Written Answers Nos. 291-319
291. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education for an update on the progression of a new school build (details supplied); if the said build can be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4238/24]
View answerThe Department has approved the provision of a new school building for Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Lisdoonvarna. This project requires the provision of a new site. A number of potential site options have been identified and these are currently under consideration. This includes technical and economical appraisals of all potential site options.Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment further at this stage.
292. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on an application submitted by a school (details supplied) for approval for four modular classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4239/24]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for capital funding for both additional Mainstream and SEN accommodation.Officials in my Department have been in communication with the school authorities in relation to their application. This application is currently under consideration. When a final decision has been reached it will be communicated by my Department to the school authorities.
293. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the approved plan for a new site and build for a school (details supplied). [4258/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a potential permanent site option for Mean Scoil Mhuire, Longford has been identified and technically assessed. Discussions are ongoing with Longford County Council in relation to the deliverability and feasibility of the site in question. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment further at this stage.
294. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she can assure parents in north Kildare, that their children currently forced to receive home tuition for first year, due to the lack of a school place, will have their second year school place guaranteed in September 2024 and for all subsequent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4275/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in North Kildare.
A critical next step for my Department is to establish the actual number of additional school places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including North Kildare, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. This data has been received by my officials and is currently being analysed with a view to establishing the actual requirement for places. Preliminary assessments indicate that duplications of applications, and applications from outside the local area, are very much contributing to enrolment pressures in North Kildare.
My Department is working to clarify the actual requirement for additional school places and to identify particular further capacity requirements for 2024 and forthcoming years. My Department will engage with schools and patrons to put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Department does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools.Where a board of management make a decision to refuse admission, a parent/guardian can appeal that decision under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, and an independent appeals committee will be appointed to consider the appeal. The role of the Section 29 hearing committee is to examine the application for enrolment and consider if it was correctly processed by the school, in accordance with the school’s Enrolment Policy.This Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a student, except in circumstances where an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 has been allowed and the appeals committee directs that the school admit the child concerned.
As you are aware, section 29 of the Education Act, 2008, as amended by Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018, provides for a paper based appeal to be considered by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister for Education, in circumstances where a parent has been refused enrolment due to oversubscription.My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities.This close engagement will allow my Department to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/.
295. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up-to-date position on a sports capital grant application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3713/24]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September, 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications, including one from the organisation to which the Deputy refers. The total number of 3,210 applications exceeds the record number submitted under the last (2020) round.
The "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published. I have also published the full list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. The detailed assessment work has commenced and it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.
296. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has availed of services and or consultancy from a list of related companies (details supplied) in the past five years to date; if so, if she will provide a schedule of costs and the purpose for which the company was engaged; and if she continued to use services provided by it. [3790/24]
View answerMy Department in its current configuration was established in September 2020. I am advised that my Department has not availed of services or consultancy from the companies in question in the period since its establishment and to the present date.
297. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the legislative process for new rental properties (details supplied) rule will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3793/24]
View answerIn accordance with the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535, the proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill remains with the EU Commission. TRIS requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical regulations concerning products and information society services before they are adopted in national law. Such a notification triggers a standstill period during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted.
This standstill period remains in place, having been extended since the previous extension date, 22 December 2023.
The EU Commission extended the standstill period as it considered that the STTL Bill concerns a matter covered in part by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of 7 November 2022 (EU STR).
My officials have continued to consistently engage with the EU Commission and as most recently as this week, there has been engagement between officials and the EU Commission Directorate. As part of this ongoing engagement, officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and representatives from Fáilte Ireland have also met with representatives of the Commission.
A positive response from the Commission, which is hoped for shortly, and the clarity now on the EU STR should allow the legislative process to commence soon with enactment of the Bill in the period shortly thereafter.
The enactment of the STTL Bill will provide the statutory basis for Fáilte Ireland to establish the STTL register. Once established all properties in the STTL sector will have to be registered with Fáilte Ireland. Upon registration STTL proprietors will be asked to confirm their compliance with statutory obligations, including planning permission requirements.
