Written Answers Nos. 275-294
275. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount her Department and all associated agencies have spent on public relations consultancy costs since January 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32656/21]
View answerI have been informed by officials that no funding has been allocated to or contracts entered into for public relations services by the Department. My Department is actively engaged in delivering communications with the public and with stakeholders through various channels. This work is carried out in-house by the communications team and other teams within the Department. Communications activities are very important to the work of my Department, and cost effectiveness is always a factor in my Department’s plans. In relation to agencies, this information is not held centrally by the Department. I am contacting the Agencies in this regard and I will forward the information to the Deputy inaccordance with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.
276. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline her key policy achievements in her Department since 27 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32726/21]
View answerMy Department has a wide-ranging remit across a number of sectors that contribute significantly to our economy while also supporting individual and community well-being right across Ireland. Many of these sectors have experienced severe impacts due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and associated public health measures my Department has continued to make significant progress across all areas of its brief. Further information in relation to policy announcements, consultations and schemes is available on my Department's website at (https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/)
I have recently been able to join with my Government colleagues in making a series of positive announcements in relation to the safe and successful reopening of our society including the reopening of the hospitality and tourism sector; returning to in-person cultural and sporting events; the easing of restrictions on sports and dance training; and the reopening of galleries, museums and libraries.
Following on from the Budget 2021 which included funding of €130m for the Arts Council, €104.5m for Sport Ireland, over €30m for Screen Ireland, over €78m the Gaeltacht and Irish language sector and €40.733m for TG4. There was a record level of funding for Tourism overall in Budget 2021, an increase of €59 million over 2020 allocation, to just under €221 million (€220.9 million).
Specific policy achievements include:
- The establishment of a Tourism Recovery Oversight Group and an Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce and ensuing oversight group, to chart a sustainable path for recovery of Ireland's tourism, arts, culture and entertainment sectors.
- Secured an extensive package of supports for the functions under the remit of her Department in the July 2020 Jobs Stimulus Package.
- The inclusion in budget 2021 of a €55m support fund for strategic tourism businesses and €5m for training and digitalisation support in the sector.
- €26m COVID-19 Adaptation Fund for tourism and hospitality business.
- €10m Coach Business Continuity Scheme.
- €10m Ireland Based Inbound Agents Business Continuity Scheme.
- These measures complement the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Covid Restrictions Support Scheme schemes and the ReStart scheme.
- The new €17m Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme being delivered in partnership between Fáílte Ireland and Local Authorities across the country. This scheme is providing funding for tourism and hospitality business to develop and increase their own outdoor seating capacity, and will also provide funding to local authorities to develop permanent outdoor public dining spaces in towns and urban centres, similar to those that exist in various European cities.
- Announcement of a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for artists, as part of the Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan. This was the number one recommendation from artists and the sector through the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce Report-Life Worth living. My Cabinet colleague Minister Heather Humphreys in the Department of Social Protection and I will be developing a proposal for the Basic Income guarantee pilot scheme by July. This is an unprecedented move and I anticipate that the pilot scheme will involve a significant number of artists.
- A Covid-19 funding package of €88.5m was provided in 2020 to support the sport sector. This significant investment benefited all levels of the sport sector, including thousands of grassroots clubs across the country.
- An allocation of €5.9million in Dormant Accounts Funding for a wide range of sport and physical activity measures countrywide, focusing on people with disabilities, people who are educationally disadvantaged and from disadvantaged communities.
- A new High Performance Strategy for the Sporting sector, to be launched in the coming weeks.
- The Live Performance Support Scheme for 2021, under which €25m is being provided to support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres of live entertainment and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public.
- Launch of the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme under which a fund of €14m is available to businesses in the live entertainment sector that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
- The continued safeguarding and modernisation of institutions through the National Cultural Institutions (NCIs) Investment Programme in the National Development Plan, an ambitious programme of capital investment across all of our NCIs which will ensure that they can continue their legacy of providing engaging cultural and artistic offerings to the people of Ireland. The National Development Plan also includes funding for a cultural and creativity investment programme.
- The 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme closed for applications on the 1st March. Assessment work is underway with allocations expected later this year. Work is also advancing on projects being funded under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund.
- The progress of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, which is now undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny.
- The publication of a full suite of guidelines in relation to the safe resumption of activities across the tourism, hospitality, sport and cultural sectors.
