Written Answers Nos. 255-274
255. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he is taking to improve accessibility across national monument sites under the care of the OPW for persons with disabilities including persons with mobility restrictions and persons with visual and hearing impairments. [57396/21]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the day-to-day running of National Monuments in State ownership or guardianship. It has a conservation remit under the National Monuments Acts 1930 - 2004 to maintain the National Monuments in State care and an active, though non-statutory, role in facilitating presentation and public access.
The approach of the OPW Heritage Services is essentially conservation and protection oriented with the bulk of resources dedicated to this end. The vast majority of national monuments in State care are presented to the public without specific visitor facilities such as a guide service. Public access however, to heritage attractions is a high priority and much effort has been made to improve access and information at all built heritage sites.
There is a total of almost 1,000 individual National Monuments in State care at approximately 768 locations around the country. As a general policy, the OPW facilitates visitor access to as many National Monument sites as possible, however, access is not always feasible due to a range of issues including physical location, risks associated with dangerous structures, and restrictions imposed in some cases by landowners who may wish to limit access, either temporarily or more long term, by reason of accident risk, livestock etc.
Having regard to principles of Universal Access, the OPW is committed insofar as is feasible to ensure that heritage sites in its care which are open to the public are as accessible as possible to all users. However, given the nature of these properties, their antiquity and restrictions in terms of works permitted under Section 14 of the National Monuments Act, it is not always possible to provide universal access.
At sites where there are accessibility issues the OPW endeavours to bring this to visitors’ attention on our website, www.heritageireland.ie.
The OPW offers free entry for visitors with disabilities and their accompanying carers at all of our sites where an admission charge applies. The OPW is committed to providing the best possible experience to visitors with disabilities and, accordingly, provides a range of disability awareness and related training to the visitor-facing staff at our heritage sites. For example, the OPW recently engaged Arts & Disability Ireland to provide Disability Equality Training, specifically tailored for arts organisations who want to include artists and audiences with disabilities in what they do and, also, Painting with Words – an Audio Description training course that will better empower our guide staff to provide tours to visitors with visual challenges.
The OPW has also, within the last two years, run Deaf Awareness and Irish Sign Language (ISL) training courses for some of its staff. In addition to this, we run a scheduled programme of ISL tours at sites around the country, albeit currently interrupted by Covid 19 but which it is intended, will resume in 2022. We endeavour to provide ISL interpretation on request but given that such requests usually involve advance planning and notification, we are examining ways to support independent, unplanned visits. We are, therefore, developing ISL video tours that will enable members of the Deaf community to join regular scheduled tours. The first of these can be viewed on the Tintern Abbey page on the Heritage Ireland website and more are in production. We are also in the process of developing other ISL resources such as the ISL interpretation associated with Mná 100, an online resource on the role of women in Irish history. This and other ISL resources can be found at the ISL Resources tab on the Dublin Castle website www.dublincastle.ie. The OPW has also commenced a process of adding ISL interpretation to existing AV films; an example of this can be seen on the Reginald’s Tower page on the Heritage Ireland website.
The OPW is also working to make our heritage sites more autism-friendly. Many OPW guides have received training from AsIAm, Ireland's National Autism Charity and have developed Social Guides to help autistic visitors prepare for their visit. This information can be found under the ‘Social Guide’ section of the individual site pages on the Heritage Ireland website.
Some OPW guide staff have recently participated in Azure training for the delivery of art tours that are tailored towards people living with dementia and their families and friends. The OPW is also participating in an Erasmus+ project application, ‘AIDA - Alzheimer patients Interaction through Digital and Arts’, with other European partners. Following on from these initiatives, we hope to be in a position to offer dementia-friendly experiences at our heritage sites in 2022.
257. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will introduce pharmacy-led antigen testing for entry into hospitality. [57164/21]
View answerAt present, in line with public health Regulations, access to indoor dining may be granted to permitted persons with acceptable proof of immunity and also to children accompanying such permitted persons. I am not aware of any plans at present to provide for a negative antigen test to replace or supplement the current requirement for proof of immunity in order to access indoor hospitality. Any initiative in this regard would have to be informed by the latest public health advice from NPHET and the work of the Rapid Testing Advisory Group which is chaired by Professor Mary Horgan.
258. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason persons can attend a wedding reception without a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate but require a certificate to get into a hotel or restaurant. [56746/21]
View answerSince 26 July, general indoor hospitality has been permitted to reopen for adults who are able to demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination or immunity following recovery from COVID-19, as well as for accompanied minors in their care. Guests attending a wedding reception are not required to show such proof of immunity. This position is consistent with the approach throughout the period of the pandemic, during which time the Government has made special provision for weddings in view of the importance of these occasions to couples and the level of planning that is involved for couples and their families.
Notwithstanding this position, individuals and businesses are continually reminded to monitor the ongoing risk from COVID-19 and to take personal responsibility as they take steps individually and collectively to keep this risk under control. The current high level of COVID-19 infection and the dominance of the significantly more transmissible Delta variant poses a very substantial threat, particularly to those who are not fully-protected through vaccination. Accordingly, we understand that the NPHET’s advice remains that those who are unvaccinated should avoid congregated indoor settings for their own and others safety.
259. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if further funding will be made available for commemorative activities in 2022 and 2023 to mark the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries; when such funding will be made available to communities that are planning commemoration projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57058/21]
View answerMy role, as Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries programme, is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history (1912-1923) and associated themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered.
For 2021, I approved a current funding allocation of €5 million to support the commemorative programme this year, including funding of €1.94 million for local authorities under the Community Strand of the programme, to support their leading role in developing community-led, commemorative activities this year. This allocation provided for funding of €50,000 for every local authority in 2021 and a supplementary fund to support local authorities who identified additional, specific requirements.
For 2022, I have again allocated current funding of €5 million to support the Decade of Centenaries Programme, maintaining funding at current levels. My intention is to maintain the funding allocation of €50,000 for each local authority into 2022. Further announcements in this regard will be made shortly when the arrangements are finalised.
Plans are well underway to mark the significant forthcoming centenaries over the remainder of the Decade of Centenaries, including the Civil War and the Foundation of the State. I expect to be in a position to publish a substantive commemorative programme for 2022 in due course and planning is already underway for 2023. My plans for the forthcoming period continue to be informed by the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations and developed in consultation with the All Party Consultation Group on Commemorations.
My Department has built significant partnerships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, the national cultural institutions, institutions of learning, custodians of records, and creative communities. All of these have an important role in supporting the national conversation about the events of this period and encouraging respectful public discourse and debate.
The approaching centenaries present particularly sensitive and complex challenges. My primary objective in developing plans for the remainder of the Decade of Centenaries, is to ensure that we promote peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland by encouraging a deeper understanding of the significance of this period, which accepts that the shared historical experiences of those years gave rise to very different narratives and memories.
260. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a person (details supplied) who qualified for the first round of the entertainment support grant but missed the second round given they were not aware that a new round of funding had been announced can submit a late application for supports under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57079/21]
View answerAs part of a €60 million suite of supports for the live entertainment sector, €16.5m was made available for the Events Sector Covid Support Scheme Phase 1 and Phase 2 (ESCSS). This scheme targeted SMEs in the events sector which were not eligible for the CRSS and for whom the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19 would not make a significant contribution to fixed costs relative to the level of support that that would be available under CRSS, had such SMEs been eligible for that support. Grants were paid on a once-off basis to successful applicants as a contribution to the businesses costs, up to a maximum of €50,000.
Guidelines were made available on Gov.ie prior to both phases of the scheme opening for applications to assist applicants in their preparation, along with a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section. Applicants could also contact the ESCSS team directly with questions in relation to the scheme and their applications. My Department also provided an online application system for ease of access with clear guidance and instruction therein.
