Written Answers Nos. 330-349
330. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the average construction and all-in development costs for one, two, three and four bedroom social houses and one, two and three bedroom social housing apartments delivered under the SHIP in the past 12 months as distinct from the Departmental expenditure ceilings for such units which was provided in an earlier reply, in tabular form. [17233/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuestion number 427 of 14 July 2020, provided the ranges of Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) as issued to each local authority as a benchmark for the development and costing of new build social housing. These UCCs were based on returned data from tendered social housing schemes over an extended period, updated from published tender index information, with the most recent set of UCCs being produced in Q1 2019.
It was intended that updated UCCs would issue to local authorities at the end of Q1 2020, however, the impact of Covid-19 on construction activity meant that this updating was deferred until such a time as sufficient market data is available and the impact on construction tender prices is clearer. The tables below therefore outline the Q1 2019 average UCC values for houses and apartments across all local authority areas.
|
Houses |
1 bed |
2 bed (1 storey) |
2 bed (2 storey) |
3 bed |
4 bed |
|
Construction |
€155,818 |
€165,132 |
€174,206 |
€184,685 |
€199,491 |
|
All-in-Cost |
€201,359 |
€212,624 |
€222,582 |
€234,571 |
€252,047 |
|
Apartments |
1 bed |
2 bed |
3 bed |
|
Construction |
€174,159 |
€189,112 |
€209,482 |
|
All-in-Cost |
€225,082 |
€243,476 |
€267,629 |
Construction cost as shown, is reflective of building costs (including VAT) and also includes normal site works and site development. ‘All-in Cost’ includes cost of construction, land cost, professional fees, utility connections, site investigations/surveys, VAT and contribution to public art. Abnormal costs are excluded from these figures.
331. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a report that was arried out by Wicklow County Council in 2014 on the provision of a full-time fire service for Bray and north County Wicklow; if the funding will be provided the for the establishment of a full-time fire service in north County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17302/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department, primarily through the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. At the moment there are 31 fire authorities which provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 218 fire stations nationwide.
A review of fire services in Ireland resulted in the publication of “Keeping Communities Safe - A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland” (KCS) in 2013. This report was the outcome of a wide-ranging review of fire services in Ireland which was undertaken in 2011/2012, and was endorsed as national policy in early 2013. It is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/Community/FireandEmergencyServices/FileDownLoad%2C32381%2Cen.pdf.
The KCS policy document set out the overall approach, the methods and the techniques to achieve the objective of keeping communities safe from fire. For the first time, it set out national norms, standards and targets against which local authorities can benchmark their fire services. It concluded that local authorities were best positioned to continue to provide fire services in Ireland.
Over the course of 2014/2015, an External Validation Group (EVG) commissioned by the Management Board of the NDFEM, visited every fire service in the country as part of a new external validation process arising from implementation of KCS. In April 2016, the Management Board published the first EVG Report titled “Local Delivery - National Consistency”.
In the case of Bray, Co. Wicklow, the report referred to by the Deputy was reviewed as part of the EVG process, and the findings of that process are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/fire-and-emergency-management/fire-services-ireland-local-delivery-national.
It concluded that based on the Area Categorisation for Bray a retained fire service was sufficient at that time. I understand that there has been no significant change in the intervening period.
332. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the breakdown of the establishment of retained firefighters in each fire authority and each fire station; the manning levels in each authority and station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17303/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. At the moment there are 31 fire authorities which provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures. Local authority fire services are delivered by approximately 3,300 local authority staff engaged at 218 fire stations nationwide, with 16 of these stations being full-time stations, a further 4 are mixed full-time and retained, and 198 retained stations.
My Department does not routinely collect the data in the format requested by the Deputy. However, as part of on a broader review exercise currently in progress a breakdown, based on data supplied by local authorities, of the number of firefighters in each fire authority as at July 2020 is set out in the table below.
|
Fire service |
Total no. of operational staff in stations |
|
Carlow |
45 |
|
Cavan |
86 |
|
Clare |
75 |
|
Cork City |
152 |
|
Cork County |
204 |
|
Donegal |
154 |
|
Dublin |
963 |
|
Galway |
138 |
|
Kerry |
104 |
|
Kildare |
60 |
|
Kilkenny |
68 |
|
Laois |
72 |
|
Leitrim |
37 |
|
Limerick City & County |
140 |
|
Longford |
46 |
|
Louth |
100 |
|
Mayo |
112 |
|
Meath |
72 |
|
Monaghan |
51 |
|
Offaly |
53 |
|
Roscommon |
44 |
|
Sligo |
43 |
|
Tipperary |
127 |
|
Waterford |
124 |
|
Westmeath |
49 |
|
Wexford |
64 |
|
Wicklow |
87 |
|
3270 |
333. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will consider commissioning a medal for bravery to be issued to members of the fire service similar to the Scott Medal which is issued to members of An Garda Síochána for acts of bravery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17304/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons from all strands of society, including staff of local authority fire services, are eligible to be nominated for an award under the National Bravery Awards. Under this scheme, Deeds of Bravery Awards are given to people who have saved a human life involving personal risk to themselves.
