Written Answers Nos. 174-194
174. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff by location and function in each office of his Department nationally by location; if the property is State owned or leased; and the detail of these leases in the case of those properties on a lease in terms of cost, term and next break date. [38860/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy for my Department and the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department, is set out in the tables below. I wish to advise the Deputy that break clause details have not been included in the below tables as this information is considered to be commercially sensitive.
|
Office Location |
Number of Staff |
Functions |
Office leased or owned |
Lease details |
|
Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2, D02 R583. |
154 |
Government Spending, Public Service Reform, Corporate Office, Offices of the Minister, the Minister of State, the Secretary General and the Press Office |
State owned |
- |
|
7-9 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, D02 V223. |
138 |
Government Spending and Corporate Office |
State owned |
- |
|
Ground floor, 3 Mayor Street Upper, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1, D01 WP44 |
77 |
Office of Government Chief Information Office (OGCIO) |
Leased |
Term: 20 years Expiry: 10th May 2035 Cost: €403,593 per annum |
|
Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Miesian Plaza, Dublin 2, D02 XW14. |
41 |
Government Spending |
Leased |
Term: 25 years Expiry: 21st December 2041 Cost: €494,901 per annum |
|
90 North King St, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 N7CV. |
14 |
Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), which incorporates the Civil Service Occupational Health Department (CSOHD) |
Leased |
Term: 20 years Expiry: 21st March 2028 Cost: €148,886 per annum |
|
St Stephen’s Green House, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, DO2 PH42. |
30 |
Public Service Reform and Civil Service employee assistance service |
Leased |
Term: 30 years Expiry: 31st March 2026 Cost: €44,197 per annum Term: 6 years Expiry: 31st March 2026 Cost: €453,000 per annum |
|
Block 2, Central Business Park, Clonminch Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly, R35 W7A4. |
4 |
Internal and EU Audit |
State owned |
- |
Office of Government Procurement
|
Office Location |
Number of Staff |
Functions |
Office leased or owned |
Lease details |
|
4th & 5th Floor, 3 Mayor Street Upper, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1, D01 WP44 |
182 |
Policy, Construction Policy, Corporate Office, Operational excellence, Service delivery, People & Culture, Commercial Skills, Marketing Office, Vehicle & Energy, Professional Services, Facilities Management, Spot Buying, ICT, Travel HR & Managed Services |
Leased |
Term: 20 years Expiry: 10th May 2035 Cost: €553,952 per annum |
|
Floor 2, Government Offices, Cranmore Road, F91 V83R, Sligo. |
24 |
Professional services, facilities management and Spot buying |
State owned |
- |
|
Jonathan Swift Street, Trim, C15 NX36, Co. Meath. |
21 |
Marketing office, vehicles & energy and spot buying |
State owned |
- |
|
7 Eastgate Avenue, Eastgate, Little Island, T45 RX01, Co. Cork. |
12 |
Facilities management |
Leased |
Term: 10 years Expiry: 21st February 2026 Cost: €49,451 per annum |
|
4th Floor, River House, Charlotte’s Quay, V94 AY9C, Limerick. |
10 |
Travel, HR & managed services |
Leased |
Term: 10 years Expiry: 10th June 2022 Cost: €22,750 per annum |
175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will indicate the source of the delay in the allocation of the currently vacant and recently refurbished Deer Keepers Lodge within the Phoenix Park to a person (details supplied); when this process will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39034/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deerkeeper's lodge in the Phoenix Park has undergone an extensive renovation and is now ready for occupation. The lease negotiated for this accommodation has been prepared by the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the Deerkeeper/occupant will be asked to sign this lease in the coming weeks.
176. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding will be approved for a project (details supplied) in County Mayo. [38748/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's Community and Language Supports Programme (Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga) financial assistance is provided for the development and refurbishment of community, language and recreational facilities in Gaeltacht regions and for the purchase of equipment.
