Written Answers Nos. 254-263
254. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current number of live studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by her Department in tabular form; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed. [45964/22]
View answerI refer the Deputy to Dail Question No 430 of 19 January 2022. Details of the current number of live studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by my Department and their completion dates are set out in the table below.
|
Studies, reviews and research |
Description |
Completion Date |
|
Review of Sports Capital and Equipment Programme 2020 |
Full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. |
September/October 2022 |
|
Large Scale Sport and Infrastructure Fund Review |
Review progress on all projects allocated grants under the Fund, particularly in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
October 2022 |
|
Rising (Creative Climate Action Project) |
An objective evaluation undertaken by TCD of the impact of an interdisciplinary arts project based in the Dublin Docklands community on the theme of rising water levels and ocean temperatures. |
October 2022 |
|
Creative Capacity in Ireland: Working towards Well-being |
Mary Immaculate College examining international research to better understand what impact creative activity can have on well-being. It will seek out and celebrate best practice in this domain in Ireland and showcase what makes good projects work and what impedes best practice in order to recommend structural and policy changes. |
October 2022 |
|
Hybrid Irish Language Radio Service for 15-34 Age Group – Phase 1 Research |
Identify the media currently used among the target group (including Irish language stations); Understand the motivations for listening to the current range of stations; Understand if any gaps exist to meet the requirements of the target audience.Third party research project being managed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on behalf of the Department. |
December 2022 |
|
Hybrid Irish Language Radio Service for 15-34 Age Group – Phase 2 Research |
Research project aiming to provide an in-depth and actionable understanding of Irish-speaking youth listeners to develop an Irish language radio station.Third party research project being managed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on behalf of the Department. |
December 2022 |
|
EPIC-MUSS |
The purpose of this study by DCU is to explore the processes of creative and inclusive music making within a wide geographical spread of primary and post primary schools that have created showcase performances of their musical endeavours. |
December 2022 |
|
Creative Youth analysis of the delivery of creative opportunities for children and young people |
A systematic analysis by TCD of research studies, evaluations and reviews of Creative Youth funded initiatives, programmes and projects, which feature measurable outcomes in the delivery of best practice. |
December 2022 |
|
Workers' Villages (Creative Climate Action Project) |
Research by the Irish Architecture Foundation, the School of Architecture in UL, the SAUL Intelligence Unit and Global Action Plan; into the role and legacy of the Bord na Móna workers villages, and the broader sustainable visions of their architect, Frank Gibney. In addition, the development of monitoring and evaluation tools and model on behaviour change in the context of a creatively co-designed place-making project connected to the Sustainable Development Goals. |
December 2022 |
|
KinShip (Creative Climate Action Project) |
Research project with Environmental Research Institute (ERI) in UCC and Clean Technology Centre, MTU in partnership with Cork City Council which aims to synergise social arts practice, with environmental and scientific research, to develop a kinship with Tramore Valley Park, Cork, whilst modelling ‘care’ as a civic responsibility for the future of urban land use. |
December 2022 |
|
Ripple (Creative Climate Action Project) |
UCD exploring an approach and set of scalable tools that engages intergenerational communities to create a water resilient shared public space or garden and evaluating the transformation of behaviour from opposer to bystander and from bystander to champion. |
December 2022 |
|
Corca Dhuibhne Inbhuanaithe – A Creative Imagining* |
Collaboration with MaREI in UCC to creatively address solutions that can support the transition to environmentally and economically sustainable farming on the Dingle Peninsula and beyond. |
December 2022 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council & IADT Dún Laoghaire |
A multi-disciplinary collaborative initiative facilitated by a structured Design Thinking process. It will employ co-design methods to research, ideate, and propose with local stakeholders actionable ideas to facilitate development of the local creative economy. |
December 2022 |
|
Creative Climate Action (Creative Climate Action Project) |
Research by MaREI (the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, UCC) to analyse the impact of the Creative Climate Action initiative on climate change awareness, engagement and action in Ireland and optimise the design and effectiveness of the Creative Climate Action projects. |
March 2023 |
|
Repair Acts Ireland (Creative Climate Action Project) |
A combination of interdisciplinary artistic and applied research methodologies undertaken by UCD to address the often overlooked place of repair within waste cycles and hierarchies within Ireland. |
March 2023 |
|
Línte na Farraige (Creative Climate Action Project) |
Complementing creative practitioners’ delivery of art installations, collaboration between Trinity College Dublin and Maynooth University to articulate the connection between sea level rise and societal change. |
March 2023 |
|
Participation in social and creative activities in Ireland among adults aged 50 and over and the effects of this on health and wellbeing |
COVID-19 has magnified the health and wellbeing of older people in society and highlighted potential for research on the impacts on wellbeing. This Fellowship aims to determine participation in social and creative activities among adults aged 50 and over and the effects on health and wellbeing, as part of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing TILDA) at TCD. |
March 2023 |
|
Basic Income for the Arts Pilot – Research Programme |
Comprehensive research programme accompanying Basic Income for the Arts pilot, which will examine the impact of the intervention on participants and a control group. The main element of this Randomised Control Trial comprises a longitudinal study wherein participants will provide data on their income and spending; work and job quality; time use; practice, skills and training; works and impact; and subjective well-being. Research being undertaken by the Strategic Policy Unit of the Depaertment with peer review of the evaluation methodology and survey by the ESRI and IGEES. |
December 2025 |
255. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the Heads of the Local Government (Maternity Protection for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022 to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46125/22]
View answer293. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the publication date for the Heads of the Local Government (Maternity Protection for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022 that provides maternity leave for local authority-elected members. [46045/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 293 together.
