Written Answers Nos. 203-217
203. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to provide funding as promised for the cycleway along the promenade in Galway given that approval for same has been given by Galway City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48977/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public and sustainable transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and active travel infrastructure, allocating the funding provided by my Department at project level and working to deliver these projects in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. This includes the project mentioned by the Deputy, namely the proposed cycleway in Salthill.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
204. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport when he expects a railway order application for MetroLink to be submitted in view of his recent comments regarding a seven year delay to the project; when his Department plans to complete its review of the preliminary business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49026/21]
View answer205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the reasons for the reported delay to construction of MetroLink; the steps he is taking to address blockages to progress of this major infrastructure project; if an updated timeline will be provided for the completion of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49027/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.
MetroLink is likely the largest ever public investment project in the history of the State. It faces imminent and important milestones in the coming months and these milestones will determine its progress in the coming years.
Firstly, there is Government’s approval of the Preliminary Business Case and secondly there is the submission of a Railway Order application to An Bord Pleanála. On that first milestone, my Department has received draft Preliminary Business Cases for MetroLink. This represents Decision Gate 1 under the Public Spending Code and the Preliminary Business Case is currently under review.
For major projects, like MetroLink, the Public Spending Code requires a Government decision and I expect to seek such a Government decision in the near future. If approved by Government, that will allow MetroLink to move into the statutory planning system, subject to the completion of the necessary planning and environmental documentation.
The second impending milestone is the submission of Railway Order applications for MetroLink. That application requires the finalisation of an extensive set of documentation, including environmental impact assessment reports, and that work is ongoing in relation to this project.
I understand that an extensive body of work remains in relation to finalising the preliminary design, completing the required environmental impact assessment reports and closing out property referencing issues. This should be completed during Q1 next year and, subject to the Government decision mentioned above, the project will then be ready to seek planning permission.
An actual construction start date will ultimately be determined by the planning process and Government approval to proceed to construction at that time.
I trust this clarifies the current position.
206. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the status of two delayed public bike schemes stations in Limerick city (details supplied). [49065/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel and public transport infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the management of public bike schemes. Details regarding contracts, operation and expansion of existing and proposed bike schemes fall under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), working in conjunction with the relevant local authorities.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply . Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
207. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will address an accident black spot on the N71 between Skibbereen and Ballydehob (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49066/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
208. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on putting in place protocols that are automatically put in place at locations of serious or fatal road accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49067/21]
View answerThis is an operational matter for An Garda Síochana and not under the remit of the Minister for Transport.
209. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to issues of persons whose homes are affected by pyrite and so therefore have no market value and are exempt from paying the local property tax, however as the home is a duplex they are situated above the foundation and have not received the necessary certification required to receive the necessary exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48818/21]
View answerAs advised in my recent reply to Parliamentary Questions 45921/21, 45922/21 and 45923/21, on 23rd September, a residential property is only eligible for exemption from Local Property Tax (LPT) on foot of pyrite related damage where one of the following legislative conditions is met:
1. a certificate of damage has been completed in respect of the property by a competent person,
2. the property has been accepted into the Pyrite Remediation Scheme operated by the Pyrite Resolution Board,
3. an insurance company has remediated the property or provided sufficient funds to carry out the remediation, or
4. the builder who built the property has remediated the property or provided sufficient funds to carry out the remediation.
Property owners claiming the exemption under criteria 1 must provide a certificate to Revenue, which is completed in accordance with I.S. 398-1.2013 as set down by the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in Statutory Instrument (SI) No 147 of 2013. Property owners claiming the exemption under criteria 2 to 4 must provide appropriate supporting documentation.
Revenue has confirmed that it made direct contact with the property owner the Deputy has referenced previously on this matter to explain the criteria required to qualify for an exemption from LPT on foot of pyrite damage. The person confirmed that while the property is located above the ground floor of a building with significant pyrite damage (on the ground floor), certification or supporting documentation in accordance with the required criteria has not been secured. On that basis it is not possible for Revenue to grant an exemption from LPT for the property.
While there may not be entitlement to an exemption from LPT where the specified criteria is not met, it is accepted that the existence of pyrite, whether it has already caused structural damage or has the potential to cause such damage, has a negative effect on the market value of a residential property. In such circumstances, the property owner is entitled to take account of its presence when determining the appropriate LPT valuation.
210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance when offices of the Revenue Commissioners will reopen to members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48891/21]
View answerRevenue has confirmed that the timelines around reopening offices and facilitating public access is kept under continuous review and will be considered further in line with the dates announced by Government for the easing of restrictions. In considering the most appropriate time to reopen offices, Revenue will continue to focus on customer and staff safety as its highest priority and as was the case for most of its public offices before the pandemic, will re-open on an appointment only basis where all such meetings will fully observe the necessary social distancing protocols.