Comhairle na Míre Gaile - the Council for the Recognition of Deeds of Bravery - is under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality, and it meets on an annual basis to consider and decide on the awards to be made. The scheme has been in operation since 1947, and awards are presented in four categories – gold, silver, bronze and a certificate of recognition. Further information relating to the Bravery Awards may be found at: www.bravery.ie. I understand that a number of members of the fire service from all over the country have been recognised under the Scheme for their courageous acts.
I wish to take this opportunity to place on record my appreciation of the vital contribution made to our society by the men and women of the local authority fire services. Fire services are trained to operate as teams, to evaluate each emergency situation and to undertake appropriate risk assessments to ensure the safety of the public they serve as well as their colleagues and themselves. Given the focus on teamwork and risk assessment, I have no current plans to introduce a separate bravery awards scheme for individual members of local authority fire services staff, however, I am open to consulting and seeking the views of fire service representatives on the matter.
In 1992, a scheme of long service awards for personnel in the local authority fire services was launched. There are four categories of awards, marking service of ten years, twenty years, thirty years and forty years. The ten-year award is a certificate presented locally, while the twenty-, thirty- and forty- year awards all involve the presentation of medals and certificates at a national ceremony. The twenty-year award is a medal bearing the traditional logo representation of the fire service - a helmet and crossed axes. The thirty-year award is a flame emblem. The forty-year award is a bar; both the emblem and bar attach onto the medal ribbon.
The first national awards presentation was organised in 1998 and is now held every two years at a national presentation ceremony. The latest of these ceremonies was held in November 2018 at which 288 fire service personnel were eligible for awards.
334. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of approved housing applicants in County Tipperary; and the number in receipt of HAP and RAS housing support. [17343/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt end Q4 2019, in County Tipperary, there were 1,266 approved housing applicants, 1,778 households were actively in receipt of HAP support and there were 1,088 tenancies supported by RAS.
335. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of emergency beds the local authority has in County Tipperary [17344/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of my Department in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local or regional level. Responsibility for the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons is a matter for the local authorities.
Therefore, the detailed local information sought is not held in my Department and is a matter for the relevant housing authority, in this case, Tipperary County Council.
336. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there are rules which exclude houses acquired under Part V and being bought by council tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17351/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.
The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provides for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, houses specifically designed for older persons, group traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living.
Local authorities may, within the provisions of the Regulations, exclude certain houses which, in the opinion of the authority, should not be sold for reasons such as proper stock or estate management. It is a matter for each individual housing authority to administer the scheme in its operational area in line with the over-arching provisions of the governing legislation for the scheme, and in a manner appropriate to its housing requirements.
The Programme for Government commits to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. In addition, a review of the operation of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase (Incremental) Scheme 2016 has been finalised and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations. The review and the commitments in the Programme for Government are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect that the review will be published once all the work on these reform measures is completed.
337. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Cabinet committee which addresses matters relating to Israel and Palestine. [16815/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to Israel and Palestine are dealt with by the Cabinet as a whole. I discuss this issue with my Cabinet colleagues as and when needed.
338. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the names of observers appointed to the most recent election observer roster; the outcome of the consultation with the Data Protection Commission regarding this matter having regard to the General Data Protection Regulation; the advice received from the Data Protection Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16502/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra342. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the persons on the most recent election observer roster. [16766/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 342 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade administers and maintains a roster of suitably skilled individuals who are available to deploy on international election observation missions organised, in the main, by the European Union (EU) and the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE-ODIHR).
A new roster was mustered in 2018/2019. As the 2019-2023 roster exists within the framework of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Department gave careful thought to the justification, and the legal basis, for publishing the names of roster members. This included detailed consideration of the Guidance Note on the Legal Bases for Processing Personal Data, which the Data Protection Commission (DPC) issued in December 2019. It also included separate consultations with the DPC and the roster members. Those consultations concluded on 10 July 2020. In accordance with GDPR article 6(1)(f), I am releasing these names to the public record by attaching them to this response.