- The announcement of a series of outdoor pilot events in sports and live entertainment to provide for the safe return of spectators and audiences.
- The establishment of a language planning fund worth €3.4m in total for Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge to maintain the operation of the language planning process in the current year
- The progress of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill which has now passed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann.
- Public consultation on the designation of certain sporting and cultural events as being of major importance to society and to ensure that they are available on free to air television service on a live or deferred basis.
- The establishment of the Future of Media Commission jointly with the Taoiseach, securing additional funding for TG4 and securing of Government approval for the integration of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill into the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.
- The establishment of a Night Time Economy Taskforce, the final report of which I intend to bring to Government shortly.
In addition to sector specific supports, my Department and I have worked closely across Government to ensure that COVID-19 horizontal supports reflect the needs of the sectors under the aegis of the Department, and the combination of sector specific and horizontal supports are detailed in the Government's recently published Economic Recovery Plan.
The policy initiatives to date reflect a strong combination of measures to support key sectors throughout the pandemic, as well as longer term policy initiatives in response to Programme for Government commitments, and that aim to chart a sustainable future for the sectors under the aegis of my Department.
277. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit are working towards enabling access to employment for persons from minority and or disadvantaged communities, including, but not limited to, persons with disabilities, persons from ethnic minorities, Travellers, Mincéirí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32748/21]
View answerIn the context of meeting its obligations, under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, to have regard in performing its functions of the need to eliminate discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for staff, my Department is working towards increasing access to employment in the Department for persons from minority and or disadvantaged communities on a number of fronts.
As a civil service employer, my Department operates an equal opportunities employment policy. Recruitment of the vast majority of staff in my Department is via the Public Appointments Service (PAS). My Department is supportive of current PAS recruitment initiatives that seek to appoint persons from diverse backgrounds to posts in the civil service.
I am informed that, in particular, my Department has a strong record of employing persons with disabilities. My Department conducted a staff census for 2020 to assist monitoring of the number of employees with disabilities, as required under the Disability Act 2005. Almost 10% of staff in my Department self-identified in this census as having a disability as defined by the Act. Separately, my Department is currently accommodating a trainee from the Oireachtas Work Learning Programme (OWL) for persons with intellectual disabilities. It is also in the process of recruiting up to four graduates with disabilities from the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) work placement programme which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities and build the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the mainstream workplace.
I am also informed that, while my Department does not currently monitor staff numbers by other minority status, it is progressing an action plan developed under its Diversity and Inclusion Policy that includes a number of measures intended to foster an inclusive work culture that will support diversity in workforce makeup. Amongst these measures is the roll out of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training to staff, and the completion of a staff EDI attitudes survey. All staff also have access to my Department's well-being programme, to the civil service employee assistance service, and to the Department's Disability Liaison Officer: All of these services are designed to assist with integration and inclusivity.
With regard to the Agencies under my Department’s remit, this is an operational matter for the respective Agencies. In that context, I will forward your question to the relevant Agencies and bodies, under the aegis of my Department, and request them to respond directly to you on the matter. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
278. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress in relation to the defective concrete blocks grants scheme for counties Donegal and Mayo. [32475/21]
View answerThe regulations for the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme came in to operation on 31 January 2020. The Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo only, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks. The scheme opened for applications at the end of June 2020.
Budget 2021 provides funding of €20 million to fund the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme for the counties of Donegal and Mayo. As of 11 June 2021, a total of 448 "Stage 1 - Confirmation of Eligibility" applications have been made, of which 296 have been approved. Following confirmation of eligibility there is an inevitable time lag before Stage 2 applications are submitted by applicants as remedial works plans are developed and estimates from contractors are secured. A total of 44 applications for "Stage 2 - Grant Approval" have been made, of which 16 have been approved.
Engagement between my Department, the local authorities and local action groups will continue in relation to any improvements in supports to affected homeowners. In this regard, I have proposed a timebound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to review and address any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme, including issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering and allowable costs etc. I propose that the recommendations of this working group will inform any changes or improvements to the scheme as may be required, which I will bring forward in conjunction with my Government colleagues, and in particular in consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General.
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he anticipates initiating any actions or reform with a view to ensuring that the housing market is tilted in favour of the provision of affordable housing accommodation to first time home seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32780/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system. Delivery on this commitment is evidenced in the new measures contained in the Affordable Housing Bill 2021, currently before the Oireachtas, which provides for three schemes that will increase the supply of affordable homes through (1) affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, and (3) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme.
