Written Answers Nos. 1-36
11. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given in budget 2023 to a one-off grant for persons with private wells or who are part of a group water scheme and who will experience inflated energy bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46883/22]
View answerThis question relates to Budget 2023, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Deputy will be aware that the Budget Statement was announced yesterday. This set out how the Government propose to assist with the rise in energy costs and will provide some assistance to all energy users, including the cohorts mentioned in the Deputy’s question.
My Department already provides funding under an annual subsidy to group water schemes to assist in their day-to-day running costs, including energy costs. Capital funding is also provided by my Department to assist householders who are dependent on private individual water supplies - domestic wells - and have incurred capital expenditure for improvements to this supply.
12. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of serviced sites that are available in towns and villages in County Carlow for the local authority in Carlow to implement the ready-to-build scheme for potential purchasers for the building by the purchaser of a principal private residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47093/22]
View answerOn 21 September, Minister O'Brien launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under this scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available at a discounted rate to individual purchasers who will self-build their own home and intend to live in it as their principal private residence.
It is intended that the local authority will either supply existing sites in their control or purchase sites and make them available for development by providing services and access to the sites concerned.
The level of discount to the individual will depend on the level of servicing cost incurred by the local authority before the sale of the site but will not exceed €30,000. The amount of such discount will be reflected in the sale price of the site to the purchaser.
All available sites will be advertised on the relevant local authority’s website and/or in relevant local publications along with a closing date for receipt of applications.
As the scheme has just been launched, each local authority has been asked to assess suitable sites for the scheme. Carlow County Council have indicated that they currently have seven sites that could be made available under the Ready to Build Scheme, with a survey to be carried out over the coming weeks to ascertain if there are other potential sites. In addition, each local authority has also been asked to collect data from the outset in order to inform the ongoing review of this scheme.
13. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that he is taking to address cases of untreated wastewater entering streams and rivers. [47322/22]
View answerSince 1st January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level, including investment in waste water treatment plants and returning treated waste water safely to the environment in an efficient and sustainable manner. The Environmental Protection Agency is the environmental regulator for Irish Water and including compliance in relation to licensed urban waste water discharges.
The discharge of untreated sewage must be comprehensively addressed as soon as possible. When Irish Water was established in 2014, they inherited a system in need of very significant improvement. Irish Water has been working with local authority partners to improve the entire waste water system by investing in new infrastructure and by improving the performance of our treatment plants.
Irish Water has built new wastewater infrastructure for 18 towns and villages across the country, ending the discharge of raw sewage into the environment, with an additional 15 locations currently under construction. Irish Water is on track to fully remove the majority of raw sewage discharges in Ireland by 2025.
In 2022, funding of over €1.57 billion was provided to support water services. This includes €1.459 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water.
This investment will deliver significant improvements in our public waste water services and improve water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine areas.
15. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and delivery timelines of cost-rental equity loan-funded cost-rental homes that will be made available for tenants in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47325/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to the delivery of 18,000 Cost Rental homes between now and 2030. This will be facilitated through Approved Housing Bodies, Local Authorities, and the Land Development Agency.
Limerick City and County Council has developed a Housing Delivery Action Plan to underpin its delivery of social, affordable purchase and cost rental housing in the period to 2026. The plan is available on the Council’s website.
AHBs will deliver Cost Rental housing with support from my Department through Cost Rental Equity Loan funding. Approval in principle has already been confirmed for approximately 900 Cost Rental homes to be delivered by AHBs under the CREL scheme. To date, some 293 Cost Rental homes have already been delivered by AHBs, with the rest to be delivered between now and 2023. Local Authorities can also deliver Cost Rental homes directly through my Department's Affordable Housing Fund.
My Department is actively encouraging the Local Authority, AHBs and the LDA to consider appropriate schemes. I understand the LDA is examining delivery of Cost Rental homes on the State lands at Colbert Station and I know that Limerick City and County Council is also exploring the possibility of delivering Cost Rental homes on an adjoining site, in conjunction with the work being undertaken by the LDA. Linking these two key sites together will be important in delivering a new urban quarter for the city of Limerick, with an emphasis on the delivery of affordable homes.
I am happy to say Minister O'Brien recently approved an application from Limerick City and County Council for funding of €1.8m for 25 affordable purchase homes at Brú na Grudán, Castletroy in Limerick under the Affordable Housing Fund which will be delivered in 2023.
