Written Answers Nos. 205-224
205. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the infrastructure at Dublin Airport, such as taxiways, ramp area and contact stands are adequate to cater for existing aircraft operations. [23844/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy is aware, daa holds statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport, including the provision of adequate capacity to meet current and future demand.
Passenger traffic at Dublin Airport in 2017 increased to almost 30 million. As this growth trend is expected to continue, albeit at a slower pace, capacity concerns at Dublin Airport in the short, medium and longer term are being managed and addressed in a number of ways.
In the short to medium term, I understand that the daa has a programme of works underway at the Airport, which comprises a suite of passenger-processing, stands and airfield projects required to deliver passenger growth to end-2019. With further passenger growth envisaged beyond 2019, additional infrastructure will be required to ensure the sustainable development of the Airport in accordance with a new Dublin Airport Masterplan. The next Capital Investment Programme, due to be finalised by the Commission for Aviation Regulation next year, will provide an allowance for necessary investment in capital infrastructure at the Airport from 2020.
To ensure that Dublin Airport, along with our other State airports at Cork and Shannon, are prepared for the longer term to 2050, a Review of their capacity need is now underway. In the case of Dublin Airport only, the study is considering the time frame for the development of new terminal capacity – Terminal 3 – and its appropriate design and optimum location as well as an assessment of the relative advantages and disadvantages of the funding and operation of Terminal 3 by the existing airport operator in comparison to being operated on an independent basis. I expect the review to be completed shortly.
206. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a meeting will be organised with Monaghan County Council to discuss roads funding for an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23858/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA meeting will be arranged at a time and date that is mutually convenient and appropriate.
207. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the once-off community grant of Louth-Meath Fingal LocalLink. [23859/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including, since 2012, management of the Rural Transport Programme which now operates under the "Local Link" brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities regarding Local Link services, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
208. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if TII and the NRA have ever accommodated an existing business with a junction interchange realignment as part of a motorway project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23910/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
209. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times the 220X bus in County Cork left its route within the past three months; the reason for the bus to take a different route; and if it is Bus Éireann policy that buses go off route if they are running late. [23928/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for The National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Bus Éireann, and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
210. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken in relation to an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23978/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Car Test which was introduced to comply with an EU Roadworthiness Testing Directive, is aimed at helping to prevent avoidable accidents and improving road safety, and a car which passes this test may be driven on our roads.
The Cost of Insurance Working Group, now chaired by Minister of State Michael D'Arcy at the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure, examined the issue of the cost of motor insurance including an examination of the issue raised by you. The Report of that Group and subsequent updates can be found here - www.finance.gov.ie/what-we-do/insurance/the-cost-of-insurance-working-group/.
The Cost of Insurance Working Group Report commented that an ‘older vehicle may have a greater risk of injury due to its lack of safety features compared to a modern vehicle’ (See Point 2.4 Underwriting Risks and Coverages, Section vii. Vehicle details on page 29 of the Report). Research by the Road Safety Authority indicates that in the event of a collision, the level of personal injury to an individual in an older car can be significantly higher than if that person was driving a new car. Safety features on newer cars can include greater use of airbags, electronic stability, improved braking systems, roll-over protection, etc., all of which are designed to reduce the impact of a collision on the occupants. A higher overall level of personal injury payout may be one factor that leads some insurance companies to consider older cars a higher risk in terms of potential payouts when underwriting a policy.
If a person is unable to obtain a quotation for motor insurance or feels that the premium proposed or the terms are so excessive that it amounts to a refusal to give them motor insurance, they should contact Insurance Ireland, 5 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1 Postcode DO1 E7E8 quoting the Declined Cases Agreement email : declined@insuranceireland.eu Tel. 01.6761820. See www.insuranceireland.eu/consumer-information/general-non-life-insurance/declined-cases-agreement. Under the Declined Cases Agreement, which all motor insurers must adhere to under the Central Bank’s ‘General Good Requirements for Insurance and Reinsurance Undertakings’, a Declined Cases Committee, including consumer representatives, deal with any cases of difficulty in obtaining motor insurance.
211. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is recourse in respect of a person that has a small number of PRSI stamps paid by their employer for the duration of their working life. [23814/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department will carry out a review of the record of any person who makes contact, advising of the possibility that contributions may be missing from their social insurance record.
Such a review can take a number of forms, depending on the nature of the issues raised; and can include (but is not limited to) the following;
- Examination of any documentation provided by the customer
- A full check of the Department’s systems for the employment
- A check for Revenue returns relating to the period in question
- Referral to a social welfare inspector for a full investigation into the period concerned.
