Written Answers Nos. 297-317
301. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén uair a bhfuil sí ag súil le fios a bheith aici faoin leagan amach a bheidh ar na coláistí Gaeilge an bhliain seo chugainn; cén próiseas a leanfar le cinneadh a dhéanamh faoi sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [54091/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs ar an mbunús agus ar an tnúthán go mbeidh na coláistí Gaeilge athoscailte in 2022 atá an Roinn ag feidhmiú ach, ar ndóigh, is gá do gach earnáil feidhmiú faoi réir threoirlínte COVID-19.
Ní gá a rá go leanfaidh mé féin agus mo Roinn ag coinneáil rudaí faoi bhreithniú i rith an ama agus ag obair i gcomhar leis na páirtithe leasmhara, lena n-áirítear an Roinn Oideachais, na húdaráis sláinte agus scáthghrúpa na gcoláistí samhraidh, CONCOS, ach go háirithe, chun teacht ar chur chuige slán sábháilte agus tacaíocht chuí a bheidh ar leas foriomlán an phobail, idir phobal na Gaeltachta agus pobal na gColáistí.
Is tríd an gcúnamh leanúnach a chuirtear ar fáil faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge a bheidh an Roinn ag teacht i gcabhair ar an earnáil go príomha i 2022, mar atá déanta go dtí seo.
Tá Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (SFG) á riar ag mo Roinn ar mhaithe le tacú le deiseanna breise sealbhaithe agus saibhrithe teanga a chur ar fáil sa Ghaeltacht do lucht freastail iar-bhunscoileanna agus triú leibhéal na tíre. Tagann an scéim le cuspóirí foriomlána an Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge mar atá leagtha amach sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010–2030.
Tá trí chiste faoi leith bunaithe ag mo Roinn i mbliana ar mhaithe le cabhrú tuilleadh leis an earnáil a chobhsú de thoradh COVID-19. Is ar lucht stiúrtha na gcóláistí atá an ciste is déanaí, ar fiú suas le €1.7m é, a d'fhógair mé coicís ó shin nó mar sin.
Tagann an ciste faoi leith seo sna sála ar an dá chiste eile ar fiú beagnach €2.5m iad a fógraíodh i rith an tsamhraidh - a bhí dirithe ar lucht lóistín an chórais agus ar hallaí pobail Gaeltachta lena mbaineann. Is fiú a lua go bhfuil an ciste a cuireadh ar fáil i mbliana do na teaghlaigh 25% níos airde ná ciste 2020 agus nár cuireadh aon chiste ar fáil do na hallaí pobail in 2020.
Níl aon amhras orm ach go gcabhróidh an ciste is déanaí tuilleadh leis an earnáil le go mbeidh teacht aniar agus athoscailt rathúil i ndán di in 2022.
Is féidir leis an Teachta a bheith cinnte de go leanfaidh mé orm mar Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta ag tacú oiread is féidir leis an earnáil tríd an gcistíocht shuntasach a chuirtear ar fáil go bliantúil ar leas an chórais.
303. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the various elements of the creative youth programme; the way it has been rolled out in the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54138/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Creative Youth Plan was published by the Government in December 2017 as one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme, with the aim of enabling the creative potential of every young person. Creative Youth proposes a long-term objective to help promote a society in which knowledge and creativity are equal partners in the formation of our young people and where schools can support creativity and innovation in teaching and learning in an integrated way.
Implementation of the Plan is led by my Department in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Arts Council. Through the ongoing implementation of the Creative Youth Plan, a range of measures and initiatives have been developed and delivered which have enabled increased access to a wide range of creative activities, both within the formal education system and in informal or community settings. These include:
- Enhancing arts and creativity initiatives in schools through the introduction of the Creative Schools programme, which is managed by the Arts Council, and Creative Clusters, a Schools Excellence Fund initiative of the Department of Education;
- Increasing and enhancing teacher continuing professional development opportunities across primary, post-primary and early years settings;
- Establishing pilot Local Creative Youth Partnerships with six Education and Training Boards;
- The development and roll-out of Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of free creative activities for children and young people, in partnership with every local authority; and
- Enabling provision of greater out-of-school opportunities to engage in creative activities with partners across the youth and cultural sectors – such as spreading the nationwide reach of Music Generation; providing more creative writing opportunities with Fighting Words; enhanced access to youth drama with Youth Theatre Ireland; and more recently providing better opportunities for youth groups to experience creative technologies.