The scheme was widely publicised on my Department’s website on Gov.ie and throughout various social media channels, providing up to date information in relation to the application windows. Several representative and stakeholder groups also published information in relation to the scheme. Phase 2 of this scheme closed for applications on the 31 August and it is not be possible for further applications to be considered.
The Government allocated €25m for the live entertainment sector as part of Budget 2022 and I am examining the supports in place for the sector to ensure that available resources are best deployed to meet the needs of the sector to ensure a full recovery is possible.
261. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her assessment of the challenges that are facing the hospitality sector in view of the current Covid-19 environment taking into account the new restriction imposed on the sector which restricts its ability to trade (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57466/21]
View answerThe objective of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is to support employment and maintain the link between the employer and employee insofar as is possible. The EWSS has been a key component of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The cost to date (18th November) of the EWSS is over €6.3 billion comprising of direct subsidy payments of €5.505 billion and PRSI forgone of €865 million to 51,700 employers in respect of over 687,600 employees.
Government policy has been that there will be no cliff edge to the support, at the same time it is necessary to gradually unwind and phase out this temporary emergency support measure. That is why, on Budget Day, I announced the extension of EWSS in a graduated form until 30 April 2022. This ensures there will be no sudden end to the EWSS and also provides clarity and certainty to business.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has adopted a proactive and dynamic approach to supporting businesses and individuals insofar as possible during this challenging time.
As regards the EWSS and the current circumstances referenced by the Deputy in his question, the Government continues to monitor developments closely and will consider if any response is required at an appropriate time.
Finally, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the comprehensive package of other business and employer supports that have been made available over the course of the last 18 months or so – including the Covid Restriction Support Scheme (CRSS), the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS), the Credit Guarantee Scheme, the SBCI Working Capital Scheme, Sustaining Enterprise Fund, and the Covid-19 Business Loans Scheme. Details of the supports are available on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s website at the following link - www.enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/
262. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if financial supports are available to a not-for-profit community sports club (details supplied) to assist with running costs such as rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57501/21]
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, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. It does not provide direct funding for clubs but channels the funding through the relevant National Governing Body of Sport. There is no mechanism by which Sport Ireland can allocate funding outside of this process.
In relation to financial supports that are available for the sport sector due to Covid, on 5th October 2021, Minister Martin and I announced that additional current funding of up to €65 million will be available to support the sport sector this year. Allied to the additional current expenditure of €26.3 million already provided to Sport Ireland, a total of €91.3 million will have been allocated in additional current funding to support the sport sector in 2021.
This package is intended to support National Governing Bodies of Sport and sports clubs arising from the significant impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the sports sector, by providing specific funding support for the following sectors:
- Field Sport funding to support the main field sports, i.e. the FAI, the GAA and the IRFU;
- A Resilience Fund to support the other National Governing Bodies of Sport;
- A Sports Club Resilience Fund to support clubs from all sports;
- A Swimming Pools/Facilities Fund;
- A Resumption of Sport and Physical Activity Fund.
The funding will be invested through new grant schemes developed by Sport Ireland and the funding will be disbursed through the National Governing Bodies of sport.
Following the announcement, Sport Ireland invited applications for funding from the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Sports Partnerships. The applications are now being reviewed by Sport Ireland and funding allocations will be announced in December.
Funding for individual clubs under the Sports Club Resilience Fund is being delivered directly by the National Governing Bodies through programmes established by each of the National Governing Bodies in receipt of funding.
The club mentioned by the Deputy should contact their National Governing Body directly to see what financial supports are available.
263. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the proposed income guarantee scheme for artists to be piloted in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57620/21]
View answerI was delighted that as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, I secured a commitment from Government to prioritise the development of a Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme for the arts and cultural sector. Funding for the Basic Income Guarantee Pilot Scheme was a key priority of mine for Budget 2022 and I secured €25m to realise the pilot scheme next year.
As Minister with responsibility for Arts and Culture, I am conscious of the value that this sector brings to all Irish citizens. The importance of Irish culture, Irish art and Irish productions as a whole cannot be understated - it contributes to individual and societal well-being, as well as contributing to Ireland's reputation as a country with a rich cultural history and output.
