and was reintroduced in January 2012. It currently applies at a rate of 2 per cent of premiums received on all non-life insurance policies and its purpose is primarily to repay the Exchequer for funding the administration of Quinn Insurance. As there is still a significant amount owing to the State, the levy is likely to be applied for the remainder of this decade.
Separately, while there is not a 1 per cent insurance levy, the Deputy may be referring to the stamp duty charged on life insurance premiums, which is occasionally described as a levy. However, this is recorded to the Exchequer as a tax receipt jointly with a separate 3 per cent stamp duty charged on certain non-life premiums. As such it is not possible to differentiate both distinctly. Information on Stamp Duty yields, which includes these Life Assurance and Non-Life Insurance Levy components from 2010 onwards, can be found on the Revenue website statistics page: www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/documents/statistics/receipts/stamp-duty-receipts.pdf. I am informed by Revenue that given the scope of the question, they are not in a position to provide the information in the time available. However, since 2010 the amount collected under these specific stamp duties is c.€1.6 billion.
Finally, the Deputy may wish to note the Motor Insurers Insolvency Compensation Fund (MIIC Fund) is a contribution equivalent to 2 per cent of gross motor premiums which is provided by motor insurers. This is not considered a levy as the decision rests with the insurance companies as to how this is financed i.e. either through absorbing it or passing it onto consumers. This ensures the compensation levels payable from the ICF for third party motor insurance claims as a result of a motor insurer insolvency is aligned with that where a motorist is in a collision with an unidentified or uninsured driver.
The contribution rate is subject to an annual review by me in my role as Minister of Finance. Currently, it is expected to continue for a number of years.
99. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if the help-to-buy scheme will be extended (details supplied). [30222/21]
View answerThe Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with obtaining the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The scheme gives a refund on Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in the State over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation. Section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997 outlines the definitions and conditions that apply to the scheme.
In summary, the process for a first-time buyer to claim HTB involves two stages, application stage and claim stage. At the application stage, the claimant notifies Revenue of his/her intention to make a HTB claim and checks are carried out to ensure the applicant satisfies certain conditions of the scheme. Once confirmed, Revenue notifies the applicant about the potential HTB refund available.
An application for HTB will remain valid until one or more of the following occurs:
(a) if it is discovered that the individual did not satisfy a condition of HTB,
(b) an individual’s tax clearance is rescinded, or
(c) 31 December (in the tax year in which the application is made).
In respect to point (c) above, for example where an application is made during the period 1 October to 31 December 2021, and a claim is made on foot of such an application in the period 1 January to 31 March 2022, the claim will be deemed to have been made in 2021.
With regard to the claim stage, Section 477C(3) TCA provides that a first time purchaser may make a claim for a HTB refund following the signing of a contract to purchase a home or, in the case of a self-build, following the drawdown of the first tranche of the relevant mortgage.
Revenue Tax and Duty Manual Part 15-01-46 outlines further guidance on the conditions and operation of the HTB scheme.
More generally, the future of the HTB scheme, beyond its current sunset date of 31 December 2021, is a matter that will fall to be considered in the context of Budget 2022 and the subsequent Finance Bill.
100. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide information in relation to following flood relief scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29987/21]
View answerThe Enniscorthy (River Slaney) flood defence scheme is being progressed by Wexford County Council (WCC) on behalf of the Commissioners of Public Works as a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. This is a significant scheme within the Office of Public Works €1 billion flood relief investment programme nationally, from which the relevant funding for the Enniscorthy scheme will be made available, and on completion will protect 236 properties in the town. The length and percentage of the flood relief walls in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford that will comprise of glass panelling are set out below:
- Length of flood wall : 2,330m
- Length of glass panelling : 500m
- Percentage of Glass panelling : 21.50 %
It is worth noting that the use of Glass panelling adds to the overall cost of the scheme and can attract vandalism. Schemes in Clonmel and Waterford have been subject to such incidents in recent years. The use of Glass panelling can be an important component of the scheme design, improving the aesthetic and providing or maintaining a link to the water, but its use should be targeted and cognisant of the issue of vandalism and cost.
101. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the length and percentage of the flood relief walls in the Waterford flood relief scheme that are made of glass panelling as portrayed in images (details supplied); the costings for glass panels for the scheme; and the cost for each of the scheme. [29988/21]
View answerThe Waterford City Flood Alleviation scheme was carried out in four phases, over a 12-year period, with Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) acting as the contracting authority and funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The overall cost of the project was in the region of €25 million which included design and construction costs, land acquisition and accommodation works.
Overall 3,770 linear metres of flood walls were constructed (in addition to embankments) on the Waterford Flood Alleviation Scheme. In total around 212 linear metres of glass flood wall are included in this, which is 5.6% of the overall approximate length. Some spare panels were also included in the contracts and a number of these have been used as replacements due to a number of incidents of vandalism over the years. Glass panels were only used where they were considered to specifically enhance the appearance of the rivers edge.
102. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been finalised and submitted to the European Commission; and if so, when it will be published. [30101/21]
View answerIreland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) has now been approved by the Government and submitted to the European Commission.
The NRRP has been developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €915 million in grants under the Facility in 2021 and 2022. A further set of grants is to be allocated in 2023, taking into account economic developments between now and then.
The NRRP sets out the reforms and investments to be supported by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It includes a set of sixteen 16 investment projects and nine reform measures to a total value of around €1 billion, focussing on advancing the green transition; accelerating and expanding digital reforms and transformation; and social and economic recovery and job creation.
Ireland’s Plan will now be assessed by the European Commission which will, within two months, make a recommendation to the Council of the European Union, on the basis of which implementation of the Plan will commence and EU financial support will start to flow.
103. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to extend supports to bed and breakfasts in 2021 in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of international tourists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29882/21]
View answerFollowing the publication of the Government's Economic Recovery Plan, the following set of measures to provide support to businesses as they re-open and resume trading have been announced:
- The extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to 31 December 2021;
- The extension and enhancement of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme to provide additional support to businesses upon re-opening and to give certainty to businesses still directly affected by public health restrictions;
- A new additional business support scheme (Business Resumption Support Scheme or BRSS) for businesses with reduced turnover as a result of public health restrictions to be implemented in September 2021;
- The VAT rate will now be maintained at 9% until September 2022;
- The extension of the tax debt warehousing scheme to allow the period where liabilities arising can be “warehoused” to be extended to the end of 2021 for all eligible taxpayers, with an interest free period during 2022, and to include overpayments of EWSS in the scheme;
These measures will provide certainty to businesses, including the B&B sector, as public health restrictions are lifted and allow them to plan for the future as they re-open and resume trading.
104. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether she has considered ensuring that the online safety regulation Bill will specifically protect persons with photosensitive epilepsy from the malicious dissemination of flashing images and videos that are intended to provoke a seizure (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29921/21]
View answerThe Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will, among other things, establish a regulatory framework for online safety to be overseen by an Online Safety Commissioner as part of a wider Media Commission. The goal of this regulatory framework will be to tackle the availability of defined categories of harmful online content through systemic oversight over how certain online services deliver and moderate the user-generated content on their platforms.
These defined categories of harmful online content include content by which a person commits a criminal offence and a number of categories of potentially harmful content, these being:
- Content by which a person engages in serious cyberbullying;
- Content by which a person promotes suicide or self-harm, and,
- Content by which a person promotes behaviour associated with eating disorders.
These categories concerning potentially harmful content are carefully defined in the General Scheme to ensure that they deal with the most egregious content and respect other fundamental rights such as freedom of expression. These definitions are being refined during detailed legal drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Attorney General.
