Written Answers Nos. 204-214
205. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has been spent as of 31 December 2021 to date on the eastern and midlands water supply project from the time of its inception (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15652/22]
View answerThe Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region is a strategic national project to help meet the future water supply needs for housing, commercial and industrial growth in an area comprising 40 per cent of Ireland's population. The preferred scheme for the project involves an abstraction of water from the lower River Shannon at Parteen Basin in Co. Tipperary, with water treatment nearby at Birdhill. Treated water will then be piped 170km to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin Area.
The project will also facilitate options to reinforce supplies of treated water to communities such as Newport, Borrisokane, Cloughjordan, Mullingar, Carlow, Portlaoise, Navan and Drogheda in the future. This will ensure that the long-term (2050 and beyond) water supply requirements of the region are met in a sustainable manner.
The project is at the Preliminary Business Case (PBC) Stage of the Public Spending Code, which aims to develop further the strategic case for the project, consider in more detail the range of options available and decide whether there is a case for proceeding with the proposal. The PBC incorporates detailed options appraisal and when finalised will also incorporate assessments of risk along with the proposed approach to implementation of the proposal.
As part of the development of the PBC including detailed design options and appraisal, public consultation and other assessments, I and my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as required under the Water Services Act 2013, have given consent for Irish Water to spend up to €59.72m on the Water Supply Project - Eastern and Midlands Region.
In addition to their role as economic regulator of Irish Water, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will carry out an external assurance process of the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region PBC and issue guidance to my Department.
Under the Public Spending Code major projects such as the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region must have their PBC approved by Government in order to proceed. I understand that Irish Water intend to seek Government approval for the PBC following the completion of the CRU external assurance process in late 2023/early 2024.
206. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the audit of water treatment plants across the country which he requested that Irish Water carry out has been finalised; if so, if he will provide the results of this audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15653/22]
View answerFollowing two serious incidents in September 2021 at the drinking water treatment plants in Ballymore Eustace, serving parts of Dublin City and in Gorey Co. Wexford, I requested Irish Water to immediately undertake audits of the largest water treatment plants across the country.
Both of these incidents were quickly rectified. Irish Water has confirmed that it has completed audits on 37 water treatment plants with audits in progress on another 40 plants. This work is continuing and Irish Water expects to have audited 250 treatment plants by the end of 2022. Irish Water has also completed refresher training on incident management for staff operating treatment plants.
The outcome of individual audits is being managed by Irish Water and in consultation with its regulators. Irish Water has reported that the audits to date have found a need for immediate and medium-term actions at individual treatment plants. These actions vary plant-by-plant but in summary terms include measures such as improvement of instrumentation on sites linked to control systems and installing automatic shutdown systems for water treatment plants. Addressing these will give better operational control on individual treatment plants.
207. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15661/22]
View answerThe CSO Wholesale Price Index (WPI) shows the annual increase for building and construction materials to be 16.7% to the end of January 2022. The latest data shows that productivity in the construction sector remains below 2010 levels and is less productive than EU average. Construction costs have risen considerably over recent years through a combination of the increased cost of regulatory compliance and general increases in labour and materials costs.
Housing for All commits that the Government and relevant State agencies will advance methods to reduce residential construction costs, particularly the cost of apartment construction, by increasing the focus of existing and planned construction related initiatives on the residential construction sector, and by ensuring a coordinated, whole-of-government, approach to residential construction.
In this regard, the Government will enhance the intended role of the new Construction Technology Centre, which is under development by Enterprise Ireland, beyond the standard remit of Technology Centres in general for its first three years of operation in order to prioritise residential construction, in particular by incorporating:
- structures and funding to enable innovation in residential construction prior to the National Standards Authority of Ireland compliance processes, including demonstration, certification, standardisation and commercialisation as well as research and development;
- a proactive role in strengthening the residential construction value chain;
- promotion, development and support for innovation / modern methods of construction (MMCs) using digital and manufacturing technology;
- support for SMEs to develop scale and to adopt MMCs and Building Information Modelling techniques for residential construction; and
- support for digitisation in the manufacturing sector for residential construction e.g. digitally controlled manufacturing equipment.
This will be complemented by an increased focus for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform-led Construction Sector Group (CSG) on the residential construction sector. This will include the introduction and full implementation of a pipeline of cost reducing innovations and productivity measures, in line with its established remit to improve productivity and efficiency, and to control price inflation.
In addition the CSG supported by my Department are also in the process of preparing a study to carry out an analysis for each component of cost of construction (including cost of compliance) of house and apartment development, with a view to reducing cost (including cost of compliance) and increasing standardisation. It will also identify opportunities for cost reduction for consideration by relevant Government departments and industry.