The DHLGH intends to issue updated planning guidelines in respect of STTL properties in due course. I am aware of the importance of STTL properties to rural tourism and I understand that these guidelines will reflect a shared understanding of this importance.
298. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next round of allocations under the Sports Capital Programme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3851/24]
View answerThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September, 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications, exceeds the record number submitted under the last (2020) round.
The "Scoring System and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round has been finalised and published along with the full list of all applications received by county and the relevant sport type for each application received. The detailed assessment work has commenced and it is planned to assess the "equipment-only" applications first and announce these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later.
299. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline her plans to address the bed shortage in the tourism sector as a result of many beds being used in the response to the migration crisis. [3872/24]
View answerThe war in Ukraine, combined with the high number of international protection applicants has resulted in the largest humanitarian effort in the State's history. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for the management of State contracts to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) fleeing the war in Ukraine, and International Protection (IP) applicants and, while grateful for the role that the tourism sector has played so far in accommodating BOTPs and IP applicants, is aware that this is not sustainable over the longer term.
In June and November 2023, Fáilte Ireland carried out detailed analyses of data provided by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth concerning the bed stock under contract to accommodate Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and International Protection applicants and established that, in June, 13% of all registered tourism accommodation stock nationally was under contract to the State reducing to 12% by November 2023. An additional quantum of tourism-type accommodation that is not registered with Fáilte Ireland is also contracted to the State. This analysis also identified that, in five counties, more than 20% of the registered tourism accommodation stock is used for humanitarian purposes.
During 2023, Fáilte Ireland also undertook research on the impact of tourism accommodation stock displacement on tourist attraction and activity providers. The overall findings were that most attractions, experiences and activity providers experienced a drop in business volume during 2023 compared to 2019 across all three markets (ROI, NI and overseas). The research also indicated that competition from overseas destinations was a major issue, especially when trying to attract Irish holidaymakers who are able to travel abroad again. Public contracts for accommodation were also seen as a key contributor to the decline in business, especially in the overseas market.
As part of the Budget 2024, I am making up to €10 million available for a programme of supports targeted at those downstream tourism businesses experiencing particular challenges linked to the reduction in footfall in regions most impacted by tourism bed stock displacement. This programme of supports includes investment in sustainable tourism development and promotion, industry digitalisation, promotion of domestic tourism and festivals and recruitment and retention initiatives. My officials and Fáilte Ireland have engaged intensively on this scheme and I am advised that the scheme details will be finalised and published soon.
300. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the dates in 2023 and to date in 2024 where she or her officials met directly with persons (details supplied) , in tabular form. [3876/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
|
Dates |
|
25 January 2023 |
|
20 April 2023 |
|
9 May 2023 |
|
16 October 2023* |
|
7 November 2023 |
*Meeting also included Minister Martin.
In addition to the scheduled meetings detailed above, I have also met the individuals referred to in details supplied informally at sporting events throughout 2023 and in January 2024.
301. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the contracts that have been granted without having to go to public tender; the companies that were granted those contracts and nature of the work involved; and the qualifying criteria that was awarded to any company awarded such a contract in 2023. [4089/24]
View answerAll Government Departments are required to include a note in relation to compliance with procurement rules in the Appropriation Accounts published annually, and to include details of any contracts with a value of over €25,000, which are awarded without a competitive tender. The link to the Annual Appropriation Accounts as published by the Comptroller and Auditor General is included below.
www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/
The 2023 figures will be published by the Comptroller and Auditor General following completion of their annual audit of the account.
In relation to contracts below €25,000, my Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good procurement practice and procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines.
302. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of progress on the short-term tourist letting register; when the register will be launched; if she will detail the research which was undertaken in making her Department's estimate that the measure would bring 12,000 properties back onto the long-term rental market and the justification for that figure; if she will report on her engagement with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4122/24]
View answerIn accordance with the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535, the proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill remains with the EU Commission. TRIS requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical regulations concerning products and information society services before they are adopted in national law. Such a notification triggers a standstill period during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted.
