Written Answers Nos. 264-283
264. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to introduce a mental health officer in Sport Ireland; the cost of employing a mental health officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55740/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for staffing is an operational matter for Sport Ireland, and I have no direct role in such matters. I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for additional information on this matter. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
266. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the legislation on which the Covid-19 guidelines governing Sport Ireland and all indoor sports are based; the section that states that non-vaccinated parents are not permitted to enter, spectate and-or supervise their children participating in underage indoor sports; the guidelines that are in place to ensure sufficient safeguarding practices are in place in circumstances in which parents are prevented from entering a facility in which their child is participating in an indoor sport; if a parent can be prevented from entering a facility in which their child is participating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55787/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe measures currently in place in relation to indoor sport venues take the form of advisory guidance, rather than specific legislative provisions. This position reflects an evolution of the Government's approach, outlined in its plan COVID-19: REFRAMING THE CHALLENGE, CONTINUING OUR RECOVERY AND RECONNECTING, involving a shift in public health management of COVID-19 in Ireland as it transitions from a focus on regulation and population-wide restrictions to an emphasis on public health advice and personal judgement and personal protective behaviours. This movement away from regulations and population-level restrictions is only possible if individuals, organisations and communities ensure that there is adherence to best practice in infection preventions and control, like observing good respiratory and hand hygiene, wearing a face covering in crowded and congregated settings and staying home and self-isolating when symptomatic.
At its meeting on 19 October 2021, and following consideration of the public health advice, Government agreed that additional aspects of society could reopen only with the full range of protective measures in place. As such, current restrictions under the Government’s plan state that organisers of indoor and outdoor group activities should ensure that appropriate protective measures are in place. For indoor sports, this means:
- The use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate (vaccine or recovery certificate) will be required for accessing indoor sporting activities and events.
- Where individuals have mixed immunity status, pods of up to 6 participants will be permitted (excluding adult coaches/instructors).
- Multiple pods will be permissible subject to protective measures.
- The overall number of pods will have regard to the size of venue and there should be substantial social distance between individual pods.
- For Vaccinated individuals no fixed capacity limits apply to these activities.
- Vaccinated spectators attending indoor sporting events should be fully seated.
Sport Ireland has been in regular communication with the National Governing Bodies of sport about safeguarding concerns through the pandemic. To this end Sport Ireland have devised a Safeguarding & Wellbeing advisory note for sporting organisations. This advisory note seeks to provide support and guidance to sporting organisations who are adapting their engagement with children and young people during Covid-19. It is available below:
www.sportireland.ie/ethics/news/safeguarding-wellbeing-considerations-during-covid-19.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Government recently agreed 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.
267. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the next round of sports capital grants will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55937/21]
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.
In relation to the remaining capital applications, assessment work is continuing and every effort is being made to have it complete as quickly as possible. Given the record number of applications received however, it is likely to take a further number of weeks to have these assessments complete. Once these allocations are finalised an announcement on the timing of the next round of the Programme will be made.
268. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the position regarding, and status of, the resumption of indoor basketball practice and games in the context of public health measures; and if there are plans to bring about a further reopening for the sport. [56118/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that Government recently agreed 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.
Any decision on the further lifting of restrictions, and its timing, is a matter for Government and not for individual Ministerial decision.
269. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of judicial reviews of An Bord Pleanála decisions in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of decisions that have been upheld; the number of decisions that were set aside in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55512/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra270. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of judicial reviews of An Bord Pleanála decisions that have been taken by State bodies in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55513/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.
The recording of court cases is one in which I have no statutory function and is a matter for the Courts Service which is statutorily independent. Judicial reviews against the State, in which my Department may be included as a party, are co-ordinated by the Chief State Solicitors Office under the guidance of the Attorney General's Office.
Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
An Bord Pleanála can be challenged by judicial review on a range of its functions, including decisions on planning applications in respect of strategic housing developments, and it publishes an update on legal cases in its Annual Report.
Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
271. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount incurred by An Bord Pleanála in legal and consultant fees in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55514/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Bord Pleanála's expenditure on legal fees and consultancy services is a matter for the Board. It should be noted that arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
In order to assist the Deputy, my Department requested and received the information sought by the Deputy from An Bord Pleanála, which is set out in the table following.
|
€ |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 – end OCT |
|
Legal |
3,286,392 |
3,448,244 |
8,268,470 |
2,269,213 |
|
Consultants* |
718,059 |
777,438 |
1,158,820 |
920,470 |
*Costs associated with Consultants relate to a range of organisational supports, HR, ICT etc and Planning.