In accordance with Government policy, social housing construction projects (as with all publicly funded construction projects), must be procured in accordance with the Capital Works Management Framework. The Office of Government (OGP) is responsible for implementing national policy on public procurement, particularly in relation to construction procurement.
The OGP recently introduced the following interim measures to address the impact that the recent price increases in construction materials is having on public works tenders:
- Reduced fixed price period duration to 24 months (previously 30 months minimum).
- Permit mutual cost recovery within the fixed price period for material price changes in excess of 15% (previously 50%)
- Introduction of a new mechanism to address the period between tender submission and award through limited indexation of the tender price
The above measures relate to new public works contracts going forward.
208. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when affordable housing schemes will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15668/22]
View answerAs set out in the Housing for All strategy, this Government is committed to supporting 54,000 new affordable homes by 2030, of which 36,000 will be for purchase and 18,000 for rental. The Affordable Housing Act 2021, the provisions of which I commenced in August and September 2021, laid the foundation for three new affordable housing schemes: 'Cost Rental' housing, the 'Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme', and the national 'First Home' shared equity scheme which will support purchases in the private market.
Part 3 of the Affordable Housing Act provided for the establishment of a Cost Rental sector in Ireland. The introduction of Cost Rental tenancies helps to improve affordability and security in the rental market. Rent levels for Cost Rental tenancies are based on the cost of the provision of homes, rather than being subject to the pressures of the open market. Rents will increase only in line with consumer inflation, remaining stable in real terms while continuing to cover management and maintenance costs. The primary eligibility condition for Cost Rental is a maximum household income for new tenants, which was set by the Minister at €53,000 net of taxes and pension contributions. This will ensure that Cost Rental homes benefit the target cohort of moderate-income households, who have incomes above the limits for social housing supports but who are facing affordability pressures in the private rental market.
Under Housing for All, 10,000 Cost Rental homes will be delivered from 2021 to 2026 by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), supported by Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) funding, along with funding for Local Authorities through the Affordable Housing Fund. The Land Development Agency will also deliver Cost Rental, either on its own portfolio of sites or through acquisitions under Project Tosaigh. All Cost Rental projects will achieve cost-covering rents at least 25% below comparable open market rates.
The first 65 CREL-funded Cost Rental homes were tenanted by the Clúid AHB in 2021, with 25 at Taylor Hill in Balbriggan and a further 40 at Barnhall Meadows in Leixlip. Both developments delivered cost-covering rents at least 40% below comparable open-market prices. The tenanting process is currently underway by the Tuath AHB for a further 44 new Cost Rental homes at the Parklands development in Citywest, also supported by CREL funding, with projected rents of €1,264/month for 2-bed apartments and €1,297/month for 2-bed duplexes. Tenants will also soon be moving into a further 50 Cost Rental homes at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, which are being delivered by the Tuath and Respond AHBs in collaboration with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
Part 2 of the Affordable Housing Act underpins the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, under which Local Authorities will make homes available to eligible buyers using an equity share model. Following engagement with legal counsel, as well as with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and the County and City Management Association (CCMA), secondary legislation for the scheme is at an advanced stage and these Regulations will be issued in the coming weeks. The Regulations will include the format for notification of sale of such dwellings by a Local Authority, the application process, eligibility criteria, the form of the purchase arrangement, matters relating to redemption of the Local Authority's equity interest, and provision for a Local Authority to choose to implement a Scheme of Priority for ranking applications.
The first new homes under this scheme will be made available on an administrative basis at Boherboy in Cork this month. Cork City Council has indicated these will cost €218,000 for a 2-bedroom and €243,000 for a 3-bedroom dwelling. These will be followed by a scheme at Dun Emer in Dublin, where Fingal County Council has indicated a 2-bed apartment will cost €166,000, and a 3-bed dwelling will be between €206,000 and €258,000. In addition, South Dublin County Council has recently advertised 16 homes in Kilcarbery that will cost between €245,600 and €285,300.
Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act provides the basis for the First Home Scheme, which will be available nationwide. This scheme will support eligible first-time buyers to buy a new-build home in private developments by means of an equity share model, similar to that used in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme.
First Home will operate for the period 2022 to 2026 and deploy overall funding of c. €400 million, jointly funded by the State and participating mortgage lenders. A new First Home Designated Activity Company, incorporated in December, will operate this scheme. Significant work is continuing on the detailed design and parameters of the scheme, and full details will be confirmed upon completion of this work. It is anticipated that initial activity on key areas of work, including public communications, will be undertaken over the next months in advance of First Home’s first receipt of applications and deployment of equity support, scheduled for Q2 this year.
