Written Answers Nos. 576-595
576. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a decision has been made as to when live music will be allowed to resume; if not, when a decision on the return of live music will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40919/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 29th of April the Government agreed that my Department would work with the Department of Health and Department of the Taoiseach to prepare proposals on the holding of a limited number of pilot live events for sport and live entertainment, both indoor and outdoor. This was to inform the safe reopening of these activities and events when the public health situation allows.
My Department worked with the Arts Council, the sporting National Governing bodies and a number of stakeholder engagement structures in place to support the development and delivery of those pilot events e.g. the Return to Sportsgrounds group and the Live Entertainment Working Group.
From the 5th of this month, outdoor events have been permitted to have up to 200 people in attendance. Larger outdoor venues with capacity of 5,000 or more can have up to 500 in attendance. I welcome this progress and the start of the reopening of the live entertainment sector. In addition, theatres can host live performances for up to 50 people.
At present, I am working with all of Government and with the Minister for Health specifically on the potential application of Digital Covid Certs and PCR tests as a means of entry to live events or as means to reduce social distancing requirements.
I have also sought advice from the Expert Working Group on Rapid Testing chaired by Prof. Mary Horgan, to determine if antigen testing can be used as a means of entry to live events or as a means to reduce social distancing. I would hope to have advice on these matters shortly and will revert to Government with proposals on the full reopening of the live entertainment sector, when the public health situation permits.
I remain committed to the full reopening of the arts and entertainment sector and I look forward to the safe and controlled return to activity.
577. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of projects that applied for sports funding in County Meath; the name of each project; the projects which were successful; and the funding amounts provide to them in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40949/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra578. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of projects that applied for sports funding in County Westmeath; the name of each project; the projects which were successful; and the funding amounts provide to them in each of the years 2016 to 202 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40950/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 577 and 578 together.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country.
The 2020 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme closed for applications on Monday 1st March 2021. By the closing date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200 million in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received. The scoring system and assessment manual for the 2020 round was finalised earlier in the year and is available at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie . All applications are being assessed in accordance with this manual. Assessment of the "equipment-only" applications is nearing completion and an announcement in relation to these grants will be made shortly. The remaining applications for capital works will be assessed immediately afterwards with these allocations expected before the end of the year.
All organisations that made applications under this round are published on a county basis on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme/#sports-capital-programme-applications-allocations-and-payments . This site also lists all of the payments made under the Programme on a county basis.
579. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if venues that received grants under the live performance support scheme 2021 will keep their allocated funding beyond 30 September 2021 if Covid-19 pandemic regulations mean that they cannot operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41060/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment allocated €50 million in 2021 to a suite of measures to assist the arts and culture sector. As part of that funding, on Tuesday June 15th I announced the allocations for the €25m Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021). I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful applications under this scheme, the details of which are available on my Department’s website.
LPSS 2021 builds on the successful pilot Live Performance Support Scheme in 2020, which provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of musicians, actors, crew and technicians in tandem with a pipeline of high quality on-line much needed entertainment for Irish audiences.
The 237 grants awarded will help to support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres and the continued production of high quality artistic output for the public. This scheme will assist live performance where capacity for live attendance is restricted due to public health restrictions which require funding assistance in order to make performance viable/available on-line.
As detailed in the application process, activity in relation to performances and events funded under this scheme should conclude on or before 30th September. At present events outdoors with between 200 and 500 people, depending on venue size, are permitted but I appreciate that there are limited indoor opportunities aside from theatres hosting up to 50 people. I will keep developments in relation to public health restrictions under review and may re-consider the September deadline if that becomes necessary. LPSS grantees are encouraged to provide for live streaming where they are unable to host an event live.
580. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress that has been made on the commitment in the Programme for Government to establish a wild Atlantic walkway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41300/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. Implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as other bodies. The development of the Wild Atlantic Walkway is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I understand that work on this project has been severely hampered by the impact of Covid-19 over the past twelve months. The Wild Atlantic Walkway however remains a priority for Fáilte Ireland, who will plan the project's next steps in Q4 of this year.
581. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the progress that has been made on the commitment in the Programme for Government to engage with local communities along the seaboard between Carlingford, County Louth and Cobh, County Cork to establish a continuous coastal experience for visitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41301/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy. Implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as other bodies. I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Irish Seaway project, the development of which is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.
