Written Answers Nos. 101-121
101. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and or press office of her Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4879/23]
View answerI am advised that my Department's Press Office has not created any social media accounts under false names to further the messaging or communications of the Department.
102. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide the most recent annual data including 2022 on the level of Údarás na Gaeltachta-supported jobs by county respectively, the number of additional jobs created since the formation of the Government on 27 June 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4916/23]
View answerIn order to fulfill its reporting and planning requirements, Údaras na Gaeltachta gathers employment figures annually to end of October.
According to Údarás na Gaeltachta, research conducted by ABSEI of Údarás client-companies in which ten or more employees were employed in 2021 demonstrated that Gaeltacht businesses had a significant positive economic impact. The organisation's client companies had estimated total sales of €1.04b in 2021, of which 60% was export sales, the first time that Údarás client-company sales have exceeded the €1bn threshold.
Údarás reports that Gaeltacht employment remained stable in 2022, with significant growth in several important sectors. There were 8,235 jobs in companies that received support from Údarás na Gaeltachta at the end of 2022, compared to 8,084 in 2021. Employment numbers for 2022 and 2021 are reported based on full-time and other classification whereas the employment numbers for 2020 are reported on a full-time equivalent basis.
According to the end of year statement recently published by an tÚdarás, 945 new full-time positions were created in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies in 2022. When the number of jobs lost are accounted for, there was a net gain of 151 full time jobs on the previous year.
The table below provided by An tÚdarás presents a breakdown by county of the level of supported jobs in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies:
|
Gaeltacht County |
Donegal |
Mayo |
Galway |
Meath |
Kerry |
Cork |
Waterford |
Total |
|
Employment in 2022 |
2,426 |
745 |
3,222 |
213 |
755 |
695 |
177 |
8,235 |
|
Employment in 2021 |
2,369 |
701 |
3,275 |
198 |
672 |
711 |
156 |
8,084 |
|
Employment in 2020 * |
2,168 |
604 |
2,955 |
215 |
611 |
664 |
146 |
7,363 |
*Fulltime equivalent
The table below provides a breakdown by county of the number of additional jobs created in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies:
|
Gaeltacht County |
Donegal |
Mayo |
Galway |
Meath |
Kerry |
Cork |
Waterford |
Total |
|
2022 |
317 |
111 |
278 |
42 |
142 |
34 |
21 |
945 |
|
2021 |
286 |
98 |
337 |
20 |
33 |
45 |
6 |
825 |
|
2020 * |
114 |
45 |
182 |
7 |
32 |
23 |
24 |
427 |
*Fulltime equivalent
103. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Government has plans to commemorate the civil war in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5148/23]
View answerI am committed to ensuring that the State's approach to the remembrance of the Civil War and all of those who lost their lives during those years, is based on the respectful, sensitive, measured and authentic ethos that has become the hallmark of the Decade of Centenaries Programme. Historical accuracy, academic integrity, and archival discovery are key tenets of the programme - following the centenary timeline of the historical events of the period. It is important that our history is faithfully presented, even when the historical record is distressing. We must acknowledge the great tragedy of all of the lives that were lost or irrevocably altered during those divisive and traumatic years.
Community-led commemoration has an important role in remembering complex historical events that have particular significance within counties, parishes, and communities, particularly during the process of the establishment of the new, independent State in the midst of civil war. The Community Strand of the Programme involves a collaborative approach between the State, the local authority network, and local communities, with my Department providing funding to each local authority.
A three-day conference, titled 'History, Memory and Legacy - Civil War in Kerry and Beyond: A Centenary Conference’, will take place in Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, from 23rd to 25th February, to mark the centenary of the civil war in County Kerry. This multi-disciplinary conference will examine all aspects of the civil war, within the local context of the county’s experience and the broader national context.
The conference proposals have been endorsed by the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations. My Department is supporting the conference with funding to Kerry County Council, under the Community Strand of the 2023 Decade of Centenaries Programme. Kerry County Council is also very supportive of the plans and this is a key event in the county’s commemorative programme for 2023.
104. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4855/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Year |
Spend |
|
2023 |
€42,696.62 |
|
2022 |
€146,475.79 |
|
2021 |
€45,081.57 |
|
2020 |
€28,881.57 |
|
2019 |
€22,065.94 |
|
2018 |
€29,819.12 |
|
2017 |
€63,960.48 |
|
2016 |
€26,103.68 |
|
2015 |
€8,240.50 |
|
2014 |
€12,928.53 |
|
2013 |
€16,208.94 |
105. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and or press office of his Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4873/23]
View answerI am aware of no such instances within my Department.
106. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the person or body that has responsibility for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4897/23]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy). The remit of the RTB covers both the private rental sector and the not-for-profit housing providers commonly known as Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), and Student-specific Accommodation providers (SSA).
The Board of the RTB, established under the RTA, is accountable to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and is responsible for ensuring good governance at the RTB. The Board performs this task by setting strategic objectives and targets for the organisation and taking strategic decisions on all key business matters. The day-to-day management, control and direction of the RTB are the responsibility of the Director of the RTB and his senior management team. The Director and his team follow the broad strategic direction set by the Board and ensure that all Board members have a clear understanding of the organisation’s key activities and issues, the types of decisions the Board is required to make, and all significant risks the organisation is faced with. The RTB Director acts as a direct liaison between the Board and RTB management and he has a reporting line to the Board Chair.
The work and responsibilities of the Board are set out in the Board’s terms of reference and the schedule of matters specifically reserved for Board decision. In general, these incorporate the functions vested in the Board by the Act, governance decisions such as the appointment of Committee members or the approval of policies, key strategic and financial decisions such as the approval of plans, or the commitment of significant resources, and risk oversight of the RTB’s activities. The RTB has responsibility for the direct implementation of legislation and Government policy relating to the residential rental sector. It has a quasi-judicial and regulatory role and is independent in its decision-making functions. As a quasi-judicial service, there is a significant commitment made by the Board in overseeing certain decisions. Along with its monthly meetings, the Board convenes to consider decisions in fulfilment of its quasi-judicial role.
My Department and I, as Minister, are responsible for the oversight of the RTB and there is an Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) in place with the RTB making the clear the requirements for reporting to my Department.
107. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the 75 ghost housing estates nationwide; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of houses and location of each ghost estate broken down by local authority area; the plans that are in place to bring these houses into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5002/23]
View answerAddressing vacancy and maximising the use of existing housing stock is a primary objective of this Government, as demonstrated by the focus given to this priority area in Pathway 4 of the Government’s Housing for All plan. In this regard, Action 19.10 of Housing for All provides that local authorities will work with the appropriate stakeholders to resolve issues within estates still categorised as ‘unfinished’ with a view to minimising any vacancy levels. Since 2010, there has been a 98% reduction in the number of unfinished housing developments, from 3,000 to 75. Of these 75, 40 developments are unoccupied. These developments mainly contain partial shells and units at foundation level and are located in low housing demand areas. 35 developments that remain on the ‘unfinished’ developments survey for 2022, are occupied to some extent and are to remain the focus for local authorities to work towards a satisfactory resolution.
In March 2022, my Department issued correspondence to each of the 26 local authorities that had unfinished housing developments, requesting an update on the progress made since the last survey in 2020. Details in this regard were published in the Housing for All Q2 2022 Progress Report, a copy of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/03335-housing-for-all-q2-2022-progress-report/
On 30 January, I launched the Vacant Homes Action Plan. The Plan outlines the progress that has been made in implementing actions to address vacancy and make efficient use of existing stock, contained in Housing for All. It also identifies the actions to be pursued in order to continue to return as many vacant properties back to viable use as possible, increase the supply of housing available, and revitalise the vibrancy of local communities. A copy of the Vacant Homes Action Plan can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/
108. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process by which he has directed the Chief Executive of Galway City Council to reverse the rezoning changes that councillors made to the Draft City Development Plan; if affected landowners have an avenue to make inquiries in relation to this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5043/23]
View answerThe Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) has a statutory role in the plan making process of a local authority. It is a core function of the OPR to independently evaluate all local authority and regional assembly statutory plans, including county and city development plans, local area plans (LAPs) and regional spatial and economic strategies (RSESs).