209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if investment will be made into a fire service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15722/22]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
- area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
- established Health and Safety needs;
- state of development of the project (is site acquired?, etc.); and
- value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire engines. In order to maximise the available Capital Programme funding, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the Programme on an annual basis, and some flexibility is normally available to advance projects that are ready and that offer best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects more generally.
Kerry County Council has indicated that the upgrade of Killarney fire station is one of their fire station priority projects, and funding for this is provided for in this Capital Programme, with an estimated cost of €366,000 excluding VAT.
Under the Annual Fire Services Capital Programmes, Departmental grant-aid of just over €398,000 from 2016 – 2021 has contributed to the provision of a new “Class B” appliance (engine), two vans, a 4WD pick-up truck and Community Smoke Alarms for Kerry Fire Service. The Service has also been allocated a new “Class B” appliance under the 2021 -2023 Appliance Procurement Programme at an estimated cost of c. €480,000. Approval has also been given for two 4WD vehicles and an incident command unit.
210. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the schedule of upcoming meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. [6424/22]
View answerMeetings of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) take place on dates agreed between the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. Normal practice is for an indicative schedule of future meetings to be agreed at each NSMC plenary meeting.
At the plenary meeting on 30 July 2021, an indicative schedule of meetings was agreed, including a plenary meeting in December 2021. This plenary meeting did not take place. Due to the DUP’s continued withdrawal from participation in NSMC meetings and the need for cross-community representation at those meetings, only nine of the 27 meetings initially planned for 2021 took place. This is deeply regrettable. The Council’s next meeting is not expected until a new Executive is formed following Assembly elections in May.
The NSMC, which was established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement to develop consultation, cooperation, and action within the island of Ireland, is the formal means for advancing North-South cooperation. In the Council, the Government works with the Executive to advance areas of practical cooperation to our mutual benefit. This is particularly important at a time when we need to support communities and businesses across the island to recover from the pandemic.
No positive agenda is served by the breakdown of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, either the NSMC or indeed the Executive, which has also been impacted by recent political instability.
Despite the current absence of formal meetings of the NSMC, practical initiatives previously agreed in the framework of the Council continue to operate and to deliver significant benefits for citizens, North and South. The important work of the North South Implementation Bodies, which operate under the auspices of the NSMC, also continues.
My Government colleagues and I look forward to increased engagement with the Executive in the period ahead, through Ministerial meetings in the NSMC’s policy sectors to deliver projects that benefit communities across the island. The NSMC is essential to overseeing and developing North-South cooperation on matters of mutual interest, and thus it is crucial that the Council is not further impeded from achieving this.
211. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the implementation and impacts of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6479/22]
View answerSince its entry into force at the beginning of 2021, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) has provided a strong framework for continued trade and cooperation with Great Britain. The TCA builds upon the previous Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, in setting out the architecture of the EU-UK relationship.
Effective implementation of the TCA is a priority for Ireland. Not only does it underpin our trade and business relationship with Great Britain, but it also provides for cooperation in a wide range of areas of significance to us. It also creates a platform for building further cooperation into the future.
While no agreement could have replaced the seamless relationship with the UK enjoyed prior to Brexit, the TCA provides for tariff- and quota-free goods trade between the EU and Great Britain as well as preferential arrangements in areas such as transport, energy, fisheries, and policing. The agreement is underpinned by extensive governance structures as well as provisions to ensure a continued level playing field and processes for resolving any disputes that might arise.
The EU and the UK have been meeting regularly through the TCA’s governance structures over the past year, including at highest level, in the EU-UK Partnership Council. All of the Specialised Committees, the forums for EU-UK engagement across each of the areas covered by the agreement, have now met at least once, and initial discussions have largely been productive. Each of these Committees shall meet at least once a year, as set out in the TCA. A number of the Specialised Committees, such as energy, are expected to meet for the second time in the coming months. Ireland has actively contributed to the preparation of the EU side’s position for those meetings and we continue to work very closely, with the European Commission, on the overall implementation of the agreement.
The TCA also establishes an EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, providing for the participation of political representatives. The EU has set up a Domestic Advisory Group and is in the process of creating a Civil Society Forum, both of which provide a platform for NGOs, business, trade unions and other groups to advise and share their views on the implementation of the Agreement.
212. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the schedule of upcoming meetings of the British-Irish Council. [6423/22]
View answerThe British-Irish Council meets primarily in two formats – bi-annual summit meetings with Heads of Administrations and work sector meetings.
The next Summit meeting is due to take place in Guernsey in July 2022, and follows the recent Summit hosted by the Welsh Government on 19 November 2021, which both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste attended.
There are eleven work sectors of the British-Irish Council and relevant Ministers meet every few years to review progress within their work sector and to agree shared priorities for the period ahead. It is anticipated that the Creative Industries and Social Inclusion work sectors will meet at Ministerial level later this year. This follows an Energy work sector Ministerial meeting which Minister Ryan attended on 4 February, in a virtual format.
