Written Answers Nos. 111-130
111. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10220/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the implementation of a range of legislation and policy relating to biodiversity and nature in Ireland and is the National Focal Point for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an overarching international agreement underpinning the global biodiversity framework. In this context, my Department is the lead authority for the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP).
The first draft of the Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (2022- 2026) has been developed following a comprehensive review of national, European and international biodiversity policies and other relevant plans and strategies. The 4th Plan will build on the successes of the 3rd NBAP (2017-2021) and will meet the implementation challenges it faced. The draft is currently under internal review and, in the coming weeks, will be sent for wider stakeholder review to bodies and organisations that are likely to be impacted by its recommendations or will be involved in its implementation. A public consultation period will follow in April/May, culminating in a broad discussion at the 2nd National Biodiversity Conference, to be held in June.
Our natural heritage enriches our lives and supports our livelihoods. The Plan is an all-of-Government document and all sectors of society need to be engaged in the Plan to ensure its success.
112. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a national hedgerow survey has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/22]
View answerHedgerows are an integral part of farmed landscapes in Ireland and play a key role in habitat connectivity as well as being important habitats in their own right. They support a variety of invertebrate, bird and mammal species, and are refuges for biodiversity in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture. Teagasc has undertaken hedgerow mapping on a national scale, and while no comprehensive national survey has been carried out to date, a number of Local Authorities have commissioned hedgerow surveys at county level. The latest was commissioned by Monaghan County Council in 2021. This survey was co-funded by The Heritage Council. My Department supports such initiatives by Local Authorities through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund, which provides funding for projects that contribute to the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
113. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is considering restricting the movement or activities of volunteer metal detectors in any revision of the archaeological and monuments Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10225/22]
View answerThe use of a detection devices will not be prohibited under the proposed Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill and as provided for under the existing legislative framework, the use of a detection device to search for or collect archaeological objects will continue to be a licensable activity. The unlicensed use of a detection device for the purposes outlined above will not be permitted and to do so will be an offence under the proposed Bill.
The need to safeguard archaeological objects is one of the primary pillars upon which the proposed Bill has been developed. Unfortunately, the reality is there are countless examples of the illicit export, import and sale of cultural property. While there are a range of disparate views on the issue of using detection devices to search for archaeology objects, the proposed approach continues the well-established position that a licensed regime provides the highest standard of protection available.
114. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made towards the resolution of the European Court of Justice ruling in case C-261/18 relating to Derrybrien Windfarm; the next steps that must be taken to ensure compliance with the ruling in that case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10248/22]
View answerA decision on the substitute consent application for the Derrybrien Wind Farm in County Galway, the subject matter of the Court of Justice of the EU's ruling in case C-261/18, was signed by An Bord Pleanála (the Board) on Friday 4 February 2022.
In their decision, the Board refused to grant substitute consent for ESB’s wind farm, which ends the statutory process seeking to retrospectively regularise the environmental impact assessment (EIA) status of the wind farm. The Board's decision has been notified to all parties to the case, as well as being made available on the Board's website.
Planning legislation specifies that a development that has been refused substitute consent is deemed to be an ‘unauthorised development’ that shall be subject to planning enforcement by the relevant planning authority, which enforcement process shall require, among other things, the cessation of activity on site.
ESB has since confirmed through their line department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), that the operation of ESB's wind farm at Derrybrien has been paused from 15 February 2022 following the decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse to grant substitute consent, and that ESB is continuing to review the details of the decision.
My Department's officials are working closely with officials in DECC and with the Office of the Attorney General, and will engage with counterparts in the European Commission as soon as possible to clarify the status of Ireland's compliance with the judgement in Case C-261/18 as a result of the Board's decision to refuse substitute consent.
115. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available for a person who is not able to qualify for the help to buy scheme due to not meeting the loan to value ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10287/22]
View answerThe Help-to-Buy scheme is the policy responsibility of the Minister of Finance. The appropriate loan-to-value ratio is a matter for that Minister.