Provision is also made in the Bill for the addition of further categories of harmful online content in the future. This process will involve a proposal by the Media Commission, informed by stakeholder consultation, and both Government and Oireachtas approval. The Media Commission will be tasked with keeping a close eye on emerging online harms which may be suitable to be dealt with under the regulatory framework for online safety.
The purpose of this provision is to future-proof the legislation to create a statutory process by which emerging online harms such as the issue raised by the Deputy may be examined for potential inclusion as a further category of harmful online content. This will help to avoid the need for ad-hoc primary legislation to deal with emerging harms in the future.
It's intended that the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will be enacted this year. The Bill is on the Government priority list for publication during the current legislative session, which ends in July 2021. At the same time, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht is conducting pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Bill. The timeline for this is a matter for the Committee.
105. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil plean ag a Roinn chun cúiteamh a chur ar fáil do chuideachtaí bus sa Ghaeltacht atá ag fulaingt mar gheall ar an gcinneadh na coláistí Gaeltachta a chur ar ceal i mbliana; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [30084/21]
View answerNíl aon scéim ag mo Roinn chun cúiteamh a thabhairt do chuideachtaí iompair a chaill amach ar ioncam de bharr na coláistí samhraidh sa Ghaeltacht a bheith curtha ar ceal i mbliana da bharr COVID-19. Níor mhiste do chuideachtaí, dá réir, mura bhfuil déanta cheana féin, leas a bhaint as an raon tacaíochtaí ábhartha atá á gcur ar fáil ar bhonn lárnach ag an Stát a chuimsíonn tacaíochta sa réimse fostaíochta.
Mar a bhaineann sé leis na ceantair Ghaeltachta, is féidir le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta raon dreasachtaí agus tacaíochtaí a thairiscint do ghnólachtaí agus do chuideachtaí incháilithe i réimse earnálacha sna ceantair Ghaeltachta.
Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta ag dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin reatha agus ag obair as lámh a chéile le Ranna Rialtais agus Gníomhaireachtaí ábhartha eile i rith an ama chun a chinntiú go mbainfidh a chliant comhlachtaí leas as an raon tacaíochtaí atá ar fáil ón Stát. Sa chomhthéacs sin, is fiú dom a threisiú go bhfuil teagmháil leanúnach ar bun idir oifigigh mo Roinne agus Údarás na Gaeltachta chun a chinntiú go bhfuil na tacaíochtaí sin ag feidhmiú mar is cuí agus chun brúphointí airgeadais a mhaolú.
Tá Údarás na Gaeltacha ag obair go dlúth le Fiontraíocht Éireann chomh maith le cinntiú go bhfuil scéimeanna tacaíochta an fhorais stáit sin ar fáil do ghnólachtaí Gaeltachta go díreach tríd an Údarás. Tá deontais agus dearbháin éagsúla ar fáil chun tacú le pleanáil airgeadais, leanúnachas gnó agus trádáil ar line, mar aon leis na cistí maoinithe agus tacaíochtaí eile atá curtha ar fáil ag an Rialtas, cosúil leis an Scéim Fóirdheontais Pá Fostaíochta.
Chomh maith leis sin, is féidir le gnólachtaí beaga ar fud na Gaeltachta iarratas a dhéanamh ar an Deontas Atosaithe faoina bhfuil maoiniú breise curtha ar fáil ag an Rialtas tríd na hÚdaráis Áitiúla. Cuidíonn an tacaíocht deontais go díreach do ghnólachtaí beaga leis na costais a bhaineann le hathoscailt agus le hathfhostú tar éis a bheith dúnta de bharr COVID-19. Is féidir an deontas seo a úsáid le costais sheasta a ghlanadh, m.sh. fóntais, árachas nó athstocáil agus le bearta sábháilteachta foirne agus custaiméirí a chur i bhfeidhm. Is féidir iarratas a dhéanamh ar an Deontas Atosaithe ar líne go díreach tríd na húdaráis áitiúla.
