Written Answers Nos. 799-821
799. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if additional staff have been assigned to the housing delivery office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37486/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the time of its establishment in August 2016, the Housing Delivery Office (HDO) comprised a team of 4 people including staff seconded from the local government sector and the National Development Finance Agency. Having carried out a range of initial initiatives, and taking account of the fact that some assignments to the office were time-limited, the HDO was refocused in September 2017 to work more closely on supporting local housing delivery and land management.
To this end, the Housing Delivery Office is currently staffed by three officials; two civil servants and one officer who is currently on secondment to my Department from the local government sector. A fourth official is currently in the process of being assigned.
These officials work closely with the extensive range of highly experienced officers within the wider housing and planning areas of my Department and local authorities across key disciplines such as programme and project management, construction and contract management, capital programme delivery and administration.
As with all critical areas of activity in my Department, the resources available to the HDO are kept under regular review in the context of ongoing evolution of the Office's role and, in that context, I expect additional resources to be assigned to the Office shortly.
801. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the circumstances in which local authority management can change reserved functions to executive functions; if a statutory instrument is required for this to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37572/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reserved functions of the elected council of a local authority are designated by provisions of the Local Government Acts 1925 to 2014 as well as by provisions of any other Act that is construed together with those Acts.
Executive functions are performed by the Chief Executive. Section 149(4) of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, states that every function of a local authority which is not a reserved function is an executive function. The division of reserved and executive functions is such that the Chief Executive operates within a framework of policy laid down by the elected members.
It is not within the remit of a Chief Executive of a local authority to change reserved functions to executive functions.
802. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount allocated to local authorities (details supplied) specifically to hire new staff for the housing departments in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of new staff each housing department has hired based on this funding in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37590/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accelerated delivery of housing, including social housing, is of critical importance to this Government. My Department has recognised the need to support local authorities in their efforts to increase both capacity and output in this regard. In addition to substantial capital and current funding provided under Rebuilding Ireland, additional dedicated co-ordinated support resources including the Housing Delivery Office, my Department is providing a range of additional staff related supports including:
- Local authorities have designated Vacant Homes Officers to act as a central point of contact and to provide information and advice for owners of vacant homes and also to deal with queries from members of the public in respect of private residential vacant properties in their administrative area. My Department has provided funding for each local authority (€50,000 per annum, for a period of two years (i.e. a total of €100,000 to each local authority for 2018 & 2019)) to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office. The provision of central funding will allow for focus to be given to the role of the Office in establishing a co-ordinated approach towards the implementation of their Vacant Homes Action Plans and will reinforce the capacity of the Department’s Vacant Homes Unit to liaise with and seek information/statistics from a dedicated contact point within each local authority. The Vacant Homes Office is expected to play a key role in the co-ordination of this work within the local authority.
- Earlier this year my Department advised local authorities of arrangements for the appointment (where required) of a dedicated staff member to provide assistance in seeking out potential properties; establishing relationships with local property agents and landlords; supporting those homeless households to exit emergency accommodation and secure a tenancy. An allowance towards the staffing cost of this officer is recoupable from the Department via the homeless services (‘Section 10’) recoupment arrangements.
- The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and a range of different leasing schemes funded by the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) all provide local authorities with administrative payments in respect of new households entering the schemes and for certain on-going monitoring and management expenses. The purpose of these payments is to recognise the resources required by local authorities in respect of the set up and management of tenancies under these programmes.
- Local authority in-house professional services assigned to the delivery of new capital funded social housing build projects can be recouped from the Department at a percentage of the approved tender cost, with the actual percentage depending on the services provided. Services covered include architectural and other design team professional services, contract monitoring and management and the assigned certifier role.
At a general level, 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 authorities for which he or she is responsible.
My 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 increases in staff in Council housing departments. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department, but may be obtained directly from the individual local authorities concerned.
Since 1 January 2016, my Department has received 124 housing-related staff sanction requests from Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council, 120 of which have been approved, with 4 pending. Posts that are pending, in general, are awaiting supporting information prior to a final decision being taken.
|
Local authority |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 @17/9 |
Total |
|
Dublin City Council |
15 |
23 |
33 |
71 |
|
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council |
4 |
2 |
17 |
23 |
|
Fingal County Council |
2 |
8 |
15 |
25 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Total per year |
26 |
33 |
65 |
124 |
803. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the allocation and spend of the Traveller accommodation budget of each local authority from the inception of the programme through to 2008, in tabular form. [37634/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
Housing authorities submit funding proposals for individual Traveller-specific projects and developments on an annual basis. These projects are assessed on a case-by-case basis in my Department in advance of allocations being made. In addition, further funding may be considered by my Department throughout the year in the light of progress across the programme generally.
The amount of funding allocated and drawn down by local authorities for Traveller-specific accommodation from the inception of the programme through to 2008 is set out by local authority in the following tables.