The Deputy may also be aware that the First Home Affordable Purchase Scheme is available to first time buyers unable to afford new homes and I understand there have already been applications in Limerick.
16. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Residential Tenancies Board refunding all late fees paid to it for new tenancy registrations with a tenancy commencement date on or after 4 April 2022 and annual registrations of existing tenancies that became due on or after 4 April 2022: if increased resources have been supplied to the board to deal with the high volume of unanswered calls from the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47092/22]
View answerFollowing the passing of legislation in 2019, with effect from 4 April 2022, landlords are required to register their tenancies with the RTB every year, within one month of the anniversary of when the tenancy began.
I am aware that some landlords and agents are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy management system. I met with the RTB in July and again last week to discuss the issues involved. My officials are also keeping in regular contact with the Board on the matter. In addition, this week I secured additional resources to assist the Board in their operations, including in relation to providing customer service, with an increase in the RTB allocation from €11m this year to €13m in 2023.
Given the genuine difficulties among its user community, the RTB will be refunding all late fees paid to it for new tenancy registrations with a tenancy commencement date on or after the 4 April 2022, and annual registrations of existing tenancies which became due on or after 4 April 2022. The RTB has commenced work to operationalise this new process over the coming weeks and will provide its customers with an update once the detail is finalised, via its regular website customer service announcements. This will not apply to any late fees which have accumulated prior to the introduction of annual registration on 4 April 2022.
Changes have been made to processes within RTB customer service provision to help alleviate delays and backlog and the RTB has almost doubled the staffing in its outsourced call centre. As I said my Department continues to engage with the RTB on a regular basis to ensure it is fully resourced to deliver on its ever increasing mandate.
19. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the timeframe for the publication of the revised wind energy development guidelines; the reason for the delay in publishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46882/22]
View answerMy Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
Guidance on the noise aspect is currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters. Officials from the two Departments are in regular contact to discuss ongoing developments in relation to noise, including the impact of the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources and the need to ensure that proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines are fit for purpose. This matter is currently being considered by DECC and further inputs are expected shortly. Following this, I will be in a better position to provide an update on the expected publication date of the revised Guidelines, the finalisation of which remains a priority.
It should also be noted that the review and finalisation of the Guidelines has been included as an action in the recently published Climate Action Plan, with a Q2 2023 delivery date target.
20. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the departmental working group investigating potential amendments to building regulations to require changing places (details supplied); the progress the group has made since the closure of the public consultation; the timeline for the group's report to his office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46881/22]
View answerA changing places toilet is an accessible sanitary facility with a toilet, hoist, basin, adult-sized changing bench and optional shower. It offers larger supported facilities that address the needs of people for whom current accessible sanitary accommodation is inadequate.
There is no current legislation requiring the provision for a changing places toilet in publically accessible buildings in Ireland.
In December 2020, in support of Government policy on advancing the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, a Working Group was established to examine the provision of a changing places toilet in certain buildings to promote community participation and social inclusion. The Working Group recommended the types and sizes of buildings where a changing places toilet should be required. Additionally, they recommended the technical requirements of a changing places toilet such as equipment, room size and layout of the facility.
In February 2022, my Department conducted a public consultation seeking submissions, observations and comments on a draft proposed amendment to the Building Regulations and associated Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use to make provision for a changing places toilet in certain buildings. The consultation period ended on May 12, 2022 and more than 600 individual submissions were received.
Since the conclusion of the public consultation phase the Working Group has met. They are scheduled to meet again shortly to continue the consideration of the submissions with the view to finalising documentation on the matter later this year.
21. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new remediation of dwellings damaged by the use of defective concrete blocks scheme will be operational and accepting applications. [47329/22]
View answer72. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeline for the roll-out of the planned defective concrete block redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47280/22]
View answer143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he intends to commence the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022, which was rushed through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the end of the past term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47396/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 72 and 143 together.
Following 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 on the 23 July, 2022.
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. The Act includes significant improvements to the current scheme and includes the following enhancements:
- 100% grants subject to an overall maximum grant of €420,000 per dwelling;
- grant rates in keeping with advice from SCSI;
- a government guarantee in the form of a second grant option if required for a period of 40 years;
- a revised application process which removes the financial barrier to scheme entry;
- an independent appeals process for applicants;
- alternative accommodation and storage costs and immediate repair works to a maximum value of €25,000;
- the expertise of the Housing Agency in assessing applications;
- the inclusion of RTB registered rental properties;
- the inclusion of Clare and Limerick in the enhanced scheme upon commencement and the option for other counties to enter the scheme; and
- exempt development status for like for like remediation works completed under the scheme.
