Written Answers Nos. 213-234
213. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the general scheme of the protected disclosures (amendment) Bill; if the transposition date is still expected to be 17 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60301/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDirective (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") was adopted in October 2019 and the deadline for transposition into Irish law is 17 December 2021. Ireland already has comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation in place in the form of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Transposition of the Directive will require amendments to the 2014 Act.
The draft general scheme of a Bill to give effect to the transposition of the Directive was published in May and referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach for pre-legislative scrutiny. The Joint Committee held a number of hearings in September and October as part of this process and their report is awaited. Once the report is published, I will consider its recommendations and finalise the Bill so I can bring it to Government for consideration and approval if in order.
Taking into account that the pre-legislative process has yet to conclude as well as the timelines involved in bringing a Bill to Government for approval, as set out in the Cabinet Handbook, the legislation will not be published until early in the New Year. This means that Ireland will miss the deadline for transposition of 17 December. While Ireland is far from being the only Member State to find itself in this position, I very much regret this delay. It is essential, however, that legislation of such importance as this is done right as the consequences for whistleblowers when legislation intended to protect them fails to work as expected can be devastating. I expect the Bill to be enacted in the first quarter of next year.
Alongside this, my department is preparing measures to assist with the transposition including updates to the Statutory Guidance. This will also include ensuring there is interim guidance available for both the public and private sector when the whistleblowing Directive comes into effect on 17 December. Comprehensive Statutory Guidance will be prepared alongside the enactment of the Protected Disclosures Amendment Bill. In addition, I have provided for an increase of 30% in Budget 2022 in respect of the grant funding my Department gives to Transparency International Ireland for the operation of its Speak-Up Helpline and Transparency Legal Advice Centre.
214. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a date has been confirmed with a contractor for when works are likely to start in December 2021 on the new Garda station for Bailieborough, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60384/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 16 November 2021, if the OPW can advise on if a date has been confirmed with a contractor for works to start in December 2021 on the new Garda station for Bailieborough, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60391/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 222 together.
Following a procurement process The Office of Public Works has engaged a Contractor to undertake works on the development of a new Garda District Headquarters in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan.
An on-site pre-start meeting is organised for this project this week. It is expected that set-up works will commence on-site shortly thereafter with full mobilisation in January 2022.
215. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will provide meaningful engagement with an organisation (details supplied) and the industrial relations mechanisms of the State in relation to a union pay claim covering pay and conditions for secretarial assistants and parliamentary assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59819/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (the “Commission”) has the power to regulate the provision of “secretarial facilities” to Members. “Secretarial facilities” is a term encompassing the staff employed under the Scheme for Secretarial Assistance. The Act requires the Commission to obtain the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform before reaching an agreement with any person in relation to rates of pay, conditions of employment or superannuation rights. In practice, this means that the Commission advises on matters relating to resourcing, grading and terms and conditions of employment and submits proposals for the Minister’s consideration and agreement.
In that regard I am aware that there is a process underway at the Workplace Relations Commission dealing with various issues, including alignment with the current public service pay agreement ‘Building Momentum’ between the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and SIPTU.
I look forward to a successful resolution of the matter and early presentation of proposals for my agreement.
216. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will meet the target of 6% employment of persons with disabilities within the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59820/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 (CES) recommends the phased increase of the current statutory target of 3% of employees with disabilities in the public sector to 6% by 2024. Increasing the minimum statutory employment target to 6% is also a commitment under the Programme for Government 2020. The Civil Service is fully committed to equality of opportunity for all individuals, in all of its recruitment and employment practices. This commitment is demonstrated in the Civil Service 2030 Renewal Strategy which was launched in May 2021.
As the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am required to report on the number of people with a disability employed in the Civil Service. This report in Irish and in English must be submitted to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Senior Officials by the statutory deadline of 30 November every year.
Copies of these reports can be located on the National Disability Authority website: http://nda.ie/Publications/Employment/Employment-of-people-with-disabilities-in-the-public-service/Reports-on-compliance-with-public-sector-jobs-target/
The most recent published report refers to 2019. At the end of 2019, public sector bodies reported that 3.1% of public sector employees were people with disabilities. 5.1% of Civil Servants self-declared as having a disability.
In respect of my own Department at the end of 2019, a percentage of 3.8% was reported. The Deputy should note that the percentages noted only reflect employees that have declared a disability, given that the declaration of a disability is voluntary.
I feel that this figure is understated and I recognise that there is further work to do in terms of creating and maintaining an inclusive work environment that promotes and supports the recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities, and where employees with disabilities feel supported and comfortable in disclosing a disability.
OneLearning, the Civil Service Learning and Development Centre based in my Department, is developing a suite of courses and training initiatives on diversity and inclusion that will be rolled out across the Civil Service. As part of my Department’s commitment to the Health and Wellbeing of its staff, the HR Strategy Unit has organised an introduction to Disability Awareness that will address the social model of disability, the diversity within disability, breaking down barriers and myths and assumptions.