In relation to the timeline for the launch of the pilot the Deputy will appreciate that this is a major policy intervention requiring significant resources to develop a coherent policy and to operationalise. This work is ongoing and my ambition is to open the scheme for applications early in Q1 2022.
My Department will hold a stakeholder consultation forum on December 8th on the basic income guarantee pilot scheme, to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to engage with the policy development and share their views. Stakeholder engagement has been central to my Department's response to the pandemic and this forum will ensure that the arts sector, those working in it and the resource bodies and representative organisations are given the opportunity to feed into the policy development for the scheme.
The selection process for recipients of the Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme will be finalised following the stakeholder engagement early next month, however, I can confirm the following:
- Participation in the scheme will not be based on a means test.
- It will be a non-competitive process, therefore once a person satisfies the eligibility criteria they will be included in a randomised selection process.
- A number of unsuccessful applicants will be invited to participate in a control group to facilitate a comprehensive ex post appraisal of the pilot in due course.
- Proposals for the parameters of the scheme will be finalised in light of the stakeholder engagement.
I believe the Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme will bring new life and support to the Arts and Cultural Sector and I hope it will provide an important legacy for our artists and creatives. In addition to this measure, I also secured continued investment of €130m for the Arts Council in 2022. Combined, these measures will significantly contribute to the development of the arts in Ireland.
264. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if homeowners who built their dwellings prior to court rulings are entitled to have the remediation costs of their property to be partially or fully covered by a company (details supplied). [57136/21]
View answerIn general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved: the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme.
Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020 primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations, rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Acts and who are independent in the use of their statutory powers.
The Programme for Government sets out a range of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects. This includes the commitment to ensure that the remediation fund for pyrite and mica is fully drawn down. There is also a commitment to examine the issue of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, “Safe as Houses” and to assist owners of latent defect properties by identifying options for those impacted by defects to access low cost, long term finance. A working group is currently examining these two issues.
With regard to private limited companies providing structural defect insurance cover for new houses, their operations are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. As is the case for any private company, their operations are a matter for the management and Board of Directors. I have no function in this regard.
265. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide information on his Department's review of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and on the review of exemptions for educational and community buildings as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; if he will provide details of the stated need to consider environmental assessment reporting before finalisation; when the interim planning regulations will be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56825/21]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity.
This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions relating to their use in apartments and in educational/community/religious buildings.
In light of the need to appropriately address aviation safety concerns arising from the “glint and glare” impacts of solar panels and the easing of the solar panel planning exemption thresholds, my Department is in the process of commissioning the development of detailed aviation safeguarding maps which will identify and delineate specific but limited areas in the vicinity of airports and aerodromes (referred to as exclusion zones) within which the exemptions will not apply. Project scoping feedback has been received from interested parties through the draft Request for Tender process and has been considered by my Department in the development of the final Request for Tender documentation. My Department intends to publish the call for tender shortly.
Whilst this work is ongoing, my Department has advanced interim regulations, adopting a temporary, albeit more stringent, radial approach incorporating initial defined exclusion zones around airports and aerodromes. These interim regulations, allowing for increased solar panel planning exemptions, will cover the vast majority of the land area of the country, only excluding those limited exclusion zones around airports and aerodromes.
The draft interim regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive 2001/42/EC and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. It is anticipated that the formal SEA process will commence, with consultation with the statutory environmental authorities to inform the content of the Environmental Report, following the completion of the screening for Appropriate Assessment by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit. The SEA Environmental Report will be published alongside a draft of the interim regulations for a period of public consultation of not less than 4 weeks. This public consultation is expected to commence in December. A copy of the draft interim regulations and the Environmental Report will be made available for inspection over this period. Written submissions or observations will be taken into consideration before finalisation of the draft interim regulations in early 2022.
As required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made and the SEA process concluded.
