Written Answers Nos. 361-384
361. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a situation in which persons who have been given rent breaks during the Covid-19 pandemic are now being asked to pay this rent back incrementally at an increased rate due to rent increases in the interim period. [37765/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 provided that a rent increase was not permitted to take effect during, or in respect of any part of, the period from 27 March 2020 to 1 August 2020. From 1 August 2020, the blanket ban on rent increases taking effect inside or outside of a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) was lifted for all, apart from the most vulnerable tenants.
The Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 (RTVA) and subsequently, the Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act 2020 (PDRTA) provide that rent increases were not permitted to take effect during, or in respect of any part of, the period from 1 August 2020 until 12 July 2021, for tenants with rent arrears due to Covid-19 and at risk of losing their tenancy who make the necessary declaration.
The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021, which was signed into law on 9 July 2021, provides for an extension of the enhanced protections under the PDRTA until 12 January 2022.
Any notice of termination grounded on rent arrears must be copied to the RTB and will be invalid if it is not so copied. A notice of termination grounded on rent arrears can only be served by a landlord on the condition that a written rent arrears warning was given to both the tenant and the RTB and that the arrears were not paid within 28 days (doubled from 14 days) following receipt of the warning by the tenant or by the RTB, whichever occurs later. The RTB acknowledge receipt of the warning notice to the landlord and tenant and provide the tenant with written information to enable them to get advice from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and on the income and other supports available.
Rent reviews could be carried out at all times during the pandemic and rent decreases could, and can, take effect. A rent increase is payable by relevant tenants from the end of the given emergency period.
Tenants are required to continue to observe the normal terms and conditions of their tenancy, including paying rent to their landlord during any emergency period.
My Department and the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) urge landlords to consider the negative impacts of Covid-19 on their tenants and to show forbearance where temporary rent arrears might arise. It is recommended that any temporary rent payment arrangements agreed between the parties are documented. Tenants and landlords are urged to discuss any problems promptly, keep lines of communication open and respect each other’s positions. If the problem cannot be resolved, registered landlords and all tenants can apply to the RTB for dispute resolution. Further information is available on www.rtb.ie.
362. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will provide details on the nature of these cases. [37813/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
363. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the assistance his Department can provide to tenants who have been given notice to quit by their landlord but are unable to find alternative accommodation due to lack of available housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37895/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe focus of the Government is on preventing homelessness to the greatest extent possible. Budget 2021 reflects this commitment, with funding of €218m this year for homeless services provided by local authorities. A significant portion of expenditure incurred by housing authorities goes towards initiatives aimed at preventing households entering emergency accommodation.
In addition, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) provides a flexible housing support to social housing eligible households. The HAP Placefinder service is a targeted support to assist homeless households to identity and secure a HAP-supported tenancy. The Placefinder service provides all local authorities with the option to pay a deposit and advance rental payment, where necessary, in order to secure a property.
In addition my Department provides funding towards Threshold, the housing charity, which provides advice and support to households living in private rented accommodation who are experiencing tenancy problems, including where a tenancy is at risk of termination. The Tenancy Protection Service operated by Threshold seeks to protect existing tenancies, keeping people in their home and prevent them from having to access homeless services.
It is also open to anyone to apply for social housing support, applications for which are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. To qualify for social housing support a household must meet all of the eligibility criteria, which primarily relate to income, availability of alternative accommodation and previous rent arrears.
Where a household is deemed to meet the eligibility criteria, only then is its housing need assessed under the criteria in Regulation 23 of the 2011 Regulations, having regard to its current accommodation. If a household meets the eligibility and need criteria, it qualifies for the suite of social housing supports, including HAP, and is placed on the housing list to be considered for the allocation of suitable tenancies in accordance with the authority’s allocation scheme.
Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.
The Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. Comprehensive information including guidance and frequently asked questions documents in relation to tenancy terminations during the Covid-19 pandemic and on general tenancy matters is available on the RTB's website - www.rtb.ie. A tenant or a landlord may refer a matter to the RTB for its dispute resolution services.
364. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the recent fires such as that on Howth Hill requires any rethinking of protection measures or the provision of resources to contain such instances when they occur. [37896/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service and the assessment of the requirements arising, including the nature of the fire hazards and the probable incidence and extent of fires, in its functional area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981.
Despite the best efforts of communities, wildland fires can occur in certain areas of the country during dry periods. The Department of Agriculture monitors conditions and issues colour-coded warnings during periods when wildland fire risk is high. Despite the success of "controlled burning" initiatives, regrettably, wildfires can also occur as a result of carelessness and deliberate setting of fires.
The priority of fire services in responding to wildland fires is the protection of life and health in local communities. Smoke can impact significantly on those with underlying breathing issues. An important secondary objective is working with local communities to try to protect infrastructure, houses and other property, as well as conservation areas, which are threatened. Fire services work with a range of bodies including National Parks and Wildlife Services and Coillte as well as farming communities to minimise damage where it is safe to do so. Fighting wildland fires is difficult and, in all cases, fire services will prioritise safety of community and emergency responders.
As well as the normal fire service response arrangements through which an incident commander can request additional resources in light of the situation, there are arrangements for mutual support across local authority fire services. Also, the response to wildfires is supported by well established arrangements whereby local authority fire services may, through the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) in my Department and working with the Department of Defence, request the assistance of the Defence Forces. The support provided to local authority fire services by the Defence Forces in wildland fire-fighting has been effective and is greatly appreciated.
Considerable inter-agency efforts have been made to reduce the incidence of wildland fires, led by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. As noted above his Department monitors conditions and issues wildland fire warning notices. That Department has led an inter-agency review which has helped enhance the mitigation of wildland/ gorse fires. It is imperative that communities and relevant bodies continue to work together to seek to prevent and control wildland fires which threaten life, property and eco-sensitive areas.
365. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of long-term lease and Part V lease approvals granted to date in 2021; the number of units in each approval; the local authority in which each approval was granted; the average annual cost of the lease in each development; and the average length of the lease in each development. [37991/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, a total of 62 leasing projects have been approved by my Department in 2021 under the Long Term Leasing and Enhanced Leasing Schemes. These 62 projects have approval for the delivery of 783 dwellings under long term lease agreements and 135 dwellings under Part V lease agreements. A breakdown of these approvals by local authority, detailing the term of the agreement and number of units in each approval, is set out in the attached Table.
My Department does not release specific cost information at a project level as these transactions are commercially sensitive and contain proprietary information that may impact on the competitiveness of the local authority sector. The average cost of all long term leases approved in 2021 is €17,115. In a Part V leased unit, the lease payment can vary greatly depending on how the equivalent net monetary value has been reflected in the agreement. This is usually achieved by either a rent free period up front or a discount on the lease payment over the term of the lease (or part thereof). When this is taken into account, it is estimated that the average cost of Part V lease units approved to date in 2021 is €17,512 annually over the term of the lease. It is important to note that the Part V leased units approved to date in 2021 are largely in Dublin. The average lease cost will vary having regard to the location of the dwelling, size and the property type.
366. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has received communication and a submission or application from Limerick City and County Council to be included in the block pyrite scheme; if he will review a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37993/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 provide for a grant scheme of financial assistance to support affected homeowners in the counties of Donegal and Mayo only, to carry out the necessary remediation works to dwellings that have been damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks. The regulations came in to operation on 31 January 2020 and it has been open for applications since the end of June 2020. It is not a compensation scheme and is very much a scheme of last resort for homeowners who have no other practical options to remediate their homes.
The Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme was informed by the report of an Expert Panel which was published in 2017 which involved extensive research, investigations and analysis. Any consideration of extension to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grants Scheme would, in the first instance, require the relevant local authority to conduct the same rigorous analysis as that carried out in Donegal and Mayo.