The General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022 was approved by Government on 27th July 2022 and is published herewith on the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4258f-general-scheme-of-local-government-maternity-protection-and-other-measures-for-local-authority-elected-members-bill-2022/
The Bill is scheduled to begin pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on 22nd September 2022 and will be drafted in the coming months. The Bill will be progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas having regard to the overall Government legislative programme.
256. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications for the defective block grant scheme in counties Donegal and Mayo; the number of applications pending; the average length of applications pending in each county; the number of applications approved; the average grant amount approved; the number of grants drawn down to date; and the average amount drawn down, by county, in tabular form. [45406/22]
View answerFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President.
The purpose of this Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
The table below sets out the number of applications received by Mayo County Council (as at 05/09/22) and Donegal County Council (as at 22/08/22) under the current scheme and the numbers that have progressed to Stage 1 and Stage 2 approval.
|
- |
Mayo County Council |
Donegal County Council |
Total |
|
Stage 1 Applications Received |
247 |
947 |
1194 |
|
Stage 1 Applications Being Processed |
8 |
574 |
582 |
|
Stage 1 Approvals (confirmation of eligibility) |
236 |
372 |
608 |
|
Stage 2 Applications Received |
42 |
102 |
144 |
|
Stage 2 Applications Being Processed |
8 |
44 |
52 |
|
Stage 2 Approvals (grant approved) |
34 |
58 |
92 |
|
No. of Stage Payments drawn down by applicants |
19 |
88 |
107 |
|
Average value of Stage Payments Made |
€59,654 |
€39,069 |
|
|
No. of Engineers Fees Paid to Applicants |
219 |
657 |
876 |
|
Average payment to Applicant for Engineers Fees |
€6,127 |
€5,098 |
The average grant amount approved is €221,869. In the region of 983 payments have been made to applicants to date including engineers fees and stage payments.
Local authorities have responsibility for the administration of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. This includes the assessment of applications for eligibility and payment of grants to successful applicants under the specific remediation option approved.
257. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the social housing eligibility thresholds. [45407/22]
View answer292. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income limits for social housing will be increased for counties Cavan and Monaghan given that the present levels are totally unrealistic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 292 together.
I refer to the reply to Questions No. 210, 230 and 232 of 14 September 2022 which sets out the position in the matter.
258. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide information on Irish Water’s request to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to allow Irish Water to use the funding previously allocated for pre-planning works on the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project to be used in the current day-to-day budget; the reason for this request; the level of funding being sought for this purpose; the full current deficit in Irish Water's budget; the way in which Irish Water will fund the ongoing pre-planning works on the Eastern and Midlands Water supply project if the budget is being used elsewhere and if all correspondence between Irish Water and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in relation to this request will be made available to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45414/22]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for determination by Irish Water.
Under Part 5 of the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is the economic regulator of Irish Water. The CRU protects the water consumer by ensuring, among other things, that water services are provided by Irish Water in an economic and efficient manner.
The CRU is responsible for setting the total level of revenue which Irish Water can receive, through Government subvention and from non-domestic customers, to cover its costs. To determine that these costs are efficiently-incurred, the CRU reviews Irish Water’s investment plans and sets allowed amounts for its operational and capital costs. The cost of providing domestic water services (other than excess usage) is met through Exchequer funding through the annual budgetary and estimates process, having regard to the regulatory process undertaken by the CRU.
