Thursday, 23 Mar 2023

Written Answers Nos. 227-234

Climate Action Plan

Questions (227)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

227. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the 14 October 2022 statement by An Bord Pleanála that it was not aware that the Climate Action Plan had been adopted; and his further views on whether other State bodies under his aegis are aware of their obligations under Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021. [14578/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts. The Board carries out its quasi-judicial functions independently of the Minister and his Department. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, the Minister and his Department are specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is or may be concerned.

I wrote to all state bodies under my aegis in December 2020 to advise them of the development of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2021.

Climate Action Plan 2021 was published on the Government website gov.ie on 4 November 2021.

Climate Action Plan 2023 was published on the Government website on 21 December 2022. This plan was the first to be prepared under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, and following the introduction, in 2022, of economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings

All actions under the previous CAP 2021 and the current CAP 2023 are co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach and implemented by the respective Departments and their agencies. My Department reports on actions by bodies under the aegis of this Department.

Housing Provision

Questions (228)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing estates and developments completed and not yet occupied in Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Kilcock, Sallins, Clane and Naas, County Kildare; the number expected to accrue to the local authority or approved housing bodies with a view to alleviating the pressure on local authority housing waiting lists or those seeking affordable housing; when this is likely to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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. 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.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including Kildare. This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2022, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/

The Quarter 4 2022 social housing statistics are being collated and will be published in due course.

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 3 2022. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/

A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis of completions, locations, approvals stage etc at the link below: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2022?package_type=dataset

The oversight and practical management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated Regulations. However, I would expect that local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies are taking all steps to ensure that available properties are allocated to tenants on the social housing waiting list without delay.

Traffic Management

Questions (229)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of traffic alleviation measures including road and bridge re-alignments incorporating new bridge over the Royal Canal in Maynooth, County Kildare, the funding for which was provided under LIHAF some ten years ago; the progress made in this regard to date, given the traffic chaos that exists at all times; if any or all of the pre-requirements have been achieved; if an early start on the development is envisaged; if the relevant funding still remains in place; if the public and private responsibilities are sufficiently coordinated in this regard to achieve adequate and early progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14621/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I refer to the reply to Question No. 234 of 19 January 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.

Housing Provision

Questions (230)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated number of persons on the Kildare local authority housing list at present; the likelihood of having their housing need met in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14623/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area is provided in the annual Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published summary for all counties, conducted in November 2021, is available at:

gov.ie/en/publication/f6119-summary-of-social-housing-assessments-2021-key-findings/

The 2022 SSHA will be published shortly.

Under Housing for All, some 47,600 new build social homes will be delivered in the period 2022-2026, with a further 3,500 social homes provided through long-term leasing. Social housing delivery targets have been provided to all local authorities for the period, including 2,068 new build social homes and 348 social homes through long-term leasing for Kildare County Council.

While the oversight and management of the housing waiting list, including the allocation of tenancies, is a matter solely for Kildare County Council, I expect the delivery of these homes to contribute significantly to meeting the accommodation needs of households on the Council's waiting list.

Kildare County Council's Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on the Council’s website at this link:

kildarecoco.ie/YourCouncil/Publications/Housing/Kildare%20County%20Council%20Housing%20Delivery%20Action%20Plan.pdf

Foreign Policy

Questions (231)

Carol Nolan

Question:

231. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if there is an agreement between the UK Government, the UK Ministry of Defence, and the Irish Government in regard to UK aircraft and vessels entering Irish sovereign airspace and territorial waters, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14428/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

As set out in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, I cannot comment on reports concerning arrangements for national security. The Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality.

Foreign Birth Registration

Questions (232)

Michael Lowry

Question:

232. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a foreign birth registration for a family (details supplied) which was submitted in June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14377/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.

Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022.

During 2022, my Department implemented a number of measures to address the volume of FBR applications on hand, with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these applications. These measures, which include increased staffing directed towards the processing of FBR applications, have been successful in reducing the waiting time for applicants. FBR applications are now being processed within the normal turnaround times of between 6 and 9 months from receipt of supporting documents, down from over 2 years in September 2022.

Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications were registered on 30 June 2022. On 20 March 2023 the Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the applicants.

Foreign Policy

Questions (233)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

233. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has considered banning an application (details supplied) from the phones of Ministers and civil servants, in line with Britain, the USA and the European Commission; if he has discussed the matter with his foreign counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14418/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

All Department of Foreign Affairs official mobile devices and apps which run on them comply with guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the NCSC.

The Department of Foreign Affairs requires all users of our official devices to exercise appropriate discretion in their use in compliance with our Policies in relation to Appropriate use of technology and the Civil Service Code of Conduct.

Departmental Inquiries

Questions (234)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

234. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs For if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14499/23]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Where a child's guardian is deceased, the Passport Service requests the original death certificate of the deceased guardian, consent of the surviving guardian and a Sole Guardian Affidavit from the surviving guardian confirming that they are the only guardian of the child, in order to satisfy guardian consent requirements. A Sole Guardian Affidavit is requested with each subsequent passport application for the child in order to confirm that the guardianship of the child has not changed since the last application.

While the Passport Service of course recognises the difficulties this may present for bereaved families, in order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the rights of the child and their guardian(s), it is important that the Passport Service is satisfied that all relevant guardians have given their consent to the issuance of each passport to a child. This is set out under Section 14(1) of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. I would encourage people who find themselves in this unfortunate situation to contact the Passport Service for guidance and support.