The relevant local authority can take the lead to first of all demonstrate that the purported issues in Limerick are in fact due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks as set out in the I.S.465 protocol, and secondly to quantify the extent of the problem in the area. This would provide the evidential basis necessary for the consideration of any extension of the scheme and would be very helpful to the Department in its deliberations.
Preliminary discussions have taken place between my Department Officials and Limerick City and County Council, however my Department has yet to receive a formal submission on this matter from the Council. Pending the receipt of and consideration of such analysis it would be premature to consider an extension of the scheme. Any extension of the scheme would also have to be the subject of budgetary discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Separately, my Department has recently extended the Pyrite Remediation Scheme to include the administrative area of Limerick City and County Council, which will see homeowners of dwellings with significant damage attributable to pyritic heave in County Limerick eligible to apply for remediation works under that Scheme.
367. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to review the National Planning Framework Implementation Roadmap and the Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning, Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2020 in view of the permanent changes being brought about to lifestyles due to Covid-19 and its impact on spatial planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38015/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra368. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to review the Guidance Note on Core Strategies, November 2010 in view of the permanent changes being brought about to lifestyles due to Covid-19 and its impact on spatial planning; when he plans to do this in view of the fact that most county and city plans will be adopted in the next two years and the effect up-to-date guidance could have on these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38016/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together.
One of the key responsibilities of a local authority is planning for the infrastructure, employment and services needed to sustainably support citizens and local communities in the future. Providing an accurate, consistent and integrated estimate of housing need at county level in Ireland is critical to the functioning of our planning system. National Policy Objective (NPO) 36 of the NPF confirms the importance of an integrated approach to population and housing in the planning system.
In line with that objective, statutory ‘Housing Supply Target Methodology for Development Planning, Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ issued to all local authorities in December 2020. The Guidelines introduced a standardised national approach, based on ESRI data published in December, to be applied by each planning authority in projecting housing supply targets for a specific six-year period, when reviewing city or county development plans. The Guidelines were a timely intervention to assist local authorities in this regard, all of whom have commenced the statutory review of their County or City Development Plan and this process will continue into 2022, overseen by the Office of the Planning Regulator.
As each six-year development plan period will differ, new household projection data for each County to 2031 was also made available to each local authority to enable local projections and targets to be applied for the relevant period. The housing supply target methodology also provides for a convergence period towards the NPF scenario to 2026, recognising that housing demand projections associated with existing spatial patterns (i.e. the baseline) will need a period to align with the NPF strategy projection. This also enables planning for increased housing supply in certain circumstances within the period to 2026, as set out in Section 4 of the Guidelines, where supported by a justification within the criteria specified. All related correspondence and data is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d48f-ministerial-letter-to-local-authorities-structural-housing-demand-in-ireland-and-housing-supply-targets/
My Department will also shortly publish Draft Development Plan Guidelines for public consultation. The review process and the development of these new guidelines will further assist with the translation of the NPF policy objectives to regional and local levels of plan making and will replace the previous guidance note on core strategies.
As the Country emerges from Covid-19 my Department will continue to monitor changes arising. It is certainly not the case that all Covid-related changes will be permanent, but it is clear that there will be ongoing demand for significantly increased housing output throughout Ireland, which is what the ESRI data on which the Housing Supply Target Methodology has indicated and has been communicated to all local authorities.
Accordingly, I am satisfied that there is appropriate up to date guidance available to local authorities to prepare their development plans that will underpin sustainable development in the coming years.
369. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress made towards action 29 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. [38062/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 29 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 commits to progressing the accessibility of voting and voter information, building on learning from National Disability Authority research and from best practice. I am pleased to report good progress in addressing matters in this area.