My Department has a number of policies in place to support homeownership.
The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
To support prudential lending and consistency of treatment for borrowers, a maximum Loan-to-Value ratio of 90% as per the Central Banks lending guidelines applies to this loan. There is no minimum loan-to-value ratio, however it is only available to applicants who cannot obtain sufficient offers of finance on the market.
For single persons, the income ceiling is EUR65,000 for persons seeking to purchase in home in Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, Laois, Wicklow, Meath, Cork and Galway, and EUR50,000 in the rest of the country. The income limit for joint applicants is EUR75,000. House price limits also apply, the maximum house price is EUR320,000 in Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, Laois, Wicklow, Meath, Cork and Galway, and EUR250,000 in the rest of the country.
To avail of the loan applicants must have a deposit equivalent to 10% of the market value of the property. The applicant(s) must provide bank or similar statements (post office, credit union, etc.) for a 12-month period immediately prior to making an application clearly showing a credible and consistent track record of savings. The cash savings should be no less than 3% of the market value of the property. Gifts are permissible up to 7% of the market value of the property where their source is verified.
Further information, including a Home Loan Calculator and the Application Form is available on the website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.
In relation to measures that support more affordable housing more generally, the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the first ever standalone affordable housing legislation, established 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 Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme will support purchasers of Local Authority-delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit. Regulations to set out the detailed criteria are at an advanced stage and will be issued in the coming weeks. The first homes delivered through the scheme will be located in Cork City in the coming weeks. Cork City Council indicated the prices to be €218,000 for a 2-bedroom and €243,000 for a 3-bedroom dwelling.
The First Home affordable purchase shared equity scheme, established under Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act, will act in a similar way to the Local Authority-led scheme, but will support purchases of newly constructed homes on the private market. This scheme will be available in every county and will incorporate regional price caps based on median house price sales. Confirmation of the final details of this scheme is ongoing in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders and it is anticipated that the First Home scheme will be available for applications from mid year.
116. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made allocating biodiversity officers across the country; the number of additional biodiversity officers that will be employed; the counties that will receive a biodiversity officer; the number of posts that have been filled to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10299/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure that each local authority has a sufficient number of Biodiversity Officers and Heritage Officers among their staff complement. There are currently five biodiversity officers employed in local authorities, mainly in the Leinster area.
The role of a biodiversity officer is prescribed at local level by the employing local authority. The primary function of a biodiversity officer is to promote, manage and co-ordinate biodiversity related activities within the local authority. Biodiversity officers are the public face of biodiversity-related activities within the local authority, commissioning biodiversity surveys, implementing community related projects to improve the status of biodiversity in the local authority area, and organising relevant public events. Biodiversity officers advise local authorities in relation to their obligations with regard to national and local biodiversity policies, programmes and priorities.
My Department is committed to supporting local authorities in the important role they play in the implementation of actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. My Departments investment in the biodiversity officer programme, through support of local authorities, will enhance their efforts to deliver benefits for biodiversity. In that context, I have allocated €600k in 2022 towards the programme. My Department, in collaboration with the Heritage Council, will work with local authorities on establishing a programme in the coming months.
117. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the decline in the number of staff employed by Clare County Council from 907.9 full-time equivalent in Q4 2008 to 794.05 full-time equivalent in Q4 2019 as expressed in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform databank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10300/22]
View answer118. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the decline in the number of staff employed by Clare County Council from 794.05 full-time equivalent in quarter four 2019 to 328.74 full-time equivalent in quarter four 2020 as expressed in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform databank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10301/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.
Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
During the period 2009 to 2015 and in line with government policy on staffing and numbers in the public sector at that time, all local authorities including Clare County Council, underwent a sizable reduction of staffing numbers.
Since that time, there has been a managed upward trend, caused in the main by the sector’s response to the Government’s Housing Strategy and the strong emphasis placed on economic development. There will continue to be gradual increases over the next few years to reflect the new skills required within the sector.
