Eoin Ó Broin
Question:137. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the detailed breakdown of works carried out on the entrance hall of Kilkenny Castle and associated costs of those works. [22499/22]
View answerOffice of Public Works
Questions (137)
Written answers
In 2020, arising from the COVID19 pandemic, the OPW closed its heritage visitor sites to the public, in line with Government guidelines. Kilkenny Castle remained closed during this time and this offered a unique opportunity for the OPW to upgrade parts of the Castle interior while there were no visitors in attendance. These upgrades included painting, necessary maintenance works, and upgrading of lighting.
Works carried out specifically in the entrance hall of Kilkenny Castle comprise of walls being painted green; two plinths were made to display urns; four chairs were refurbished; one display case was fabricated; antlers and swords, which are on loan, were put on display and a lantern was replaced with another which was in storage.
Associated costs are not currently available due to a temporary technical issue with the OPW finance system but will be furnished directly to the Deputy as soon as the finance system is accessible again.
Film Industry
Questions (138)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:138. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the fact by persons ordinarily employed in occupations in Irish film and television production, that there is widespread lack of employment in the industry currently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22443/22]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware of the current employment situation in the live-filming sub-sector of the audiovisual industry. It would usually be the case that there would be significant activity in this sub-sector at this point of the year. I understand that the very high incidence of COVID19 cases, coupled with the requirements of live filming, the commencement date of a number of productions has been pushed back. I understand, however, that many live-action productions are already in pre-production and the position is expected to improve significantly in the coming weeks.
Irish Language
Questions (139)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:139. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the recruitment process to appoint members to the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee under the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22118/22]
View answerWritten answers
The process to be conducted under Section 18B of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 to appoint members to the Irish Language Services Advisory Committee is ongoing.
The process established by the Public Appointments Service at the request of my Department to recruit members to the Committee to represent Irish-speaking communities from both within and outside of the Gaeltacht is at an advanced stage, with applications currently being assessed. Nominations will be sought in relation to the other members nominated by public bodies shortly.
It is expected that the Committee will be established shortly.
Sports Organisations
Questions (140)
Cathal Crowe
Question:140. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress on meeting the target of 40% female representation on the boards of sporting organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22113/22]
View answerWritten answers
Addressing women’s participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy. That includes women in leadership positions such as board members of National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
I want to acknowledge the significant efforts that sporting bodies are now making around gender diversity on their boards. It is evident, however, that more work needs to be done. In the new Action Plan for Sport 2021-2023 all NGBs are being asked to achieve 40% gender representation on their boards by the end of 2023. It is a particular priority for me and Minister Martin to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% target reflects this prioritisation.
The most recent Board Composition Snapshot which was published by Sport Ireland in December 2021, shows that the overall percentage of women on boards of NGBs has increased from 24% in 2019 to 32% in 2021. The Snapshot also highlights that 39 NGBs have now achieved 30% or more women on their board, up from 19 NGBs in 2019.
Sport Ireland will continue to provide support to NGBs towards achieving the target of 40% and will monitor and report on progress.
Departmental Reports
Questions (141)
Cathal Crowe
Question:141. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will outline progress in meeting the recommendations of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22114/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Night-time Economy is a hugely important sector, contributing to our economy and our cultural and creative sectors and it is important that we protect, support and sustain it.
The Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, which I published in September 2021, contains 36 practical recommendations in the area of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of activities as part of the night-time offering. A robust implementation structure is now in place to ensure that the recommendations are implemented in full and also, importantly, that the document remains current and that new ideas and new developments are included as the work progresses. Work is well underway to implement the actions in the Report and I was delighted to allocate €4m from my Department's budget this year towards the implementation of the actions within my own remit.
Some key areas of progress include my Department’s support for a new series of late night events across the country as part of Culture Night last year on foot of the Taskforce recommendation in this area. It is intended to build on this for this year’s Culture Night. In addition to this my Department is engaging with the National Cultural Institutions on developing plans for both individual pilot late night events and for later openings this year.
The Report highlighted a number of challenges relating to planning and regulation for those operating in the Night-Time Economy. To address these challenges a Night Time Economy Activation Workshop will take place next week, led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with support from my Department. The outcome of the Workshop will be the development of best practice guidance to help Local Authorities (LAs) plan effectively for the Night-Time Economy.
