Written Answers Nos. 586-608
586. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of funding her Department provided to each national cultural institution in 2023; and the amount that will be provided to each in 2024, in tabular form. [48340/23]
View answerThe information requested is in the table following.
|
2023Current Allocation |
2023Capital Allocation |
2023 Total Allocation |
|
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
€2,240,000 |
€162,000 |
€2,402,000 |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
€3,742,000 |
€175,000 |
€3,917,000 |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
€7,220,000 |
€320,000 |
€7,540,000 |
|
National Concert Hall |
€13,241,000 |
€260,000 |
€13,501,000 |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
€12,437,000 |
€958,000 |
€13,395,000 |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
€17,358,000 |
€1,308,000 |
€18,666,000 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
€9,214,000 |
€478,000 |
€9,692,000 |
|
National Archives & Advisory Council |
€1,815,000 |
€311,000 |
€2,126,000 |
The detailed breakout of each of my Department's programme areas and subheads for 2024 will be made available as part of the Revised Estimates Volume, to be published later this year.
590. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps being taken by Tourism Ireland to promote tourism here during winter months. [48762/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
Tourism Ireland is the agency responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination. It devises and implements world-class marketing programmes in more than 20 markets across the world. In October, Tourism Ireland rolled out its 'Ireland Home of Halloween' campaign. Tourism Ireland will also be highlighting other reasons to visit Ireland during the off-season months – including events like NYF Dublin (New Year’s Festival).
The detail of the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational issue for Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for further information and direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
591. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated in Budget 2024 to assist with the restoration of the Ulster Canal; and if the route has been an item of discussion in the context of the Shared Island initiative. [47097/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government - Our Shared Future includes a commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the flagship cross-border Ulster Canal project.
My Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland co-operate effectively and communicate regularly to progress the various work programmes involved in the project, with the aim of providing a safe and high-quality recreational environment for the public, whilst also preserving the industrial and environmental heritage of the waterways for future generations.
The route of the Ulster Canal project comprises a number of phases.
Phase 1 – Restoration comprising c. 2.5km of new navigation from Upper Lough Erne along the River Finn to a new boating destination at Castle Saunderson. This phase was completed in 2019.
Phase 2 – Clonfad to Clones. Construction of this phase commenced on site in August 2022. Works are well-advanced and will be substantially complete by the end of 2023, with final completion amenity and recreational facilities, including site reinstatement works expected in Spring 2024. Funding for Phase 2 includes a total of €6m from the Shared Island Fund, €6.2m from the Department of Rural and Community Development and approximately €8m from my Department provided via the annual capital allocation to Waterways Ireland.
Phase 3: Castle Saunderson to Clonfad. This phase comprises restoration of the 10km stretch of canal which will link Phases 1 and 2.
Preparatory work has begun on three of the four sub-phases of Phase 3, and I am pleased to confirm a further allocation of €2.5m in 2024 (€2m from Shared Island, and €0.5m from my Department) to bring these sub-phases through the next stages of development. The three sub-phases which are currently underway in preparatory stages are:
3.1 Castlesaunderson to Gortnacarrow
3.2 Gortnacarrow to the border
3.4 Derrynure to Clonfad
The remaining sub-phase 3.3 stretches from the border to Derrynure, and will complete the connection between Clones and Castlesaunderson, linking the town of Clones by navigable waterway to the Erne System and onward to the wider waterway network of the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Shannon Navigation, the Royal and Grand Canals towards Dublin and further south along the Barrow Line and Barrow Navigation.
The indicative timeline for completion of all sub-phases of Phase 3 is 2028.
592. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the preservation of allotment plots in local authority areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47266/23]
View answerA comprehensive review of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) was initiated in May 2021, led by the Office of the Attorney General. This process included extensive stakeholder engagement, particularly with the Planning Advisory Forum established in December 2021. The review culminated in the publication of the draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 in January 2023.
The draft Bill subsequently underwent a pre-legislative scrutiny process over a three month period by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Taking consideration of the same and further stakeholder engagement, the Bill was further updated and on 3 October the Cabinet agreed the publication of the Planning and Development Bill 2023.