|
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
|
|
2000 |
2000 |
2001 |
2001 |
2002 |
2002 |
|
|
County Council |
||||||
|
Carlow |
€ 126,973.00 |
€ 10,237.00 |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ 2,628.00 |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 2,119,481.00 |
|
Cavan |
€ 126,973.00 |
€ 2,222.00 |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ 384,364.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 603,112.00 |
|
Clare |
€ 952,303.00 |
€ 919,099.00 |
€ 634,869.00 |
€ 1,058,523.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 3,655,559.00 |
|
Cork |
€ 114,276.00 |
€ 14,232.00 |
€ 634,870.00 |
€ 77,962.00 |
€ 600,000.00 |
€ 7,620.00 |
|
Donegal |
€ 634,869.00 |
€ 1,176,549.00 |
€ 888,817.00 |
€ 2,137,716.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 348,532.00 |
|
South Dublin |
€ 1,206,251.00 |
€ 885,769.00 |
€ 1,269,738.00 |
€ 3,665,315.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 5,406,881.00 |
|
Fingal |
€ 1,777,633.00 |
€ 341,559.00 |
€ 1,269,738.00 |
€ 2,954,912.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 3,895,583.00 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
€ 634,869.00 |
€ 885,769.00 |
€ 1,269,738.00 |
€ 1,631,740.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 205,000.00 |
|
Galway County |
€ 888,816.00 |
€ 1,089,911.00 |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ 65,709.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 726,294.00 |
|
Kerry |
€ 596,776.00 |
€ 21,452.00 |
€ 761,843.00 |
€ 190,461.00 |
€ 721,000.00 |
€ 154,000.00 |
|
Kildare |
€ 507,895.00 |
€ 533,289.00 |
€ 1,015,790.00 |
€ 1,302,878.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 730,904.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
€ 126,973.00 |
€ 156,431.00 |
€ 126,974.00 |
€ 5,460.00 |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 11,221.00 |
|
Laois |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ 536,718.00 |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ 133,792.00 |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 822,696.00 |
|
Leitrim |
€ - |
€ 11,550.00 |
€ - |
€ 444.00 |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 20,000.00 |
|
Limerick County |
€ 952,303.00 |
€ 173,522.00 |
€ 126,974.00 |
€ 79,830.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 3,810.00 |
|
Longford |
€ - |
€ - |
€ - |
€ - |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 7,620.00 |
|
Louth |
€ 419,013.00 |
€ 271,977.00 |
€ 380,922.00 |
€ 6,983.00 |
€ 800,000.00 |
€ 211,380.00 |
|
Mayo |
€ 126,973.00 |
€ 118,635.00 |
€ 126,974.00 |
€ 15,751.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 11,430.00 |
|
Meath |
€ 507,895.00 |
€ - |
€ 634,869.00 |
€ 507.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ - |
|
Monaghan |
€ 50,789.00 |
€ 761.00 |
€ 126,974.00 |
€ 2,642.00 |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 13,890.00 |
|
Offaly |
€ 190,460.00 |
€ - |
€ 634,870.00 |
€ 228,121.00 |
€ 900,000.00 |
€ 585,938.00 |
|
Roscommon |
€ 253,947.00 |
€ 326,028.00 |
€ 126,974.00 |
€ 366,573.00 |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ - |
|
Sligo |
€ 38,092.00 |
€ 69,744.00 |
€ 126,974.00 |
€ - |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ - |
|
Tipperary |
€ 1,015,790.00 |
€ 1,429,017.00 |
€ 507,895.00 |
€ 1,034,258.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,129,264.00 |
|
Waterford |
€ 190,460.00 |
€ 464,089.00 |
€ 507,895.00 |
€ 437,298.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 39,960.00 |
|
Westmeath |
€ 253,947.00 |
€ - |
€ 253,948.00 |
€ - |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 2,511,810.00 |
|
Wexford |
€ 253,947.00 |
€ 11,427.00 |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ 608,270.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 788,606.00 |
|
Wicklow |
€ 332,671.00 |
€ 32,937.00 |
€ 634,869.00 |
€ 1,436,861.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 600,000.00 |
|
City Council |
||||||
|
Cork |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ 9,650.00 |
€ 507,895.00 |
€ - |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 39,950.00 |
|
Dublin City |
€ 1,317,988.00 |
€ 4,878,045.00 |
€ 1,352,271.00 |
€ 3,184,851.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 1,439,540.00 |
|
Galway City |
€ 114,276.00 |
€ 126,454.00 |
€ 1,269,738.00 |
€ 2,685,810.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 504,612.00 |
|
Limerick City |
€ 126,973.00 |
€ 82,844.00 |
€ 380,921.00 |
€ - |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 42,842.00 |
|
Waterford City |
€ 634,869.00 |
€ 1,209,219.00 |
€ 126,974.00 |
€ - |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 5,105.00 |
|
TOTAL |
€ 15,236,842.00 |
€ 15,789,136.00 |
€ 17,604,919.00 |
€ 23,699,659.00 |
€ 23,121,000.00 |
€ 26,642,640.00 |
|
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Draw down |
|
|
2003 |
2003 |
2004 |
2004 |
2005 |
2005 |
|
|
County Council |
||||||
|
Carlow |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 752,782.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,080,000.00 |
|
Cavan |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 371,185.00 |
€ 1,200,000.00 |
€ 1,098,807.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 413,628.00 |
|
Clare |
€ 4,500,000.00 |
€ 5,151,854.00 |
€ 4,500,000.00 |
€ 2,143,700.00 |
€ 3,650,000.00 |
€ 3,140,773.00 |
|
Cork |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 3,810.00 |
€ 400,000.00 |
€ 3,810.00 |
€ 650,000.00 |
€ 762,140.00 |
|
Donegal |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 879,617.00 |
€ 125,000.00 |
€ 214,768.00 |
€ 250,000.00 |
€ 5,965.00 |
|
South Dublin |
€ 2,898,000.00 |
€ 630,537.00 |
€ 8,000,000.00 |
€ 7,288,781.00 |
€ 7,200,000.00 |
€ 8,553,737.00 |
|
Fingal |
€ 2,500,000.00 |
€ 3,141,082.00 |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 2,054,890.00 |
€ 3,000,000.00 |
€ 2,923,558.00 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,205,565.00 |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 2,808,116.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 625,212.00 |
|
Galway County |
€ 1,200,000.00 |
€ 1,965,250.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 1,234,327.00 |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 1,610,336.00 |
|
Kerry |
€ 700,000.00 |
€ 883,310.00 |
€ 125,000.00 |
€ 147,379.00 |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 141,138.00 |
|
Kildare |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 101,408.00 |
€ 250,000.00 |
€ 176,249.00 |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 507,417.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ 216,438.00 |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 43,700.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 551,600.00 |
|
Laois |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 135,179.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 502,197.00 |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ 5,080.00 |
|
Leitrim |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 709,308.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 137,700.00 |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 137,342.00 |
