Written Answers Nos. 223-235
223. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil sé i gceist ardú deontais a thabhairt do na teaghlaigh a choinníonn scoláirí faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge le haghaidh na bliana 2024 á chur san áireamh an t-ardú mór ar an gcostas maireachtála; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49157/23]
View answerMar aitheantas ar an ardú sa chostas maireachtála agus ar mhaithe le tuilleadh teaghlaigh a mhealladh isteach sa scéim, cuireadh ardaithe éagsúla anuraidh leis na tacaíochtaí a íoctar faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Geailge. San áireamh anseo:
• Tháinig ardú 20% ó €10 go €12 ar an bhfóirdheontas a íoctar le lucht lóistín na hearnála faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge de chuid na Roinne;
• Ardaíodh an t-uaslíon scoláirí gur féidir le teaghlach a choinneáil ar íostas leo ó 12 go 16;
• Ardaíodh an fóirdheontas a íoctar le lucht brúnna agus coláistí cónaithe ó €5 go €7;
• Ardaíodh an fóirdheontas a chuirtear ar fáil do na teaghlaigh a chuireann lóistín ar fáil do lucht ERASMUS Gaeltachta ó €17 go €21;
• Ardaíodh an fóirdheontas a chuirtear ar fáil do lucht lóistín na scéime ÁRAINN Gaeltachta ó €27 go €33; agus,
• Ardaíodh an deontas do theaghlaigh nua a chláraíonn faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus do theaghlach atá ag iarraidh teacht ar ais sa chóras tar éis dóibh a bheith imithe as le chúig bliana nó níos mó ó €2,000 go dtí €6,000.
Ar ndóigh, tá an tionscnamh scoláireachtaí DEIS Gaeltachta méadaithe go €400,000 in aghaidh na bliana chomh maith ar mhaithe le deiseanna faoi leith a chur ar fáil do lucht freastail iar-bhunscoileanna DEIS na tíre freastal ar choláiste samhraidh sa Ghaeltacht.
Anuas air sin, cuirfear €500,000 breise ar fáil i 2024 chun tuilleadh deiseanna a chruthú do dhaoine óga ó chúlraí faoi mhíbhuntáiste freastal ar choláistí samhraidh sa Ghaeltacht. Ciallóidh sé seo uile go mbeidh níos mó scoláirí ná riamh ó chúlraí éagsúla in ann freastal ar chúrsa samhraidh.
Ar ndóigh, bíonn mo Roinn i gcónaí ag faire amach ar bhealaí nua le cabhrú tuilleadh le hearnáil na gColáistí Gaeilge.
224. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will prioritise and approve an application for funding for an organisation (details supplied). [49182/23]
View answerMy role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
With regard to allocations by Fáilte Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund, such decisions are an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland, as the National Tourism Development Authority. Neither I nor my Department have a direct role in this regard. Accordingly, I have referred this question to Fáilte Ireland for direct response. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
225. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé mhéad teaghlach a chothaigh scoláirí an samhradh seo faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus atá fós ag fanacht ar íocaíochtaí faoin scéim; cén céatadán de na teaghlaigh a chothaigh scoláirí faoin scéim an samhradh seo agus atá fós ag fanacht ar íocaíochtaí faoin scéim; cén uair a gheobhaidh siad íocaíocht; soiléiriú a thabhairt ar aon athbhreithniú atá ar siúl ag a Roinn maidir leis an scéim; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [49254/23]
View answerAg an tráth seo, tá gach éileamh íocaíochta atá ar chumas mo Roinne a íoc i leith cúrsaí a reáchtáladh sna Coláistí Gaeilge i samhradh 2023 próiseáilte ag Rannóg na gColáistí Gaeilge agus seolta chuig Rannóg Airgeadais de chuid na Roinne. Déanfar na híocaíochtaí seo leis na teaghlaigh gan mhoill anois.
Ba chóir don Teachta a nótáil go bhfuil líon áirithe cásanna nach bhfuil ar chumas mo Roinne íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh ina leith fós de bharr páipéarachais gan a bheith in ord ag na teaghlaigh, Teastais Glanta Cánach mar shampla. Bíonn an Roinn i dteagmháil leis na teaghlaigh áirithe seo ar bhonn leanúnach ar mhaithe le cabhrú leo é seo a chur ina cheart.
Tá an rannóg i dteagmháil le líon beag coláistí eile - go príomhá cinn a úsáideann brúanna seachas teaghlaigh le lóistín a chur ar fáil - nach bhfuil éilimh ar íocaíochtaí faighte uathu go fóill ar mhaithe le n-iad a spreagadh le éilimh a sheoladh chuig an Roinn.
226. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what consideration his Department is giving to further marine protected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33502/23]
View answerThe 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.
My Department has been working in close collaboration with parliamentary drafters over the past several months to develop the Marine Protected Areas Bill and I anticipate that the Bill will be ready for publication early in 2024.
This proposed legislation will provide us with the tool to achieve this while, along with the Maritime Area Planning Act, ensuring sustainable use of the sea.
227. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how his Department co-ordinates with rural emergency services to respond effectively to natural disasters and emergencies in rural regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42611/23]
View answerMy Department is designated as 'Lead Government Department', as set out in the Government approved Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to coordination of response to flooding and certain other emergencies at national level where warranted. Other Departments have lead roles in respect of other specific types of emergencies, as set out in the SEM Framework.
My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) undertakes this function when my Department has a lead role and works closely with Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams. At a national level, the Department is responsible for the co-ordination of the ‘whole-of-Government’ response, facilitating collective decision making and ensuring aligned public safety messaging among a broad range of departments, organisations and groups who have a role to play in any of the given seven emergency types under its remit.
Local authorities are designated as a principal response agency as well as being 'lead agency' for coordinating the response to severe weather, such as flooding, as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006).
The arrangements for emergency management have evolved and, when called upon, are seen as having worked well, in particular the responses to flooding and severe weather events, as well as fire and other emergencies led by local authorities. All local authorities have Severe Weather/ Flood Plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies and Section 26 Fire and Emergency Operations Plans as part of their individual Major Emergency Plans. Local authorities also have a Severe Weather Assessment Team in place, monitoring Met Éireann weather warnings and OPW and EFAS flood advisory/ warnings and High Tide Advisories.
Local authorities and their fire services, be they in rural or urban locations, are usually the first to respond to many natural disasters or other emergencies in their area, and they are well equipped to do so. However, should the incident escalate, or require the declaration of a Major Emergency, there are processes in place, through the Framework for Major Emergency Management, for the co-ordination of an interagency response, that can move from local, to regional and onto National level as required. During all such events, the Crisis Management Team of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management are on hand to assist local authorities in their response.
228. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide clarity as to what housing estates in Ardnacrusha, County Clare, will benefit from the €5,466,825 funding allocated by his Department in June 2023 under the multi-annual developer provided water services infrastructure resolution programme; what remedial works the funding will cover; when remedial works are expected to begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45526/23]
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.
The aim of the DPI programme is to provide funding to local authorities to assist them in implementing solutions that resolve the DPI issues, thus progressively enabling these estates to be taken in charge.
In June 2023, I announced funding to assist Clare County Council in resolving a number of DPI estates in Ardnacrusha. It is now a matter for the local authority to arrange completion of the project as quickly as possible. They are also best placed to provide all the details requested.
229. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the Housing for All progress report published in July 2023. [36288/23]
View answerHousing for All was published 2 September 2021 and the Government published its first annual update of the plan's actions on 2 November 2022. Progress :reports are published quarterly. The ninth of these reports, covering progress in Q3 2023, is due for publication in the coming weeks along with the second annual update of the plan’s actions. These reports can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/collection/9d2ee-housing-for-all-quarterly-progress-reports/.
Under Housing for All, the supply of new homes is increasing. In the first nine months of this year, nearly 22,500 new homes were delivered, a 9% increase on the same period last year. Some 31,500 homes were completed in the year to end-September 2023, the third quarter in a row the rolling 12-month completions have surpassed 30,000. The level of completions to date suggests we’re on course to meet, if not exceed, the overall target of 29,000 new homes for 2023.
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/.
230. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he would consider the removal of exemptions of planning for small telecommunication masts in order that they would be required to undergo the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41886/23]
View answerUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission.
In this regard, Class 31 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, provides that certain classes of development carried out by a statutory undertaker authorised to provide a telecommunications service are, subject to specified conditions, exempted development from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Where the conditions and size thresholds specified in the exemption class are not complied with or are exceeded, planning permission is required.
In addition, a “statutory undertaker” as defined under section 2 of the Act means a person, for the time being, authorised by or under any enactment or instrument under an enactment to provide, or carry out works for the provision of, gas, electricity or telecommunications services. The exemption under Class 31 is not open to persons other than statutory undertakers.
Exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of specific forms of development are provided for when they are considered to be consistent with proper planning and sustainable development. Planning exemptions are removed in accordance with section 4(4) of the Act where an environmental impact assessment or appropriate assessment of the development is required. In addition, the exemption may also be removed under section 57 of the Act where the proposed development would materially affect the character of a protected structure, or any element of a protected structure which contributes to its special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
Where planning permission is required, an application for permission must be made to the relevant planning authority under section 34 of the Act.