The DPC noted that the Department had carried out a comprehensive analysis of the necessity and proportionality of the processing, as well as a balancing exercise between the rights and freedoms of the data subjects involved and the public interest, and had also identified appropriate safeguards for the personal data. The DPC raised a number of important matters: the GDPR right to be forgotten, the possibility of other information being inferred, or inferable, as a result of publication of the names, and whether there had been incidents of members of the roster having suffered harm as a result of being identified. The DPC stressed that it would be essential to communicate any changes to members of the roster, to ensure that their feedback is heard. Finally it was advised that the data privacy notice provided to members of the roster should make explicit to them how they can exercise their data protection rights. This has all been done.
The Department has given full consideration to the feedback of roster members and is satisfied that there is a legitimate interest in attaching the names to the public record and that appropriate safeguards have been put in place. Among these safeguards was the decision to publish the names of volunteers on the roster in the format surname, initial (i.e. MURPHY, Z.). This is intended to balance transparency against the privacy of volunteer roster members, in a societal context of digitized lives and potential intense social media curiosity.
Information on the Missions to which Ireland has contributed observers, and the costs and flight emissions associated with 2019 and 2020 missions, is available on the Irish Aid website. 2020 Missions are currently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to our resuming nominations once the pandemic has receded.
Attached to the response to this Parliamentary Question is the list of names of the members of the 2019-2023 roster.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is satisfied that there is a legitimate interest in accordance with article 6(1)(f) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in attaching to the public record the names of members of the 2019-2023 international election observation roster. The legitimate interest is the demonstration of accountability and transparency in the administration of the roster. The persons listed below were given advance notice of publication.
339. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of advisers and special advisers appointed by him since becoming Minister; the starting annual salary of each person appointed by him; if an open interview process was conducted for each appointee; the duration and terms of each contract issued to each adviser and special adviser; and if an advisory role has been split to facilitate job sharing, in tabular form. [16564/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval.
It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to formal Government approval.
At this stage no Special Advisers have been formally appointed to my Department by the Government.
340. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated full-year cost of increasing the budget for the emigrant support programme by 10%. [16730/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to non-profit organisations and projects to support our most vulnerable emigrants overseas, to strengthen Irish communities abroad and to facilitate the development of closer and more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish.
The budget for the programme in 2020 is €12.595 million and is a demonstration of the Government commitment to our people abroad.
An increase of 10% in the budget for the Emigrant Support Programme would cost €1,259,500.
341. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures taken to protest the treatment of members of the Falun Gong community in China. [16755/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government closely follows reports of persecutions against Falun Gong practitioners, and officials in my Department have met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers on a number of occasions.
Ireland frequently raises human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities in both bilateral meetings and in appropriate multilateral fora, including rights related to freedom of religion or belief. Ireland joined a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee in New York in October 2019 which called on China to uphold its national laws and international obligations and commitments to respect human rights, including freedom of religion and belief, across China.
The EU also regularly discuss human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities. The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue is the primary formal framework through which Ireland and other EU Member States share with China our experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and urge China to take clear steps to improve the human rights situation. The latest session of this dialogue took place on 1-2 April 2019, and the EU raised a number of issues relating to freedom of religion and belief, as well as the rights of persons belonging to minorities, freedom of expression and association, arbitrary detention, and the death penalty.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue to address human rights issues with China, in frequent and regular dialogue, through our contacts in both Dublin and Beijing, and through the relevant multilateral channels.
343. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated full year cost of purchasing three extra passport printing machines [16794/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service of my Department is one unified service composed of three constituent offices located in Lower Mount Street and Balbriggan in Dublin and South Mall in Cork. It operates three passport printing machines, two of which are located in the main production facility in Balbriggan and the third in the Passport Office in Lower Mount Street, Dublin.
Passport applications from citizens residing in Ireland or elsewhere in the world are distributed for processing across the three Passport Offices. All passport applications are processed through the centralised automated passport service system. All production facilities can print a passport, irrespective of the channel through which the application is processed. The printing system allows for flexibility between printing machines if any one machine has reached capacity. Each passport printer has a printing capacity of 250 passports per hour.
The purchase cost of three new passport printing machines is in excess of €5.1 million, excluding the cost of security, maintenance, technical fit-out, staffing or rental costs.
