Written Answers Nos. 278-293
278. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding allocated to Culture Ireland for the promotion of Irish Arts Globally in 2022 and 2023; and the budget allocated for same in 2024, in tabular form. [50926/23]
View answerCulture Ireland is a unit of my Department with responsibility for the promotion of Irish Arts internationally. In doing so, they work with International presenting partners and annually funded bodies to bring high quality Irish arts, across all art forms, to global audiences.
Details of the funding allocations for Culture Ireland from 2022 onwards are as follows:
|
Year |
Allocation |
|
2024 |
€7.6m |
|
2023 |
€6.6m |
|
2022 |
€4.6m |
279. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will report on her recent representations to management of RTÉ in relation to the ending of all bogus self-employment contracts at the broadcaster. [50959/23]
View answerIn addition to setting out the remit and obligations of RTÉ as a public service broadcaster, the Broadcasting Act also provides for the independence of RTÉ in its fulfilment of these obligations. This independence extends not only to editorial decision-making but also to operational activities, including matters relating to staffing and remuneration.
These provisions are designed to ensure that there is no undue external influence in the functioning of Public Service Broadcasters. As such, it would not be appropriate for me to make representations to RTÉ management in relation to this matter, and I have not done so. Any representations made to my office regarding contractual and employment arrangements at RTÉ have been passed on to the broadcaster, at the request of the correspondent, for appropriate follow up action by RTÉ directly.
As the Deputy will be aware, RTÉ did commission a review of these matters, carried out by Eversheds Sutherland, as a result of which, RTÉ has adopted a policy of “employment first”. The Department of Social Protection has an ongoing investigation into PRSI classification of certain workers and contractors at the broadcaster, and RTÉ is engaging with that Department on this matter. My Department has no role in this investigation.
Finally, last July I commissioned a review into HR and related matters to be overseen by an independent Expert Advisory Committee. The work of this committee is ongoing and I expect to receive a report on the matter in Q1 2024.
280. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has allocated specific funds to ensure proper training and education against racism in sport; if so, the amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51017/23]
View answer281. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether Sport Ireland is adequately funded to provide efficient anti-racist training and education; and whether there are plans to increase such funding in the aftermath of the racist incident during a Gymnastics Ireland event. [51018/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together.
In the Budget 2024 announcement last month, Minister Catherine Martin and I announced an increase of over €7 million in Sport Ireland’s allocation for next year. This level of funding will allow Sport Ireland to continue to support the sport sector and to increase its funding support in a number of very important areas, including core funding for National Governing Bodies of Sport.
In May 2022 Sport Ireland published its Diversity and Inclusion Policy and developed an action plan to support the implementation of that policy. Included in that action plan is detailed support for building capacity in the sport sector, including training and education.
I have referred the Deputy’s question to Sport Ireland for direct reply with regard to the actions it is taking on anti-racism training for the sector. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
282. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has any current contracts with any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company; and if so, the value of those contracts. [51054/23]
View answer283. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department or any of its agencies are involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which includes involvement by any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company. [51072/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together.
My Department was established in its current configuration in September 2020, the details sought in relation to current contracts with any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company since then are set out in the table below.
Regarding bodies and agencies under my Department’s remit, these are operational matters for the agencies themselves.
|
Year |
Details |
Duration |
Total value (Incl. VAT) |
|
2023 |
Process/Project Management Software subscription with Monday.com This payment is a one-off annual subscription fee for an online service, rather than an ongoing contract. |
1 Year |
€1,200 |
284. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the figure provided by her Department to maintain existing levels of service in 2024, under her respective remits ahead of Budget 2024; the figure granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51187/23]
View answerExisting Levels of Service (ELS) figures form part of the overall Ministerial ceilings agreed by Government in Budget 2024 and are published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform as part of the Expenditure Report www.gov.ie/en/publication/df18e-budget-2024-expenditure-reports/
The funding allocation to be provided to my Department in 2024 maintains and increases funding across a wide range of key programmes and initiatives. 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.
285. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the impact of the nitrates derogation on water quality, and whether continuing the derogation is compatible with reaching the target of 100% good or higher water quality in all water bodies by 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50237/23]
View answerOverall, 53% of surface waters in Ireland are in good or high ecological status while the remaining 47% are in unsatisfactory ecological status. The principal cause of the decline in Ireland’s water quality is agriculture, with hydromorphology (physical impacts on water bodies such as barriers and drainage), forestry and wastewater impacting on water quality to a lesser extent.
Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme (NAP), through the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations (S.I. 113 of 2022), as amended, gives effect to the requirements of the Nitrates Directive and relevant parts of the Water Framework Directive. The purpose of the Regulations is to prevent pollution of surface waters and groundwater from agricultural sources and to protect and improve water quality.
