Written Answers Nos. 290-312
290. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department purchased or produced any memorabilia such as pens, stationery, pins, badges, mugs or other types of souvenirs to mark or celebrate Pride 2023; if so, the costs incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31818/23]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion are values that are promoted and upheld for all staff.
Providing tangible support to promote these values my Department recently assisted members of its LGBT+ Staff Network, Le Chéile, by purchasing Pride-themed merchandise.
The items purchased for my Departmental staff participating in the Dublin Pride Parade on Saturday, June 24th were as follows:
- 30 t-shirts, printed front and back - €420.16
- 35 printed hand waver flags and 1 printed banner - €354.86
50 rainbow-coloured lanyards for staff ID cards were also procured at a cost of €205.73 for staff use during Pride and beyond.
My Department will continue to actively support key initiatives to promote equality, diversity and inclusion as per Action 16 of the Our Public Service framework.
291. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the main policy achievements of her Department since 27 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31870/23]
View answerAs stated in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, the mission of my Department is to lead the sustainable development of Tourism, Media and the Gaeltacht and promote participation in the Culture, Arts, Sports and the Irish language supporting social progress, and enhancing cultural and economic growth across Irish society.
My Department implements policy to ensure the achievement of this mission. While details on all of the policy achievement of this Department can be found in my Departments’ annual reports (www.gov.ie/en/publication/daa43-annual-report-2020/) and Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 (www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/9205f-statement-of-strategy-20212023/), some of the main achievements in the different policy areas are outlined below.
Tourism
- €7.6m in Shared Island funding secured for a new brand collaboration project linking the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way.
- €7.75m in Brexit Adjustment Reserve funding secured for Tourism Ireland to put in place a marketing strategy to the stem the decline in, and subsequently grow, tourist numbers and associated revenues from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- Tourism Ireland increased its presence in the US with a new office in Ireland House, San Francisco – May 2022.
- Continued development of a new national tourism policy which mainstreams sustainability.
Arts and Culture
- Basic Income for the Arts – a three-year pilot scheme to support artists and creative arts workers, providing 2,000 successful applicants with a weekly income of €325 each, which incorporates a research programme to inform future Government policy.
- Significant progress has also been made across the 36 actions in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce with some actions now completed. - 2023 Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023 was published with a supporting current funding allocation of €5m.
- New capital funding stream which aligns with the Government’s action on climate change to provide funding for projects that reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint and will, for the first time, include funding for organisational energy audits.
Sport
- Sports Capital and Equipment Grants of over €150 million made to some 1,900 different applicant organisations, large and small, right across Ireland. This was the highest level of funding ever made under this scheme
- Government support for the Football Association of Ireland’s bid, with the UK, to host EURO 2028
- Major public consultation to inform new government policy on hosting major international sports events.
- Publication of Sport Ireland’s first Policy on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport, which envisages a sport sector that celebrates diversity, promotes inclusion, and is pro-active in providing opportunities for lifelong participation for everyone.
- Publication of a new Masterplan for the further development of the Sport Ireland Campus over the next 15-20 years.
- Progressed the development of the first National Swimming Strategy which is due to be published in Q3 of 2023.
Gaeltacht
- Enactment of the Official Languages Act 2021, is encouraging more people to learn and embrace the language and ensure the delivery of public services through Irish. The commencement in 2022 of the provision whereby public bodies must carry out 20% of their advertising in the Irish language and that 5% of advertising must be in the Irish language media has ensured increased visibility of the language in the public domain.
- Review of the process of appointment of Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta completed in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government. Legislation is currently being drafted to provide for the return of Údarás na Gaeltachta elections.
- Publication in 2022 of a Digital Plan for the Irish Language.
Media
- The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act was signed into law on 10 December 2022. Under the Act a new multi-person regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, was established on 15 March 2023 and commissioners appointed. An Coimisiún will establish a new regulatory framework for online safety and enforce updated rules for broadcasters and video on-demand providers.
- Further to the publication of the Future of Media Commission report in July 2022, Government established an Implementation Group to develop an Implementation Strategy and Action Plan to give effect to the accepted recommendations. The Plan was published in January 2023.
- Separately, a Technical Working Group was established to consider options for the reform of the TV licence system. The Group has concluded its report and the matter will be considered by Government in due course.
292. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total advertising budget allocated by her Department and agencies in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, respectively; the funding provided directly to RTÉ in each year; if she has sought and secured an assurance that none of this funding was rebated via the RTÉ advertising barter account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32016/23]
View answerPlease see below details in tabular form of advertising expenditure each year since my Department was constituted on June 27th 2020, as well as advertising funding allocated to RTÉ in the same period.
