Written Answers Nos. 97-111
98. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if one-on-one personal training is permitted in private gyms and studios under current restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28039/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom the 7th of June, individual indoor sports training in gyms and other such facilities is permitted. This includes one-to-one instruction.
While individual indoor training activity is permitted, indoor group exercise classes, games, matches or competitions are not. The total numbers permitted in a given indoor facility is dependent on the capacity of that facility to fully comply with the public health requirements and associated protocols developed by the relevant sporting bodies and organisations. Further information and advice in this regard is available from those bodies and organisations which remain in a close and ongoing engagement with Sport Ireland.
99. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the high cross monastic site at Monasterboice, County Louth in respect of the tentative list to be submitted to UNESCO for consideration for world heritage site status in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35439/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on reports that indicate that Monasterboice may be removed from the tentative list for UNESCO world heritage sites (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35316/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 107 together.
I refer the Deputy back to the Topical Issue, To discuss the exclusion of Early Monastic Sites from Ireland’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, debated in the Dáil on the 26 May 2021 which outlined the processes, supports, and engagements that have been part of the advancement of the revised Tentative List of World Heritage Properties to date.
In January 2019, my Department initiated its review of the Tentative List and invited all local authorities to submit applications to it with respect to properties of natural and/or cultural heritage within their area of responsibility, which may meet the requirements for inclusion on the Tentative List. The deadline for applications is 30th June 2021.
My Department's policy is for applications to be promoted and sponsored by the relevant local authorities in order to ensure continuity throughout the process. Other organisations, community groups or individuals interested in submitting an application have been encouraged to apply in collaboration with their respective local authority and support has been provided by my Department when appropriate to do so. The role of the local authorities to lead engagement with community organisations on the ground is crucial in order to facilitate public consultation and wider stakeholder involvement, particularly in light of the requirement under the UNESCO Operational Guidelines for participatory planning and stakeholder consultation.
My Department’s National Monuments Service has been liaising very closely with those local authorities that have expressed interest in having a property within their county boundaries included on the revised Tentative List, providing advice and guidance on an ongoing basis, commissioning studies/reviews, and encouraging engagement with relevant stakeholders at a local level. This engagement has also included facilitating two World Heritage Workshops in collaboration with ICOMOS Ireland, one held in Killarney in February 2020 and a follow-up workshop online in June 2020.
These workshops focussed on next steps in the review process, World Heritage knowledge sharing, management of serial and transboundary applications, and the requirements of completing the Tentative List application form. At these workshops, the challenges in the preparation of nomination documentation and management plans for prospective World Heritage properties was detailed, and the need for wide public consultation and local stakeholder engagement was reinforced.
Following attendance at the workshops, interested parties were requested to submit draft Tentative List applications for review and feedback to ensure that the next Tentative List features properties that are well-placed to progress to World Heritage nomination. Throughout November and December 2020, my Department facilitated feedback in relation to the draft applications through individual online meetings with a World Heritage Expert.
My Department is not anticipating a revised application for Monasterboice as a component of a serial national application in respect of Early Medieval Monastic Sites or a revised standalone application because despite considerable encouragement, there was no engagement with my Department by Louth County Council in respect of Monasterboice.
100. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amounts provided to local authorities for adaptation work to local authority houses for persons with disabilities in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. [35141/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the funding provided by my Department to each local authority under the Disabled Persons Grants (DPG) scheme for years 2019, and 2020 are available at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/grantsfinancial-assistance/disabled-persons-grants-and-improvement-works-lieu-schemes
The 2021 DPG allocations issued to local authorities in May details of which can be found at the link below. Local authorities are currently progressing their 2021 work programmes but it will be much later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to the drawdown of funding in 2021 will be available early in 2022.
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/20e02-minister-obrien-minister-burke-approve-over-23m-in-funding-for-the-disabled-persons-grant-scheme-improvement-works-in-lieu-of-local-authority-housing-scheme/
101. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the location in which title deeds are stored by the Property Registration Authority; if any title deeds held by the Property Registration Authority are stored outside of the State; if a person can receive and hold their original deeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35122/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTitle Deeds lodged in the Property Registration Authority (PRA) concerning registered lands are filed in the PRA’s Central Filing Repository in Santry, Dublin. This repository contains approximately 7 million completed applications (instruments). All of the records are original, physical, hard-copy, paper documents dating mainly from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Under the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, and in accordance with the PRA's statutory obligations under the National Archives Act 1986, there is a legal requirement for instruments to be preserved permanently.
Title Deeds lodged in the PRA concerning unregistered lands are not filed in the PRA. The original Deeds are returned to the lodging party with a memorial/record of the Deeds retained in the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin.
Title Deeds held by the PRA are not stored outside the State.