|
Limerick County |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 23,510.00 |
€ 800,000.00 |
€ 57,013.00 |
€ 4,000,000.00 |
€ 3,350,323.00 |
|
Longford |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 234,340.00 |
€ 125,000.00 |
€ - |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ - |
|
Louth |
€ 830,000.00 |
€ 534,053.00 |
€ 650,000.00 |
€ 523,134.00 |
€ 450,000.00 |
€ 60,622.00 |
|
Mayo |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 7,620.00 |
€ 900,000.00 |
€ 965,697.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 625,495.00 |
|
Meath |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 549,901.00 |
€ 2,500,000.00 |
€ 1,846,573.00 |
€ 1,250,000.00 |
€ 1,304,278.00 |
|
Monaghan |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 60,201.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 1,056.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 2,750.00 |
|
Offaly |
€ 900,000.00 |
€ 1,128,767.00 |
€ 375,000.00 |
€ 307,215.00 |
€ 2,100,000.00 |
€ 1,943,906.00 |
|
Roscommon |
€ 1,520,000.00 |
€ 970,430.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 1,263,798.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 2,154,740.00 |
|
Sligo |
€ 170,000.00 |
€ 209,778.00 |
€ 125,000.00 |
€ 39,752.00 |
€ 650,000.00 |
€ 361,678.00 |
|
Tipperary |
€ 680,000.00 |
€ 1,091,495.00 |
€ 325,000.00 |
€ 823,063.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 456,560.00 |
|
Waterford |
€ 600,000.00 |
€ 15,244.00 |
€ 425,000.00 |
€ 48,307.00 |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 31,200.00 |
|
Westmeath |
€ 1,900,000.00 |
€ 2,865,000.00 |
€ 700,000.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 162,710.00 |
|
Wexford |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,927,737.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 601,644.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ - |
|
Wicklow |
€ 852,000.00 |
€ 390,244.00 |
€ 400,000.00 |
€ 565,237.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,883,781.00 |
|
City Council |
||||||
|
Cork |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 827,393.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 2,589,787.00 |
€ 250,000.00 |
€ 319,695.00 |
|
Dublin City |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 1,966,564.00 |
€ 3,500,000.00 |
€ 5,879,780.00 |
€ 5,000,000.00 |
€ 3,853,336.00 |
|
Galway City |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 398.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 1,240,528.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ - |
|
Limerick City |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ - |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 5,499.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 31,000.00 |
|
Waterford City |
€ 400,000.00 |
€ - |
€ 125,000.00 |
€ 79,203.00 |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ - |
|
TOTAL |
€ 30,000,000.00 |
€ 28,950,000.00 |
€ 40,000,000.00 |
€ 35,691,710.00 |
€ 45,000,000.00 |
€ 37,000,000.00 |
|
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
Allocation |
Drawdown |
|
|
2006 |
2006 |
2007 |
2007 |
2008 |
2008 |
|
|
County Council |
€ |
€ |
||||
|
Carlow |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 850,000.00 |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 1,184,267.00 |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 52,523.00 |
|
Cavan |
€ 250,000.00 |
€ 48,758.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 296,591.00 |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ 102,043.00 |
|
Clare |
€ 2,500,000.00 |
€ 419,462.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 409,792.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 4,443,487.00 |
|
Cork |
€ 2,750,000.00 |
€ 485,476.00 |
€ 1,350,000.00 |
€ 87,720.00 |
€ 2,100,000.00 |
€ 349,390.00 |
|
Donegal |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 783,644.00 |
€ 300,000.00 |
€ 126,086.00 |
€ 350,000.00 |
€ 895,372.00 |
|
South Dublin |
€ 6,500,000.00 |
€ 7,854,246.00 |
€ 10,000,000.00 |
€ 12,547,925.00 |
€ 8,000,000.00 |
€ 8,076,654.00 |
|
Fingal |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,592,705.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 322,792.00 |
€ 4,000,000.00 |
€ 1,171,907.00 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,522,044.00 |
€ 1,200,000.00 |
€ 86,528.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 1,450,782.00 |
|
Galway County |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 1,342,558.00 |
€ 650,000.00 |
€ 403,339.00 |
€ 1,200,000.00 |
€ 1,206,899.00 |
|
Kerry |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ - |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ - |
€ 250,000.00 |
€ 71,346.00 |
|
Kildare |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 95,065.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,122,462.00 |
€ 450,000.00 |
€ 183,538.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 1,195,086.00 |
€ 335,000.00 |
€ 699,015.00 |
€ 250,000.00 |
€ 82,089.00 |
|
Laois |
€ 150,000.00 |
€ 12,610.00 |
€ - |
€ 635.00 |
€ - |
€ 600.00 |
|
Leitrim |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 1,709,647.00 |
€ 1,800,000.00 |
€ 1,714,000.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 201,260.00 |
|
Limerick County |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 2,459,370.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 775,867.00 |
€ 700,000.00 |
€ 581,787.00 |
|
Longford |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 390,000.00 |
€ 600,000.00 |
€ - |
€ 250,000.00 |
€ - |
|
Louth |
€ 700,000.00 |
€ 3,809.00 |
€ 400,000.00 |
€ 433,616.00 |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 15,236.00 |
|
Mayo |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 743,554.00 |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 572,000.00 |
€ 100,000.00 |
€ 142,180.00 |
|
Meath |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 678,129.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 2,228,316.00 |
€ 600,000.00 |
€ 614,797.00 |
|
Monaghan |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 1,114,594.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 3,000,000.00 |
€ 500,000.00 |
€ 270,693.00 |
|
Offaly |
€ 1,250,000.00 |
€ 224,958.00 |
€ 475,000.00 |
€ 282,186.00 |
€ 350,000.00 |
€ 172,405.00 |
|
Roscommon |
€ 1,250,000.00 |
€ 1,623,651.00 |
€ 700,000.00 |
€ 95,184.00 |
€ 400,000.00 |
€ 495,704.00 |
|
Sligo |
€ 400,000.00 |
€ 524,965.00 |
€ 400,000.00 |
€ 34,282.00 |
€ 350,000.00 |
€ 489,749.00 |
|
Tipperary |
€ 2,190,000.00 |
€ 901,003.00 |
€ 850,000.00 |
€ 1,030,241.00 |
€ 1,650,000.00 |
€ 1,728,342.00 |
|
Waterford |
€ 470,000.00 |
€ 38,210.00 |
€ - |
€ 16,697.00 |
€ - |
€ 12,634.00 |
|
Westmeath |
€ 875,000.00 |
€ 1,311,285.00 |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 2,581,700.00 |
€ 600,000.00 |
€ 807,678.00 |
|
Wexford |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 1,428,350.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 93,385.00 |
€ 700,000.00 |
€ 1,014,929.00 |
|
Wicklow |
€ 50,000.00 |
€ 224,667.00 |
€ 390,000.00 |
€ 65,000.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 528,661.00 |