The OPR provides observations and recommendations during the drafting of statutory plans. In cases where the OPR finds that a local authority's plans are ultimately not consistent with relevant regional or national policies, the OPR can recommend the use of Ministerial powers of direction, in accordance with Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) (the Act) to align plans with statutory requirements and best practice.
In relation to the Galway City Council Development Plan 2023, the direction process is underway and has not yet concluded. Consequent to a recommendation made to me by the OPR under section 31AM(8) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), I notified Galway City Council on 13 January 2023 of my intention to issue a Direction (a draft of which was included in the notice) to take certain measures specified in the notice in order to ensure that the Galway City Development Plan 2023-2029 is in compliance with the requirements of the Act. Information pertaining to this draft direction is available on Galway City Council’s website at the following link: https://www.galwaycity.ie/development-plan-2023-2029 A public consultation period on the draft direction began on 20January 2023 and is due to conclude on Friday 3February 2023 at 4pm.
The Chief Executive’s report is to be prepared further to the public consultation period in accordance with Section 31(8) of the Act, and must be furnished to the OPR, the elected members, and me as Minister, no later than 4 weeks after the public consultation process is completed, for further consideration. In addition, the elected members of Galway City Council may make a submission to the OPR at any time up to the conclusion of the 2 week public consultation period referred to above and must also send any such submissions to me. The OPR must then consider the Chief Executive’s report together with any submissions made and will make a further recommendation to me, regarding whether the Direction is to be issued with or without minor amendments, or not issued. Where I, as Minister, am in agreement with the further recommendation, the final Direction may issue.
It is important to note that this process remains ongoing and has not yet concluded and I am not, therefore, in a position to comment any further at present.
109. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual target for new housing units provided by local authorities and approved housing bodies broken down by newbuilds, both direct build and turnkey, Part V, regeneration, and voids, in each of the years from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [5141/23]
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. The delivery of the affordable home interventions will 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.
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. The build target includes delivery under all build programmes. The target for 2022 was 9,000 new build homes and for 2023 is 9,100 new build homes.
Data on social housing targets and delivery for previous years 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/#social-housing-delivery-progress-against-targets.
Data in relation to delivery under the Voids Programme to end 2021 is published on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme. Data for 2022 will be published at this link in the coming weeks. My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area and funding allocations under the 2023 Voids Programme will be announced shortly.
In relation to the further breakdown of the new build targets, my Department does not disaggregate the targets between new build on local authority land and turnkey, Part V or regeneration developments. It is a matter for the local authorities and the AHBs to advance projects and to submit funding proposals to my Department on a case-by-case basis.
110. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount returned from his Department’s allocation in each of the years between 2018 and 2022, inclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5142/23]
View answer111. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount carried over by his Department’s allocation in each of the years between 2018 and 2022, inclusive in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5143/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.
My Department's Appropriation Accounts which are published by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) set out the full details of expenditure for the relevant years and can be found at www.audit.gov.ie/en/ by clicking on "Appropriation Accounts".
Summary details of the Allocations and Final outturn of expenditure for the years 2018-2022 are set out below:
|
Vote 34 - DHLGH |
REV Allocation |
Final Outturn |
Deferred Surrender – capital carryover |
Amount Surrendered to Exchequer |
|
2022* |
€6,148m |
* |
€340m |
* |
|
2021 |
€5,469m |
€5,077m |
€275.8m |
€116.6m |
|
2020 |
€5,444m |
€5,217m |
€214m |
€12.5m |
|
2019 |
€3,937m |
€3,897m |
€33.5m |
€6.5m |
|
2018 |
€3,331m |
€3,317m |
€0 |
€13m |
* My Department will shortly submit its Capital Expenditure Management Report End Q4 2022 to Government. In addition, the 2022 Appropriation Account is currently being prepared and will be published later this year following audit by the C&AG.
