Written Answers Nos. 243-267
243. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amounts provided to local authorities for adaptation work on private houses for older persons and persons with disabilities in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [36309/21]
View answerFunding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, in respect of private houses. Local authorities fund 20% of the overall budget from their own resources with the balance of 80% funded by the exchequer. Details of the funding drawn down for the grants up to 2020, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
The following table contains details of the 2021 exchequer funding drawn down by local authorities for housing adaptation grants up to 30 June 2021.
|
Local Authority |
Exchequer Drawdown to 30 June 2021 |
|
Carlow |
€492,388 |
|
Cavan |
€202,297 |
|
Clare |
€248,416 |
|
Cork City |
€412,158 |
|
Cork |
€1,346,244 |
|
Donegal |
€489,762 |
|
Dublin City |
€2,181,752 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
€422,046 |
|
Fingal |
€667,859 |
|
Galway City |
€373,797 |
|
Galway |
€0 |
|
Kerry |
€704,248 |
|
Kildare |
€290,465 |
|
Kilkenny |
€366,221 |
|
Laois |
€32,000 |
|
Leitrim |
€160,035 |
|
Limerick City & County |
€830,858 |
|
Longford |
€146,641 |
|
Louth |
€485,085 |
|
Mayo |
€871,384 |
|
Meath |
€746,594 |
|
Monaghan |
€486,450 |
|
Offaly |
€47,637 |
|
Roscommon |
€215,641 |
|
Sligo |
€631,201 |
|
South Dublin |
€782,844 |
|
Tipperary |
€1,033,234 |
|
Waterford City & County |
€225,442 |
|
Westmeath |
€235,814 |
|
Wexford |
€844,194 |
|
Wicklow |
€396,141 |
244. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has received Cork County Council’s assessment of funding document; if he has taken on board the recommendations of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36368/21]
View answerThe report referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 9 June and is under consideration by my officials. It is a wide ranging report, which covers funding from a variety of different Government Departments for a range of issues and schemes. Many of the funding lines are outside of the remit of my Department. The report has also been sent for consideration to other relevant Government Departments. The funding system for local authorities is complex, with authorities deriving their income from a variety of sources including local sources such as commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government.
In terms of funding from Central Government, these can generally be grouped into five broad programme categories: recreational, education, environment, housing and transport. In relation to funding streams specifically from my Department, €135.3m and €167.5m was provided to Cork County Council in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The increase between 2019 and 2020 is due to an increase in housing funding, as well as funding in respect of the COVID commercial rates and other COVID related expenses that occurred in 2020.
It is a matter for each local authority to consider how it can maximise local income sources and manage its own spending, in the context of the annual budgetary process. Local authority members may decide, as part of that process, to vary the ARV and LPT in order to increase the revenue available to them. I note that for 2020 and 2021 Cork County Council raised their LPT rate by +5% and +7.5% respectively, foregoing the maximum 15% raise or just over €3m in 2020 and €2.4m in 2021.
In relation to the plans recently announced by the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D to reform LPT, these reforms will involve bringing new homes, which are currently exempt from LPT, into the taxation system as well as providing for all money collected locally to be retained within the county. This will also be done on the basis that those counties with a lower LPT base are adjusted via an annual national equalisation fund paid from the Exchequer, as is currently the case.
I refer, also, to the unprecedented support for local authorities during the COVID pandemic. In 2020, Cork County Council applied a 100% commercial rates waiver to just over 9,000 businesses and recouped €34.7 m in that regard from my Department. In addition, in recognition of COVID related income losses, and additional COVID related expenditure incurred in 2020, my Department provided funding of €6.7 m to Cork County Council. The Government has introduced a commercial rates waiver for 2021, which has been extended to end of September, at an estimated cost €480 m. As has been the case since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department will continue to engage with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on the financial impacts of the pandemic and provide them with the necessary financial supports.
245. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider representation by a group (details supplied) on the steering committee that has been set up to advise on the roll-out of a redress scheme. [36370/21]
View answer246. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the explicit inclusion of County Clare homeowners in all issues pertaining to the pyrite and mica defective block remediation going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36373/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
My Department has informed Clare County Council that before any extension of the scheme can be considered, the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken. Following further discussions between my Department and Clare County Council it was agreed that the local authority would take a lead role in determining, in accordance with the IS: 465 protocol, that issues arising in homes in County Clare are in fact due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks and secondly quantify the likely extent of the problem in the county.