Following on from a successful roll-out of vulnerability training last December which supports the recommendation on the issue of public safety, my Department supported a series of additional sessions in March and April, which saw over 380 venues across all sectors of the Night Time Economy registering their staff for vulnerability training. This training has been developed with and is supported by the nightclub sector (Give Us The Night), the Vintners Associations, Restaurant Association of Ireland, the local authorities and also with the support of An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice.
My Department is also finalising a new funding scheme for venues, which when rolled out should increase footfall in our cities and towns in the evening and night-time and also open more opportunities for local artists and performers by providing them with paying gigs and ready-made venues.
Significant progress has been made with our partners in the local authority to develop the pilot initiative establishing new "Night-Time Advisors" in six cities and towns to develop new Night-Time Economy opportunities.
My Department is also supportive of the Department of Justice’s plans for legislative reform in the licensing area, which was also recommended by the NTE Taskforce and I understand that work is well advanced on this.
In support of action 5, my Department is working with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to carry out a consultation process in June with the 16-24 age group to determine what actions are required to support Night-Time Economy initiatives for different age-groups. The next scheduled phase of consultation/workshops will be an older demographic and my Department will work with the appropriate agencies to determine the best models of engagement for this age demographic.
I look forward to continued progress across all areas of this Report over the coming months.
Ministerial Staff
Questions (142)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:142. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the salaries and pensions paid out to special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State in her Department in 2020 and 2021, broken down by Minister in tabular form. [11393/22]
View answerWritten answers
The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Instructions to HR Managers – Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil Guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. As permitted, two Special Advisers were appointed to my Department in September 2020.
On commencement, both Special Advisers were placed on the first point of the Principal Officer – PPC salary scale. In September 2021, both Special Advisers progressed to the second point of the Principal Officer – PPC salary scale. These pay scales include pay adjustments under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 and under Building Momentum public service agreement for 2021 to 2022.
Both Special Advisers are in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme 2013.
The salaries paid to both Special Advisers 2020 and 2021 are set out in tabular form below:
|
Year |
Salaries paid to Special Advisers |
|
2020 |
€51,019.03 |
|
2021 |
€181,291.11 |
As Chief Whip, Minister of State Jack Chambers has two Advisers, both appointments made and salaries paid by the Department of the Taoiseach.
Commissions of Investigation
Questions (143)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:143. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of commissions of investigation under the remit of her Department currently ongoing in the State; the cost of each commission to date; and the projected costs of each in tabular form. [12559/22]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised that there are no ongoing commissions of investigation in progress within the remit of my Department at this time.
Legislative Reviews
Questions (144)
John Lahart
Question:144. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the inputs and contributions her Department has made to the review of licensing laws; if she is planning to recommend an entertainment licence that would have validity on an annual as opposed to event basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22378/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, which I published in September 2021, contains 36 practical recommendations in the area of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of activities as part of the night-time offering.
The modernisation of our licensing laws was one of the key recommendations of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce. Minister McEntee and her officials in the Department of Justice are leading on this important work. The Justice Plan 2022, published by Minister McEntee a few weeks ago, commits to publish and enact new laws to update and modernise licensing law through the Sale of Alcohol Bill.
The Department of Justice is delivering on the first stage of that commitment and I understand that work on the consolidation and reform of the licensing laws and the drafting of the General Scheme is advancing well. How we will deliver these reforms is being examined and a review of all aspects of licensing is part of this process. Officials in my Department liaise regularly with Justice officials on this important work in the context of the work of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce Report.
We will continue to work with the NTE sector on a wide range of supportive measures as part of the implementation of the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce.
Departmental Funding
Questions (145)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:145. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding that is available to a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22396/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding for the purchase of equipment under the Music Capital Scheme by way of capital grants. Performing groups and individual talented musicians are entitled to apply for these grants. The capital grant scheme is managed by Music Network on behalf of my Department. This initiative is in existence since 2008 and has proved very popular over the past decade.
Earlier this year, I confirmed funding of €335,500 for the?Music Capital Scheme. The scheme, which comprises three different awards, supports the purchase of musical instruments and is designed to respond to a broad range of capital needs within the music sector in Ireland.?The Music Capital Scheme is a vital resource that helps groups and talented individuals purchase musical instruments. Thousands have already benefitted from the scheme to date, and this round of the scheme will support a wide range of musicians nationwide and across all genres, giving them access to instruments and enabling them to develop their talent for live performance.