An application was received by Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo, in partnership with Mayo County Council and the Ceathrú Thaidhg/Ros Dumhach Playground Committee for the development of a MUGA play area at Ceathrú Thaidhg, Béal an Mhuirthead.
Funding of €5,535 - equivalent to 75% of the overall cost - was approved for professional fees in October 2020. A further application has been submitted to my Department from Comhar Dún Chaochán Teo for the development phase of the project. Further information was sought from Mayo County Council in relation to planning permission and at a meeting of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District held on 28th June 2021 the Elected Members decided to approve the report in accordance with Part 8 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations 2001 – 2013 as amended, in respect of the construction of a Multi-Sport Astro Pitch in order to proceed with the development.
The application is currently receiving final consideration as part of the evaluation process and I expect to receive a full report and recommendation very shortly.
I might also mention that I had the pleasure of meeting with representatives of the Ceathrú Thaidhg/Ros Dumhach Playground Committee on my recent visit to Mayo on the 12th of July 2021 and to hear first-hand about the project.
177. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has made contact with the organisers of Dublin City Marathon to establish whether any reassurance could be provided to allow this important event to be held given the likely progress in vaccines by then. [38812/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither my Department nor Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body for the development of sport in Ireland, have any role in relation to the running or organisation of this event. In relation to events involving more than 5,000 persons, there is a licensing function to be discharged by the relevant local authority, under the Planning and Development (Licensing of Outdoor Events) Regulations, 2001.
Prior to the recent decision by the organisers to cancel the event for this year, which had been earmarked for the 24th of October, the organisers had sought feedback from the Expert Group on the Return to Sport (EGRTS) on a protocol they had prepared for the event. The EGRTS noted that they were not in a position to ‘approve’ the proposal received but could provide observations as requested. The Expert Group’s view on the protocol submitted was to the effect that there may be concerns about international travel associated with the event, but that the roll-out of the vaccination programme should be considered against the proposal. The Expert Group also noted that it was reasonable to anticipate the vaccination programme would have a positive implication for the delivery of the event. However any event, and the full details thereof, would have to be in line with the public health advice at the time of staging.
The matter now rests with the event organisers.
178. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of staff by location and function in each office of her Department nationally by location; if the property is State owned or leased; and the detail of these leases in the case of those properties on a lease in terms of cost, term and next break date. [38857/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of staff by location and function in each office of my Department is given in the table below.
While matters relating to the acquisition and leasing of property for my Department are generally the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, the Department leases office premises for the use of Oifig an Comisinéir Teanga from Údarás na Galeatachta at an annual rent of €39,000 (excluding VAT). This lease, which commenced in 2014, is due to expire in 2024.
|
Corporate |
Tourism |
Culture & Arts |
Gaeltacht |
Sport |
Media |
|
|
Kildare Street, Dublin 2 |
79 |
11 |
1 |
|||
|
Joyce House, Lombard Street, Dublin |
2 |
31 |
3 |
7 |
13 |
|
|
National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin 2 |
53 |
|||||
|
Na Forbacha, Contae na Gaillimhe |
2 |
32 |
||||
|
Oifig an Comisinéir Teanga, An Spidéal, Contae na Gaillimhe |
9 |
|||||
|
Derrybeg, Co. Donegal |
4 |
|||||
|
New Road, Killarney |
37 |
13 |
24 |
29 |
179. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to tackle pseudonymity on online platforms (details supplied). [38874/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra181. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the remit of the online safety commission will be extended to include an escalation point for content that constitutes online bullying. [38876/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 181 together.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will, among other things, establish an Online Safety Commissioner as part of a wider Media Commission. The role of the Commissioner will be to oversee a systems and risk-based regulatory framework for online safety that will focus on measures that regulated online services can take to progressively minimise the availability of harmful online content on their services. This will apply to both the delivery (e.g. recommendation engines) and moderation of content.
The defined categories of harmful online content are set out in the General Scheme of the Bill and include criminal material, serious cyberbullying material and material promoting self-harm, suicide and eating disorders. Provision is also made for the addition of further categories following a rigorous assessment, recommendation by the Media Commission and Oireachtas approval.