In relation to registered land, the original Deeds must be lodged in the PRA to effect registration on the National Land Register, and these original Deeds are then retained in its Central Filing Repository. As the original Deeds are retained by the PRA, a person cannot hold them. There is an exception in relation to original leases, which are returned to the lodging party once a counterpart lease is lodged. In these cases, a person can hold the original lease subject to any undertakings their legal representative may have with a mortgage lender.
For unregistered lands, all Title Deeds are returned to the lodging party following registration of the Deeds in the Registry of Deeds, and a person may hold them, again subject to any undertakings their legal representative may have with a mortgage lender.
102. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to the proposals set out in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35145/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra103. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to a revision of the current public funding model as per the recommendations of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35146/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together.
The AIRO report on Cork County Council referred to in the Question was received by my Department on 9 June and is under consideration by my officials. It is a wide ranging report which covers funding from a variety of different Government Departments for a range of issues and schemes. Many of the funding lines are outside of the remit of my Department. The report has also been sent for consideration to other relevant Government Departments. The funding system for local authorities is complex, with authorities deriving their income from a variety of sources including local sources such as commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government.
Most of the funding from Central Government must be used for specified services. These can be grouped into five broad programme categories: recreational, education, environment, housing and transport. In relation to funding streams specifically from my Department, €135.3m and €167.5m was provided to Cork County Council in 2019 and 2020 respectively. The increase between 2019 and 2020 is due to an increase in housing funding, as well as funding in respect of the COVID commercial rates and other COVID related expenses that occurred in 2020.
It is a matter for each local authority to consider how it can maximise local income sources and manage its own spending, in the context of the annual budgetary process. Local authority members may decide, as part of that process, to vary the ARV and LPT in order to increase the revenue available to them. I note that for 2020 and 2021 Cork County Council raised their LPT rate by +5% and +7.5% respectively, foregoing the maximum 15% raise or just over €3m in 2020 and €2.4m in 2021.
I would like to refer to the plans recently announced by the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D to reform LPT. These reforms will involve bringing new homes, which are currently exempt from LPT, into the taxation system as well as providing for all money collected locally to be retained within the county. This will also be done on the basis that those counties with a lower LPT base are adjusted via an annual national equalisation fund paid from the Exchequer, as is currently the case.
I also refer to the unprecedented support for local authorities during the COVID pandemic. In 2020, Cork County Council applied a 100% commercial rates waiver to just over 9,000 businesses and recouped €34.7 m in that regard from my Department. In addition, in recognition of COVID related income losses, and additional COVID related expenditure incurred in 2020, my Department provided funding of €6.7 m to Cork County Council. The Government has introduced a commercial rates waiver for 2021, which has been extended to end of September, at an estimated cost €480 m. As has been the case since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department will continue to engage with the local government sector and with individual local authorities on the financial impacts of the pandemic and provide them with the necessary financial supports.
104. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the maximum grant level for the housing adaptation grant for persons with disabilities was last increased; the estimated additional funding needed to increase the maximum grant level by €5,000, €10,000 and €20,000, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35147/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated additional cost of increasing the income threshold of €60,000 to qualify for housing adaptation grant for persons with disabilities by €1,000, €,5000 and €10,000, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35148/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 105 together.
My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, in respect of private houses. There are three separate grants available, including the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, with responsibility for the apportionment between them being a matter for each local authority. Any increase in the existing grant limits and income thresholds would have to be considered in the context of the full suite of grants.
The terms and conditions governing the grants were examined in 2013 by a review group that included representatives of grant beneficiaries and the local authorities. They considered how the benefits of the grants could be spread as widely as possible and to achieve fairness and value for money in the grants process. Arising from the recommendations of the review group, the income requirements, eligibility and maximum grant were revised in 2014 to focus the grants towards those with the greatest need.
My Department has committed to beginning a review this year of the means test criteria and maximum grant limits applicable to the housing adaptation grants.
Funding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability Scheme. This funding has increased year on year since 2014. As part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the Programme for Government commitments and the Policy Statement on Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea33c1-housing-options-for-our-ageing-population-policy-statement/
106. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the support that his Department has given to local authorities to replenish their landbanks to provide a pipeline of suitable land for the provision of social housing; the local authorities that have received funding; the amount of funding that has been allocated to each local authority; the amount of land that will be acquired as a result of this funding; the projected housing supply that will accrue from this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35227/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll local authorities acquire land on an ongoing basis for a wide range of uses, including housing developments. My Department provides funding to local authorities also on an ongoing basis where they use their land for social housing developments.
Specific allocations of funding are not made to local authorities for land, rather each local authority makes its own decisions regarding land acquisition in line with their needs and my Department provides full funding in respect of the all-in capital costs - including land costs and construction costs - when land is used for the construction of new social housing.