|
City Council |
||||||
|
Cork |
€ 1,000,000.00 |
€ 421,195.00 |
€ 50,000.00 |
€ 142,770.00 |
€ 200,000.00 |
€ 110,621.00 |
|
Dublin City |
€ 5,000,000.00 |
€ 325,998.00 |
€ 5,000,000.00 |
€ 131,643.00 |
€ 5,000,000.00 |
€ 1,085,968.00 |
|
Galway City |
€ 3,000,000.00 |
€ 3,105,439.00 |
€ 2,500,000.00 |
€ 3,248,635.00 |
€ 1,500,000.00 |
€ 2,107,520.00 |
|
Limerick City |
€ 750,000.00 |
€ 1,114,686.00 |
€ 1,300,000.00 |
€ 295,896.00 |
€ 5,000,000.00 |
€ 6,533,205.00 |
|
Waterford City |
€ 2,000,000.00 |
€ 1,009,567.00 |
€ 900,000.00 |
€ 971,430.00 |
€ 550,000.00 |
€ - |
|
TOTAL |
€ 45,235,000.00 |
€ 35,554,731.00 |
€ 39,000,000.00 |
€ 35,000,000.00 |
€ 40,000,000.00 |
€ 34,999,999.00 |
804. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the increases in staff in council housing departments approved and funded by council in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [37635/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accelerated delivery of housing, including social housing, is of critical importance to this Government. My Department has recognised the need to support local authorities in their efforts to increase both capacity and output in this regard. In addition to substantial capital and current funding provided under Rebuilding Ireland, additional dedicated co-ordinated support resources including the Housing Delivery Office, my Department is providing a range of additional staff related supports including:
- Local authorities have designated Vacant Homes Officers to act as a central point of contact and to provide information and advice for owners of vacant homes and also to deal with queries from members of the public in respect of private residential vacant properties in their administrative area. My Department has provided funding for each local authority (€50,000 per annum, for a period of two years (i.e. a total of €100,000 to each local authority for 2018 & 2019)) to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office. The provision of central funding will allow for focus to be given to the role of the Office in establishing a co-ordinated approach towards the implementation of their Vacant Homes Action Plans and will reinforce the capacity of the Department’s Vacant Homes Unit to liaise with and seek information/statistics from a dedicated contact point within each local authority. The Vacant Homes Office is expected to play a key role in the co-ordination of this work within the local authority.
- Earlier this year my Department advised local authorities of arrangements for the appointment (where required) of a dedicated staff member to provide assistance in seeking out potential properties; establishing relationships with local property agents and landlords; supporting those homeless households to exit emergency accommodation and secure a tenancy. An allowance towards the staffing cost of this officer is recoupable from the Department via the homeless services (‘Section 10’) recoupment arrangements.
- The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and a range of different leasing schemes funded by the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) all provide local authorities with administrative payments in respect of new households entering the schemes and for certain on-going monitoring and management expenses. The purpose of these payments is to recognise the resources required by local authorities in respect of the set up and management of tenancies under these programmes.
- Local authority in-house professional services assigned to the delivery of new capital funded social housing build projects can be recouped from the Department at a percentage of the approved tender cost, with the actual percentage depending on the services provided. Services covered include architectural and other design team professional services, contract monitoring and management and the assigned certifier role. At a general level, 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 authorities for which he or she is responsible.
My 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 increases in staff in Council housing departments approved and funded by Councils. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department, but may be obtained directly from the individual local authorities concerned.
Since 1 January 2014, my Department has received 870 housing-related staff sanction requests from local authorities, 859 of which have been approved, with 11 pending. Posts that are pending, in general, are awaiting supporting information prior to a final decision being taken.
|
Year |
Number of posts |
|
2014 |
18 |
|
2015 |
400 |
|
2016 |
139 |
|
2017 |
127 |
|
2018 |
186 |
|
Total |
870 |
806. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department keeps track of the number of crèches granted planning permission in estates larger than 75 houses as was required under the childcare facilities guidelines for local authorities, June 2001; if his attention has been drawn to the number of these childcare facilities that subsequently underwent a change of use to some other facility; his plans to review the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37646/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Guidelines for Planning Authorities relating to Childcare Facilities recommend that, in the case of new housing areas, a standard of one childcare facility providing for a minimum of 20 childcare places per approximately 75 dwellings may be appropriate, depending on the particular circumstances of each individual site.
The planning and housing statistics compiled annually by local authorities for collation and publication on my Department’s website do not include a breakdown of the number of such crèches granted planning permission or the number of such facilities where there has been a subsequent change of use. Any information that local authorities may compile in this regard may be sought direct from the authorities concerned.
My Department is currently liaising with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs regarding the appropriateness of reviewing the Childcare Guidelines.
807. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to recent changes in the UK regarding shared space guidance in the public realm; his plans to make changes in Irish guidance to reflect this, such as modifying the technical guidance documents for the building regulations or the design manual for urban streets and roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37655/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) was jointly published by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in 2013, to assist local authorities in promoting sustainable communities. The purpose of the Manual is to ensure that the welfare and needs of pedestrians are prioritised in the design of streets in urban areas, so that roadways for cars do not dominate our towns and cities. It also promotes design approaches that better facilitate and encourage pedestrian movement, and is fully consistent with national planning policy objectives to create more compact settlements.