In December 2018, my Department formed a Working Group on Disability Voting to bring together representatives of the Department, persons with disabilities and representative organisations such as the National Disability Agency, the National Council for the Blind and the Irish Wheelchair Association. The Group is working to improve accessibility of voting for voters with physical disabilities, and its work has been particularly focused on the following issues:
Improving accessibility to polling stations for voters with physical disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, with the goal of all polling stations being fully accessible as soon as possible;
Reviewing and updating, as required, the Department’s ‘Accessible Voting Checklist’, which addresses improved accessibility within polling stations for voters with physical disabilities, particularly wheelchair users;
Developing and improving Ballot Paper Templates (BPTs) - plastic devices with tactile features which are overlaid on ballot papers to enable blind and vision-impaired people to vote in private at electoral events; and
Promoting measures to advance voting accessibility, as set out in Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
BPTs were used for the first time at the Referendum held in May 2018 and have been in use in all other electoral events since then. Good progress has also been made in recent years by Returning Officers in reducing the number of polling stations that are not fully accessible by voters with physical disabilities.
Recognising that people with disabilities have particular needs, my Department endeavours to ensure that the voting process is as accessible and inclusive as possible.
The Electoral Acts provide for a range of measures to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities, including:
The requirement on local authorities, in making polling schemes, to appoint as polling places areas where at least one polling station will be accessible to wheelchair users;
The requirement on Returning Officers, where practicable, to provide polling stations which are accessible to wheelchair users and to give public notice of all polling stations which are inaccessible to wheelchair users not later than eight days before polling day. In guidance to Returning Officers, my Department has suggested that consideration should be given to providing suitable ramps in the case of polling stations that cannot be reached without negotiating steps;
The requirement on Returning Officers to put in place arrangements to facilitate the marking and placing in the ballot box of ballot papers by wheelchair users. In guidance to Returning Officers, my Department has suggested the provision at each polling station of an appropriately located table and chair to facilitate this requirement;
The requirement on Returning Officers to ensure, where practicable, that the place appointed for the counting of votes is accessible to wheelchair users.
If an elector anticipates difficulty in gaining access to his or her polling station, he or she may apply in writing to the Returning Officer for authorisation to vote at another polling station in the same constituency. Furthermore, a person with a physical disability or illness which prevents him or her from going to the polling station can vote by post if he or she applies to be included in the postal voters list which is drawn up each year as part of the register of electors. A person residing in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution who has a physical disability or illness which prevents them from going to the polling station, can vote at the hospital or nursing home if they apply to be included in the special voters list which is drawn up each year as part of the register of electors. In order to be entered on the postal or special voters list, a person must apply to the appropriate local authority by 25 November each year. After that date, an application for inclusion on the supplement to the postal or special voters list may be made. In addition, electoral law provides that voters who are unable to vote without assistance may avail of companion voting or they may seek the assistance of the Presiding Officer.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future - commits to the establishment of an Electoral Commission. In January 2021, the General Scheme of an Electoral Reform Bill was published which sets out the legislative basis for the Commission. The Commission will strengthen our electoral system as a whole and help us to anticipate and respond to the challenges we face in our evolving electoral environment. One of the Commission’s key functions will be a public awareness and education role in respect of electoral events.
While comprehensive arrangements are in place to assist participation in the electoral process by individuals with physical disabilities, nonetheless my Department will continue to seek to improve these arrangements and to have regard to the special needs of such persons.
370. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking to ensure derelict buildings are inspected for risk of collapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38063/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 9 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act), owners and occupiers of land are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that their land does not become derelict. Section 10 of the Act requires local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.
To this end, local authorities have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to –
- establish and maintain a register of derelict sites in their functional areas,
- require specified measures to be taken in relation to a derelict site,
- impose a levy on sites which are included in their derelict sites register, and
- acquire a derelict site by agreement, or, compulsorily.
Under section 11 of the Act, local authorities are empowered to serve notice on any person who appears to them to be the owner or occupier of a derelict site requiring them to undertake specified measures, and to specify the period within which such measures should be undertaken, which it considers to be necessary in order to prevent the land from becoming or continuing to be a derelict site.