Under Section 91 of the Finance Act, 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spending in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year- i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus.
In 2019, unspent capital balances from the Urban Renewal & Regeneration Fund and the Land Development Agency amounting to €33.5m was carried over into 2020. The balance of €6.5m was surrendered to the Exchequer.
In 2020, as a result of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the construction sector there was a total surplus amounting to some €226.5m arising from unspent allocations in respect of the capital elements of Programmes A (Housing), B (Water), D (Planning) and F (Heritage) of which €214m was carried forward to 2021 while the remaining balance of €12.5m was surrendered to the Exchequer.
In 2021, due to ongoing significant disruption to the construction sector due to Covid-19 and the consequential impacts on drawdown of capital funds, there was a surplus arising from unspent capital allocations on elements of Programmes A (Housing), D (Planning) and F (Heritage) of which €275.8m was carried forward to 2022.
Continued impact of Covid-19 on the construction sector, compounded by supply chain issues and then in early 2022 the onset of war in Ukraine with resulting further detrimental impact for the sector had a substantial impact on drawdown of capital investment for the programme areas identified back in 2021. Capital expenditure in 2022 was lower than profiled resulting in surplus balances on the capital elements of Programmes A (Housing), B (Water), D (Planning) and F (Heritage).
Despite the very challenging context my Department continued to engage proactively on a range of measures to manage, mitigate and expedite where possible throughout 2022. In the case of significant capital projects, it is important to note that the aforementioned impacts push a project out rather than cancelling it and therefore Capital Carryover ensures that where delivery arises beyond the calendar year in which initially anticipated, the capital can transfer to meet the commitment up to a maximum of 10%.€340m capital has been carried forward to 2023.
It should also be noted that the lead-in time for capital programmes do not, by their nature, readily facilitate in-year substitution for alternative capital delivery.
112. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any provision in the recently announced scheme for defective apartments for those families who have had to vacate uninhabitable apartments and secure other accommodation. [5147/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of addressing building defects. These include a commitment to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report Safe as Houses? Housing for All, the Government’s national plan on housing to 2030, reiterates these commitments.
In this regard, I received Government approval on 18 January 2023 to draft legislation to support the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013. This legislation will provide a statutory basis for the establishment of a remediation scheme aimed at protecting the safety and welfare of those living in apartments or duplexes.
It is intended that only works relating to defects that are attributable to defective design, defective or faulty workmanship or defective materials (or any combination of these) and were in contravention of the Building Regulations applicable at the time of construction will be eligible for inclusion in the scheme.
Work is now underway to draft the required legislation which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme which will become operational following implementation of the required legislation. Issues, such as that raised in the Question, will be considered in the course of the drafting of the legislation.
113. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 10 November 2021, his views on whether local authorities have benefitted from procedural guidance to assist victims of domestic violence; his further views on whether this policy needs further review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5238/23]
View answerIn 2017, my Department issued policy and procedural guidance to housing authorities relating to the role they can play to assist victims of domestic violence. The issuing of this 2017 policy and guidance was a significant action in the second national strategy on Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) 2016-2021, and has since played an important role in addressing the housing needs of victims and survivors of DSGBV, providing direction to housing authorities in supporting victims of domestic violence.
On the 28 June, 2022 the Department of Justice published Zero Tolerance, the third National Strategy on DSGBV 2022-2026. As an action in this strategy, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has committed to a review of the 2017 Policy and Procedural Guidance for Housing Authorities in relation to assisting victims of Domestic Violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs in order to ensure continuing effectiveness and consistency in responses to assist victims of domestic violence. This review is now underway, and any updates to the policy and guidance will be communicated to local authorities in due course.
In the meantime, local authorities should continue to have regard to the 2017 Guidance.
114. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4852/23]
View answerMy Department and its Embassy network has engaged in promotion online where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens, and for the wider promotion of Ireland around the world. This had included campaigns relating to Passports, Consular Assitance, St Patrick's Day, and 'all of Government' campaigns relating to Covid-19 and Brexit.
|
2016 |
€7,578 |
|
2017 |
€5,935 |
|
2018 |
€346,198 |
|
2019 |
€152,331 |
|
2020 |
€152,331 |
|
2021 |
€326,427 |
|
2022 |
€377,953 |
|
2023 |
€87,211 |
115. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and or press office of his Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4870/23]
View answerI can confirm that my attention has not been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and/or press office of my Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of my Department.
116. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4847/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, my Department spent the following as outlined in tabular form on online advertising, for the period 2013-2023.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
Comment |
|
2013 |
Nil |
|
|
2014 |
€3,690.00 |
Winter Ready Twitter campaign |
|
2015 |
€5,041.78 |
Winter Ready Twitter campaign |
|
2016 |
€5,043.00 |
Winter Ready Twitter campaign |
|
2017 |
€5,535.00 |
Winter Ready Twitter campaign |
|
2018 |
€5,535.00 |
Winter Ready Twitter campaign |
|
2019 |
Nil |
|
|
2020 |
€2,760.78 |
Winter Ready Twitter campaign |
|
2021 |
€21,489.15 |
Winter and Summer Ready Twitter campaigns and digital content on the Irish Independent web page |
|
2022 |
€20,909.83 |
Winter and Summer Ready Twitter campaigns and digital content on the Irish Independent web page |
|
2023 to date |
Nil |
|
|
TOTAL |
€70,004.54 |
|
117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and or press office of his Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4865/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, my Department’s Press Office has not created social media accounts under false names, for any purpose.
118. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount of time he envisages the LE Róisín and LE Niamh will remain in operational reserve due to staffing shortages; and if the staff shortages in the naval service will affect the deployment of the two new ships due to arrive from New Zealand in the coming months. [5048/23]
View answerAs a result of previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions, the Naval Service has concluded that the LE Roisin should be placed into operational reserve with effect from 31 January 2023 and that the LE Niamh should be placed into operational reserve on completion of its mid-life refit later this year. They will remain in operational reserve until such time the Naval Service has sufficiently regenerated suitably qualified and experienced personnel.
The decision to place the LE Roisin and LE Niamh into operational reserve is aimed at stabilising operational delivery and assisting in Naval Service regeneration which entails the prioritisation of personnel training and development of existing NS personnel.
The Defence Forces and the Department of Defence are currently engaged in significant efforts across a wide range of initiatives which when taken holistically aim to have the desired effect of addressing the challenges facing the Naval Service.
Two Inshore Patrol Vessels have been purchased from the New Zealand Government to replace the decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. These vessels are undergoing an extensive programme of works in New Zealand and following completion of works it is planned that they will be transported to Ireland later this year. Once delivered to Ireland, a plan will be developed to achieve initial operating capability for the IPV’s.
119. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department has been contacted by other Departments to assist in the housing or placement of refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5165/23]
View answerMy Department is continuing to engage across Government, including through the Senior Officials Group on the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, in relation to requests for accommodation or other supports that are required from the Defence Organisation in response to the refugee crisis.
Following a request from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, lands at Gormanston military installation, Co. Meath were made available for emergency accommodation and for use as a reception centre for Ukrainian nationals from July until October 2022.
Ballymullen Barracks, Tralee, has also been made available to Kerry County Council at their request to accommodate Ukrainian nationals, with a current capacity for up to 60 occupants.
The military installation at Kilbride Camp, Co. Wicklow has been made available to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs for emergency short term accommodation and became operational in November 2022 with a current maximum capacity for 130 occupants.
The Defence Forces have provided tentage and engineering support at a site in Knockalisheen, Co. Clare following a request for assistance from Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs. This site is a Department of Defence landholding which was already in use as a Direct Provision centre.
My Department is engaging closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs regarding the use of the former Mullingar Barracks for accommodation purposes.