Supplementary material is currently being prepared for inclusion in the Manual towards providing greater design clarity. This is likely to include material around a universal design approach to meet the needs of all people regardless of age, size, ability and disability particularly where shared spaces are proposed.
While I am aware of the changes taking place in the UK in relation to shared space and road schemes, it should be noted that the design and construction standards for public roads are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
In relation to the building regulations, the aim of the building regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The building regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) or an extension to an existing building as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings.
Part M of the Building Regulations provides that adequate provision shall be made for people to access and use a building, its facilities and environs. The accompanying Technical Guidance Document M (TGD M) provides detailed guidance on how this may be achieved in practice.
808. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the proposals from the working group examining the appropriate regulatory approaches for short-term lettings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37657/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraArising from the detailed analysis, provided by the Working Group on Short-term Lettings that the Deputy is referring to, which informed the development of a range of proposals to establish an appropriate regulatory approach for short-term tourism-related lettings as well as identifying amendments to relevant legislation to give effect to such a regulatory regime, I am currently reviewing the Group's report as well as the recommendations in the Oireachtas Committee's report on short-term lettings, and have been engaging with other relevant Ministers in relation to the appropriate next steps in taking the matter forward.
In particular, I am focused on early actions that can maintain or return to use properties for long-term rental purposes in our cities and urban areas which are experiencing high rates of rental inflation, recognising that the introduction of a new regulatory or licensing system for both short-term letting hosts and letting platforms will take some time to be designed and come into effect. I expect to announce some initial measures in this regard in the coming weeks.
809. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for new incentives for affordable housing schemes particularly in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37692/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI commenced the relevant provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, to place the new scheme for affordable purchase on a statutory footing, on 18 June 2018. This Scheme will be delivered by local authorities developing their sites in key locations. The Scheme complements other Government Schemes which help first-time buyers to buy a home, such as the Help to Buy Scheme and the new Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
In addition, it is important that cost rental homes become a major part of our rental landscape in the future to fill a gap between social housing and the rental market, making a sustainable impact on housing affordability, national competitiveness, and the attractiveness of our main urban centres as places to live and work. A number of pilot cost rental schemes are being advanced at Enniskerry Road, in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown and at St. Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, Dublin 8. Once these have progressed satisfactorily, I plan to roll out cost rental across other suitable sites.
Furthermore, in order to support local authorities to get their sites ready for affordable housing, I am providing substantial Exchequer funding of €75 million for enabling infrastructure via the Serviced Sites Fund. When local authority co-funding is included, an overall minimum investment of €100 million will be provided to those sites that require infrastructural investment in order for them to be brought into use for affordable housing. The call for proposals under the Serviced Site Fund issued in June, with a closing date of 31st August. The bids received from local authorities under this first call are now being assessed and I expect to make initial funding awards early next month.
From engagements with the local authorities in Dublin, the wider Greater Dublin Area, as well as Cork and Galway cities, their initial estimates suggest that they have lands with the potential to deliver some 4,000 new affordable homes. My Department is continuing to work with the key local authorities and the Housing Agency to identify sites which would see the level of ambition increase to at least 10,000 new affordable homes from local authority-owned land.
As I have indicated previously, including at the Third Housing Summit with Local Authority Chief Executives in early July, and the follow-up session with LA Directors of Housing, the provision of affordable housing should be targeted in areas where the market is failing to provide such affordable homes to buy or rent and is unlikely to do so in the near future.
In order to evaluate the necessity and feasibility of providing affordable housing and the financial assessment of the viability of local authority sites, authorities need to carry out an economic assessment of housing affordability locally. My Department will be writing to local authorities to ensure a uniform and consistent approach to this assessment nationally.
810. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of households on the housing assistance payment scheme in each local authority; the number of those recorded as topping up rent in each local authority; the range and average amount by which the rent is being topped up by the tenant in direct separate payments to the landlord in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37697/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of Q2 2018, there were 37,751 active tenancies being supported under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, in each local authority area since the scheme began in 2014 to Q1 2018, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
My Department is aware that some HAP recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. There is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent to their landlord and my Department does not collect data in relation to households in receipt of HAP, who are making such additional payments to their landlord.
HAP tenants find their own accommodation in the private rented market and are advised that this accommodation should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The limits are based on the specific household and the rental market in the area. HAP is a form of social housing support that allows tenants to work full-time and retain their housing support so in many cases, people may make choices about affordability taking this into consideration.
It should be noted that local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.
811. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the local authorities that he wrote to regarding family hubs; and the criteria for selecting which local authorities would be contacted on this issue. [37768/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDealing with homelessness is an absolute priority for the Government and Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, sets out a range of actions in that regard, implementation of which is well under way. My Department is committed to ensuring that those experiencing homelessness are accommodated in appropriate emergency accommodation until such time as they can move to an independent tenancy.
Following recent increases in the numbers of individuals and families in the Dublin region, where the problem of homelessness is most acute, I wrote to the chief executives of Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin Council, requesting that they undertake a number of additional actions urgently. This included the development of additional family hubs in each of their local authority areas. Funding is available from my Department to support all such urgent additional activity.
Family hubs offer families living arrangements with a greater level of stability than is possible in hotel accommodation, providing cooking and laundry facilities and recreation spaces. In addition, hub accommodation provides better opportunities to engage with families and support their exit from emergency accommodation into independent tenancies.
812. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of vacant buildings in Dublin city and county; the number of property owners who are engaging in discussions with regard to bringing these buildings back into use; the number who are refusing to bring the property back into use; the number who are refusing to engage with his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37820/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CSO Census of Population 2016 indicated that there were approximately 183,000 vacant homes throughout the country (down from 230,000 in 2011). However, in considering that figure, it should be noted that those numbers were recorded at a single point in time and included houses for sale or for rent, as well as homes that are not recoverable for occupancy for a wide range of reasons.