The Bill includes an objective in relation to the reservation of land for use and cultivation as allotments and the regulation, promotion, facilitation or control of the provision of land for that use and defines allotments for this purpose. The objective in relation to allotments and its definition mirrors the current position in the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The identification and implementation of recreational and amenity spaces is a matter for local authorities, primarily through City/County Development Plans and identifying land for allotment development in a development plan is a reserved function of the elected members in considering and making the plan. The provision of allotment or similar facilities on local authority land is a matter for each individual local authority including their elected members and is subject to availability of resources and community inputs and support for such proposals.
The Bill will be published within the coming weeks and will then commence in the Oireachtas, subject to its timetable.
593. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total new homes recorded under Housing for All progress updates; the number which have gone to market; and the number which are now inhabited. [47276/23]
View answerData on new residential dwellings completed are captured and published quarterly by the Central Statistics Office. The data are available at data.cso.ie/table/NDQ01.
The data show 20,546, 29,751 and 22,443 new homes were completed in 2021, 2022 and to end-September 2023 respectively.
Data on the share of these homes which have gone to market, or which are now inhabited, are not available.
594. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for a local authority home loan in 2023; the number of approvals for a local authority home loan in 2023; and the total amount drawn down in local authority home loans in 2023 in each local authority, in tabular form. [47278/23]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Local Authority Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.
The most recent figures provided by the Agency on the number of valid Local Authority Home loan applications that it has assessed for each local authority, from 1 January 2023 up to the end of September 2023 are set out in the below table:
|
Local Authority |
Applications Assessed |
Recommended to Approve |
|
Carlow County Council |
24 |
7 |
|
Cavan County Council |
21 |
9 |
|
Clare County Council |
25 |
9 |
|
Cork City Council |
65 |
21 |
|
Cork County Council |
128 |
46 |
|
Donegal County Council |
16 |
3 |
|
Dublin City Council |
126 |
78 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
27 |
13 |
|
Fingal County Council |
98 |
49 |
|
Galway City Council |
47 |
27 |
|
Galway County Council |
43 |
16 |
|
Kerry County Council |
38 |
16 |
|
Kildare County Council |
75 |
34 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
30 |
16 |
|
Laois County Council |
18 |
12 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
13 |
2 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
25 |
14 |
|
Longford County Council |
17 |
11 |
|
Louth County Council |
72 |
28 |
|
Mayo County Council |
10 |
5 |
|
Meath County Council |
69 |
48 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
17 |
4 |
|
Offaly County Council |
13 |
3 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
34 |
13 |
|
Sligo County Council |
11 |
4 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
54 |
28 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
30 |
13 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
63 |
16 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
18 |
7 |
|
Wexford County Council |
55 |
13 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
35 |
12 |
|
Total |
1317 |
577 |
595. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will send a circular to all local authorities asking for them to allow for an extension of the 13-month period to complete works to vacant and derelict properties under the Croí Cónaithe scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47290/23]
View answerIn 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.
In order to support the timely delivery of properties, from May 2023, once a grant application receives approval, applicants must complete works applied for within a period of 13 months. Currently payment of grants is issuing some 12 months from date of approval, as works are completed.
In exceptional circumstances, where an applicant is experiencing particular issues and cannot complete the works applied for under the grant within the 13 month period, the Local Authority may consider and grant an extension of the approval period at their discretion. My Department issued a circular to all local authorities in October 2023 setting out details of this arrangement.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. It is intended that a comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund will be undertaken by mid-2024.
596. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the impact that the slow progress being made in the taking in charge of housing estates is having upon the environment in situations whereby the developer-provided infrastructure, including wastewater treatment plants, are malfunctioning; if his Department has communicated with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the consequences for local water sources and public safety that may result from delays in resolving the transfer of responsibility for developer-provided infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47297/23]
View answerMy Department’s Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI) is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public network but instead rely on infrastructure provided by developers of the estate.
The aim of the multi-annual programme is to provide funding to local authorities to assist them in implementing solutions that resolve legacy DPI water services issues thus progressively enabling these estates to be taken in charge.
Funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, for legacy water services issues (this sum includes a small allocation for domestic lead pipe remediation).
In June 2023, I announced allocations under the multi-annual programme of over €14.7 million to benefit over 850 households. This was in addition to allocations in September 2020 of over €3.36 million to benefit almost 950 households. The two tranches account for almost 25% of the total number of households depending on DPI for their water services.