All cases where contributions may be missing are investigated in full; and in each case a decision as to the outcome for the customer’s social insurance record is made and communicated back to the customer.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
212. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the location a HAP applicant can redeem the full cost of rent which they have had to borrow in order to pay the rent while the HAP application is being processed; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a HAP application can take 12 to 15 weeks to be processed and is not backdated, therefore the applicant will have to borrow money to pay the rent in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23831/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is administered by Local Authorities and overall policy responsibility for HAP rests with my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. Matters relating to the processing times for HAP applications and the payment of arrears are primarily a matter for that Department.
Notwithstanding this, I understand that arrears may be paid in cases where a housing need assessment is complete; the applicant is accepted on the social housing list and a valid HAP application is received by the Local Authority.
The Deputy will be aware that the strategic policy direction of my Department is to return rent supplement, with approximately 31,000 cases in payment, to its original purpose of being a short-term income support with the introduction of the HAP scheme. There are currently 36,500 HAP tenancies in payment, and officials in my Department will continue to support the transfer of cases from rent supplement who have long term social housing needs.
I suggest that the specific matter in relation to lead times in receiving rental payment via HAP is clarified with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
213. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a report on part-time and seasonal workers in County Donegal will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23832/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s main social welfare schemes for people who are unemployed are the jobseeker’s allowance and the jobseekers benefit schemes. Both schemes provide significant support to individuals so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment. The 2018 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s schemes of €2.17 billion.
An Taoiseach, in his previous role as Minister for Social Protection, gave a commitment at Dáil report stage of the Social Welfare Bill 2016 that he would ask officials to examine the issue of jobseeker’s benefit and the treatment of part-time and seasonal workers, including those categorised as having a subsidiary employment. My Department has completed a report on jobseekers benefit and the treatment of seasonal and part time workers which I am examining.
On 7th December 2017, I published the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017. The Bill delivers on the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to tackle the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The Bill completed Committee Stage on 17th May last.
This very important piece of legislation will improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours in all sectors of employment.
My Department is currently collating data on jobseekers benefit recipients in subsidiary employment. We will have 12 months of data gathered shortly and this will assist me in making an informed decision on this issue.
I intend to submit the report on jobseekers benefit and the treatment of seasonal and part-time workers to the Joint Oireachtas Committee. The report will be published subsequently and will be made available to all members.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
214. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied). [23872/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 21 February 2017.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 10 May 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
My department were notified on 12 June 2017 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). A submission in support of the decision was forwarded to the SWAO on 19 June 2017.
On 20 February 2018 the SWAO notified the person concerned that their appeal was disallowed.
Additional evidence was supplied to the SWAO resulting in a review of this decision. On 22 May 2018 the SWAO notified the person concerned that the outcome of the review is that the original decision is confirmed.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
215. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions, legal or otherwise, whereby a deciding officer can issue a decision in respect of section 302(b) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended in respect of the same appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23906/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appeals officer is also considered to be a deciding officer; if there are differences in respect of the aforementioned officers and their remits; the details of the differences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions No. 215 and 216 together.
Part 10 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 (as amended) sets down the roles, powers and functions of deciding officers and appeals officers. Deciding officers are appointed by the Minister under section 299 of the Act. Section 301 of the Act provides for the questions which shall be decided by a deciding officer.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are appointed by the Minister under section 304 of the Act.
Section 302 of the Act provides for the effective date of revised decisions. The effective date can be the date of a previous decision, the date of some new fact or evidence of a change of circumstances or a current date.
Section 302(a) relates to situations where there is evidence that the person deliberately gave false or misleading information or deliberately concealed relevant information. When a revised decision is made under section 302(a) it must take effect retrospectively.
Section 302(b) is invoked where new facts or new evidence have come to light but there is no evidence that the person deliberately gave false or misleading information or deliberately concealed relevant facts. Under this provision a deciding officer has the power to determine the effective date of a revised decision, having regard to the new facts or new evidence and to the circumstances of the case. In cases where the effect of the revised decision is to reduce or disallow a payment but the revised decision is made effective from a current date there is no overpayment.
