Written Answers Nos. 102-116
104. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Ireland has requested under Article 25(3) of the RRF Regulation to redact information relating to Ireland's National Recovery Plan; if so, the nature of such redactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27100/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is well underway on preparing Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which is required to access funding under the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of Next Generation EU, the Union’s €750 billion response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No decision has been made about redacting information under Article 25(3) of the RRF Regulation. This provides that Member States may request the Commission to redact sensitive or confidential information, the disclosure of which would jeopardise public interests of the Member State.
105. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans from a tourism perspective and in conjunction with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a clear detailed roadmap for the reopening of the hotel and hospitality sector; her views on ensuring that moratoria are in place for tourism businesses and that funding schemes are in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26678/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions on COVID-19 public health measures are the responsibility of Government and are made by Cabinet, on foot of advice from NPHET and the Minister for Health. In line with the plan set out in The Path Ahead the Government has been implementing a limited phased easing of some restrictions through the month of May. Later this month, the Government will make further decisions which should allow for the continued phased reopening of tourism and hospitality for the critical summer season, as the public health situation permits.
I am committed to supporting tourism through this difficult period and to working towards reopening and recovery. In this regard, the Government will soon be publishing a National Economic Recovery Plan outlining how we will help people return to work and support sectors which have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Government will consider more targeted measures to help reboot those sectors, such as tourism, which face particular challenges during the recovery phase when the economy reopens.
106. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to a campaign in Wales that seeks to require both Welsh and English labelling on all products for sale in that jurisdiction; if such an initiative could be considered in Ireland to encourage the use of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26736/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI note the Deputy's reference to a campaign underway in Wales, and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Government of Ireland's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a commitment to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland, as a mechanism to develop the range of areas available in which people can choose Irish as a language of exchange.
In addition, paragraph 2.8.1.2 of the Governments 2018-2022 Irish Language Action Plan states that Foras na Gaeilge, through its ‘Gnó Means Business’ programme, will deliver a wide range of initiatives to support the use of the Irish language in business and economic life, including:
- a funding support scheme focused on Small and Medium Enterprises: This is a grant scheme with matching funding of up to €3,000 to support the professional development of signage, stationery, printed marketing material, internet sites and other branding material in the Irish language or bilingually;
- a Business Support Resource Pack: There are 31 specialist business support resources available free of charge from the self-order system. As part of the support package, there is a choice of self-adhesive signs, badges, leaflets and other support resources to enhance the visibility of Irish in a business environment;
- a Guide to Best Practice: As part of a series of publications, two booklets have been published to give practical guidance to the business sector on the use of bilingualism: ‘Bilingual Signage' and 'Bilingual Packaging'. The next guidebook will focus on the use of bilingualism electronically and on websites; and,
- a Q-Mharc Gnó le Gaeilge is a voluntary code and newly-developed quality system for the Business Sector which focuses on giving official recognition to best bilingual practice based on the International Standard ISO 9001:2008. Small and medium sized enterprises throughout the island of Ireland can apply for this award.
Officials in my Department will continue to engage with Foras na Gaeilge, ensuring implementation of actions under Paragraph 2.8.1.2.
In addition, my Department provides funding to organisations such as Gael-Taca in Cork; Gnó Mhaigh Eo in Mayo; Gaillimh le Gaeilge in Galway, and more recently, Cill Dara le Gaeilge in Kildare, to support and encourage businesses in the use of Irish.
I have recently been contacted by the organiser of a campaign to promote the use of bilingual packaging on products sold in Ireland. My officials are engaging with him with a view to considering his proposals.
107. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a decision will be made on an application for a traditional music festival (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26760/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates an annual fund for Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme to promote local cultural events. Applications under the scheme for 2021 closed on 23rd April 2021. These applications are now being assessed and successful applicants will be notified shortly.
The maximum allocation available to projects under this Scheme is €5,000. The scheme is not open to projects in receipt of funding from the Arts Council or Fáilte Ireland.
In 2019 a total of €111,000 was allocated to 50 projects under this Scheme. There was a significantly reduced demand for this Scheme in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, but 14 projects were awarded a total of €54,700 for online and COVID-compliant cultural events.
108. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the action his Department will take to address the water quality at Lilliput, County Westmeath which again has been found to be below standard. [26816/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the recent publication of the EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report, and am pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters highlighted in the report, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements. It is important to note that 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard. This is up from 95% in 2019 and improvements in bathing water quality are welcome and necessary.
Excellent work is being carried out by local authorities and other stakeholders on the continued improvements in our bathing water quality. For both local and national tourism, it is important that the network of bathing waters is strengthened and enhanced. The reduction in poor bathing waters from 5 to 4 is also welcomed but it is clear that a lot of work must be undertaken by Local Authorities and Irish Water to ensure issues at these 4 poor bathing waters are remedied as soon as possible.
Lilliput, Lough Ennell has been classified as poor for the last three years and investigators have found that the main source of pollution affecting the bathing water is diffuse agriculture in the local catchment. Septic tanks discharges and birds are also a potential, but less likely, source of pollution.
Westmeath County Council is working with the Local Authorities Waters Programme (LAWPRO) to investigate and locate the causes of this pollution.
LAWPRO is a shared service working with local authorities and State agencies to develop and implement the River Basin Management Plan. Its work involves the assessment of water bodies to diagnose and help solve the issues affecting water quality. As part of the second River Basin Management Plan, 190 Priority Areas for Action were identified in which LAWPRO’s work is focused. This includes the Lough Ennell/Dysart Stream area in Westmeath.
I encourage all bathers to use the information on the dedicated www.beaches.ie website before going swimming, and to always follow the advice of the HSE and Department of Health in relation to social distancing protocols when you are at the beach.
109. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the taskforce established by the Heritage Council to consider the future of the National Biodiversity Data Centre will include public submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26681/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra110. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider underpinning the work of and data held by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in legislation. [26682/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he received a copy of the Heritage Council review undertaken in 2019 to review the governance, operating and financial models underpinning the National Biodiversity Data Centre; if he will provide a copy of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26687/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 110 and 115 together.
The National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) is a programme established by the Heritage Council in 2006 and operated under a contract between the Council and a private company subsidiary of a UK entity. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department, including the Heritage Council, to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie.
111. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress he has made on establishing a citizens’ assembly on biodiversity. [26683/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe convening of a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity is under discussion at a senior level between the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department, and is a matter in the first instance for that Department. These discussions primarily relate to the scope and timing of the assembly.
112. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of additional biodiversity and heritage officers employed in each local authority by county since June 2020 to date in tabular form. [26684/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
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 aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the local authorities which employ Biodiversity Officers and Heritage Officers is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
Since June 2020 my Department has approved staff sanction requests for a Heritage Officer for Carlow County Council and for Leitrim County Council.
113. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions he has taken to support biodiversity data collection. [26685/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe collection of data relating to biodiversity and nature underpins much of the work of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, particularly its Scientific Unit.
This work is formally set out in Objective 2 of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017 - 2021: to strengthen the knowledge base for conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity.
The interim review of the Plan, published in February 2020, sets out the progress that has been made on actions related to biodiversity data under this objective. In particular,
Action 2.1.4: Implement common data standards and quality assurance procedures in line with the INSPIRE Directive and ensure that data and mapping on rare, threatened and protected species and habitats are freely available.
My Department works with partners in the Marine Institute, EPA, Heritage Council, NBDC and DPER to further progress this action, including by making datasets available on Biodiversity Maps https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/ and on www.marine.ie.
Also, the NPWS is working with my Department's INSPIRE Steering Committee on the publication of INSPIRE data on the Ordnance Survey of Ireland INSPIRE GeoPortal website.
Common data standards in line with the INSPIRE Directive are being coordinated and applied through my Department's INSPIRE Steering Committee. The Irish INSPIRE Geoportal website in OSI has been upgraded and biodiversity data sets are increasingly being published through this coordination channel – contributing to a harmonised, European level view of a number biodiversity related data themes.
Action 2.1.6: to undertake surveys and assessments of status, trends and distribution of all habitats and species of EU interest and additional habitats and species of national and regional importance.
