Thursday, 18 May 2023

Written Answers Nos. 316-333

Invasive Species Policy

Questions (316)

Seán Haughey

Question:

316. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to tackle invasive species and the biodiversity threat they pose. [18557/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit activities to introduce or spread invasive species. In addition to national legislation, EU Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species also provides for a range of concerted EU wide measures to be taken with respect to listed species of Union concern (the 'Union list').

Public bodies, Government Departments and State agencies throughout the country work within this legislative framework, in the context of species listed both nationally and on the list of invasive alien species of European Union concern (the Union list), to manage, control and, where practicable, eradicate these species.

The development of a national management plan for invasive alien species is a priority in my Department and work is well underway on establishing such a plan. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is leading on this and has convened a steering committee to help further develop a draft plan for public consultation later this year.

My Department also provides funding annually for local authority led projects to tackle invasive alien species in their areas through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. This year grants of €517,966 have been awarded to 23 Local Authorities who are carrying out projects on invasive alien species.

In the meantime, the NPWS continues to lead on implementation of the EU IAS Regulation, including the recent publication of Priority Pathway Action Plans for Angling and for Recreational Boating. A third pathway action plan, for Soil and Spoil, went for public consultation earlier this month.

Maritime Safety

Questions (317)

Seán Haughey

Question:

317. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Ireland is on track to meet the target of 10% marine protected areas by the mid-2030s. [18558/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

There is an existing 10% target to be reached as soon as is practical. We are now close to achieving that figure with approximately 8.3% protected area coverage of our seas and ocean at present, made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Further work is being done in that regard to bolster this Natura 2000 network of sites in Ireland, as required under the Directives.

Significant work is also ongoing in my Department to draft the Marine Protected Areas Bill, following publication of the General Scheme of the Bill in December 2022. Once enacted, this legislation will be the primary mechanism by which our MPA network is expanded to reach its target of 30% by 2030 (30x30), as committed to by Government.

Housing Provision

Questions (318)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

318. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the allocations for local authority housing adaptation grants will be made known to local authorities as it is affecting the work-flow and progression of this necessary grant for council tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23701/23]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Housing Schemes

Questions (319)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

319. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the allocations for local authority housing adaptation grants and private adaptation grants, and also increase the grant amounts to reflect the increase in construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23702/23]

Awaiting reply from Department.

State Bodies

Questions (320)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

320. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing complement for the Marine Area Regulatory Authority, including the grade level of staff currently assigned there, the optimum number of staff expected to be recruited to the authority, and the timeline of reaching its optimum employment level; when the authority will be fully functioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23721/23]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Housing Schemes

Questions (321)

Seán Haughey

Question:

321. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce new measures to help older house owners who wish to downsize and purchase smaller apartment accommodation given the difficulties many of them are facing due to institutional investors outbidding them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23733/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Housing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy commits to increasing the housing options available to older people to facilitate ageing in place with dignity and independence, including the development of a national policy on right-sizing.

My Department is advancing work on the development of this policy and exploration of the options to support and incentivise rightsizing on a voluntary basis with the objective of optimising the potential for more efficient use of under occupied existing private and social housing stock. The development of a national rightsizing policy is having regard to a focused stakeholder consultation undertaken in the latter part of 2022 and existing local authority approaches to rightsizing for social housing. My Department is working on bringing forward a draft national policy in the coming months.

Local Authorities

Questions (322)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

322. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 11 May 2023, when the specific recommendations regarding paternity and parental leave proposed by the cross-party all-female councillor sub-group in 2021 will be implemented. [23745/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

As outlined in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 11 May 2023, the urgent priority in 2022 was to address the issue of maternity leave for councillors, in order to remove what was a significant obstacle to the participation of women in local government.

The implementation of other forms of family leave for councillors, who remain officeholders and not employees, will require detailed policy discussions with both the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Social Protection. The legislative amendments required to introduce such family leave arrangements for officeholders requires careful consideration. It is my intention that those discussions will begin later this year.

In the meantime, it is the case that councillors can already be absent from their role for up to 6 months under Section 18 of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended).

As previously advised, my Department’s immediate priority is the finalisation and commencement of regulations which will provide that elected members will be able to avail of an allowance for administrative assistance if they avail of or are entitled to maternity leave. In the run up to the 2024 local elections, my Department will also continue to prioritise the promotion of women’s participation in local government through funding streams targeting local authorities, local level women’s caucuses, political parties and key partner groups active in the sector.