Further details of scheme as well as guidelines can be accessed via the Music Network website via the following link;
www.musicnetwork.ie/news/minister-martin-announces-335-500-funding-for-music-networks-music-capital-scheme
The current scheme has recently closed for new applications, but I will give consideration to opening a new scheme later this year.
The Deputy might also like to note that there is a new initiative funded by Creative Ireland called the Music Network National Musical Instrument Hub that aims to focus the public’s attention on the many existing ways to access musical instruments in Ireland, while encouraging more people to take up music and start or return to playing with a group. Further details may be viewed at this link. form.jotform.com/201451578115350
While the Arts Council is part-funded by the National Lottery, the allocation of National Lottery funding is solely a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Defibrillators Provision
Questions (146)
Jackie Cahill
Question:146. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the best source of public funding that a community group could apply for in order to purchase a defibrillator for a local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22399/22]
View answerWritten answers
The procurement of defibrillators is a matter for each community group in the first instance. However, the State provides a number of supports for their purchase and training for their use.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Grants are available for a wide variety of capital works and non-personal sports equipment including first aid kits and defibrillators.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,100 applications were submitted. Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6M were announced on 6 August 2021.
The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022. This represented the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. My Department is currently finalising the assessment of appeals from unsuccessful applicants. Once the appeal process is complete, a full review of the 2020 round of the SCEP will be undertaken. The precise timing of the next round of the Programme will be announced once this review is complete.
Defibrillators situated at sports clubs are generally also for community use and I understand that funding is also available through the HSE’s National Lottery grants schemes and other Community grants schemes.
Electricity Generation
Questions (147, 148)
Richard Bruton
Question:147. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes that can be introduced in order to speed up the planning permission process for other forms of microgeneration aside from solar panels, such as wind turbines and hydropower; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22403/22]
View answerRichard Bruton
Question:148. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on replicating the microgeneration process in Northern Ireland in which projects do not require additional planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22404/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 147 together.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated regulations, requires planning permission.
Schedule 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, (the Regulations) sets out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.
Significant planning exemptions are already provided for in respect of microgeneration type development. Class 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides for household related exemptions for wind turbines, solar panels, ground heat pump systems and air source heat pumps subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Class 56 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides for exemptions in the industrial/ light industrial sector in respect of combined heat and power systems, wind turbines, solar panels, ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps and biomass boilers subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Class 18 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Regulations provides for exemptions in the agricultural sector in respect of combined heat and power systems, wind turbines, solar panels, ground source heat pump systems, air source heat pumps and biomass boilers, again subject to certain siting and size conditions.
Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for, when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development.
These exemptions provided for in the Regulations are kept under regular review, in consultation with key statutory stakeholders, including the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
Other developments outside the scope of the exemptions would need to seek planning permission under section 34 of the Act. Planning authorities are generally required to determine planning applications within 8 weeks of receipt, except where “further information” is required.
Housing Policy
Questions (149)
Thomas Gould
Question:149. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether there is only mortgage protection insurance offered to local authority home loan applicants. [21479/22]
View answerWritten answers
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. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
The local authority mortgage protection insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Local Authority Home Loan.
One of the conditions of the MPI scheme, which is a group policy, is that it is obligatory for all local authority borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria to join, and remain in, the scheme. A local authority housing loan applicant, who is not eligible for the local authority MPI scheme, must source a suitable comparable individual MPI policy from the market.
It is important to note that there are a number of differences between the local authority MPI scheme and standard MPI products available on the market. Most notably, the current local authority MPI covers mortgage repayments in case of borrower disability, which is not part of standard MPI. In addition, the local authority MPI scheme offers a single group rate per €1,000 sum assured to all participants in the scheme as opposed to standard MPI products that are individually priced based on a member’s age, amongst other factors.
In summary, the local authority scheme provides benefits not typically available under standard MPI products;
- Mortgage repayments are paid if there is a valid claim as a result of disability;
- Separate to life cover, an additional €3,000 is payable in the event of a member’s death
- Members are covered for death up to age 75, where as standard MPI cover usually ceases at the age of 65.
