Written Answers Nos. 47-63
47. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Finance his Department’s plans, if any, to amend VAT rates for domestic retrofitting or renewable energy works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46368/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, it is a long-standing practice that the Minister for Finance does not comment, in advance of the Budget, on any tax matters that might be the subject of a Budget decision.
48. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that the Office of Government Procurement has not established a cloud services procurement framework, despite the Government’s long-held cloud ambitions, as recently re-stated in the Harnessing Digital and Connecting Ireland Plan 2030, and the stated goal in those strategies of taking a cloud-first approach in order to deliver better public services, leveraging the well-documented cybersecurity and sustainability benefits that the cloud provides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46144/22]
View answerOGP fully supports the Government’s stated goals in relation to the digitalisation of Public Services. In this regard OGP has published a detailed ‘Cloud Services Procurement Guidance Note’ to assist Public Service Bodies (PSBs) in their procurement of cloud services. In addition, OGP provides support to individual PSBs in the procurement of their strategic cloud based solutions.
The adoption of cloud services is not intrinsically linked to the establishment of central procurement arrangements, such as frameworks. The unique characteristics and bespoke nature of many cloud services, such as data protection requirements and the commercial models, are such that the establishment of a central arrangement will not alleviate the need for PSBs to procure cloud services on an individual basis.
Cloud services is a generic term and encompasses a broad range of services (e.g. a service category such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), discrete services such as video conferencing or specialist services such as payroll services) and deployment models (public/ private/ hybrid). Each type of cloud service presents specific challenges in relation to contractual terms and conditions and commercial models depending on the nature and attributes of the service. Thus the reference to a single cloud services procurement framework is overly simplistic as it implies that a single solution can unlock all of the benefits of cloud while failing to recognise the complexity of the cloud services market. OGP must also ensure that the establishment of any central procurement arrangements for cloud services adheres to the prescribed procurement procedures set out under the EU Public Procurement Directives.
OGP has undertaken significant work and engagement with domestic and European stakeholders to identify possible procurement solutions, their scale and scope, along with the associated challenges. OGP has recently conducted an analysis of demand for cloud services across the public service. The outputs from this work are currently being considered by OGP and will inform its approach in relation to the type of cloud services that are suited for central procurement arrangements, the nature of any such solutions and the timing of any such procurement competitions. OGP expects to be in a position to publish its approach and timeline in Q4 2022.
49. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports or funding streams that are available to support a person who is a full-time rugby player with a provincial side at under-19 level given that the full-time commitments required mean that such a person cannot take up summer or weekend-employment. [46110/22]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. Sport Ireland does not provide direct funding for individuals but channels the funding through its network of Local Sports Partnerships, recognised National Governing Bodies for Sport (NGBs), and other relevant sporting organisations.
In the case of rugby, funding is provided to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and any queries regarding supports should be directed to that NGB.
50. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has met with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss improving stadiums and academy infrastructure for clubs participating in a competitive league; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46121/22]
View answerI have regularly engaged with the FAI, League of Ireland clubs and grassroots clubs in relation to their priorities for the upgrading of sports facilities and sport capital funding.
In relation to my Department's responsibilities, two schemes provide capital grant assistance for the development and improvement of sports facilities.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects, including many football developments, have now benefited from funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. The final allocations under this latest round were announced in May of this year and the total allocation of over €166 million represented the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP.
The priority in the short term is to advance the successful applications under the 2020 round to "formal approval" and grant drawdown stage which requires detailed engagement with all grantees. My Department is now undertaking a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP and any recommendations arising will be reflected in the terms and conditions of the next round. Following the completion of the review, I will announce the exact timing of the next round but it is hoped to have it open for applications early in the new year.
Funding is also provided by my Department for sports facilities under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), designed for projects where the grant sought is greater than the maximum available under the SCEP. The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and, thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. The projects that received provisional allocations, including those submitted by the Football Association of Ireland and the amounts provisionally awarded to them, are published on the Department's website.
While the priority in the short term is to advance all of the projects that were allocated funding, as it is now over two years since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants. My Department has now met with all successful grantees and work is at an advanced stage in drafting the review. Once the review is complete the scope for awarding any additional grants, adjusting the level of existing grants and the timing of any new call for proposals will be considered.
51. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm receipt of a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46062/22]
View answerI can confirm that a copy of the submission referred to has been received by my office.
Following the Government's approval of the Third National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Strategy in June, my Department is working with other Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders on the implementation of the actions contained in the Strategy.
In particular, my Department has a critical role in the capital funding for new Domestic Violence Refuges. Government has agreed a list of priority locations for the development of new refuges for which my Department has made funding available and we are working with partners to have these projects delivered, with some new refuge developments already in design, planning and being prepared to start on site.
52. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2022 to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46126/22]
View answerThe Government approved the General Scheme of a Bill providing for a directly elected mayor for Limerick at its meeting of 20 April 2021. Government also approved the publication of the General Scheme and its referral both to the Oireachtas for pre-legislative scrutiny and to the Office of the Attorney General for priority drafting of a Bill.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage published its Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme in November 2021.