Accordingly, the process for finalising the interim solar panel planning exemptions as referred to above, with interim exclusion zones around airports and aerodromes, is now expected to be completed in early 2022. As outlined, pending the finalisation of the aforementioned aviation safeguarding maps, these interim regulations will allow for the vast majority of the country to be covered by the proposed new solar panel exemptions apart from those areas in close proximity to airports and aerodromes.
Work on the development of the aviation safeguarding maps for airports and aerodromes is expected to be completed in Q2 2022. The final supplementary set of regulations - delineating the final exclusion areas around airports and aerodromes in which the exemptions will not apply - will be prepared thereafter and, subject to environmental reporting considerations, will subsequently be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval in a timely manner.
266. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of meetings conducted by the Disability Consultative Committee since its inception; the actions taken by the Committee since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56828/21]
View answerThe Disability Consultative Committee (DCC) of my Department was established in 2017 to monitor and review the implementation of the Actions in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017-2021 relating to the Department. The Committee has met 15 times and its members include representatives from the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI), the National Disability Authority (NDA), Inclusion Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE), the County and City Management Agency (CCMA), local authorities, the Disability Stakeholder’s Group (DSG), the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Department of Transport. The Committee's Terms of Reference specify that it is a forum for engagement of the stakeholders to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) and that it will review progress and discuss issues relating thereto.
Since it's inception in 2017 the Committee has monitored the Department's progress in relation to all relevant Actions and made recommendations in relation to how these may be achieved. Issues addressed by the Committee include such matters as the accessibility of polling stations, universal design of services, public procurement, training of Departmental staff in disability awareness, improvement of the application process for the housing adaptation grant schemes and accessible communications.
Furthermore, and in addition to the work of the Committee, my Department has put in place an Action Plan for Universal Design and Accessibility in the context of Ireland's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
267. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to or if he is kept informed of local authority owned land banks and the associated local authority debts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56889/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I have no specific function in relation to the local authority owned land banks and the associated local authority local authority debts.
Whilst my Department would retain detailed information on those lands included in the Land Aggregation scheme (LAGS), the information sought by the Deputy on non LAGS land loans should be sought through each local authority.
268. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Irish UNESCO Tentative List was last revised; when it will next be revised; the application process to include a site of historic significance on this list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56938/21]
View answerThe Tentative List is an inventory or list of properties which have potential to demonstrate Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and therefore considered suitable for nomination to the World Heritage List. To have OUV a property must be so exceptional for present and future generations so as to transcend national boundaries. Ireland’s current Tentative List of World Heritage Properties was submitted to UNESCO in 2010. In keeping with UNESCO guidance to review the Tentative List at least once every ten years, my Department initiated a review of the Tentative List in 2019 by seeking applications from local authorities and the wider heritage sector for natural and/or cultural heritage sites which may be considered to possess OUV. The deadline for applications was 30 June 2021.
I appointed an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) to assess the potential OUV and other UNESCO requirements in respect of the six valid applications received, and earlier this month I informed each of the applicants of the EAG’s recommendations. Further information on the recommendations can be found here www.gov.ie/en/press-release/71039-minister-endorses-recommendations-for-new-world-heritage-tentative-list/.
My Department is now liaising closely with all applicants to assist them in addressing the EAG’s recommendations and it is envisaged that a new Tentative List will be submitted to UNESCO in 2022. It is important to note however that inclusion on the Tentative List does not necessarily result in the inscription of a property on the World Heritage List. The nomination process itself often takes a number of years and includes the preparation of a detailed dossier to be officially submitted to the World Heritage Centre in Paris for evaluation.
Simultaneously with the ongoing Tentative List revision process, my Department is also developing a World Heritage Strategy to guide the future management and nomination of World Heritage Properties in Ireland. This Strategy will inform future Tentative List revision processes and it is envisioned that applications to the Tentative List will be opened up on a more frequent basis than heretofore.
269. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the restrictions in place preventing local councils leasing property from investment firms implicated in war crimes (details supplied). [56950/21]
View answer281. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council has agreed to long-term leasing of homes with a British arms manufacturer (details supplied); and his views on whether local authorities should be engaged in long-term leasing with pension funds or vulture funds in this way. [57235/21]
View answer282. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council has agreed to the long-term leasing of six homes from a British arms manufacturer (details supplied); his views on whether contracts between the city council or another local authority should be bound by ethical guidelines and that such companies should not be allowed wash war profits through building property portfolios in Ireland; if he will request the Council to withdraw from the completion of lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57236/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 281 and 282 together.
The recently published Housing for All Plan sets out 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. The strategy will focus strongly on new builds, and in particular local authority led new build activity and will see a managed phasing out of Long Term Leasing by 2025.
Housing for All has been underpinned by the unprecedented level of investment in Budget 2022 with a total capital provision for housing programmes in 2022 of €4 billion, between Exchequer funding and investment from the Land Development Agency and Housing Finance Agency lending.
Through the funding provided, I am ensuring that we will be able to meet the housing needs of almost 31,000 households in 2022, through a range of social and affordable housing schemes. There is a priority focus on new build social homes and this funding will support the delivery of 9,000 new build homes.
My Department has been informed by Dublin City Council (DCC) that it has not entered into any agreements for the leasing of units with the Company BAE Systems Limited. DCC has been progressing leasing proposals with BAE Systems Pension Fund Trustee Limited, which is a pension fund for employees. DCC advises that it has not yet exchanged any leases with BAE Systems Pension Fund Trustee Limited.
Under the Standard Leasing Programme, a Local Authority is required to carry out due diligence as part of the assessment process for each leasing application in advance of submitting the application to my Department of Housing. My Department will only consider applications put forward that comply with all the requirements of the leasing schemes.
270. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an announcement by the European Commission that it would refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice over alleged non-compliance with the drinking water directive; the water supply zones that have been deemed to have excessive levels of trihalomethane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56984/21]
View answerOn Friday 12 November my Department was notified of the decision of the European Commission to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to comply with the requirements of the Drinking Water Directive (Directive 98/83/EC). No further details have yet been received in relation to the specific water supply zones that are the subject of this referral.
In May 2020, the Commission issued a Reasoned Opinion to Ireland in respect of 31 public water supplies and 13 private group water schemes, with regard to elevated concentrations of a by-product of the disinfection process called total trihalomethanes (THMs), failing to take remedial action as soon as possible, and failing to give priority to its enforcement action.
The EPA’s Remedial Action List for public water supplies is published on a quarterly basis. The most recent update relates to Q3 2021, and shows that of the 31 public water supply zones named in the Reasoned Opinion, 16 are now compliant with the THM parameters. Of the 13 private group water schemes named in the Reasoned Opinion, 3 are now compliant with the THM parameters. Irish Water and the relevant group water schemes and local authorities are working to resolve the issues at each water supply concerned as soon as possible.
271. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will expedite the publication of the report by the working group on horticultural peat; the measures being adopted by his Department to save the horticulture sector from collapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57004/21]
View answerMy statutory remit and responsibility as Minister does not include regulation of the harvesting or supply of horticultural peat. However, to assist in addressing the important issues around horticultural peat for domestic purposes, I set up an Independent Working Group under the Chair of Dr. Munoo Prasad. The potential of alternatives to the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry was examined extensively by the group, together with a number of related issues.
I received the final report of the Chair of the Independent Working Group on the 20th October. The contents are now being considered carefully with a view to publishing the report in due course . I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Prasad, the members of the working group and all who contributed to the report.
272. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made in respect of the proposals contained within the Water Sector Transformation Policy Paper: Irish Water – Towards a National, Publicly Owned, Regulated Water Services Utility; the progress being made in resolving the issue of estates that are not being taken in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57051/21]
View answerThe Policy Paper on Water Sector Transformation (February, 2021) sets out clearly the approach planned by Government to proceed with the integration of public water services within Irish Water's organisation structure and thereby deliver a publicly owned, stand-alone, regulated, national water utility tasked with moderninsing and transforming the delivery of water services in Ireland.