With regard to the Q4 2020 staff numbers for Clare County Council published on the Department of Public Expenditure's Databank (databank.per.gov.ie/), there was an error in the figure published. The correct staffing number for Clare County Council at the end of Q4 2020 was 803.86 and my Department will ensure that the error will be rectified by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on their Databank without delay.
119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that Irish Water provides funding to deliver a wastewater treatment plant in Creggs, County Galway which has been identified in the village plan as the key infrastructural investment required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10340/22]
View answerMy Department is currently developing proposals to support the provision of waste water treatment requirements for villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure. I propose to make an announcement in relation to these proposals in the coming weeks.
120. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the effect the recent Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 have on architectural conservation areas; if architectural conservation areas will be subject to an exemption, meaning the development will allowed to be constructed without planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10351/22]
View answer121. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there will be communication regarding whether the requirement of an assessment on the impact of developments to bats, their roosts and nesting birds will still apply in the recent Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10352/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.
The Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2018, which came into operation on 8 February 2018, provide for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of the change of use of certain vacant commercial premises to residential use, including the conversion of vacant areas above ground floor commercial premises to residential use. This measure was aimed at facilitating the productive re-use of qualifying vacant commercial buildings as homes, while also facilitating urban renewal and the bringing on stream of increased housing supply.
The Government's recently published Housing Plan for Ireland - Housing for All commits to reviewing and extending the 2018 regulations to the end of 2025. The recently signed Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 fulfill that commitment.
The conditions and limitations that applied to the 2018 exempted development provisions will continue to apply under the new regulations which includes provision that works shall not be permitted in a number of limited areas, such as areas of special planning control and areas to which special amenity area orders relate. Under section 82 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), works to the exterior of a structure located in an architectural conservation area shall be exempted development only if those works would not materially affect the character of the area. Where a person wishes to seek advice in relation to whether proposed works might materially affect the character of an architectural conservation area, they should contact the local Heritage Officer or the local planning office.
Furthermore works to protected structures shall not be allowed under the exemptions save where the relevant planning authority has issued a declaration under section 57 of the Act to the effect that the proposed works would not materially affect the character of the structure or any element of the structure which contributes to its special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
My Department is in the process of issuing a Circular Letter to planning authorities advising them of the newly extended exempted development regulations. The Circular will include the specific advice that care should be taken to ensure compliance with relevant legislative requirements in relation to the assessment of potential impacts on bats, their roosts and nesting birds arising from any proposed works in relevant structures.
122. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if manholes fall under the responsibility of Irish Water or the local authority. [10377/22]
View answerThe position in relation to legal responsibility for water services infrastructure is set out in the Water Service Act 2007. In line with this Act, a water services authority is responsible for water services infrastructure, including manholes, extending from a waterworks or waste water works to the curtilage of a private property. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has been responsible for the planning and delivery of public water and waste water services. Each local authoriity, however, continues to be responsible for storm water infrastructure, including manholes, within its own functional area.
It is also important to note that, in line with sections 43 and 54 of the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for water or waste water pipes, including manholes, which are located within the boundary of a property rests with the owner of the property. In this way, local authorities who typically own a range of properties including offices, housing and other buildings relevant to their functional responsibilities, may continue to be responsible for pipework, including manholes, located within the curtilage of their own properties.
Further assistance can be obtained from Irish Water who would be best placed to advise whether particular manholes in the public realm belong to the public water system in their ownership. It may also be helpful to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
123. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of derelict sites on the derelict sites register in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10383/22]
View answerThe requested information is provided in the Table below. This data relates to the number of derelict sites on local authority registers at 31 December 2020 which is the latest data available in my Department. Data in respect of the end of 2021 is due to be collected in the coming months.