The Fifth Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) was published in March 2022 and committed to undertaking an interim review of the programme in 2023. It is considered to be the strongest programme to-date. In April 2022, the Commission granted a derogation, allowing farmers authorised by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), to exceed the 170 kg N/ha/yr organic manure limit up to a maximum limit of 250 kg N/ha/yr, as stipulated in the Commission Implementing Decision on the Nitrates Derogation. There are approximately 7,300 derogation farmers in Ireland and this accounts for approximately 5% of all farmers. Derogation farmers are required to adhere to stricter environmental and water quality rules and conditions. In addition, there are requirements for DAFM to inspect 10% of all derogation farms per year. Therefore, from a water quality perspective, it is important that where the derogation facility is availed of, strict adherence to the derogation rules and conditions is maintained.
Ireland's current NAP and derogation expires in December 2025; however, the Commission Implementing Decision outlined that a water quality interim review must be undertaken to identify areas where a reduction in the derogation maximum limit should apply from 2024. Based on the specified water quality criteria set out by the Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undertook the review and identified that the organic manure limit must be reduced to 220 kg N/ha in 44,000km2 of agricultural land. The Commission Decision also stipulated that additional measures to protect water quality should be implemented in these areas where the derogation reduction applies. Informed by the EPA assessment, DAFM has developed a derogation reduction implementation map outlining where the reductions will apply from 1 January 2024.
The Nitrates Expert Group has developed a list of recommended additional measures as part of both the broader interim review of the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme, and the review identifying where the derogation reduction is required. Broadly, these recommended measures focus on improving awareness and education, improving compliance and enforcement, and reducing nutrient surpluses and losses. The proposed additional interim review measures will be subject to public consultation in the coming weeks.
Agricultural inspections and enforcement are key to ensuring compliance and achieving good water quality. I have allocated funding for 21 local authority agricultural inspectors in 2023, and I plan to allocate further funding in 2024 for additional inspectors. I have also allocated funding for five staff within the Environmental Protection Agency to provide oversight and co-ordination of the local authority National Agricultural Inspection Programme.
The Third River Basin Management Plan will be finalised and published shortly. While the Nitrates Action Programme and the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations, are key measures under the River Basin Management Plan, the plan acknowledges that regulatory measures alone will not achieve all water quality objectives. Additional measures are required to target the right measure in the right place. My department funds the Local Authority Waters Programme who undertake assessments in Areas for Action to identify what is causing the impact on water quality. If agricultural issues are identified the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme follow up with farmers to identify solutions to mitigate against impact. In conjunction with DAFM, we have established a European Innovation Programme called the Waters EIP to provide targeted advice and financial support for farmers implementing measures that are supplementary to the regulations.
286. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average time from receipt of application to decision for the croí cónaithe towns scheme, by local authority, in tabular form. [50564/23]
View answer287. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received, number approved and number refused for the croí cónaithe towns scheme, by local authority, in tabular form. [50565/23]
View answer297. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of grant applications and the number issued, by county, under the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme through the croí cónaithe (towns) for 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50780/23]
View answer318. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applicants for the vacant property refurbishment grant; and the number of approvals for same. [51084/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 287, 297 and 318 together.
Pathway 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.
The grant application process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications, including required supporting documentation and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the works applied for and proposed cost. Once approved, a letter of approval, including the grant amount approved, issues to the applicant and the works can commence.
The average processing time for applications, from date of receipt of application to date of decision, is currently 11 weeks.
In light of the success of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to date, and the number of applications received, last week the Government agreed to double the amount of homes assisted under the scheme – raising the target to 4,000 homes to be delivered by 2025.
Demand has been incredibly strong, with over 5,100 applications made to local authorities to date. Of these, over 2,400 have been approved. Payment is made by local authorities, when works are completed and verified (approximately 12 months).
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: Vacancy grant statistics
288. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether an engineer’s report is required for every application on vacancy grounds for the croí cónaithe towns scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50566/23]
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.
One of the criteria to qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is that the property must be vacant for 2 years or more. Only where the top up grant in relation to a derelict property is being applied for, is an independent report prepared by an appropriately qualified professional required to be submitted along with the application, confirming, to the satisfaction of the local authority, that the property is derelict.
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.
289. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the public sector benchmarking exercise used in the first bundle of the social housing public private partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50626/23]
View answerThe Social Housing Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme represents an additional strand of delivery to increase the supply of social housing. Housing for All includes a specific objective to increase the use of PPPs to deliver social housing and significant progress is being made under the new programme. My Department is actively working with relevant stakeholders including the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), the Housing Delivery Co-ordination Office within the Local Government Management Agency, and relevant local authorities to progress further bundles of projects. The programme currently consists of 7 bundles of sites, following the recent launch of Bundle 7, details of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/c2535-almost-650-new-social-homes-across-dublin-city-galway-limerick-and-wexford-to-be-delivered-in-new-phase-of-ppp-programme/#. Bundles 1 and 2 delivered almost 1,000 units in 2020 and 2021, and there is a further 3,500 units in the pipeline under Bundles 3 to 7.