Given the devastating impact Covid has had on the tourism industry, Fáilte Ireland’s focus over the last 15 months has been on supporting the tourism sector to survive the pandemic. I understand that initial reviews in respect of the Irish Seaway project have been undertaken by Fáilte Ireland to understand existing infrastructure. However, site visits were not possible due to public health restrictions amid the Covid pandemic and as gatherings were also not permitted, no community engagement has been undertaken. Prior to any engagement with communities, an understanding of the scale of the project and a feasibility study will be required. This work is scheduled to commence in 2022.
582. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the process and budgetary provision for capital funding for Gaeltacht sports clubs; the eligibility criteria; the amounts available; the match funding requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41302/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides financial support for the construction or upgrade of community, language and recreational facilities including the purchase of equipment, in Gaeltacht areas through An Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga (The Community and Language Support Programme). This finance is provided to further support the implementation of the language planning process which is now underway across all 26 of the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. The support being provided under the programme also serves to underpin the ongoing implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education which is being spearheaded by the Department of Education.
The total funding allocation for An Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga included in Programme C of my Department’s Vote for 2021 amounts to €2.5m. The information requested by the Deputy on the eligibility criteria, amounts available etc can be found in the information leaflet on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/service/d02ef-community-and-language-support-programme/. In general the maximum funding provided under the programme equates to 80% of the allowable costs, 95% in the case of pre-school facilities and 90% in the case of qualifying projects on Gaeltacht off-shore islands.
It should also be noted that all of the Department's capital programmes as they relate to the Irish language in the Gaeltacht all support the systematic implementation of both the Governments' Action Plan for the Irish Language (Plean Gníomhaíochta 2018-2022) and the overarching 20-Year Strategy for the Irish language 2010-2030.
583. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on the difficulties persons with Irish language names are experiencing in relation to the EU Digital COVID Certificate particularly in cases in which the name contains a síne fada; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41303/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the difficulties regarding the display of the síneadh fada within Irish language names on Ireland's EU Digital Covid Certificate have now been resolved by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, which falls under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Deputy should also be aware that Government recently approved a number of amendments to the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill which I will be bringing forward at Report Stage in the autumn, one of which is a requirement that all public bodies’ IT and other systems must be configured in such a way as to facilitate the use of the síneadh fada.
584. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she plans to visit China; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41304/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise that I have no plans to travel to China at the present time.
585. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the ongoing work in developing a programme of commemoration for the Irish Civil War; her plans for any State apologies to those executed by the Free State in this period; and if she has spoken to An Taoiseach directly on all of these matters. [41313/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs we navigate through the most challenging and sensitive phase of the Decade of Centenaries, the Government's approach to commemorations will continue to be underpinned by the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations (EAG) and consultation with the All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations. The EAG has published three statements to date, which can be found on the Decade of Centenaries website (www.decadeofcentenaries.com/publications/). I would urge everyone who has an interest in the forthcoming period of commemorations to consult the principles and advice set out in these publications.
I am committed to ensuring that the State's approach to the remembrance of the Civil War and all of those who lost their lives during those years, will be based on the respectful, sensitive, measured and authentic ethos that has become the hallmark of the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 Programme.
On 27 April, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste joined me at Collins Barracks for the launch of the 2021 Programme (www.gov.ie/en/publication/121ea-decade-of-centenaries-programme/) of centenary commemorations, which also includes the approach I am taking to the development of the Programme for 2022 and 2023. As the Deputy would expect with a manner of such sensitivity and national interest, I keep my cabinet colleagues appraised of developments and plans in a timely manner and seek their input as appropriate. In parallel, my Department chairs a very useful and effective Inter-Departmental Working Group of officials in support of the development of the Decade of Centenaries Programme.
Historical accuracy, academic integrity and archival discovery will be key tenets as the Civil War commemorative programme develops to follow the centenary timeline of the historical events of the period. It is important that our history is faithfully presented, even when the historical record is distressing. We must acknowledge the great tragedy of all of the lives that were lost or irrevocably altered during those divisive and traumatic years.
I welcome and encourage the continuing research of historians and custodians of records, who seek to increase our understanding of the historical events that occurred, which have so significantly shaped our modern world. The State’s Civil War commemorative programme will invite everyone to consider the painful legacies of our past and reach their own conclusions – the programme will not seek to communicate a preferred narrative or make judgements about any persons or actions. It is not appropriate for the State to retrospectively analyse these historical events through the lens of contemporary perspectives. This is best left to scholars trained in the discipline of history. The guidance of the Expert Advisory Group in this regard is clear –
“The State’s task is to encourage a reflective and a reconciliatory tone that recognises that neither side had the monopoly of either atrocity or virtue and this was true of words as well as actions."
586. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Gary Gannon den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán maidir leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, cathain a dhéanfar Plean Teanga do Chomhairlí Cathrach agus Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath, atá mar chuid den Straitéis, a dhréachtú; an ndéanfar comhairliúchán poiblí ar an dréachtphlean seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [41373/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá dul chun cinn suntasach á dhéanamh maidir le cur i bhfeidhm an phróisis pleanála teanga atá á bhrú chun cinn faoi réir Acht na Gaeltachta, 2012.
San iomlán, tá pleananna do 23 Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta, 4 Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus 3 Líonra Gaeilge ceadaithe faoin bpróiseas pleanála teanga, go dáta.
Tháinig ardú suntasach ar an maoiniú atá ar fáil don phróiseas i mbuiséad 2021. San iomlán, is buiséad suas le €5m atá ar fáil d’ullmhú agus feidhmiú pleananna teanga in éineacht le raon tacaíochtaí don phróiseas go lárnach sná réimsí teaghlaigh, luathbhlianta agus sna ealaíona traidisiúnta.
Mar a bhaineann sé le Baile Átha Cliath, is fiú a aithint go mbaineann ceann do na Líonraí Gaeilge atá ceadaithe le Cluain Dolcáin i mBaile Átha Cliath. Ceadaíodh plean teanga Chluain Dolcáin in Eanáir 2020 agus cuirfear maoiniú ar fáil d’fheidhmiú plean teanga an cheantair dá bharr.
Sa bhreis air sin, tá an Rialtas ag tacú le forbairt Ionad Cultúrtha don Ghaeilge i lár chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta agus Tionscadal Éireann 2040.
Tá comhráití ar bun ag oifigigh mo Roinne le Conradh na Gaeilge faoi láthair maidir leis an bhféidearthacht an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i measc lucht ghnó na hardchathrach agus, níos faide anonn, plean teanga cuimsitheach a fhorbairt don chathair.
589. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with Irish Water to discuss potential collaboration on critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects that are lacking in many rural towns and villages and consequently holding back development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40429/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water takes a strategic, nationwide approach to asset planning and investment, and meeting customer requirements. The prioritisation and progression of individual projects and programmes is a matter for determination by Irish Water.
As part of Budget 2021, I secured funding of over €1.4 billion to support water services. This includes €1.3 billion in respect of domestic water services provision by Irish Water. This overall investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and waste water services, support improved water supplies right across Ireland, including rural Ireland, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan. I understand from Irish Water that an allocation of almost €100 million for this programme was approved by the CRU. Irish Water is working with local authorities across the country in ensuring the investment supports the growth of identified settlements where these are prioritised in line with the local authority development plans.
My Department provides funding, through the Rural Water Programme, to deliver improvements to private water services in areas of rural Ireland where there is no access to public infrastructure. The strategic objective of the Rural Water Programme is to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of water services for rural dwellers in these areas. Private water services in Ireland include:
- Individual water supplies, typically a bored well.
- Group Water Schemes.
- Domestic waste water treatment systems, typically septic tanks.
- Collection networks, typically developer provided water services infrastructure.
Complementary to Irish Water’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, my Department is currently examining waste water requirements in the context of villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure.
I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at a national level. This report will include the analysis of a baseline survey of all rural local authorities, to quantify and qualify the number of villages and similar settlements concerned. This process is at an advanced stage, and I will be in a position to consider the matter further in relation to these villages and similar settlements, as identified in the survey, once I have received the final report.
590. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has considered making the entirety of Vinegar Hill, County Wexford a protected national heritage site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40628/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ruined windmill at Vinegar Hill is in my guardianship as a national monument under the National Monuments Act 1930 and is managed by the Office of Public Works. The lands immediately surrounding the structure are in the ownership of Wexford County Council. The County Development Plan contains objectives specifically aimed at the protection of battlefield landscapes and their settings.