The scheme is subject to periodic review and competitive tendering in accordance with the terms of EU Directives relating to the award of public service contracts. This is to ensure that the most appropriate cover at the best value for money is secured for local authority borrowers over the entire life of their mortgages.
The most recent public procurement competition for the provision and administration of this MPI scheme was conducted by the Local Government Management Agency. The contract resulting from this open tender competition came into effect from 1 January 2022 and is due to expire on 31 December 2022. My Department will review the provision and administration of the MPI scheme prior to that date.
Housing Schemes
Questions (150)
Thomas Gould
Question:150. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention was drawn to the fact that approved housing bodies are being bypassed in the mortgage to rent process in favour of a private operator. [21480/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of commercial lending institutions and is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), who agree to the voluntary surrender of their home and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. In addition, the household must be deemed eligible for social housing support. The concept of the scheme is that a household with an unsustainable mortgage goes from being a homeowner to being a social housing tenant.
Under the MTR scheme, the borrower surrenders their property to their lender and it will be then sold to the MTR provider who is interested in the property. This can be either an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or since 2018 a private company, Home for Life Ltd. If more than one party is interested in buying the property, the lender will provide information to the borrower around the options available to them and the borrower will make the decision on who purchases the property. The AHB or local authority (in the case where the property is sold to a private company) becomes the landlord and the borrower remains in the property as a tenant paying a differential rent to the landlord based on his or her income.
In the initial years of the scheme, the scheme relied solely on AHBs to purchase from lenders, properties that have been voluntarily surrendered by borrowers. A Review of the MTR scheme for borrowers of commercial private lending institutions was published in February 2017. While there are obvious social and economic benefits to be derived from the MTR scheme, most significantly by facilitating individual households in mortgage arrears to remain in their home, the 2017 Review acknowledged that consideration needed to be given to the capacity of AHBs to intensify their involvement in the MTR scheme given the ambitious targets for the AHB sector around delivering new social housing supply.
The 2017 Review committed to exploring the potential of private institutional investment in MTR in order to allow the MTR scheme to deliver at scale. The capital outlay to purchase these properties could be provided through private finance to avoid competing for upfront exchequer capital resources within the overall funding available for social housing. An Expressions of Interest (EOI) Request issued in 2017 inviting parties from the private sectors to express their interest in participating in a new alternatively funded long-term MTR lease model. The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) acted as financial advisor during the process, undertaking due diligence on the financial capacity of the proposers to commit to the long-term undertaking of the scheme. The outcome from the EOI process was that a new MTR alternatively funded lease model was announced in 2018 with Home for Life Ltd. as the participant from the private sector.
The inclusion of a private entity, in addition to the existing AHBs who continue to be an integral part of the MTR scheme, gives opportunities to achieve greater scale and meet the long-term housing needs of a greater number of borrowers who have unsustainable mortgage arrears. This is evident through the increased number of completed cases since the private entity has entered into the scheme. In 2021, approximately 250% more cases were completed as part of the scheme than in 2019.
Given the sizeable cohort of borrowers still in long-term mortgage arrears, all the MTR providers participating in the scheme are needed in order to meet the demand for the scheme. In all scenarios, my Department and the Housing Agency are focused on meeting the long-term housing needs of the greatest number of households in unsustainable mortgage arrears.
Planning Issues
Questions (151)
Holly Cairns
Question:151. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress that has been made in addressing action 60 of the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 (details supplied) review and to extend the regulations which exempt certain vacant commercial premises, such as over the shop-type spaces, from requiring planning permission for change of use for residential purposes in accordance with housing activation and Town Centre First policies. [18052/22]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Both Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 to 2025 and the recently published Housing Plan for Ireland - Housing for All commit to reviewing and extending the 2018 regulations to the end of 2025.
To this end, new regulations entitled the Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 75 of 2022) were signed into law by Minister O'Brien on 21 February last, thereby delivering on this commitment.
Heritage Sites
Questions (152)
John Brady
Question:152. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if concerns have been brought to his attention about ongoing serious damage being done to Oldcourt Castle in Bray, County Wicklow due to vandalism; the action he intends to take to protect the castle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22371/22]
View answerWritten answers
Oldcourt Castle is a national monument in private ownership on private lands. The National Monuments Service of my Department received reports of vandalism at the site in 2020 and again in 2021. My Department carried out inspections at the site and advised the owners appropriately. My Department has not received any reports of vandalism at the site this year.
