Written Answers Nos. 315-327
315. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the State agencies and bodies under the remit of his Department; the location of each such body by county; and the current number of full and part-time persons employed in each such body. [18235/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agencies/bodies under the aegis of my Department, along with their locations, are listed as follows.
|
Agency/Body |
Location of Headquarters |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Dublin |
|
Ervia |
Dublin |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
Cork |
|
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency |
Dublin |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
Dublin |
|
Irish Water |
Dublin |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
Dublin |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Dublin |
|
Property Registration Authority |
Dublin |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
Dublin |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
Dublin |
|
Valuation Office |
Dublin |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
Dublin |
|
Land Development Agency |
Dublin* |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
Dublin* |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
Dublin |
* Temporary pending final decisions.
Staffing numbers in respect of the State agencies under my Department's aegis are gathered on a quarterly basis, broken down by total number of employees and the number of whole time equivalents. The data is available on the Public Service Numbers Databank at the following link.
316. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to address issues with estates that have developer led wastewater systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18297/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraResidential developments consisting of two or more dwellings that have been granted planning permission under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) may be eligible (depending on the grant of planning condition) for taking in charge. The taking in charge of residential estates by local authorities is provided for under section 180 of the 2000 Act and is a reserved function of the elected members.
Under Section 180 (1) of the Act, the planning authority is obliged to initiate taking in charge procedures where requested by either the developer or by the majority of owners of the dwellings. However, this is subject to the development being completed to the satisfaction of the authority and in accordance with the permission and any conditions.
My Department launched the National Taking-in-Charge Initiative (NTICI) in April 2016 to trial new approaches and working methods in supporting and accelerating overall national and local action on the taking-in-charge process of housing estates, including estates with developer-provided water services infrastructure which can include stand-alone treatment plants. Under the terms of the NTICI, which was underpinned by €10 million in funding, developments subject to valid taking-in-charge applications were eligible for inclusion in the associated call for funding proposals. Ultimately, €7.5 million of the allocated funding was paid to local authorities in respect of 330 developments, containing some 14,930 homes.
Findings and recommendations from the NTICI process were included in a report on the initiative that was published by my Department in December 2018. The report is available at the following link.
The publication of the NTICI report is of value to local authorities and other stakeholders in applying the lessons from the pilot authorities, in a more general roll-out of a streamlined approach to taking-in-charge, including through coordination with capital works by Irish Water. In this regard, my Department is liaising with Irish Water in relation to the report.
Ultimately, however, progression of individual developments through the taking-in-charge process is a matter for the relevant housing developer, the residents in such developments and the relevant local authorities, following the procedures laid out in section 180.
The National Development Plan, published last year, includes provision of €31 million for the period 2018-2021 for developer-provided infrastructure, commencing with an estimates provision of €6 million in 2019. The multi-annual programme will be initiated through the invitation of project bids from local authorities followed by their evaluation by an Expert Panel, set up by my Department, to independently evaluate the bid projects and make recommendations to my Department on suitable projects to be approved for funding. It is expected that approval of projects for this first cycle multi-annual programme will take place later in Q2 2019.
317. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons employed at each level of the Civil Service from Secretary General to cleaner each year since 2016; the number of those at each level who are female in each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18354/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following tables set out the gender breakdown of staff, by grade, in my Department from 2016 to March 2019.
