Written Answers Nos. 102-124
102. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid to a company (details supplied) in respect of its role as independent auditor of Ervia in each of the years 2014 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the amount paid to the same company in respect of its role as independent auditor of Irish Water. [46949/21]
View answerInformation on the auditor’s remuneration for Ervia and its subsidiaries (excluding Irish Water) is provided in the Notes to the Financial Statements for each of the years in question. These Financial Statements are included in Ervia’s Annual Report for each year, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Information on the auditor’s remuneration for Irish Water is provided in the Notes to the Financial Statements for each of the years in question. The Financial Statements for 2014, 2015 and 2016 are available in the Oireachtas Library. The Financial Statements for 2017 to 2020 are included in Irish Water’s Annual Report for those years respectively, and a copy of these are also available in the Oireachtas Library.
The audit fees agreed for 2021 in relation to Ervia and Irish Water are unchanged from 2020. Payment of these fees will be made in 2022 following completion of the audit assignments. The only payments made in 2021 to the independent auditor relate to the payment of fees incurred in the 2020 year which are published in the 2020 Annual Reports as previously referred to.
103. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the role of independent auditor of Ervia and Irish Water held by a company (details supplied) will be extended beyond 2021 or if an open tender will ensue. [46950/21]
View answerIn accordance with the Gas Act 1976 (as amended) and the Constitution of Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), my Department is currently considering, in consultation with NewERA, the appointment of the company referred to in the question as auditors of Ervia and GNI for the 2022 and 2023 financial audits, having regard to the contract entered into by the parties which included the option to extend the term by a further 2 years.
104. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the commitment to strengthen the mortgage-to-rent-scheme as referenced in the new Housing for All plan; when additional information will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46976/21]
View answerThe Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. In addition, the household must be deemed eligible for social housing support. To the end of June 2021, 1294 households with unsustainable private mortgages had completed the MTR process and 1027 active cases are currently being progressed under the scheme.
It is the Government's intention to strengthen the MTR Scheme to ensure that it is helping those that need it, with delivery of an average of 1,000 housing solutions every year from 2022 onwards. In terms of the review of the MTR scheme, I expect that the principal improvements to the scheme will be in the following areas:
- an increase in the positive equity limit to better align the limits with the range of house prices across the regions;
- updated purchase price thresholds for properties under the MTR scheme to align them with my Department’s acquisition thresholds for social housing generally;
- additional flexibility in terms of bedroom numbers for borrowers aged 65 and over or where the borrower or one of the joint borrowers or dependents has a disability and the property has had to be adapted to their needs, or the property is specifically suitable to their need without adaptations; and
- continued oversight to ensure that properties meet private rental standards.
As set out in Housing For All, the review of MTR scheme is scheduled to be delivered in Q4 of this year and I expect to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.
105. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing complaints received by his Department in the first eight months of 2021; the categories under which the complaints fall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47013/21]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
My Department does not collect the data sought, however the Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P)05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.
106. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social, affordable and cost rental homes built, respectively by the State in quarter 1 and quarter 2 of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47014/21]
View answerDetails on social housing delivery for each local authority, across a range of delivery mechanisms, are included in social housing statistics published by my Department. Data for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 2021 is available on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
Under Housing for All, we will deliver 54,000 affordable homes in the period 2022-2030. We have seen the first delivery of affordable homes in August 2021 and under Housing for All, we will publish details of affordable delivery on a regular basis from 2022.
107. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of registered vacant sites in locations (details supplied) to date in 2021, in tabular form. [47015/21]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.
My Department does not maintain a central register of vacant sites as each local authority administers the vacant site levy in respect of its functional area; this includes identifying sites for inclusion on the register and applying the levy to same. I have no role in relation to this matter. As provided for under the Act, the register in respect of each local authority is available for inspection at its offices and online on its website. Therefore, the specific information requested is not available in my Department.
108. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of registered vacant homes in locations (details supplied) to date in 2021, in tabular form. [47017/21]
View answerHousing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland sets out four pathways to a sustainable housing system. At a time of high housing need, when people are homeless and living in unsuitable accommodation, it is vital that existing vacant homes are brought back into productive use. Pathway 4: 'Addressing Vacancy and Efficient Use of Existing Stock' addresses this issue and sets out a number of key actions in this regard.
While my Department does not hold data on the number of vacant properties in each Dáil Éireann constituency, as set out in Housing for All, the Department of Finance will collect data on vacancy levels in residential property with a view to introducing a new vacant property tax. The information on vacant residential properties will be collected from Local Property Tax returns due in November 2021.
Other key actions set out in Housing for All, to address vacancy and the efficient use of existing stock, include:
- A targeted approach to vacant stock combining Local Authority leadership, URDF / RRDF funding, Retrofit and Heritage funding;
- A new Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund to provide serviced sites for new homes and to support refurbishment of vacant homes in regional towns and villages.