With specific regard to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, since 2018 my Department has provided funding of €229,795 to the local authority to support its annual programmes for Cruinniú na nÓg. This has enabled Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to host 92 Cruinniú events and projects, providing even more opportunities for children and young people in the area to experience new creative activities.
Additionally, through the Creative Communities pillar of the Creative Ireland Programme, and in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, my Department has supported each local authority to develop (through local public consultation) and implement an individual Culture and Creativity Strategy (2018-2022). These strategies are designed to engage local communities with creativity to support individual and community wellbeing, social cohesion, and economic development.
For the period 2018-2020, the Creative Communities initiative in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has received €519,276 and another €163,323 has been allocated to date in 2021. Many local authority strategies include specific priorities around programming for children and young people. In Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Creative Communities has supported the delivery of 95 creative projects and initiatives to date, of which 26 have had a particular focus on children, young people and families in that area.
304. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the 24 DEIS schools which received funding under the Fighting Words-Creative Ireland Programme; the allocations to each in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54139/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Creative Youth Plan was published by the government in December 2017 as one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme, with the objective to enable the creative potential of every young person. Implementation of the Plan is led by my Department in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Arts Council.
Through the ongoing implementation of the Creative Youth Plan, a range of measures and initiatives have been developed and delivered which have enabled increased access to a wide range of creative activities, both within the formal education system and in informal or community settings.
One of the initiatives which my department, through the Creative Ireland Programme, has supported is the expansion of access to the free creative writing workshops and initiatives provided by Fighting Words. Since its establishment in 2009, Fighting Words has provided a range of free creative writing tutoring, mentoring and publishing activities which have been shown to positively impact on personal, social and academic development.
The support provided by the Creative Ireland Programme has seen a doubling of the Fighting Words centres nationally, and enabled a more than twofold increase in the numbers of young people that have been able to engage in these creative writing activities. Chomh maith leis sin, chabhraigh mo Roinn Fighting Words Chonamara a bhunú in Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc.
The particular initiative which the Deputy refers to is titled Story Seeds, and was piloted by Fighting Words in January this year with DEIS schools in North Inner City Dublin. Story Seeds is designed to engage young people through creative writing, to help them articulate their own life stories so that they can better understand their own experiences and their place in the world. It aims to strengthen positivity in children, help them to reimagine the negatives in their lives and transform their sense of place and possibility.
In May this year, I announced funding to extend this project to schools, as well as voluntary and community groups, in other areas of Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Bray, and Drogheda. This support from my department, and that of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, will enable engagement with a total of 190 schools, all of which will either be DEIS or special schools. It should be noted that the funding being provided is not allocated to individual schools or organisations, but is enabling Fighting Words to deliver their services in each of the selected locations at no cost to the participants.
305. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 313 of 28 September 2021, the reason for the delay by her officials to meet with a club (details supplied) regarding a sports grant in view of the commitment given by her in a Parliamentary reply that the meeting would happen. [54177/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in previous replies on this matter, the club to which the Deputy refers, was provisionally allocated a grant of €81,500 under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme (SCP) for the development of an artificial playing surface and a further €83,343 under the 2018 SCP towards the provision of floodlights and non-personal sports equipment. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the SCP, due to the value of the grants received by the club in the past, it is necessary to execute a Deed of Covenant and Charge in order to protect the public investment in the facility. These requirements were communicated to the club at provisional allocation stage and it was made clear that formal approval could not issue until the legal requirements were finalised.
I understand that my Department’s legal advisor, the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO), has been in regular contact with the club’s solicitors in relation to some outstanding documentation. In this regard the CSSO has advised my officials that it first sought the required legal documentation on 6 November 2019. I am informed that the CSSO has contacted the club’s solicitors on multiple occasions seeking the necessary material but it remains outstanding. An official from my Department spoke with the club's designated contact officer directly on 3rd November in relation to the outstanding documentation required to permit progression of the grants to formal approval stage. My Department wrote to the club following that contact and offered to arrange a further meeting with the club should that be deemed helpful. This correspondence also stated that, in view of the ongoing delay finalising the legal issues, the Department would be happy to consider any request to extend the deadline for advancing the grant.