|
|
31/12/2016 |
|
|
31/12/2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
Equiv |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
SECRETARY GENERAL |
|
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ASSISTANT SECRETARY |
|
2.00 |
4.00 |
6.00 |
2.00 |
3.00 |
5.00 |
|
PRINCIPAL |
|
22.00 |
7.50 |
29.50 |
25.00 |
7.50 |
32.50 |
|
MINISTER'S ADVISOR |
PO |
1.00 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
|
ASST PRINCIPAL |
|
38.40 |
32.20 |
70.60 |
38.60 |
32.36 |
70.96 |
|
AO |
|
4.50 |
4.00 |
8.50 |
4.50 |
5.00 |
9.50 |
|
HEO |
|
43.33 |
45.70 |
89.03 |
46.33 |
42.26 |
88.60 |
|
EO |
|
43.33 |
55.20 |
98.53 |
50.43 |
62.03 |
112.46 |
|
STAFF OFFICER |
|
2.00 |
5.73 |
7.73 |
|
|
|
|
CLERICAL OFFICER |
|
18.75 |
54.42 |
73.17 |
15.75 |
49.65 |
65.40 |
|
TEMP CLERICAL OFFICER |
|
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
4.00 |
|
VISUALLY IMPAIRED TELEPHONIST |
CO |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
0.60 |
0.60 |
|
CIVILIAN DRIVER |
CO |
4.00 |
|
4.00 |
6.00 |
|
6.00 |
|
SERVICES OFFICER |
|
15.23 |
4.00 |
19.23 |
15.23 |
5.00 |
20.23 |
|
General Admin Grades - total |
|
195.54 |
216.73 |
412.28 |
207.84 |
210.40 |
418.25 |
|
Professional and Technical Grades |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIRECTOR OF AUDIT |
A/Sec |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL |
A/sec |
|
|
0.00 |
|
|
0.00 |
|
PRINCIPAL ADV |
PO |
3.00 |
1.00 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
4.00 |
|
SENIOR ADVISER |
PO |
6.00 |
1.00 |
7.00 |
7.00 |
|
7.00 |
|
PRINCIPAL AUDITOR |
PO |
5.00 |
1.00 |
6.00 |
5.00 |
1.00 |
6.00 |
|
SENIOR ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
PO |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
SENIOR STATISTICIAN |
PO |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 3 |
AP |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT GR 1 |
AP |
1.00 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ARCHITECTURAL ADVISOR |
AP |
2.00 |
2.00 |
4.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
4.00 |
|
ARCHITECTURAL/ENG INSPECTOR |
AP |
9.00 |
1.00 |
10.00 |
5.00 |
1.00 |
6.00 |
|
QUANTITY SURVEYOR GRADE 1 |
AP |
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
|
SUPERVISING HOUSING INSP |
AP |
1.00 |
0.20 |
1.20 |
1.00 |
0.20 |
1.20 |
|
INSPECTOR PLANNING |
AP |
3.00 |
1.00 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
4.00 |
|
INSPECTOR GRADE 1 |
AP |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ASST STAFF ENGINEER |
AP |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ENG GR 2 MECH/HEATING/ELECL |
AP |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 1 CIVIL |
AP |
5.00 |
|
5.00 |
5.00 |
|
5.00 |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 2 CIVIL |
AP |
|
|
0.00 |
|
|
0.00 |
|
ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
AP |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
AUDITOR ENV |
AP |
10.00 |
6.60 |
16.60 |
10.00 |
7.60 |
17.60 |
|
HOUSING INSPECTOR |
AO |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 3 CIVIL |
AO |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
3.00 |
|
STATISTICIAN |
AO |
|
|
0.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
ASST AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT |
HEO |
5.80 |
2.50 |
8.30 |
6.80 |
3.50 |
10.30 |
|
ARCHITECTURAL ASST GRADE 1 |
AO |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
Professional and Technical Grades - Total |
|
62.80 |
22.30 |
85.10 |
61.80 |
22.30 |
84.10 |
|
Met Éireann Specific Grades |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIRECTOR METEOROLOGICAL SRVS |
A/Sec |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ASST DIRECTOR MET SERVICES |
PO |
|
|
0.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
SENIOR METEOROLOGIST |
PO |
4.00 |
1.00 |
5.00 |
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
|
METEOROLOGIST |
AP |
19.80 |
20.00 |
39.80 |
19.80 |
20.80 |
40.60 |
|
PRINCIPAL METEOROLOGICAL OFF |
AP |
7.00 |
1.00 |
8.00 |
10.00 |
2.00 |
12.00 |
|
SENIOR MET OFFICER HIGH SCL |
HEO |
34.00 |
5.00 |
39.00 |
33.00 |
9.50 |
42.50 |
|
LIBRARIAN |
HEO |
0.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
|
|
|
METEOROLOGICAL OFF |
EO |
35.00 |
16.70 |
51.70 |
30.00 |
18.50 |
48.50 |
|
MET ÉIREANN COLLEGE PLACEMENTS |
EO |
|
|
0.00 |
|
|
0.00 |
|
CLEANER |
|
1.00 |
1.58 |
2.58 |
1.00 |
1.58 |
2.58 |
|
RURAL GENERAL OPERATIVE BAND 3 |
|
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
Met Éireann - Total |
|
103.80 |
46.28 |
150.08 |
99.80 |
53.38 |
153.18 |
|
Department Total |
|
362.14 |
285.31 |
647.46 |
369.44 |
286.08 |
655.52 |
|
31/12/2018 |
|
|
31/03/2019 |
|
|
|
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
SECRETARY GENERAL |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ASSISTANT SECRETARY |
