Written Answers Nos. 239-251
239. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Thomas Pringle den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cad iad na pleananna atá ar bun ag a Roinn chun toghchán chun Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta a eagrú; cén uair a dhéanfar an toghchán sin; cé mhéad comhalta i ngach réigiún a bheidh le toghadh chun an Bhoird nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [5543/22]
View answerLuaitear sa Chlár Rialtais go ndéanfar athbhreithniú ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin/toghacháin i ndáil le Bord Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Ar mhaithe le beart a dhéanamh de réir bhriathar an ghealltanais sin, rinne an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais (OGP) comórtas á reáchtáil ar iarratas mo Roinne in athuair le gairid i dtreo sainchomhairleoireacht a aimsiú le tabhairt faoin athbhreithniú agus moltaí ina leith a chur faoi bhráid na Roinne. Ós rud é, áfach, nach bhfuarthas aon tairiscint de thoradh an dara chomórtais seo, tá na chéad chéimeanna eile á mbreithniú ag mo Roinn faoi láthair i gcomhar leis an OGP i dtreo sainchomhairleoireacht cáilithe go cuí a aimsiú don chúram.
Mar chuid den athbhreithniú, tá sé i gceist ag mo Roinn próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí a eagrú faoina dtabharfar an deis don phobal tuairimí agus moltaí faoin ábhar a roinnt i scríbhinn leis an Roinn. Tá i gceist an próiseas sin a sheoladh go luath.
Faoin socrú atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair maidir le struchtúr Bhord an Údaráis agus faoi réir fhorálacha ábhartha Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, ainmníonn na hÚdaráis Áitiúla a bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta faoina gcúram acu cúigear comhalta faoi seach chuig an mbord agus roghnaítear an seachtar comhalta eile tríd comórtas poiblí a eagraítear faoi scáth na Seirbhíse um Cheapacháin Phoiblí.
240. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if capital projects funded through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund are capped at 70% of the total project; if she has considered increasing this cap in view of rising building costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5597/22]
View answerThe Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, including swimming pools, with at least €100m being made available over the period to 2027.
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and, thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and it was not possible to allocate grants to many worthy projects or to provide successful applicants with the full amount that they had sought.
While the priority in the short term is to advance all of the successful projects, as it is now two years since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants. My Department has now met with all successful grantees and work is at an advanced stage in drafting the Review. I expect this work to be finalised shortly.
Once that Review is complete the scope for awarding any additional grants, adjusting the level of existing grants and the timing of any new call for proposals will be considered.
It should also be noted that some grantees have requested to reconfigure their proposals in line with the funding made available. Such requests are being considered sympathetically provided the revised proposal meets the main outcomes projected in the original application and promoters still fund at least 30% of the revised cost.
241. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will liaise and consult with the Minister for Social Protection to determine if funding received as part of the basic income for the arts pilot scheme will not be taken into consideration when means testing for social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5609/22]
View answerAs Minister with responsibility for Arts and Culture, I am very 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 overstated - 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.
The intention of the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme is to research the impact a basic income grant scheme would have on artists and creatives work patterns by providing the opportunity to focus on their practice, and to minimise the loss of skills from the arts as a result of the pandemic and to contribute to the sectors gradual regrowth post pandemic.
Like all income the grant payment will be reckonable for both income tax and social welfare means test purposes. However, the level of tax paid and/or the impact on a social welfare payment will depend on each person's individual circumstances.
The means testing of social welfare payments is a statutory function of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD and I have no statutory role in that regard. Engagement on the pilot scheme has been ongoing between my Department and the Department of Social Protection.
It is important to note that the Basic Income for the Arts scheme is not a social welfare payment, it is a grant payment and is a pilot scheme to research the impact of a basic income for the arts. Consequently, it will be delivered on an administrative and not legislative basis.
I believe that the Basic Income Guarantee pilot scheme will bring new life and support to the Arts and Cultural Sector post pandemic and it will provide an important legacy for our artists and creatives.
242. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will work with her officials and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in order to provide for additional full radio time FM radio licences to stations that are focused on delivering modern Irish music and opportunity radio talent and production teams. [5625/22]
View answerThe licensing of radio stations is an operational matter for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland under Part 6 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is independent in the exercise of its functions under section 24 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Accordingly, in my role as Minister, I have no statutory function in relation to this matter.
However, in bringing together a range of support measures to support the arts, culture and live entertainment sectors, I was conscious of the need to ensure that some form of live performance could continue, and could be enjoyed by as many as possible. To that end I provided funding of €1.4m to BAI’s Sound and Vision Scheme in 2021, as part of a suite of measures.
243. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the rationale for reducing Covid-related supports by 33% from €75 million to €50 million in Budget 2022 in view of the fact that it was announced that tourism would see an increase in Budget 2022 over Budget 2021 of 33%. [5686/22]
View answerI secured an increase of €67.6 million in the overall tourism funding allocation in Budget 2022 to help address immediate survival issues in the tourism sector. This funding will also facilitate the resilience and recovery of the sector as we reopen to international tourism and transition to a more sustainable future. This brings to more than €288 million the funding available to tourism in 2022.
€50 million has been secured to provide financial supports to tourism businesses in 2022. The Tourism Business Continuity Schemes for 2022 are managed by Fáilte Ireland and will support businesses across the tourism sectors that need it most urgently, taking account of the Government funding that has already been received and the wider context of the horizontal supports provided by Government. While €75 million was paid in tourism business supports in 2021 (including €20m from funding allocated in 2020), it is important to note that the sector was severely constrained by public health restrictions for much of 2021.
The allocation of the funding by Fáilte Ireland takes into account the needs of the Tourism Sector as a whole. The first two Schemes, the Strategic Tourism Transport Business Continuity Scheme and the Strategic Ireland Based Agents Tourism Business continuity Scheme are currently open. Two further Schemes will open in early March namely the Attractions and Activity Tourism Operators Business Continuity Scheme and the Tourism Accommodation Providers Business Continuity Scheme. The funding secured for these supports takes account of the trading and other circumstances likely to pertain in 2022.
I am conscious of the many challenges facing the sector and I am continuing to engage closely with the wider tourism and hospitality sector, in close consultation with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
244. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount provided to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland in Budget 2022; and if she has received requests from either organisation for supplementary funding for 2022. [5687/22]
View answerIn Budget 2022, I secured a record level of funding for tourism of €288.5m overall – an increase of €67.6m over the 2021 allocation. This funding will support measures to help address short-term survival-related concerns and also to enable recovery across the industry as we reopen to international tourism and begin to transition to a more sustainable future.
Details of the annual funding allocation provided by my Department to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland is available in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available on that Department's website. The subheads of relevance to Fáilte Ireland are A3, A6 and A5 (shared with Tourism Ireland) and the subheads of relevance to Tourism Ireland are A4 and A5 (shared with Fáilte Ireland). Funding for the tourism agencies is the subject of the annual estimates discussion with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I have received no request from either organisation for supplementary funding for 2022 since the publication of the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) on 15th December 2021, and I am continuing to engage closely with the wider tourism and hospitality sector, in close consultation with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
245. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has received a submission (details supplied); and her plans to address the concerns outlined. [5689/22]
View answerThe correspondence from the Irish Chauffeur Tourism Association referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 16 January and my private secretary replied to this correspondence on 24 January. Further correspondence was received on 31 January from the Association and my officials are currently examining this latest correspondence and a further reply will issue shortly.
246. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social, affordable and cost-rental homes each local authority aims to deliver as part of their housing delivery action plan. [5552/22]
View answerThe Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 47,600 new build social homes and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan, setting out details of social and affordable housing delivery in the period 2022-2026.
The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the first ever standalone affordable housing legislation was enacted last July, establishing a basis for four new affordable housing measures. These measures will deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes through; (1) delivering affordable homes on local authority lands; (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental; (3) a First Home shared equity scheme; and (4) expanding Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.
The delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Affordable Housing Act, 2021 and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by local authorities' housing Delivery Action Plans. In drawing up their plans, each local authority assessed the level of demand with affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) and will plan provision accordingly. My Department is currently liaising with local authorities to finalise affordable housing targets at local authority level for the period 2022-2026.
In September 2021, I issued social housing targets for build and long-term lease to all local authorities for 2022-2026. Details of the targets for each local authority are set out in the table below. There will also be a limited number of social homes delivered through acquisitions, with current projections limiting acquisitions to 200 new social homes per annum.
247. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason notice has been given that there will be restricted access to Columb Barracks, Mullingar; and the reason this was not communicated in a manner that ensured each of the community groups that operated from the barracks had the information prior to it being released to the public given the situation that has transpired has created uncertainty, a lack of trust and a perceived breach of agreement between the groups and Departments. [5568/22]
View answer248. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the restricted hours regarding access to Columb Barracks are being currently negotiated; the person or body with whom they are being negotiated; when they were negotiated; the criteria that are being used; and the way the valued and valuable community groups who work with and provide services to persons in need across the town and district can actively participate and feed into a final decision. [5570/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.
I understand that the site the Deputy is referring to at Columb Barracks is owned by the Department of Defence.
It is currently earmarked for transfer to the Land Development Agency (LDA) in line with plans that will see the LDA take ownership of State land capable of delivering 10-15,000 additional homes.
I am informed that the LDA currently has no role in the management of the site and has not issued any notice to occupiers restricting access.
249. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made on the review of a facility (details supplied). [5590/22]
View answerHousing For All sets out national housing policy and implementation measures for the period to 2030. As part of the objective to increase social housing delivery, the plan recognises the significant role that Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have played as partners in social housing delivery and will continue to play over the next five years.
The CALF funding model has worked very successfully over the past 10 years, particularly for the larger AHBs that have adapted their delivery plans to utilise P&A-CALF funding. The increase in market rents over the intervening period has extended the geographic range of areas where dwellings can be delivered to the extent that projects have been completed in all local authority areas.
Under Housing For All, a specific objective, Action 4.10, is to “review the structure and operation of CALF to assess whether any refinements to the facility are required to support delivery of social housing by the AHB sector across a wider range of Local Authority areas.”
One of the key purposes of this exercise is to review the structure of the P&A-CALF funding model to determine if it should be adjusted to support delivery by the AHB sector across a wider range of areas and what options might be available to enable this.
Work is underway on this review with the support of the Housing Agency and is on track to be completed by Q4 this year.
250. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons from outside of the local authority area that were allocated social housing in Nenagh, Tipperary town, Thurles and Clonmel, County Tipperary in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5607/22]
View answerMy Department does not hold information on the allocations of the specific type requested by the Deputy.
The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated regulations.
Section 22 of the Act requires local authorities to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded when allocating 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.
251. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that was returned to his Department unspent from each local authority in regard to the disabled persons grant scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; the amount funding that was returned to his Department unspent from each local authority in regard to the improvement works in lieu of social housing scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5621/22]
View answer252. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that was allocated by his Department to each local authority for the disabled persons grant scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021; the amount of this funding that was subsequently returned unspent by each local authority to his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5622/22]
View answer253. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that was allocated by his Department to each local authority for the improvement works in lieu of social housing scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021; the amount of this funding that was subsequently returned unspent by each local authority to his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5623/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 251 to 253, inclusive, together.
My Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability or overcrowded situations. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation is the responsibility of local authorities.
My Department's approach every year is to issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan, prioritise and implement the programme to carry out the varying works necessary to meet the needs of their tenants. The programme is 90% funded by the Department with a 10% contribution from the Local Authority.
The allocation and drawdown of funding for each local authority for the period 2011-2021 for the Disabled Persons Grant, which incorporates Improvement Works in Lieu, is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/061cd-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c472d-disabled-persons-grant-and-improved-works-in-lieu-schemes-allocation-and-drawdown-2011-2020/