Throughout the pandemic, Revenue has continued to provide a full range of online services for taxpayers to manage their tax affairs, which for the most part remove any requirement to access public offices. These services, which include an online communications channel through the MyEnquiries system, are available 24/7, are easy to use and are fully secure.
For taxpayers who, for a variety of reasons, may not have access to the online services, Revenue is providing extensive support across its various telephone helplines and is operating a full service for queries being received through the postal system. Further details regarding the different telephone helplines is available on the Revenue website (via the contact us page), which may be of assistance to the Deputy. For the more complex matters that require one to one engagement, taxpayers can avail of virtual appointments with the relevant Revenue official through video-conferencing facilities.
Finally, if the Deputy is aware of a specific taxpayer that requires assistance, he should provide the details through the Oireachtas Helpline telephone number and Revenue will make direct contact.
211. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the projected increase or decrease that will occur in the next five years from corporation tax if the rate of corporation tax is increased from 12.5% to 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48978/21]
View answer212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the projected loss of corporation tax that will occur in the next five years if the basis on which corporation tax is paid changes from one based on the country in which the profits are attributed to one based the final location of the customer particularly in view of Ireland's large volume of exports per head of population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48979/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the 140 member jurisdictions of the OECD Inclusive Framework are meeting later this week to reach an agreement on the broad parameters of a two pillar solution to address the address the tax challenges of digitalisation. The first aspect of these proposals, Pillar One, provides for a re-allocation of a proportion of the profits of highly profitable very large multinational groups to taxation in the market jurisdiction. Pillar Two proposes a global minimum effective tax rate to multinational groups which have an annual turnover in excess of €750 million.
It is likely that, if agreed and implemented, these proposals will result in a reduction of corporation tax receipts in Ireland. Department of Finance officials previously estimated that the cost to the Exchequer of the OECD reforms may be up to EUR €2 billion annually. This is the estimate included in both the Stability Programme Update published by the Department in April and the Summer Economic Statement published in July, with the full amount to apply from 2025. Notwithstanding progress on headline aspects of the proposals, there remain a number of important technical details outstanding on both Pillars, making it very difficult to provide an update to this estimate at this juncture.
The way in which business operates internationally has changed significantly in recent years due to the digitalisation and globalisation of the economy and I believe that the international tax system must evolve to reflect these changes. Bringing stability and certainty to the international tax system will have longer-term benefits for Ireland and the global economy generally.
Negotiations are ongoing and there are important aspects of the proposals that remain to be resolved. Nevertheless, I expect that the OECD Inclusive Framework will find agreement on a comprehensive, sustainable and equitable solution which meets the needs of all countries, large and small, developed and developing.
213. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén uair a dhéanfar fógra faoi réir 9(2) d’Acht na Gaeltachta 2021 ag fógairt go bhfuil i gceist An Clochán a ainmniú mar bhaile seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus ag lorg tairiscintí le plean a réiteacht; an fáth go bhfuil moill ar seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [48973/21]
View answerFaoi réir alt 9(2) d' Acht na Gaeltachta is gá fógra a dhéanamh ag tabhairt le fios go bhfuil sé ar intinn an baile i gceist, An Clochán sa chás seo, a ainmniú mar Bhaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta ach plean teanga sásúil a bheith ullmhaithe agus ceadaithe faoin bpróiseas pleanála teanga.
Uair amháin go ndéantar an fógra, beidh tréimhse míosa ag eagraíochtaí cáilithe chun iarratas a dhéanamh chun a bheith roghnaithe le plean a ullmhú agus a fheidhmiú don Chlochán.
Cuirfear ciste ar fiú suas le €20,000 ar fáil don eagraíocht a roghnaítear chun cabhrú le hullmhú an phlean. Ach plean don bhaile a bheith faofa faoin bpróiseas cuirfear ciste bliantúil ar fiú €80,000 ar fáil thar thréimhse seacht mbliana chun cúram a dhéanamh d'fheidhmiú an phlean.
Tá céimeanna idir lámha ag an Roinn faoi láthair chun go ndéanfar an fógra seo gan mhoill - rud a chuirfidh ar chumas Foras na Gaeilge na chéad chéimeanna eile a ghlacadh agus tabhairt faoi cheanneagraíocht a roghnú don Chlochán.
214. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures in place or planned to improve housing options for persons with a disability and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48704/21]
View answerThe Government is determined to ensure that housing policy addresses the needs of those who experience exclusion in our society. There is ongoing and extensive engagement with all local authorities across all delivery streams to ensure maximum delivery of homes for those who need them. I meet regularly with local authorities and I know that they are committed to ensuring that housing is provided to all eligible applicants as speedily as possible and that the support needs of applicants are appropriately assessed.
Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland which was launched last month targets delivery of more homes of all types for people with different housing needs, including delivery of over 10,000 new social homes per year to 2030.