2.00 |
3.00 |
5.00 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
6.00 |
|
PRINCIPAL |
23.20 |
9.50 |
32.70 |
23.20 |
9.50 |
32.70 |
|
MINISTER'S ADVISOR |
1.00 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
ASST PRINCIPAL |
43.50 |
44.53 |
88.03 |
43.50 |
48.43 |
91.93 |
|
AO |
7.50 |
7.00 |
14.50 |
7.50 |
7.00 |
14.50 |
|
HEO |
49.28 |
54.26 |
103.54 |
49.28 |
52.49 |
101.77 |
|
EO |
56.56 |
65.96 |
122.52 |
62.56 |
65.96 |
128.52 |
|
STAFF OFFICER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLERICAL OFFICER |
13.60 |
53.19 |
66.79 |
15.60 |
55.23 |
70.83 |
|
TEMP CLERICAL OFFICER |
4.00 |
3.60 |
7.60 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
7.00 |
|
VISUALLY IMPAIRED TELEPHONIST |
|
0.60 |
0.60 |
|
0.60 |
0.60 |
|
CIVILIAN DRIVER |
6.00 |
|
6.00 |
5.00 |
|
5.00 |
|
SERVICES OFFICER |
15.03 |
5.00 |
20.03 |
15.03 |
5.00 |
20.03 |
|
General Admin Grades - total |
222.67 |
247.63 |
470.31 |
231.67 |
250.20 |
481.88 |
|
Professional and Technical Grades |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIRECTOR OF AUDIT |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
PRINCIPAL ADV |
2.00 |
1.00 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
3.00 |
|
SENIOR ADVISER |
8.00 |
|
8.00 |
8.00 |
|
8.00 |
|
PRINCIPAL AUDITOR |
5.00 |
1.00 |
6.00 |
5.00 |
1.00 |
6.00 |
|
SENIOR ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
SENIOR STATISTICIAN |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 3 |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT GR 1 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ARCHITECTURAL ADVISOR |
2.00 |
2.00 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
5.00 |
|
ARCHITECTURAL/ENG INSPECTOR |
9.00 |
2.00 |
11.00 |
8.00 |
2.00 |
10.00 |
|
QUANTITY SURVEYOR GRADE 1 |
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
|
SUPERVISING HOUSING INSP |
1.00 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.60 |
1.60 |
|
INSPECTOR PLANNING |
1.00 |
2.00 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
|
INSPECTOR GRADE 1 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
6.00 |
1.00 |
7.00 |
|
ASST STAFF ENGINEER |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ENG GR 2 MECH/HEATING/ELECL |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 1 CIVIL |
5.19 |
|
5.19 |
5.19 |
|
5.19 |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 2 CIVIL |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
AUDITOR ENV |
9.00 |
7.30 |
16.30 |
11.00 |
7.23 |
18.23 |
|
HOUSING INSPECTOR |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 3 CIVIL |
1.00 |
0.50 |
1.50 |
1.00 |
2.50 |
3.50 |
|
STATISTICIAN |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
ASST AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT |
6.80 |
1.50 |
8.30 |
6.00 |
1.50 |
7.50 |
|
ARCHITECTURAL ASST GRADE 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional and Technical Grades - Total |
63.99 |
22.30 |
86.29 |
72.19 |
22.83 |
95.02 |
|
Met Éireann Specific Grades |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIRECTOR METEOROLOGICAL SRVS |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
|
ASST DIRECTOR MET SERVICES |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
SENIOR METEOROLOGIST |
5.00 |
2.00 |
7.00 |
5.00 |
2.00 |
7.00 |
|
METEOROLOGIST |
23.00 |
19.13 |
42.13 |
24.00 |
25.13 |
49.13 |
|
PRINCIPAL METEOROLOGICAL OFF |
8.00 |
1.00 |
9.00 |
8.00 |
1.00 |
9.00 |
|
SENIOR MET OFFICER HIGH SCL |
33.95 |
12.50 |
46.45 |
34.95 |
12.00 |
46.95 |
|
LIBRARIAN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
METEOROLOGICAL OFF |
33.00 |
15.60 |
48.60 |
31.90 |
15.60 |
47.50 |
|
MET ÉIREANN COLLEGE PLACEMENTS |
1.00 |
2.00 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
3.00 |
|
CLEANER |
1.00 |
1.58 |
2.58 |
1.00 |
1.58 |
2.58 |
|
RURAL GENERAL OPERATIVE BAND 3 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
2.00 |
|
2.00 |
|
Met Éireann - Total |
107.95 |
54.81 |
162.76 |
109.85 |
59.31 |
169.16 |
|
Department Total |
394.61 |
324.74 |
719.35 |
413.71 |
332.35 |
746.06 |
318. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the budget for housing adaptation grants in 2019; the estimated cost of restoring it to 2008 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced funding for 2019 of €71.25 million nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, living in private houses. This is made up of €57 million exchequer funding, which is an increase of some 8% on the 2018 figure, with the balance of €14.25 million coming from local authority resources. Increasing funding to 2008 levels would cost an additional €0.95 million made up of €0.8 million from the Exchequer, with a further €0.15 million to be contributed by the local authorities.
