Written Answers Nos. 60-80
60. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of any reports he has received to date in 2022 from the Galway social housing task force pursuant to the terms of reference of the task force; if he will provide copies of these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46977/22]
View answerI am expecting a report from the Galway Social Housing Task Force before the end of this year and this will be made available to the Deputy once it is available.
The Task Force has continued to meet consistently, with the most recent meeting held this month and the next meeting scheduled for November 2022.
I will be staying in contact with the Task Force and its work and I am keen that it will have a productive role in advancing our housing agenda in Galway.
62. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of new social, affordable and private houses that commenced and completed construction in County Kildare in the past 12 months, by municipal district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47103/22]
View answerData in relation to housing commencements, broken down by local authority area, is published by my Department on a monthly basis and can be accessed via the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/a5cb1-construction-activity-starts/
Data in relation to new dwelling completions is published by the CSO on a quarterly basis and can be accessed via the following link:
www.cso.ie/en/statistics/buildingandconstruction/newdwellingcompletions/
The delivery of social and affordable housing is underpinned by local authorities' Housing Delivery Action Plans 2022 – 2026. A copy of Kildare County Council’s plan can be accessed on their website at the following link:
kildarecoco.ie/YourCouncil/Publications/Housing/
My Department publishes comprehensive social housing programme level statistics on a quarterly basis in all local authority areas, including Kildare County Council. This data is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR), which provides details of social housing developments that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent CSR (for Quarter 1 2022) is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6912a-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q1-2022/
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis at the link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q1-2022?package_type=dataset
Local authorities have begun 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 across all delivery streams, including AHB delivery and LDA delivery, will be gathered centrally and I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly statistics later this year.
As the Deputy may be aware, the First Home Scheme, launched in July, now provides affordable housing options nationally via an equity support of up to 30% for First Time Buyers of new homes. I am advised that the scheme will publish quarterly statistics from October and I understand from initial feedback that application levels from Kildare County are amongst the highest in the country.
Separately and supported by Departmental funding, Kildare County Council has confirmed that construction is expected to begin on 10 affordable purchase homes of a mixed tenure housing development at Ardclough Road in Celbridge, next year, with projected delivery of these affordable homes by Q1 2025.
In relation to Cost Rental, approximately 242 homes are scheduled to be delivered in Kildare in 2022 and 2023, across 4 different sites. The necessary financial and commercial arrangements in relation to a number of these projects are being completed by the AHBs concerned and full details will be made public as arrangements are concluded.
In addition, the LDA has submitted a revised planning permission for 219 social, affordable and cost rental units at Devoy Barracks in Naas, Co. Kildare. Details of the number and type of homes to be delivered by the LDA will be confirmed by the LDA as plans advance and further information can be found at lda.ie/
63. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on work to make it more accessible for homeowners to install solar panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46890/22]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity. This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, including those relating to the installation of solar panels on the roofs of houses, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions for apartments and educational/community/sports buildings.
The draft regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. The draft regulations have also been screened for Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the Habitats Directive by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit (EAU) and the need for AA has been screened out.
A public consultation on the draft solar regulations as part of the SEA process ran from 15 June 2022 to 13 July 2022. My Department has had regard to the written submissions and observations received as part of the public consultation, which have been taken into consideration in the finalisation of the draft regulations.
As required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made and the SEA process concluded. In this regard, the process for finalising the solar regulations has commenced and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
64. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the review of IS 464 and the drafting of the regulations to underpin the new defective block redress scheme. [47283/22]
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/.
Arising from the Government Decision in November 2021, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) was tasked with delivering a programme of work to address the following technical items:
- A review of I.S. 465:2018+A1:2020 - Assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials and its application (including foundations).
- A review by NSAI Masonry Committee of the Irish Standard for Concrete Blocks (including aggregates).
- A review of the impact of pumped cavity wall insulation on cavity wall construction and within homes susceptible to or impacted by defective concrete blocks.