As previously stated, it will not be possible to provide formal approval for the provisionally allocated grants until the CSSO confirms that all legal formalities have been completed. Once the CSSO confirmation is received there will be no undue delay in progressing the allocations to formal approval stage and subsequently paying the grants subject to the other necessary documentation being submitted by the club.
307. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation made to each local authority in 2020 and 2021 for commemorating the Decade of Commemorations; the amount drawn down by each local authority in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54486/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role, as Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme, is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history (1912-1923) and associated themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered.
I approved an overall funding allocation of €900,000 for local authorities in 2020 which consisted of an allocation of €10,000 per local authority and additional funding where required for a number of other local authorities where specific requests were made to the Department. The main focus of the 2020 State Commemorative programme was in Cork City and County given the key centenaries associated with Cork last year and significant additional funding was allocated for these programmes. Challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in Cork County Council having to postpone many of their programme elements and being unable to draw down commemorative programme funding of €88,000 from the full allocation in 2020. This funding was brought forward, on a once off basis given the unprecedented situation COVID-19 presented, and formed part of the 2021 Cork County Council allocation. This was to allow them to fulfil their programme commitments which the local community were keen to progress.
€1.94 million for local authorities was approved in 2021 under the Community Strand of the Programme, to support their leading role in developing community-led, commemorative activities this year including cross-border commemorative initiatives. The allocation in 2021 provides for funding of €50,000 for each local authority (up significantly from the €10,000 allocation to each authority in 2020) and a supplementary fund to support local authorities who identified additional, specific requirements.
My intention is to maintain the funding allocation of €50,000 for each local authority into 2022. Further announcements in this regard will be made when the arrangements are confirmed.
Under the Community Strand, my Department recognises that each local authority is best placed to determine what is appropriate for their local area, in light of local history and expertise, and to make decisions concerning initiatives to be supported from their funding allocation. My Department advises, however, that all initiatives should be aligned with the principles and guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, and has provided comprehensive guidance for the allocation of funding, to assist local authorities. There is scope for a rich diversity of interesting and engaging commemorative initiatives to be curated from within the annual funding allocation from my Department to each of the local authorities.
The table below outlines the final allocation from my Department and corresponding drawdown of that funding allocation by each local authority in 2020, the initial allocation in 2021 and the amount drawn down by each authority to date this year. It should be noted that the drawdown of this funding typically takes place in November each year and many have yet to submit their drawdown requests. We are confident, however, that the majority of local authorities will drawdown their funding in a timely manner.
Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries Programme
2020 and 2021 Funding Allocations to Local Authorities and related Drawdown
308. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán ar cuireadh a Roinn ar an eolas sular glacadh an cinneadh ar an 13 Iúil 2021 fáil réidh leis an dualgas ar ábhar Sáirsint an grád 50% a fháil sa Scrúdú Inniúlachta Béil sa Ghaeilge; an dtagann an cinneadh sin salach ar thiomantas an rialtais an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn sa státseirbhís mar atá ráite ag an Aire agus an Aire Stáit, agus an impeoidh sí ar an Aire Dlí agus Cirt dul siar ar an gcinneadh sin a dhéanfadh dochar don Ghaeilge sa Gharda Síochána. [54511/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs faoi réir Rialacháin an Gharda Síochána 2021 a déantar arduithe céime do ghrád Sáirsint agus Cigire sa Gharda Síochána. Níl aon ról reachtúil agamsa mar Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta maidir leis na Rialacháin seo.
Tuigtear dom gur socraíodh ar na Rialacháin i ndiaidh comhairliúcháin cuimsithigh idir an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt, An tSeirbhís um Cheapachain Phoiblí agus An Garda Sochána, agus i gcomhar leis an Údarás Póilíneachta agus Cumainn na nGardaí. I ndiaidh na gcomhairliúchán seo, aontaíodh nach mbeadh sé riachtanach marc 50% sa Scrúdú Inniúlachta Cainte a bhaint amach chun a bheith cáilithe d’ardú céime do ghráid Sáirsint nó Cigire.