There are many positive examples under CES of how my Department, working alongside key stakeholders in the Civil Service including the Public Appointments Services (PAS), which is a body under the aegis of my Department, has been involved in promoting Civil Service employment pathways for persons with a disability. These include the following:
In partnership with AHEAD, the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) programme offers graduates with a disability a 6 month mentored paid work placement in either the private sector or Civil Service. My Department and PAS play a key role in driving the annual intakes of work placements across the Civil Service. To date over 230 placements have been made across 33 Departments/Offices. Over 80% of WAM graduates have subsequently secured longer-term employment upon completion of their WAM programme.
The Oireachtas Work Learning (OWL) programme is an applied learning, development and socialisation programme for adults with an intellectual disability that was launched as a pilot programme in September 2018. It is facilitated by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service in collaboration with two sponsor organisations, KARE and WALK. The goal of the Programme is to provide trainees with the skills, knowledge and ability to gain meaningful employment via the unique opportunity to gain practical work experience, as well as accredited learning over an 11 month period. Over a quarter of the initial OWL interns have since gone on to secure permanent Civil Service employment through confined competitions.
In terms of civil servants based in my own Department, the HR Strategy Unit developed the People@PER HR Strategy that has a focus on embracing and embedding a culture of diversity and inclusion across the Department through diversity initiatives and training. This has included the establishment of a vibrant cross-divisional and cross-grade Diversity and Inclusion staff forum. My Department has a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) who supports new members of staff with a disability or existing staff who acquire a disability and raises awareness about disability. New hires receive the Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service , a welcome letter from the Department’s DLO and FAQs on Disability prepared by the National Disability Authority. The induction of new hires includes a presentation and Q&A session with the DLO.
In terms of bodies under my aegis, all have appointed Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) and have proactively made available work placement opportunities for participants on the WAM and OWL programmes, with a number of these being converted to permanent positions. Embedding diversity and inclusion with each body is a core focus of the respective Management Boards with key ED&I initiatives reflected in existing local HR strategies or those being developed by bodies, such as the EMPOWER People Strategy in the case of the Office of Government Procurement.
The 2021 Disability Staff Survey in my Department was launched on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Friday 3 December 2021. The results of this anonymous, voluntary survey are not yet available.
217. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a person (details supplied) will be paid a preserved pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59890/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department have raised the case with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO), which is responsible for the administration of Civil Service pensions. I understand that following further correspondence between the NSSO and the former employing department (the Department of Justice) the NSSO has recently been provided with all the documentation needed to process the application for preserved pension.
The NSSO will contact the individual directly once this has been completed. Subject to all the documentation being in order, the pension benefits will be processed as soon as possible and pension arrears will be paid as appropriate.
218. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full administrative costs of administering Exchequer pensions from the 18 votes from which pension expenditure is made, disaggregated by vote in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [59904/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe authorities responsible for the administration of the large number of pension schemes operating in the various sectors of the Irish public service are, in general, the relevant employers and Ministers in those sectors.
It would be a matter for those sectoral authorities, including relevant Ministers, to supply such information.
I and my Department are responsible for the civil service pension schemes, which cover personnel in established and unestablished civil service and State Industrial posts. The National Shared Services Office (NSSO) process pensions on behalf of Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances. I can only answer in respect of Vote 12 for 2019 and 2020 as the practice of NSSO providing a service cost only commenced in 2019.
In respect of Vote 12, the costs of administering civil service pensions for 2019 and 2020 are as provided in the table below.
|
- |
2020 |
2019 |
|
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
National Shared Services Office – cost of net allied service provided to Vote 12 |
2,674 |
2,575 |
219. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of protected disclosures made to him concerning his Department and bodies under its aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [59917/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that I have not received any Protected Disclosures concerning my Department or the bodies under its aegis during the period specified, or to date in 2021.
220. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of funding to be provided by his Department in 2022 for the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59942/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the nature of my Department's role, funding for the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector is not provided from its Votes. However, the Deputy may wish to note that by supporting the administration of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and technical assistance costs for the SEUPB and the Regional Assemblies, my Department is indirectly supporting social enterprise projects that are directly funded by EU funds.
I understand that the Deputy has also submitted this question to all Ministers, who will respond in respect of their Departments.
221. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected timeframe in which the tender brief for a scheme (details supplied) will be developed; the expected stages of consultation regarding the flood management proposals in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60167/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarlingford and Greenore is one of 300 communities that had their flood risk assessed by the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of properties at risk from the primary causes of flooding in Ireland, in communities that house almost two thirds of the national population.
The key output of the CFRAM Programme was the Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP’s). Informed by costs, benefits and environmental factors, the FRMPs proposed a flood relief scheme for Carlingford and Greenore. The proposed scheme would involve construction of a series of hard defences (flood embankments and walls) and two pumping stations, protecting some 400 properties.
