Written Answers Nos. 184-193
184. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the events by community groups, both local and national, that have been granted use of Kilmainham Gaol by the OPW for the past five years. [51783/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe attached File gives details of events by community groups, both local and national that have been granted use of Kilmainham Gaol by the Commissioners of Public Works over the past five years, after engaging with the site's permission process, providing proof of Insurance and other necessary documentation in order to receive approval to proceed.
www.data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-10-21_pq184-21-10-21_en.pdf
185. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is normal practice for the Office of Public Works to provide premises or building space, rent free to private not-for-profit organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51869/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility on behalf of the State for managing and maintaining a substantial and complex estate - comprising approximately 2,500 properties -– valued at over €3bn.
This extensive and diverse portfolio of State properties includes office accommodation for all Government Departments, the property estate for An Garda Síochána and numerous properties for many State Agencies. The portfolio also encompasses specialised spaces such as public offices, laboratories and cultural institutions, in addition to warehouses, heritage properties, visitor centres and sites.
Given the size of the portfolio and the range of building types, it is normal for the OPW to enter into legal arrangements and agreements for the occupation of its property with a wide range of occupiers. Such occupier types range from non-profit community and voluntary groups, administrative, sporting, educational, health and cultural organisations among others.
For example, the closure of certain Garda stations provided an opportunity to license these properties to a range of community/voluntary non-profit groups. In addition, the OPW has historically provided accommodation for cultural organisations such as the National Print Museum and the Labour History Museum, as well as making land and pitches available to a range of sporting bodies, or leasing land to the farming community for grazing or tilling.
In general, these agreements are on the basis that the organisations are in a position to fully insure, repair and maintain the properties in order to reduce costs to the Exchequer. The question of charging rent is influenced by factors that include historical arrangements and the nature of the occupier and its activities.
Similar to local authorities, the OPW has historically sought to optimise the use of its property, that would otherwise cost the State, in a way that supports the property needs of certain non-profit organisations, where it is feasible to do so and where it has been determined that the property will be retained in the portfolio for the foreseeable future.
186. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51894/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that all surplus properties, including the former Garda station at Broadford, are treated in line with the disposal policy of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The OPW policy with regard to non-operational (vacant) State property is to:
1. Identify if the property is required/suitable for alternative State use by either Government Departments or the wider public sector.
2. If there is no other State use identified for a property, the OPW will then consider disposing of the property on the open market if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate revenue for the Exchequer.
3. If no State requirement is identified, or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property, the OPW may consider community involvement (subject to a detailed written submission, which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs for the Exchequer).
Clare County Council has recently advised the OPW that the Council is not interested in acquiring the property. As there is no alternative State interest in the former Garda station at Broadford the OPW will proceed with the disposal of the property on the open market in 2022.
187. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to award Tusla the required additional expenditure necessary to fund posts for those working in section 39 organisations in order to achieve pay parity and pay restoration following the award achieved by HSE section 39 organisations at the Workplace Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51897/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pay and conditions of public servants are the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Matters pertaining to organisations funded under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 fall within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Health.
Similarly, matters pertaining to organisations funded under Section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 by Tusla are for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
188. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the review which is being conducted regarding the 2020 allocation of the large-scale sport infrastructure fund grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51731/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra189. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is surplus grant funding available following a review of grant applications under the 2020 large-scale sports infrastructure fund; if this funding could be allocated to some of the applicants who applied for the scheme that were unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51732/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
The Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, including swimming pools, with at least €100m being made available over the period to 2027.
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and, thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and it was not possible to allocate grants to many worthy projects.
While the priority in the short term is to advance all of the successful projects, as it is now over 18 months since the first allocations were made, and in view of the issues faced by grantees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely to review progress on all projects allocated grants. My Department is currently meeting with all grantees in this regard.
Once that review is complete the scope for awarding new grants to projects which missed out under the first set of allocations and the timing of any new call for proposals will be considered. It is expected that the review will be completed in the coming weeks.
190. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the stage plans are at for the implementation of a national swimming strategy; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51733/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing completion of initial preparatory planning work by my Department, it is intended in the near future to commence detailed work on the preparation of a national swimming strategy. It is envisaged that the strategy can be completed and published by the early months of next year.
191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of an application by a club (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51787/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) 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 SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1st March 2021. By the closing date, over 3,100 applications were submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.
The scoring system and assessment procedures were published earlier this year and all applications are being assessed accordingly. Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6m were announced on the 6th August.
The remaining applications for capital works, which include one submitted by the club the Deputy has referenced, are now being assessed. This work is ongoing with allocations for all successful applications expected to be announced in the coming months.
192. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way the figure of €25 million was reached to fund the pilot of a basic income guarantee scheme for artists. [51798/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was delighted to secure €25million as part of Budget 2022 for a Basic Income Guarantee Pilot Scheme for the Arts and Culture Sector. The pilot scheme was the number one recommendation of 10 recommendations made in the Life Worth Living report, published in November 2020 by the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce.
The level of funding required was assessed on the basis of the likely parameters underpinning the operation of the scheme including the number of participants, the level of support and the likely timeframe for the commencement of the operation of the scheme. Further details on the Scheme will be announced in due course but in the first instance my Department will shortly undertake a further round of engagement with stakeholders.
193. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if Ireland's bid to host the America's Cup is still live; when a decision is expected on whether Ireland has been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51856/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is engaged in a six month period of assessment to assess the potential of hosting the 37th America's Cup and this work will need to be completed before a decision can be made on whether or not Ireland should move forward in host venue bid process. In the meantime, the Department will consult other stakeholders as appropriate. Following the period of assessment, I will consider whether to recommend the hosting of this event to Government.