The Public Sector Benchmark (PSB) is an essential part of any PPP project. It contains commercially sensitive information in relation to the methodology used for costing public sector projects and for the pricing of risks by public sector bodies. In accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (Guidelines for the use of Public Private Partnerships), the final PSB, or any element thereof, is not made public during the tendering process nor where it is intended to procure further similar projects in the near future (e.g. subsequent project bundles as part of an ongoing PPP programme).
As Bundle 3, which is currently progressing through the tender process, will follow the same structure as Bundles 1 and 2 and given the potential impact on value for money for the State, it is not appropriate to release the PSB for Bundles 1 and 2 at this time. However, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has agreed, in the interest of transparency and timing, that the PSB for Bundle 1 may be published when the tender process for Bundle 3 has been finalised and the contract is awarded, notwithstanding the pipeline of projects progressing as part of Bundles 4 to 7.
290. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether there is a national policy which requires adults moving into a local authority home to have been on the housing list before being accepted on to the rent book. [50637/23]
View answerThe day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including the oversight and practical management of existing tenancies is a matter solely for each local authority.
It is, however, my understanding that persons who wish to move into an existing tenancy may apply to the local authority for the right to reside in a local authority dwelling and to be on to the rent account, for example if the person is in a relationship with an existing tenant. It is a matter for the local authority to assess this application, and approve or refuse it, as appropriate, in line with the assessment criteria it has in place including the control of anti-social behaviour, good estate management, the avoidance of overcrowding, etc.
291. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loan applications, approvals and drawdowns in each year from 2019 to date in 2023, in tabular form. [50652/23]
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 Local Authority Home Loan replaced the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, which was introduced in February 2018. The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan closed to new applications when the Local Authority Home Loan was introduced in January 2022.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Local Authority Home Loan and its predecessor the Rebuilding Ireland 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.
My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns for both the Local Authority Home Loan. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower. My Department does not collect statistics on the number of applications submitted to Local Authorities. Information on drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals for the Local Authority Home Loan up to Q2 2023 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
292. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 November 2023, if he will provide a breakdown of the number of local authorities that have drawn down funding from the available €180,000; the amount they have requested; the amount they have received to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50692/23]
View answerIn acknowledgement of the administrative overheads for local authorities in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, the Department provides an initial supporting allocation of up to €180,000 to each local authority in respect of processing applications for both schemes, which are funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, as follows:
• Up to 50 applications received - €60,000
• 51 – 100 applications received - an additional €60,000
• Over 100 applications received - an additional €60,000 (in total - €180,000)
A request for funding must be submitted by the local authority to the Department. The table below outlines support funding requested and paid to local authorities to date.
|
Local Authority |
Funding support claimed and paid to date |
|
Carlow |
€60,000 |
|
Cavan |
€60,000 |
|
Clare |
€180,000 |
|
Cork City |
€120,000 |
|
Cork county |
€180,000 |
|
Donegal |
€180,000 |
|
Dublin City |
€180,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
€60,000 |
|
Fingal |
€120,000 |
|
Galway City |
€60,000 |
|
Galway County |
€180,000 |
|
Kerry |
€180,000 |
|
Kildare |
€120,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
€120,000 |
|
Laois |
€120,000 |
|
Leitrim |
€120,000 |
|
Limerick |
€180,000 |
|
Longford |
€120,000 |
|
Louth |
€60,000 |
|
Mayo |
€180,000 |
|
Meath |
€120,000 |
|
Monaghan |
€120,000 |
|
Offaly |
€120,000 |
|
Roscommon |
€180,000 |
|
Sligo |
€120,000 |
|
South Dublin |
€60,000 |
|
Tipperary |
€180,000 |
|
Waterford |
€60,000 |
|
Westmeath |
€120,000 |
|
Wexford |
€180,000 |
|
Wicklow |
€60,000 |
293. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify whether a set of expenses (details supplied) will be covered under the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50722/23]
View answerI understand that the Question refers to the proposed Apartment Remediation Scheme. Since the receipt of Government approval in January of this year, I have been working hard to progress the various programmes of work that are required to place the apartment remediation scheme on a statutory footing.
Bespoke legislation is needed to underpin the remediation scheme, the cost of which is estimated at more than €2 billion. The Government are entirely focused on establishing a scheme that is fit for purpose and works for the people impacted.
I have listened to calls from homeowner representative bodies and 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 will be worked out as the legislation is drafted.
My Department is also working closely with the Housing Agency and key stakeholders to facilitate the provision of funding for interim fire safety measures on an administrative basis. Further details of this will be published in the coming weeks.
While this work is progressing, work is advancing to draft the required legislation to place the remediation scheme on a statutory footing. 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.