NSAI does not operate under the auspices of my Department. It is an autonomous body under the aegis of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and, as such, detail on its programme of work is a matter for the NSAI and its parent Department.
However, an interagency Defective Concrete Blocks – Technical Matters Steering Group has been established to support and inform the NSAI Standardisation Program in relation to technical issues. The steering group includes representatives from NSAI, Geological Survey Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and representatives from my Department.
The NSAI have been asked to review I.S. 465 and carry out all necessary research as a matter of priority.
Section 51 (2) of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Block Bill, 2022 commits to the commencement of a review of the operation of the Act within 3 months of any review of I.S.465:2018 by NSAI.
Work on drafting regulations 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 by the Minister e.g. 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. I intend that the regulations and guidelines be finalised before the end of the year with the scheme opening for applications as soon as possible thereafter but ensuring they are comprehensive and that they will work for everyone is the main priority.
Pending the opening of the new scheme, applications can continue to be made to local authorities and processed under the current Defective Concrete Block grant scheme, underpinned by the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations, 2020 and the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
65. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Inis Cealtra Holy Island and the Burren, respectively, were not included in the UNESCO tentative list when they were adjudged to fulfil the criteria for inclusion on the previous tentative list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46814/22]
View answerMy Department initiated a review of Ireland’s Tentative List in 2019, following UNESCO advice to do so at least every ten years.
As you may be aware six applications were received by the 30 June 2021 deadline:
1. The Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands, County Clare;
2. Iniscealtra (Inis Cealtra), County Clare;
3. Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia, County Kerry-Heart's Content, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada;
4. Royal Sites of Ireland;
5. The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo;
6. Glendalough Valley, County Wicklow (Wicklow County Council subsequently paused their application pending completion of the Glendalough Master Plan).
In July 2021 I appointed an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) to evaluate each application on their ability to demonstrate potential Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and evidence of local stakeholder support, both of which are essential for inscription on the World Heritage List.
The EAG’s recommendations were issued to the applicants in November 2021. A Technical Group (TG) was also established in 2022 to offer specific technical advice to the applicants in relation to the EAG recommendations and UNESCO processes. After thorough assessment this process enabled a final decision on the composition of the new Tentative List.
The EAG acknowledged that the Burren has the potential to fill a gap on the World Heritage List, however, it recommended that the potential OUV needed to be demonstrated by focussing on the criteria for assessment of OUV, authenticity/integrity, and the protection and management aspects of a potential World Heritage property. Also, as the original application was submitted by Clare County Council, a revised application needs to be drafted to incorporate aspects of the Galway Burren to ensure a coherent mutually balanced approach. My Department is committed to supporting Clare and Galway County Councils to develop this application further and looks forward to receiving a revised joint application to the Tentative List. The Burren is therefore not precluded from being on the Tentative List in the future.
In relation to Iniscealtra the EAG recommended that it could be included on the Tentative List if the potential OUV was clearly demonstrated. However, although it demonstrated that it was nationally significant, the Technical Group process concluded that a robust narrative for OUV was not sufficiently demonstrated, and that any future proposal to submit Iniscealtra to the Tentative List should be based on a strong comparative analysis, supported by more detailed research, and possibly its consideration as part of a coherent and credible serial site application, (it is worth noting that previously Iniscealtra was not on the TL by itself, but was part of a serial application site, the Early Monastic Sites).
Furthermore my Department is currently working on publishing a Technical Evaluation Assessment which will outline the Tentative List revision process and details the exact reasoning behind the composition of the new Tentative List. When completed is will be available online at World Heritage Ireland at www.worldheritageireland.ie.
66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of completed and commenced construction social housing units in counties Laois and Offaly in 2021 and 2022. [47233/22]
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. 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. In September 2021, I issued social housing targets to each local authority for the period 2022-2026.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities including Laois and Offaly. This data is available until the end of Quarter 1 2022 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 1 2022. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: gov.ie - Social Housing Construction Projects - Status Reports (www.gov.ie). A version of the Q1 2022 CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis at the link: Social Housing Construction Status Report Q1 2022 - Dataset - Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
The Quarter 2 social housing statistics are being collated and will be published shortly, in conjunction with the Quarter 2 Construction Status Report.
67. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities to whom tenants owe money in rent arrears have a policy on the way to deal with vulnerable customers in debt; the nature of these policies; the way that they are managed and overseen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46965/22]
View answerDecisions regarding management of arrears are a matter for individual local authorities. Local authorities actively engage with tenants to ensure rent arrears do not arise in the first instance. Where arrears do arise the local authority will work with the tenant to put in place a repayment arrangement to assist the tenant in managing the arrears. These arrangements would generally take into consideration any other forms of indebtedness on the part of the tenant and can include advising the tenant of the services offered by the Money and Budgeting Advice Service. Local authority rent schemes also generally make allowances for specific hardship cases. In such cases, they may accept lesser amounts for a specified period if they consider the amount of rent due would cause undue hardship for the tenant.
The Department of Social Protection Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme offers a safety net within the overall social welfare system by assisting those whose means are insufficient to meet their own needs and those of their dependents. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance to those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. There are several payments within the scheme, including once-off exceptional needs payments which can cover rent arrears.
68. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has a strategy to ensure the owners of holiday rentals rooms, such as those listed on a website (details supplied) are incentivised to make those rooms available to accommodate families who are on social housing waiting lists. [46979/22]
View answerMy focus in relation to the matter referred to in the question is to ensure that accommodation is the rental sector is orientated towards overall need in the sector. In this regard the Government's housing plan, Housing for All, contains a specific action (Action 20.4) - to “develop new regulatory controls requiring short-term and holiday lets to register with Fáilte Ireland with a view to ensuring that houses are used to best effect in areas of housing need”. Funding was allocated in Budget 2022 to Fáilte Ireland which has been tasked with the design and implementation of a new short term lettings registration system. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is also presently scoping out the legislative provisions that will be required to underpin the new Failte Ireland registration system with a view to these provisions being enacted in 2022.
As an interim measure and pending the establishment of that registration system, Section 3A of the Planning and Development, Maritime and Valuation Act 2022 provides for the introduction of a new regulatory regime in relation to the short-term letting sector, specifically non-principal private residences advertised for letting in the designated Rent Pressure Zones. However, the provisions cannot come into effect until supporting supplementary regulations providing for the detailed operational arrangements in relation to the proposed measure are made and signed into law.
My Department is presently engaging with the relevant stakeholder groups on the detailed operational arrangements that will apply in relation to the proposed measure to be incorporated in the required supplementary regulations. It is intended to conclude the consultation process as soon as possible. My Department is also engaging with the European Commission on the legislation under the notification requirements of the Technical Regulation on Information Society (TRIS) Directive, which engagement is ongoing.
In relation to social housing, a key priority for this Government is that everybody should have access to sustainable, good quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard, and located close to essential services, offering a high quality of life.
The Government plans 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 by 2030 and Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing from 2022 to 2026. In the same period over 29,000 affordable homes will be delivered including 18,600 affordable purchase homes and 10,400 cost rental homes.
69. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the roll-out of the national online planning portal across all local authorities; the timeline for the portal to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47082/22]
View answerThe ePlanning project which is currently being developed seeks to integrate the IT systems of the 31 planning authorities using a single online portal allowing for the online submission of planning applications, submissions and their associated fees. Once fully rolled out, ePlanning will provide an online option for the public to engage with the planning system, in addition to the paper based system.
The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is managing and co-ordinating the development of the ePlanning project on behalf of my Department. Tipperary and Galway County Councils have successfully completed the pilot and are currently online, with approximately 50% of their applications now being received via the online portal.
Deployment of ePlanning is expected to be commenced in an additional 11 planning authorities before the year end 2022. The LGMA’s rollout of ePlanning nationwide to integrate the remaining planning authorities will be completed in 2023, with the exact timing of individual planning authorities being dependent on deployment readiness.
70. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 54 of 5 May 2022, the status of the implementation of affordable housing schemes in County Mayo; the progress that has been made with Mayo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46922/22]
View answerMayo County Council conducted a county-wide affordable housing expression of interest public survey earlier this year. The Council also commissioned a specific KPMG report regarding the level of new housing need with affordability constraint in Westport.
I understand that Mayo County Council are working on an affordable housing proposal and may apply for funding under the Affordable Housing Fund.
Furthermore, I recently announced the ‘Ready to Build’ Scheme. The scheme will be funded from the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites available in towns and villages to potential purchasers for the building by the purchaser of a principal private residence. The sites will be sold at a discounted rate of up to €30,000 from the market value. The discount will be determined by the cost of servicing the site. This will facilitate the making available of some 2,000 sites for homes by 2025 and can be availed of by Mayo County Council to help meet affordable housing need.
Finally, the First Home Scheme, launched in July this year, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide.
73. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to initiate the review of the national planning framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47324/22]
View answerThe National Planning Framework published in 2018 is the overall spatial planning and development strategy for Ireland. The NPF, together with the National Development Plan 2021, combine to form Project Ireland 2040 the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of Ireland.
The NPF projects that there will be approximately 1 million additional people in Ireland in 2040 over 2016 population levels. The growth strategy seeks to shift the spatial pattern of development in Ireland, overtime, towards more regionally balanced, city focused and compact growth. The strategy is to split population growth roughly 50:50 between the Eastern and Midlands Region (EMRA) and the rest of the country. Preliminary results from Census 2022 show that overall, national population growth is broadly in line with the NPF population projection for 2022. The NPF projected a population of just over 5.1m people in Ireland in 2022 and the Census now indicates 5.123m people (+20,000). However, the distribution of growth over the 2016-2022 period remains weighted in favour of the east with more than half of population growth happening in the Eastern and Midlands Region.
The NPF strategy is at an early stage in its implementation. The associated Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) were adopted in 2019 and 2020. The review of city and county development plans to align with the NPF is ongoing. When completed it will be the first time that there has been an integrated hierarchy of statutory spatial plans in Ireland. Sectoral strategies in areas such as transport, water and enterprise have also been reviewed and align to the NFP strategy. While the transition towards the NPF strategy will take time significant progress has been made in aligning policy across all levels of government with the NPF. This need to allow for transition overtime has been factored into growth targets at a regional and county level.
The Planning and Development Act includes in-built mechanisms to allow for regular review and update of the NPF. The Programme for Government commits to review the NPF by 2024. This review will look at NPF implementation to date and be informed by the final results of Census 2022 when available next year. The review will also consider a range of factors that will influence how we manage future growth in a planned, productive and sustainable way. This will include consideration of Ireland’s obligations under the Climate Action Plan and the influence of geopolitical factors on future growth. It is intended to publish a ‘roadmap’ document by the end of 2022 that will address the review process in more detail.
My Department has also 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 with the wider objectives of the NDP, 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.
74. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current total capacity of emergency accommodation for persons who are homeless; the number of persons who have been turned away in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46861/22]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department.
A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of homeless services including the number of places in accommodation and the numbers turned away are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
I am aware of the pressures currently being experienced in accessing Emergency Accommodation nationwide and local authorities are working to address these, with assistance from my Department where necessary. A range of measures have been introduced to tackle accommodation shortages and in terms of the provision of Emergency Accommodation, and funding for all required homeless services will be provided this year.
75. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he has considered to remedy defective homes and regulate construction companies to ensure defects do not recur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46888/22]
View answerIn response to the difficulties that homeowners are facing due to the presence of deleterious material in their houses, my Department has put a number of measures in place to support homeowners including providing considerable financial assistance to remediate their homes. These include the Pyrite Remediation Scheme and the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme.
In regard to defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013, following receipt of the report of the working group I established to examine this issue, I will now, in consultation with Government colleagues, develop options with a view to providing support for homeowners who find themselves in a difficult financial situation through no fault of their own.