- The introduction of incentives for rental and sale of vacant properties owned by participants in the Fair Deal scheme.
- New regulations requiring Short Term and Holiday Lets to register with Fáilte Ireland.
- A programme of CPO acquisitions to allow Local Authorities to acquire up to 2,500 vacant units by 2026 and present them to the open market for sale.
- The introduction of a Planned Maintenance approach for Local Authority stock management and maintenance.
- Activating State owned vacant properties that may be suitable for residential accommodation; and
- Tackling any remaining Unfinished Estates.
109. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to the Exchequer of a social home delivered through the buy and renew scheme over the 12-month period leading up to August 2021. [47020/21]
View answerAnalysing the average cost to deliver a new social home via the Buy and Renew home for the 12 month period up to August 2021, would not give an accurate reflection of costs as it is drawing from a small data sample. More broadly, since the introduction of the scheme, approximately 700 properties have been acquired by local authorities for social housing use, with the average cost to deliver these home being c.€195,000.
110. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to the Exchequer of a social home delivered through the Housing Agency's €70 million vacant homes acquisition fund over the 12-month period leading up to August 2021. [47021/21]
View answerAn acquisitions fund of €70 million, which is a revolving fund was established with effect from 1 January 2017 with the objective of acquiring some 1,600 units over the period to 2021 for social housing use. This has enabled the Housing Agency to actively engage with banks and investment companies in relation to the acquisition of vacant properties. The fund is replenished by the Housing Agency through the sale of units primarily to the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector which are utilising the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) and the funds received are then recycled back into the fund for future acquisitions.
To the end of June 2021, the Housing Agency had assigned 817 properties acquired using the Fund to AHBs for social housing use. Of this number, 54 properties were assigned to AHBs in the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, with an average spend per unit of €223,241.
Statistics for Q3 2021 are currently being collated and will be published in due course.
111. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to the Exchequer of a new Traveller-specific accommodation unit delivered from the Traveller's accommodation budget in the past 24 months. [47022/21]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
Traveller-specific projects and developments are focused on group housing schemes and halting sites. This includes meeting Traveller-specific housing needs through a range of mechanisms, such as the provision of mobiles and caravans; the provision of new and the refurbishment of existing halting sites and bays; the provision of new group housing schemes and the extension and refurbishment of existing schemes; the return to use of vacant group housing and the acquisition of properties in certain circumstances.
With the exception of the acquisition of properties and the provision of mobiles and caravans the timeline for the initiation, design, planning approval, tendering and contract management of traveller specific accommodation can be up to two years. Payments made from the traveller specific accommodation budget over the last 24 months in respect of construction projects would not give a reliable indication of average costs as they may not include all payments from initiation to completion in respect of a sufficient quantity of projects to provide a reliable average cost.
Average costs can however be provided for the last 24 months in respect of the acquisition of homes and the provision of mobiles and caravans. In 2019 the average cost for completed acquisitions was €339,750 and in 2020 it was €228,833. It should be borne in mind that the number of acquisitions is relatively small and the average can vary widely from year to year depending upon the number of acquisitions and the size and location of the homes acquired.
In respect of the provision of emergency mobiles/caravans the average cost to my Department was €9,947 in 2019 and €12,662 in 2020. This however only represents 50% of the actual average cost as local authorities fund 50% of the cost under the emergency replacement scheme. In respect of mobiles/caravans provided during the Covid emergency response, my Department funded 100% of the costs of the provision of mobiles/caravans (including associated costs) and the average cost was €22,180.
112. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total approved lending to approved housing bodies for the delivery of social housing in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of social homes delivered with that borrowing in 2020; and the target number to be delivered in 2021. [47023/21]
View answerApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making and continue to make an important contribution to social housing delivery. My Department and local authorities administer a number of funding programmes to assist AHBs with the cost of building, buying and leasing new social housing units.
The Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units, including units acquired through the establishment of the Housing Agency Acquisition Fund and the Mortgage to Rent scheme. My Department can provide CALF funding of up to 30% or up to 40% in the case of the Mortgage to Rent scheme for eligible projects, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department. The remainder of the capital cost is sourced by the AHB through other borrowings to which the local authorities are not party. All proposals for CALF are submitted to my Department by AHBs for review, to ensure that each project complies with the terms of the CALF and that there are sufficient funds available.
My Department does not hold information on the loan agreements under CALF, as the loan agreement, is between the local authority and the relevant AHB. Accordingly, information on the number and value of CALF loans, including the balance owning, is held by the relevant local authorities. The value and term of each loan varies by project.
The following table shows the 2020 delivery and expenditure to Local Authorities by my Department.