This standstill period remains in place, having been extended since the previous extension date, 22 December 2023.
The EU Commission extended the standstill period as it considered that the STTL Bill concerns a matter covered in part by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of 7 November 2022 (EU STR).
My officials have continued to consistently engage with the EU Commission and as most recently as this week, there has been engagement between officials and the EU Commission Directorate. As part of this ongoing engagement, officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and representatives from Fáilte Ireland have also met with representatives of the Commission.
A positive response from the Commission, which is hoped for shortly, and the clarity now on the EU STR should allow the legislative process to commence soon with enactment of the Bill in the period shortly thereafter
The enactment of the STTL Bill will provide the statutory basis for Fáilte Ireland to establish the STTL register. Once established all properties in the STTL sector will have to be registered with Fáilte Ireland. Upon registration STTL proprietors will be asked to confirm their compliance with statutory obligations, including planning permission requirements.
The DHLGH intends to issue updated planning guidelines in respect of STTL properties in due course. I am aware of the importance of STTL properties to rural tourism and I understand that these guidelines will reflect a shared understanding of this importance.
The research undertaken by Fáilte Ireland in respect of the identification of properties that could return to the long-term rental market on foot of the establishment of a register is a best estimate based on publicly available listings on the four largest online letting platforms. It identifies the proportion of properties that may be suitable for long-term rental based on location and property type. It is worth pointing out that the 12,000 figure to which the Deputy refers is based on an earlier estimate; the current best estimate, based on further analysis, is that up to 10,700 properties could be ultimately available to the long-term rental market.
This estimate is arrived at without having a fully accurate picture of the stock of short-term tourist letting accommodation; the register to be established under this legislation will address that information deficit. What proportion of this estimated quantum will return to the long-term rental sector will depend on a variety of factors including the exact location and type of property, the property owners’ own decision-making process, and the decision-making of local authorities in relation to planning permission.
In the absence of a register as proposed under this legislation, there is no further analysis available to my Department or to Fáilte Ireland to identify those properties that may be suitable for long-term rental.
There has been continuous ongoing engagement between my Department and the DHLGH in relation to this Housing for All (HfA) action since the HfA plan was published in September 2021. Officials from both departments as well as Fáilte Ireland attended a briefing with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process. As part of the ongoing engagement with the European Commission officials from both departments have also attended meetings with the Commission in June and December 2023 in relation the STTL Bill and the EU STR proposal.
In addition, on 3 February 2023, officials from my Department and Fáilte Ireland provided a virtual briefing to the Tourism Committee of the County and City Management Association on the Bill and on 14 March 2023 an in-person briefing was provided to the housing committee of the Local Government Management Agency.
Domestically, engagement between officials from my department, Fáilte Ireland, the DHLGH and stakeholders in the Irish short-term letting sector continues. These engagements have taken the form of numerous meetings, briefing sessions and an in-person roundtable discussion with major stakeholders and will intensify in preparation for the launch of the Irish short-term letting register once alignment with the EU STR proposal is confirmed and the TRIS process is concluded.
303. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what steps her Department is taking to ensure similar access to sporting facilities for men and women. [4198/24]
View answerA fundamental aim of the Government’s National Sports Policy 2018-2027 is to increase the levels of participation in sport and physical activity across the population, with a specific focus on less represented groups including women and girls. A lot of good progress is being made, not just in terms of increasing participation by women and girls but also in the important areas of leadership and management roles in sport. Since the introduction of the Women in Sport Programme in 2005, the participation gradient between females and males has reduced from 15.7% to 5% in 2022. Further narrowing and ultimate elimination of the gradient remains the policy objective.
In the 2023 Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) 'Guide to Making an Application’, a new rule was introduced in relation to access to facilities for both local projects and regional projects. In relation to applications for local projects which accommodate both men and women, applicants that do not provide access to their facilities, on similar terms, to men and women will not be eligible for capital funding under SCEP. Applications for local projects that do not benefit both men and women will not be eligible for capital funding unless there are alternative similar facilities available locally.
