Thursday, 30 Mar 2023

Written Answers Nos. 128-148

Bus Services

Questions (129)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

129. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport his plans to improve the bus connectivity and links to Dublin City University in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16000/23]

Written answers

Minister for Transport

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects Dublin.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Tax Code

Questions (130)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance why cohabitating couples are assessed as individuals by the Revenue Commissioners; if the option to be jointly assessed will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15809/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

The position is that where a couple is cohabiting, rather than married or in a civil partnership, they are treated as separate and unconnected individuals for the purposes of income tax. Each partner is a separate entity for tax purposes, therefore, cohabiting couples cannot file joint assessment tax returns or share their tax credits and tax bands in the same manner as married couples.

The basis for the current tax treatment of couples derives from the Supreme Court decision in Murphy vs. Attorney General (1980). This decision was based on Article 41.3.1 of the Constitution where the State pledges to protect the institution of marriage. The decision held that it was contrary to the Constitution for a married couple, both of whom are working, to pay more tax than two single people living together and having the same income. The Constitutional protection of Article 41.3.1 does not extend to non-married couples.

It is important to point out that if the tax treatment of married couples was to be extended to cohabiting couples, consideration would need to be given to the practicalities that would arise for Revenue if they were to administer such a system.

It would be very difficult for Revenue to administer a regime for cohabitants, similar to that for married couples. Married couples and civil partners have a verifiable official confirmation of their status. It would be difficult, intrusive and time-consuming to confirm declarations by individuals that they were actually cohabiting and to establish when cohabitation started or ceased.

There would also be legal issues with regard to ‘connected persons’. To counter tax avoidance, ‘connected persons’ are frequently defined throughout the various Tax Acts. The definitions extend to relatives and children of spouses and civil partners. This would be very difficult to prove and enforce in respect of persons connected with a cohabiting couple where the couple has no legal recognition.

To the extent that there are differences in the tax treatment of the different categories of couples, such differences arise from the objective of dealing with different types of circumstances while at the same time respecting the constitutional requirements to protect the institution of marriage.

There may be an advantage in tax legislation for a married couple or civil partners as regards the extended rate band and the ability to transfer credits. However, the legal status for married couples has wider consequences from a tax perspective both for themselves and persons connected with them.

Furthermore, the difference in tax treatment for married couples is not confined to Income Tax, and is also a feature of other tax heads, such as Capital Acquisitions Tax. Therefore, any changes in the tax treatment could only be considered in the broader context of the tax system and future social and legal policy development, given that the legal status of married couples has wider consequences than from a tax perspective.

It should be noted that the recent report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare (CoTW) put forward no recommendation regarding the tax treatment of cohabiting couples. However, it did recommended a phased move towards individualisation of the Standard Rate Cut off Point as a step towards addressing disparities in the income tax system, facilitating increased employment, and decreasing the gap in the employment rate between men and women.

Should this occur, couples that are married or in a civil partnership would no longer be treated differently to cohabitants as each person would be treated as a single taxpayer without the option of being jointly assessed.

It should be noted that both the PRSI and Universal Social Charge are already applied on an individualised basis.

Finally, as signalled in the Budget, my Department has begun work on a review of the personal tax system having regard to the medium term and taking account of the recent report of the CoTW, and considering a range of personal taxation issues.

Tax Code

Questions (131)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

131. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance what rate of stamp duty applies to a commercial building that is being purchased to convert it to a domestic house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15811/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

Stamp duty on the sale of residential properties such as apartments and houses is chargeable at the rate of 1% where the consideration does not exceed €1 million. Where the consideration exceeds €1 million, stamp duty is chargeable at 1% on the first €1 million and 2% on the balance. Stamp duty at the rate of 7.5% applies to the sale of non-residential land, which includes commercial buildings.