Bhí tionchar ag Tuarascáil Cigireachta an Gharda Síochána 2015 ‘Ag Athrú Póilíneachta in Éirinn’ sa pholasaí seo, a mhol go mbunófaí próisis nua maidir le roghnú agus arduithe céime, agus ag iniúchadh 2015 den Choimisiún um Cheapacháin Phoiblí a mheas go raibh Rialacháin (Arduithe Céime) an Gharda Síochána 2006 as dáta agus a raibh gá lena n-athbhreithniú.
Is fiú a nótail fosta go bhfuil ceapachán nó sannadh gardaí do cheantair Gaeltachta clúdaithe go sonrach faoi fhorálacha Acht an Gharda Síochána 2005. Faoi alt 33 (2) den Acht foráiltear:
-Áiritheoidh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána, a mhéid is indéanta, go bhfuil baill den Gharda Síochána atá lonnaithe i gceantar a chuimsíonn limistéar Gaeltachta dóthanach go leor sa Ghaeilge le cur ar a gcumas é a úsáid le saoráid chun a gcuid dualgas a chomhlíonadh.
Mar is eol don Teachta, críochnaigh Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019 - a dhéanfaidh leasú ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 -ag Céim na Tuarascála sa Dáil le déanaí. Is trí mhéadú agus feabhsú a dhéanamh ar na seirbhísí a sholáthraítear trí Ghaeilge ag eascairt as na leasuithe a bheas curtha i bhfeidhm ar Acht 2003 a chinnteofar go dtabharfar aghaidh ar shaincheisteanna a bhaineann le soláthar seirbhísí Stáit trí Ghaeilge do chainteoirí Gaeilge agus do phobail Ghaeltachta araon agus, chomh maith leis sin, ar dhúshláin agus ar dheiseanna maidir le hearcú cainteoirí Gaeilge i gcomhlachtaí poiblí.
De bharr ghealltanas an Rialtais i straitéis ‘Athnuachan na Státseirbhíse 2030’ a foilsíodh le déanaí agus i bPlean Náisiúnta maidir le Soláthar Seirbhísí Poiblí trí mheán na Gaeilge dá bhforáiltear sa Bhille a chur i bhfeidhm, creidim go mór go neartóidh na leasuithe seo stádas na Gaeilge san earnáil Stáit. Sílim chomh maith go mbeidh seirbhísí ardchaighdeáin Gaeilge á soláthar ag an tseirbhís phoiblí do dhaoine sa phobal Gaeilge agus i gceantair Ghaeltachta.
309. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has engaged with Sport Ireland and or Basketball Ireland in respect of anomalies regarding the way in which the sport of basketball is organised (details supplied) in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will direct through Sport Ireland that Basketball Ireland implement a more consistent approach that is reflected in other court and field sports. [54609/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that Government agreed last week to widen the range of sporting opportunities for young people which enables under 18 indoor sports games and competitions in sports such as basketball to go ahead. On foot of this, updated guidance has been provided by Sport Ireland to sporting organisations to allow children under 18 years of age to participate in indoor games and competition activities according to the ordinary rules and limits of the sport concerned. The full guidance can be accessed on the Sport Ireland website at:
www.sportireland.ie/covid19/return-to-sport-and-physical-activity
310. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason Tourism Ireland is not promoting Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands internationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54762/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Tourism Ireland is responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas. The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the board and management of Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
311. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the time for the spreading of manure in County Donegal in view of the weather conditions over the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53981/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraClosed periods for spreading manure are designed to protect water from nutrients leaching from land. These closed periods cover those times when there is usually low levels of grass growth to use the nutrients from the manure. Farms are required to have storage capacity available for manure to cover these closed periods.
Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme aims to reduce water pollution resulting from the spreading or discharge of livestock manures and the excessive use of fertilisers. Ireland, in common with all member states, defines set periods when the land application of fertiliser.
These periods are set out in the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017, as amended, and commence each year on:
- 15th of September (for chemical fertilisers);
- 15th of October (for Organic manures); and
- 1st of November (for farm yard manure).
These closed periods for land application of fertiliser in Ireland are important to protect water quality and were decided following extensive consultation with farming bodies and the European Commission as Ireland introduced the Nitrates Action Programme.
The provisions of the Regulations are underpinned by scientific research and good agricultural practice. The most recent scientific studies carried out on a diverse range of farm and soil types as part of Teagasc’s ongoing Agricultural Catchments Programme have provided further evidence in support of regulating spreading periods as an effective means of reducing nutrient losses to waters.