These arrangements are considered appropriate for the purpose of supporting the roll-out of a high quality communications service by a statutory undertaker while also taking account of the ongoing technological advances in this area. The legislative provisions are supplemented by planning guidelines entitled the Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structure Guidelines, which originally issued to planning authorities in 1996. In 2012, my Department issued Circular Letter PL07/12 to planning authorities, updating certain sections of these Guidelines. The Guidelines provide advice on appropriate location and siting considerations for telecommunication installations and masts to be considered in the development planning and development management process. The Guidelines, and subsequent Circular Letter, are available at the following links:www.opr.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2012-Telecommunications-Antennae-and-Support-Structures-Circular-PL-07-12-1.pdf.andassets.gov.ie/111242/904beafb-f8f4-4585-954f-c0753072e422.doc.
I have no current plans to amend the Regulations in this regard.
231. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how budget 2024 will provide for significant improvements in public water and wastewater services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49076/23]
View answerMy Department has secured record overall funding of €1.81 billion for the delivery of water services in 2024.
This Government is delivering a sustainable funding path to further enhance the ongoing significant improvements in our public water and waste water services. Sustained investment over a number of investment cycles is required to address existing infrastructural deficits to ensure compliance with the EU Directives, to accommodate population growth, and to build resilience in the face of climate change.
This funding will support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
The continued investment in water generally, and in particular Uisce Éireann as a national, publicly-owned standalone regulated utility, will ensure the continued operation, repair and upgrading of Ireland’s water and waste water infrastructure.
232. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has examined the tourism potential of Dowth Hall, Slane, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44819/23]
View answerI recently announced my Department’s agreement to purchase the Dowth Hall Demesne in Co. Meath. This 552 acre site contains valuable elements of natural, archaeological and architectural heritage and will be managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department as a new National Park to ensure the preservation of these features for the people of Ireland.
Contractual arrangements for this purchase are currently being finalised and I am not in a position to comment on future operational matters until this process is concluded.
233. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations in process; the length of time each has been under way; when each will conclude; the cost to date of each; and the estimated cost of each at completion. [44814/23]
View answerThere are no tribunals, public investigations or commissions of investigation currently underway in relation to functional areas relevant to my Department.
There are still claims and payments being processed following the completion of the Tribunal into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (Mahon Tribunal) in 2012. It is estimated that this process will be completed in 2024. The Tribunal has cost €142,692,862 million to date, with an estimated total cost on completion to be in the region of €144 million, depending on the resolution of outstanding claims.
In accordance with my obligations under Circular 23/2020, details of costs and estimates for Tribunals of Inquiry and Commissions of Investigation which are currently underway and for which payments are still being made, can be found on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/5c357-tribunal-of-inquiry-and-commission-of-investigation-costs/.
234. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 394 of 20 June 2023, when he expects that affected apartment blocks will be able to apply for funding for remediation works for water ingress on defective builds in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49108/23]
View answerSince 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 has established a web portal to serve as a knowledge base and OMCs may indicate their potential interest in the future remediation scheme by inputting information on their developments on the portal which is available on the Housing Agency's website. 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.
Work is also advancing to draft the required legislation, which will include the scope, eligibility and conditions of the remediation scheme. The Government has agreed that remediation costs already incurred or levied prior to the introduction of the scheme will be covered under the scheme once such costs fall within the scope and defined parameters of the scheme. The details and mechanics of this are being worked out as the legislation is drafted.
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.
235. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding can be provided to the owners of premises (details supplied) for the installation of flood barriers at the entrances to premises, considering that flooding is a regular occurrence on this street due to the inadequate storm water systems in place in Thurles, that Uisce Éireann has no immediate plans to resolve the mixed sewer system in the town, that these premises will continue to flood until Uisce Éireann carries out the required works and that it is responsible for carrying out these works, and that the State has a responsibility to protect these properties from further flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49112/23]
View answerLocal authorities are designated as lead agencies for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006), details of which are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/ca182-a-framework-for-major-emergency-management/.
The arrangements for emergency management are seen as having worked well, in particular the responses led by local authorities to flooding and other severe weather emergencies. All local authorities have an established Severe Weather Assessment Team in place, monitoring Met Éireann weather warnings, High Tide Advisories and European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) advisory warnings. Local authorities also have Severe Weather/ Flood Plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies.
My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to the coordination of national level response to flooding emergencies, where warranted. My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management undertakes this role and works closely with Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for flood defense systems in the State.
With regard to the flooding issues on the location referenced, since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects is a matter for Uisce Éireann and is approved through its own internal governance structures.
Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578.
