Tuesday, 26 Apr 2022

Written Answers Nos. 694-699

Departmental Meetings

Questions (694)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

694. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the dates officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine contacted his Department and or met with officials of his Department in connection with removing the requirement for planning permission when converting dead, dying and rotting Ash plantations to conifer species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20991/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Peter Burke)

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is in contact with my Department in connection with a proposal to amend existing planning exemptions for the replacement of broadleaf high forest with conifer species.

Officials from both Departments discussed the matter initially in September 2021 and most recently met on 4 April 2022 to progress the matter. My Department is continuing to engage with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the proposals.

In the interim, it should be noted that it is still open to individuals to apply for planning consent for the replacement of broadleaf high forest with conifer species.

Water Charges

Questions (695)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

695. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Irish Water can charge consumers who fall within the scheme for water usage in circumstances in which a public group water scheme is still legally held in ownership by a voluntary community trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21101/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Public Group Water Schemes are currently charged for the use of water (and wastewater service if applicable) in accordance with the billing practice that applied prior to the establishment of Irish Water. For most such schemes, the scheme itself is Irish Water’s customer, rather than the individuals within it. It is not a matter for Irish Water to determine how a public Group Water Scheme chooses to charge its members.

In this regard, it should be noted that my Department provides funding through an annual subsidy, payable by local authorities, towards the operational and management costs of group water schemes supplying water for domestic use.

The charging arrangements for Irish Water customers is a matter in the first instance for Irish Water. Any issues, which cannot be resolved by Irish Water to the satisfaction of the customer can be referred under the formal complaints process to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) whose decision on the matter is binding on Irish Water. 

On 10 February 2022, the CRU published a proposed decision paper on updated charging arrangements for public Group Water Schemes and invited responses on the proposed decision. The response period is now closed, and the CRU will finalise its paper in due course.

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 [e-mail] or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.

Homeless Persons Supports

Questions (696)

Niall Collins

Question:

696. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide capital funding under the homeless budget for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21148/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

An application for funding has been made for the project referred to in the Question under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme. This application is under active consideration in my Department and a response will issue to Limerick City and County Council on completion of this process in due course.

Question No. 697 answered with Question No. 664.

Departmental Equipment

Questions (698)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

698. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a piece of surveillance technology (details supplied) is being used by his Department or any agencies under his remit in view of the fact that there are security and privacy concerns associated with the use of same; the data protection policies on the use of artificial intelligence with respect to instances in which this technology is being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21238/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

My Department does not use Hikvsion and/or Dahua CCTV cameras equipped with facial recognition technology. My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis in line with legislation and governance policies. These State bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below.

State Body	Contact E-mail Address
State Body	Contact E-mail Address
An Bord Pleanála	[e-mail]
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum)	[e-mail]
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum	[e-mail]
Ervia	[e-mail]
Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Heritage Council	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Irish Water	[e-mail]
Land Development Agency	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
National Oversight and Audit Commission	[e-mail]
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee	[e-mail]
Office of the Planning Regulator	[e-mail]
Ordnance Survey Ireland	[e-mail]
Property Registration Authority	[e-mail]
Pyrite Resolution Board	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Valuation Office	[e-mail]
Valuation Tribunal	[e-mail]
Water Advisory Body	[e-mail]
Waterways Ireland	[e-mail]

Homeless Persons Supports

Questions (699)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

699. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the latest calls to combat child homelessness by an organisation (details supplied) including ensuring that all local authorities have the capacity to put the best interests of child at the heart of their response to families that are homeless; if he will establish a specific taskforce to review the impact of housing insecurity on one-parent families and develop appropriate solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21262/22]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland commits to working to eradicate homelessness by 2030 and provides detail on how the Government is approaching this as a priority. Housing for All includes eighteen distinct actions on homelessness. Two of these actions relate specifically to the provision of supports for families and children and in enabling their exit from homelessness. There is a commitment to enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and coordinated response, and the dissemination of innovative practice. There is also a commitment to identify and provide enhanced tenancy sustainment supports to families experiencing long-term homelessness to help them exit from homelessness and maintain their homes. These actions are being delivered with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

Cooperation through joined-up policy and action are key to addressing all forms of homelessness.  A key initiative that I have put in place is the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC), which I chair and which meets on a quarterly basis. NHAC is a cross-governmental and inter-agency oversight group with membership drawn from key Departments, State agencies and bodies involved in addressing homelessness. The overarching objective of NHAC is to drive delivery of homeless actions, including those under the Government’s Housing for All plan.  

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, with additional supports, including the provision of family supports, provided to families by Tusla.

Local authorities are independent in the exercise of their functions and, as such, applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. Lone parents are entitled to access all of the housing support delivery mechanisms on an equal basis with all other citizens.

The increases in family homelessness seen in recent months are a serious concern for my Department and for the Government. We are acting to address this – in the short term and strategically over the months and years ahead. Over 5,200 adults and their dependant children exited homelessness in 2021. All of these exits were to homes with tenancies.

The Government will continue to prioritise responses for all families, including lone parents, experiencing homelessness and this is being reflected in both strategic policy and in specific actions.