The Battle of Vinegar Hill itself was a very important event in Irish history. My Department, a few years ago, authorised extensive archaeological investigations on the site to provide a better understanding of how the battle was conducted. The information gleaned from this research will add to and enhance the visitor understanding of the site and their experience. I appreciate the ongoing investment by Wexford County Council in promoting the site and the facilities that have been put in place for visitors. My Department will continue to work with the Council and other stakeholders, including the tourism agencies, to increase public awareness and interest in the site.
My Department’s National Monuments Service is currently engaged on finalising publication of the Irish Historic Battlefield Project, with Volume 1 of the series covering 1798. This work when published will lead to greater awareness of Irish battlefields and their historical significance, including that of Vinegar Hill.
591. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Environmental Protection Agency will have completed the necessary strategic environmental assessment on draft interim regulations with new conditions and exemptions regarding solar panel installation and when a public consultation will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40663/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra648. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status and details of the review by his Department of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and review of exemptions for educational and community buildings, as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; if information on the stated need to consider environmental assessment reporting before finalisation will be provided; when the interim planning regulations will be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39623/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra654. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the review by his Department of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; the details of the stated need to consider environmental assessment reporting before finalisation; when the interim planning regulations will be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39668/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra673. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of information on his Department's review of siting and size conditions for rooftop solar panels on homes and review of exemptions for educational and community buildings as part of the current development of interim planning regulations; the details of the stated need to consider environmental assessment reporting before finalisation; when the interim planning regulations will be submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40061/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra729. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when interim regulations with new conditions and exemptions regarding solar panel installation will be completed in quarter 4 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40666/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 648, 654, 673 and 729 together.
Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended (the Act), all development, unless specifically exempted under the Act or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Section 4 of the Act and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain planning permission. Any such exemptions are subject to compliance with any general restrictions on exemptions set out in the Act or the Regulations and to the specific conditions set out in each class of exempted development in Schedule 2 of the Regulations. Included in the planning exemptions set out in the Regulations are those applying to the installation of solar infrastructure on a variety of building types, including houses, businesses, industrial and agricultural to which specific conditions are attached.
My Department, in the context of the Climate Action Plan and in consultation with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has undertaken a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Regulations, with a particular focus on facilitating increased self-generation of electricity.
This review is now complete. Substantial changes to the current planning exemption thresholds for solar panels are proposed, as well as the introduction of new classes of solar panel planning exemptions relating to their use in apartments and in educational/community/religious buildings.
In light of the need to appropriately address aviation safety concerns arising from the “glint and glare” impacts of solar panels and the easing of the solar panel planning exemption thresholds, my Department is in the process of commissioning the development of detailed aviation safeguarding maps which will identify and delineate specific but limited areas in the vicinity of airports and aerodromes (referred to as exclusion zones) within which the exemptions will not apply. This mapping process will take approximately nine months to complete.
Whilst this work is ongoing, my Department proposes to advance interim regulations, adopting a temporary, albeit more stringent, radial approach incorporating initial defined exclusion zones around airports and aerodromes. These interim regulations, allowing for increased solar panel planning exemptions, will cover the vast majority of the land area of the country, only excluding those limited exclusion zones around airports and aerodromes.
The draft interim regulations have been reviewed under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive 2001/42/EC and it has been determined that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment, necessitating the undertaking of a full SEA on the draft proposals. The SEA process, involving a public consultation on the proposals which will be launched in the comings weeks, has commenced and is expected to take between four and five months to complete.
Following the public consultation and consideration of any submissions received, and as required under planning legislation, the proposed exempted development regulations must be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas and receive a positive resolution from both Houses before they can be made and the SEA process concluded.
Accordingly, the process for finalising the interim solar panel planning exemptions as referred to above, with interim exclusion zones around airports and aerodromes, is now expected to be completed in Q4 2021. As outlined, pending the finalisation of the aforementioned aviation safeguarding maps, these interim regulations will allow for the vast majority of the country to be covered by the proposed new solar panel exemptions apart from those areas in close proximity to airports and aerodromes.
Work on the development of the aviation safeguarding maps for airports and aerodromes is expected to be completed by Q4 2021. The final supplementary set of regulations - delineating the final exclusion areas around airports and aerodromes in which the exemptions will not apply - will be prepared thereafter and, subject to environmental reporting considerations, will subsequently be laid in draft form before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval in a timely manner.
592. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if urgent concerns will be addressed from within the horticulture sector in relation to the lack of availability and access to peat as a growing media which is threatening the viability of thousands of jobs within the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39099/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have neither statutory nor Ministerial responsibility for the harvesting or supply of horticultural peat. To assist in addressing the question of horticultural peat for domestic purposes, I have established a working group under an independent chairman, Dr. Munoo Prasad, to examine the issues which had been identified during the Review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry. It is comprised of representatives of the relevant Government Departments, State Bodies, and Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations and of various sectors within the horticultural industry.
The working group has already held a number of meetings. The legislative provisions in relation to horticultural peat extraction and the potential of alternatives to the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry has been discussed at these meetings.
An Interim Report with regard to the current shortage of peat in the Horticulture Industry has been received and a final report of the Working Group is expected by the end of September 2021. The final report aims to identify possible alternatives to peat and to outline the research required to produce commercially effective alternatives for use in the Horticulture sector.
593. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units held by each approved housing body broken down by those held and those in the pipeline, broken down by those being built, acquired or mortgage-to-rent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39118/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 provides for the establishment of the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) to oversee the effective governance, financial management and performance of all voluntary and co-operative housing bodies. The AHBRA was formally established on 1 February 2021 and will have responsibility for, inter alia, establishing and maintaining a register of AHBs; preparing standards by which AHBs will be monitored and assessed; encouraging and facilitating the better governance, administration and management, including corporate governance and financial management, of AHBs. The Regulator will also have powers to carry out investigations and cancel the registration of AHBs. It is anticipated that the AHBRA will become fully operational in 2022. Until such time as the Regulator has full statutory powers, the interim Regulatory Committee (iRC) supported by staff of the Regulation Office based within the Housing Agency has oversight of AHBs signed up to the Voluntary Regulation Code (VRC).
The Regulation Office 2020 Annual Report and Sectoral Analysis was published in June 2021 and provides a comprehensive overview of the last assessment cycle under voluntary regulation. This provides detailed analysis on the AHB housing stock with data derived from the Annual Regulatory Returns and is only available in this detail for the period up to December 2019. A copy of this report is available on the Housing Agency website linked at: www.housingagency.ie/sites/default/files/2021-07/Regulation%20Annual%20Report%202020%20FINAL.pdf
The Housing Agency also publishes a full range of statistics on the MTR scheme including a status report by purchaser and is available at the following link: www.housingagency.ie/housing-information/mortgage-rent-statistics
The Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR) published each quarter provides scheme level detail on social housing new build activity in each local authority, including those delivered by Approved Housing Bodies. The most recent report covers the period up to the end of Quarter 1 2021 and shows that there were more than 9,000 social homes onsite at the end of March 2021. The CSR is available at the following link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q1-2021
594. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the long delay in the publication of the Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council by a person (details supplied); and the date for the publication of the report. [39137/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course.
In this regard, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.
595. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans he has to legislate to address the situation in which those who purchase a property in which the previous owner failed to register the septic tank before the end of 2012 are now prevented from accessing grant support; the options open to current owners who have purchased such properties since 2012 and who are prohibited from accessing support through no fault of their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39143/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from the recommendations contained in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services report in April 2017, a Working Group was established to conduct a review of the wider resources and investment needs relating to the rural water sector. As part of its work, the Working Group recommended a number of revisions to the existing grant scheme that provided support towards the remediation, repair, or upgrading works to, or the replacement of, domestic waste water treatment systems. The revised and new regulations that underpin the grant schemes were published in May 2020.
The Water Services Act 2007, as amended, required all owners of premises served by an individual domestic waste water treatment system to have the system entered into a register maintained by local authorities. The prescribed date of 1 February 2013 was appointed by the Water Services Act 2007 and 2012 Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Registration) Regulations 2012, as amended. New houses with domestic treatment systems continue to be required to register.
The strict cut-off date, together with sanctions for non-compliance, was successful ensuring that an estimated 95% of systems were registered. Amending this provision to allow for retrospective registration would require amendments to primary legislation. It was not possible to do so as part of the introduction of the revised grant schemes which were effected by regulations.
In implementing the revised arrangements, my Department has undertaken to conduct a review of the grant scheme after at least one year of operation to ensure their continued alignment with policy objectives. The specifics of this review have not yet been formalised, however, it is anticipated that relevant stakeholders will be consulted e.g. local authorities, EPA, etc. as appropriate. In considering an indicative timeframe for the review, consideration will be given to the most appropriate period in order to ensure best engagement from relevant stakeholders.