Notwithstanding the higher rate of stamp duty that applies on the sale of non-residential land, section 83D of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 provides for a partial refund of stamp duty paid on the sale of non-residential land where it is subsequently developed for residential purposes. This includes situations where an individual purchases a non-residential building and converts it for residential use. The repayment scheme is intended to encourage the building of houses and apartments.

Where section 83D applies, a refund amounting to some or all of the difference between the old non-residential rate of 2% and current rate of 7.5% may be claimed by the purchaser of the land. The main conditions for availing of the refund are that the purchaser must have paid 7.5% stamp duty when acquiring the land, construction work must have commenced within 30 months of the land being purchased and the residential development must be completed within 30 months of the commencement of construction operations. In cases where existing non-residential buildings are converted for residential use, Revenue is prepared to treat internal adaptation work as construction operations.

Revenue has published detailed guidance on the operation of section 83D, which is available on its website at

www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/stamp-duty/stamp-duty-manual/part-07-exemptions-and-reliefs-from-stamp-duty/section-83d-residential-development-refund-scheme.pdf .

Vacant Properties

Questions (132, 134, 135)

Colm Burke

Question:

132. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department intends to actively engage with lending institutions to communicate a clear set of lending policies in taking on a vacant or derelict property for the purposes of home ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15867/23]

Colm Burke

Question:

134. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will engage with lending institutions for the purposes of designing a one-lender type product for the purposes of renovation of properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15869/23]

Colm Burke

Question:

135. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will engage with lending institutions for the purposes of considering green lending to assist in renovating units for residential use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15870/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 134 and 135 together.

Government policy on measures to promote the utilisation of vacant or derelict property for the purposes of home ownership is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. As the Deputy is aware, his Department has put in place the Croí Cónnaithe scheme which can provide financial assistance to persons who wish to develop such a property for their own home.

In relation to the lending approach of banks and other Central Bank regulated entities, these are commercial entities and, therefore, subject to compliance with the legal and regulatory framework which governs the provision of credit to consumers, it is a business matter for the boards and managements of such entities to determine their own lending and associated policies, to design their own lending products and to make their own individual lending decisions.

While I support Government policies put in place to facilitate and encourage the development of derelict properties for residential purposes and to improve the energy ratings of our housing stock, it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Finance, to intervene to set lending policies or to influence individual lending decisions made by independent commercial entities.

Nevertheless, the Deputy should note that some lenders already offer lower mortgage rates where the loan is secured on houses with a high energy rating.

Housing Provision

Questions (133)

Colm Burke

Question:

133. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will give consideration to the granting of a tax rebate over a period of ten years to support the conversion or renovation of multi-occupancy buildings to residential use, similar to the living city initiative scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15868/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

The Living City Initiative (LCI) (provided for in Finance Act 2013 and commenced on 5 May 2015) is a tax incentive aimed at the regeneration of the historic inner cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford. The scheme provides income or corporation tax relief for qualifying expenditure incurred in refurbishing/converting qualifying buildings which are located within pre-determined 'Special Regeneration Areas' (SRAs). Such developments may include both residential and commercial elements.

The LCI was reviewed as part of the Tax Strategy Group process in 2022. The review noted that the scheme is a very specific tax incentive, established in compliance with the Department of Finance’s Tax expenditure Guidelines, with the aim of encouraging businesses and home-owners back to the centre of Irish cities in order to preserve historic buildings in special regeneration areas.

In relation to the creation of new tax incentives, and the Deputy will appreciate, decisions regarding taxation measures are usually made in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process and at the appropriate time. Such decisions also must have regard to the sound management of the public finances and my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines. The guidelines make clear that any policy proposal which involves tax expenditures should only occur in limited circumstances where there are demonstrable market failures and where a tax-based incentive is more efficient than a direct expenditure intervention. In relation to this final point, there are already significant direct expenditure measures, such as the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) scheme, in place to promote residential development of the type suggested by the question.

I will continue to work with my cabinet colleagues to ensure that any further interventions in the housing market are appropriately calibrated, represent the best use of scarce public resources and boost the supply of housing in both the public and private sectors.