Various forms of communication, including advertising, have become increasingly important in informing the public of the work of the Department.
Regarding bodies and agencies under my Department’s remit, these matters are operational matters for the agencies themselves.
At all times value for money is a critical consideration.
Total advertising budget allocated by this Department in each year since June 27 th 2020 to date:
|
Advertising totals inc. VAT |
|
|
June 27th 2020-December 31st 2020 |
€24,650.59 |
|
2021 |
€321,454.21 |
|
2022 |
€325,336.01 |
|
2023 to date |
€49,857.66 |
Advertising funding allocated to RTÉ in each year since June 27 th 2020 to date:
|
Total |
|
|
June 27th 2020-December 31st 2020 |
Nil |
|
2021 |
Nil |
|
2022 |
€6,150 |
|
2023 to date |
Nil |
The 2022 figure of €6,150 represents one transaction in relation to reduced-rate advertising awarded to the National Archives under the RTÉ Supporting the Arts Scheme for the Treaty 1921 “Records from the Archive” exhibition; and payment was made directly to RTÉ’s commercial account without the use of barter accounts or external intermediaries.
293. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will resolve a matter with regard to the OPW and its responsibility towards a canal in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31779/23]
View answerI refer to the response to Dáil question number 305 (PQ 31837/23). The area referenced is within Killarney National Park and is the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. More specifically, the canal area is within the Killarney National Park, Mcgillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh catchment SAC 365. Works of the nature described by the Deputy would need to be assessed for environmental impact and follow the normal procedures for capital works in a Special Area of Conservation. These works will now be considered in the context of funding for capital projects in the Park.
294. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid out to all consultancy firms for any services rendered; and the cost per contract for the year-to-date 2023, in tabular form [31692/23]
View answerThe amounts paid by my Department to all consultancy firms, for any services rendered, to date in 2023 are set out in the attached table. These include, but are not limited to, payments for consultancy services as defined by Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants and other External Support by the Civil Service (2006).
295. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown, of the current wait times for applications under sections 35 and 42 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, in tabular form. [31702/23]
View answer296. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all postal and email applications in 2023 under sections 35 and 42 of the Wildlife Act 1976 have received an acknowledgement response. [31703/23]
View answerLicence applications received in to the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) are processed as efficiently as possible with the current resource allocation. Many of these applications require assessment at local level and this workload is being managed in tandem with many other priorities.
Individual applications do not receive an acknowledgement, however, any queries from applicants are dealt with in a timely manner.
297. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the regeneration plans for Noonan’s road in Cork city. [31714/23]
View answer298. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on meters installed in homes at Noonan’s road, Cork city, to monitor energy usage. [31715/23]
View answerCork City Council has recently undertaken a detailed survey and assessment of the housing scheme at Noonan’s Road with a view to the progression of its refurbishment.
The Council is currently reviewing the survey findings in order to consider next steps to progression of sustainable and appropriate solutions to the renovation of this housing development.
My Department will liaise with and review any subsequent proposal submitted by Cork City Council in this regard.
The information requested in relation to the monitoring of energy usage at Noonan's Road is not available in my Department. This is a matter for the Local Authority and information should be requested from Cork City Council in this case.
299. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that some applicants for the croí cónaithe fund schemes are unable to be approved for the grant because they cannot provide proof that the property in question has been vacant for two years, even though it has; if he is aware that there are variances between different local authorities over what proof is acceptable; if he will outline a comprehensive list of all the possible ways that proof of vacancy can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31725/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
A maximum of two grants are available to any applicant, of which one must be in respect of a home they intend to occupy as their principal private residence and the other may be in respect of a property which will be made available for rent.
A property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant application and proof of vacancy is required to support grant applications. Proof of vacancy can be confirmed by the provision of utility bills, which can help determine vacancy periods (e.g. continuous and consistent low or zero electricity usage or disconnection for a period of two years), correspondence from ESB Networks confirming a date the electricity was cut off, a letter from an estate agent confirming the period of vacancy or a sworn solicitor's affidavit from the previous owners confirming the length of vacancy.
The administration of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, including the application, assessment, approval and payment to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. Applicants may be requested to provide additional documentation to support their grant application to the satisfaction of the relevant local authority. Guidance on the administration of the grant has been issued to local authorities by my Department.
300. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the funding granted to local authorities from his Department for the retrofitting of local authority housing in each of the years since 2016; and the number of units affected, in tabular form. [31736/23]
View answerSince 2013, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) to support local authorities with the retrofit of local authority owned homes requiring insulation and energy upgrade works. Over the period 2013-2022, local authorities received almost €238 million in funding to carry out energy upgrade works on 77,061 properties.
In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2 (BER)/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.
Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works.
An annualised breakdown of the funding and number of properties completed by each local authority since 2013 is available at the following link:
gov.ie - Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme - Expenditure & Output (www.gov.ie)
My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020, the details of which are found below. A further 481 properties were retrofitted to a BER of B2/ Cost Optimal Equivalent and these figures are in addition to the National Retrofit Programme.
gov.ie - Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme - Expenditure and Units (www.gov.ie)
The 2023 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support to €87 million in 2023 which will allow approximately 2,400 local authority owned social homes to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER). Local authorities have been notified of their targets and funding available.
301. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding given by his Department to Dublin City Council for stage 1 capital appraisal approval for the regeneration of Oliver Bond House; the total amount of funding made available to DCC for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31737/23]
View answer302. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding from his Department for the regeneration of Oliver Bond House can be used to take intermediate measures to deal with damp and mould issues, including the replacement of single glazing in units there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31738/23]
View answerIn March 2022 my Department issued Stage 1 approval to Dublin City Council for the redevelopment of Blocks L, M and N at Oliver Bond House. In June 2023 my Department received a revised Stage 1 submission which is currently under consideration.
My Department is not in a position to release the amount of funding approved or requested at this early stage (Stage 1) as this is subject to change as the project progresses through the pre-construction process including design and costings, planning approval and public procurement/tendering.
In addition to funding provided by the local authorities themselves in respect of their own housing stock, my Department provides funding across a number of programmes to support the local authority work to maintain and improve their social housing stock. It is a matter for the local authority to identify their priorities and make submissions for funding consideration under the various schemes to my Department.
303. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department purchased or produced any memorabilia such as pens, stationery, pins, badges, mugs or other types of souvenirs to mark or celebrate Pride 2023; if so, the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31813/23]
View answerMy Department purchased the following items of memorabilia to celebrate PRIDE 2023.
|
8 Progress Pride flags which now represents Trans and non binary individuals as well as marginalised people of colour |
€639.00 |
|
Progress flag Bunting |
€61.50 |
|
PRIDE Rainbow Lanyards |
€469.86 |
|
TOTAL |
€1170.36 |
304. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce regulations to take account of homes which are sold as so-called passive homes; if any new regulations can deal with the requirement for habitable temperatures all-year-round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31826/23]
View answerThe Building Regulations set out minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings and works to ensure the health and safety of people in and around buildings. Ireland implemented Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) for dwellings in 2019. NZEB means a building that has a very high energy performance. The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby.
These regulations significantly reduce carbon emissions, lessen dependence on fossil fuels and lower energy costs for occupants. They also create healthier indoor environments by prioritising proper ventilation, reducing pollutants and enhancing overall comfort and well-being. Part F (Ventilation) 2019 of the building regulations requires adequate ventilation in all new homes and recently requires mechanical ventilation in most new dwellings. They also provide guidance on limiting heat gains and risk assessments to avoid high internal temperatures.
All new housing continues to be built to Nearly Zero Energy Building Standards and almost 90% of new dwellings now use renewable energy sources or heat pumps for heating.
Through these regulations we have effectively eliminated solid fuel and oil boilers as heating sources. This will significantly improve air quality in the areas where these homes are built relative to traditional developments.
My Department is leading on the review of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. We are supportive of the proposals for Zero Emissions Buildings, Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Existing Buildings, Declarations of Global Warming Potential for new buildings and further requirements for Electric Vehicle recharging Infrastructure.
305. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when works will be carried out at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31837/23]
View answerThe area referenced is within Killarney National Park and is the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. More specifically, the canal area is within the Killarney National Park, McGillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh catchment SAC 365. Works of the nature described would need to be assessed for environmental impact and follow the normal procedures for capital works in a Special Area of Conservation. These works will be considered in the context of funding for capital projects within the Park in 2024.
306. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31865/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is the foundation for my Department's main policy initiatives. My Department has commitments across 10 of the 12 Missions in the Programme. My Department's 2021 Statement of Strategy was published in April 2021 and set out our strategic goals, objectives and actions for the period ahead. It is available on my Department's website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/9a047-statement-of-strategy-2021-2025/. A new Statement of Strategy for the period 2023-2025 will be published in the coming weeks and will build upon progress already made over the previous three years.
