Written Answers Nos. 71-90
73. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the non-financial or pension supports and resources available to those preparing for retirement and currently employed in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62230/21]
View answerOneLearning has responsibility for the provision of the Pre-Retirement Planning Programme for the Civil Service. OneLearning is the Civil Service Learning and Development (L&D) Centre, which is based in my Department.
OneLearning runs Pre-Retirement Planning Programmes on a regular basis, which are open to all civil servants who are preparing for retirement within twelve to eighteen months.
The Programme provides civil servants with a comprehensive overview of the wide-ranging changes associated with retirement and advice on pre-retirement planning. Some of the topics covered on the Programme include:
- Social Engagement
- Civil Service Pensions
- Finance and Money
- Taxation
- Legal
- Health and Lifestyle
In addition, the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) provides both practical support and emotional one to one sessional support to all civil servants who are preparing for retirement.
Arrangements for pre-retirement planning for public servants in other parts of the public service (e.g. Health Sector or Local Authorities) are a matter for the relevant sector.
74. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a bat derogation licence was in place at a location (details supplied). [62271/21]
View answerWe will reply directly to the Deputy on this matter in due course.
75. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide clarity on the LPSS 2021: Strand II criteria; if a panto has to have a turnover of €100,000 in one year per annum, or over the period indicated in the guidelines of 2019 – 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62021/21]
View answerOn 8th December 2021 I announced adjustments to the Live Performance Support Scheme – Strand II for pantomimes and seasonal productions to respond to the additional COVID-19 restrictions announced after the scheme opened. The published Guidelines now reflect those changes.
The key changes to the scheme from the original Guidelines as published on 24th November 2021 are:
- The minimum turnover requirement is reduced to €100,000 from €300,000 to facilitate more commercial productions to submit applications;
- An Increase of the fund available from €2m to €5m;
- The application window has been extended to 31st January 2022.
- This scheme will now encompass relevant eligible production costs from November 2021 to the end of January 2022.
In order to be eligible for the scheme a business must have VAT-exclusive turnover of €100,000 or above as a result of seasonal musical theatre/pantomime for at least two of the past 3 years (2018-2020) in order to be considered. I can confirm that the reduced minimum turnover requirement of €100,000 refers to each of the previous years being outlined in the application.
Each applicant is requested for details in relation to 2 of the 3 years 2018 - 2020, rather than for 2 specified years, to provide flexibility and for those productions to select 2 years that best demonstrate the eligibility criteria for their application.
76. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the requirement for a VAT exclusive turnover of €100,000 for at least two of the past three years for eligibility to the Live Performance Support Scheme for seasonal musical theatre/pantomime means a turnover of €100,000 total sum of the turnover for two years, or €100,000 turnover separately for each of those two years amounting to €200,000 overall; and the reason the year 2020 rather than 2017 is included in the three years given that indoor live performances of seasonal musical theatre or pantomime were entirely prohibited for 2020 by health restrictions. [62023/21]
View answerOn 8th December 2021 I announced adjustments to the Live Performance Support Scheme – Strand II for pantomimes and seasonal productions to respond to the additional COVID-19 restrictions announced after the scheme opened. The published Guidelines now reflect those changes.
The key changes to the scheme from the original Guidelines as published on 24th November 2021 are:
- The minimum turnover requirement is reduced to €100,000 from €300,000 to facilitate more commercial productions to submit applications;
- An increase in the fund available from €2m to €5m;
- The application window has been extended to 31st January 2022.
- This scheme will now encompass relevant eligible production costs from November 2021 to the end of January 2022.
In order to be eligible for the scheme a business must have VAT-exclusive turnover of €100,000 or above as a result of seasonal musical theatre/pantomime for at least two of the past 3 years (2018-2020) in order to be considered. I can confirm that the reduced minimum turnover requirement of €100,000 refers to each of the previous years being outlined in the application.
Each applicant is requested for details in relation to 2 of the 3 years 2018 - 2020, rather than for 2 specified years, to provide flexibility and for those productions to select 2 years that best demonstrate the eligibility criteria for their application.
77. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if he will provide this Deputy with a schedule of financial supports, not including the sports capital grant, that she and-or Sport Ireland can provide to sports clubs that require them (details supplied). [62040/21]
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.
I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to funding for the sport mentioned by the Deputy. Please inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
On Monday 13 December Minister Martin and I announced the allocation of €73.6m in Covid funding under five separate streams to help sports organisations to recover and grow post-pandemic, support our grassroots network of clubs and local sports partnerships, and ensure people of all ages and abilities return to sport and physical activity.
Funding of €400,000 was allocated under the Sports Club Resilience Fund to the National Governing Body for the sport mentioned by the Deputy. The purpose of this fund is to provide support for clubs.