Question No. 134 answered with Question No. 132.

Question No. 135 answered with Question No. 132.

Construction Industry

Questions (136)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

136. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the tax incentives or expenditures which exist with respect to modern methods of construction within the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15909/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

Profits arising from construction trade activities are taxed in the same manner as other trades. Income tax or corporation tax (as the case may be) is charged under Schedule D Case I for each year of assessment on the annual profits or gains of the construction trade carried on by a person. Relief for certain capital expenditure is given by way of capital allowances. Expenditure which is incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade is deductible in computing profits.

There are currently no tax incentives specifically aimed at assisting modern methods of construction, but there are a number of general tax reliefs which, depending on the circumstances, may be available to those engaged in such activities. These include:

- Capital allowances on capital expenditure incurred on certain types of business assets and business premises.

- Accelerated capital allowances for qualifying expenditure on certain energy efficient equipment.

- A Research & Development tax credit for companies who undertake qualifying research and development (R&D) activities. The development of modern construction methods, rather than the use of such methods, may qualify as R&D activities.

- The Living City Initiative tax incentive scheme aimed at the regeneration of certain areas in the historic centres of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford.

I am informed by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) that, as part of the Government’s Housing for All plan, DETE are working to promote construction sector innovation and productivity, including through the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to help in the faster delivery of high-quality, compliant, environmentally sustainable, and more-affordable housing.

Examples of key Housing for All actions that DETE has already delivered to promote the wider adoption of innovative construction methods are:

- On 9 December 2022, the Department (with Enterprise Ireland) launched Construct Innovate, a construction specific and industry-led research and development centre, which represents the latest addition to the joint Enterprise Ireland and IDA Technology Centre Programme that has been operating for over 12 years. To ensure that it delivers for housing, Construct Innovate will be focused on key industry challenges and innovation in residential construction in its first three years of operation. Construct Innovate has initial funding of €5m over 5 years, and is a consortium hosted by University of Galway that also includes Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, and the Irish Green Building Council. Through the Housing for All Implementation Fund, DETE secured an additional €0.5m in funding for Construct Innovate for 2023.

- The expansion of the remit of Enterprise Ireland to work with the domestic housebuilding sector for the first time. As part of its ‘Built to Innovate’ programme, Enterprise Ireland is focused on driving productivity and innovation in housebuilding, including increased use of MMC, and has opened up lean and digital grants and funding for research and innovation projects in the domestic residential construction sector (previously these were only made available to exporting firms).

To develop further policy supports for MMC and ensure the integration of these supports into the existing Government offering, DETE has established and chairs a cross-Departmental and cross-Agency MMC Leadership and Integration Group. The Group brings together policymakers relevant to the success of the construction sector including on innovation, public procurement, sustainability, housing and the education and skills agenda.

The Group is currently developing an incremental roadmap (with targets) for MMC adoption in publicly procured residential construction. The Group is also overseeing the implementation of several further MMC actions included in the updated Housing for All Action Plan 2022. These include:

- The launch of the first phase of the National Demonstration Park for MMC

- Training interventions for public procurers, and Building Control authorities, on MMC

- Training interventions for relevant construction professional bodies on MMC - Skills forecasting for MMC through the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs

- Enhancing Ireland’s Agrément system (an NSAI scheme for certification of innovative construction products or systems) for MMC

- Developing a dashboard of MMC metrics to benchmark adoption and track progress - Identifying and responding to gaps in leadership training for the residential construction sector in the areas of company leadership, change management, and financial management.

Business Supports

Questions (137)

Brendan Smith

Question:

137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the operation of the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan that have applied; the number of businesses in each county that were successful in their applications; the estimated value or worth of the support to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15951/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas costs over the winter months.

Details of the scheme are set out in Finance Act 2022. The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023. However, subject to State aid approval, this period is to be extended to cover energy costs up to 31 May 2023. It is available to tax compliant businesses carrying on a trade or profession the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D where they meet the eligibility criteria

Businesses which are eligible for TBESS can register for the scheme via Revenue’s online service and comprehensive guidelines on the operation of the scheme are available on the Revenue website.