Such analysis will provide the evidential basis necessary for the consideration of any extension of the scheme. Pending the receipt of and consideration of such analysis it would be premature to consider an extension of the scheme.
Separately, I have established a time-bound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups in Donegal and Mayo, to quickly review and report on any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the existing Defective Concrete Block Grant scheme. The membership of the working group has already been agreed and will remain unchanged.
The Group will examine issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering and allowable costs etc. I expect that the review, to be undertaken by the working group will be completed by 31 July, and will inform any changes or improvements to the scheme as may be required. Following receipt of a report of the working group I will, following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General, bring proposals in this regard to Government.
247. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the requirements his Department has placed on local authorities (details supplied) with respect to the advancement of the listed developments. [36380/21]
View answerIncreasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is priority of this Government. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. This commitment was underpinned by investment of €3.3bn towards housing programmes in Budget 2021. Subject to the impact of COVID-19, this investment will fund the delivery of 12,750 new social homes in 2021, including 9,500 new build homes.
In progressing this major construction programme it is important to pursue timely delivery while also ensuring value for money in terms of Exchequer funding. In this regard, social housing projects, like all publicly-funded construction projects, must comply with the Government’s Public Spending Code and Capital Works Management Framework, the objectives of which are to ensure greater cost certainty, better value for money and financial accountability.
My Department, working with local authorities has sought to streamline the four-stage pre-construction process for social housing and to introduce other measures to increase the pace of delivery. Local authorities have also been able to reduce the pre-construction timeline further using design and build frameworks. Off-site construction has also been used to reduce local authority construction timelines.
The social housing project at Nangor Road, which is being progressed by South Dublin County Council and will deliver 93 social homes, is advancing through the 4 stage process utilised for publicly funded capital projects and was granted Stage 3 approval (pre-tender approval) in December 2020. The Council is currently preparing a Stage 4 application (tender) for submission to my Department. Given the scale of this project along with the requirements of the Public Spending Code at the time of the original submission in 2019, the Council submitted a Cost Effectiveness Analysis. This was assessed and approved by my Department and meets all the requirements of the relevant Public Spending Code from 2013.
The Clonburris Strategic Development Zone project will include the delivery of some 2,500 social and affordable homes by South Dublin County Council. My Department is actively engaged with the Council and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to bring this project forward and ensure that the first step of the 2019 Public Spending Code Project Lifecycle, the Strategic Assessment Review, is completed accordingly. The project will continue through the various steps of the Project Lifecycle of the Public Spending Code in parallel with the Stage applications for funding to my Department as the individual phases develop. There are two phases currently being progressed; Phase 1, Kishogue South West, Clonburris will deliver 274 new social and affordable homes while Phase 2, The Canal Extension, Clonburris will deliver 113 social and affordable homes.
South Dublin County Council also applied for and received approval in principle for Service Site Funding for Clonburris to assist in the delivery of affordable and cost rental homes.
There are currently two housing projects being progressed at St Michael’s Estate. The first, the Lands at Emmet Road, is a mixed tenure development consisting of 30% social and 70% cost rental units. My Department has been engaging with Dublin City Council to progress this important development which is currently Stage 1 approved for the social housing element. Dublin City Council has submitted a Strategic Assessment Report and is currently preparing a Preliminary Business Case in line with Public Spending Code requirements.
Dublin City Council also applied for and received approval in principle for Service Site Funding for the Lands at Emmet Road to assist in the delivery of affordable and cost rental homes.
The second housing project is St. Michael’s Estate Housing with Supports Pilot Project. This consists of 52 homes for senior citizens and is being developed by the Circle Voluntary Housing Association Ltd. This project has Stage 3 Approval from my Department and is expected to complete in Q4 2024. Dublin City Council has advised that it is currently out to tender.
The status of social housing construction projects 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: rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2021/.
248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he engaged with his Department’s appointees at board level of Ervia and or Gas Networks Ireland in relation to the engagement of a contractor (details supplied). [36381/21]
View answerThe engagement of a contractor is an operational matter for which Gas Networks Ireland as contracting authority is wholly responsible. I can confirm that I have not engaged with any member of the Board of Ervia or GNI on the matter. However, it should be noted that as part of the governance arrangements between my Department and Ervia/GNI the company does update my Department on a regular basis at scheduled monthly meetings, and in writing as necessary, on issues of importance including the more significant contracts entered into. I understand that GNI did update my Department on one such contract which involved the company referred to in the question.
249. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding assigned to Wexford County Council that was returned to the Exchequer in 2019 and 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36408/21]
View answerThe funding system that applies to local authorities in Ireland is a complex one, as those authorities derive their income from a variety of sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government including my Department but also other government departments and state agencies. Most of the funding from Central Government to local authorities must be used for specified services. These can be grouped into 5 broad programme categories: housing, transport, recreational, education and environment.
My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, homeless services, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, housing grants, rural water schemes, urban renewal/regeneration, and fire services. In order to achieve its business objectives, my Department allocates significant resources to an extensive range of organisations, including local authorities, dedicated agencies, and other bodies; some allocations, depending on the programmes concerned, are made on a national or other non-county basis in the form of grant funding.
Grant funding is provided primarily on the basis of vouched expenditure, as opposed to specific up front annual allocations, once all necessary requirements as detailed in grant assistance schemes are met by the bodies/organisations concerned and that appropriate systems and procedures are in place to ensure the exercise of proper financial controls. Accordingly, the circumstances of funding being returned to the Exchequer do not arise.
250. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding a rhododendron management plan for Wicklow National Park; if his attention has been drawn to the growing presence of this invasive species in this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36456/21]
View answerMy Department continues to invest heavily in and is committed to tackling the spread of invasive species across our network of National Parks, most particularly Rhododendron ponticum, the control of which is difficult, costly, and labour intensive. My Department carries out an annual targeted programme of works to manage the spread of the invasive species Rhododendron ponticum. The multi-faceted programme includes, monitoring, surveillance, clearance, investigation, review, volunteer and contractor work groups and programmes.
The extent of the problem varies from area to area within the parks. With particular reference to Wicklow Mountains National Park, Rhododendron is not considered to be a significant issue and is managed on an ongoing basis as part of routine operations. While Rhododendron is only present within the confines of this National Park at a low level, it is nevertheless, actively managed, and €60,000 has been provided to Wicklow Mountains National Park in 2021 to tackle invasive species. Over the years the park in addition to work by our own staff, has engaged volunteers to assist with clearance work.
As Rhododendron is not considered to be a significant issue within Wicklow Mountains National Park, the Deputy may be referring to instances of Rhododendron in areas outside of the national park such as in the vicinity of Lough Bray. Management of invasive species on private lands is the responsibility of individual landowners.
251. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a submission received by his Department on 15 June 2021 from Clare County Council in relation to a proposed pilot waste water scheme for the village of Broadford, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36518/21]
View answerI am aware of the submission to which the Deputy is referring to.
My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and wastewater growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan.
Complementary to Irish Water’s Programme, my Department is currently examining wastewater requirements in the context of villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public wastewater infrastructure.
I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at national level. This report will include the analysis of a baseline survey of all rural local authorities to quantify and qualify the number of villages and similar settlements concerned.
This process is at an advanced stage, and I will be in a position to consider the matter further in relation to these villages and similar settlements identified in the survey once I have received the final report.
252. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which further information on the EU digital Covid certificate will be provided. [36366/21]
View answerThe legislation for the EU Digital COVID Certificate applies across the EU from 1 July. The Government advised, on 28 May, that the EU Digital COVID Certificate will play a significant role in the proposed new international travel measures intended to be implemented from 19 July 2021.
Over the coming period the Department of An Taoiseach, the Department of Health and the HSE, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Government Information Services, and the Department of Transport will continue to develop the technical aspects and supporting operational procedures, legal instruments, and a communications campaign required to support the Certificate system.
253. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the practice of requiring details regarding guardianship arrangements for parents applying for passports for their children; if the policy is applied in all cases; if there is a forum to which inconsistencies can be reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35768/21]
View answerAll passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 ("the Act"). The Act broadly provides that before the Minister can issue a passport, a person must be an Irish citizen and in the case of children under the age of 18 years, the witnessed consent of their guardians must be provided. There is detailed information on the Department’s website in regard to passport applications for children.
In regards to guardianship, the Passport Service is bound by Section 14 of the Act (as amended). Section 14 requires the consent of a child’s guardian(s) before a passport can issue to the child, subject to very limited exceptions
Passport applications for children have specific witnessing requirements in order to establish the child applicant’s identity and that consent for the issuance of a passport from all the child’s guardians has been granted.