In July 2022, the CRU published a consultation paper: Irish Water Revenue Control 3 – Interim Review (CRU202267) in which the CRU outlined the drivers of inflation and their impact on both the operation of Irish Water and its capital investment program. To address this, Irish Water has proposed that some of the Revenue Control 3 (RC3) 2020 - 2024 ring fenced funds for both the Water Supply Project – East and Midlands and the Greater Dublin Drainage projects could be used more broadly across the portfolio to absorb the impact of inflationary pressure.
The CRU consultation paper sought feedback on the release of funds and sought a submission from Irish Water regarding the balance of ring fenced funds not consumed by inflationary adjustments, and how these could be used to deliver incremental benefits to water and wastewater consumers. This information has been provided by Irish Water and the CRU is now actively considering its response as part of a final decision paper, which will be published on www.cru.ie. In this paper the CRU will set out the total amount to be release as well as any incremental outputs and outcomes that it expects Irish Water to meet by the end or RC3. Additionally, any decision paper will provide information on how the CRU intends monitoring any additional investment and ensuring that Irish Water delivers value for money.
The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands 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.
In addition to their role as economic regulator of Irish Water, the 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.
The future funding of the Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands will be included in the Irish Water Capital Investment Plan 2025 – 2029 that will be submitted to the CRU as part of Revenue Control 4 (RC4) 2025 – 2025, which in turn will be subject to the Irish Water funding model (Exchequer subvention - Domestic customer and Non-Domestic tariffs).
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.
259. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a decision will be made regarding Limerick City and County Council’s application for additional resources for a dedicated affordable homes team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45421/22]
View answerWith the support of the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office (HDCO) in the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), my Department undertook a review of the requirements for affordable housing staff resources in those local authorities with an identified strong demand for housing from households with an affordability constraint. Key considerations in this review included the type of structure (administrative/professional staff) necessary to deliver affordable housing, scale of delivery programmes and alignment with the additional support already provided for social housing delivery earlier in 2022.
The draft local authority staffing strategy for the delivery of affordable housing over the lifetime of NDP has been concluded at official level and is now subject to on-going engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
This is a key requirement to underpin affordable housing delivery and concluding this exercise and putting the required structures in place with the support of the LGMA to enable affordable housing delivery is a matter of priority.
260. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications that have been made under the new first-home scheme; the number that have been approved to date; and the reason that they have been refused the first-home equity. [45430/22]
View answerThe First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The scheme also allows for applications from certain non-first time buyers under the Government's 'Fresh Start' principle. Full details of the First Home Scheme, including eligibility criteria, are available on the scheme website: www.firsthomescheme.ie.
As of 2 September 2022, the Scheme reported the following statistics for the weeks since launch:
- Over 175,000 visits to the First Home Scheme website
- 1,397 accounts established on the online system
- 500 complete applications made to the scheme
- 272 Eligibility Certificates issued to applicants, equipping these households to proceed with purchasing their home
The First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (DAC) holds responsibility for operating the scheme. My understanding is that First Home DAC will be publishing quarterly reports, which will be used going forward to monitor activity.
261. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department’s role, if any, in the processing of phase 1 and phase 2 offshore wind foreshore licence assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45446/22]
View answer262. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current average processing times with respect to phase 1 and phase 2 offshore wind foreshore licence assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45447/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.
My Department’s Foreshore Unit operates the consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933, managing the regulation of a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. The volume of applications made under the Act in recent years has grown significantly. In parallel, my Department is leading an extensive marine management reform programme, the likes of which the State has never seen.
The expected time for processing and determining foreshore applications can vary considerably and is influenced by the quality of the application and supporting documents received, the nature and complexity of the application, the level of public engagement during the consultation process and up until recently, impacts from restrictions imposed as a result of Covid-19, among other matters. Each application must be assessed appropriately in accordance with the applicable requirements of domestic and EU law including the EIA Directive, Birds and Habitats Regulations and the Foreshore Act. Several of the foreshore consents issued in recent years have been the subject of judicial review proceedings and the process for assessing such applications has been amended as a result, taking into account legal advices and evolving case law.