I am advised by Revenue of the following registrations and claims for the below counties as of 15 March, which is the date for which the most recent figures are available:

County	All Registration applications	Approved Registrations	Value of Approved Claims (€m)
Cavan	583	577	1.21
Monaghan	572	564	1.37

Further information on registrations and claims is available in the report published by Revenue (generally on a weekly basis) on its website at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/number-of-taxpayers-and-returns/cost-living.aspx.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (138)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

138. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the status of the review of the real estate investment trust and Irish real estate fund regimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15958/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

As the Deputy may be aware, as part of his Budget 2023 speech, my predecessor announced the intention to establish a working group to consider the taxation of funds, life assurance policies and other investment products as well as commencing a review of specified institutional investment regimes. My officials have been working through the specific detail on the parameters of such a review and its timelines, and I anticipate that I will be able to publish the terms of reference in the near future.

Housing Provision

Questions (139)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

139. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the role of institutional investment in the provision of housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15959/23]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

The Irish funding landscape has undergone significant change since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. In order to address the current imbalance between supply and demand of housing across all tenure types, the Government's Housing for All plan aims to significantly increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This is an ambitious plan which will provide increased housing supply and affordability.

While the plan is backed by unprecedented State investment of over €4 billion per annum, developing these homes will require a significant amount of development and investment capital, and the Government cannot deliver on this programme alone. The only way we can deliver housing at the substantial scale we need is by also attracting private capital to the market, alongside our public investment.

This private investment is particularly required at the development stage to ensure the provision of social, affordable and private homes – homes of all tenures for families across the country at all price points.

Through updated modelling undertaken by the Department of Finance, it is estimated that €13.5 billion of development funding per annum, comprising both debt and equity, will be required to develop the Housing for All target of an average of 33,000 homes per year. Of this €13.5 billion per annum, an estimated €11.4 billion will be required from private capital sources. While a portion of this will come from our domestic banks, the majority will be required from international sources.

Given recent withdrawals from the banking market, there are fewer retail banks now lending for property development in Ireland than was previously the case. Domestic banks set risk limits around the type and nature of lending activity, resulting in selective and prudent lending practices. It is not desirable that domestic banks provide senior debt at unsustainable levels and levels of debt should appropriately reflect the risk profile of development projects.

As a result, we will continue to also welcome inward investment to our housing market, as we have successfully done with investment in other sectors of our economy. This private and patient capital coming from well-established investors, such as pension funds, is a normal facet of housing investment in many of our European neighbours and beyond.

That said, we have been clear that institutional investment should not displace home-buyers in traditional estates where demand and viability is not an issue, and the pathway to ownership for first-time buyers must be protected and the Government does not support the bulk purchase of residential houses by institutional investors. This is why the Government introduced a new 10% rate of Stamp Duty on such purchases, increased from the rates paid by other purchasers of 1% on values up to €1 million and 2% on values above €1 million.

In order to ensure these new homes can be built, we must support developers in accessing the finance they require to deliver homes at the levels we need. To support the homebuilding sector in building up their capital base, the establishment of a deeper and more robust domestic capital markets environment for homebuilding is a key objective.

We know that, in general, the Irish developer community has been equity constrained since the Global Financial Crisis. The availability of private and institutional real estate finance has played an important role in providing developers with access to this equity finance.

Through Home Building Finance Ireland, we are supporting access to debt finance for residential development. By the end of 2022, Home Building Finance Ireland had approved over €1 billion of funding, supporting the development of over 5,700 homes across 21 counties. A review of Home Building Finance Ireland is currently underway and the outcome of that review is expected to be published in May.

A substantial increase in the supply of new homes is the only route to solving Ireland’s housing crisis. This will require significant private investment alongside our public investment and is necessary to meet the targets set out in the Housing for All strategy.