Specifically for people with disabilities, the Plan prioritises delivering an appropriate range of housing types and related support services in an integrated and sustainable manner. The roadmap to achieve this is to be set out in a new National Housing Strategy for Disabled People from 2022, promoting equality of opportunity, individual choice and independent living.
The current National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2016-2021, which is a joint Strategy with the Department of Health, runs to the end of this year and a first consultation phase for the development of a new joint Strategy to 2027 was launched earlier this year, with a research phase running in parallel. A second round of consultation is underway and a new joint Strategy will be in place by 1 January 2022.
Furthermore, Actions 7.1 to 7.6 of Housing for All set out specific measures to provide or enhance housing for people with disabilities. These include;
- ensuring that local authority Housing Delivery Action Plans will set out how dedicated social housing provision appropriate to the needs of people with a disability will be delivered matching the scale and extent of housing need identified for people with a disability;
- the needs of people with a disability will be assessed through the Housing Need and Demand Assessment Framework to be considered as part of the Housing Strategy and Development Plan process;
- Housing and Disability Steering Groups will have to report quarterly on the implementation of their local strategic plans regarding housing for people with a disability to the Chief Executive and the Strategic Policy Committee;
- the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs, including the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability will be reviewed, and relevant changes made, where appropriate;
- Disability Friendly Housing Technical Advisors will be appointed in each Local Authority.
To address the specific housing adaptation needs of disabled people, my Department also provides funding annually for the Disabled Persons Grant (DPG) scheme and the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, both administered directly by the local authorities. DPG funding is provided for adaptations and extensions to existing social housing stock to meet specific needs of the local authority tenants, while the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants address specific needs of older people and people with a disability in privately owned homes.
215. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when regulations for affordable housing will be issued to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48774/21]
View answer‘Housing for All’ delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply, and put affordability at the heart of the housing system. €4 billion in funding annually, representing the highest ever level of Government investment in building social and affordable housing, will, inter alia, support 54,000 new affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by the preparation by local authorities of Housing Delivery Action Plans, which will be submitted to me before the end of this year.
Building on the regulations already put in place, it is intended that further regulations in respect of the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, as well as regulations governing the eligibility conditions that will be applicable to Cost Rental over the longer term, will be put in place by November.
216. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the terms of the new local authority mortgage scheme can be adapted to include provisions for those that cannot get a mortgage through the bank due to a chronic illness and as such are not able to get life assurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48780/21]
View answerLocal authority mortgage protection insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan introduced on 1 February 2018. Local authority MPI will also apply to the Local Authority Home Loan when it is intoduced.
One of the conditions of the MPI scheme, which is a group policy, is that it is obligatory for all local authority borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria to join the scheme. Altering this condition would have a negative impact on the scheme and increase the cost for all existing borrowers. A local authority housing loan applicant, who is not eligible for the local authority MPI scheme, must source a suitable comparable individual MPI policy from the market.
I look forward to announcing further details in respect of the Local Authority Home Loan in the coming months.
217. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the four joint local area plans that were promised for the largest population centres that cross county boundaries (details supplied) have been completed or started; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48794/21]
View answerThe National Planning Framework adopted in 2018 included National Policy Objective 70, stated that “Provision will be made for urban area plans, based on current local area plan provisions, and joint urban area plans and local area plans will be prepared where a town and environs lie within the combined functional area of more than one local authority”.
All three Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies prepared by each of the three Regional Assemblies identified where the preparation of joint local area plans were required. These included;
- Drogheda: Louth and Meath county councils;
- Athlone: Westmeath and Roscommon county councils;
- Carlow: Carlow and Laois county councils
Waterford and Kilkenny were not identified as planning authorities required to prepare a joint local area plan. Waterford and Kilkenny will however, work together on the Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan and a Joint Retail Strategy.
Currently, all County Development Plans have either very recently been adopted or are being prepared.
It is an objective of each Development Plan (Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Roscommon, Carlow and Laois) that the identified joint local area plans will be prepared during the lifetime of the respective Development Plan periods.
The Meath County Development Plan (CDP) (2021 – 2027) will come into effect on 3 November 2021 with the Louth CDP (2021 – 2027) following on the 16 November 2021. It is anticipated that both authorities will prioritise the preparation of a Joint Urban Area Plan (UAP/LAP) for Drogheda within Q1 2022.
The Westmeath CDP (2021 – 2027) came into effect on 3 May 2021. However, the Roscommon CDP is not due to be adopted until May 2022. Once both County Development Plans are adopted, the Joint Plan will be commenced.
The Laois CDP (2022 – 2028) is due to be adopted in February 2022 with the Carlow CDP following in August 2022.
All Planning Authorities have committed to preparing and implementing the respective identified joint plans.