Affordable homes on local authority lands are to be made available through the support of the €310 million Serviced Sites Fund (SSF). Information on the schemes that have received approval in principle under the Serviced Sites Fund are available at:
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-gives-the-go-ahead-for-ten-local-authority-sites-for-affordable-housing-under-the-serviced-sites-fund/, and
https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-approves-funding-of-e84m-to-support-delivery-of-1770-affordable-homes-under-the-ssf/.
In addition to the 35 SSF projects referenced in the links above, approval in principle has also been given to five additional projects - Emmet Road and Oscar Traynor Road (Dublin City Council), Shanganagh (Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council), Hayestown and Ballymastone (Fingal County Council).
Cumulatively, these 40 SSF projects, across 14 local authorities, will assist in the delivery of just over 4,400 affordable home to buy or rent. My Department continues to engage with local authorities to progress both current and potential projects, with the first SSF project to deliver affordable homes for purchase under the SSF later this year being the Boherboy project in Cork City.
In making an application for SSF funding, each local authority must demonstrate that an affordability issue exists in the area in question and that it is viable to deliver homes, for purchase or rent, with a price reduction of at least 10% below open market values, with the reduction remaining as fully-repayable equity charge against the property. The scheme is targeted at first-time buyers, with some limited exceptions as outlined in the Affordable Housing 2021 Bill.
In addition to the affordable homes to be delivered through the SSF, Budget 2021 allocated €75 million for the Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme, which is aimed at first-time buyers buying a new-build home on private land. It will help these first-time buyers secure their own home by bridging the gap between the mortgage available to them and the price of the home they want. Work on the detailed design of the proposed scheme is ongoing and at an advanced stage.
The Affordable Housing Bill will also place a new form of tenure in Cost Rental on a statutory basis for the first time. Cost Rental directly links rents to the cost of provision rather than market dynamics. Three initial Cost Rental projects are already underway. The first Cost Rental homes in Ireland, 50 two-bedroom apartments at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, will be delivered by the Tuath and Respond Approved Housing Bodies in Quarter 3 2021. Dublin City Council is also progressing a site at Emmet Road, Inchicore (the former St Michael’s Estate), and the LDA is collaborating with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on a site at Shanganagh, Shankill.
The provision of Cost Rental housing is also being implemented through the new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, which was allocated €35m in Budget 2021. I approved in principle the financing this year of 390 new homes across eight sites, located in Dublin, the Greater Dublin Area, and Cork. CREL support and careful cost management has generated initial rents which are at least 25% below comparable open market prices, delivering significantly improved affordability for renters.
In addition to the aforementioned measures in the Affordable Housing Bill 2021, the Land Development Agency (LDA) is tasked to work with Government Departments, local authorities, state agencies and other stakeholders to assemble strategic sites in urban areas and ensure the sustainable development of social and affordable homes for rent and purchase. On establishment, the LDA had access to an initial tranche of 8 sites that have near term delivery potential for approximately 3,400 new homes. In partnership with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the LDA has been granted planning permission for the development of 597 homes on a site in Shanganagh. Approximately 34% of the units will be for social housing, 51% will be cost rental and 15% will be for affordable purchase. Work has commenced on the construction tender process, with construction anticipated to start in the second half of 2021. Information on the work of the LDA is available at: https://lda.ie/.
On the 4th May last, the Government also approved the drafting of amending provisions to Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, for inclusion in the Affordable Housing Bill 2021 as Committee Stage amendments. This will see an increase in the current 10% social housing requirement related to all new housing developments to a mandatory 20% for social and affordable requirements.
Other affordability measures, such as the Help to Buy Scheme, and the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, are already available to eligible purchasers nationally to make home ownership more affordable.
The Help to Buy Scheme may return tax paid in the previous four years to eligible first-time buyers, up to a maximum amount of €30,000, for a new home. Information is available at: https://www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.
The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan enables credit worthy first time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. There are no set minimum income limits; however, applicants do need to have sufficient borrowing and repayment capacity and must be capable of repaying the mortgage. Further information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available at http://rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie/.
Finally, I can confirm the Government’s upcoming Housing strategy ‘Housing for All’ will detail an extensive range of measures and ambitious targets to underpin the delivery of affordable housing over the coming years.
280. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if provisions will be made to extend the pyrite remediation scheme to counties Mayo and Donegal; if his Department has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31852/21]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency.