Housing Policy

Questions (323)

Alan Dillon

Question:

323. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the Housing for All strategy. [19442/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Housing for All was published 2 September 2021 and the Government published its first annual update of the plan's actions on 2 November 2022. Housing for All Progress reports are published quarterly. The seventh of these reports, covering progress in Q1 2023, was published on 25 April. These reports can be accessed on www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/

A copy of Housing for All and the Housing for All Action Plan Update can be accessed at the following respective links: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/ www.gov.ie/en/publication/da0d1-action-plan-update-and-q3-2022-progress-report/

Housing Provision

Questions (324)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

324. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures he or his Department are taking to ensure the delivery of 6,000 affordable homes per year as outlined in NSO 1 of the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22157/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

As outlined under National Strategic Outcome 1, Compact Growth, of the National Development Plan, Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of affordable housing to an average of 6,000 homes per year over the next decade.

54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks. This delivery will be underpinned by a range of funding supports in the form of the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL), the First Home Shared Equity Scheme and the Land Development Agency's market engagement initiative, Project Tosaigh.

In implementing the key objectives under Housing for All, each local authority has prepared and published a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen delivery from 2022 to 2026. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were set affordable housing delivery targets and asked to include their planned affordable housing delivery in their Housing Delivery Action Plans. These plans were published on the local authorities’ respective websites in July 2022.

Local authorities now submit data returns and information on delivery of affordable homes in their area to my Department, in the same manner as is done for social housing. The 2022 process is now complete and statistical data on delivery across all delivery streams has been validated and published on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.

In addition, the First Home Scheme, which was launched in July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million.

Full details of the First Home Scheme, including eligibility criteria, details of the revised price ceilings that came into effect January 1st this year, and how to apply are available on the scheme website: www.firsthomescheme.ie

Other measures, such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the Local Authority Home Loan, are also nationally available to eligible first-time purchasers to make home ownership more affordable.

The above delivery measures are kept under constant review to ensure that both the supply of cost rental and affordable housing is secured.

Question No. 325 answered with Question No. 116.

Local Authorities

Questions (326)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

326. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of implementing a review of local authority participation structures, excluding the strategic review of the Public Participation Networks, which was undertaken by the Department of Rural and Community Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23783/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department has commenced a review of Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) which is being guided, overseen and advised by a Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) comprising representatives of all the stakeholders involved in SPCs at local level. It is anticipated that the review, which will be carried out by an independent subject matter expert, will be completed later this year. If, as part of this review, changes are recommended to the existing guidelines for SPCs those changes can be implemented with effect from after the 2024 local elections.

It is not possible to estimate the cost, if any, to local authorities of the implementation of this initiative at this early stage.

Heritage Sites

Questions (327, 328, 330, 331, 333)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

327. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will list every property owned or rented by the Heritage Council; the rent paid by the Heritage Council on each property every year since 2013; a summary of the use to which each property has been put over the past ten years and is currently being put; and any period during which the property has been out of use. [23828/23]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

328. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will list each local authority which currently employs a heritage officer and/or a biodiversity officer; the annual salary of each officer; and the portion of the salary and the office’s operations funded by the Heritage Council, by the local authority directly, or by a third source of funding. [23841/23]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

330. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline a list of each job title in the employ of the Heritage Council; the annual salary attached to each title; the number of persons employed in each position; the number of vacancies in each position at present intended to be filled; and the total expenditure on staff in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [23848/23]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

331. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline a list of every external organisation or company provided funding by the Heritage Council over the past ten years to conduct work under contract on behalf of the Heritage Council; the purpose of the work; and the amount of funding provided to each organisation or company over the past ten years, in tabular form. [23872/23]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

333. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the number of board members for the Heritage Council; the current allowance for members of the board; the total number of meetings of the board in each of the past ten years; and the total expenditure on the board annually in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [23877/23]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 327, 328, 330, 331 and 333 together.

Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department, including the Heritage Council, 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 the Heritage Council is [e-mail].

Question No. 328 answered with Question No. 327.

Local Authorities

Questions (329)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

329. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will list each local authority which currently employs an Arts officer; the annual salary of each officer; and the portion of the salary and the office’s operations funded by the Arts Council, by the local authority directly, or by a third source of funding. [23843/23]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of overall local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities and the associated salaries is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department.

The relevant information would be available from each local authority.

Question No. 330 answered with Question No. 327.

Question No. 331 answered with Question No. 327.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (332)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

332. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline a list of every external organisation or company provided funding by Department in relation to heritage over the past ten years to conduct work under contract on behalf of his Department; the purpose of the work; and the amount of funding provided to each organisation or company over the past ten years, in tabular form. [23874/23]

Awaiting reply from Department.

Question No. 333 answered with Question No. 327.