A range of foreshore consents related to offshore energy infrastructure granted under the Foreshore Act 1933 in recent years have been assessed and prioritized in tandem with the other high level Government objectives in the maritime space. Specific consents relate to strategic energy interconnectors e.g. Greenlink Interconnector, Celtic Interconnector; applications relating to a range of port developments e.g. Shannon Foynes, Rosslare Harbour, Dublin Port and Cork Ports. In parallel, other foreshore lease and licence applications, not related to energy infrastructure, that have been considered and consented include telecommunication cables, waste water treatment facilities, strategic infrastructure, flood relief works, local authorities’ infrastructural works e.g. bridges, marinas, coastal protection works, coastal protection projects and public amenities etc. Details for foreshore applications and determinations are available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/f2196-foreshore-applications-and-determinations/
A further proportion of foreshore applications on hand include licence applications for site investigations within the foreshore area linked to the proposed development of offshore renewable energy projects. The site investigations are critical activities developers undertake in order to investigate viability and prepare environmental impact assessments of potential future offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
My Department has also been prioritising site investigation licence applications linked to qualified ORE projects, known as "relevant projects" or Phase 1 projects, which qualify to make an application to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications for a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) as part of the transition provisions in the MAP Act 2021. Any project in this category granted a MAC by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications must then apply for the necessary development permission from An Bord Pleanála under the new marine planning system. I have consented to fifteen site investigation licences for Phase 1 Relevant projects in recent years and a further 8 applications are under assessment and will conclude shortly. My Department has also been managing the other caseload of site investigation applications not associated with Phase 1. In that context, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications concluded a public consultation on the criteria for the second batch or Phase 2 projects in quarter 1 of this year and is currently considering how to proceed.
The Government last week approved the prioritisation of renewable energy plans and projects in the Irish maritime area, as a direct response to the energy and climate crises. This decision follows on from the recently agreed Government ambitions for an increase of offshore wind energy, which targets the delivery of an additional 2GW of offshore wind for the production of green hydrogen. Following this decision, the Government’s intention is that the following projects in the maritime area will receive priority attention:
- Any marine infrastructure projects that align with Government decisions to address risks to energy security of supply.
- Projects that are capable of delivering 200MW or above of offshore renewable energy to meet domestic demand before 2030, using well established, proven technologies.
- Infrastructure that will support delivery and deployment of Renewable Energy projects such as grid and port facilities.
- Projects utilising emerging technology that may have the ability to assist the State in meeting its 2030 targets such as floating wind and green hydrogen
To give effect to this decision, approval has also been given to the immediate development of a Statutory Marine Planning Policy Statement (MPPS) by my Department that will prioritise energy and energy-related projects above all other maritime activities during the six year lifetime of the MPPS. By taking this action, the State’s consenting authorities, such as An Bord Pleanála and the soon to be established Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) will prioritise the processing of renewable energy projects, including those that support the development of Offshore Renewable Energy infrastructure in both the marine and onshore.
The Foreshore Unit in my Department is currently assessing the current caseload of foreshore lease and licence applications in the context of this Government decision. A key consideration will be how the significant number of site investigation licenses that are on hand and not associated with the Phase 1 projects can be managed given the priority status afforded across Government to applications associated with projects capable of delivering before 2030 using well established technologies.
263. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if foreshore licenses are required for non-invasive marine survey work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45448/22]
View answerThe responsibility for the development on Ireland’s foreshore is currently regulated under the provisions of the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended. The Foreshore Act 1933 requires that a lease or licence must be obtained from the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government for the carrying out of works or placing structures or material on, or for the occupation of or removal of material from, State-owned foreshore, which represents the greater part of the foreshore. The Act provides for the issuing of licences or leases which are in the public interest and provides for the removal of any material within the foreshore and not more than thirty feet below the surface thereof.
The position in relation to proposed geophysical survey activity involving sonar and echo sounding equipment and which are undertaken in a non-intrusive manner and do not place anything on or remove or disturb or interfere with the seabed or shore, is that a foreshore licence is not required under section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 on foot of recent legal advices.
There are however, obligations on proposers intending to undertake such survey activity to seek Ministerial consent in accordance with the EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. The existing foreshore licence assessment process for both geophysical surveys and geotechnical-type activities may address all necessary assessments referred to above, because in determining whether to issue the licence the assessments referred to under the Regulations will be conducted. The NPWS website provides guidance on obligations under The EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011-2021 and can be contacted directly by proposers who wish to discuss consent requirements arising.
My Department is working to assess the implications of the recent legal advice with a view to streamlining consent processes in advance of the establishment of the new maritime area regulator - the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) in 2023.
In that context, the Foreshore Unit and NPWS are actively engaged with a view to developing a protocol which will provide clarity for applicants in this regard. I expect this to be concluded shortly.