It will take a number of funding programmes to fully resolve estates with developer provided water services infrastructure, however, my Department is fully committed to progressing the taking in charge of these estates through increased funding over the coming years.
597. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to review the housing assistance payment in order that weekly tenant contributions are calculated as a percentage of gross earnings of the household as per Revenue Commissioner filings, on the same basis throughout the country, and for the basis of calculations to be transparent to the public [47299/23]
View answerAll households in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) pay a differential rent based on the rent scheme set by the relevant local authority. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is set out in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles laid down by my Department including that; the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households; and that provision should be included for the acceptance of a lower rent than that required under the terms of the scheme in exceptional cases where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved function of administering rent schemes. Decisions regarding the increase or decrease in the rent charged to tenants of local authorities are matters for individual local authorities in accordance with its differential rent scheme.
On the broader issue of the standardisation or potential reform of the differential rents model at a national level, Government have committed to developing proposals for a standardised national differential rent scheme. Given the cost of living challenges currently being experienced by households, it has been determined that this is not the appropriate time to introduce changes in the this area. I will continue to keep the benefits of reform in this area under review.
598. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail any ongoing or previous use of artificial intelligence within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47339/23]
View answerMy Department does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to conduct business. As with all new technologies, my Department is assessing the potential of AI in the delivery of services, in line with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on its usage in the public service, and works closely with the NCSC which encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE).
599. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what funding is available from his Department for the establishment of local museums and for the collection and collation of local historical artefacts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47347/23]
View answerMy Department has responsibility at central government level in relation to the local government system generally and certain specific functional or service areas. My Department has no function however in relation to policy and funding of museums. That is, in the main, a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
600. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a grant (details supplied) could be paid out in stages for each category of work completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47364/23]
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.
The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications to ensure that the grant conditions are met and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the refurbishment work being applied for and to assess the proposed cost. Following confirmation of a successful application and the works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in-line with the grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, they will then pay the grant.
Payment of the grant at the end of this process is to ensure that the applicant has carried out the works applied for, and approved.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, will be undertaken by mid-2024.
601. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the up-to-date position with a project (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47391/23]
View answerThe Barrow Blueway Project is a significant initiative which will support communities and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives. Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for the overall project delivery.
Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the canal-side works elements while the roadside works elements are being undertaken by Kildare County Council. Waterways Ireland has completed all path works as of September 2023 which comprises of 36km of canal-side works.
Both project partners are responsible for the delivery of ancillary infrastructure, including signage and visitor facilities. A report has been finalised setting out these requirements, and procurement is in progress.
Kildare County Council publishes project updates for the Barrow Blueway regularly on its website www.kildarecoco.ie.
602. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cost rental tenant in situ homes completed to date for each local authority; the number in progress, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47392/23]
View answerThe Government has developed the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property, but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023, pending further policy development over the longer term with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model.
The current household net income limit for scheme eligibility is €66,000 for Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere. This is in line with the revised income limits for Cost Rental which came into effect from 1 August 2023.
Local Authority Housing Officers have responsibility for assessing the risk of homelessness to tenants who have received a valid notification of termination due to an intended sale of a property, and so it is the local authority that tenants should first approach.
The scheme is administered by the Housing Agency and, as of the end of Q2 2023, 68 cases had been referred to the Housing Agency by 21 local authorities. It is intended that data in relation to the Scheme will be published on a quarterly basis.
603. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason all housing circulars are not published on the gov.ie website as matter of routine; if he will give a commitment to ensuring that they are made publicly available in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47421/23]
View answerMy Department uses a variety of media to support the dissemination of circulars, including emailing directly to relevant contacts and posting to the Department's website.
My Department regularly publishes circulars online. These are accessible on the government circulars database: www.gov.ie/en/circulars/. On this website, users can search for circulars in a number of ways: by department, year, keyword or circular id number.
Twenty eight Department circulars were published on the www.gov.ie/en/circulars site in 2022. So far this year, 17 circulars have been published on this site on a variety of topics including the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2024, Exempted Developments Regulations and the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
In relation to the local government sector and state bodies under the aegis of my Department, an extranet facility known as 'eCirculars' is also used to disseminate relevant circulars.
My Department does not routinely publish these circulars as these are generally direct communications with local authorities on policy and operational matters for direct action.