Where a notice under section 11 of the Act is not fully complied with within the specified period, the local authority may take such steps (including entry on land) as they consider reasonable and necessary to give effect to the terms of the notice. The local authority may further recover any expense incurred in undertaking such works from the person on whom the notice was served and who is the owner or occupier as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
As indicated, where a local authority considers it necessary, it may acquire by agreement or compulsorily any derelict site within their functional area under section 14 of the Act.
Section 30 of the Act empowers an authorised person to enter on any land at all reasonable times between 9am and 6pm for any purpose connected with the Act, which would include the inspection of premises deemed to be at risk of collapse. An authorised person means a person appointed by a local authority, the Valuation Tribunal or the Minister for the purposes of the Act.
It is a matter for local authorities to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas.
371. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if consideration has been given to the way in which Irish citizens who have been vaccinated in other jurisdictions will be able to register for the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37190/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) is proof (in digital or paper format) that an individual has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has received a negative COVID-19 test result or has recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months.
The Digital COVID Certificate is a record of a medical event that takes place in the country of issuance. People who were vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in another jurisdiction will need to access the Digital COVID Certificate in that country. The certificate is not related to your citizenship.
Individuals who are travelling from Ireland and require a Digital COVID Certificate of a negative test can access these though private providers. Those individuals in Ireland who are fully vaccinated by the HSE will begin to receive their certificates from this week.
372. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has entered into an international agreement with the United Kingdom that allows the British Royal Air Force to enter Irish airspace and carry out military operations within Irish sovereign airspace and over the territory of the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37232/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI cannot comment on reports concerning arrangements for national security. I can confirm however that the Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s long standing policy of military neutrality.
373. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37238/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this passport has already issued.
The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is up to four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that the Passport Online applications on hand can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
374. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37249/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant's guardians on 12 July confirming the return of supporting documents provided and provided an update on the status of the passport application.
The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is up to four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that the Passport Online applications on hand can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
375. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37250/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, I am advised by the Passport Service that this application was received on 2 July 2021 and no supporting documentation has been received yet. This application will be processed once the applicant submits the required supporting documentation.
The average possessing time or wait time for a new passport varies depending on a number of key factors including;
- The nature of the application – first time application or a renewal of existing.
- Whether a passport is for a minor or an adult.
- If the application is completed correctly and supported by all necessary documentation in the first instance.
- If the photograph supplied by the applicant met the criteria as described in detail on the application website.
The average time currently for simple adult renewals is 10 working days; complex renewals, including children, is 15 working days and 40 working days for first time applicants.
First-time applications require additional security measures including robust identity verification and entitlement checking and, as a result, take longer to process than straight forward renewal applications.
In the event that any applicant has urgent or emergency reasons for requiring a passport, they should contact the Passport Service’s Customer Service Hub, by phone or WebChat, to make the Passport Service aware of their situation.
376. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the social impact assessments carried out by his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit since 1 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37294/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo social impact assessments have been carried out by my Department since 1 January 2016.
There are no public bodies or agencies under the remit of my Department.
377. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the approximate number of passport applications left to process to fully clear the Covid-19 backlog; the speed with which he expects foreign birth registrations to resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37368/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register. Prior to COVID-19 it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the complex nature of FBR applications and the very high volume of applications due to Brexit.
At present, there are just over 30,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration (FBR) system that await processing. In 2020, over 16,000 applications were made online, with nearly 12,500 approvals. This is a significant decrease in applications compared to 2019, where over 32,000 applications were made online, with nearly 18,500 approvals.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Passport Service has had to prioritise the provision of emergency passport services, in full compliance with the Government guidelines. The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas.
- Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications.
- Processing all adult renewal applications (including new applications) within 10 working days.
- Processing urgent and emergency applications.
- Providing customer services through our telephone and web chat team.
Very substantial progress has been made in clearing the COVID-19 backlog: all backlog applications which were completed properly have been processed and related passports issued.
The Passport Service will resume processing FBR applications as soon as possible. The Department is committed to allocating further resources to this service to assist with the high volume of applications when regular processing resumes with a focus on reducing turnaround times to pre COVID-19 levels by the end of 2021. In the meantime, in cases of exceptional urgency applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly.
378. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made representations to his Nigerian counterparts concerning the ongoing campaign of violence against Christians in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria that is continuing unabated with many observers describing it as genocide in view of the fact that over 1,400 Christians are estimated to have been murdered to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37462/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply concerned by ongoing violence between nomadic herders and sedentary agrarian communities, which has escalated in Nigeria in recent years, and poses a serious challenge to stability and security in the country and the region more generally. There can be no justification for acts of violence and discrimination based on religion or belief. While the vast majority of herders are Muslim and many of the farmers are Christian, the roots of this violence lie primarily in access to land, in the context of scarce natural resources due to rapid climate change in the Sahel. The clashes have been aggravated in recent years by rapid population growth in Africa's most populous country.
Ireland works with the Nigerian authorities, as a European Union Member State, and with UN partners to promote peace and security in areas affected by armed groups and insecurity. Ireland’s Embassy in Abuja actively monitors developments in country, advises on the humanitarian response, advocates for the protection of human rights, and supports Ireland’s engagement in EU and UN forums. Over the past number of years, Ireland has provided humanitarian funding to support those affected by conflict. Ireland also provides funding to the Institute for Integrated Transitions, an NGO working in Nigeria, which has assisted in the establishment of an inter-ethnic and inter-religious committee on long term solutions to ethnic, religious, and resource based violence, including conflict between sedentary farmers and nomadic herders.
The Embassy of Ireland in Abuja continues to closely follow developments in Nigeria in cooperation with Government authorities, civil society organisations, and our EU and UN partners. The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to continuing to provide much needed support and assistance to people in Nigeria who are working for peace and stability.
379. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland supports the imposition of EU Magnitsky style sanctions on persons who are complicit in human rights violations; if such sanctions have been imposed by Ireland to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37558/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the human rights violations that he has raised with the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38045/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 388 together.
Ireland is a strong supporter of the EU’s new Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, established in December 2020. The Regime provides the EU with a concrete tool to target those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses, wherever they might occur, including in States not currently subject to a specific sanctions regime.
The framework for targeted restrictive measures applies to acts such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and other serious human rights violations or abuses (including torture, slavery, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions). Other human rights violations or abuses can also fall under the scope of the sanctions regime, where those violations or abuses are widespread, systematic, or are otherwise of serious concern as regards the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU.
To date, sanctions in the form of travel bans and the freezing of assets/funds have been imposed on a broad list of individuals and entities involved in human rights abuses, drawn from six different jurisdictions: China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Russia, Libya and South Sudan.
Ireland implements UN and EU sanctions, but does not have any unilateral sanctions regimes of its own. UN and EU sanctions, including the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, are given effect in Ireland through EU Council Decisions and Regulations.
These designations send a strong message that the EU is willing to act tangibly and directly to confront serious human rights violations, when other efforts have not brought about the desired change of behaviour.
380. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent attack on the offices of the organisers of Tbilisi Pride; if the safety and security of LGBTQ+ persons in Georgia has been discussed by the EU Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37574/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department closely followed preparations for the Tbilisi Pride and statements made by its organisers, Georgian authorities and religious officials prior to the event. In response to the shocking events that took place on 5 July Ireland joined a statement from the EU Delegation to Georgia and over 20 Embassies and Missions, condemning the violent attacks, as well as the failure of the Government leaders and religious officials to protect the constitutional rights of their citizens. Ireland also highlighted our concerns through the Department of Foreign Affairs Twitter account while the events were still unfolding.
Our focus on the LGBTI+ rights in Georgia is longstanding. We have serious concerns about the security of the LGBTI+ persons there, not only because of the recent events preventing the Tbilisi Pride March for Dignity. Ireland raised the issue of LGBTI+ rights at the 37th session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group Review of Georgia in January this year stating: “Ireland is concerned about LGBTI+ rights, hate crimes and the administration of justice in Georgia,” and recommended that the Georgian authorities “ensure the prevention, investigation and prosecution of hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression by establishing an effective hate crime investigation unit within the law enforcement system.”