The regulatory framework will be operationalised through binding Online Safety Codes made by the Online Safety Commissioner that will set out expectations and rules for how regulated online services, including social media services, deal with user-generated content on their platforms that falls within one of the above categories.
The powers of the Online Safety Commissioner will include a range of standard setting and information gathering powers, including the following powers; to set standards for how regulated online services handle complaints; to audit those complaints handling mechanisms; to set up a scheme to receive information from nominated bodies about systemic issues, and to issue guidance materials and advisory notices.
The Commissioner will also have a range of compliance and enforcement powers; to appoint authorised officers to investigate cases of suspected non-compliance; to seek the imposition of a financial sanction of up to €20 million or 10% of the turnover of an online platform found to be non-compliant; to require the removal or limitation of availability of individual items of content in discrete instances, and to seek an injunction to block access to a non-compliant online service in Ireland.
The Bill takes a systemic approach to regulation. The Online Safety Commissioner will not operate a mechanism which rules on complaints about individual pieces of content. There are serious concerns about the ability of any such statutory mechanism to operate effectively. For example, many of the larger online services will be regulated under this Bill on an EU wide basis, i.e. for 450 million people, raising numerous issues around scale, effective operation, the application to apply fair procedures, cultural and linguistic challenges in resolving complaints and the speed of response. However, members of the public may raise concerns with the Online Safety Commissioner and this will feed into their assessment of risk in relation to a particular service or type of content.
In addition, where the content may be criminal in nature, the appropriate point of contact would be An Garda Síochána. In these circumstances, it is considered that a systemic and risk based approach, with powers for the regulator to set standards, oversee and audit complaints mechanisms and take account of information from nominated bodies about systemic issues, will prove more effective.
With regard to anonymity or psuedoanonymity online, any consideration of restrictions on such practices has broad implications, including freedom of expression, the right to communicate and data protection, and would require an evidence-based and whole of Government approach. The implications of such measures therefore extend far beyond the scope of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.
Detailed legal drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Attorney General is progressing well and the General Scheme of the Bill is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Oireachtas Committee.
180. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will consider bringing in regulations that would make digitally altered photographs illegal for advertising purposes unless the photographs were clearly labelled as edited. [38875/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no function in relation to the regulation of photography, digital editing of photographic material or advertising in general. Section 42 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2007 provides for a general prohibition of misleading commercial practices, including in relation to the provision of false, misleading or deceptive information. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is responsible for enforcing this statutory provision and other like provisions.
In relation to broadcast advertising, section 42 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009, provides the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the power to set standards for advertising carried by broadcasters through binding codes. The Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions.
In relation to commercial online advertising, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will provide a new Media Commission, which will replace the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with the power to set standards for such advertising on video on-demand services and broadcast services through Media Codes and Rules and for certain regulated online services through Online Safety Codes. Detailed legal drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Attorney General is progressing well and the General Scheme of the Bill is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee.
182. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if indoor summer camps can be held under the Sporting Ireland guidelines which permits individual training. [38877/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current arrangements permitting individual training indoors are not germane or linked to the holding of sporting summer camps indoors by recognised National Governing Bodies.
The current position in relation to summer camps is outlined on gov.ie, which indicates that summer camps should adhere to public health measures on organised indoor and outdoor activities as appropriate, applying at the time.
183. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the proposals to support the development of monastic trails as an additional tourism product; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38886/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraResearching and developing tourism product experiences - such as, potentially, monastic trails - are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to provide further information directly to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
184. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a ban on hare coursing. [38988/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My responsibility relates to the conservation status of the hare.
While the regulation of hare coursing is not under my statutory control, licences are required by the Irish Coursing Club under the terms of the Wildlife Acts on behalf of their affiliated clubs to facilitate the netting and tagging of hares for closed park meetings. The annual licence to capture and tag hares for the 2020/2021 coursing season was issued by my Department on 16 September last year. The licences granted by my Department in such instances include a range of conditions in relation to coursing hares which are designed to provide as much protection as possible to the conservation status of the hare.