In accordance with section 311(3) of the Act an appeals officer, when deciding a question shall not be confined to the grounds on which the decision of the deciding officer was based, but may decide the question as if it were being decided for the first time. This means that an appeals officer when determining an appeal can decide that section 302(b) instead of section 302(a) is the appropriate provision for that case.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
217. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 281, 282 and 283 of 10 May 2018, the results of the on-site inspection programmes implanted since 2012 to ensure that the school food scheme rules are being adhered to, including an assessment of the type of food provided; if annual reports or figures are produced on the assessment of the scheme from same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23982/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Meals Programme provides funding to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 250,000 children at a cost of €54 million in 2018.
The objective of the Scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.
As the Deputy will be aware the Department commenced inspection of schools in 2012. Reports on the results of the inspections have been compiled in respect of each year. The report for 2017 is being compiled at present and inspections for 2018 are ongoing. A report will be compiled for 2018 in due course. A summary of results for the years in which reports are available is appended to this reply. Copies of the reports for 2012 to 2016 inclusive will be forwarded to the Deputy under separate cover. All issues arising in non- compliant and partially compliant cases are followed up by the Department.
The Deputy will be aware that ‘Nutrition Standards for School Meals ’ published in September 2017 under the auspices of Healthy Ireland, is a valuable resource to enable and promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles in schools. These standards complement and strengthen the healthy eating guidelines that were already in place. The standards were introduced commencing from January 2018 and all schools participating in the school meals scheme are expected to fully comply with these standards from September 2018. The requirement to implement these nutrition standards is met by the schools and organisations who are responsible for the delivery model and choice of supplier to be used. Compliance with the new standards will form part of the inspection process from the 2018/2019 academic year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appendix
School Meals Scheme inspections and outcomes 2012 - 2016
|
Reference year |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Total number of organisations in the scheme* |
1,020 |
999 |
997 |
1,330 |
1,330 |
|
Total number of organisations inspected |
60 |
105 |
81 |
84 |
297 |
|
Outcome |
|||||
|
Non-compliant |
1 |
1 |
- |
4 |
6 |
|
Partially compliant |
7 |
7 |
17 |
9 |
40 |
|
Compliant |
51 |
95 |
62 |
71 |
251 |
*The number of individual schools inspected is higher, because some organisations provide services to a number of schools.
218. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if school facilities are taken into consideration when reviewing planning applications for housing developments by the county councils; if there is provision in planning regulations to provide quality child care and preschool facilities in view of the fact that they are lacking in some villages in which planning permission has been granted for large housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23849/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn light of the Programme for Government commitment regarding educational impact assessment on residential zoning to identify potential need for schools, the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Local Area Plans, published in June 2013, highlight the importance of local authority engagement and co-operation with the Department of Education and Skills, and recommend that local area plans provide a realistic phasing timetable to ensure that the provision of school facilities is delivered in conjunction with the phased construction of housing.
In addition, prior to that, my Department jointly published with the Department of Education, The Provision of Schools and the Planning System - A Code of Practice , in August 2008. The Code sets out co-ordinated actions to be taken in relation to forecasting future demand for school places by the Department of Education and Skills and planning for the provision of school sites within the planning system, as well as the efficient handling of planning applications and associated consultations by the relevant planning authorities to expedite school delivery.
With regard to assessing the implications of local authority development planning on the issue of schools and school provision in a given area, local authorities are obliged under the Code of Practice to take this matter into account in preparing and finalising their plans, working in conjunction with the relevant forward planning and new school sections of the Department of Education and Skills.
Furthermore, section 10(2)(l) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) requires a development plan to include objectives for “the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community including, in particular, schools, crèches and other education and childcare facilities”. This requirement is restated in my Department’s 2007 Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities which, together with the Code of Practice, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad%2C14468%2Cen.pdf.
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad%2C17998%2Cen.pdf.
Both I and the Minister for Education and Skills are statutory consultees for the purposes of local authority development plans. My Department will continue to work pro-actively with the Department of Education and Skills in ensuring the issue of schools provision is properly addressed in local authority plans and in assisting the Department of Education and Skills in ensuring that new schools are delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner and in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the areas in which they are needed.
219. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the findings of the working group on rural housing will be published; the timeframe for the publication of new guidelines on rural housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23885/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the "Flemish Decree" case, a working group, comprising senior representatives from my Department and planning authorities, was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, with a view to ensuring that rural housing policies and objectives contained in local authority development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
This Working Group concluded its deliberations in September 2017 and taking account of the Group's analysis and recommended outcome, my Department has been engaging with the Commission on the matter, with a view to issuing a further circular letter to planning authorities as soon as possible, setting out revisions to the 2005 Guidelines that take account of the relevant ECJ judgment.
220. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of inspections that have been carried out on apartment blocks to estimate the level of fire and safety defects present. [23894/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations, including Part B (Fire Safety), rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Acts and who are independent in the use of their statutory powers.
In addition, local authorities also have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, the Housing Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which may be relevant where fire safety concerns arise in residential developments. Fire services may inspect buildings in cases of defects or complaints in respect of fire safety. They work with building owners to ensure immediate risks are addressed, and put a plan in place for works to bring buildings into compliance. They have enforcement powers for cases where co-operation is not forthcoming, or progress cannot be made on an agreed basis.
In addition in August 2017, I published a Framework for Enhancing Fire Safety in Dwellings, which is intended to be used as a guide by the owners and occupants of dwellings where fire safety deficiencies have been identified, or are a cause for concern. The Framework is also of assistance to professional advisors both in developing strategies to improve fire safety and in developing strategies to enable continued occupation in advance of undertaking the necessary works to ensure compliance with the relevant Building Regulations. The framework is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/framework_for_enhancing_fire_safety_in_dwellings.pdf.
In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017, and in recognition of fears expressed for fire safety, Minister Murphy tasked the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management with convening and coordinating a Task Force to lead a re-appraisal of our approach to fire safety in Ireland. He also tasked them to oversee a review of fire safety in local authority provided multi-storey, multi-unit social housing and a separate review of medium to high rise buildings (> 18 metres or 6 storeys). The Task Force has recently completed its report and this is now being examined urgently.
Separately, under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2017, which apply to all properties let or available to let, local authorities also carry out inspections to check that rental properties comply with the regulations. This includes checking compliance with fire safety requirements, such as fire detection and alarm systems and emergency lighting.
221. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the tenant purchase scheme will be amended to allow tenants that are residing in Part V properties and that qualify for the scheme in their own right to purchase their houses in view of the fact that the scheme in its current format discriminates against these applicants; if the council will explain the current situation in relation to Part V; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23912/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provide for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, houses specifically designed for older persons, group Traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living.
The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V units are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 to ensure that units delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. The continued development of mixed tenure communities remains very important in promoting social integration.
Local authorities may also, within the provisions of the Regulations, exclude certain houses which, in the opinion of the authority, should not be sold for reasons such as proper stock or estate management. It is a matter for each individual local authority to administer the Scheme in its operational area in line with the over-arching provisions of the governing legislation for the scheme, and in a manner appropriate to its housing requirements.
In line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which took place in 2017 and saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
The review is now complete and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations some of which will necessitate amendments to primary legislation in order to be implemented. I hope to be in a position to publish the review shortly once an appropriate piece of legislation has been identified that can accommodate the recommended changes to the scheme.
222. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has discussed the percentage of new build and regenerated social housing that will be allocated to those experiencing homelessness in each local authority; the percentage of new build that went to those experiencing homelessness in each local authority in 2017; the percentage that will go to those experiencing homelessness in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23920/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not hold information on the allocation of social housing supports to different categories of households on local authority waiting lists. The allocation of such support is a matter for each local authority in accordance with its allocation scheme made under Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations.
223. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of engineers employed by Cork County Council; and the number of architects employed by the same local authority by grade. [23929/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities; however, the data gathered does not provide details in terms of the number of engineers and the number of architects employed by Cork County Council. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department, but may be obtained directly from the local authority concerned.
High-level staffing numbers for the local authority sector are available on the Public Service Numbers Databank which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following link: http://databank.per.gov.ie/, providing access to information from 1980 onwards.
224. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the main provisions and the current status of the Heritage Bill 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23878/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Heritage Bill, which has passed all stages in Seanad Éireann, passed Committee stage in Dáil Éireann on 8 May 2018 and will now proceed for Report stage debate on a date to be scheduled by the Oireachtas.
The Bill has three main Parts, amending the Canals Act 1986, the Wildlife Acts and the Heritage Act 1995.
The principal purpose of the Bill is to implement the Report of the Critical Review of the Heritage Council approved by Government in 2013.
The Bill also amends the Canals Act 1986 to allow the making of bye-laws by Waterways Ireland for the regulation of boating and management of the canals.
The Bill also provides for controlled burning of vegetation under strict regulation in the month of March on a pilot basis for a two year period, and for the managed cutting of roadside hedges, under strict regulation, in August, again for a two year pilot period. The Bill clarifies the powers of authorised officers under the Wildlife Acts and harmonises the provisions of the Roads Act 1993 with the Wildlife Acts.