2020 delivery supported by CALF Funding
|
Delivery Stream |
Units |
Expenditure |
|
AHB -MTR |
117 |
€6.697m |
|
AHB CALF(incl HAA) |
2549 |
€190.22m |
The total budgetary allocation for CALF for 2021 is €220m of which €137.8m had been administered to Local Authorities by the end of August. In addition the 2021 budgetary allocation for the Mortgage to Rent scheme is €23m which also includes provision for the Local Authority Mortgage to Rent Scheme.
It is important to note that owing to the nature of the CALF, delivery of new housing does not always arise in the same year as expenditure and projects delivered under phased programmes may cross a number of payment periods.
Details of the 2021 funding provision for CALF and MTR and related output target are set out in the 2021 Revised Estimates (REV) which is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2021
Accelerating the delivery of social housing, with an increased emphasis on direct build is a key objective for my Department, and the Housing For All strategy contains an ambitious target of delivering more than 90,000 social homes to 2030.
113. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps taken by his Department to upscale co-operative housing developments in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47024/21]
View answerThe recently published Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. The annual targets include the delivery of 88,400 new social homes and 53,800 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2030.
Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency (LDA) and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency. Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) will have a significant role in the delivery of new housing under Housing for All. Under Housing for All, local authorities are required to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans, to set out details of social and affordable housing to be delivered in the five-year period 2022-2026. AHBs will be key delivery partners in the delivery of new homes under these action plans.
A new strengthened regulatory regime for AHBs has also been put in place. The Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) was formally established on 1 February 2021. A key role of AHBRA is to encourage and facilitate the better governance, administration and management including corporate governance and financial management, of AHBs.
114. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Guidance for Housing Authorities for Assisting Victims of Domestic Violence with Emergency and Long-Term Accommodation Needs 2017 circular is still his Department’s leading policy on the matter; his plans to update it or put it on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47047/21]
View answerResponsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I understand that the delivery of these services is managed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
In terms of housing services, in 2017, my Department issued policy and procedural guidance to housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence. The guidance is also a useful reference for service providers, covering a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence in seeking social housing supports. These include provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support.
The guidance was introduced with the objective of supporting a partnership approach by statutory agencies in respect of the delivery of domestic violence services, particularly in relation to helping to prevent and reduce the occurrence of related homelessness and facilitating the provision of long term accommodation for victims of domestic violence. This guidance continues to apply in providing direction to housing authorities in supporting the housing needs of victims of domestic violence.
115. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social housing units that are leased by local authority area and type, that is, Part V, enhanced leasing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47048/21]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on social housing units leased by Local Authorities on a quarterly basis. Details on the number of social housing units leased by local authorities from 2015 to Q2 2021 are published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
The Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the long term leasing of houses and apartments from private owners and Approved Housing Bodies.
From 2017 to the end of Q2 2021, 5,309 dwellings (excluding Part V leasing) have been secured under SHCEP. 181 dwellings have been secured via Part V leasing within the same period. Details of housing units leased by Local Authority, broken down by lease type are detailed in Table 1.
Table 1: Part V and Enhanced Leasing Delivery – 2017 to End Q2 21
|
LA |
AHB MTR |
NARPS Lease |
AHB Private Lease |
Enhanced Leasing |
LA Leasing |
Private MTR |
RLS |
Part V |
|
Carlow |
20 |
40 |
|
|
36 |
10 |
4 |
|
|
Cavan |
10 |
|
22 |
|
9 |
5 |
|
|
|
Clare |
5 |
23 |
27 |
|
155 |
9 |
10 |
|
|
Cork City |
16 |
114 |
57 |
|
65 |
5 |
2 |
|
|
Cork Co. |
38 |
3 |
13 |
|
29 |
17 |
5 |
|
|
DLR |
5 |
8 |
1 |
78 |
24 |
3 |
2 |
133 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
58 |
|
37 |
8 |
|
|
|
Dublin City |
68 |
6 |
81 |
|
498 |
5 |
2 |
22 |
|
Fingal |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|
274 |
15 |
27 |
|
|
Galway City |
5 |
|
|
|
14 |
1 |
|
|
|
Galway Co. |
14 |
|
19 |
35 |
26 |
7 |
2 |
|
|
Kerry |
12 |
|
94 |
|
173 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
64 |
|
56 |
|
99 |
23 |
1 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
|
|
|
50 |
11 |
2 |
2 |
|
Laois |
26 |
20 |
20 |
|
21 |
13 |
1 |
|
|
Leitrim |
2 |
|
|
|
6 |
5 |
|
|
|
Limerick |
23 |
|
53 |
|
109 |
16 |
27 |
|
|
Longford |
7 |
|
10 |
|
62 |
2 |
6 |
|
|
Louth |
31 |
|
12 |
14 |
76 |
17 |
3 |
|
|
Mayo |
10 |
|
|
|
207 |
11 |
12 |
|
|
Meath |
54 |
|
66 |
|
14 |
23 |
1 |
|
|
Monaghan |
10 |
38 |
|
|
|
3 |
6 |
|
|
Offaly |
37 |
|
17 |
|
44 |
11 |
|
|
|
Roscommon |
5 |
|
|
|
46 |
5 |
3 |
|
|
Sligo |
4 |
|
14 |
|
4 |
9 |
|
|
|
South Dublin |
55 |
5 |
|
|
234 |
10 |
|
21 |
|
Tipperary |
32 |
|
8 |
|
107 |
23 |
1 |
1 |
|
Waterford |
38 |
13 |
1 |
|
137 |
27 |
118 |
|
|
Westmeath |
18 |
|
9 |
|
161 |
13 |
1 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
30 |
24 |
|
|
83 |
21 |
27 |
|
|
Wicklow |
36 |
|
|
|
34 |
20 |
|
|
|
Total |
743 |
342 |
640 |
127 |
2,834 |
356 |
267 |
181 |
All data is based on local authority claims for operational agreements recorded on my Department's SHCEP financial management system. Any variations in data between operational figures and total output under leasing delivery streams is due to the time lag in the submission of claims to my Department in respect of new claims after delivery.
116. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the real estate investment funds, institutional investors or corporate entities that local authorities and approved housing bodies are leasing social housing from; the number in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47049/21]
View answerThe Social Housing Leasing Programme supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the long term leasing of houses and apartments.
Applications under the leasing programme are made to the relevant local authority who assess each application. Where the application is for more than 4 properties, the local authority must apply to my Department for approval before entering into any agreement.
Local authorities lease dwellings taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable communities’ considerations and value for money. These properties are allocated to households on the social housing waiting list. As such, the type and size of dwelling leased, the entities from whom the houses are leased and the allocation of those dwellings, is a matter for the relevant local authority having regard to its most recent housing needs assessment.
Details of the owner involved in each social housing leasing project are not held by my Department.
Data on social housing leasing delivery, funded by my Department, in respect of all local authorities to end Q2 2021 is published on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
117. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an independent report into the Blackwater and Boyne catchments (details supplied); if he has considered its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47074/21]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation.
The Environmental Protection Agency, through its Office of Environmental Enforcement, exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities.
However, I have just been made aware of this report and will arrange for it to be examined in detail.
119. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46876/21]
View answer120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a refund for a passport application will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46879/21]
View answer121. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); if the documents submitted as part of this application will be returned to the applicant’s father; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46909/21]
View answer123. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport application for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46964/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 121, inclusive, and 123 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant.
The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport Express for applications which have been completed correctly.
122. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total spend on external contractors, consultancy services and other outsourcing in 2018 and 2019. [46927/21]
View answerThe Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is necessary.
External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services to our citizens in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money.
Such external expertise may involve the provision of specialised reports, expert analysis or expert technical services to the Department.
A small number of consultancies are engaged directly by our Missions abroad from time to time and in some instances they prepare technical reports relating to Ireland’s overseas development aid programme.
The Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement guidelines. Procurement takes place in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).
The Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) focusing especially on achieving procurement savings, including the use of shared framework agreements for the provision of different categories of supplies and services.
The total spend in 2018 was €27,471,366.68.
The total spend in 2019 was €24,477,945.95.
124. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role he envisions Ireland taking to advance the Middle East peace process following the unanimous motion of Dáil Éireann earlier in 2021 that Israel’s settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem amounts to an unlawful de-facto annexation; if Ireland will maximise its seat on the United Nations Security Council and take a more pro-active approach in supporting a negotiated two-state solution and lasting peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47005/21]
View answerIreland’s position on the Middle East Peace Process and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is informed by international law, respect for human rights and the goal of a two-state solution through a negotiated peace agreement.
Ireland has been consistently vocal in its opposition to settlement expansion and annexation. The Government's support for the Dáil motion earlier this year reflected our grave concern about the scale and character of settlements and their negative impact. We will continue to proactively raise these issues at EU level, in national and EU statements, at the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council, and in our bilateral contacts.
The Middle East Peace Process remains a key priority for Ireland during our term on the Security Council. Ireland engages actively in monthly meetings on the situation in the Middle East. I addressed meetings of the Council on this issue in January and May this year. As part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council this month, I chaired a dialogue between the Security Council and the League of Arab States on 22 September, during which I underlined the need for strong regional engagement on the MEPP and a reinvigoration of the political track, which is vital to advance peace. I had further discussions on the MEPP in my bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers last week at the UN.
This week, Ireland is chairing the Council’s monthly meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question. This meeting will focus on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which includes the issue of illegal settlements, violence against civilians and de-escalation and reversal of negative trends on the ground.
I have been clear in my engagement with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority of the commitment of this Government to advancing a two-State solution for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland remains firmly committed to a negotiated two-state solution based on international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and agreed parameters.