My Department is committed to ongoing improvements to ensure that documentation is publicly available and reviews its procedures on an ongoing basis to ensure we publish as many circulars as deemed appropriate.
604. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider including those who wish to down-size to free up a family size home in the 'fresh start' principle for local authority affordable purchase housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47437/23]
View answerThe Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) was introduced to assist first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes. This scheme uses an equity share model to give eligible purchasers the opportunity of home ownership at a significant discount. The assessment of eligibility and the level of support available is household-specific, so purchasers are only supported when they need this assistance to afford the home.
Section 10 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 sets out the conditions of the Fresh Start principle to be eligible to apply for the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. Section 10(6) of the Act provides that where an applicant previously owned, or was beneficially entitled to an estate or interest in, a dwelling in the State which because of its size, is not suited to the current accommodation needs of the applicant’s household, the applicant will not be rendered ineligible for an affordable dwelling purchase arrangement. This provision is further subject to Sections 11(2)(b) and Section 12(8)(b) of the Act. Relevant regulations and/or guidelines will be considered in due course.
The same overall eligibility criteria apply for all persons applying for a Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, including for those applying under the fresh start principle. Eligibility criteria is set out in the Affordable Housing Regulations 2023 and Affordable Housing (No.2) Regulations 2023. This includes the provision that the equity share required cannot be less than 5% and not greater than 40% of the market value of the dwelling concerned.
As with all homes sold under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, a Scheme of Priority, which oversees the appropriate allocation of affordable homes, applies.
605. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has received or approved a capitalisation request from the Land Development Agency for additional capitalisation beyond the monies sanctioned to date under the terms of the Land Development Agency Act 2021. [47494/23]
View answer606. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has requested capitalisation for the Land Development Agency for additional capitalisation beyond the monies sanctioned to date under the terms of the Land Development Agency Act 2021; if so, when; from which agency; and the amount. [47496/23]
View answer653. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details on the source of the additional funding he plans to provide the LDA, announced on 10 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48055/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 605, 606 and 653 together.
The LDA currently have access to €1.25bn of capital from the ISIF, of which they have drawn down €625m to date. They expect to draw down the remaining €600m by year-end 2023. They also have the ability to borrow up to €1.25bn.
Discussions on the funding needs of the draft LDA Business Plan 2024-2028 and the combination and source of such funding for the LDA are ongoing between my Department, DPENDR, DFIN, NewERA and the LDA.
607. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the introduction of emergency funding for interim fire safety works in buildings with fire safety and other defects; the amount of funding that will be made available this year; how it will be accessed; when the funding scheme will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47524/23]
View answer608. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the portal within the Housing Agency for people with defective homes to access information and funding for remedial works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47525/23]
View answer609. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update in relation to the provision of interim funding to allow for the commencement of emergency fire safety works in buildings with identified fire safety defects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47526/23]
View answer625. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when funding will be available for interim and emergency fire safety works for homeowners with Celtic Tiger-era building defects. [47557/23]
View answer626. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the draft legislation for the Celtic Tiger-era building defects redress scheme will be published. [47558/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 607, 608, 609, 625 and 626 together.
Since the receipt of Government approval in January of this year, I have been working to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the scheme to establish supports for the remediation of fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose-built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 and 2013 on a statutory footing.
The Housing Agency will play a central role in the remediation scheme when it becomes operational. It launched an Expression of Interest Portal on its website in July 2023 which serves as a platform for Owners' Management Companies (OMCs) to share information about their developments with The Housing Agency. The Housing Agency have also included resource links on its website. I strongly encourage OMCs to indicate their potential interest in the future remediation scheme by inputting information on their developments on the portal. It should be noted that this portal, which is subject to conditions of use, is not a formal registration mechanism for the future remediation scheme.
My Department is working closely with the Housing Agency and key stakeholders to facilitate the provision of funding for interim fire safety measures on an administrative basis. I expect to be in a position to announce more details of this in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, work is advancing to prepare the required legislation, which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme. While I am working on the development of the scheme as a matter of priority, sufficient time is required to draft the legislation to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, provides value for tax payer’s money and contains appropriate oversight and governance measures. It is expected the draft legislation will be published in 2024. It is intended that subject to the legislative process, the statutory scheme will be in place shortly thereafter