Furthermore, under SCEP, in relation to applications for national/regional projects, applicants were required to set out their facility access policy which provides for similar access for men and women. However, as one of the stated objectives of the SCEP is to increase female participation, all applications (i.e. local and regional) for funding of women-only facilities will be deemed valid for consideration.
Minister Martin and I recently announced that a new round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website, in due course. For the first time, it will be a requirement for all successful applicants to publish their Similar Access Policy, in respect of men and women having access to the facilities on similar terms in order for LSSIF funding to be drawn down.
304. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update in relation to the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. [4199/24]
View answerThe National Sports Policy which was published in 2018 provided for a new Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the fund is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports projects and facilities where the required Exchequer investment is greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP). In terms of the initial allocations, €86.4 million was awarded to 33 different proposals. Minister Martin and I recently announced additional funding amounting to a total of €37.6 million, with 27 existing LSSIF projects benefitting, bringing the total awarded to date to LSSIF-funded projects to €124 million.
The additional funding for projects is being provided, in response to delays experienced by grantees arising from the pandemic and construction inflation, following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Minister Martin and I also recently confirmed that a new round of the LSSIF will open for applications in the first half of 2024, with the dates, terms and conditions to be published on the Department’s website in due course.
305. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update in relation to the joint Ireland and UK bid to host UEFA EURO 2028. [4200/24]
View answerUEFA announced on Tuesday 10 October 2023 that Ireland will jointly host the UEFA EURO 2028 Championship with the UK. This tournament presents a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ireland and our world-class tourism and sport offerings to Europe and the wider world. The award of the tournament to Ireland and the UK rewards the intensive North-South and East West co-operation in the preparation, planning and presentation of the bid.
It will be the largest sporting event Ireland and the UK has ever jointly staged and the largest single international sporting event held in Ireland.
An economic impact study was conducted on the value of the tournament. Taking into account that six games may be hosted in Dublin, it is estimated that the tournament should realise a discounted Gross Value Added (GVA) for Ireland of €189 million in 2022 prices. When benefits that accrue in subsequent years are taken into account the benefit is estimated to rise to a value of €241 million. Allowing for costs of approximately €65.6 million in 2022 prices this will yield a significant return on investment to the State.
The budget, which includes items such as security, local authority, transport and some stadium costs, will be kept under review, and all costs will be monitored, controlled and appropriately scrutinised throughout delivery to ensure value for money.
The State's investment in the Championship will be spread across a number of Departments and Agencies, with the bulk of the funding requirement falling due in 2027 and 2028. The key partners in this regard will be the Department of Justice (with regard to policing and security costs), Dublin City Council (fanzone sites, dressing and other infrastructure), the Department of Transport and my own Department.All costs arising will be addressed as part of the normal Estimates processes in the years leading up to the event.The close and positive co-operation between all five jurisdictions was crucial in allowing all the bid partners to jointly support the submission of the bid. Now that the championships have been awarded to Ireland and the UK engagement between the jurisdictions is continuing. The partnership has commenced developing the governance structures required and preparations are underway for hosting a successful championships in 2028.
My Department will continue to work closely with the Football Association of Ireland, Dublin City Council and other Government Departments and agencies as well as with our UK partners as plans are developed.
306. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what steps her Department is taking to develop a strategy to identify the type of major sporting events Ireland can and should bid for. [4201/24]
View answerThe Government continues to support the hosting of major sports events in Ireland and to explore further hosting opportunities.
This is evidenced by the Government’s support for events such as the US College Football Classic every August from 2022 – 2026, the hosting of the UEFA Europa League Final in 2024, the Ryder Cup in 2027 in Limerick and the EURO 2028 football championships.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a Major International Sports Events Policy is currently being developed by my Department. The aim is to establish whether and how Government should support major international sports events, the benefits it should seek to derive from them, the supports it could offer and the kind of events it should prioritise for support. This will provide the basis for the development of a strategy to support and attract major international sports events and for an assessment model based on the identified priorities.