My Department, in conjunction with the local government sector, is working on more accurately identifying the numbers of vacant buildings in between Census dates and understanding the reasons behind that vacancy. In order to more accurately determine the levels of long-term vacant but recoverable dwellings that can be re-introduced into the liveable housing stock, the Department, working with the Housing Agency, the CSO and local authorities, has developed a survey methodology in relation to locating vacant housing. A pilot field-based survey has commenced across six local authorities. To identify long-term vacancy, the pilot will require two visual inspections, six months apart, with those houses occupied between the two inspections disregarded.
The aim of the pilot survey being undertaken is not only to count the number of vacant homes, but also to visually assess the condition of these homes and to focus particularly on areas where there is a high demand for homes, which have vacant or under-utilised houses capable of being brought back into use. The results of the pilot field-based survey will be analysed to assess whether there would be significant value in rolling out the survey on a national basis.
My Department has also made funding available for a Vacant Homes Office in each local authority that will undertake the follow-on work needed to ensure that the owners of vacant properties are engaged with and informed about their options, should they wish to bring their properties back into the liveable housing stock.
The following table provides national and Dublin City vacancy data drawn from Census 2011 and Census 2016. This data excludes “temporarily vacant homes” and “holiday homes” in the classification of vacant dwellings.
|
(National and Dublin only) Dwelling Type |
National 2011 |
National 2016 |
Dublin City 2011 |
Dublin City 2016 |
|
Unoccupied - vacant house |
168,427 |
140,120 |
7,995 |
7,457 |
|
Unoccupied - vacant flat |
61,629 |
43,192 |
16,321 |
10,967 |
|
Vacancy Rate: |
11.53% |
9.15% |
10.06% |
7.66% |
Between 2011 and 2016, the national vacancy rate fell from 11.53% to 9.15%. Dublin City’s vacancy rate also fell, from 10.06% to 7.66%.
In the case of vacant social housing stock, between 2015 and 2017, Dublin City Council restored 2,866 such units and recovered them in to use as residential social lettings. To date in 2018, Dublin City Council has recovered an additional 267 units into use as residential social lettings. Over 2,100 of these units were supported, with some €33m in funding, under the Voids Programme through which my Department provides support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. The purpose of the Voids Programme is to ensure that vacant units are actively targeted, with a view to minimising the turnaround and re-let time of these units and return them to use in an energy efficient condition.
In an effort to tackle vacancy among the private dwelling stock in the city, and under Objective 2 of the National Vacant Housing Reuse Strategy, Dublin City Council is actively promoting two government schemes with private property owners of vacant dwellings, namely the ‘Buy and Renew’ and ‘Repair and Lease’ schemes.
The following table summarises the results of efforts by Dublin City Council to promote the ‘Buy and Renew’ and ‘Repair and Lease’ Schemes. There are currently 337 identified vacant dwellings that Dublin City Council consider are potentially suited for the ‘Buy and Renew’ and ‘Repair and Lease’ schemes. Of these, 160 have been inspected and subsequently a title search has been conducted for 87 units. Title research was not conducted on all inspected properties as some did not appear un-occupied or long-term vacant when inspected while others were sale agreed, under refurbishment, demolished or subject to planning applications.
|
Summary Data for DCC ‘Buy and Renew’ and ‘Repair and Lease’ schemes. Active Files |
337 |
|
Inspections carried out |
160 |
|
Title Research |
87 |
|
Written correspondence |
66 |
|
No reply to correspondence |
59 |
|
Vested/Acquired |
23 |
|
T&C's Agreed |
17 |
|
Negotiating |
3 |
In relation to the number of vacant property owners who are refusing to return a property for use, the City Council indicated that 59 residential property owners with vacant dwellings have not responded to their written correspondence, seeking their interest in participating in the schemes.
813. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans for the development of the Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum for housing; the scale and type of housing planned; the percentage of affordable and social homes; the timeline for the development of same; his further plans for a cost-rental public housing model for the entire site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37881/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 17 September 2018, I launched the new Land Development Agency (LDA) which will act as a new commercial State body to actively manage development land with two primary objectives.
The first objective is to ensure the optimal usage of State land and coordinating their regeneration and development and opening up key sites not being optimally used, especially for the delivery of new homes.
The second objective is to drive strategic land assembly through mechanisms that will bring together both public and private sector interests in assuring the timely preparation and release of strategic land for development in a counter-cyclical manner. Such counter-cyclical action will be aimed at stabilising any tendency towards volatility in development land values, securing more of the increase in such values as a result of the planning and infrastructure investment processes for the common good and thereby driving increased affordability through better and more cost-competitive land availability.
The Agency will act as a national centre of expertise, working with and supporting local authorities, public bodies and other interests, to harness public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider investment and to achieve compact, sustainable growth, with a particular emphasis on complex regeneration projects and the provision of affordable housing.
With regard to the Central Mental Hospital site in Dundrum, discussions have been ongoing between the landowners [Office of Public Works/Health Service Executive] and the LDA and it has been agreed that the LDA will manage the pre-development activities to prepare the site for future development, pending the decanting of the existing users of the site to alternative facilities, which is anticipated to conclude in Q3 2020, after which a development programme is anticipated to commence, subject to securing the necessary planning and other relevant consents in the meantime.
Initial assessments place the potential development yield from the site at around 1,500 new homes. In addition and as a result of the Government’s new public lands affordability requirements agreed in the context of bringing forward the LDA, a minimum of 30% of any housing developed on public lands must be reserved for affordable purposes, in addition to the 10% social housing requirement of Part V of the Planning and Development Act.
The immediate priority for the site is the preparation of a development strategy by the LDA in the coming months, including how the social and affordable housing elements, including any cost rental element, will be deployed.
814. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the reason it was not delivered by the timeline committed to; the revised timeline by quarter and year for delivery of this action; if no revised timeline has been set to date, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37117/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that they are currently working with the Marine Spatial Planning Section of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in relation to the action referred to by the Deputy.
Over the coming period, An tÚdarás will continue to liaise with that Department and support the research and consultation phase of the new Marine Spatial Plan, with a view to integrating the overall marine development objectives for Gaeltacht regions within the overall National Spatial Strategy.