My Department is engaging with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in relation to the drafting of this complex Bill and its publication has been identified as a priority as soon as practicable. Drafting is well-advanced.
53. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 217 of 14 September 2022, the way that the twin goals of sustainable communities and long term tenancies are advanced in the case of a tenant who has resided in a council home for over 30 years and who has recently married, yet now finds that they are barred and delayed from availing of this scheme due to the new ruling that both tenants in a joint tenancy must have 10 years on housing supports before availing of the scheme; If he considers this reasonable; if it discriminates against long-term tenants who marry or have a new partner who becomes a joint tenant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46145/22]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, with a number of changes subsequently coming into effect from 1 February 2022.
The changes include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years.
Applications received by local authorities prior to 1 February 2022 should be assessed per the regulations and requirements in place at the time, with applications received thereafter assessed in accordance with the new requirements.
Increasing the time required to be in receipt of social housing supports speaks directly to the underpinning policy rationales for the scheme, namely encouraging good long-term tenants to stay in their homes and helping build more socially sustainable communities. The rules that apply to single tenancies in respect of length of tenure therefore also apply to both parties in a joint tenancy.
Further changes may be considered in the longer-term as part of my Department's work on the broader social housing reform agenda.
54. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and value of grants approved by a county council (details supplied) under the housing adaptation grant for older people and people with a disability by month in 2022; the average processing time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46147/22]
View answerMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, each of which are 80% funded by my Department with a 20% contribution from local authorities.
Funding of €81.25 million is available nationally for the scheme for 2022, including an allocation of €3,176,295 to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. This allocation comprises of €2,541,036 Exchequer funding and €635,259 contributed from the local authority's own resources. The information available to my Department relates to recoupment by the local authority. The Council recouped a total of €1,044,633 in Exchequer funding to date, facilitating the payment of a total of 166 grants (which are not collated by month) outlined in the following table.
|
Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability |
Housing Aid for Older People Grant |
Mobility Aids Grant |
Total Recouped (To Date) |
|
€811,568 (112 grants) |
€175,875 (37 grants) |
€57,190 (17 grants) |
€1,044,633 (166 grants) |
The detailed administration of the scheme including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grants to applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of local authorities. My Department does not hold information in relation to grants approved or the average processing times for individual local authorities. This information may be available directly from the local authorities.
55. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will suspend the hare coursing season due to the increased number of reported cases of highly-pathogenic avian influenza H5N1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46159/22]
View answer56. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a suspension of the open hunting season on wild birds in light of the spread of highly-pathogenic avian influenza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46189/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together.
I am deeply concerned about the impact that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) may have on our wild seabird populations. My Department officials are in regular contact with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) in relation to the spread of HPAI and they are keeping the situation under very close review. The DAFM has responsibility for avian influenza testing in Ireland. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has also been liaising with counterparts in the UK, and has been briefed on outbreaks there and measures being implemented. Should the situation deteriorate, then my Department will review all possible options to mitigate that with the experts in the DAFM.
There is no evidence of a link between hares and the spread of HPAI.
57. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the ongoing review into the planning system, which will result in the consolidation and reform of the Planning and Development Act 2000, will include engagement on the merits of the current performance system in comparison with the more globally utilised conformance system. [46218/22]
View answerIntensive work is underway on the review and consolidation of the Planning and Development Act 2000, (the Act), which is being led by the Office of the Attorney General. All provisions of the Act are being examined in the context of this review.
Whilst a key principle of the review is to avoid unnecessary change to aspects of the current planning system that are operating effectively, the review will seek to refocus the major debate, on the plan-making rather than the planning application stage, to facilitate greater clarity and long-term visibility in planning outcomes.
In particular, improvements under consideration to the area of plans and guidelines will seek to create a solid platform for plan-led growth, provide consistency in decision making that reflects national spatial policy and embed the role of elected members and meaningful public participation in the plan-making processes.
58. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the consultation that has taken place or is planned with fishermen and fishing organisations regarding the construction of offshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46232/22]
View answerMy Department has made significant advances in the development of marine policy over the last number of years, culminating in the launch of the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) in June of last year, and the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act in December 2021, elements of which have already been commenced.
The NMPF creates an overarching framework for decision-making that is consistent, evidence-based and secures a sustainable future for all activities in the maritime area. It contains the objectives, policies and supporting actions which the Government considers necessary to support the effective management of marine activities and more sustainable use of our marine resources.
