Written Answers Nos. 101-121
101. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of buildings either owned or managed by his Department in Blanchardstown village, Dublin 15; and if they are currently being used. [50324/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not own or manage any properties in the location referenced.
102. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if sports projects in the Gaeltacht can be funded under the capital sports programme in which another element of the overall project has been funded from the Gaeltacht section of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50273/21]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Further information regarding the eligibility requirements of this Programme can be found on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/.
Under the Department's Community and Language Supports Program, capital assistance is also provided for the construction or upgrade of community, language and recreational facilities, including the purchase of equipment, in Gaeltacht areas through An Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga (The Community and Language Support Programme). This finance is provided to further support the implementation of the language planning process and to support the systematic implementation of both the Governments’ Action Plan for the Irish Language and the overarching 20-Year Strategy for the Irish language 2010-2030. Further information on this is available on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/service/public-and-language-support-programme/.
Subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria, clearly distinct elements of a particular project can be funded under either scheme but any funding for the same element of the project cannot be drawn down under both. This is in accordance with the relevant Department of Public Expenditure’s Circular on the Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds.
103. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil tograí spóirt i gceantair Ghaeltachta cáilithe do dheontais ón Rannóg Gaeltachta den Roinn má fuair gné eile den togra iomlán deontas faoin scéim Deontais Caipitil Spóirt; má tá siad cáilithe, na coinníollacha a bhaineann leis seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50274/21]
View answerFaoin gClár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga de chuid na Roinne, cuirtear cúnamh caipitil ar fáil chun áiseanna pobail agus teanga a athchóiriú nó a fhorbairt sa Ghaeltacht - lena n-áirítear tograí sa réimse caitheamh aimsire agus spóirt.
Ós rud é go bhfuil sé mar cheann de phríomhaidhmeanna an chláir tacú le treisiú na Gaeilge ar leas an phróisis pleanála teanga agus mar chuid d'fheidhmiú Plean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022 an Rialtais don Ghaeilge, is iondúil go mbíonn coinníollacha teanga dlúthbainteach le ceadú deontas faoin gclár. Tá tuilleadh eolais faoi ar fáil ar shuíomh na Roinne ag: www.gov.ie/ga/seirbhis/an-clar-tacaiochtai-pobail-agus-teanga/.
Ní bhíonn a leithéid de choinníollacha i gceist maidir leis an gClár Caipitil Spóirt go hiondúil. I gcás go mbeadh cúnamh caiptil curtha ar fáil faoin gClár Caipitil Spóirt ní fhéadfadh ábhar an deontais sin a bheith mar ábhar cúnaimh faoin gClár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga agus vice a versa.
104. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a list of buildings either owned or managed by her Department in Blanchardstown village, Dublin 15; and if they are currently being used. [50325/21]
View answerIn general, matters relating to the acquisition and leasing of property for my Department are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. Within that context I am advised that my Department neither owns nor manages any buildings in the area specified by the Deputy.
105. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next round of sports capital grant scheme funding will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50338/21]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March 2021. By the closing date, over 3,100 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.
The scoring system and assessment procedures was published earlier this year and all applications are being assessed in accordance with these. Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for "equipment only" projects. These applications were assessed first and €16.6m worth of grants were announced on the 6th August.
The remaining applications for capital works are now being assessed. Given the large number of applications received, this work is likely to take a number of months to complete with allocations expected to be announced before the end of this year. Once these allocations are finalised an announcement on the timing of the next round of the Programme will be made.
106. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress made in achieving action 12 of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027. [50352/21]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This remit includes the implementation of measures to address issues such as the disability participation gradient that is referenced in Action 12 of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027.
As this is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
107. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress made in achieving action 28 of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027. [50353/21]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This remit includes the allocation of funding to sporting organisations and other entities for various purposes such as volunteer training that is specifically referenced in Action 28 of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027.
As this is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
108. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the stress HAP tenants and prospective HAP tenants are under who are forced to take cases to the Workplace Relations Commission; if consideration has been given to providing assistance to HAP tenants; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that many cannot take cases due to the fact they do not have contact details for the landlord or prospective landlord; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50253/21]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2021, 94,500 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 62,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
A landlord or an agent acting on behalf of a landlord is not legally obliged to enter into a tenancy agreement specifically with a HAP recipient. However, on 1 January 2016, the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 introduced “housing assistance” as a new discriminatory ground. This means that discrimination in the provision of accommodation or related service and amenities against people in receipt of rent supplement, HAP or other social welfare payments is prohibited. Further information is available at www.ihrec.ie/your-rights/housing/housing-assistance-payment/.