My Department's website, www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage, is a good source of information about activities and initiatives undertaken, but by way of illustration, some of the key actions delivered since 27 June 2020 include:
• the publication of 'Housing for All - a new Housing Plan for Ireland' and the continued progression of initiatives covered under this policy;
• the launching of the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme and subsequent amendment regulations increasing the number of eligible applicants;
• the enactment of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 which established the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, introduced Cost Rental tenancies, established the First Home Shared Equity Scheme and expanded Part V of the planning requirements;
• the extension of the Pyrite Remediation Scheme to include the administration area of Limerick;
• the enactment of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022;
• the delivery of the largest voids programme to date;
• an increased budget to support local authority homeless programmes and Covid-19 enhanced services;
• the establishment of the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC);
• the publication of the Youth Homelessness Strategy;
• the setting of targets for social housing delivery in the period 2022-2025 as part of the Department's lead role in the development of the Housing for All strategy;
• the establishment of the Emergency Refurbishment programme;
• publication of the Housing Need Demand Assessment tool;
• the establishment, with the Department of Rural and Community Development, of a Town Centre First inter-Departmental Group on the regeneration of towns and villages;
• the enactment of the Land Development Agency Act 2021;
• the establishment of the Regulatory Authority for Approved Housing Bodies;
• the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021;
• the development of the Marine Spatial Plan;
• the development of the National Marine Planning Framework;
• the enactment of the Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2022 to separate Uisce Éireann from the Ervia Group;
• establishment of The Electoral Commission following the enactment of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, in order to modernise the electoral registration process and introduce regulation of online political advertising;
• increased funding for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Historic Structures Fund and the Community Monuments Fund;
• the development of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan;
• the publication of the 5th Nitrates Action Programme;
• the publication of the Strategic Action Plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service;
• the publication of the Vacant Homes Action Plan to tackle vacancy and dereliction;
• the signing of new Drinking Water Regulations;
• increased funding for Housing Adaptation Grants for Older and Disabled people;
• significant progress has been made on planning reforms to ensure sustainability in our housing system;
• the introduction of a Ready to Build scheme, funded through the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund; and
• the preparation of legislation for a Zoned Land Tax to commence in 2024.
The Departments high level activity, with respect to the Statement of Strategy, is documented in it's Annual Reports, which can be found at gov.ie - Annual Reports (www.gov.ie).
Regular updates, in the form of press releases, are also issued by my Department, particularly when outcomes are achieved, and these can be found at www.gov.ie/en/search/?type=press_releases&organisation=department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage
The Departments high level activity, with respect to the Statement of Strategy, is documented in it's Annual Reports, which can be found at gov.ie - Annual Reports (www.gov.ie).
307. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals he has received from Clare County Council for emergency accommodation in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31893/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services including emergency accommodation under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, local authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. Counties Clare and Limerick are included in the Mid West region for the purposes of homeless administration, with Limerick City and County Council as lead authority. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each of the nine homeless regions in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
Each region is required to submit an annual expenditure programme to my Department and my Department approves a funding allocation. The annual expenditure programme includes both services that are operational and new service proposals. The latest expenditure programme is for 2023 and contains five emergency service proposals for Clare. There are no new emergency accommodation proposals for Clare to date in 2023 and existing services are published in the Mid West End of Year financial reports for previous years are available on my Department’s website at
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
308. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how he plans to address the severe staffing shortages in the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office; the additional resourcing he will provide to the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31894/23]
View answerThe National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office (or the NBCMSO) is located within Dublin City Council and provides oversight, support and direction for the development, standardisation and implementation of Building Control and Market Surveillance as an effective shared service in the 31 Building Control Authorities through five pillars. These pillars are:
• training,
• inspections;
• compliance support;
• Building Control Management System (BCMS); and
• market surveillance.
Similar to other shared services, the NBCMSO is funded by the local authorities. The NBCMSO seeks approval from the Local Government Management Agency annually to charge local authorities.
In relation to staffing, the business cases for the NBCMSO estimates 12 staff, in total, are required to carry out the functions within its scope. The Department understands 10 staff are in place at present and 2 positions are in the process of being filled. Each local authority 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. This applies to the NBCMSO, within Dublin City Council also.