My Department works with a range of partners and stakeholders such as the EPA, IFI, NBDC, Academia and Research Institutions and eNGOs to implement this action. Both Article 17 assessments of the status, trends and distributions of all habitats and species listed on the EU Habitats Directive and the Article 12 report on Birds were submitted to the European Commission and summary overviews published in 2019.
Since 2017 NPWS has commissioned surveys for marine habitats, lagoon, saltmarsh, shingle and associated dunes, raised bog, woodland, plant species, vertigo species, pearl mussel, bats, hare, seals, cetaceans and bird species. The National Biodiversity Data Centre operates five long term monitoring programmes: All-Ireland Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, The Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme, The Marsh Fritillary Monitoring Scheme, Rare Plant Monitoring Scheme and Solitary Bee monitoring scheme.
A copy of the Interim Review of the NBAP can be accessed via the NPWS website on the following link: https://npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Interim%20Review%20of%20the%20Implementation%20of%20the%20National%20Biodiversity%20Action%20Plan%202017%20-%202021%20.pdf
Work is currently underway in my Department on developing the next National Biodiversity Action Plan for 2022. This Plan will maintain a strong focus on solid scientific practice and data gathering which is essential to well informed actions for biodiversity and effective implementation of the Plan's objectives in the coming years.
Furthermore, my Department provides funding each year to the Heritage Council for its National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) programme, established by the Council in 2006 and operated under a contract between the Council and a private company. In 2020, my Department's NPWS provided over €500,000 to the Council for NBDC core funding and other biodiversity data projects including a citizen science plant recording project.
114. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional policies on supports for urban biodiversity and tree planting introduced by county June 2020 to date in tabular form. [26686/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities across the country carry out vital work in promoting, safeguarding and restoring biodiversity. However, monitoring, reporting and management of data on this work in individual local authority areas is a matter for each Council.
The Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department provides funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of projects that promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021. The current National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP), Ireland’s 3rd, captures the objectives, targets and actions for biodiversity to be undertaken by a wide range of government, civil society and private sectors to achieve Ireland’s vision for biodiversity. A range of projects were supported in 2020, including those tackling invasive alien species, surveying of breeding birds and raising awareness of biodiversity. The breakdown, per Local Authority, is outlined in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
2020 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€7,081.00 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€12,000.00 |
|
Clare County Council |
€30,000.00 |
|
Cork City Council |
€11,008.00 |
|
Cork County Council |
€18,899.00 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€15,671.00 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€33,500.00 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
€30,650.00 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€18,000.00 |
|
Galway City Council |
€16,039.00 |
|
Galway County Council |
€37,587.00 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€17,140.00 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€16,000.00 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€16,000.00 |
|
Laois County Council |
€16,000.00 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€20,283.00 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
€39,164.00 |
|
Longford County Council |
€11,921.00 |
|
Louth County Council |
€8,826.00 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€29,700.00 |
|
Meath County Council |
€18,500.00 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€15,725.00 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€24,000.00 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€22,400.00 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€19,130.00 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€21,464.00 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
€28,606.00 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€16,000.00 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€25,198.00 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€14,300.00 |
|
Total |
€610,792.00 |
116. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of commercial rates valuation appeals awaiting a result in 2020 and to date in 2021; the average waiting time for such appeals; the measures he plans to put in place to alleviate the situation in view of a continuing high backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26721/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Valuation Tribunal is an independent appeal body established and operating under the Valuation Acts of 1988 and 2001. It deals with appeals against decisions of the Commissioner of Valuation on the valuation of commercial properties for rating purposes and appeals against determinations of market value on derelict sites or vacant sites made by local authorities under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015.
While the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on how the Valuation Tribunal conducts its business, a number of measures have been put in place to support the Valuation Tribunal in its service delivery. These measures include an increasing use of document-based appeals, remote hearings and pre-engagement procedures between parties with a view to agreeing substantive issues without recourse to a full hearing of the appeal.
I understand from the Valuation Tribunal that it has a total of 2,077 appeals on hand.