Ireland is deeply concerned by the apparent failure of the Georgian authorities to make clear their opposition to homophobic rhetoric and their unwillingness to guarantee the safety of IDAHO and Pride gatherings that are devoted to tolerance. LGBTI+ persons should be able to enjoy their constitutional rights such as participation in peaceful gatherings without fear of persecution. Ireland expects that the perpetrators of these violent attacks will be brought to justice.
381. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are delays with regard to the processing of passport applications particularly in respect of applications for passports for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37789/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas.
- Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications.
- Processing all adult renewal applications (including new applications) within 10 working days.
- Processing urgent and emergency applications.
- Providing customer services through our telephone and web chat team.
Very substantial progress has been made in clearing the COVID-19 backlog: all backlog applications which were completed properly have been processed and related passports issued. As regards incomplete COVID-19 backlog applications, the Passport Service has been in contact with the applicants regarding the need to send in outstanding documents. Once all outstanding required documentation is received, issuance of passports will be expedited.
The Deputy will appreciate that processing of applications for Irish citizen children is particularly complex, given that the consent of all guardians must be obtained and fully verified before any application can be approved and a passport issued. Over the last two months as the Passport Service has scaled up its operations, renewal of a child’s passport has taken on average 16 days, in cases where the application was completed properly. The Passport Service’s goal is to continue to scale up operations post COVID-19 and to return to normal levels of service as soon as possible.
I wish to highlight that our telephone and web chat services are available to all citizens whose passport applications have unfortunately been affected by COVID-19 restrictions. Customers are encouraged to contact our Customer Service Hub if they require assistance urgently.
382. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will provide details on the nature of these cases. [37811/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below sets out the number of cases brought against my Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021, and the nature of those cases.
|
Year |
Number of Cases |
Nature of Case |
|
2021 |
3 |
Passport (1) Foreign Births Registration (1) Unfair Dismissal (1) |
|
2020 |
6 |
Passport (3) Data breach (2) Personal Injuries (1) |
|
2019 |
13 |
Passport (6) Data breach (2) Personal Injuries (4) Employment Law (1) |
|
2018 |
13 |
Passport (9) Foreign Births Registration (1) Personal Injuries (2) Employment law (1) |
|
2017 |
3 |
Passport (2) Personal Injuries (1) |
|
2016 |
4 |
Passport (2) Personal Injuries (1) Psychological Injuries (1) |
383. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his assessment of the situation in Bahrain (details supplied). [37829/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI note with concern the details in the statement referred to by the Deputy.
Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels.
Ireland urges all States to safeguard the human rights of prisoners and detainees, as set out in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Mandela Rules.
Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities. When I met the Bahraini Foreign Minister at the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2019, I also raised the human rights situation in Bahrain with him, expressing the hope that we can have an open and honest discussion on these issues.
Our active participation at the UN Human Rights Council is a particularly important fora in which to raise our concerns regarding human rights. Ireland has raised the human rights issues in Bahrain at the Human Rights Council in the form of national statements and through support to EU Statements.
Ireland also engages on the issue of human rights in Bahrain through the European Union in other fora. At the most recent EU-Bahrain Human Rights Dialogue in February 2021, issues of concern were raised by the EU including rule of law, prison conditions, right to a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, death penalty, torture and the impact of Covid-19 on the human rights situation.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, has also made representations to the Bahraini authorities on human rights issues, including the detention of a number of individuals, as well as the conditions of their detention.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Bahrain, and calls on the Bahraini Government to deliver on its stated commitment to make progress in relation to human rights.
384. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address the case of a person (details supplied) who has had a passport application rejected due to the fact that they did not include a copy of a driving licence in their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37957/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant on 9 July to provide an update on the status of the passport application.
The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is up to four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that the Passport Online applications on hand can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