While acknowledging challenging weather conditions may be experienced during certain periods of the year and may vary from year to year; I do not have any plans to make changes to the manure spreading deadline for 2021.
312. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures Ireland has taken to comply with the European Court of Justice judgment arising from litigation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53999/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Court of Justice ruling in this case (Case C-215/06) results from a case was taken against Ireland for failure to ensure full implementation of Directive 85/337/EEC (the EIA Directive). The judgment in this case had two grounds;
- first ground: that Ireland failed to ensure that projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of their nature, size or location, are made subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA), before development consent is granted,
- second ground: the Court held that by failing to ensure the development consents granted for the Derrybrien Wind farm development were proceeded by an EIA, Ireland failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 2, 4 and 5 to 10 of the EIA Directive.
The first ground in the judgment of case C-215/06 was addressed by amending national legislation via the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, which, amongst other things, introduced a legislative process known as substitute consent to provide for the potential regularisation of development consents that had previously been granted permission in breach of the EIA Directive. In effect, this is like retention permission for a development that required an EIA, but proceeded without one.
From when the judgment issued in case C-215/06 in July 2008, regular engagement took place between Ireland and the European Commission up to the end of 2017, to discuss proposals to ensure that the wind farm development at Derrybrien was brought into compliance with the EIA Directive, as per the second ground of the 2008 judgment, which included proposal for a non-statutory retrospective environmental impact assessment of the wind farm development. However, a mutually agreeable solution was not reached and the Commission informed Ireland by letter on 26 January 2018 that as it considered the second ground of the judgment in C-215/06 had still not been complied with, further referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) would be required which resulted in case C-261/18. Therefore, case C-261/18 only relates to the second ground of the judgment in case C-215/06, and concerns the regularisation of the Derrybrien wind farm development from an EIA perspective.
On Tuesday, 12 November 2019, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued its judgment in case C-261/18, which followed on from the judgment in case C-215/06. The judgment ruled against Ireland and imposed a lump sum fine of €5m and a daily fine of €15,000 until compliance is achieved, plus legal costs.
The court judgment will be complied with when the Derrybrien Wind Farm, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of ESB, is subjected to a retrospective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - otherwise known as substitute consent.
On Friday 21 August 2020, the ESB submitted a substitute consent application to An Bord Pleanála (the Board). However, in accordance with Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
In this regard, it would be a matter for the Board, in terms of issuing a decision on the substitute consent application, as well as for the ESB, in terms of carrying out any associated works which might be required to comply with the Board’s decision.
My Department continues to working closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, which has corporate governance responsibility for the ESB, with respect to the resolution of the judgment and the payment of the fines.
313. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total fines incurred over an ongoing failure to observe proper environmental standards at a wind farm (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54000/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 12 November 2019, the Court of Justice of the EU published its judgment in case C-261/18 Commission v Ireland (the Derrybrien Windfarm case). The Court ruled against Ireland and imposed a lump sum fine of €5 million and a daily fine of €15,000 against Ireland until compliance with the judgment is achieved, plus legal costs, payable to the European Commission.
The court judgment will be complied with when the Derrybrien Wind Farm, which is owned and operated by a subsidiary of ESB, is subjected to a retrospective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - otherwise known as substitute consent. ESB submitted a substitute consent application to An Bord Pleanála (the Board) on 21 August 2020.
In accordance with Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or the Board is or may be concerned.
In this regard, it would be a matter for the Board, in terms of issuing a decision on the substitute consent application, as well as for the ESB, in terms of carrying out any associated works which might be required to comply with the Board’s decision.
To date, Ireland has paid €10,490,000 to the Commission in fines, broken down as follows;
- €5,000,000 lump sum fine paid in January 2020
- €2,745,000 daily fine (first instalment) paid in October 2020, relating to the period November 2019 to May 2020
- €2,745,000 daily fine (second instalment) paid in June 2021, relating to the period May 2020 to November 2020
On 27 October 2021, the European Commission issued a notification call for payment of the third instalment of daily fines to the sum of €2,730,000, relating to the period November 2020 to May 2021. The deadline for payment of this sum is set at 45 calendar days from the receipt of the notice, which is Saturday 11 December 2021.