If a person feels that they have been discriminated against by a landlord or their agent, they can make a complaint under the Equal Status Acts to the Workplace Relations Commission; further information is available on the Commission's website, www.workplacerelations.ie/en/.
Threshold, the housing charity, provides a comprehensive advice and advocacy service to families and individuals who are renting their homes. Further information is available at www.threshold.ie/advice/seeking-private-rented-accommodation/can-a-landlord-refuse-to-rent-to-me/.
The HAP scheme continues to be an effective and secure forms of social housing support and remains a part of the suite of social housing options currently available across the country.
109. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make provision in which persons allocated voluntary housing could apply for a transfer to the local authority housing list or on to the HAP scheme if their voluntary housing does not suit their current needs; the reason such persons are confined at present to applying for a transfer to the voluntary housing body they are housed with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50259/21]
View answerThe oversight and management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.
Where a voluntary housing/approved housing body (AHB) tenant was drawn from a local authority social housing waiting list in the first instance, there is no particular legislative provision that prevents that tenant from applying to go onto a local authority transfer list.
Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households. Under section 22, an allocation scheme shall apply to dwellings owned or under the control of a local authority, as well as dwellings provided by AHBs with Exchequer funding. It is a matter for the housing authority to provide in its allocation scheme as to whether AHB tenants may apply to go onto their local authority transfer list. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Under section 45 of the 2014 Act which sets out conditions for ineligibility for HAP, a household in receipt of a form of social housing support other than housing assistance shall not be eligible for such assistance, except where a housing authority is satisfied that the household is unable to continue to live in the dwelling concerned due to exceptional circumstances, including displacement by fire, flood or any other emergency, that was not caused by an act, or a failure to act, by the household or a household member.
110. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his Department’s queries with regard to the concrete block redress scheme applied for by Clare County Council. [50268/21]
View answerMy Department received correspondence from Clare County Council in October 2020, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to County Clare. A comprehensive reply was subsequently issued to the Council in November 2020.
My Department informed the 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.
Subsequently a report was finalised and submitted by Clare Co Co at the end of July. A formal response to the submission from Clare County County will issue shortly from my Department. My officials have recently updated Clare County Council in that regard.
Any extension of the Scheme will have to be part of wider discussions with Government colleagues, in particular the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Attorney General. In that context and following on from my receipt of the Report of the Working Group on Defective Concrete Blocks I will shortly be bringing proposals to Government.
111. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of buildings either owned or managed by his Department in Blanchardstown village, Dublin 15; and if they are currently being used. [50319/21]
View answerThere are no buildings owned or managed by my Department in Blanchardstown village, Dublin 15.
112. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the outcome of the studies undertaken by the working groups concerning the future use of peat by the horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50349/21]
View answerAs part of the National Peatlands Strategy, a Review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry was published in September 2020.
On foot of a recommendation in the Review, I established a working group, which includes representatives from relevant Government Departments and State Agencies, Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and industry stakeholders to examine the issues which were identified during the Review.
I appointed Dr Munoo Prasad to chair the working group, which has held twelve meetings to date. Matters under discussion by the group include the legislative provisions in relation to horticultural peat extraction and the potential of alternatives to the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry. A draft interim report has been prepared, and sent to me; meanwhile the working group continues its deliberations.
The final Report of the group was expected to be completed by the end of September, however the Chair has requested a brief extension to 20 October, to allow the Report to be finalised. I have agreed to this request.
113. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50357/21]
View answerWaterways Ireland commenced planning and design preparation work on Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal restoration project (Clones to Clonfad) in County Monaghan during 2021.
Construction on site is planned to commence in the summer of 2022, subject to completion of land acquisition. Substantial completion of the main infrastructure works is expected in Q2 of 2023.
This phase will include the following infrastructure:
Circa 0.7 km of new canal,
New canal basin with capacity for 40 berths at Clones,
Boat slipway
Refurbishment of existing masonry arch bridge,
New access bridge(s),
Service block with toilets & showers,
Tourism and recreation facilities,
Looped walking and cycling routes along the canal banks,
Reimagined public realm & amenity area with parking.
Phase 3 of the Ulster Canal Restoration (Clonfad to Castle Saunderson) is a 10km stretch of the canal through Fermanagh and Monaghan which will link Phases 1 and 2. This will complete access from Clones to the River Shannon via Lough Erne and the Shannon-Erne Waterway system.