EU Programmes

Questions (140)

Brendan Smith

Question:

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the details of the PEACEPLUS programme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15968/23]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

I am pleased to report significant progress in recent weeks in preparation for the opening of the PEACE PLUS programme.

This ambitious new EU cross-border programme has been approved by Government, by the Northern Ireland Executive, by the North South Ministerial Council and by the European Commission. PEACE PLUS will invest some €1.1bn in projects supporting shared peace and prosperity across a programme area of Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland.

A final development requirement for the new programme has been the completion of a Financing Agreement between the EU, the UK and Ireland in order to formalise respective financial contributions to PEACE PLUS. This agreement was finalised and signed earlier this month and has now entered the parliamentary ratification process in the UK. It is expected that this will allow for the first funding Calls for Application under PEACE PLUS to issue in early summer 2023.

In terms of the detail of the new programme, PEACE PLUS has been developed by the cross-border Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), working closely with my Department and with the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. Programme development has been informed by extensive public consultation as well as engagement with stakeholders including government departments North and South.

The programme is structured around six thematic investment areas:

- Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities;

- Delivering Socio-Economic Regeneration and Transformation;

- Empowering and Investing in our Young People; - Healthy and Inclusive Communities;

- Supporting a Sustainable and Better Connected Future;

- Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration

Further information on each investment area is available at www.seupb.eu/peaceplus, and I would encourage all interested stakeholders to visit to learn more.

In advance of PEACE PLUS opening for applications in the weeks ahead, the SEUPB is already engaged in extensive pre-application support for potential applicants. This includes a series of workshops held across the programme area, covering individual investment areas under the new programme. This preparation work is helping to ensure that applicants will be able to develop and submit high quality applications once Calls for Application open.

Tourist Accommodation

Questions (141, 142, 143, 144, 146)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

141. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what the legislative timeline is for the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill 2022 to be introduced and passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas; the timeline for it to enter into force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15960/23]

John Paul Phelan

Question:

142. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the Fáilte registration scheme for short-term tourist lettings will be launched; when the six-month clarification period following the launch of the Fáilte Ireland registration scheme will begin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15961/23]

John Paul Phelan

Question:

143. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the launch of the Fáilte registration scheme for short-term tourist lettings requires the prior enactment of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15962/23]

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

144. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will invoke Article 6(7) of EU Directive 2015/1535 (details supplied) to ensure the register of short-term lets comes into effect without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15841/23]

Paul Kehoe

Question:

146. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when hosts (details supplied) can expect to receive full details of the short-term letting register; when this register will become active; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16019/23]

Written answers

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 to 144, inclusive, and 146 together.

On 7 December 2022 the Government approved the priority drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill and publication of the General Scheme of the Bill which provides for the registration of short-term tourist lettings with Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy.

I subsequently wrote to the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media regarding the Bill in line with agreed protocols for pre-legislative scrutiny. Officials from my Department, along with officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and from Fáilte Ireland attended a meeting of the Committee in public session for pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme on 25 January. I look forward to the report of the Committee which is anticipated in the week beginning 17 April.

On 21 December the proposed STTL Bill was submitted to the EU Commission pursuant to Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535. Such a notification triggers a standstill period of 3 months during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted.

On 22 March 2023, the Department received a communication from the EU Commission which extends that standstill period until 22 December 2023. The Department is now examining the communication from the EU Commission and will engage with it and stakeholders on next steps. The analysis of the communication from the Commission will inform the timeline for the commencement of the legislative process and the subsequent establishment of the register.

Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 141.

Question No. 143 answered with Question No. 141.

Question No. 144 answered with Question No. 141.

Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeilge

Questions (145)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

145. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil sé i gceist aici deontais chaipitil a chur ar fáil do theaghlaigh a bhíonn ag coinneáil scoláirí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge le huasghrádú a dhéanamh ar a dtithe, ag tógáil san áireamh an síor-ardú sna caighdeáin tithe a mbítear ag súil leo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15910/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Tá mo Roinn tar éis roinnt céimeanna suntasacha breise a ghlacadh le tamall de bhlianta anuas chun cabhrú tuilleadh le córas na gcoláistí Gaeilge.

