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Tuesday, 29 Jun 2021

Written Answers Nos. 230-249

Departmental Budgets

Questions (230)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

230. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the difference in purpose between the funding provided under the revised estimates sub-headings for built heritage, the built heritage investment scheme and an organisation (details supplied) under Vote 34. [34591/21]

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Written answers

In relation to the 3 specific subheads mentioned and the difference in the purpose of each, I can advise the following:

1.The Built Heritage sub-head, F4, makes provision for the Built Heritage Capital and Current Programmes, including the Archaeological Survey of Ireland, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and two capital grant schemes - the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF).

This subhead includes provision for the Office of Public Works programme for conservation and visitor services at Historic Properties and National Monuments. It also provides continuing financial support for Heritage organisations including the Irish Architecture Foundation and the Irish Architectural Archive.

2. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) sub-head, F7, makes provision for the BHIS capital grant scheme which provides grant aid to assist owners of heritage structures to meet their obligations to care for their properties. The scheme is designed to leverage private capital for investment in small-scale conservation projects and to support the employment of skilled conservation specialists. Earlier this year, I was delighted to announce €3m investment through this scheme to assist 477 owners and custodians of historic and protected structures right across the country as they carry out small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and safeguard our built heritage.

3. Finally, in relation to funding to a specific organisation, subhead F6 provides for the Irish Heritage Trust (IHT). The Irish Heritage Trust was established to acquire, for public access, major heritage properties where there is an imminent risk to their heritage value. It is responsible for bringing these specific heritage properties to life and ensuring financial sustainability at each property in its care. Funding allocated to the IHT under this subhead enables it to fund its ongoing operations and to undertake urgent and important capital works that assist in conserving and sustainably developing the properties in its care, and matters germane thereto.

Fire Service

Questions (231)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

231. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on staff shortages in the fire service; the number of hours that fire engines were out of service due to staff shortages in the fire service in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34736/21]

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Written answers

The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding support for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.

Local Authority fire services in Ireland are provided by 3,200 professional, competent and highly committed personnel at all levels in 218 full-time and retained services. The numbers of fire service front-line staff have been maintained at a constant high level throughout the economic challenges of the past number of years, even when staffing numbers, by necessity, were reduced in other areas of the local authority sector.

The prioritisation of work and effective management of all resources is, in the first instance, a matter for management in each of the fire services, based on their assessment of local needs and requirements. In relation to the staffing requirements in each local authority, under the Local Government Act, 2001 it is the responsibility of each Chief Executive to employ such staff and to make such staffing, funding, recruitment and organisational arrangements as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of carrying out the functions of their local authority. Vacancies arise in fire services in the normal course of events, due to retirements and resignations. Reports from fire services indicate that, currently, there are 124 vacancies in fire-fighter staff countrywide out of a staff total of 3,200. My Department has received no report of fire stations taken out of service due to vacancies and there is nothing to indicate that the overall level of fire service provision has been adversely affected by vacancies in recent years.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department has monitored regular reports from fire services, regarding the impact of the pandemic on staffing levels. During this period, necessary restrictions have limited opportunities for fire services to undertake recruitment and training activities in some cases.

I am aware that a number of fire stations were taken out of service for short periods during the pandemic, due to positive COVID-19 tests or precautionary isolation in case of suspected infection. Following testing, crews were permitted to return to duty.

The fire stations concerned were:

Fire station

Date

Number of days out of service

Naas, Co. Kildare

June 2020

2

Monasterevin, Co. Kildare

June 2020

3

Trim, Co. Meath

March 2021

9

Naas, Co. Kildare

March 2021

3

In these cases, as always when a particular fire station is not available for any reason, fire cover was provided from the network of neighbouring fire stations during interruptions to service.

Detailed data on the number of hours fire engines may be out of service, whether due to staffing, mechanical reasons of crew engagement in training or for other reasons, is not collected by, and consequently is not available in, my Department. The relevant information may be available from individual local authorities.