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. The club mentioned by the Deputy should contact their National Governing Body directly in relation to this funding.
78. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of applications for funding received regarding funding for skate parks in 2020 and to date in 2021, by county, in tabular form. [62084/21]
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.
Details of all these applications are available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/b62b8-sports-capital-and-equipment-programme-2020-applications/
Of the applications received, five sought capital funding for skate parks, as set out in the table.
|
Applicant |
Project title |
Amount sought € |
|
CORK COUNTY COUNCIL |
Mallow Town Park - Skate Park & Pump Track |
150,000 |
|
GALWAY CITY COUNCIL |
Doughiska Skate Park (Refurbishment) |
74,138 |
|
KERRY COUNTY COUNCIL |
Killarney Skateboard Park |
154,000 |
|
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL |
Diamond Park |
139,629 |
|
DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL |
2020 - Skate Park at Darndale Park |
69,991 |
The scoring system and assessment procedures were published earlier this year and all applications are being assessed accordingly. Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6m were announced on the 6th August.
In relation to the remaining 2020 capital SCEP applications, which include the five listed in the table above, assessment work is continuing. Every effort is being made to complete this work as quickly as possible with allocations expected to be announced early in the new year.
79. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by her Department during 2021; and her main priorities for 2022. [62203/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to his Dáil Question No. 276 of 17 June last, in which I set out the range of activities and achievements undertaken by my Department across it's remit in its first year of operation.
Since then, Minister Chambers and I have continued to make significant progress across all areas of our Department's brief, supporting individual and community well-being and addressing the sectoral impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic. In the course of this work we have announced many initiatives and policy achievements including:
- Publication of the report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce as one of the priority actions and commitment in the Programme for Government.
- €50m in funding for a suite of measures to support the Live Performance Sector
- €11.5m COVID Support Scheme for the events sector
- €2 million Creative Climate Action Fund
- €2 million funding from Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish arts globally in 2022
- €147k in funding for cross-border cultural projects under Cooperation with Northern Ireland Scheme 2021
- €3m for the Higher Education Authority to be allocated to Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge to enable them to continue to provide a range of courses through the medium of Irish in Gaoth Dobhair, Carna and An Cheathrú Rua.
- Special assistance for Irish Language Summer Colleges
- €16.6m provided for sports equipment under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme
- Publication of the Sports Action Plan 2021 - 2023 which includes:
- A “Sport for All” approach to tackle barriers to participation and establishing an Inclusion, Diversity and Equality Fund and a Disability Sport fund
- The development of a new annual Winter Initiative campaign to encourage recovery of membership and participation in sports clubs and enhance the sports sector’s recovery from COVID-19
- The implementation of Sport Ireland’s High Performance strategy 2021-2032
In addition to these measures, significant progress has been made in developing the Pilot Basic Income Guarantee Scheme for Artists, which is the subject of a stakeholder consultation today, and the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill which completed its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas today.
My Department's strategic priorities and medium term priorities and objectives are set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, published in August this year, which is available here.
I am pleased that Budget 2022 includes strong supports for the sectors under the remit of my Department which will enable my Department to further deliver on its programme of work. Among the measures included in Budget 2022 are :
- €50m for Tourism Business Continuity Supports, assisting business’ survival and recovery
- €35m enhanced Tourism Marketing funding, accelerating the return of International Tourism to Ireland
- €27m increased investment in domestic tourism initiatives, including festivals, events, as well as initiatives in skills development and staff retention
- Arts Council funding maintained at record level of €130m
- €25m to pilot a Basic Income Guarantee Scheme for Artists
- €25m funding for further supports for live entertainment
- An additional €7m package for Irish Language plus €4.2m extra for Irish language broadcasting
- Sport Ireland allocated €105.81m to support development and participation all over Ireland
- €5.5m to establish the new Media Commission, including an Online Safety Commissioner
As I have previously advised the Deputy information in relation to policy announcements, consultations and schemes is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/
80. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of television licence fines that were issued by An Post in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62206/21]
View answerUnder Section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, An Post act as the issuing agent in respect of television licences. As issuing agent, An Post may bring and prosecute summary proceedings for failure to have a television licence when required, which is an offence under section 148 of the Act.
Every effort is made to bring licence fee evaders into the licensed pool with first and second reminder notifications issued by An Post under section 149 of the Act. Prosecution is a last resort.
The imposition of fines is a matter for the relevant Court and questions regarding the number of fines imposed is a matter for the Courts Service. Neither my Department nor An Post hold data on fines issued by the Courts.
81. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide the full details, including the rate of payment, application details and other relevant information of the basic income guarantee for artists that was announced in budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62305/21]
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 is holding a stakeholder consultation forum today 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, application details and rate of payment for recipients of the Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme will be finalised following the stakeholder engagement, 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.