314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which water quality continues to be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54188/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The overall aim of the Directive is to maintain high and good status waters where they exist and to restore waters that do not currently reach these standards.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been transposed into Irish law through a number of Regulations that cover governance, water monitoring and status assessment programmes in terms of assigning responsibilities for the monitoring of different water categories, determining the quality elements and undertaking the characterisation and classification assessments.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees national programmes of monitoring and reporting on the quality of rivers, lakes, transitional, coastal waters and groundwater. The EPA’s most recent published report in this regard is Water Quality in Ireland 2013-2018, which is available at the following link: www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/freshwater--marine/water-quality-in-ireland-2013-2018.php
A collaboration between my Department, the EPA and local authorities through the Local Authority Waters Programme, the www.catchments.ie website contains information about Ireland's river catchments, sub-catchments and some 4,829 water bodies throughout Ireland, with assessments and trends for water quality also available for many water bodies.
315. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of individual vacant sites and beneficial owners to which the vacant sites levy has been applied; the amount of revenue that has been raised by the levy in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to-date in 2021; the amount of tax due that remains to be collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54684/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January 2020.
My Department proactively engages with local authorities with a view to ensuring that the vacant site levy achieves its full potential in terms of bringing concerned sites into productive use. In this regard, my Department issued Circular Letter PL 03/2021 on 8 March 2021 requesting the submission of a progress report on the collection of the levy by each local authority.
It should be noted that the vacant site levy is collected in arrears. The levy due in respect of 2020 is collected in 2021. Local authorities are still issuing demands in respect of 2020. A number of local authorities noted delays in issuing payment demands in respect of 2020 due to COVID-19. Local authorities can continue to issue demands for payment of the levy in respect of 2020.
All levies due on an individual site will remain a charge on the land concerned until all outstanding levies due are paid. Accordingly, under the vacant site levy provisions, there will be a cumulative effect associated with not activating a site for development purposes for each year that a site remains vacant or idle and in respect of which levy liability is not paid.
The data requested is attached in spreadsheet form. Please note that my Department does not request the data on the ownership of sites on the Vacant Site Register. However, this data is publicly available on each local authority's respective website.
316. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review will be carried out on the current guidelines for electric car parking space installations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53977/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires the installation of appropriate infrastructure, to enable the installation at a later stage of recharging points for Electric Vehicles, for new residential buildings and non-residential buildings and those undergoing major renovation, with more than ten parking spaces. In addition, non-residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces must ensure the installation of at least 1 recharging point.
The Directive also requires that Member States shall lay down requirements for the installation of a minimum number of recharging points for existing non-residential buildings with more than twenty parking spaces, by 1 January 2025.
Regulations to introduce these requirements were introduced in July this year and are available at the following link: www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2021/si/393/made/en/pdf
Technical guidance to accompany these regulations is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/83fdc-energy-performance-of-buildings-regulations-2021-technical-guidance/
These regulations apply only to buildings and not to public re-charging infrastructure.
In general, policy in relation to Electric Vehicle recharging points is within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport and is co-ordinated by the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce. Their report is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/101f0-low-emission-vehicle-taskforce-phase-2-report/
Regulations regarding electric vehicle recharging bays is legislated for under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, as amended, and is not a matter in which I in my role as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage have any statutory function.
317. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if eight hares were killed on the first day of a coursing meeting by a club (details supplied) on 15 October 2021; the results of any post-mortems carried out on these hares; if this coursing meeting was called off on day one; and if the club was accommodated by another club to run its various stakes on the following weekend of 23 and 24 October 2021. [53982/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra318. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the health of all the hares in captivity at a club (details supplied); and if these hares were released into the wild after the meeting on 15 October 2021 was called off. [53983/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together.
Officials from my Department were present at the meeting of 15 October 2021 arranged by the club referred to by the Deputy. 3 hares died during the course of the first day of the meeting. A post mortem was carried on the three hares by Athlone Regional Veterinary laboratory on Monday 18 October 2021. The netting licence for this club was immediately and indefinitely suspended pending a full investigation of this matter, which is ongoing.
The 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. My Officials were not informed by the club concerned of any alternative arrangements for the stakes that were due to be run by the club during their own meeting.
The remaining hares have since been released, and appeared to be in good health.