Phase 3 has four sub-phases:
Phase 3.1 Castle Saunderson to Gortnacarrow;
Phase 3.2 Gortnacarrow to the border;
Phase 3.3 Border to Derrynure;
Phase 3.4 Derrynure to Confad.
The indicative timeline for completion of Phase 3 is 2028.
114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of political prisoners in Belarus; the extent to which the international community has concerned itself with the issue; the response from the authorities in Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50199/21]
View answerSince the fraudulent presidential elections of August 2020, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko has used violence and fear to silence dissent. Arbitrary detention of political dissidents is a key element of the repression, and reports from NGOs now suggest that there are over 800 political prisoners in Belarus.
This is an unacceptable state of affairs, and Ireland has been highly vocal on the international stage in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those unjustly detained.
Most recently, Ireland co-sponsored an “Arria formula” meeting at the United Nations Security Council, initiated by Estonia, on the situation in Belarus. Ireland, along with other members of the international community, have also used forums such as the Human Rights Council to hold the regime to account.
At a European level, Ireland has consistently supported economic sanctions on individuals and entities upholding the Lukashenko regime. We are currently engaged in discussions on a fifth package of sanctions.
The Lukashenko regime continues to display a sense of impunity, and has failed thus far to respond to international pressure. However, Ireland will continue to push for an inclusive dialogue of the entirety of Belarusian society, in order to pave the way towards free and fair elections and a democratic Belarus.
115. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will be nominating any Irish election observers for the election in Uzbekistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50224/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 22 September 2021, Parliamentary Questions No. 303, 304, 305, 310 and 311 of 26 May 2021 and Parliamentary Question No. 777 of 24 March 2021 on international election observation.
The Department of Foreign Affairs facilitates an election observation roster of suitably skilled and vetted volunteers who are available to participate at short notice in election observation missions, organised by the OSCE and EU. The current roster of approximately 199 volunteers is in place since 1 January 2019.
Participation in election observation missions has been challenging due to COVID-19, with the risk profile of missions enhanced due to transit through international airport hubs, extensive in-country travel and interactions with observers from a significant number of other countries. This could potentially expose not only election monitors to the virus, but also those with whom they interact in the host country and when they return home. As such, since March 2020, Ireland has not nominated election observers for EU or OSCE Election Observation Missions.
However, given the re-opening of non-essential international travel and the progress of Ireland’s vaccination programme, my officials have been working to clarify the safe conditions for volunteer election observers before, during and after their participation in election observation missions. This work had not been concluded before the deadline for nomination of observers to Uzbekistan. However, it is now complete and it is my intention to nominate observers to subsequent missions on a case by case basis, subject to adjudication of duty of care.
116. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which Ireland will meet its commitment to reach a spend of 0.7% of GNI by 2030 on overseas development aid; his plans to achieve this; if he will provide a breakdown of the spend in 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively; the amount of aid spent directly by Ireland; the amount committed through EU programmes; the breakdown of those commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50233/21]
View answerContinued and steady increases in ODA allocations year-on-year will enable the 2030 target to be achieved. Budget 2022 allocated the highest ever amount to ODA, over €1 billion, an increase of €140 million on the 2021 figure.
However, in years of high GNI growth, large increases in cash allocations achieve only modest increases as a proportion of GNI. My Department is building systems that enable our development programme to grow further, including as a proportion of GNI, in a sustainable and responsible way.
In 2020, a total of €867 million was allocated to ODA. Of that, €545 million was managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs: this include €50 million through the European Development Fund and contributions to EU trust funds. An additional €178 million was channelled directly through the EU ODA-eligible budget as part of Ireland’s annual EU assessed contribution. The remainder is accounted for by other ODA-spending Departments, including Departments of Finance, Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Justice. The full breakdown of 2020’s ODA is currently being finalised and will be published next month in the Irish Aid Annual Report 2020.
The allocation to ODA in budget 2021 was €868 million, of which €571 million was to my Department. The budget day forecast for the EU ODA-eligible was €159 million, a significant portion of the €297 million in ODA managed outside of the Department of Foreign Affairs. This represented an increase, with 2021 the first year of the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework, which created a new single development instrument incorporating the European Development Fund.
It is likely when final figures are compiled that the 2021 out turn for ODA will be above €900 million, in part due to additional support to the global pandemic response. The full breakdown of the 2021 ODA spend will be published next year in the Irish Aid Annual Report 2021.
117. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this person is travelling this week. [50340/21]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has 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.
118. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if there are grants available to schools for the purpose of building storage facilities for scooters and bicycles; and if so, the way schools can apply for same. [50183/21]
View answerThe use of bicycles is encouraged and secure and covered cycle parking facilities are provided as part of major new builds and refurbishment projects, and in accordance with Planning Permission Conditions.
Where no major project is being undertaken, the relevant mechanisms for addressing the type of issues raised by the Deputy are the Minor Works Grant for small-scale works or the Summer Works Scheme for medium to larger works.
The Summer Works Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and was last open for applications in 2020.
My Department in conjunction with the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD launched a new initiative called Safe Routes to School on the 18th March 2021. This will support active travel infrastructure for selected schools around the country.
The Safe Routes to School programme aims to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities, alleviate congestion at the school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing walking and cycling facilities. The improvements to the school commute could range from cycle parking to an upgraded footpath or new cycle lane to a complete reworking of a school’s entrance.
119. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding land allocations for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50184/21]
View answerMy Department has published guidelines to assist in the identification and the assessment for suitability of new sites for schools where the procurement of a new site is required. The relevant guidelines are TGD-025 for Primary School site identification and TGD-027 for Post-Primary site identification. All technical guidelines are available on the www.gov.ie website at; www.gov.ie/en/publication/7e515-technical-guidance-documents/.
These guidelines are not intended to be prescriptive and cover a number of technical criteria to be taken into account when appraising the suitability and development potential of a site for a new school relative to other available options. Both documents refer to guidelines for green space provision. However, in higher density urban developments the optimum site area may not be available and green space guidelines are subject to space availability.
120. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her plans regarding the banking of hours by primary schools in cases in which mainstream classroom teachers are replaced by special education teachers due to absences; if her attention has been drawn to the demands of a union (details supplied) to reinstate this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50188/21]
View answerAmong the COVID-19 supports provided for the 2020/21 school year, additional measures to provide for substitution to cover for teacher absences were introduced. These included a major expansion of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panels. These were extended and currently almost 380 newly appointed supply panel teachers are employed, providing substitute cover to over 2,500 primary schools across the country. These substitute Supply Panels are not the only means whereby schools source substitutes but are set up to work alongside the existing methods of sourcing substitute teachers such as the national substitution portal service "Sub Seeker", operated by IPPN or through a school’s own panel of regular substitutes.
As a measure of last resort, and in the context of the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 related absences schools were permitted to use non-mainstream class teachers last year to provide cover for teacher absences.
Department Circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, provide that schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired. The circulars set out the sequence of recruitment for substitute appointments, which include contacting a person on the substitute list established by the employer, or by using a national substitute service such as SubSeeker, or advertising.
Due to the successful roll out of the vaccination programme and changes to the rules around close contacts and the requirements to restrict movements, teacher absences due to Covid-19 should be reduced this year. In this context using non-mainstream class teachers should no longer be necessary and schools should revert to using the normal sequence of filling substitute positions. It will therefore no longer be necessary to ‘bank hours’. This will ensure that children with special education needs get access to their specialised teaching on an ongoing basis.
121. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her plans regarding teacher supply panels at both primary and secondary school level; if she plans to expand the existing coverage of supply panels to make them accessible to schools nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50189/21]
View answer122. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education her views on the adequacy of the number of teachers currently allocated to supply panels for substitute teachers at a primary school level; if her attention has been drawn to cases in which three substitute teachers are covering up to 14 schools in a district as is the case in north County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50191/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.
As part of the COVID-19 supports provided to schools in 2020, additional funding of €41.2 million was allocated to provide primary schools with substitute staff.
This funding allowed for the expansion of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 132 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 380 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to over 2,500 schools across the country. This includes 5 supply panel clusters in Co. Wicklow.
The base schools were firstly identified in conjunction with the INTO and primary management bodies. The INTO and management bodies made contact with these schools with a view to being a base for that location.
In forming the Supply Panel clusters, my Department's GIS system identified the receiving schools based on distance from the base school. Teaching posts were allocated to each Supply Panel cluster based on the number of permanent teaching positions in the schools in the cluster and the distance to the base school.
Primary schools have been informed that the Supply Panel Scheme will continue for the 2021/22 school year. The scheme provides more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and allows for substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes.