Sections 120 and 124 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) allows the Board to employ and engage persons, consultants and advisors in a part time capacity to be renumerated by fees, as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions. The Board is required, under Section 124(2) of the Planning & Development Act, 2000 (as amended), to include a statement on the names of the persons engaged under Section 124 as Consultants or Advisors in its Annual Report.
272. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied that all external services and consultants retained by An Bord Pleanála have been procured in accordance with the relevant procurement law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55515/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Bord Pleanála's expenditure on consultancy services and external services is a matter for the Board. It should be noted that arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
An Bord Pleanála has confirmed it has procedures in place to ensure compliance with current procurement rules and guidelines. During 2020, An Bord Pleanála identified two areas, relating to archive facilities and the recording of oral hearing services, where it acknowledged that there was not full compliance with procurement requirements. The Board indicated in its Annual Report that it would follow up on the tendering of these contracts this year.
273. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide financial supports to households that need to replace their septic tanks but are outside of the specified priority areas or have not had their tanks inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55534/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra283. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households that have availed of grants for new septic tanks under each of the grant schemes by county in tabular form. [55711/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra284. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports that are available to a homeowner with a defective septic tank who has not had an inspection and lives outside of the specific priority zones in which grants are available. [55712/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 273, 283 and 284 together.
Under the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, the owner of a domestic waste water treatment system is responsible for its maintenance and renewal and shall ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational where appropriate and kept in good order and repair so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment.
My Department provides financial assistance towards the remediation, repair or upgrading works to, or the replacement of a domestic waste water treatment system under new and revised grant schemes which launched in June 2020. The schemes are focused on areas of greatest environmental priority rather than general in application. This is in line with Government Policy which is framed in the context of meeting relevant obligations under legislation. The grant schemes are administered by the local authorities on behalf of my Department and details of the Terms and Conditions for each scheme can be found on my Department’s website at the following address:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/6cc1e-domestic-waste-water-treatment-systems-septic-tanks/
The table following sets out details of recoupment, from 04 June 2020 to 11 November 2021, by my Department to local authorities, under the Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Grant Schemes (also known as Septic Tanks), in the requested format.
Septic Tank Grants approved 04 June 2020 - 11 November 2021
|
County |
No. of NIP* |
No. of HSOCA* |
No. of PAA* |
|
Carlow |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Longford |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
26 |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath |
35 |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
11 |
0 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
11 |
0 |
0 |
*NIP – National Inspection Plan; HSOCA – High Status Objective Catchment Areas; PAA – Prioritised Areas for Action.
In implementing the revised arrangements, my Department has undertaken to conduct a review of the grant schemes, to ensure their continued alignment with policy objectives. The specifics of this review are currently being formalised and it is anticipated that relevant stakeholders will be consulted e.g. local authorities etc. as appropriate. In finalising the structure and timeline for the review, consideration will be given to the most appropriate timing in order to ensure best engagement from relevant stakeholders. This review is expected to be completed next year.
274. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is anticipated that the affordable housing local authority home loan and first home schemes will come into effect; the income threshold for those living in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55538/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Housing for All, I announced a reformed successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme, the 'Local Authority Home Loan'. The Local Authority Home Loan will include an increase in the income ceiling for single applicants.
For counties where the scheme’s house price limit is €320,000 (Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow), the income ceiling for a single applicant will be €65,000. This will be an increase of €15,000 on the €50,000 income ceiling under the current Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme. In the rest of the country where the scheme’s house price limit is €250,000, the income ceiling for a single applicant will remain €50,000. The income ceiling for joint applicants is €75,000. The maximum loan amount will remain €288,000.
I look forward to announcing further details in respect of the Local Authority Home Loan in the coming months.
Regulations covering the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme are currently being finalised and, once complete, will include information in relation to income and eligibility.
In respect of the local authority led affordable purchase scheme, Cork County Council has previously received approval in principal for six funding applications for the delivery of affordable housing projects under the Serviced Sites Fund (SSF). In line with the publication of the Government’s Housing for All plan, a number of significant improvements to the funding scheme, now named the Affordable Housing Funding (AHF) scheme, have been agreed and communicated to local authorities. These changes include expanding the scope of costs covered to sub vent the all-in development cost of delivering the housing; accepting applications as they are developed on a rolling basis as opposed to time constrained funding calls; and, allowing funding support to now exceed the current maximum of €50,000 per affordable dwelling on a stepped scale to €100,000, based on location and density.
Cork City Council is currently on site at Boherboy Road where, under the SSF, they will deliver 116 affordable homes with the first phase being delivered by year end. They will also submit an AHF application for 21 affordable units, previously approved under SSF, for Churchfield, to be delivered in 2023.