In addition, Civil Defence Units across the country continue to provide supports at local authority level for Ukrainians seeking protection in Ireland. This includes assisting at temporary rest centres. They are also providing transport for school registration and medical appointments etc.
120. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the schools' energy retrofit pathfinder programme; the number of schools supported to date under this programme; the proposed number to be funded in 2023 and 2024, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4083/23]
View answerMy Department has a strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.
The Department's policy is supported by a strong research programme with 53 research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie. This is a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
In the interest of sustainability, it is critical that renewable applications are properly suited to the schools needs so as to reduce energy costs and carbon and not just applied for the sake of having renewables. It is also critical that we minimise the demand for energy before we invest in renewable energy applications. This has been assisted in previous years with the wall and attic insulation programme and the water conservation programme.
Schools designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents, have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009, with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher energy performance and 25% better carbon performance than required by the current Building Regulations. In addition, 10% of primary energy is provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.
The National Development Plan 2021-2030 published on 4th Oct 2021, provides capital funding of over €4.4bn for investment in school infrastructure during the period 2021 to 2025. There continues to be a strong Climate Action dimension to this additional and modernisation programme.
The Department of Education and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Planning and Building Unit in my Department. Support is also provided from Limerick Clare ETB. The programme is being used to evaluate and demonstrate the approach to energy retrofit and carbon reduction in the schools’ sector. This government-funded energy retrofit pathfinder programme will target energy use and CO2 emission reduction by 51%, testing deep retrofit and low carbon heating solutions.
The pathfinder programme has already been completed in schools across Ireland, with further works underway in additional schools.
The pathfinder is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger schools national programme for decarbonisation and retrofit and will play a key part in meeting delivery of the Climate Action Plan.
As part of commitments under the Government’s Climate Action Plan, my Department will complete its decarbonisation pathway roadmap to meet 2030 and 2050 targets for the schools sector by end of this year.
To date 48 school projects across Ireland have been completed with an additional 16 schools currently at various stages of progress undergoing decarbonisation upgrades to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B with renewable heating systems.
The 2023/24 Pathfinder with 10 schools is jointly funded with a targeted budget of €40m.
This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This programme continues to assist the Department to explore options and test various solutions for decarbonised energy efficiency solutions in our broad range of school building types.
It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector.
Each school undergoes a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures are suitable for that school and will deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme.
The works typically involves upgrades to the building fabric including wall and roof insulation, doors and windows, air tightness improvements, LED lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.
The List the 2023 Energy Retrofit Pathfinder programme schools is:
Leixlip Community School, Kildare
Catherine McCauley Special School, Limerick
Carnadonagh Community School, Donegal
St Joseph’s National School, Kingcourt,
Presentation Girls Primary School, Maynooth
Holy Rosary School, Wicklow
Hazelwood College, Limerick
St Colmcille’s Community School, Dublin
Scoil Thomas Primary School, Castleknock, Dublin
St Nessan’s National School, Limerick
121. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she will list the additional services for which the €10 million announced regarding school transport has been provided; the areas the services are in; the number of additional children accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4820/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are now accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, temporary alleviation measures have been continued for the current 2022/23 school year, pending completion of the review and this means that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April 2022 and registered for a ticket by the 29th July 2022.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
As part of the budgetary process some additional funding was approved for the scheme which has allowed Department officials, in consultation with Bus Éireann to consider and evaluate where temporary additional capacity may be available.
The initial focus has been where families applied on time and who previously held concessionary tickets.
However, it is important to stress that this is subject to capacity considerations. It has become increasingly difficult to source additional contractors due to the lack of availability of buses, drivers, and an increase in fuel and maintenance costs.
I am pleased to advise that at the start of the 2021/22 school year there were circa 103,600 children on primary and post-primary mainstream school transport scheme services. For the 2022/2023 school year, tickets have been issued to over 129,400 applicants for mainstream school transport services, which is 25,800 additional places. This is an increase of almost 25% on the previous school year.