I would also refer the Deputy to the relevant measure as set out under action 8.8 in the Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 which was launched following Government approval in June 2018. The action in question relates to the development of Páirc na Mara in Connemara as a world-class low-carbon Marine Innovation Park. It is intended that this marine park will become a flagship project for the marine sector. In that regard, I understand that consultants have been engaged to undertake an Environmental Impact Statement which will assist in advancing the overall project.
815. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the hubs that have and have not been constructed, respectively; the timelines for uncompleted hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37118/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that in line with Action No. 85 contained in Realising Our Rural Potential - Action Plan for Rural Development, the four innovation hubs referred to under the action and to which he refers have been developed and are now in operation. The locations of the hubs are set out in the following table.
|
County |
Location |
|
Donegal |
Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair |
|
Kerry |
Mol Tech, Daingean Uí Chúis |
|
Mayo |
Digital Unit, Béal an Mhuirthead |
|
Galway |
Digital Hub, An Cheathrú Rua |
816. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the amount of capital expenditure expended to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37125/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetween 2016 and 2017, my Department invested in excess of €7m capital in the Development of Ireland’s network of 6 National Parks and more than 80 Nature Reserves and other conservational/recreational heritage properties. Key highlights of this capital investment include:
- The on-going management, development and operation of our 87,000 hectare National Park and Nature Reserve Network.
- The expansion of Wicklow Mountains National Park with the purchase of 4,900 acres (or 1,983 hectares) of the Dublin Uplands, in the area known popularly as the Featherbeds. This land increased the total size of the National Park to over 22,000 hectares. The Department completed the purchase in December 2016 for €800,000.00
- €390,000 was spent in 2017 on consolidating National Parks property. The Department purchased an OPW property in Corofin for future use in respect of the Burren National Park, and purchased 800 acres at Altnabrockey in Mayo to consolidate its holding in the Wild Nephin.
- Trail maintenance continued with on-going upgrades to the popular Diamond Hill in Connemara National park, the resurfacing of the Blue Road at Shrahduggan in Ballycroy National Park and on-going clearance of scrub and invasive species in a number of National Parks and Nature Reserves.
- Upgrading of the road network in Killarney National Park and the restoration of the historic windows and essential maintenance and restoration works to the roof of Muckross House.
With regard to 2018 expenditure by my Department, the Deputy will be aware, that such expenditure is presently on-going and subject to internal verification and monitoring processes. Adjustments may fall to be made between subheads as part of this process and all figures are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. 2018 expenditure will include the conclusion of the multi-million euro investment in the restoration of Killarney House and Gardens. Following on from the successful opening of the restored ornamental gardens in April 2016 and the opening of the 3 Historic Rooms of Killarney House in July 2017 the Department’s phased completion of the Killarney House & Gardens project at Killarney National Park will conclude with the formal opening of the 18 Room Visitor Centre and Exhibition on the 28th of September, 2018. Roughly 55,000 people have visited the rooms since their opening in July 2017 with more than 375,000 visitors to the Garden since their opening in April 2016.
In addition to such direct investments by my Department, the Deputy will also be aware that the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has been proactively working in partnership with other State agencies, to further develop the Park and Reserves Network and support marketing initiatives such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East.
In December 2017, the Department announced the expansion of Ballycroy National Park with the addition of the Wild Nephin area, expanding the total size of the National Park to over 15,000 hectares. This was the culmination of constructive engagement between Coillte and the Department addressing a long-standing strategy to align key environmental assets. The National Parks and Wildlife Service will now manage this transfer of land and a public amenity conversion plan will be put in place. Overall, the project reflects the on-going commitment of all stakeholders to improve the recreational potential of this area whilst ensuring the highest standards of nature conservation. Work in this regard is on-going.
In January 2017, the Department entered into Strategic Investment Partnership with Faílte Ireland, aimed at enhancing and promoting the tourism offering at Ireland’s National Parks and also conserving and protecting the natural environments of the National Parks for the enjoyment of future generations. Since then, more than €400k has been expended on scoping and feasibility studies for the development of capital projects. In July of this year, as part of this partnership, we published Experiencing the Wild heart of Ireland – A Tourism Interpretative Masterplan for the National Parks and Nature Reserves. The Plan sets out a framework that will guide the phased development of enhanced visitor experiences and improved visitor facilities at our National Parks and Reserves, taking into account our conservational objectives and based upon research into international best practice.
The plan recommends a suite of capital projects of varying size (from smaller scale interventions such as installation of viewing platforms to larger projects such as the development of new boardwalks and trails, to the construction of new visitor centres). From these proposals, projects will be funded jointly by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Fáilte Ireland through a multi-million Euro investment package over the coming years. The first such project, a €2.1m investment in Wild Nephin- Ballycroy National Park was announced on the 31st of August, 2018 to develop a continuous 53km walking cycling trail from Newport to Ballycastle on the Wild Atlantic Way through the National Park. At present a section of the waymarked Western Way (200km linear trail from Galway to Mayo) runs north-southwards through the eastern portion of Wild Nephin providing a continuous 53km walking cycling trail from Newport to Ballycastle on the Wild Atlantic Way. This project will eliminate the need to walk the busy R312 by creating a spur which will provide a more direct and safe route on quiet tracks through bogland and forests. The outcome of this project will be an off road continuous cycling and walking trail in challenging terrain which will link the popular Great Western Greenway with the Wild Atlantic Way. This 56km section of the Western Way has potential to be walked/cycled for its full 56km and be promoted internationally as a unique, off road Grade 3 trail of scale to meet the rising demand for challenging outdoor recreational activity that is away from it all. The funding will provide opportunities for existing and new private sector operators in bike hire, guiding, outdoor recreation and will in time, support the accommodation and food sectors. The experience will appeal to domestic and international visitors that seek an off-road, wild experience on the western edge of Europe. Importantly, the project will ensure that the area is accessed in a sustainable way, protecting the habitat and directing tourists through a managed route.