The owners should be aware of the Community Monuments Fund, a funding stream for the care, conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments. The Community Monuments Fund invests in archaeological heritage and helps owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public. The fund is administered by the National Monuments Service of my Department through the Local Authorities. While the call for applications for 2022 is now closed, I hope to announce funding for a scheme for 2023 later this year.
Housing Provision
Questions (153)
John Lahart
Question:153. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will account for the pausing of construction on a social housing project at an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22373/22]
View answerWritten answers
I am assuming that the project in question is the 16 unit scheme at Homeville, Knocklyon.
Construction on this project commenced on site in November 2020 but was subsequently halted due to Covid restrictions.
Construction resumed upon the lifting of Covid restrictions but work ceased in December 2021.
The Employers Representative engaged with the contractor to agree a revised programme which would lead to completion of the project.
I understand that in April 2022, the contractor provided an undertaking to the Council to re-commence works on site following the May bank holiday. This undertaking was based on a revised programme commencing with remedial works to be carried out on site.
I understand that to date the contractor has not recommenced on site and I understand that South Dublin County Council is now determining its options and next steps under the terms of GCCC contract.
Housing Provision
Questions (154)
John Lahart
Question:154. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost-rental homes or affordable homes that are expected to be delivered in south Dublin County in 2022. [22374/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Affordable Housing Act 2021 established a basis for four new affordable housing measures. These measures 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 purchase 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.
This Act, supported by the unprecedented levels of funding committed to in the Housing for All strategy, averaging over €4 billion annually, will underpin the delivery of affordable housing targets. At a national level, 54,000 affordable homes will be delivered between now and 2030 by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Delivery of affordable housing, in accordance with the schemes set out in the Act and the funding being made available, will be underpinned by local authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans. Local authorities, including South Dublin County Council, submitted their Plans to me in December 2021. Preparation of the Plans allowed each local authority to assess the level of demand with affordability constraint in their area based on the Housing Need and Demand Assessment and plan provision accordingly. The Plans are being revised and updated by local authorities in the light of ongoing engagement and clarifications, and I expect that they will be ready for publication by local authorities by the by the end of Q2. They will provide a comprehensive overview of projected delivery of affordable housing in South Dublin, and nationally.
My Department understands that South Dublin County Council has notified successful applicants in relation to 16 Affordable Purchase homes under Advance Purchase arrangements at Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin. Three Affordable Purchase schemes are currently in planning stages; Rathcoole, Killinarden and Clonburris, with construction expected to commence later this year.
44 CREL-funded Cost Rental tenancies are expected at Parklands, Citywest in the near future, where tenants have already been selected by the Approved Housing Body Tuath. These units are expected to be delivered in Q2. The Cost Rental units are part of a mixed tenure development, which will comprise of 1,010 homes on completion. The Cost Rental units will consist of two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom duplexes, with rents set at €1,264 and €1,297 respectively.
Tenants have also been selected by Tuath for the 74 Cost Rental homes due to be completed at Kilcarbery Grange in Q2 2022. Cost Rents will be set at €1,025 for the one-bedroom apartments and €1,229 for the two-bedroom apartments.
As affordable housing programmes are rolled out, additional affordable housing delivery will be facilitated through the expanded 20% Part V requirement, the introduction of the 'First Home' shared equity scheme, and the LDA’s ‘Project Tosaigh’.
Housing Provision
Questions (155)
John Lahart
Question:155. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when construction is expected to commence on lands at Killinarden for social, private and affordable homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22376/22]
View answerWritten answers
The planned development on the lands at Killinarden will deliver a total of 620 units in a mixed tenure scheme, comprising 372 affordable, 123 private and 125 social housing units.
Following a competitive tender process, The Arden Team DAC, a consortium made up of Sisk Living, O' Cualann Cohousing Alliance and Kelland Homes, was selected as the preferred economic operator.
The Consortium is due to apply for the necessary planning permission by the end of June 2022. Subject to planning approval, it is anticipated that works will commence on site in Q1 2023, with the first homes being delivered in 2024.