I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from the schemes, particularly in terms of facilitating older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes. This is recognised in the Programme for Government and as a consequence, funding has been increasing year on year since 2014. The Government's Housing Options for Our Ageing Population - Policy Statement (Actions 4.1/4.2) indicates a commitment to increase the funding for the Scheme, review the Scheme guidelines and streamline the Scheme's operation. The Policy Statement is available on my Department's website at the following link.
Over the course of each year, my Department works closely with all local authorities, to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. As the year progresses, any underspend is redistributed to those local authorities with high levels of grant activity who sought additional funding.
319. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of rapid build units delivered in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18367/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistical information in relation to social housing delivery across all delivery streams, including rapid delivery, is published on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/node/6338.
Statistical information for the full year 2018 has been published and is available at the following link: https://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-eoghan-murphy-publishes-breakdown-of-social-housing-delivery-in-2018-on-a-local-authority-basis/
To the end of 2018, 423 homes had been delivered under the rapid delivery programme. 22 of these were delivered in 2016, increasing to 186 social homes delivered in 2017 and 215 in 2018. Since the programme's inception, some 40 projects have been added to the pipeline and will deliver over 1,100 homes out to 2021. Some 220 of these are expected to be delivered in 2019.
320. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homes brought into use under the repair and lease scheme by local authority and year; the number of applications and overall expenditure in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18368/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of 2018, a total of 1,260 applications for the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) had been received from property owners; 89 homes had been brought back into use and were tenanted; and 132 agreements for lease had been signed. A detailed breakdown of the RLS scheme data by local authority up to end Q4 2018 is available on my Department’s website at the following link.
The data for Q1 2019 is currently being collected and will be published on my Department's website when available.
A breakdown of the 89 homes delivered under the scheme by year and Local Authority is set out in Table 1. Total expenditure in respect of homes delivered under RLS is set out in Table 2. Data in relation to total expenditure is based on local authority claims for operational RLS agreements recorded on the Department’s financial management system.
Table 1: RLS Delivery 2017 and 2018
|
Local Authority |
Homes Delivered - 2017 |
Homes Delivered - 2018 |
|
Carlow County Council |
0 |
2 |
|
Dublin City Council |
0 |
1 |
|
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council |
1 |
0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0 |
7 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
0 |
1 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
0 |
8 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
6 |
|
Meath County Council |
0 |
1 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
0 |
4 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
2 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
0 |
1 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
6 |
35 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
0 |
1 |
|
Wexford County Council |
2 |
11 |
|
Total |
9 |
80 |
Table 2: Total RLS Expenditure 2017 and 2018
|
|
Expenditure 2017 |
Expenditure 2018 |
|
Capital |
€196,385 |
€1,613,107 |
|
Current |
€30,189 |
€280,395 |
|
Total |
€226,574 |
€1,893,502 |
321. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of units to be provided through the enhanced long-term social housing leasing scheme by county in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18369/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA range of housing options are necessary to ensure a supply of accommodation to meet different types of social housing need. Harnessing the off-balance sheet potential of private investment in social housing is an important objective of the Government and the social housing targets set out in Rebuilding Ireland over the period to 2021 reflect the ambition in that regard.
My Department has introduced the Enhanced Long Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme in order to target newly built or yet to be built houses and apartments for long term leasing, and to target property developers and investors who are in a position to deliver housing at a reasonable scale in order to supplement delivery under Pillar 2 of Rebuilding Ireland.