Member Administrations also meet regularly at official level across the Council’s eleven work sectors, to share expertise and to collaborate on the implementation of the agreed programme of work. Officials also frequently engage with stakeholders and experts in relevant fields through talks, site visits and symposiums.
A Senior Officials Group has recently been established, to improve coordination across administrations and to drive the strategic direction of the Council. This meets on at least a six-monthly basis, or more frequently as required.
213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to meet with his UK counterpart to identify ongoing obstructions to the Northern Ireland Protocol as events emerge. [6351/22]
View answerI am in regular and ongoing contact with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on a range of issues including with regard to the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. We met in London on 6 January and in Munich on 19 February. We also spoke on 28 January after the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Northern Ireland.
The Protocol is the only agreed EU-UK solution that protects the Good Friday Agreement, prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland, and ensures the integrity of the EU Single Market and Ireland’s place within it.
I have emphasised to the Foreign Secretary that Ireland and the EU remain fully committed to providing certainty and stability for people and businesses in Northern Ireland. The EU has spared no effort in listening to the concerns of people in Northern Ireland and bringing forward a far-reaching and pragmatic package of proposals that would address the issues that matter most to them.
As the Deputy will be aware, EU-UK discussions on the implementation of the Protocol are ongoing. I welcome that these talks are continuing and it is positive that EU-UK joint statements have expressed determination to ensure durable solutions are found as soon as possible for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland is already seeing the benefits of the Protocol, with numerous jobs and investment announcements made over the last year based on Northern Ireland’s unique access under the Protocol to both the EU Single Market for goods and the rest of the UK internal market. Most people and businesses in Northern Ireland want to take advantage of this unique trading position. Businesses have consistently said that they need stability, certainty and predictability.
I, of course, have also discussed the situation in Ukraine with Foreign Secretary Truss where the EU and the UK are standing together to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s abhorrent and illegal aggression. I hope that this spirit of partnership can extend to the talks on the implementation of the Protocol. A positive outcome to these discussions will allow us to turn a page and develop a forward-looking EU-UK partnership. There are a range of urgent global challenges which require the EU and UK to work together. A strong bilateral British-Irish relationship is also vital for the Irish and British Governments to fulfil our roles as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and to advance cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
I will remain in close contact with British Government Ministers, including the Foreign Secretary, in the period ahead and will continue to encourage the British Government to engage constructively with the EU so that we can make progress for the benefit of people and businesses across Northern Ireland.
214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which his Department continues to monitor developments surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol; and the extent to which parties have departed from adherence to the Protocol. [6691/22]
View answerConcerns regarding the UK’s failures to implement the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland have been clearly expressed by the EU since shortly after the Protocol entered full operation in 2021. These include concerns expressed around a series of UK unilateral extensions to various grace periods, and the limited EU access to customs and goods movement data. Accordingly in March 2021, the Commission issued a letter of formal notice to the UK Government beginning infringement proceedings. In July 2021, the Commission paused the infringement process to provide the space for talks to find durable solutions to the implementation of the Protocol.
EU-UK talks on the implementation of the Protocol are ongoing. I welcome the meetings of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 21 February, and the meeting of the Specialised Committee on the Protocol held on 8 March. I note the determination expressed in the resulting joint statements, to ensure that durable solutions are found as soon as possible for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland. The EU and the UK have committed to continuing their talks and to further engagement with business groups, civil society, and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland. The talks must remain focussed on their concerns. The EU’s proposals published last October directly address those concerns around SPS and customs movements, medicines and giving greater voice to Northern Irish stakeholders in the implementation of the Protocol.
Although there have been genuine challenges with regard to the implementation of the Protocol, I continue to believe that it will work if we allow it to with flexibility and pragmatism. The EU has spared no effort in listening to the concerns of people in Northern Ireland and bringing forward practical solutions that would address the issues that matter most to them. This flexibility now needs to be reciprocated by the UK.
I continue to engage regularly with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including the leaders of the Northern Ireland political parties, the business community, and civic society. I remain in close and regular contact with Vice-President Šefcovic, and with our partners across the EU. The Union is seized of this matter – the implementation of the Protocol is a very regular topic of discussion within the Council and the European Parliament. Support for the Commission approach to UK engagement and for minimising disruption in Northern Ireland remains steadfast across the Union. I also have regular engagement with both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the UK Foreign Secretary.
I and officials in my Department will continue to monitor developments closely in the coming period and to encourage the British Government to engage constructively with the EU so that we can make progress for the benefit of people and businesses across Northern Ireland.
