Written Answers Nos. 300-315
300. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to introduce a nationwide cull of American mink as part of the recently announced alien species management plan; if local conservation and angling groups will be asked for submissions on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53254/23]
View answerMy Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the implementation of a suite of National and EU legislation in relation to invasive alien species in Ireland. There are no plans at present in my Department for a nationwide cull of American mink.
My Department also leads on the development of a National Management Plan for Invasive Alien Species. This Plan, an important Programme for Government measure, has been drafted with a steering committee of national experts from Government Departments, agencies, local authorities and representative groups. Wider stakeholder engagement workshops were held recently in Dublin and in Limerick, and the draft Plan is now being readied for the public consultation stage in the new year.
301. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the emergency funding scheme for fire safety works and other remediation works will be implemented; when the legislation underpinning the scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53259/23]
View answer315. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm if funding for interim fire safety works will be provided to homeowners or OMCs impacted by building defects before 31 January 2023. [53451/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 315 together.
I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing, and the stress that is caused when defects arise in relation to their buildings. The Government is committed to helping those whose lives have been impacted by this issue.
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 expect that the draft legislation will be published in 2024 and that, subject to the legislative process, the statutory scheme will be in place shortly thereafter.
I recognise that there may be some apartment developments that will need to carry out certain fire safety works as a matter of urgency. 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. Further details of this scheme will be published shortly.
302. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the Land Development Agency tenders for services, and which services it tenders for; the timeline for the next round of tenders for services such as quantity surveying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53270/23]
View answerThe information requested in relation to the work of Land Development Agency relates to operational matters and as such is not held by my Department.
As with all State bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, arrangements have been put in place by the LDA through which Oireachtas members can request information directly from the Agency in relation to operational matters - in this regard, the LDA may be contacted directly at oireachtas@lda.ie.
303. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the formula by which qualification for social housing is assessed, the documentation used to make this assessment and the overtime that is reckonable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53283/23]
View answerApplications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
An assessment of the qualification of the household for support is based on certain eligibility criteria including income and an assessment of the household's need for social housing support is based primarily on the condition or stability of tenure of the applicant's current accommodation.
The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. In this context, local authorities will disregard overtime paid in the relevant 12-month assessment period up to a maximum of 10% of the applicant household's annual basic income.
The documentation required is set out in the social housing application form. A degree of discretion is permitted to the local authorities as to the extent of documentation the authority deems necessary to ascertain a household’s average income over the preceding 12 months in order to satisfy themselves of the household’s true income pattern.
304. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what hare coursing meetings have been monitored by NPWS rangers to date, including the release of hares after these meetings (details supplied); if he will ensure that every single hare coursing meeting is monitored from now on, and all harereleases, to get an accurate picture of the number of hares released into the wild; and whether, as part of the monitoring process, he will require the rangers to visit each coursing club prior to their meetings, to count hares kept in captivity and take note of ear tag numbers so that these can be checked against the list of hare tag numbers supplied to the NPWS as per Condition 4 of the Section 34 (Wildlife Act) Licence to Tag Hares. [53313/23]
View answerThe following hare coursing meetings have been monitored by NPWS staff during the 2023/24 hare coursing season: Kilflynn; Liscannor; Ennis and Clarecastle; Westmeath United; Abbeydorney; Ballyheigue; Edenderry; Loughrea; Ballinagar; Thurles; Castleisland; Fermoy and Grange; Freshford; Listowel; New Ross; Nenagh; Regional and Tradaree; Co. Cavan and Westport; Ballyduff; Enniscorthy; Killimer and Kilrush; Rathkeale and Limerick City.
ICC hare capture forms, control steward reports, veterinary reports and hare release forms along with NPWS monitoring report forms, where applicable, are being published on the NPWS website on an ongoing basis.
Meetings are monitored, where possible, by local NPWS staff and by DAFM, and an increased number of meetings have been monitored in recent years.
305. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the fees paid by his Department for consultation services provided by a firm (details supplied), broken down by the amount paid and purpose of consultation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53324/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
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Purpose of Consultation |
Amount Paid € |
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Following a public procurement process on the e-tenders and OJEU websites in early 2022, the Department of the Taoiseach awarded a contract for data strategy services to support the implementation of the Housing for All plan to Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants. My Department is responsible for payment of approved invoices in relation to that contract. |
3,388,310.52 |
306. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the fees paid by his Department for consultation services provided by the firm (details supplied), broken down amount paid and purpose of consultation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53325/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
307. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the fees paid by his Department for consultation services provided by the firm (details supplied), broken down by the amount paid and purpose of consultation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53326/23]
View answerMy Department has not paid any fees to the company concerned in respect of any current contracts. My Department does hold one current contract with the company concerned but work has yet to begin and no fees have been paid. Details of that contract can be found in my response to Question No. 681 of 7 November 2023.
308. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the fees paid by his Department for consultation services provided by the firm (details supplied), broken down by the amount paid and purpose of consultation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53327/23]
View answerMy Department does not currently hold any contracts with the company concerned.
309. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a response to the representations made to his Department on 9 August 2023, regarding an event (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53328/23]
View answerI can confirm that the representations referred to have been received by my Office. The details of the request have been passed on to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and a response will issue shortly regarding the licensing/permit process for this proposed event.
310. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the Vacant Homes Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53367/23]
View answerTackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and a suite of measures has been introduced to address vacancy and increase the pace at which properties are brought back into use.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January, outlines all of the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties back into use as possible.
As part of the Action Plan, a new CPO Activation Programme was launched in April. The Programme supports a proactive, planned and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant and derelict properties, bringing them back into use as homes. It also includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.
Overall, there is a target of 4,000 properties entering the CPO Activation Programme in 2023. Of these, a target of 400 has been set for properties to enter the compulsory acquisition process, where engagement with the owner has not resulted in the vacant or derelict property being brought back into use. Individual targets have been set for each local authority for 2023. Progress on the Programme will be reported in quarter 2, 2024.
Under the Action Plan, I announced a €150 million Urban Regeneration Development Fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties, and sites, for re-use or sale, using their compulsory purchase powers were necessary. The Fund will then be replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of a site, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Local authorities, when applying for the funding, have indicated that they could identify projects generating some 4,850 residential units.
A key initiative to address vacancy and dereliction has been the introduction of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. From May 2023, up to a maximum of €50,000 in grant funding is available to support the refurbishment of a vacant property into a home. Where the property is confirmed as derelict, up to a maximum of €70,000 in grant funding is available. Over 5,400 applications have been made for the Grant to date, with over 2,700 approved, and grants are now starting to be paid out as works are completed.
Full-time, dedicated Vacant Homes Officers are now in place across all 31 local authorities, ensuring a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan outlines all of the actions that have been taken and those planned to address vacancy. These actions will be overseen and driven by my Department who will report on the work being undertaken
The most efficient home to deliver is one which already exists. I firmly believe that the commitment this Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes and revitalising local communities.
311. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an application has been received by Fingal County Council for inclusion in the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme; if he can provide a timeline for the inclusion of local authorities in the scheme once applications are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53389/23]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023, which provides for the enhanced grant scheme, and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
Section 5 of the Act contains details on the process for the inclusion of additional local authority areas into the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme. This statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Minister, and whereby the Housing Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings in a given local authority administrative area.
I understand that Fingal County Council, in accordance with Section 5(7) of the Act submitted a request to the Housing Agency on 21 September, 2023 for inclusion in the scheme. The Housing Agency has commenced the process of procuring a Chartered Engineer from their existing Framework Panel to assist in their investigations and consultations. It is envisaged that the investigations (including concrete block sampling and testing) and consultations required under the Act will start in December 2023.
As soon as practicable after the completion of the investigations, the Housing Agency shall make a recommendation to me whether an order to designate the whole or part of a local authority's administrative area should or should not be made by the Government.
312. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to make changes to the requirement for election candidates to declare their full home address on ballot papers. [53444/23]
View answerUnder electoral law, a nomination paper must state the name, address and occupation (if any) of a candidate at an election. A ballot paper must contain the name and description of the candidate standing nominated, as shown in the nomination paper. This requirement is intended as a means of identifying a candidate and ensuring the transparency of elections. In ruling on the validity of a nomination paper, the independent returning officer must, amongst other things, object to the description of a candidate which is, in his or her opinion, incorrect or insufficient to identify the candidate.
Guidance provided to returning officers by my Department in advance of elections states that a candidate’s address need not necessarily relate to their residence but could, for example, refer to their place of business such as a constituency office.
During the recent Committee Stage debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023 the issue of the requirement for the address of a candidate on ballot papers was raised. During the debate I highlighted that An Coimisiún Toghcháin has now prepared its first draft research programme and is seeking the views of the Oireachtas, the public and other interested parties on its research priorities. The issue of addresses on ballot papers is an issue that An Coimisiún could consider. An Coimisiún is inviting submissions before the 12 January 2024.
Changes to electoral law in respect of the issue would have regard to any recommendations made by An Coimisiún.
313. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that applicants to the first defective concrete block remediation scheme on transfer to the revised defective concrete block remediation scheme will be eligible for grant levels based on the most up-to-date SCSI square meter rates. [53449/23]
View answerI can confirm that applications under the previous Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant scheme will benefit retrospectively from the increased grant amounts and allowances made available under the Enhanced DCB Grant Scheme.
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) provided updated cost reports for the North West and Midwest Regions in February and April 2023, respectively. The Expert Group reviewed these reports and recommended grant rates for inclusion in the 2023 Regulations which I accepted.
314. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm when he intends to publish a summary commentary on the Mulcahy report into allegations of planning irregularities in County Donegal. [53450/23]
View answerI am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course.
The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons. The Attorney General's office has been consulted on both the content of the report and also on the issue of its potential publication and dissemination
Further, regarding the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (OCE-103174-W9G4J2 (Legacy Reference CEI-18-0019)) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.
It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. The Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals." Therefore, this is a matter that requires careful consideration given that the report details unproven allegations against named persons.