Any queries and/or concerns arising from guardianship or any other passport requirement may be directed to our Customer Service Hub. The telephone number for the Customer Service Hub is 01 671 1633 and WebChat can be accessed through the Passport Service's website.
254. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a situation (details supplied) in north-west Syria; the steps his Department is taking to raise this issue with Syria, within the European Union and at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35847/21]
View answerAs the civil war in Syria enters its eleventh year, humanitarian needs remain extremely high. Across Syria, 13.4 million people need humanitarian assistance including more than 3 million people in the North West of the country.
Ireland fully supports the efforts of the UN, led by Special Envoy Pedersen, to bring the conflict in Syria to a sustainable conclusion. We have consistently called for the full implementation of a nationwide ceasefire, and are extremely concerned by the recent escalation of violence in Southern Idlib.
Ireland has consistently deplored attacks on civilians in Syria, including in our statements on the Security Council. Addressing the Security Council on June 25, Ireland’s Ambassador strongly condemned the recent attack on Al-Shifaa hospital in Afrin, which resulted in the killing and injury of civilians, including medical personnel and children, and the destruction of parts of the hospital.
Ireland has also co-sponsored multiple Resolutions at the United Nations Human Rights Council, most recently in March, condemning attacks on humanitarian workers and demanding that all parties to the conflict comply fully with their obligations under international law. Ireland and the EU have repeatedly condemned violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law perpetrated by the Syrian regime and others, some of which may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.
Ireland has supported the UN's International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, established to gather evidence of such crimes and recognises the vital work undertaken by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria.
On the Security Council, Ireland acts with Norway as ‘co-penholder’ on the Syria Humanitarian file. In this role, we have strongly advocated for humanitarian aid to be able to reach all people in need. Ahead of the expiry of the mandate of the UN operation at Bab al-Hawa on 10 July, we are undertaking extensive engagement with all relevant parties, including Council Members, countries in the region, the UN system and civil society. As Ireland has made clear on the Security Council, the cross border operation remains a vital lifeline for millions of people in North West Syria, and we believe that it must be extended for as long as is necessary.
255. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the issue of the human rights violations by the government of Saudi Arabia was raised during his meeting with the Saudi Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubier, in Riyadh on 16 June 2021; his views on whether the Saudi Government is in violation of Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and if he has contacted and discussed same with democratic Saudi political forces (details supplied). [35853/21]
View answerI visited Saudi Arabia on 16 June, meeting Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and Deputy Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
In both meetings, I raised Ireland's concern over human rights, including the use of the death penalty. I also raised the importance of having a frank and constructive dialogue over human rights issues, and welcomed plans to convene an EU-Saudi Arabia Human Rights dialogue.
Ireland is committed to all aspects of human rights, and encourages adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in both bilateral dialogues, and in appropriate international fora.
I have not been in contact with the group referred to in the details supplied.
256. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will the reinstate the working holiday authorisation in view of the reopening of international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35866/21]
View answerWorking Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with countries and regions with which we have reciprocal programmes. As Minister, I am fully supportive of the objectives of the Working Holiday programmes and I welcome their important contribution in promoting people-to-people contacts and providing opportunities for our young people to travel and experience other cultures.
While it has been necessary to temporarily cease the operation of these programmes since the onset of the pandemic, I am keen to see them resume once circumstances allow. A primary concern remains the health, welfare and well-being of those young people who would seek to travel to Ireland on a WHA.
In current circumstances, particularly in light of public health guidance and the aims of the various WHA programmes, it would not be safe or prudent to re-commence operations. However, the Department will continue to monitor the situation in Ireland in conjunction with colleagues in other relevant Departments, with a view to re-opening these programmes as soon as circumstances allow and with consideration also to when reciprocal opportunities are available to our own citizens.
We continued to monitor the evolving situation here and in the relevant locations abroad, in terms particularly of public health advice, travel restrictions, job opportunities and the availability of short-term accommodation. Our Missions abroad will be instructed to resume programmes when circumstances allow young people to benefit safely from a working holiday here and to fully experience Ireland’s culture and way of life. A public announcement will be made as soon as operations resume and our Missions will be asked to promote this news on their social media.
257. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of interest his Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35934/21]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs comprises of two Votes; Vote 27 International Cooperation and Vote 28 Foreign Affairs.