My Department has received an application from the Irish Coursing Club for a licences to capture and tag hares for the forthcoming 2021/22 hare coursing season and a decision will be made on the application in due course.
185. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions his Department will take to alleviate the inhumane conditions exposed by a recent publication (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38722/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to ensuring that tenants in social housing are provided with adequate housing that meets the standards most recently laid down in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.
My Department is actively engaging with the local authority sector to promote the preventative maintenance of local authority housing stock and provides significant funding for stock improvement works.
In addition to funding provided by the local authorities themselves in respect of their own housing stock (c. €350m per annum), my Department provides funding across a number of programmes to support the local authority work to maintain and improve their social housing stock. In all cases, it is the local authorities that identify priorities. The continued work of local authorities in undertaking stock condition surveys, their responsive and planned maintenance programmes, as well as important programmes such as the Energy Retrofitting and Voids Programmes seeks to support the local authorities maintenance programme.
Specifically with regard to Oliver Bond House, the upkeep, refurbishment and regeneration of this social housing complex is a matter, in the first instance, for the local authority, Dublin City Council (DCC).
However, I understand that DCC is actively engaged with the residents and is working on a number of short-term projects to improve the outdoor/common areas as well as long-term proposals for the retrofitting and refurbishment of the flats at Oliver Bond House.
DCC has advised it is working on proposals and designs for two projects that will see the total refurbishments of all 397 flats at Oliver Bond House in two phases to bring them up to modern standards including size and energy efficiency. My Department looks forward to receiving these submissions for funding consideration from DCC and will work with them to ascertain the appropriate funding mechanisms for these projects.
In addition to the normal voids programme funding I recently announced funding to bring flats that are vacant in older flat complexes, including Oliver Bond House, back into stock in the short term.
186. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding made available to each local authority for housing adaption grants in 2020 and 2021 and the expected amount for 2022, in tabular form. [38723/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the funding provided by my Department to each local authority in respect of the Disabled Persons Grants Scheme/Improvement Works in Lieu (DPG/IWIL) for local authority tenants in 2020 is 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 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/
Separately, funding of €75 million is available nationally in 2021 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, in respect of private houses. Local authorities fund 20% of the overall budget from their own resources with the balance of 80% funded by the exchequer. This funding has increased year on year since 2014.
Funding allocations for 2020 and 2021 are publicly available on my Department’s website at the following links:
For 2020: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0c0cf-minister-obrien-announces-over-73-million-for-housing-adaptation-grant/
For 2021: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0da3f-minister-obrien-minister-burke-announce-75m-fund-to-improve-homes-of-older-people-people-with-a-disability/
Details of the funding drawn down for the grants up to 2020, are available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
The following table contains details of the 2021 exchequer funding drawn down by local authorities for housing adaptation grants up to 30 June 2021.
|
Local Authority |
Exchequer Drawdown to 30 June 2021 |
|
Carlow |
€492,388 |
|
Cavan |
€202,297 |
|
Clare |
€248,416 |
|
Cork City |
€412,158 |
|
Cork |
€1,346,244 |
|
Donegal |
€489,762 |
|
Dublin City |
€2,181,752 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
€422,046 |
|
Fingal |
€667,859 |
|
Galway City |
€373,797 |
|
Galway |
€0 |
|
Kerry |
€704,248 |
|
Kildare |
€290,465 |
|
Kilkenny |
€366,221 |
|
Laois |
€32,000 |
|
Leitrim |
€160,035 |
|
Limerick City & County |
€830,858 |
|
Longford |
€146,641 |
|
Louth |
€485,085 |
|
Mayo |
€871,384 |
|
Meath |
€746,594 |
|
Monaghan |
€486,450 |
|
Offaly |
€47,637 |
|
Roscommon |
€215,641 |
|
Sligo |
€631,201 |
|
South Dublin |
€782,844 |
|
Tipperary |
€1,033,234 |
|
Waterford City & County |
€225,442 |
|
Westmeath |
€235,814 |
|
Wexford |
€844,194 |
|
Wicklow |
€396,141 |
In respect of 2022, as part of the annual budgetary process, consideration will be given to funding under these schemes 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/
187. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all requests received from local authorities for additional funding for housing adaptation grants since 2016, in tabular form. [38724/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authorities which did not spend their full allocation of funds for housing adaptation grants since 2016, by year in tabular form. [38725/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.