The Regulation of Providers of Building Works Act 2022 was signed into law by the President in July this year. The main objective of the Act is to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the Building Regulations in the construction sector which will benefit consumers and the general public.
When the register is operating on a statutory footing it is envisaged there may be in the order of at least 5,000 entities who will be required to register. It is envisaged that builders can begin registering early 2023 and it will be statutory from 2024 for the first categories established. These will likely be house builders and non-residential builders. Registration for various trades will happen subsequently.
The legislation will require providers of building services to register with the Construction Industry Register of Ireland. This will apply to entities or individuals who hold themselves out for consideration as a provider of building works for both residential and non-residential buildings (subject to the building regulations). It does not include employees of such entities but does include sole traders. This will have a significant impact on all sections of the construction industry from small contractors and craftspeople up to the larger construction companies.
In addition, in response to defects that have come to light in buildings my Department has embarked on a range of building control reforms. Since 2011, the reforms have focused primarily on ensuring strong and effective regulation in the building control system and the construction industry, on improving compliance with the Building Regulations, and on greater consumer protection.
To further support the building control system, preparatory work is progressing on establishing an independent Building Standards Regulator to oversee building control nationwide and to act as custodian of the Building Control Management System.
76. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the provision of maternity leave for councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47313/22]
View answerThe 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 was before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative scrutiny 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.
77. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits that have been issued for non-European Union workers to date per month in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47377/22]
View answer78. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the sectors in which work permits have been issued for non-European Economic Area workers by month to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47378/22]
View answer79. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current average turnaround time for a work permit for non-European Economic Area workers from the date the application is received until the date of approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47379/22]
View answer80. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for work permits for non-European Union workers that are currently awaiting processing within the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47380/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 80, inclusive, together.
The State's employment permit system is designed to supplement Ireland's skills and labour supply over the short to medium term by allowing enterprises to recruit nationals from outside the EEA, where such skills or expertise cannot be sourced from within the EEA at that time. The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupation lists.
My Department experienced a significant increase in applications for employment permits in the past year and a half, which impacted on processing times. From the start of January to the end of December 2021, some 27,666 applications were received, representing a 69% increase over the same period in 2020 (16,293) and a 47% increase on 2019 (18,811), which itself represented an 11 year high in applications. 16,275 employment permits were issued in 2021, and a total of 17,968 applications processed, which represents a significant volume of activity. This increased demand was also driven by the extension of categories of employment permits following the Review of the Occupational Lists in October 2021.
My Department and I recognised the impact delays in the processing times for employment permits has had for businesses and their workers. An internal plan of action was introduced which increased resources and implemented more efficient methods of processing applications in the permits system. The processing team trebled in size and daily output has more than tripled this year compared to 2021 levels.
Since the implementation of this plan, the Employment Permits Unit has made positive progress by reducing the number of applications awaiting processing from about 10,900 in January 2022 to under 2,200 today, despite further strong growth in demand in 2022.
The tables below show the details requested by the Deputy in tabular form.
The number of work permits that have been issued for non-European Union workers to date per month in 2022
|
Issued 2022 (25/09/2022) |
||||||||
|
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
September |
|
2,278 |
2,539 |
3,458 |
4,012 |
3,996 |
3,876 |
3,957 |
3,535 |
2,696 |
The sectors in which work permits have been issued for non-European Economic Area-workers by month to date in 2022 are set out at the link:
The current average turn-around times for a work permit for non-European Economic Area-workers from the date that the application is received until the date of approval are set out in the table.
|
CSEP |
Weeks Waiting (queue) |
|
Trusted Partner |
2 Weeks |
|
Standard |
4 Weeks |
|
GEP |
|
|
Standard |
3 Weeks |
|
Trusted Partner |
3 weeks |
|
ICT |
|
|
Trusted Partner |
3 Weeks |
|
Standard |
3 Weeks |
|
Other |
|
|
Trusted Partner |
3 Weeks |
|
Standard |
3 Weeks |
The number of applications for work permits for non-European Union workers that are currently awaiting processing within the system as of 26 September 2022 is 2181.