Public consultation, including consultation with fishermen and fishing organisations, was a key element throughout the development of the NMPF. Strong protections for the rights of the fishing community are enshrined in the legally binding NMPF Fisheries policies. These polices reflect the public consultation responses received from the fishing community during the development of the NMPF. Consequently, the NMPF includes a detailed section on fisheries (section 16) and a series of policies on fisheries, which will inform the assessment of all planning applications in the maritime area
Furthermore, in response to some specific issues raised during these consultations, and in agreement with my colleagues the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, a seafood/ORE working group has been established to assist the managed introduction of the offshore renewables industry into the maritime area. Captain Robert McCabe was appointed as the independent Chairperson to the Working Group for a 2 year period in May 2022.
The initial aim of the group is to agree on a binding communications protocol between the Seafood and ORE sectors by April 2023. The relevant Government Departments have also outlined some longer term objectives for the group to consider once this initial aim has been met. These include
- Identification of opportunities for mutually beneficial co-existence between the two sectors;
- Agreement on best practice measures to ensure harmonious and safe operations at sea; and
- Potential input to the development of Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP2) and statutory Marine Planning Guidelines
The way in which Fisheries Policy 2 within the NMPF will be implemented will be also be a subject for consideration at the seafood/ORE working group, with the aim being that the group will provide expert guidance and support on the development of Fisheries Management and Mitigation Strategies as set out in the NMPF.
The inception meeting of the group took place on July 20th 2022, and was attended by 17 separate Fisheries and Aquaculture representative bodies, indicating a very positive response by the seafood sector to the commencement of this group. I understand that the group will meet on a monthly basis until the Communications Guidance document is agreed on by the participants. At that point, the Chair will make recommendations on appropriate future arrangements for the group, including the prioritisation of next issues to be discussed and resolved, consideration of the most relevant / suitable participants in each case, and the format and frequency of those engagements.
59. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress made to date on Objective 11 of Housing for All, namely the commitment to provide planning guidance for the development of Section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidance, including guidance on housing typologies to facilitate innovative approaches to medium and higher densities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46308/22]
View answer60. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to open a public consultation on Objective 11 of Housing for All, namely the commitment to provide planning guidance for the development of Section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidance, including guidance on housing typologies to facilitate innovative approaches to medium and higher densities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46309/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together.
The compact growth of cities and towns of all sizes, in order to create more attractive places in which people can live and work, is a key objective of the National Planning Framework (NPF). My Department is in the process of developing Section 28 guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable and Compact Settlement Guidance (SCSG). When finalised, the SCSG’s will supersede current Section 28 ministerial guidelines for planning authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (the ‘Sustainable Residential Development Guidelines’) last issued in 2009. The SCSG will also supplement other relevant Guidelines such as the Sustainable Urban Housing: Design Standards for New Apartments Guidelines for Planning Authorities and the Urban Development and Building Heights Guidelines for Planning Authorities.
A preliminary draft of the Guidelines has been prepared. However, recent legal judgements in relation to Strategic Housing Development decisions have had implications for the preliminary draft and the draft is being further reviewed as a result. A working group was also convened with representation from the construction industry, private built environment practitioners, professional bodies and the public sector. The group, via a series of three workshops in June, August and September 2022 discussed key issues in relation to density and viability, land use and transportation and place-making and quality design. This also included discussions related to the design and application of compact ‘own door’ housing typologies both internationally and within Ireland.
Following completion, the Draft Guidelines will be placed on display for a focused period of public consultation. This is targeted for Q4 2022. All interested parties will have an opportunity to make submissions on the guidelines at that stage. Submissions made during the public consultation period will be reviewed and where appropriate and necessary, amendments will be made to the published Draft. The guidelines will then be finalised and published. Once issued, Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála will be required to have regard to the Guidelines in carrying out their functions.
61. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for his support of the decision by European Union Foreign Ministers to renew the EU-Israel Association Council for the first time since 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46070/22]
View answerAt the Foreign Affairs Council in July, EU Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the resumption of Association Council meetings with Israel, which have not taken place since 2012. It was agreed that we should start work to determine the EU position for an Association Council meeting with Israel and that a meeting would only go ahead once an EU position was finalised.
Association Councils provide an important opportunity for the EU to engage with partners in its neighbourhood. They are provided for under the Association Agreements with the respective states. They provide a platform for deepening bilateral relationships and also for the EU to deliver, where necessary, clear collective messages on issues of concern, including with regard to human rights and international law.
In this context, an EU-Israel Association Council would be an important opportunity to discuss a range of areas of engagement and issues, including reaffirming the EU’s long-standing position on the Middle East Peace Process, its commitment to a two-State solution and the urgent need for a political horizon and a path towards relaunching a peace process.
The Council also provides an opportunity to reiterate the EU's grave concern at the continued of Palestinian territory and our strong opposition to Israel's settlement policies and increased evictions and demolitions, as well as engaging with Israel on the political situation in the wider Middle East region.
62. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of an application for citizenship made by a person (details supplied). [46074/22]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
Supporting documentation for the application to which the Deputy has referred was received on 11 January 2021, and is due to be processed shortly. A member of the FBR team will be in further contact with the applicant in this regard.
63. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on a passport application (details supplied). [46142/22]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application and progressed as appropriate.