|
Local Authority |
No. of Derelict Sites on Register at 31 December 2020 |
|
Carlow |
22 |
|
Cavan |
23 |
|
Clare |
39 |
|
Cork County |
180 |
|
Cork City |
95 |
|
Donegal |
18 |
|
Dublin City |
73 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
10 |
|
Fingal |
3 |
|
Galway City |
16 |
|
Galway County |
1 |
|
Kerry |
57 |
|
Kildare |
16 |
|
Kilkenny |
15 |
|
Laois |
92 |
|
Leitrim |
36 |
|
Limerick City & County |
215 |
|
Longford |
36 |
|
Louth |
1 |
|
Mayo |
268 |
|
Meath |
20 |
|
Monaghan |
36 |
|
Offaly |
19 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
|
Sligo |
19 |
|
South Dublin |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
39 |
|
Waterford City & County |
33 |
|
Westmeath |
99 |
|
Wexford |
45 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
|
Total |
1548 |
My Department continues to liaise with local authorities on the implementation of the Derelict Sites Act with a view to improving its effectiveness, and continues to keep the relevant provisions under review.
124. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant sites on the vacant sites register in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10384/22]
View answerData in relation to the implementation of the vacant site levy by local authorities is collected by my Department a year in arrears. The most recent data available in my Department in this regard is in respect of the year 2021. The Table below indicates the number of sites by local authority area which were liable to the vacant site levy in 2021 in respect of 2020. Sites are required to be on the register for a full calendar year before they can be levied. It is intended to request local authorities to submit their vacant site levy returns in respect of 2022 next month.
|
Planning Authority |
Sites liable in 2021 in respect of 2020 |
|
Carlow |
0 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
|
Clare |
14 |
|
Cork County |
9 |
|
Cork City |
12 |
|
DLR |
4 |
|
Donegal |
37 |
|
Dublin City |
0 |
|
Fingal |
5 |
|
Galway City |
6 |
|
Galway County |
0 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
10 |
|
Laois |
12 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
|
Limerick |
5 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Louth |
0 |
|
Mayo |
0 |
|
Meath |
16 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
18 |
|
Sligo |
21 |
|
South Dublin |
11 |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
|
Waterford |
14 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
18 |
|
Total |
215 |
125. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants on the housing list in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10389/22]
View answerThe annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) details the number of households qualified for social housing support, and whose needs have not been met, in each local authority area. The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2020, is available at:
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 SSHA process will conclude shortly and I expect to publish the summary report before end Q1, 2022.
126. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the strategy document regarding electric vehicle charging for the Dublin local authorities will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10399/22]
View answerOverall strategy for sustainable mobility/electric vehicle recharging points is within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport and is co-ordinated by the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce. Their report is available at the following link and contains recommendations for Local Authorities:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/101f0-low-emission-vehicle-taskforce-phase-2-report/.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires the installation of appropriate infrastructure, to enable the installation at a later stage of recharging points for Electric Vehicles, for new residential buildings and non-residential buildings and those undergoing major renovation, with more than ten parking spaces. In addition, non-residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces must ensure the installation of at least 1 recharging point.
The Directive also requires that Member States shall lay down requirements for the installation of a minimum number of recharging points for existing non-residential buildings with more than twenty parking spaces, by 1 January 2025.
Regulations to introduce these requirements were introduced in 2021 and are available at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/si/393/made/en/pdf.
Technical guidance to accompany these regulations is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/83fdc-energy-performance-of-buildings-regulations-2021-technical-guidance/.
These regulations apply only to buildings and not to public re-charging infrastructure.
127. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will publish updated guidance to facilitate a transition period for the changes to the tenant purchase scheme pursuant to SI. No.776 of 2021 Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2021; if his Department will facilitate flexibility in respect of tenants who had commenced the application process to purchase their homes prior to 1 February 2022 but have not been in receipt of housing support for the new period of ten years and are now no longer eligible for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10407/22]
View answerThe Tenant Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. Applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports, to be eligible.
The Government has recently reduced the minimum reckonable income required under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. Similarly, the length of time an applicant must be in receipt of social housing supports to qualify under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years. These changes came into effect on 1 February 2022.