My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of this scheme including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities. Local authorities receive an overall allocation, with the responsibility for the apportionment between the three schemes being a matter for each authority given their knowledge of local need.
My Department's approach each year is to issue a single full year allocation to each local authority, so they can plan and implement the grants programme. Over the course of the year, my Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. This means that if underspends arise on the part of some local authorities, they can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity.
The following table contains details of the number of local authorities which did not draw down their full allocation under the scheme from 2016 - 2020.
|
Year |
Number of Local Authorities |
|
2016 |
21 |
|
2017 |
14 |
|
2018 |
15 |
|
2019 |
17 |
|
2020 |
26 |
Separately, the following table contains details of additional exchequer funding requested and drawn down by local authorities under the scheme from 2016 - 2020, and currently requested for 2021.
189. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing complaints that were received in the first six months of 2021; the categories that the complaints fall under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38754/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of complaints received regarding non-compliance with the rent freeze and ban on evictions while these provisions were in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38760/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of complaints that have been investigated by the Residential Tenancies Board over the past 12 months; the number of these complaints that were upheld; the nature of these complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38793/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra209. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of complaints regarding misuse of the evictions to facilitate renovations provisions of the residential tenancies Acts that have been investigated by the Residential Tenancies Board over the past year; the number of these complaints that were upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38794/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 189, 195, 208 and 209 together.
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
My Department does not collect the data sought, however the Clerk of the Dáil requested that arrangements be put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. Following the issue of Circular LG (P)05/16 on 20 September 2016 from my Department, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose. The RTB may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.
190. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the tenancy deposit protection scheme will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38755/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for, among other things, the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
The Programme for Government commits to the examination of a system of holding rental deposits and how best to achieve this is under consideration my Department.
However, there have been significant changes in the rental market since the 2015 scheme was first envisaged and designed. For example, the 2015 scheme was intended to be financed by the interest payable on deposits lodged; this is no longer viable, given the current financial market conditions.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that disputes relating to deposits are no longer the most common dispute type referred to the RTB.
Financing the operation of the scheme is an important consideration, particularly in terms of ensuring that the likely outcomes of a new scheme are achieved efficiently and effectively and that the best value from public funds is secured. Careful consideration is therefore required to introduce any necessary reforms and enhancements to the 2015 scheme, with a view to considering whether and how to introduce a re-designed scheme that is fit for purpose and suitable for current and future rental and financial markets.
Any review of the scope and provisions of a Deposit Protection scheme will need to take account of changes in the residential sectors since the 2015 Deposit Protection Scheme legal provisions were enacted, to inform any necessary legislative change. Consideration will need to be given as to whether or not it is feasible to proceed to revise and implement a deposit protection scheme at this time, or to defer to a later point in time, when the RTB's Change Management Plan has been fully implemented and more robust data and information is available for consideration.
The RTB has cut case times for deposit-related disputes as the introduction of new processes has borne fruit and the question of proportionality is key and it is imperative to question whether the scale of spending and intervention required is commensurate with the scale of the issue. From a value-for-money perspective at a time when the rental market is experiencing extreme pressure in terms of supply and costs, the introduction of a deposit protection scheme would require careful consideration.