As part of this policy development, focused consultations with key stakeholders have been held and a public consultation has been completed. My Department has undertaken research, including consideration of the policies and strategies in place in other countries.
A draft high level policy paper is currently the subject of consultation with other Government Departments and it is intended to submit a refined policy to Government in the coming period. The policy and strategy will inform the approach to bidding for major sports events in the future.
307. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an outline of measures taken by her Department and its relevant agencies to tackle violence, racism, discrimination and other forms of abuse in sport. [4202/24]
View answerThe Government is unequivocal in its stance against all forms of violence, racism, discrimination and other forms of abuse in sport and gives effect to this position through a variety of measures. In particular, Sport Ireland has a specific Policy on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport and this was published in May 2022. The policy expresses a vision for a sport sector that celebrates diversity, promotes inclusion, and is proactive in providing opportunities for lifelong participation for everyone.
Both my Department and Sport Ireland are fully committed to developing a strong and diverse National Governing Body (NGB) sector that delivers for the sporting community in Ireland. A key focus in this regard is to assist NGBs to develop sustainable and effective structures to facilitate increased numbers of participants and volunteers in sport.
Sport Ireland is currently developing a suite of resources relating to diversity and inclusion in and through sport. This will consist of targeted workshops, in addition to the development of resources which can be disseminated across all levels of the sport sector.
Moreover, through the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strand of our Dormant Accounts funded sports programme, Sport Ireland received a number of applications for funding from NGBs to strengthen their work in the area of equality, diversity and inclusion in sport, and to support the implementation of the Sport Ireland Policy on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport. Sport Ireland will continue to support NGBs in this regard.
I would also like to emphasise the national code of conduct template developed by Sport Ireland for Irish sports, which I launched in August 2023. In response to several high-profile incidents, Sport Ireland partnered with representatives from the Irish sports sector, including referees and officials, to develop this template code of conduct for sport in Ireland, the implementation of which we will be monitoring closely. This initiative aims to foster a culture of respect, integrity, and fairness within the sporting community by addressing and eliminating abuse towards referees, officials, coaches, players, and all participants involved. The newly created code of conduct template outlines a set of guidelines and principles that promotes the behaviour and conduct expected from athletes, coaches, parents/guardians, supporters, referees/officials, and club members, regardless of the sporting environment.
The template can be found here: Sport Ireland Code of Conduct Template.pdf
308. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update in relation to the Sports Action Plan and its requirement to have 40% gender representation on the boards of the National Governing Bodies of Sport. [4203/24]
View answerAddressing female participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy and a core priority for myself and Minister Catherine Martin. That includes women in leadership positions such as board members of National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
The Sports Action Plan set a target for all NGBs to achieve 40% gender representation on their boards by the end of 2023. It is a priority to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% target reflects this prioritisation. The average percentage of women on boards of NGBs has increased from 24%, in 2019, to 43%. In relation to the overall percentage of women on boards in the Irish sports sector, this now stands at 44%.
Those NGBs who have not obtained the target of 40% females on their boards will only be permitted to draw down 50% of their funding allocation from Sport Ireland this year, until such time as they reach the 40% target. Sport Ireland will continue to provide support to NGBs towards achieving the target of 40% and will continue to monitor and report on progress.
309. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what steps her Department is taking to support Women in Sport programmes. [4204/24]
View answerAddressing women’s participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and Minister Martin and I are committed to ensuring that we continue to provide increased opportunities for female participation at all levels.
Funding allocated for this year shows an increase of €8 million or 5% in the sport budget. This includes an increase of €2 million for the Women in Sport programme this year. The Women in Sport funding programme is in place since 2005 and over €30 million has been invested since then through the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and the Local Sports Partnerships.
This is a very important funding programme for sporting bodies and it will continue to support those bodies in putting programmes in place to increase women’s participation in their sports and to progress their strategic objectives for women in sport across all areas including active participation, coaching, officiating and leadership.