Applications received by local authorities prior to 1 February 2022 should be assessed with reference to the regulations and requirements in place at the time, with applications received after 1 February 2022 assessed in accordance with the new requirements.
While local authorities have already been formally advised of the key changes, my Department intends to issue revised guidance to local authorities very shortly.
Further changes to the scheme will be considered in the coming months, as part of a broader package of social housing reforms.
128. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the shared equity scheme will be operational.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10417/22]
View answerThe Affordable Housing Act 2021, which I commenced in August 2021, laid the provisions for the introduction of two new affordable purchase schemes: an affordable purchase scheme delivered via Local Authorities and the Land Development Agency delivering primarily on own lands, and also the national First Home shared equity scheme supporting purchases in the private market.
Part 4 of the Act provides the basis for the establishment of the First Home Scheme. The scheme will support first-time buyers on moderate incomes in purchasing new-build homes by means of an equity stake model, similar to that used in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme. First Home will be subject to regional price ceilings reflective of the median prices paid by first-time buyers for new-build homes, so it is an intervention to assist buyers in the lower area of the home price distribution. The scheme will be targeted at those who have insufficient funds to purchase one of these homes using the mortgage and deposit available to them, and will use equity support to ‘bridge the gap’.
Budget 2022 allocated €44 million to my Department for First Home. The banking sector has confirmed it is committed to working with the State to develop and deliver this scheme, and has agreed in principle to match this State funding in order to increase the pool of funding available to potential new homeowners. Subject to the necessary approvals by all parties, it is anticipated that the First Home scheme will operate for the period 2022 to 2025, utilising overall funding of c. €400m to provide support to c. 8,000 households to purchase new homes.
The scheme will be operated via the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company, which has recently been incorporated. Significant work is continuing on the detailed design and parameters of the scheme, and full details including scheme conditionality will be confirmed upon completion of this work. It is anticipated that initial activity on key areas of work, including public communications, will be conducted early in May of this year, in advance of the first receipt of applications and deployment of equity support, scheduled for end Q2.
129. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions, apart from public statements, that he has taken to meet with and to request his counterparts in the strongest possible way to ensure the establishment of the historical investigations unit and other legacy bodies in Northern Ireland as envisaged under the Stormont House Agreement. [10143/22]
View answerThe Stormont House Agreement was reached in 2014 after a period of intense negotiation by the Irish Government, the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland. It provides for a comprehensive and balanced framework to address the legacy of the past.
The commitment to the implementation of the provisions of the Stormont House Agreement was reaffirmed by the British Government in the context of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement in January 2020. As the Deputy will be aware, in March 2020, the British Government published a Written Ministerial Statement which proposed significant changes to the Stormont House framework, and subsequently published a Command Paper in July 2021 proposing a general statute of limitations.
I have engaged with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland political parties, victims' representatives and others regularly extensively throughout this period. In June 2021, I agreed with the Secretary of State to convene an intensive engagement process centrally involving the Northern Ireland political parties and engaging first and foremost with victims representatives to attempt to find agreement on a comprehensive and collective way forward on dealing with the past. In that process, we set out the Government's serious concerns with the British Government's proposals and our position that the Stormont House Agreement is the path forward. The parties, victims representatives and other stakeholders also made clear their opposition to the British Government's proposals in that process.
I again raised the need for progress on legacy and the vital need to find an agreed way forward with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference that took place on 2 December 2021 in London. I have continued to engage regularly with the Secretary of State and with the leaders of the parties in Northern Ireland on this most sensitive issue, and I have continued to caution the British Government strongly against unilateral action in this space. The Taoiseach has also communicated this message to Prime Minister Johnson.
The Government remains ready to engage and work with the British Government and the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive in partnership on this very important issue in the period immediately ahead, with a view to reaffirming a collective approach that is consistent with the Stormont House Agreement framework, and for all victims, survivors and society as a whole.
130. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects a first-time passport will be issued for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10135/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's parents as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.