My Department fully supports the work of the NBCMSO and considers it a key element of the Government’s ongoing building control reform agenda, with its many initiatives that already provide a comprehensive roadmap for embedding a culture of real compliance within the construction industry. My Department is working with the County and City Management Association (CCMA), Dublin City Council and the NBCMSO to ensure that the NBCMSO is properly positioned to provide an optimal shared service to local authorities.
309. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the online application for the enhanced defective concrete blocks scheme in Clare will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31895/23]
View answerFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President on the 23 July, 2022.
The purpose of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act'), as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021, is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the current grant scheme.
I expect to finalise the required Regulations shortly.
310. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many deaths were recorded in 2022 of those who were homeless, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31896/23]
View answerMy Department does not collate information relating to deaths of homeless individuals.
On 17 May 2023, the Health Research Board published a report of premature deaths among people experiencing homelessness. This feasibility study was commissioned by the Department of Health to address the need to improve understanding of premature mortality among people who are homeless nationally, and to provide more complete and accurate national data to inform policy.
This report is the first Irish study to examine the number and cause of death in people who were homeless at the time of their death on a national basis. This report makes for very difficult reading. The report found that a total of 84 deaths occurred nationally in 2019 in people who were homeless at the time of their death. I extend my sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased and also acknowledge the important work carried out by those on the frontline. It is a priority of Government to assist people in vulnerable situations.
My Department is committed to continuing to work closely with the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities to continue to deliver the appropriate measures to support all individuals experiencing homelessness including those with complex needs.
311. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the very long waiting lists for home adaption grants across many local authorities; his views on the adequacy of these funding allocations to meet the needs of older people; his plans, if any, to make additional funding available for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31981/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. These grants are available to older people as well as disabled people who have an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities. In 2022, additional funding of almost €1 million was made available arising from savings across the Vote on the original Exchequer provision of €65 million resulting in overall expenditure of almost €86 million facilitating the payment of over 12,000 grants. Local authorities were recently informed of their allocations from the 2023 Exchequer provision of €66.5 million or €83.125 million when accounting for the local authority contribution with each local authority receiving an increase on the 2022 allocation, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.My Department advises local authorities annually that, as far as practicable, a percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring fenced in respect of any emergency applications which might arise under these schemes during the course of the year. Consequently, all local authorities manage their schemes to ensure access to the grants programme is maintained to the extent possible throughout the year in the highest priority cases and further information in this regard would be available directly from the local authorities. My Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity and my Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year. My Department encourages all local authorities to ensure all applications on hand are processed to the degree possible for final payment to ensure optimal spend on their annual allocation. Whilst additional Exchequer funding may become available, the local authorities must provide the 20% match funding from their own resources and therefore the local authorities are also managing the scheme within the resources allocated at the local level. My Department recently considered and approved requests from three Councils for further Exchequer allocation provisions of over €1.5 million in 2023, with request from a fourth Council under consideration.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. The review was informed by engagement with external stakeholders, including the Department of Health, the HSE, the Disability Federation of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association. Among the areas which the review considered are the income thresholds and the grant limits. On foot of my consideration of the Review report, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the Review report.
312. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total advertising budget allocated by his Department and agencies in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, respectively; the funding provided directly to RTÉ in each year; if he has sought and secured an assurance that none of this funding was rebated via the RTÉ advertising barter account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32011/23]
View answerThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has a limited central advertising budget. This limited budget is used for incidental advertising spending and no direct payments to RTÉ are recorded under this budget for the past ten years.
|
Year |
Budget |
|
2023 |
€60,000 |
|
2022 |
€55,000 |
|
2021 |
€55,000 |
|
2020 |
€55,000 |
|
2019 |
€55,000 |
|
2018 |
€48,000 |
|
2017 |
€31,167 |
|
2016 |
€36,500 |
|
2015 |
€58,000 |
|
2014 |
€58,000 |
|
2013 |
€79,000 |
Further resources for advertising campaigns are built in to projects and initiatives with a public information, campaign or communication need as required. Advertising is generally booked through media buying agencies who manage the relationship with advertising platforms and publishers, devise media plans to make best use of allocated advertising spending and book advertising space for the Department on channels deemed valuable to that campaign’s objective.
During the period 2013 – 2023 no direct payments for advertising were made to RTÉ.
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:
|
State Body |
Contact E-mails |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie cc: communications@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie cc: cosec@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie cc: info@housingagency.ie |
|
Uisce Eireann |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie Compliance@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Tailte Éireann (formerly: OSI, VALOFF, PRAI) |
reps@tailte.ie cc: oireachtas@osi.ie; reps@valoff.ie; reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