The increased budget will also facilitate Sport Ireland to continue to lead out on programmes and initiatives that support the implementation of the Sport Ireland Policy on Women in Sport.
The funding is being administered by Sport Ireland, which sets out the terms and conditions of funding. Sport Ireland has opened the 2024 scheme for applications from sporting bodies.
Sport Ireland’s funding guidelines for the Women in Sport programme continue to encourage organisations to develop Women in Sport programmes and initiatives focused on the key areas outlined in Sport Ireland's policy on women in sport, namely, Coaching and Officiating, Active Participation, Leadership and Governance and Visibility.
Investment in the Programme to date has enhanced all aspects of female involvement across these target areas.
We set a target for all NGBs to achieve 40% gender representation on their boards by the end of 2023. It is a priority to enable women to take more leadership positions in sport and the 40% target reflects this prioritisation. The average percentage of women on boards of NGBs has increased from 24%, in 2019, to 43%. In relation to the overall percentage of women on boards in the Irish sports sector, this now stands at 44%.
Those NGBs who have not yet obtained the target of 40% females on their boards will only be permitted to draw down 50% of their funding allocation from Sport Ireland this year, until such time as they reach the 40% target. Sport Ireland will continue to provide support to NGBs towards achieving the target of 40% and will continue to monitor and report on progress.
310. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an outline of measures taken by her Department and its relevant agencies to encourage volunteering in sport. [4205/24]
View answerThrough Dormant Accounts funding, Sport Ireland has a dedicated fund, Volunteer Supports, which is open to the Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) to apply for funding. The Volunteer Supports initiative aims to identify and assist targeted individuals who are volunteering in disadvantaged communities or with people with disabilities to gain community sport and physical activity leadership skills e.g. as coaches, leaders, referees, committee members etc. This initiative can also target secondary school aged learners who wish to develop their leadership skills. This funding stream is intended to support individuals to operate in a volunteer capacity within disadvantaged communities or with people with disabilities. Opportunities are extended to support individuals who are under-represented at all levels of volunteering, including ethnic minorities, asylum seekers and refugees, Traveller and Roma, women and girls, and people with a disability. In 2023, there was a total investment of €1,260,000 on these volunteer-related initiatives.
As a reflection of the high priority which is afforded sports volunteering, I launched a new Sport Ireland dedicated Policy on Volunteering in Sport in early January. The policy identifies a wide range of initiatives to empower the sport sector to tackle the challenges currently faced through clear, evidence-based and data-driven solutions. The policy has identified four key policy objectives:
• Diversify the Volunteer Base.
• Recruit and Grow the Volunteer Population.
• Retain Volunteers and Encourage Lifelong Volunteering.
• Recognise and Value Volunteers.
To address the target areas and to achieve the identified objectives there are several important actions that Sport Ireland will take.
1. Investment in NGBs, LSPs and funded bodies to improve the volunteer experience.
2. Resource professional roles across the sport sector.
3. Establish a Volunteer in Sport Working Group.
4. Create a Volunteer in Sport Digital Resource.
Sport Ireland will lead on the implementation of this policy, and will work closely with the sport sector and key partners to deliver on its commitments. The next steps in the implementation phase of the policy will be communicated to all stakeholders in the coming weeks.
311. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide a schedule of the number of civilian drivers and Garda drivers attached to her and to Ministers of State of her Department; to provide the official work pattern for each driver and the total annual hours worked by each driver; and to indicate the number of drivers assigned to each Minister and Minister of State. [4229/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that two Garda drivers are assigned to me as Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Garda drivers come under the auspices of the Department of Justice and my Department does not hold the information requested.
Civilian Drivers assigned to Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan (who has special responsibility for the Gaeltacht) are employed by the Office of Public Works and my Department does not hold the information requested.
There are two Civilian Drivers assigned to Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne. These drivers are employed by my Department and are scheduled to work seven days on, seven days off on a week-on week-off basis. They are contracted to work not less than 41hr 15mins gross per week and the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 applies to these appointments.
312. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many properties have been put forward by his Department by local authorities under the Ukrainian Refurbishment Programme; how many have been approved and at what cost and to provide details of those rejected and a breakdown by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4091/24]
View answerThe Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme comprises two delivery strands, one of which is focused on buildings in public ownership and the other which supports owners of private buildings to refurbish them to the appropriate standard as per guidelines from my Department. These guidelines are available on my Department's website at this www.gov.ie/en/publication/44050-guidelines-for-temporary-accommodation-in-existing-buildings-for-those-fleeing-the-war-in-ukraine-single-persons-family-type-accommodation/ . Private owners can upload their properties for consideration in the programme through the gov.ie website, linked forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1kz3hc5GbkiOn5I9PDFbr_Cz53O-RQRNm66T3C8QKQVUMjhOMEVRN1BVWFgxNDVKVUVSTEE2MzlBNy4u.
Noting that many of these buildings are privately owned, it would be inappropriate to publish the details of individual buildings. Final decisions on whether properties are suitable for progression are made by a Technical Working Group (TWG) working under the auspices of the Accommodation Working Group. Membership of the TWG includes my Department, DCEDIY, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Local Government Management Agency and the City and County Management Association.
Other than contributing to staff resources in local authorities to support the programme and wider humanitarian response, my Department does not provide funding for privately owned buildings that are being refurbished to accommodate beneficiaries of temporary protection. In 2023, €3.7m was spent on the refurbishment programme.
313. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if changes to the tenant incremental purchase scheme, which come into force on 29 January 2024, mean that tenants of Part V houses can purchase their homes under the tenant incremental purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3615/24]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The 2015 regulations were amended by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which came into effect on 29 January 2024.
These amendments include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required in order to qualify to purchase a house under the Scheme, to €11,000 per annum. In addition in the case of joint applications, only one tenant must now be in receipt of social housing supports for at least 10 years to qualify for the scheme.
The Ministerial Directions on Reckonable Income were also amended, and from that date the Widow's, Widower's, Surviving Civil Partner's Pension (Contributory and Non-Contributory), Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, and Disability Allowance, are considered to be primary reckonable income for the purposes of determining eligibility for the Scheme. Furthermore, the Working Family Payment, Age 80 (Pension) increase, and the Rural Social Scheme will now be considered as secondary sources of income.
The regulations exclude specified classes of houses from sale, including those provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties continue to be excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people most in need of social housing support.
314. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many houses have been purchased, broken down by each local authority, under the tenant-in-situ scheme; how much money has been allocated to each local authority for purchasing houses under this scheme for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3617/24]
View answer343. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authorities in relation to what the average processing time is for a tenant under the tenant-in-situ scheme. [4181/24]
View answer344. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authorities in relation to how many landlords in Dublin have applied for the tenant-in-situ scheme, only to subsequently withdraw, since the scheme commenced. [4182/24]
View answer345. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authority in relation to how many landlords in Fingal have applied for the tenant-in-situ scheme, and how many have withdrawn their applications since the scheme began. [4183/24]
View answer346. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authorities which outlines the stages of the tenant-in-situ scheme, step by step. [4184/24]
View answer347. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authorities on whether applicants are subject to Garda vetting in the tenant-in-situ scheme; and if so, why. [4185/24]
View answer348. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authorities on whether the tenant-in-situ scheme progresses during Garda vetting; or if it is delayed until completion. [4186/24]
View answer349. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authorities on when a tenant-in-situ scheme is transferred from one council to another in Dublin; and if the application start date is based on when the documentation was first submitted or when it is transferred to the other council. [4187/24]
View answer350. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authority in relation to how many staff are currently working on the tenant-in-situ scheme at Fingal County Council. [4188/24]
View answer351. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details from the local authority in relation to how many tenant-in-situ applications have been received in Fingal County Council since the scheme commenced; and how many properties the council bought. [4189/24]
View answer352. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what steps he will take to intervene in the tenant-in-situ scheme to prevent further delays in his own constituency and others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4190/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 314, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351 and 352 together.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes across the build acquisition and lease delivery streams.