There are significant issues for the workforce to be addressed in integrating the day-to-day operation and delivery of water services within Irish Water. To resolve these, I asked the Workplace Relations Commission to engage with all parties aimed at reaching a collective agreement on a Framework for the future delivery of water services. This process is ongoing at present. The Government believes it will be possible to reach a collective agreement which addresses the interests and concerns of all parties.
The taking-in-charge of housing estates is a matter for the relevant local authority under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
While updated arrangements to address matters related to the taking-in-charge of residential developments following the establishment of Irish Water have been put in place in line with Circular Letter PL 5/2014, those estates which rely on Developer Provided Infrastructure must be considered separately on a case by case basis, and may be subject to delay where the infrastructure proves to be substandard and requires resolution.
With a view to supporting and accelerating action at national and local level towards the taking-in-charge of housing estates, a multi-annual Waste Services Developer Provided Infrastructure Resolution Programme was introduced in 2019 to facilitate the progressive resolution of substandard infrastructure in a sustainable manner.
Details of projects approved during the first funding cycle (2019-2021) announced in September 2021, together with a copy of an independent Expert Panel report on the bids process, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/circular-ldpi01-2020-approval-projects-residential-estates-under-developer.
A subsequent tranche of valid bids for further estates has since been received and is currently undergoing evaluation by the Expert Panel.
273. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans in relation to coursing clubs (details supplied) which are based in areas in which live hare coursing is banned but have been able to run their live hare coursing meetings in Ireland; the location of the hares caught; the location of the storage of the animals; and the person or body that authorised these meetings. [57085/21]
View answerThe capturing of hares for coursing meetings is governed by a licence to capture live hares, under Section 34 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended) issued to the Irish Coursing Club. This provides authority for the netting of hares within the State only, as per condition No 17, unless express permission or authorisation is provided by the relevant state authority outside of the jurisdiction.
Hares are not permitted to be netted outside the State without such licence or authorisation. Neither of the clubs referred to by the Deputy net hares in their respective jurisdictions as part of their participation in coursing within the State.
Details of the locations of the hares caught for individual coursing meetings are forwarded to my Department in advance of meetings, however, due to concerns around wildlife crime, the actual locations of the hare capture and hare release are kept confidential.
The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My responsibility relates to the conservation status of the hare.
274. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 6 October 2021, the result of his Department’s engagement with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and the Department of Justice in relation to Garda vetting under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57091/21]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level.
My Department does not provide homeless accommodation services directly but contributes to overall expenditure incurred by housing authorities in the provision of homeless accommodation and related services. Exchequer funding provided by my Department is governed by a protocol agreement between the Department and the lead authority in each region. This protocol sets out the funding arrangements and structures to ensure adherence with statutory and public financial procedures. The protocol agreement requires that local authorities and their service delivery partners, including voluntary NGOs and private operators, comply with all statutory codes including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the Fire Services Acts and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016.
In respect of Garda Vetting, the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 sets out the legal requirements for Garda vetting and the parameters for same. While many of the NGOs working within the homeless sector have members of staff and volunteers that are vetted under the Act, homeless services are not currently specifically identified in the relevant legislation whereby vetting is mandatory. My Department is actively engaging with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and the Department of Justice in this regard with the objective of ensuring that where it is needed, Garda vetting is made available under the Act.
My Department is also engaging with the Garda Vetting Review Group which was put in place by the Department of Justice to review provisions under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons Act) 2012-2016, and participated at its most recent meeting on 12 October 2021. The work of this Group is ongoing at present.
My Department recently hosted a Workshop between the Garda National Vetting Bureau and local authorities. The Workshop allowed for engagement on the practical operation of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 as it relates to services provided to homeless persons, and in particular the role of local authorities and homeless service providers. My Department intends to follow this up by facilitating further events, as needed, between the Garda National Vetting Bureau and local authorities.