The first call for proposals for the Enhanced Leasing Scheme was open from January to April 2018 and a total of 33 submissions were received. The second call for proposals closed on 25th October 2018 and a total of 22 submissions were received. Information with respect to the number and location of the dwellings proposed for leasing under the Scheme will be available once the respective housing authorities have signed Agreements for Lease arising from the completion of the due diligence process. This due diligence process is currently underway and it is expected that the first Agreements to Lease will be signed later in Q2 2019.
My Department and the Housing Agency continue to work with local authorities and proposers in respect of the Enhanced Leasing Scheme, and the leasing schemes generally, in order to ensure maximum delivery of high quality leased properties to meet the needs of households on social housing waiting lists. To this end, the Enhanced Long-Term Social Housing Leasing Scheme is in full operation and accepting proposals, complementing the range of other delivery mechanisms operated by my Department.
322. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the average cost of implementing the national town centre health check programme by town; the number of towns that have had an assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18362/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Heritage Council is developing a Town Centre Health Check training programme in collaboration with several Government Departments and other bodies. The operation of the programme is a matter for the Heritage Council and details are available on the Council's website.
It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports, having regard to competing priorities for resources. However, my Department will continue to work closely with the Heritage Council to ensure continued investment is appropriately targeted within the heritage area.
323. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the average cost of funding art workspaces as part of the visual artists' workplace scheme; the number of locations funded by the scheme; the cost of the scheme; the list of locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18188/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Arts Council operates a number of schemes and initiatives have been established for the particular support of visual arts, including the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme. This scheme is funded by the Arts Council and is administered on its behalf by Visual Artists Ireland. I understand that under the scheme, Visual Artists Ireland invites applications for grants of up to a maximum of €40,000 (current funding) towards running costs such as light, heat, rent, artists’ development programmes, administration and/or appropriate salary costs. A proportion of support up to a maximum of 20% of the total request may be directed toward essential maintenance and equipment expenditure.
The purpose of the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme is to support artists’ workspaces throughout the country to provide the best possible working environment for visual artists and, where feasible, to enable a level of subsidy for the artists working in these spaces. I understand that the Arts Council announced grant awards totalling €221,000 in 2018 covering up to 19 different locations and 700 visual artists, further details can be accessed on the Arts Council newsletter at the following link.
The Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions under the Arts Act 2003, operates the scheme within a published 10 year strategic framework entitled Making Great Art Work as well as its published Visual Arts Policy & Strategy and others. Further information on the scheme as well as the Arts Council policies which support this scheme can be accessed on the Arts Council website at the following link.
Practical information in relation to the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme may be accessed on the Visual Artists Ireland website at the following link.
324. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of removing the €2,550,000 cap for the per cent for art scheme and of adjusting the other caps accordingly; the number of art projects that have been funded each year since the scheme was established; the amount spent each year on the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18189/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 1997, a decision by the Government approved the inclusion in budgets for all Exchequer-funded capital construction projects an amount of up to 1% as funding for an art project, subject to an overall cap of €64,000. While my Department has responsibility for the promotion of the Per Cent for Art Scheme, it does not have a budget for it. My Department, therefore does not provide any funding for the inclusion of art projects in the project costs of other Departments' projects such as roads, schools or hospitals, and it does not collect statistics.
The scheme does not operate on the basis of a specific public art fund from which moneys are drawn to undertake or to commission works of an artistic nature. Rather, under the terms of the Scheme, such works are factored into and funded from the overall budget of each capital project by the public body undertaking it. This is a matter for each project promoter or commissioning body and I, as Minister, have no statutory function in this regard.
Guidelines on the Per Cent for Art Scheme are available on the Public Art website www.publicart.ie. The guidelines set out how project managers are to operate the scheme and provide a common national approach to its implementation. The Public Art website is also a comprehensive Public Art resource, which offers information on the operation of the scheme, as well as much of the output of the scheme. This is continuously updated and includes almost 250 permanent and temporary, public and socially engaged artworks made in Ireland, or of artwork made by Irish artists abroad. Many of these artworks were produced under the Per Cent for Art Scheme.
I made a statement in relation to the per cent for art scheme at the Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees on Wednesday, 6 March 2019. I informed the Select Committee of my intention to reform the per cent for art scheme and a proposal in that regard is currently under consideration. The current review of the scheme is looking at recommendations towards improvement of the retention and centralisation of collated information on projects under the scheme.
325. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is an art camp programme established with State funding; if so, the cost of running the programme; the number of camps run under the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18190/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not operate an art camp programme. Such activities may be eligible for support under Pillar 2 of the Creative Ireland Programme - 'Enabling Creativity in Every Community'.
Funding from Creative Ireland is provided to local authorities. In 2018, my Department allocated a sum of €2m and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government a sum of €1m to all 31 local authorities (€96,000 each approximately) to enable them to support an extensive programme of activities, events and initiatives in each county. This level of funding has been maintained for this year.
In total in 2018, over 1,300 different initiatives around Ireland were funded under Pillar 2 including arts projects, concerts, exhibitions, festivals, performances and workshops among many other activities. They covered areas such as architecture, biodiversity, crafts, heritage, dance, film, history, literature, music, photography, poetry, storytelling, theatre and the visual arts.
There were two children’s art camps at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2018. The focus in 2019 to date has been on individual workshops, rather than camps.
326. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the State agencies and bodies under the remit of her Department; the location of each such body by county; and the number of full and part-time persons employed in each such body. [18228/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows.
|
State Agency |
Location (county) |
Headcount |
Full-time |
Part-time |
|
Arts Council |
Dublin |
53 |
38 |
15 |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
Dublin |
35 |
34 |
1 |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
Cork |
17 |
8 |
9 |
|
Heritage Council |
Kilkenny |
15 |
13 |
2 |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
Dublin |
89 |
73 |
16 |
|
National Concert Hall |
Dublin |
117 |
39 |
78 |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
Dublin |
188 |
177 |
11 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
Dublin |
90 |
74 |
16 |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
Dublin Mayo Total: |
142 28 170 |
128 22 150 |
14 6 20 |
|
Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann |
Dublin Galway Total: |
26 |
22 |
4 |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency (An Foras Teanga) |
Antrim Donegal Total: |
12 2 14 |
12 1 13 |
0 1 1 |
|
Foras na Gaeilge (An Foras Teanga) |
Dublin Donegal Meath Antrim Total: |
34 8 5 9 56 |
30 8 5 9 52 |
4 0 0 0 4 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Galway Donegal Mayo Kerry Cork Total: |
49 12 3 20 3 87 |
36 12 2 19 3 72 |
13 0 1 1 0 15 |
|
Waterways Ireland |
Dublin Clare Galway Leitrim Westmeath Fermanagh Total: |
320 |
310 |
10 |
327. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons employed at each level of the Civil Service from Secretary General to cleaner each year since 2016; the number of those at each level who are female in each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18347/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
Staff by grade and gender at 31 December 2016.
|
Grade Level |
Number of Persons Employed |
Number of those female |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
0 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
5 |
0 |
|
Principal Officer |
22 |
6 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
102 |
40 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
67 |
43 |
|
Administrative Officer |
82 |
39 |
|
Executive Officer |
137 |
74 |
|
Staff Officer |
7 |
5 |
|
Clerical Officer |
112 |
76 |
|
Services Officer |
16 |
3 |
|
State Industrial |
88 |
34 |
|
Total |
639 |
320 |
Staff by grade and gender at 31 December 2017
|
Grade Level |
Number of Persons Employed |
Number of those female |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
4 |
0 |
|
Principal Officer |
18 |
5 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
103 |
46 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
70 |
43 |
|
Administrative Officer |
81 |
37 |
|
Executive Officer |
147 |
82 |
|
Staff Officer |
0 |
0 |
|
Clerical Officer |
100 |
69 |
|
Services Officer |
18 |
6 |
|
State Industrial |
107 |
38 |
|
Total |
649 |
327 |
Staff by grade and gender at 31 December 2018
|
Grade Level |
Number of Persons Employed |
Number of those female |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
3 |
0 |
|
Principal Officer |
23 |
6 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
104 |
46 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
71 |
45 |
|
Administrative Officer |
83 |
35 |
|
Executive Officer |
161 |
92 |
|
Staff Officer |
0 |
0 |
|
Clerical Officer |
80 |
53 |
|
Services Officer |
16 |
5 |
|
State Industrial |
101 |
34 |
|
Total |
643 |
317 |
My Department reports staffing numbers to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a quarterly basis: it is anticipated that, when finalised, the report for Q1 2019 will show an increase of women at senior grades.