Housing Provision
Questions (156)
John Lahart
Question:156. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of void properties that were brought back into use by the four Dublin local authorities in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22377/22]
View answerWritten answers
The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
An annualised breakdown of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme for the years 2014-2021 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme
Over the period 2020-2021, a total of 1,771 properties have been brought back into active use by the four Dublin local authorities under the Voids Programme. This figure does not include those properties returned to active use by the local authority using funding from their own resources.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. Funding allocations under the Programme will be announced shortly.
Given the very significant investment into the Voids Programme over recent years, particularly in 2020 and in 2021, local authorities should now be in a strong position to begin the transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.
To that end, my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under the various stock improvement programmes is aligned with this approach.
Planning Issues
Questions (157, 158)
Mattie McGrath
Question:157. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the precise objectives that Article 8F of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2022 (as inserted by SI 45/2020) provides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22380/22]
View answerMattie McGrath
Question:158. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify whether it is the case that the following scenarios (details supplied) under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2022 require both a licence under s.6 of the Forestry Act 2014 and planning permission under s.32 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and whether that means that in these scenarios screening for an environmental impact assessment and or an appropriate assessment must be conducted by both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the local planning authority and or An Bord Pleanála. [22381/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together.
Of note, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the 2000 Act), I am specifically procluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
Under the the 2000 Act, all development, unless specifically exempted under the 2000 Act or the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (the 2001 Regulations), requires planning permission. Section 4(1)(i) of the 2000 Act provides that development consisting of the thinning, felling or replanting of trees, forests or woodlands or works ancillary to that development, but not including the replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species, is exempted development for the purposes of the 2000 Act.
An exemption at section 4 of the 2000 Act for thinning, felling or replanting of trees but specifically excluding the replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species from the scope of the exemption has been in place since the 2000 Act was enacted. However, since 21 September 2011, section 4(4) of the 2000 Act provides that development shall not be exempted development if an environmental impact assessment (EIA) or an appropriate assessment (AA) of the development is required.
Notwithstanding this restriction on exempted development, section 4(4A) of the 2000 Act allows the Minister to make regulations prescribing development or any class of development that is authorised, or required to be authorised under another statute, and as respects which an EIA or an AA is required, to be exempted development.
In exercise of this power under section 4(4A) of the 2000 Act, article 8F of the 2001 Regulations (mirroring the exemption at section 4(1)(i) of the 2000 Act) retains the exemption for development (other than the replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species) that is licensed or approved under section 6 of the Forestry Act 2014 (No. 31 of 2014) and that consists of the thinning, felling or replanting of trees, forests or woodlands, or works ancillary thereto even where EIA and/or AA is required, on the basis that such environmental impact assessment will be carried out pursuant to the licencing processes under the Forestry Act 2014.
The purpose of the amendment to article 8F of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, provided for in S.I. 45 of 2020 was to include a specific reference to licensing/approval provisions under section 6 of the Forestry Act 2014 (No. 31 of 2014).
Section 4(2) of the 2000 Act allows the Minister to exempt any class of development in certain circumstances by way of regulations. In this context, Article 6 of, and Schedule 2 to, the 2001 Regulations set out classes of development which are exempt from planning permission requirements and includes at Class 16, Part 3 of Schedule 2 “Replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species”, where the area involved is less than 10 hectares. This exemption was not affected by amendments made under S.I. 45 of 2020.
The Class 16 exemption is subject to general restrictions under Article 9 of the 2001 Regulations. Furthermore, Class 16 development loses its exempted development status and requires planning permission if an EIA or an appropriate assessment is required in accordance with Section 4(4) of the 2000 Act.
With regard to EIA requirements, Article 93 and Schedule 5, Part 2 of the 2001 Regulations provide that replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species, where the area involved would be greater than 10 hectares must be subject to EIA, while development below that threshold may require EIA if it is considered that it would be likely to have significant effects on the environment. Any replacement of broadleaf high forest by conifer species which would be likely to have significant effects on a European Site (a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or a Special Protected Area (SPA), or candidate area, designated under the Habitats Directive) requires an Appropriate Assessment and therefore planning permission.
Requirements for the granting of a licence under the Forestry Regulations is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Question No. 158 answered with Question No. 157.