106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 27 June 2017, if he will provide an update on the establishment of the inter-agency gorse fire group; if the group still operates; if so, if the membership of this group will be outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29890/21]
View answerStatutory responsibility for mitigation and dealing with fire emergencies in wildland areas and areas of ecological sensitivity are distributed appropriately across a range of Government Departments and Agencies. The Inter-Agency group referred to was established and chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Group was tasked with exploring issues including the development of fire risk mitigation strategies and resource deployment for such fires when they occur.
My Department attended these meetings in its role of assisting local authority fire services. I understand that the last meeting of the Group was held in January 2019. I also understand that a report from the group was presented to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning in 2019.
107. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding an official centrally held map of the Wicklow National Park boundaries; if a copy of same will be provided; if such a mapping project has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29891/21]
View answerMy Department is currently carrying out a Review of the boundaries and maps of all 6 National Parks including Wicklow Mountains National Park.
My officials intend to publish updated maps of all the parks for public use once the Review has been completed. The estimated date that these maps will be available is August 2021, subject to COVID restrictions.
108. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider amending the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to allow persons who having been several years on a local authority housing list and having been reassessed or having got married and find themselves marginally over the income level and are therefore forced off the list without recourse, to appeal with a view to remaining on the local authority housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29984/21]
View answerApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The oversight and management of the lists of qualified households awaiting accommodation, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with Sections 20 and 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment and Allocation Regulations, respectively.
Under Regulation 28 of the Assessment Regulations, a household’s qualification for support may be reviewed at the discretion of a local authority and Regulation 29 provides that the household’s qualification for support shall be reassessed at the point of allocation of support. If upon review, a household is found to exceed the limits on income eligibility grounds, for example, they would be removed from the list.
Furthermore, authorities are also required, when directed by the Minister, to undertake a statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) to count the number of households on the waiting list for social housing supports whose need has not yet been met. The SSHA process requires all local authorities to review those households who are on their housing list but who are not currently in receipt of housing support.
The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas.
The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10% and separately a 2.5% allowance for each child.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced in 2011 also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.
However, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is underway. The review will have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
109. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a requirement to include a mechanism with PPPs obliging county councils to review and audit aspects of an agreement at a certain time once they have entered these arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29989/21]
View answerAll Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects should be managed and implemented in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines which make provision for the appropriate review of the Project following its completion, by requiring the Sponsoring Agency to prepare a Project Completion Report.
In the case of the Social Housing PPP Programme, which consists of three Bundles of sites, my Department fulfils the role of Approving Authority and the leading local authority with the greatest number of projects in each bundle is given the task of acting as the Sponsoring Agency on behalf of all the local authorities involved. The National Development Finance Agency acts as financial advisers to the Programme.
As part of the governance arrangements each Bundle has a Project Team and a Project Board which are made up of representatives from the Approving Authority, the Sponsoring Agency, the participating local authorities, the National Development Finance Agency and a Process Auditor.
The Sponsoring Agency, in consultation with the relevant participating local authorities, will shortly be developing the Project Completion Report for Bundle 1 of the Social Housing PPP Programme, which will be published in due course.
110. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the citizens’ assembly on biodiversity will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29990/21]
View answerThe convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department, and is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department.
111. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether his Department is responsible for the maintenance and development of the piers and harbours under the control of the coastal local authorities; if not, the Department that is responsible; and the amount his Department has allocated to these local authorities for this purpose in the past two years for which figures are available. [30000/21]
View answerMy Department has no function in relation to the maintenance and development of local authority piers and harbours. The provision and maintenance of such facilities at a local level is a matter for the local authorities themselves.
My colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine recently announced, on 3 May 2021, details of a €38.3 million Capital Investment Package for the ongoing development of Ireland’s publicly owned harbour network including 79 local authority harbours across 12 coastal local authorities. This funding will provide up to 75% of the total cost of approved projects with the local authority co-funding the balance.