The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, e.g. such as pyrite in concrete blocks.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established, in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2017 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. There are no proposals to provide for further financial assistance outside of the scheme.
Any proposal to amend the scheme is, in the first instance, a matter for the Pyrite Resolution Board and any such proposal would require detailed consideration of the evidence. The recommendations of the Pyrite Panel, which informed the establishment of the pyrite remediation scheme, were premised on a number of pertinent factors.
As a minimum, in order to consider the appropriateness or otherwise of amending the scheme, I understand that the Board would require a report addressing the following information: -
- the extent and severity of damage to dwellings in the local authority area caused by pyritic heave in the subfloor hardcore;
- verification, if available, that the damage has been caused by pyrite;
- the background to the occurrence of the damage;
- details of any structural warranty policies for the dwellings;
- the history of the estate’s construction, numbers, type of dwellings etc;
- the source of the hardcore supplied to dwellings in the estate; and
- any supporting geological assessments.
In addition to the above, the Board may also make such further enquiries as it considers necessary in order to assist it in considering the matter. In this regard, it would be advisable for the residents to confirm the nature of the pyrite problems in the area and that any problems identified stem from reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material which is giving rise to pyritic heave and consequential significant pyritic damage.
In regard to the Deputy's specific question, my Department has not engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to extending the pyrite remediation scheme to counties Mayo and Donegal.
281. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the recent changes to household means policy 2021 issued in April take into account recent changes in circumstances; if not, if the net average income average over the past 52 weeks applies without discretion.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32523/21]
View answer282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a change in a person’s financial circumstances due to the impact of Covid-19 can be taken into account when assessing income criteria; if not, if the previous 52 weeks nett income must be considered. [32524/21]
View answer283. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the discretion councils can apply when assessing income limits regarding the qualifying criteria for inclusion on the social housing list. [32525/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 282 and 283 together.
Applications 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 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.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
The determination of whether an applicant household meets the income criteria is based on a calculation of their preceding 12 months’ net average income prior to the date of receipt of application. This ensures that the most comprehensive picture of a household’s current and previous income is available at the point of carrying out the assessment.
Social housing support is intended to address a household’s long-term housing need and it is therefore important to note that where households are in need of short term support, such as Rent Supplement, they should make application to the Department of Social Protection.
In relation to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), Circular 38/2020 regarding the treatment of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) when assessing and/or reviewing income eligibility for social housing support was issued to local authorities. The Circular advises that the PUP payment should be considered as temporary in the overall context of an applicant household's income. In this regard, when assessing a household, the household’s income immediately prior to receipt of the PUP should be considered by the authority. Based on all of the available income information, the authority must then make a decision as to whether the household meets the income criteria.
Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.
284. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide additional financial support under the pyrite remediation scheme to help homeowners cover the cost of initial investigative tests for pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32533/21]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency.
The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material and not to damage arising in any other circumstance, e.g. such as pyrite in concrete blocks.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme which is available on the Board’s website, www.pyriteboard.ie.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings, which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established, in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2017 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. In this regard, it is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. This ensures that, having regard to the available resources, the focus of the scheme is on dwellings which are most severely damaged by pyritic heave. There are no proposals to provide for further financial assistance outside of the scheme and any proposal to amend the scheme is, in the first instance, a matter for the Pyrite Resolution Board.
The Board may be contacted by phone at Lo call 1890 252842 or by email to: info@pyriteboard.ie, or alternatively at: oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie.
285. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes that have been introduced with respect to the regulation and monitoring of product standards for building blocks since the publication of the Report of the Expert Panel on Defective Blocks in 2017; the measures put in place to ensure that the widespread use of such defective blocks in counties Donegal and Mayo will be prevented in the future; and the role the National Building Control Office now has with respect to ensuring the highest possible standards for building blocks and all other construction material used in residential housing developments. [32560/21]
View answerIn relation to the concrete blocks, the relevant suite of harmonised standard facilitating specification of masonry units is the EN 771 (series). ‘I.S. EN 771-3:2011+A1:2015’ deals with aggregate concrete masonry units. In this regard, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), has published additional guidance in the form of ‘S.R. 325:2013+A2:2018/AC:2019 Recommendations for the design of masonry structures in Ireland to Eurocode 6’ which sets out appropriate minimum performance levels for specific intended uses of, inter alia, EN 771(series) in Ireland.