For 2023, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions have focused on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter in March 2023, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2023.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by the Department. An independent valuation must also be obtained for each acquisition, in line with established practice for local authorities for social housing acquisitions. The current Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) were updated and issued to local authorities in April 2023. These guidelines are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department usually on an annual basis.
Where a household is on the housing list in one local authority but has secured a HAP tenancy in another local authority area, the arrangements in place will support the acquisition of the property, where appropriate. The City and County Management Association (CCMA) issued guidance for such acquisitions and local authorities are collaborating in such situations.
Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and offer the available supports, which may include a tenant in situ acquisition or support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock. It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. My Department does not hold data on the number of social housing acquisitions applications that have been withdrawn or rejected, nor does it hold data on the timelines or process steps for such acquisitions. Further information may be available from individual local authorities.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 3 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
315. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider, as part of the review of the croí cónaithe scheme, adding farm buildings to the eligible list of buildings, as many old farm buildings are no longer suitable for modern-day agricultural practices and are being left abandoned as they serve little or no purpose (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3654/24]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. 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. 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.
Agricultural buildings are not eligible for the grant. The types of buildings eligible for the grant will be considered as part of a comprehensive review and evaluation of the scheme which is being undertaken at present and is expected to be completed in mid-2024.
316. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department monitors operational standards in Uisce Éireann. [3717/24]
View answerThe monitoring of operational standards in Uisce Éireann is a matter for which I have no function. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is statutorily tasked with monitoring Uisce Éireann's performance in accordance with section 39 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (as amended). I have asked the CRU to respond directly on this matter. The CRU has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members: at oireachtas@cru.ie.
317. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how much funding is provided to local authorities in 2024 to carry out property inspections (whether by third party private contractors working on their behalf or by local authority staff directly in order to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. [3755/24]
View answer318. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many of the 31 local authorities have a dedicated property inspection staff member/team to conduct inspections in line with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019, in tabular form. [3756/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together.
The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 and specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light, fire safety and the safety of gas, oil and electrical supplies. These Regulations apply to all properties let or available for let. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the standards set down in the Regulations. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority.
The Government is committed to ensuring that a stock of high quality accommodation is available for those who live in the private rented sector. Housing for All sets a target of 25% for the inspection of all private residential tenancies from 2021. A total of €9 million in Exchequer funding is being made available to local authorities by my Department this year.
Provisional figures for last year indicate that local authorities conducted an all-time high of circa 64,000 inspections of private rented dwellings, up from circa 49,000 in 2022 and 20,000 in 2021. Annual data in respect of the level of inspections and enforcement carried out by each local authority is available on my Department's website at the following link, finalised data for 2023 will be uploaded in due course:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. The structure of private rental inspection teams varies across local authorities and is a matter for the local authorities themselves. Some local authorities have a dedicated team with the sole function of enforcing the minimum rental standards Regulations in the private rental sector. Many have teams and staff with multiple housing-related functions, including the enforcement of the rental standards. A small number of local authorities augment their rental inspection capacity with Health Service Executive environmental health officers and/or third-party contractors.
319. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to seek engagement with the Housing Agency in respect of a person’s pyrite concerns (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3761/24]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023. The new scheme is now open to applications in four counties: Clare, Donegal, Limerick and Mayo with comprehensive information of all aspects of the Scheme available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/8002e-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/.
When a local authority that is not designated under the Scheme determines through the established mechanisms that homes within their functional area have been damaged by defective concrete blocks, they can seek to have the scheme extended to include any such county or part of such county.
Section 5 of the Act contains details on this process. This statutory designation process can commence upon a request by a local authority or by myself, as Ministers, to the Housing Agency, and whereby the Agency thereafter carries out technical testing of dwellings in a given local authority administrative area. As soon as practicable after the completion of any testing, 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.
In the first instance a homeowner should make contact with their local authority, in this case Louth County Council. Upon a request from the local authority, officials in the Housing Agency will meet with the council to discuss the process and what is required under the 2022 Act.