The priority now is to ensure regulations which are necessary to provide for the finer details around which the new and enhanced scheme will operate are prepared and signed off as soon as possible.
I can confirm work on drafting these regulations has begun and is being undertaken by my officials and will apply in respect of all matters within the Act which are to be or may be prescribed such as the damage threshold, the grant rates and the form and content of various reports, certificates, forms, declarations etc
Guidelines to facilitate, promote and support a consistent approach to the operation and administration of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme will also be drafted by my Department. The aim and intention is to have the regulations and guidelines finalised before the end of the year with the scheme opening for applications as soon as possible thereafter, which I expect will only be a matter of weeks later.
22. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the recruitment of board members for the maritime area regulatory authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46889/22]
View answerIn advance of the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) in early 2023, the MARA Establishment Unit in my Department has been progressing work in respect of the appointment of a Chair, and ordinary members, to the Board of the new agency.
The MARA Board will consist of a Chairperson and ordinary members as follows:
(i) an officer of my Department;
(ii) an officer of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications;
(iii) an officer of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform;
(iv) a representative of the County and City Management Association;
(v) up to six other persons (if any).
I am pleased to say that the process to recruit the Chairperson and the six ordinary members is underway. This open and transparent process, which is being managed by the State Boards Division of the Public Appointments Service, commenced on 12 September. The Vacancy Notice and Information Booklet for these positions is currently live on the State Boards website (www.stateboards.ie) and the closing date for Submission of Expressions of Interest is Monday, 3 October 2022.
In addition, relevant Ministers and the CCMA will be invited to submit suitable nominees for the board in accordance with the establishing legislation.
Filling these positions on the Board is a critical step towards implementing the programme of work to get the new maritime consenting regime up and running. During this period of great change in how the State manages its maritime space, MARA will have a key role to play. It is important that the Board provides effective leadership and strategic vision to the organisation, and that it works collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders across the public sector, industry and the wider public.
23. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which the provision of accommodation for persons on local authority housing lists and those seeking affordable housing can be accommodated in the short term alongside the competing requirements of refugees and the number on the housing lists; if modular housing or wooden chalet-type housing will be urgently provided to meet the need for housing at an early date; the estimated number of potential units that could be made available given manufacturers of modular or wooden housing in Ireland are exporting their products while this serious crisis exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47269/22]
View answer43. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which an emergency plan exists to provide housing for refugees and those awaiting affordable or local authority housing, having particular regard to the circumstances now prevailing where emergency measures are needed to meet the demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47270/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 43 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026. Over the same period to 2026, the Housing for All strategy commits to delivering 10,000 Cost Rental homes and 18,000 Affordable Purchase homes which will be delivered by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), local authorities, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the First Home shared equity scheme.
A key action of Housing for All is that local authorities develop and submit Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022 - 2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. All local authorities submitted their Housing Delivery Action Plans in December and my Department has been working closely with the local authorities to review and finalise the Plans, having regard to the targets and policy objectives set out in Housing for All. The Plans have been published by each local authority on their website.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has been identified as a key measure to address the different housing needs in Ireland and methods to support the development of MMC in Ireland are set out in Housing for All Pathway 5 Section 5.3.2. All new dwellings must comply with building regulations, the aim of which is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings, and in addition achieve a 60-year durability for all key elements.
The development of MMC, which will improve productivity and increase efficiency in construction, and the coordination of activities to promote the development of MMC, is being led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). DETE has recently established a MMC Leadership and Integration Group.
The Group’s leadership aim to ensure a coordinated approach, and that those emerging innovations and new technologies being developed and deployed by the industry in Ireland and abroad, and promoted by the public sector, can be showcased and demonstrated in a coordinated and timely manner, particularly (but not exclusively) by the Demonstration Park for MMC, and could also inform the design of construction training modules.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for meeting the immediate and short-term accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. My Department is supporting the national response in a number of ways, including working with the Local Authority sector to identify multi-unit vacant buildings that might be suitable for refurbishment. In addition, the OPW, with DCEDIY as the lead Department, is leading on a project to secure the provision of modular homes to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from the Ukraine.
25. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, inclusive, for diving survey licences to enable the diving of a protected wreck; the number of licences that were issued in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47194/22]
View answerSection 3(4) of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 prohibits tampering with, damage to, removal of, diving on, survey of, salvage of or depositing anything on a wreck more than 100 years old or an underwater archaeological object without a licence issued under section 3(5) of the Act. Similar provisions apply under section 3(3) of the Act in relation to areas which have been made subject to Underwater Heritage Orders made under section 3(1) of the Act and such Orders can be made in respect of wrecks of any date. The scheme of protection applies both in inland waters and within the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone of the State.
In 2018, 131 applications for licences under section 3 of the Act of 1987 were received in the National Monuments Service of my Department of which 130 were approved. In 2021, 90 applications were received of which 81 were approved. So far this year 78 applications have been received and 63 approved.
It should be noted that archaeological excavation and use of detection devices for archaeological purposes are also subject to regulation under the National Monuments Acts, underwater as well as on land.
26. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to deliver public and affordable housing in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46816/22]
View answerHousing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes; 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing and 28,500 new affordable homes in the period 2022-2026.
In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026 and in March I issued local authority targets for affordable purchase and cost-rental. The targets for Waterford County Council include the delivery of 1,057 new build social homes, 46 social homes through long-term leasing and 76 affordable homes between 2022 and 2026.
A key action of Housing for All is that local authorities develop Housing Delivery Action Plans. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022 - 2026. Waterford’s Housing Delivery Action Plan has been published on Waterford City and County Council’s website.
The First Home Scheme to support affordable purchases of new homes in the private market will operate nationwide. Targeted at First Time Buyers or those eligible under the Government’s ‘Fresh Start’ principle, the Scheme is being delivered via a strategic partnership between the State and participating mortgage lenders. This scheme was launched on 7 July and will improve access to newly-built homes by using a shared equity model to bridge the gap between mortgage finance and the cost of new homes.
27. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the mid-term review of the Traveller accommodation programmes and wider implementation of the recommendations of the expert group report on Traveller accommodation. [47282/22]
View answerThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The current TAPs run from July 2019 to June 2024. Section 17(1)(a) of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, provides that a relevant housing authority shall review its TAP at least once in each three year period, or at such time as directed by the Minister.
In July 2022, local authorities were directed to commence the mid-term review of their TAPs and my Department will establish an overall position as soon as all local authorities have completed the process. The completion of the mid-term review by local authorities and subsequent submission to my Department is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
The Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, published in July 2019, reviewed the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, and other legislation that impacts on the provision and delivery of accommodation for Travellers. The Expert Review report, which is intended to improve the effectiveness of the arrangements for providing accommodation for members of the Traveller community, has 32 recommendations across 4 categories which are aimed at:
1. Addressing research deficiencies, including how information is gathered and used;
2. Removing any potential delays and obstacles in the planning system in terms of delivery;
3. Increasing resources and delivery capacity; and
4. Strengthening governance arrangements.
Delivery and implementation of the recommendations involves several areas within my Department, as well as input from other Departments, local authorities and other external stakeholders.
The Programme Board, established to drive implementation of the recommendations from the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review report, agreed to report progress on implementation of the recommendations on my Department's website. The progress report provides an update on the work of the Programme Board and each of the recommendations and is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/37910-traveller-accommodation-expert-review-programme-board-update/
28. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable homes that have been built to date in 2022; the target by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46838/22]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
2022 represents the first year of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. Significant funding has been secured and is being made available to support delivery of affordable housing for purchase or for cost rental by local authorities, AHBs and by the LDA.
Local authorities have been asked to begin collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently undertaken for social housing. It is intended that information on delivery across all delivery streams will be gathered by my Department and I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly delivery statistics later this year.
29. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the delivery of affordable homes in the Poolbeg strategic development zone, SDZ. [47296/22]
View answerThe regeneration of Poolbeg West is an important step in the transformation of the Dublin Docklands area, with the potential to provide for 3,500 homes. In June 2021 following a comprehensive international open market campaign, a consortium of Ronan Group Real Estate, Oaktree Capital Management, and Lioncor Developments (“the Consortium”) acquired a controlling 80% shareholding in the company which owns the glass bottle site. NAMA maintains a 20% minority interest. The development of the site will be undertaken by the Consortium.
A condition of the planning scheme, as modified by An Bord Pleanála on 9 April 2019 is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes on this site in addition to the 10% statutory social housing requirement under Part V arrangements.