The ‘First Home’ affordable purchase shared equity scheme is designed to enable first-time buyers to purchase a newly-built home in private developments. It will do so by bridging the gap, by means of an equity stake, between the purchaser’s available deposit and mortgage, and the price of the new home they wish to buy. Work on the design of the scheme is ongoing, in advance of the scheme’s introduction next year.
The affordable purchase schemes will not have a single or universally applicable income limit. Eligibility assessments will consider income on a household specific basis. Broadly, where a household is unable to purchase the new home in question using their deposit and maximum mortgage entitlement, and where the available equity support can bridge the gap between their available finance and the cost of the home, they will be eligible to apply. The price of new homes being made available under the First Home scheme will be limited by price ceilings linked to the median price of new build first time buyer homes.
275. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the new Dunleer fire station in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55585/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
- Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
- established Health and Safety needs;
- state of development of the project (is site acquired?, etc.); and
- value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire engines. In order to maximise the available Capital Programme funding, my Department re-assesses the status of projects in the Programme on an annual basis, and some flexibility is normally available to advance projects that are ready and that offer best value-for-money taking account of the state of readiness of projects more generally.
Louth County Council has indicated that Dunleer is their number one fire station priority project, and a new fire station at Dunleer is provided for in this Capital Programme. The Council submitted a preliminary appraisal to my Department in January 2021. Following examination of the proposal, approval in principle for this project issued on 25 June 2021, along with approval for the Council to appoint a design team. I understand that a potential site has been identified by the Council. On receipt of a detailed design brief, my Department will continue to work with Louth County Council to progress the Dunleer fire station project.
276. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a memorandum of understanding exists between the fire services in Northern Ireland and Ireland; the status of the implementation of this memorandum of understanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55594/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities by establishing policy, setting national standards for fire safety and fire service provision, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. Under this legislation, there are 31 fire authorities which provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures.
As I am sure you aware a number of our fire authorities are based in the border regions and on occasion are called to assist Northern Ireland fire fighter colleagues at incidents and vice versa. It is my understanding that while - other than an arrangement between Donegal County Council and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) for fire cover in an area of south Donegal - there are no formal Memoranda of Understanding around such activity, there are local or co-operation agreements in place between individual fire services and NIFRS. I also understand Irish Fire Service and Northern Ireland Fire Service colleagues are currently working on a Multi Agency Protocol for Cross Border Notification of Major Emergency/Major Incidents in Border Areas between Northern Ireland and the Republic Ireland.
277. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if new regulations regarding voids have been issued in 2021; and if so, the details of same. [55612/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra278. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement he has had with local authorities in relation to voids turnarounds. [55613/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together.
There are estimated to be c.140,000 local authority social housing properties in the State. The proper maintenance of this valuable state asset will not only provide the appropriate levels of comfort to current local authority tenants but will also allow for currently vacant local authority homes to be tenanted as quickly as possible.
While my Department is focused on ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent, the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, responsive repairs and implementing planned maintenance programmes, is a matter for each individual local authority, in line with Section 28 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2009.
Notwithstanding the legal obligations on local authorities to manage and maintain their own housing stock, my Department provides Exchequer funding to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting under the Voids Programme. Introduced in 2014 with the original aim of tackling long term vacant units, the programme is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
As per Circular 17/2021, and in line with previous year’s programmes, local authorities were notified that only the minimum works required to comply with the Housing (Private Rented Standards) Regulations, 2019 should be carried out to ensure these properties are turned around as quickly as possible and to maximise the budget available. Furthermore, my Department receives regular updates on the status of each local authority’s programme of works and actively encourages the remediation of all local authority owned vacant properties as expeditiously as possible.
It must also be noted, vacancy figures and turnaround times are impacted by a number of different factors and a portion of the dwellings currently vacant would not necessarily fall into a normal vacancy/void programme for reasons detailed below;
- Dwellings awaiting demolition or major regeneration
- Dwellings vacant and are set aside for sale
- Not for letting pending resolution of legal disputes
- Second hand acquisitions awaiting repairs and vacant pending those repairs
- Repaired and awaiting letting
- New build/Turnkey awaiting letting
It is important to note that my Department and local authorities supported by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the implementation of centrally hosted ICT system within the LGMA to support the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes which will be supported by my Department’s stock improvement funding programmes. It is envisaged surveys will commence early in 2022.
279. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the schemes or options available to persons whose apartments are subject to defective issues such as the need for fire remediation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55638/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no statutory scheme available to persons whose apartments are subject to defective issues such as the need for fire remediation works.
However, the Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments in respect of the important policy area of building defects; it provides for an examination of defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing report, "Safe as Houses" and also for the identification of options for those impacted by defects to access low cost, long term finance.