In respect of aggregates for concrete, NSAI has published ‘S.R. 16:2016 Guidance on the use of I.S. EN 12620:2002+A1:2008 - Aggregates for concrete’ which outlines the precautions to be taken in the quarry to reduce the risk of harmful impurities in aggregate production, including the requirement for independent third party oversight of factory production control by a Notified Body (a designated body that carries out third-party tasks).
Specifically relating to product legislation, since 2013, the Construction Products Directive (CPD)- 89/106/EEC has been replaced by the Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (CPR). It sets out rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. Where a construction product covered by a harmonised standard is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of performance’ and affix a ‘CE’ marking to the product. In order to do so, manufacturers must test and declare the performance of their construction products using a common technical language prescribed in the harmonised standard.
The manufacturer is responsible for compliance with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and in particular for the Declaration of Performance/CE marking of the construction product he/she is placing on the market, having full knowledge of the raw material (as is legally required by the CPR via the relevant harmonised European Standards) and having regard to the end product’s suitability for use in construction works in accordance with the relevant Standard Recommendations published by the NSAI.
Under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No.225 of 2013), each of the building control authorities have been designated as the principal market surveillance authorities for construction products that fall within the scope of the CPR, within their administrative areas. In addition, Dublin City Council has been appointed as a competent authority for the carrying out of market surveillance functions across the country and has created a Market Surveillance Unit within Dublin City Council-National Building Control Office, (DCC-NBCO). Building control authorities will liaise with DCC-NBCO national market surveillance unit to support compliance with the CPR and to determine appropriate action on enforcement matters, as they arise.
The National market surveillance programme 2021 provides specific details on the market surveillance of construction products and outlines a market surveillance campaign led by DCC-NBCO, which has recently commenced, to perform risk assessments of selected quarrying and pit operations, follow-up inspections, sampling and testing as appropriate to ensure compliance with the CPR.
286. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Ministerial consent regarding the wastewater treatment plant in Arklow County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32568/21]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for determination by Irish Water.
As part of Budget 2021, funding of over €1.4 billion was secured to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and wastewater services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
Under the Water Services Act 2013, Irish Water is required to seek the consent of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage - given with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform - to enter into capital commitments. Irish Water must seek Ministerial consent prior to entering into any individual capital commitment of a value in excess of €20m. This is a financial control and not a project consent.
In the context of the updated Public Spending Code for evaluating, planning and managing the public investment in the project as it proceeds through its lifecycle, consideration is also being given to the appropriate application of the Code having regard to the current lifecycle stage of the project. In this regard, the Final Business Case under the Public Spending Code as submitted by Irish Water on 28 May 2021, together with a NewERA report received on 14 June 2021, are currently under active consideration. Given the significant investment by the taxpayer, this does involve close scrutiny by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Irish Water expects construction work to begin in the second half of 2021.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
287. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding declaring a housing emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32571/21]
View answerThe Government set out its housing priorities in the Programme for Government across numerous areas, including homelessness, affordable home ownership, public and social housing, the Land Development Agency, rent reform and planning and my Department is focused on moving those priorities forward.
In addition to the housing priorities set out above, the Government will establish a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. The delivery of new build social housing has been increasing steadily in recent years, from 52% of total social housing output in 2016 to 65% in 2020. Subject to the impact of COVID-19 on delivery, a national target of 12,750 new social homes have been targeted for 2021, of which 9,500 are new Build homes.
Affordability is recognised as a key challenge in the Irish housing market. This Government is committed to ensuring that affordable, quality housing solutions are available to everyone in Irish society and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. The Programme commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system through the progression of State-backed affordable housing.
The Affordable Housing Bill is currently progressing through the Oireachtas and this Government has committed funding of €620 million in affordable housing measures in Budget 2021 alone.
We are taking a multi-pronged approach to the housing crisis using multiple routes across both the short term and long term to boost supply and open up affordability. Our policies include:
- A new equity scheme where the state takes a stake in your home lowering the mortgage costs.
- A new Affordable Purchase scheme with the state directly building affordable homes.
- A retained and expanded Help to Buy scheme.
- A new Cost Rental scheme.
- Launching the LDA with a major affordable housing mandate.
I intend to publish a new Housing Strategy 'Housing for All' later this year and this is being developed at the moment using a whole of Government approach. The delivery of more social and affordable homes will be a key focus in the Plan. The new strategy will set out details of social housing delivery for 2021-2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards.
288. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way a form 5 application by a person (details supplied) can be progressed in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32595/21]
View answerTo acquire title by adverse possession, an applicant must establish the nature of the interest claimed in the property and show how that interest has devolved to the applicant. To do this, the applicant must show that specific persons dispossess the original owner; those specific persons must enter into possession, excluding the true owner and all others; exercise such acts of ownership, use and enjoyment to amount to exclusive possession, with an intention of acquiring the title of the original owner and in a manner inconsistent with the title of the original owner.
If possession/occupation of property which is the subject of an adverse possession application is by permission, there is no adverse possession, as the applicant would be unable to fulfil the above-mentioned requirements for registration. However, if following rejection, an applicant has any further information that could establish that they did not have permission to enter possession of the property, they may wish to re-lodge the application and the new application will be treated on its own merits.
Otherwise, it is open to an applicant to appeal a decision of the Property Registration Authority to court pursuant to Section 19 of the Registration of Title Act 1964.
289. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department and associated agencies have spent on social media advertising since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32616/21]
View answer290. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department has spent on social media content production since the beginning of January 2021 until 12 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32633/21]
View answer291. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount his Department and all associated agencies have spent on public relations consultancy costs since January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32650/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 289, 290 and 291 together.
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned and are not collated or retained by my Department.
Arrangements have been put in place by each organisation to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The relevant contact email address for each organisation, to which members may address queries, are set out in the following table:
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
|
Live Stream remembrance event for the centenary of the Burning of the Custom House as part of the State’s Decade of Centenaries programme |
€9,234.50 |
|
Production of documentary on the Burning of the Custom House as part of the State’s Decade of Centenaries programme |
€7,373.85 |
|
Content for Winter Solstice at Newgrange |
€2,858.63 |
|
Video Content highlighting the role and importance of our National Parks, particularly during periods of lockdown |
€6,725.64 |
|
Total |
€26,192.62 |
292. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application by a company (details supplied) will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32667/21]
View answerChanges in relation to building material costs are monitored and recorded by the Central Statistics Office (Wholesale Price Index for Building & Construction Materials). Issues relating to increases in construction costs generally and measures to address such issues, are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, whose Department convenes the Construction Sector Group to support regular and open dialogue between Government and industry on how best to achieve and maintain a sustainable and innovative construction sector positioned to successfully deliver on the commitments in Project Ireland 2040.
Given my own Department’s role in relation to public housing, we of course are concerned with regard to construction costs and recognise that significant material cost increases can result in increased tender costs. In this regard, we continually monitor tender cost trends through ongoing engagement with colleagues in local authorities and through engagement with other Departments and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. My Department continues to work with each local authority to ensure that projects are developed and progressed in a cost effective manner.
In relation to the specific project mentioned, it is primarily one for resolution between the developer and the local authority concerned. I understand that the Council and the developer are currently in discussions on this matter.
293. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current and capital costs involved with each action item in the Interim Climate Action Plan under his Department’s responsibility. [32699/21]
View answerAs part of the Climate Action Plan, my Department is implementing a range of ambitious decarbonisation actions for housing, planning, marine and natural heritage protection and analysis of Ireland’s climate.
Actions which are regulatory in nature are subject to the normal Regulatory Impact Assessment procedures and activities under the National Development Plan (NDP) are budgeted for through the normal budgetary processes at implementation stage.
The Project Tracker for Project Ireland 2040 Investment Programmes and Project Tracker can be found on the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6db7c4-investment-projects-and-programmes-tracker/.
Public Consultations undertaken by my Department containing Regulatory Impact Assessments can be found on the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/search/?type=consultations&organisation=department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage.
A review of the NDP to reflect the major priorities set out in the Programme for Government is also well underway. These priorities are aimed at tackling the most important challenges facing us as a nation including Climate Action. The renewed NDP will set out a capital investment framework until 2030. It will seek to ensure that Exchequer capital investment aligns with the acceleration in decarbonisation now required.
The national objective of transitioning by 2050 to a competitive, low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy and society must influence public capital investment choices over the next ten years. On account of the inherently cross-sectoral and integrated nature of the decisions required in such areas as transport, energy, agriculture and the built environment, addressing climate change is a unique challenge for public policy.
294. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current and capital funding allocated to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. [32706/21]
View answerThe National Biodiversity Data Centre is operated on contract and managed under the aegis of the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie.