Sa bhreis ar an deontas atá iníochta faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge de chuid na Roinne a bheith ardaithe faoi dhó le bliain anuas fá 20%, chomh maith leis an t-uaslíon scoláirí atá inghlachta chun críche aitheantais faoin scéim a bheith ardaithe ó 12 go dtí 16, beidh a fhios ag an Teachta gur ardaíodh an deontas tosaithe aon uaire ó €2,000 go dtí €6,000 le gairid chomh maith.

De thoradh seo, tá tithe cáilithe a chláraíonn den chéad uair faoi scáth na scéime in ann cúnamh caipitil ar fiú suas le €6,000 a fháil chun cabhrú leis na costais aon uaire a thiteann ar theaghlaigh a bheartaíonn foghlaimeoirí a choinneáil ar iostas leo den chéad uair. Cuimsítear costas troscán áirithe faoin mbeart seo chomh maith le costais áirithe eile. Tá fáil ar thuilleadh eolais faoin scéim ar shuíomh mo Roinne. Níor mhiste a lua go bhfuil teaghaligh cháilithe a bheartaíonn athchlárú tar éis achar ama nach lú 5 bliana cáilithe chun críche chúnamh na scéime chomh maith.

In éindí leis an gcúnamh caipitil sin, beidh a fhios ag an Teachta go bhfuil fáil ag coláistí Gaeilge iad féin ar chúnamh caipitil faoi Chlár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga mo Roinne. Faoin gclár sin, cuirtear cúnamh ar fiú 50% den ollchostas cáilithe ar fáil i gcás coláistí atá i seilbh príobháideach chun uasghrádú a dhéanamh ar a gcuid áiseanna agus trealamh. Tá cúnamh ar fiú suas le 80% ar fáil i gcás coláistí eile ráta agus chomh hard le 90% iníochta i gcás tograí cáilithe oileánda.

Is féidir a bheith cinnte de go leanfaidh mo Roinn ag faire amach i rith an ama ar bhealaí breise chun níos mó fós a dhéanamh ar son an chórais trí chéile.

Question No. 146 answered with Question No. 141.

Planning Issues

Questions (147)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

147. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and percentage of cases before An Bord Pleanála that are currently taking more than the statutory 18 weeks to determine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15801/23]

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.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, as Minister I am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to decide appeals as expeditiously as may be and, for that purpose, to take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that, insofar as is practicable, there are no avoidable delays at any stage in the determination of appeals.

It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstance such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission, or further submissions from other participants including third parties, will not meet the 18 week target.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is [e-mail].

In order to be of assistance, my Department has sought the information requested from the Board. The information requested is being compiled within the Board and will be forwarded to the Deputy once received in my Department.

Planning Issues

Questions (148)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

148. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number and percentage of An Bord Pleanála cases that are currently undetermined despite having been with the board for more than six, nine and 12 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15802/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

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.

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, the Minister is specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Section 126 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides that it shall be the duty and objective of the Board to decide appeals as expeditiously as may be and, for that purpose, to take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that, insofar as is practicable, there are no avoidable delays at any stage in the determination of appeals.

It is important to acknowledge that a certain percentage of cases, due to particular circumstance such as complexity, requests for further information from applicants for permission, or further submissions from other participants including third parties, will not meet the 18 week target.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is [e-mail].

In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, my Department sought the information requested from the Board, who provided the following information for all cases on hand at 27 March 2023:

Number of overall ABP cases awaiting decision at 27 March 2023

Length of time awaiting decision	No. of cases	%
Less than 6 months	1,161	40%
6 months to 9 months	561	19%
9 months to 12 months	538	19%
Over 12 months	636	22%
Total	2,896	100%