In this context, I established a working group to examine defects in housing. The plenary working group has been meeting monthly since March 2021 (except for August), in addition to subgroup meetings. The group’s terms of reference were adopted in May 2021 and are to:
1. Examine defects in housing having regard to the recommendations in Item 4 “Addressing the legacy of bad building and poor regulation” in Chapter 4 of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government report - ‘Safe as Houses? A Report on Building Standards, Building Controls and Consumer Protection’.
2. Establish the nature of significant, wide-spread fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects in purpose built apartment buildings, including duplexes, constructed between 1991 – 2013 in Ireland through consultation with affected homeowners, homeowner representative organisations, owners’ management companies, relevant managing agents, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, industry stakeholders, insurance providers, mortgage providers and other relevant parties. Including such matters as:
- Identification and description of defect,
- Nature of defect – design, product, workmanship,
- Non-compliance with building regulations or actual damage,
- Severity/risk to life or serviceability of dwelling,
- Period of construction affected,
- Type of dwelling affected,
- Location of dwellings affected.
3. Establish the scale of the issue – estimate number of dwellings affected by the defects identified including those already remediated.
4. Consider a methodology for the categorisation of defects and the prioritisation of remedial action.
- In the case of defects with fire safety implications, consider how the framework for enhancing fire safety in dwellings can be applied to mitigate the risks arising from fire safety defects pending the remediation of defects and the Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings, which is currently being developed by National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management.
5. Suggest mechanisms for resolving defects, in the context of the legal rights, duties and obligations of developers, builders, building professionals, insurers, mortgage providers, building control authorities, fire authorities, owners’ management companies, owner occupiers, renters and landlords, including:
- Technical options for the remediation of dwellings,
- Efficient means of carrying out work,
- Individual dwellings or whole building approach,
- Routine maintenance/refurbishment or remediation,
- Structures or delivery channels needed to facilitate resolution – advice and support.
6. Evaluate the potential cost of technical remediation options.
7. Pursue options on possible financial solutions to effect a resolution, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to identify options for those impacted by defects to access low-cost, long-term finance.
8. To report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the Examination of Defects in Housing.
I look forward to receiving a report in due course following completion of the Working Group's deliberation. Once I receive the report I will give full consideration to its contents.
280. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has had a communication from the Minister for Agriculture in Northern Ireland in relation to the farm nutrient management scheme which was designed to provide financial assistance for the improvement of animal waste storage on farms in Northern Ireland (details supplied). [55701/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not received any correspondence from the Minister for Agriculture in Northern Ireland in relation to the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme.
In terms of protecting our water resources, primary responsibility for the monitoring, management, protection and improvement of water quality is assigned to local authorities under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts and related legislation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Office of Environmental Enforcement, exercises general supervision in relation to the performance of these functions by local authorities.
The River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018-2021 sets out the actions that Ireland will take to improve water quality and achieve ‘good’ ecological status in water bodies (rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters) by 2027 and meet the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Following BREXIT, retained EU law came into effect in the UK on 1 January 2021, preserving environmental standards in domestic UK legislation, and ensuring parity with EU standards at point of exit. With the Water Framework Directive transposed into UK law, the agencies in Northern Ireland are continuing with the implementation of their river basin management plans.
Currently, Ireland shares two river basin districts (RBD) with Northern Ireland. The Neagh Bann International RBD has 35 shared waterbodies. The North Western International RBD has 85 shared waterbodies. Substantial areas lie within cross-border river basins in Ireland, with waters in each jurisdiction flowing into or through the other jurisdiction.
281. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all licences granted by the NPWS to the OPW to carry out works on Emo Court and the dates the licences were granted. [55706/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wildlife Licencing Unit (WLU) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has granted two licences to the Office of Public Works (OPW) in relation to Emo Court between September 2018 and November 2021.
On 27 March 2019, the WLU issued a licence (163/2017) under Regulation 54 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 to the OPW for activities in connection with Emo Court, Co Laois in respect of Bat Species.
On 9 September 2020, the WLU granted a licence (73/2020) under Regulation 54 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 to the OPW for activities in connection with Main House, Emo Court, Emo, Portarlington, Co Laois in respect of four bat species - Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus); Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus); Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) and Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri).
282. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the facilities and funding that is currently in place for the treatment and-or rehabilitation of injured wildlife. [55707/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) within my Department accepts applications from any individual or organisation that wishes to apply for a licence under Section 22(9)(g) of the Wildlife Acts to possess an injured or disabled wild bird for the purposes of rehabilitation and release and/or a licence under Section 23(6)(c) of the Wildlife Acts to possess an injured or disabled protected wild animal for the purposes of rehabilitation and release.
The licence applications are assessed and issued, where appropriate. The holders of such licences can range from one individual to a larger organisation/facility. My Department does not provide any specific funding for the treatment and/or rehabilitation of injured wildlife.