On the 24th of March 2022, Dublin City Council approved an application for the first 570 residential homes at the former glass bottle site.
My Department remains committed to working with Dublin City Council, and the developers of the Poolbeg SDZ area to progress this site, subject to agreement on this and all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects. Engagement and work is ongoing in this respect.
31. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for the defective concrete block grant scheme in County Donegal who are stuck in stage 1, awaiting the outcome of the review of IS 465 by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. [47328/22]
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 on the 23 July, 2022.
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/.
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.
The specific information requested is not held by my Department and may be requested from Donegal County Council. My Department has been in ongoing communication with Donegal County Council on issues which have arisen with administration of the DCB scheme and has recently sought clarification on and a breakdown down of those Stage 1 applications on which decisions have not issued. On receipt of the requested information from the Council a follow up meeting will take place.
32. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to work with and support local authorities in preserving and enhancing biodiversity to help address the biodiversity loss crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47297/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to supporting local authorities in the important role they play in the implementation of actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The Programme for Government outlines our ambition to tackle the biodiversity crisis and includes a commitment to ensure that each Local Authority has a sufficient number of biodiversity officers and heritage officers among their staff complement. Local authorities are uniquely positioned, within their own biodiversity plans and working with communities, to help halt biodiversity loss. Biodiversity officers are a key part of this and are crucial to the implementation of actions for biodiversity at local and regional level.
There are currently five biodiversity officers employed in the following local authorities:
Fingal County Council;
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dublin City Council
Galway City Council
Kerry County Council.
The Biodiversity Officer programme is currently under development and will be delivered by the Heritage Council and County and City Management Association, with the support of my Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Expressions of interest for participation in the pilot were advertised by the Heritage Council in July and that it is expected that participating Local Authorities will begin recruiting in the near future.
My Department also administers the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF), previously National Biodiversity Action Plan Local Authority Grant Scheme, to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The funding stream is available to biodiversity officers and heritage officers and enables them to develop projects that address biodiversity loss in their localities by raising awareness for biodiversity, creating new habitats, restoring existing ones and by tackling invasive alien species. My Department has approved almost €1.5m this year in projects to support Local Authorities implement local actions to support our biodiversity objectives, with a total of 128 projects approved, covering a range of biodiversity related activities, including invasive alien species control, dune restoration, wetland surveys and biodiversity awareness and training.
33. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of evictions that have been carried out in the past 12 months, by quarter; the reasons for same; the length of time between the dispute arising and the eviction occurring, in cases in which the eviction was as a result of a dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47104/22]
View answerInformation on Notices of Termination is contained the website of the Residential Tenancies Board at: www.rtb.ie/data-hub. The Residential Tenancies Board was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 , to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P) 05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the additional information sought.
It is worth noting, the service of a Notice of Termination does not always result in an eviction taking place and may be intended as a further warning to the tenant to comply with his or her obligations.
34. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when eligibility for the tenant purchase scheme will be extended to persons in receipt of the invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46950/22]
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.
In determining a tenant’s minimum reckonable income, local authorities can include incomes from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments, and certain social welfare payments, including the Invalidity Pension, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.
35. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps that have been taken to protect the building listed on his Department's protected structures list at Moatville, Charleville, County Cork, which is in a perilous state and needs protection and intervention. [46967/22]
View answerMy role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, including the Planning and Development Acts, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.
With regard to the safeguarding of protected structures, Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect architectural heritage by including particular structures on their respective Records of Protected Structures (RPS) and overseeing their proper development and maintenance accordingly. Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with any developments affecting them. Owners or occupiers of a protected structure are legally obliged to prevent it becoming endangered, whether through damage or neglect.
As the building in question is listed on the RPS of the local authority, enforcement is a matter for them and my Department has no role in the matter. However the matter has been brought to the attention of Cork County Council following your query.
Cork County Council have informed me that the structure itself is currently in the ownership of Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd. At the time of its addition to the Record of Protected Structures, the property was located within the production facility of Kerry Ingredients (Ireland) Ltd.
In February 2022 a planning application was lodged for the expansion of the current processing facility under Planning Reference Number 22/4226.
As a part of the granting this application, there is a series of conservation works the applicants must complete to Moatville House prior to first operation of the new processing plant and a series of further works to Moatville House that must be carried out within a timeframe agreed with the Planning Authority. The full suite of planning documents and reports are available to the public online at the Cork County Council website planning.corkcoco.ie/ePlan).