Below is a breakdown of the amount of interest the Department, across both Votes, has been charged for funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were first applied.
|
Year |
Totals |
|
2017 |
4,235.42 |
|
2018 |
13,685.12 |
|
2019 |
7,426.12 |
|
2020 |
14,408.94 |
|
2021 (charged to date) |
6,595.96 |
|
Totals |
46,351.56 |
258. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in north-west Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35983/21]
View answerAs the civil war in Syria enters its eleventh year, humanitarian needs remain extremely high. Across Syria, 13.4 million people need humanitarian assistance including more than 3 million people in the North West of the country. In the north-west, the number of people in need increased by over 20 percent in 2021.
On the Security Council, Ireland acts with Norway as ‘co-penholder’ on the Syria Humanitarian file. In this role, we have strongly advocated for humanitarian aid to be able to reach all people in need. We are undertaking extensive engagement with all relevant parties, including Council Members, countries in the region, the UN system and civil society.
Since 2014, the UN Security Council has recognised through successive Resolutions the importance of ensuring humanitarian access in Syria including, where necessary, across borders through UN mandated crossing points.
In July 2020, the Security Council extended the mandate for the UN to use the border crossing at Bab al-Hawa, between Turkey and North West Syria, for the delivery of humanitarian aid for a period of twelve months. I visited Bab al-Hawa in January, and saw first-hand the scale of the operation, as well as the professionalism and transparency of the procedures in place.
As we move towards the date of expiry of the current mandate on 10 July, it is clear that it would not be possible to meet the extensive humanitarian needs in Syria without the renewal of this mandate. Ireland has set out clearly to the Security Council our position that the mandate for the cross border operation should be renewed for as long as is necessary.
259. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of persons (details supplied) who are being detained in Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35984/21]
View answerFollowing the forced diversion and landing of a Ryanair aircraft to Minsk by the Belarusian authorities, the journalist Roman Protasevich and his companion Sofia Sapega were detained. Ireland strongly condemned this act, as did Dáil Eireann on 1 June when it unanimously passed the Government's motion on the situation in Belarus.
We are deeply concerned for the welfare of Mr. Protasevich and Ms. Sapega. Videos of Mr. Protasevich “confessing” to crimes show signs of a forced declaration. There have been thousands of reports of human rights violations in Belarus, including torture. We note that they have been reportedly moved to house arrest. The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor the situation closely and Ireland will continue to call for their immediate, full and unconditional release.
The EU and like-minded international partners have been working to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are brought to account. An EU-led resolution at the Human Rights Council has given the UN High Commission for Human Rights a mandate to investigate human rights violations and her team is initiating their work. Ireland is one of dozens of members of the international community who have issued a joint statement at the 47th session of the UN Human Rights Council calling for the release of Mr. Protasevich. Along with our EU partners, we will also seek a mandate renewal for the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus and we will maintain our call for the Belarusian authorities to grant her access to the country in her official capacity.
Sanctions also play a role in ensuring accountability. The EU recently imposed further targeted sanctions against those responsible for the ongoing repression and the incident which led to Mr. Protasevich's detention, bringing the total to 166 individuals and 15 business entities. Sectoral economic sanctions have also been imposed and Ireland is open to going further should the situation not improve.
260. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied). [36011/21]
View answerI am advised by the Passport Service that a search was completed for a passport application using the details supplied by the Deputy but no application was found.
The Passport Service is happy to make direct contact with the applicant if the Deputy can supply contact details.
The Passport Service will also be happy to provide information and guidance to the person in question through our Customer Service Hub which provides information via telephone and WebChat. The telephone number for the Customer Service Hub is 01 671 1633 and WebChat can be accessed through the Passport Service's website. Telephone lines operate from 8am till 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) and webchat is available from 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
261. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if troops participating in the African Lion military exercises passed through Shannon Airport or Irish airspace before or after their military exercise. [36110/21]
View answerUnder the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for regulating the activity of foreign military aircraft in Ireland.
The strict conditions applied to requests for permission for a foreign military aircraft to land routinely include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed; must carry no arms, ammunition or explosives; must not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flights in question must not form part of a military exercise or operation.
As to whether troops who participated in a particular military exercise may have passed through Shannon on a civilian aircraft at a different time, either before or afterwards, that is not information which is available to me.
262. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if he will update them as a matter of priority. [36125/21]
View answerMy Department routinely publishes all non-personal freedom of information requests through a disclosure log on its website, in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The current disclosure log shows requests from 2015 until the end of March 2021.
263. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36143/21]
View answerMy Department has collected €1,635.00 in fees related to freedom of information requests since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced. The annual totals are given in the following table.
|
Year |
Search and Retrieval Fees |
Internal Review Fees |
Total |
|
2014 |
nil |
€75.00 |
€75.00 |
|
2015 |
€240.00 |
€90.00 |
€330.00 |
|
2016 |
nil |
€180.00 |
€180.00 |
|
2017 |
nil |
€150.00 |
€150.00 |
|
2018 |
nil |
€210.00 |
€210.00 |
|
2019 |
nil |
€300.00 |
€300.00 |
|
2020 |
nil |
€210.00 |
€210.00 |
|
2021 (to date) |
nil |
€180.00 |
€180.00 |
|
Total |
€1,635.00 |
264. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36161/21]
View answerSince the commencement of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, my Department has advised 15 requesters that their initial request was estimated to exceed the maximum threshold for search and retrieval fees and would likely be refused on that basis.
3 of those requests were withdrawn by the requesters.
The other 12 of those requests were granted or part-granted records after engagement with the requester lead to a narrowing of the scope of the requests. There were no search and retrieval fees charged for any of these requests.
265. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to ensure the renewal of UN Security Council authorisation for cross-border humanitarian operations from Turkey to north-west Syria; his plans to ensure humanitarian aid including the delivery of food, Covid-19 vaccines, critical medical supplies, shelter, clean water and sanitation continues to reach those in need in north-west Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36413/21]
View answerIreland is 'co-penholder' with Norway on the UN Security Council Syria Humanitarian file, strongly advocating for humanitarian aid to reach all those in need, including and in particular north-west Syria.
In order that the extensive humanitarian needs in Syria continue to be met, Ireland, with Norway, is working towards the renewal of the mandate enabling cross border operations later this month. Ireland is engaging with all relevant parties, including Security Council members, countries in the region, the UN system and civil society. Guiding our engagements is the principle, which Ireland has repeatedly stated at the Security Council, that the cross border operation remains vital to ensuring that aid reaches millions of people in North West Syria. It is my belief that the mandate must be extended for as long as is necessary.
In parallel, we continue to work closely with our humanitarian partners to ensure that Ireland's national response to the Syria crisis addresses the enormous needs in Syria and the region., including and especially those outlined in this question. There are 13.4 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance, including more than three million people in the north-west.
Ireland has contributed €190 million in humanitarian assistance to the Syria crisis to date, our largest response ever to a single crisis. This includes €23 million for 2021, distributed through the UN, Irish NGOs and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Ireland also contributes core funding to key agencies that allocate funding to Syria, including WHO, UNHCR, IFRC, ICRC and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
Additionally, Ireland responds to needs in Syria through the EU. So far this year the EU has mobilised €130 million in humanitarian aid to provide vital assistance to millions of Syrians in need inside the country and a further €65 million to support Syrians who are displaced across the region.
266. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36432/21]
View answerThe Passport Service has been in direct contact with the person referred to in the Deputy's question.
The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas:
- Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications.
- Processing all adult renewal applications (including new applications) within 10 working days.
- Processing urgent and emergency applications.
- Providing of customer services through phone and WebChat.
The Passport Service has now commenced the processing of all other applications received since 4 May.
First-time applications require additional security measures including robust identity verification and entitlement checking and, as a result, take longer to process than straight forward renewal applications.
267. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36435/21]
View answerAs the processing of Canadian visas is solely a matter for the Government of Canada, I regret that I am not in a position to advise on this specific case. My advice to those seeking, or in the process of acquiring, a Canadian visa is to engage directly with the Canadian immigration authorities and with officials at Canada’s Visa Application Centre in Dublin.
Ireland is deeply committed to supporting exchanges between Ireland and Canada at every level. Our relations with Canada are rich and flourishing on the back of our extraordinary social, cultural and historic links. Such exchanges are vital to our economic relationships, and for building people-to-people connections between Ireland and Canada. We are particularly keen that current restrictions to international travel will not negatively impact the future of our visitor exchange programmes with Canada, including the Working Holiday programme.
My Department has a very strong and positive working relationship with the Embassy of Canada in Dublin, and was delighted recently to welcome Canada’s new Ambassador to Ireland, Nancy Smyth. We will continue to maintain regular contact with the Embassy, and with Global Affairs Canada via our Embassy in Ottawa, including with regard to the easing of travel restrictions between our two countries.