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.
82. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if departmental guidance is provided to local authorities to determine the proportion of their houses that are appropriated into the social housing stock, either through direct build or acquisition, that are four- or five- bedroomed. [62042/21]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026.
In September, I issued social housing delivery targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026. Under Housing for All, each local authority is required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan, which should set out details of social housing delivery over this period. The Action Plans should also set out an assessment of housing types and sizes. It is a matter for each local authority to ensure that it delivers the appropriate housing sizes in line with local need.
In delivering new social housing, the Government’s priority is to deliver new build social homes and there will be a reduced number of acquisitions under Housing for All, which will be targeted at specific priority categories. Further guidance on priority acquisitions will issue shortly to local authorities and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
83. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way family size correlates to the size of house a family is entitled to apply for or qualify for in social housing applications. [62043/21]
View answerA household applying for social housing support is assessed for eligibility and need by the relevant local authority in accordance with criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 (as amended).
The 2009 Act defines a household as a person living alone, or two or more persons, who the relevant local authority considers have a reasonable requirement to live together. In line with the Regulations, applicant households are assessed for eligibility in the first instance. Then, if deemed eligible, their accommodation needs are assessed taking account, for example, of the number of persons in the household, the age and gender of household members, and their inter-relationships.
Ultimately, decisions on the qualification of households for social housing support, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.
84. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the refurbishment earmarked in May 2018 for Granard, County Longford by an organisation (details supplied). [62080/21]
View answerApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are making an important contribution to social housing delivery, as envisaged under current Government policy. My Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with AHBs to construct, purchase and lease new homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that AHBs progress construction projects through is the Capital Advance Loan Facility (CALF).
CALF funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units. This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from my Department.
With regard to the specific project mentioned by the Deputy, I can confirm that the project did receive conditional CALF funding approval in 2018. The most recent update from both the AHB and Local Authority is that they are currently working collaboratively to progress the project to Tender stage, which is anticipated in early 2022, with expected final delivery in 2023.
My Department publishes a quarterly Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which sets out the continuing progress being made in advancing the national local authority and AHB new-build pipeline. The latest report, setting out the position at end Q3 2021, can be accessed at the following weblink:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/feea9-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2021/.
85. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authorities that have adopted, and have yet to adopt, a vacant sites policy, in tabular form. [62081/21]
View answerUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their functional areas. Under the Act, planning authorities were also empowered to apply a vacant site levy to properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers. As provided for under the Act, the register in respect of each local authority is available for inspection at its offices and online on its website.
The number of sites on the local authority vacant site registers at 1 January 2020 is provided in the table below, along with the number of sites which were liable to be subject to the Vacant Site Levy in 2021 in respect of the year 2020. In this regard, it should be noted that the number of sites on the registers on 1 January in any given year is not an indication of the number of sites that will be levied that year as sites need to be on the register for a full calendar year before they can be levied.
|
Planning Authority |
Sites on Register 1 Jan 2020 |
Sites liable in 2021 in respect of 2020 |
|
Carlow |
6 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare |
15 |
14 |
|
Cork County |
13 |
9 |
|
Cork City |
18 |
12 |
|
DLR |
18 |
4 |
|
Donegal |
4 |
37 |
|
Dublin City |
62 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
8 |
5 |
|
Galway City |
6 |
6 |
|
Galway County |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
44 |
10 |
|
Laois |
0 |
12 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
10 |
5 |
|
Longford |
4 |
1 |
|
Louth |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath |
23 |
16 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
26 |
18 |
|
Sligo |
27 |
21 |
|
South Dublin |
19 |
11 |
|
Tipperary |
2 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
16 |
14 |
|
Westmeath |
10 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
31 |
18 |
|
Total |
369 |
215 |
86. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority homes that are unoccupied, by local authority area. [62082/21]
View answerLocal authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to vacant local authority owned homes is not collated by my Department.
However, statistics in relation to social housing stock, at a point in time, are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) in their Annual Reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities. These reports provide a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including levels of vacancy in local authority owned properties. The most recent report, relating to 2020, is available on the NOAC website at the following link:
noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/NOAC-Local-Authority-Performance-Indicator-Report-2020.pdf.
87. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authorities that have an approved overdraft; and the levels of same by local authority, in tabular form. [62083/21]
View answerLocal authorities occasionally borrow money to finance necessary or planned capital programmes such as land purchases for housing, upgrades in public lighting, libraries, parks or greenways. Local authorities also borrow by means of short term annual overdrafts to ensure the smoothness of cashflow throughout the year. Borrowing by local authorities is a reserved function, meaning that applications must include a resolution of the elected members. The table below details the overdrafts that were sanctioned for 2021 and the maximum level to which the overdraft could extend.
|
Council |
Amount sanctioned |
|
CARLOW |
€7,000,000 |
|
CAVAN |
€9,000,000 |
|
CLARE |
€30,000,000 |
|
CORK |
€10,000,000 |
|
DLAOIRE/RDOWN |
€10,000,000 |
|
DONEGAL |
€10,000,000 |
|
FINGAL |
€25,000,000 |
|
GALWAY |
€7,000,000 |
|
KERRY |
€20,000,000 |
|
KILDARE |
€4,500,000 |
|
KILKENNY |
€20,000,000 |
|
LAOIS |
€8,000,000 |
|
LEITRIM |
€1,500,000 |
|
LIMERICK CCC |
€50,000,000 |
|
LONGFORD |
€15,000,000 |
|
LOUTH |
€5,000,000 |
|
MAYO |
€25,000,000 |
|
MEATH |
€0 |
|
MONAGHAN |
€10,000,000 |
|
TIPPERARY |
€10,000,000 |
|
OFFALY |
€20,000,000 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€0 |
|
SLIGO |
€15,000,000 |
|
STH DUBLIN |
€25,000,000 |
|
WATERFORD CCC |
€18,000,000 |
|
WESTMEATH |
€0 |
|
WEXFORD |
€20,000,000 |
|
WICKLOW |
€20,000,000 |
|
DUBLIN CITY |
€80,000,000 |
|
CORK CITY COUNCIL |
€25,000,000 |
|
GALWAY CITY COUNCIL |
€5,000,000 |
|
Total |
€505,000,000 |
88. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the homelessness figures for counties Louth and Meath, respectively, in tabular form; the number of persons on each housing waiting list; and the numbers on HAP in each county. [62132/21]
View answerMy Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and via the Government’s Open Data Portal, data.gov.ie/
The most recently published data is in respect of October 2021 and shows that there were 170 adults in emergency accommodation in Meath during the October count week. County Meath is part of the Mid East region for the purposes of homeless reporting, along with Kildare and Wicklow. The combined Mid East region reported 55 families, with 122 dependants associated with these families, in emergency accommodation in October 2021.
County Louth is part of the North East region for the purposes of homeless reporting, along with Cavan and Monaghan. The combined North East region reported 81 adults in emergency accommodation for October 2021. North-East homelessness data are currently reported as a single entry as where fewer than ten individuals are recorded in a county, data is aggregated with adjacent counties in line with best practice described in the Irish Statistical System Code of Practice (ISSCOP). There were nine families, with 18 dependants associated with these families, in emergency accommodation in the North-East region in October 2021.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area are provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary, conducted in November 2020, shows that 61,880 households were assessed as qualified for and being in need of social housing support. This represents a decrease of 6,813 households or 9.9% on the last assessment in June 2019. Since 2016, the numbers have decreased from 91,600 to 61,880, a reduction of 32.4%.
Below is the link to the summary report for 2020 which includes breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories. www.gov.ie/en/publication/970ea-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2020-key-findings/#:~:text=The%20Summary%20of%20Social%20Housing,is%20not%20currently%20being%20met
The 2021 Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) process is currently underway and the summary report will be published in due course.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate form of social housing support for people with a long-term housing need. Any household assessed by their local authority as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. These households must find their own accommodation in the private rental sector.
The HAP scheme started in 2014 and at the end of Q3 2021, 97,600 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 62,300 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,600 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
The table below shows the number of active HAP tenancies at the end of Q3 2021 for Louth and Meath County Councils.
|
Local Authority |
Active HAP tenancies at end Q3 2021 |
|
Louth County Council |
3,305 |
|
Meath County Council |
2,270 |
89. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will provide funding to ensure children living in emergency homeless accommodation can access transport to school; and if funding is currently available for this purpose. [62137/21]
View answer90. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with the Minister for Education to ensure that children living in emergency homeless accommodation can access transport to school. [62138/21]
View answer91. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with the Minister for Social Protection to allow families in emergency accommodation to access an exceptional needs payment to pay for taxis for their children to go to school. [62139/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 91, inclusive, together.
My 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 the local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by housing authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
My Department has provided funding towards an initiative to provide access to free public transport for essential school journeys for homeless families residing in temporary emergency accommodation in the Dublin Region. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive oversees the implementation of this initiative and, working in partnership with the National Transport Authority, has put arrangements in place for the provision of Leap cards to the families concerned.
Outside of this arrangement, the Community Welfare Service of the Department of Social Protection may consider, on a case-by-case basis, providing for costs associated with the transport needs of homeless families under the Exceptional Needs Payments scheme. This provision is available to all homeless families outside of the Dublin Region.