Naval Service

Questions (232)

Steven Matthews

Question:

232. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether and if the Naval Service will play a role in the protection or monitoring of offshore wind infrastructure off the west coast of Ireland in particular due to the proposed distance from shore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34567/21]

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Written answers

The Maritime Area Planning Bill which it is intended to publish shortly envisages that a new agency, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), will undertake enforcement and compliance activities for such offshore development with powers analogous to terrestrial planning authorities.

There are a number of public bodies, including the Naval Service, the Commissioners for Irish Lights and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority with existing maritime capacity. The Bill provides for MARA to enter into cooperation agreements with other public bodies in the performance of their respective functions. The intention is to maximise the use of existing capacity and minimise costs, where possible. The precise modalities of these arrangements and the public bodies involved will be a matter for MARA and the relevant public bodies, once MARA has been established.

Heritage Sites

Questions (233)

Bríd Smith

Question:

233. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the community monuments fund will be available for restoration and heritage preservation work at the Kilmainham Mill, Dublin 8, if he will meet with community activists working on the site; and his views on the possible restoration at the historical site. [34768/21]

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Written answers

My Department provides financial support through the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) for certain works relating to conservation and promotion at archaeological monuments. This year, funding was allocated to 139 projects across all local authorities to a value of just over €4.2m. It is hoped that this scheme will run again in 2022. Conditions and criteria for eligibility for application through the Local Authorities will be published at the time of the launch.

My Department also provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). This year some 562 heritage projects across every county in the country were allocated funding from a combined sum of €6m under these schemes. While the 2021 schemes are now closed to applications, details of the 2022 schemes will be made available later this year and my Department would welcome an application in respect of the Mill.

Any meeting requests should be sent directly to my private office where they will be given due consideration.

Water Services

Questions (234)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

234. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assistance that is available to a group (details supplied) when not eligible to make an application for a well grant from the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34775/21]

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Written answers

Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014 a water supplier shall ensure that the water is wholesome and clean and meets the requirements of these Regulations. In addition, the owner of a premises where water is supplied for human consumption as part of a commercial or public activity is required to maintain the domestic distribution system of the premises in compliance with these Regulations.

My Department provides investment, through the Rural Water Programme, to deliver improvements to private domestic water services in areas of rural Ireland where there is no access to public water infrastructure. However, this grant scheme is limited to domestic households only.

Housing Provision

Questions (235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263)

Alan Kelly

Question:

235. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34799/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

236. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34800/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

237. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34802/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

238. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34803/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

239. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34804/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

240. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34805/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

241. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34806/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

242. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34807/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

243. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34808/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

244. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34809/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

245. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34810/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

246. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34811/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

247. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34812/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

248. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34813/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

249. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34814/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

250. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34815/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

251. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34816/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

252. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34817/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

253. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34818/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

254. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34819/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

255. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34820/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

256. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34821/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

257. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34822/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

258. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34823/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

259. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34824/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

260. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34825/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

261. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34826/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

262. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34827/21]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

263. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the construction and completion of projects (details supplied) announced under the national breakdown of targets 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34828/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 to 263, inclusive, together.

The status of social housing construction projects including those approved as part of targets issued in 2015-2017 and those approved subsequently, is updated and published on a quarterly basis by my Department. The quarterly publication is a comprehensive status report of social housing construction schemes for all local authority areas, with details such as the project locations and a range of information relating to their advancement, whether completed or on site or progressing through planning, design and construction. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Q1 2021 and is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2021/.

While local authorities already have social housing construction programmes in train, I am keen that they add to their pipelines and, working with the Approved Housing Bodies, advance their existing projects as speedily as possible, with the assurance of the funding being available from my Department. Details in respect of social housing delivery out to 2025, including social housing targets for 2022 onwards, will be set out in the new housing strategy that the Government will be publishing soon. The continued publication of the quarterly social housing construction status reports can give Councillors and public representatives the opportunity to work with local authority officials to press the advancement of these important projects.

Question No. 236 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 237 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 238 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 239 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 240 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 241 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 242 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 243 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 244 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 245 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 246 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 247 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 248 answered with Question No. 235.
Question No. 249 answered with Question No. 235.
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