To incentivise and support local authorities to further develop their landbanks, A new initiative has been confirmed for 2021 to support land acquisition where it's for new social housing developments. The focus with this initiative is land that is development-ready for housing, is appropriately zoned, which faces no other known obstacles to its development and where the local authority can work to a delivery programme to develop social housing as soon as possible on the site. In such cases, funding for the land will be provided by my Department when a local authority presents a social housing development proposal for the site.
On the back of this initiative, local authorities are seeking suitable sites that can be acquired and funding will be provided by my Department as these are brought forward. The uptake under this initiative will depend on the need for additional land which will vary across the local authorities. The amount of social housing to be delivered on land acquired under this initiative will depend on the extent of land acquired and the density of housing that can be delivered in line with planning approvals. I hope that public representatives will support local authorities to utilise this initiative to acquire new sites and will then support new social housing delivery on such sites through the planning process.
108. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the body that funds the homeless action team at Clare County Council; and if the provision of a 24-hour service can be included for Budget 2022 in order that rough sleepers and other marginalised persons can access showers, laundry and other services. [35322/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. In this instance, Clare County Council is included in the Mid-West region along with Limerick City and County Council with Limerick acting as the regional lead authority. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
My Department does not fund homeless service directly but rather contributes towards overall costs incurred by housing authorities in the provision of services. Some €9.18m was provided in Exchequer funding to the Mid-West Region in 2020 with €3.9m in funding recouped to date in 2021. It is a matter for each housing authority to bring forward proposals to meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area.
109. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking in response to Hungary’s recent anti-LGBTQ legislation. [35192/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very concerned about this recent change to Hungary’s laws. The potential for this legislation to harm the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQI+ community in Hungary, particularly young people, is extremely worrying. Statements by my colleague, Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D. and myself, made in the immediate aftermath of the Hungarian Assembly’s passage of this bill, made clear Ireland’s concerns about this attack on LGBTQI+ rights in Hungary.
Ireland believes in a Europe of equality, respect, and tolerance. Promoting the rights of LGBTQI+ people is a human rights priority for Ireland. We are also committed to upholding core EU values of respect for human dignity, freedom, and equality as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaties and the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Ireland therefore co-signed a declaration led by the Benelux countries at the 22 June General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. This declaration expresses grave concern at Hungary’s use of child protection as a pretext for introducing measures that violate freedom of expression and other rights as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and unjustifiably target the LGBTQI+ community.
Ireland actively participated at the Article 7 Treaty on European Union hearing on Hungary’s adherence to EU values at the 22 June General Affairs Council. During the hearing, we made clear our view that legislation of this kind has no place in the EU and is fundamentally incompatible with EU values.
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, also joined with fifteen of his EU counterparts in co-signing a statement on 24 June at the European Council meeting, vowing to continue fighting against discrimination towards the LGBTQI+ community and reaffirming their commitment to the defence of their fundamental rights.
The Embassy of Ireland in Hungary has actively supported statements of concern made locally by like-minded partners and has registered its deep concern about this law and its implications for equality and human rights. The Embassy of Ireland is also coordinating this year’s statement by Embassies in Hungary supporting the Budapest Pride Parade, which takes place on 24 July.
Ireland will continue to engage on this issue and will reiterate our call for the Hungarian Government to reconsider the introduction of this law.
110. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 372 of 27 January 2021, if the Holy See has provided a response to the final report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35193/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, was published on the 12th January 2021. The Irish Ambassador to the Holy See was asked to bring the Report to the attention of the Holy See and has done so. Neither Minister O’Gorman nor I have received correspondence from the Holy See following the publication of the Final Report.
As I told the House in January following your Parliamentary Question No. 372 of 27 January 2021, Minister O'Gorman has publicly stated that all parties who were involved in the management or delivery of these services have a shared obligation to support appropriate actions in response to this Report. He has written to those parties, including the leaders of the Catholic Church in Ireland, to seek urgent engagement on the issues raised in the report.
111. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which his Department collects information and data in relation to weather and climate related emergencies, as part of its role in the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning towards improving the response to shorter term climate change impacts and building Ireland’s longer term climate resilience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35224/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which coordinates emergency management policy across Government Departments and Agencies. The Strategic Emergency Management National Structures and Framework, approved by Government in July 2017, outlines the Lead Government Department principle and how this is applied across a "whole of Government" approach to managing responses to emergencies. In the case of severe weather emergencies, the Framework identifies the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as the lead Government Department for such emergencies. In this regard the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage would collect information on severe weather and bring it to the attention of the Government Task Force, as appropriate. Also of note is that the Government Task Force adopted a Strategic Emergency Management Guideline on Climate Change Adaptation in December 2020. This guidance document is aimed at Lead Government Departments to aid them in linking their emergency planning with the National Climate Adaptation Framework, which is led and coordinated by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