I am satisfied that the printing capacity of production equipment currently employed by the Passport Service is sufficient to meet the current and anticipated future demand for passports.
344. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the value of contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) and its subsidiaries by his Department and each body and local authority under his remit from 1 January 2016 to 14 July 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16841/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo contracts or tenders have been awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the company referred to by the Deputy.
345. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken to recognise the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16854/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have given a high priority to the Middle East Peace Process since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017, and I will continue to do so as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence. I have personally been very engaged in efforts to keep the issue high on the international agenda. I have made four working visits to Israel and Palestine, most recently in December 2019. I have also consistently engaged on this issue at EU and UN level, and I will continue to do so.
The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-state solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”.
In recognition of the frustration felt both in Palestine and here in Ireland over the lack of progress towards a two-state solution, I have been clear that I would be prepared to recommend to the Government early recognition by Ireland of a State of Palestine, if and when it might be helpful. This is an issue where there could be benefits to moving in step with EU partners, and it is a matter that I discuss regularly with EU colleagues.
However, recognition by Ireland outside the context of an overall peace agreement would also undoubtedly affect Ireland’s influence on the Israel-Palestine conflict at EU and international level. Timing and context would affect whether this loss of influence would be matched by delivering a commensurate benefit for the Palestinian people and a positive impact on the peace process. I am continuing to monitor the situation closely.
346. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of United States military flights that have landed en route to another destination to date in 2020; the number of personnel that have disembarked those flights in the same time period; the number of personnel that have traversed outside of airside of airports here in that time period; if they are required to complete the locator form; if they have been contacted to ensure they are self-isolating; and the numbers of non-compliance. [16943/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, my Department approved 128 requests for military aircraft from the United States to land at Irish airports. The table below provides the monthly breakdown of those aircraft landings.
The flights had a combined total of 547 personnel on board. According to figures supplied to my Department by the relevant airport authorities, 68 of those left the airside area of the airport while on the ground.
None of those arrivals occurred after the introduction of the Irish Public Health Passenger Locator Form in April. Therefore the question of completion of the locator form did not arise.
|
Month |
US military Landings |
|
January |
49 |
|
February |
33 |
|
March |
27 |
|
April |
7 |
|
May |
6 |
|
June |
6 |
347. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the human rights situation in Iran; if he has raised his concerns with the Iranian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17155/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraHuman rights issues are an important part of Ireland's engagement and dialogue with Iran. The human rights situation in Iran is very worrying, with routine violations of human rights including restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, arbitrary arrest, and torture of detainees. There are numerous and credible reports of torture of those detained in Iranian prisons. Ireland opposes the use of the death penalty whenever it occurs and, while I note that there has been a significant fall in the number of executions in Iran since 2017, I remain shocked by the regular use of the death penalty, particularly in respect of minors.
Ireland raises human rights issues with Iran at every suitable opportunity. Most recently, in February 2020, during political consultations in Tehran, senior officials from my Department again directly communicated our concerns regarding human rights.
Ireland also addresses these issues in international fora such as the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Most recently, at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council, Ireland called on Iran to ensure full respect for its international human rights obligations and take all necessary steps to protect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.
Ireland also raised concerns about the continued harassment, arrest, and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders in Iran during the Universal Periodic Review of Iran’s human rights record in November 2019.
The EU consistently pursues human rights issues with Iran, including the right to due process for all, as part of overall engagement with Iran. Since 2011, the EU has also had in place restrictive measures related to violations of human rights, which both list individuals and entities responsible for grave human rights violations; and ban the export to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunications.
Ireland and the EU will continue to monitor developments in Iran, and, whenever opportunities arise, to call on the Iranian Government to make progress in relation to human rights.
348. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be processed and supplied in view of a delay of almost five months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operation on 8 June 2020 and has processed over 80,000 books and cards since re-opening. The Passport Service is currently meeting the target turnaround times for Passport Online applications.
This application is a paper based application through Passport Express. The Passport Service is working through paper based applications received before March 2020. This application is currently under process.
349. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason his Department has not responded to a query (details supplied) in view of the fact it has been sent on two occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17368/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operation on 8 June 2020. The Passport Service has processed over 80,000 books and cards since re-opening and is currently meeting the target turnaround times for Passport Online applications.
The target turnaround time is 10 working days for simple applications and 20 working days for complex applications, once the supporting documentation has been received.
The supporting documents for this application were received on 24 June 2020. It is expected that this passport will issue on 22 July 2020.