In addition to its interactions with Fáilte and Coillte, the Department has successfully operated a joint management arrangement the Trustees of Muckross House since the early 1980s. As part of the Department and the Trustees ongoing commitment to the development, conservation and presentation of Killarney National Park, a regular programme of jointly funded capital projects are undertaken. A restoration of the Victorian Servants’ Dining Hall and Laundry Room in the basement of Muckross House was commenced last year and is due to finish shortly. It is estimated that the total costs associated with this restoration project will be in the order of €400,000. This latest project at Muckross House follows on from the significant investment in refurbishing the original metal-framed windows, which also included repairs to the roof, chimneys, gutters and downpipes, during 2016 and 2017. These capital investment projects at Muckross House, derive directly from the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department and the Board of Trustees, providing tangible evidence of the cooperation of a Government Department and a locally based not-for-profit body.
Under "Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage, 2018 – 2027" capital investment of some €50m has been earmarked for the National Parks and Nature Reserves. This investment ensures long term protection of the National Parks and Reserves and my Department is delighted to have this opportunity for investment and implementation of measures to protect our habitats, landscapes and wildlife.
817. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development was not delivered by the timeline committed to; the revised timeline by quarter and year for delivery of this action; if no revised timeline has been set to date, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37126/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant progress has been made in the consultations with key stakeholders on the new National Heritage Plan for Ireland (Heritage Ireland 2030). This critical phase is now nearing completion, the Steering Group having facilitated inputs by all important partners by extending the original closing date for submissions. The resulting engagement has identified additional priorities and opportunities across the broad built and natural heritage space, building on the key investment targets set out in Investing in our Culture, Heritage and Language launched earlier this year.
The development of Heritage Ireland 2030 is a unique opportunity to rethink how we care for our habitats, landscapes, wildlife, historic buildings and monuments, so they can be celebrated and enjoyed long into the future. To gather the views of the wider community, a public consultation document informed by the stakeholder engagement, is now being drafted by the Steering Group and will be published shortly as part of a national consultation process.
818. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development was not delivered by the timeline committed to; the revised timeline by quarter and year for delivery of this action; if no revised timeline has been set to date, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37127/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the commitment set out in measure 5.47 in the Government Action Plan 2018-2022 for the Irish Language which was launched in June 2018 in relation to the action detailed in his question.
Work on this measure has already commenced with the establishment of a Working Group consisting of representatives from Údarás na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge, TG4, the Arts Council and my Department. My Department, in consultation with its aforementioned partners, is currently finalising terms of reference for the work of the group and work on development of the strategy will commence shortly with a view to completion in 2019.
819. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the counties, cities, towns and villages that the techspace as Gaeilge initiative has been rolled out in to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37128/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTechSpace is a national network of digital media spaces in youth centres and schools and this network helps young people to create digital and technological material as they engage in activities such as digital film, web design, mobile app development and robotics, among others. Under the direction of trained instructors and mentors, young people can enhance their computer competency, while improving their self-confidence and social skills.
The Irish medium Clár Techspace is being funded under the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. The project aims to impact the lives of young Irish speakers by becoming Ireland's leading creative technology network for outcome focused youth development through the medium of Irish.
The Clár TechSpace team is currently working with schools and youth clubs in the Connacht and Munster regions, as outlined in the table, creating digital media and STEM material. Initial steps will commence this autumn to extend the project to the Ulster and Leinster (excluding Dublin) regions, with the Dublin region to follow later.
Clár TechSpace
|
Connacht |
County |
|
Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara, Carna |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Coláiste na bPiarsach, Ros Muc |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Coláiste Chroí Mhuire, An Spidéal |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Coláiste Naomh Feichín, Corr na Móna |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Coláiste na Coiribe, Cnoc na Cathrach |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Coláiste an Eachréidh, Baile Átha an Rí |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Foróige Uachtar Ard, Uachtar Ard |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Teach na Gaeilge, Maigh Cuilinn |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Muintearas Teo, Leitir Mór |
Co na Gaillimhe |
|
Coláiste Chomáin, Ros Dumhach, Béal an Átha |
Co Mhaigh Eo |
|
Munster |
|
|
Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne, Trá Lí |
Co Chiarraí |
|
Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Daingean Uí Chúis |
Co Chiarraí |
|
Coláiste Íde, Daingean Uí Chúis |
Co Chiarraí |
|
Bord Oideachas agus Oiliúna Chiarraí, Daingean Uí Chúis |
Co Chiarraí |
|
Club Óige an tSuláin, Maigh Chromtha |
Co Chiarraí |
|
Meánscoil San Nioclás, Dún Garbhán |
Co Phort Láirge |
|
Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Meal Soir Anraí |
Co Luimnigh |
|
Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn, Cluain Meala |
Co Thiobraid Árann |
820. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of an action (details supplied) under the Action Plan for Rural Development; the Gaeltacht region in counties in which an dioplóma sa chultúr dúchais has been rolled out to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37129/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme, Dioplóma sa Chultúr Dúchais is delivered by NUIG through blended learning, a combination of online learning and workshops. The Department understands that three cycles of the programme have been delivered to date. Details regarding participation per county etc are provided as follows:
|
County |
No of participants |
|
Antrim |
1 |
|
Dublin |
8 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
|
Kerry |
5 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
|
Donegal |
10 |
|
Galway |
14 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Tipperary |
2 |
|
Other: |
|
|
Belgium |
1 |
|
Canada |
1 |
|
United States of America |
1 |
|
Total |
53 |
I would also refer the Deputy to another relevant measure as set out under Action 5.34 of the Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 which was launched, following Government approval, in June 2018. The action in question relates to the online course to graduate level in the Irish Language and Irish Culture which is being provided on Dublin City University's Fáilte Ar-Líne platform and, in respect of which, my Department has approved funding of €833,084 since 2015.
821. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if legal clarification has been agreed regarding whether uninterrupted turf cutting in succession since the 1970s on a plot unassigned by the Land Commission may be combined to give a 30 year right of prescription over the plot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37573/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegal advice has been received in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy in the context of the administration of the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. This advice is currently being reviewed by my Department. Any action as necessary arising from this advice will be taken in due course.