Section 7 of the Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 inserts a new section 19B into the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 which will apply to tenancies created no earlier than one month after the passing of the Act (i.e. from 9 August 2021), to restrict the total amount that a tenant is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy to no more than the equivalent of 2 months’ rent (i.e. any deposit cannot exceed 1 month’s rent and any advance rent payment cannot exceed 1 month’s rent). A restriction of the equivalent of 1 month’s rent is also placed on the amount that a tenant is obliged to pay as a regular advance rent payment to a landlord during a tenancy. Provision is made for a student residing in student specific accommodation to choose to pay a greater amount of advance rent, if he/she so wishes.
These measures are intended to greatly reduce any financial exposure to tenants, including students who do not opt out of the new protections, on foot of paying such restricted upfront payments.
191. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Departmental reports that are pending publication; the titles of these reports; the dates he anticipates the publication of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38756/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of Departmental reports are pending publication, i.e. expected to be published in Quarter 3 2021, the details of which are set out in the following table:
|
Title of Departmental Report |
Completion Due |
|
Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland |
July 2021 |
|
Impacts of 2018 Fires on the Biodiversity of Killarney National Park |
July 2021 |
|
Report on the outcomes of the consultation on Significant Water Management Issues in Ireland |
August 2021 |
|
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Annual Report 2020 |
September 2021 |
|
Construction Status Report Quarter 2 2021 |
September 2021 |
In addition to the above, my Department and the HSE are co-authors of a Report on the National Traveller COVID-19 Accommodation Preparedness Checklist. That report is due to be published in August.
192. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Bills being worked on by his Department that are pending publication; the title of these Bills; the date he anticipates the publication of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38757/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working on a number of Bills that are pending publication, i.e. expected to be published in Quarter 3 2021, the details of which are set out in the following table:
|
Title of Bill |
Anticipated Publication Date |
|
Maritime Area Planning Bill |
July 2021 |
|
Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2021 |
September 2021 |
|
Electoral Reform Bill |
September 2021 |
|
Water Environment (Abstractions and Certain Impoundments) Bill |
September 2021 |
Information on Bills before the Oireachtas but not yet enacted is available at: www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/find-bills-and-acts/?billType=bills&keyword=Housing&year=2019-2021&sortBy=billNumber
In addition to these, work is ongoing on other Bills such as the Tailte Éireann Bill, the Water Services Separation Bill, the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill, the Planning and Development (Amendment) (LSRD) Bill and the Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill.
193. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of legislative provisions that have been passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas but yet to be commenced by him; the list and details of these provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38758/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the Acts, including sections of Acts, falling under the remit of my Department, which have yet to be commenced are set out in the attached table.
data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-07-15_pq193-15-7-21_en.docx
194. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social, affordable, and cost rental homes built by the State in quarter 1 and 2 2021, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38759/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data includes a breakdown of social housing delivery across a range of mechanisms. Data for Quarter 1 2021 is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/. Data for Quarter 2 2021 is currently being compiled and will be published in due course.
In addition to the statistical overview of activity in each local authority, a detailed Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) is published each quarter. The CSR provides details of individual build projects in each local authority. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Q1 2021 and is available at the following link: rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-obrien-publishes-social-housing-construction-status-report-for-q1-2021/
The Programme for Government commits to putting affordability at the heart of the housing system. Delivery on this commitment is evidenced in the new measures contained in the Affordable Housing Bill 2021, which has just been approved by the Oireachtas. It provides for three schemes that will increase the supply of affordable homes through: (1) affordable homes on local authority lands, (2) the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental, and (3) a new affordable purchase shared equity scheme. The Bill also expands Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and to apply it to cost rental as well as social and affordable housing.
The first Cost Rental homes will be provided by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), facilitated by the new Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme, under which funding for 390 homes was approved earlier this year. The first 25 of these will become available at Taylor Hill in Balbriggan in August, with further homes to follow later this year, in addition to the 50 homes at the pilot Cost Rental development at Enniskerry Road. These homes represent the first steps of this important new sector.
In addition to the aforementioned Cost Rental homes at Enniskerry Road which have benefitted from Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) subvention, the first affordable purchase homes supported by SSF funding will be delivered in Quarter 4 of 2021 at Boherboy Road, Cork City.