The progression of this proposed scheme to detail design is supported by €1.3bn planned investment under the National Development Plan to 2030 as part of Project Ireland 2040. The final design of a feasible scheme, informed through further public consultation, might change from that proposed by the FRMPs and will also include adaptation measures against the risk from climate change.
Louth County Council, working with the Office of Public Works, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of this flood relief schemes. The progression of this Scheme is being assisted with the installation of rain gauges along the catchment which will provide valuable data.
The Engineering Consultancy Services tender brief for the Carlingford and Greenore scheme is currently being developed and is due to be published in the first quarter of 2022. Once consultants are appointed to progress Carlingford and Greenore, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the proposals within the scheme.
223. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of executive officer vacancies filled by Irish language candidates during 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 in counties Donegal and Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60534/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent recruiter for appointments to the civil service. PAS undertakes competitions on behalf of the civil service to establish panels that may be drawn upon as vacancies arise in Government Departments or Offices.
PAS has advised that no candidates were assigned from the Executive Officer with Irish panels to locations in Donegal or Sligo during the period in question. All recruitment is demand-led. Vacancies may not arise in all regions during the lifetime of a panel established from a competition. The placement of a candidate on a competition panel is no guarantee of appointment.
In October, I extended the expiry date of the current panels from the 2019 Executive Officer with Irish competitions to 31 December 2021. A new Irish Executive Officer competition will be advertised by PAS in January 2022 from which all future assignments will be made.
The Deputy will be aware that the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill, currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas, proposes a 20% Irish language fluency target for all new hires to the public service by 2030 in line with Programme for Government commitments. The implementation of the Government’s Rural Development Strategy “Our Rural Future” that was launched in March by the Minister for Community and Rural Development, may also provide enhanced opportunities for Irish-speaking roles in the public service in the years ahead.
224. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if applications under the sports capital grant scheme will be announced before the end of 2021; the amount available for distribution as allocated in the estimates for 2021; if the decision has been taken to defer the allocations to 2022; if this will enable additional funding being available to the current tranche of applicants as announced in Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59883/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1 billion.
On 30 November 2020, Minister Martin and I announced that a new 2020 round of the Programme was opening with at least €40 million available to allocate. The original closing date for applications was 12 February 2021 but in view of difficulties some applicants were encountering as a result of Covid restrictions, this deadline was extended until 1 March 2021. By this closing date, 3,106 applications had been submitted seeking over €200m in funding. This is the highest number of applications ever received.
The scoring system and assessment procedures were finalised and published earlier this year and all applications are being assessed in accordance with these procedures.
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 6 August 2021. The letter of provisional allocation encouraged all grantees to draw down this funding before year-end if possible and in recent weeks my Department has been prioritising the payments of all existing grants. Ensuring that as many older grants as possible are paid before year-end will maximise the funding available to allocate for the 2020 capital SCEP applications.
In relation to these 2020 capital SCEP applications, assessment work is continuing. No decision has been made to defer the allocations but given the record number of applications received, it is expected that this work will not now be completed and allocations made until early in the new year. Due to the nature of the SCEP programme, it can often take applicants a number of years to fully draw down their grants so the deferral of the announcement of allocations to the new year will not have significant implications for the total funding available to award.
In relation to the funding available to allocate, at least €34,535m has currently been provided for the SCEP in 2022. This represents an increase of €6.6m on the 2021 allocation. Furthermore I am in ongoing discussions with my colleague, Michael McGrath, T.D., the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to possible additional resources for the Programme. These discussions will conclude shortly.
225. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of protected disclosures made to her concerning her Department and bodies under its aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [59921/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 304 of 1st June last.
As required under Section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014 my Department publishes an annual report setting out the number of protected disclosures made to it in the course of the immediately preceding year and certain other information relating to any such protected disclosures. The reports for my Department are available here: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/58aa8-disclosure-of-wrongdoing-in-the-workplace/
For the Deputy's convenience, the requested information in respect of the number of protected disclosures made to my Department under the Protected Disclosures Act during the specified period is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Number of submissions received |
Number accepted as a Protected Disclosure |
|
2018 |
0 |
0 |
|
2019 |
2 |
1 |
|
2020 |
2 |
0 |
For the Deputy's information, I am informed that the submission which was accepted as constituting a Protected Disclosure, was processed in accordance with my Department's Policy on Disclosure of Wrongdoing in the Workplace and the matter was not referred for consideration by a third party. No evidence was identified of any wrongdoing having occurred in this case.
226. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the level of funding to be provided by her Department in 2022 for the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59946/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the coordination of the implementation of the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022 is primarily a matter for the Department of Rural and Community Development.
I am advised that Údarás na Gaeltachta, which comes under the aegis of my Department, delivers a number of programmes that support the Social Enterprise Sector. Details of these programmes and funding provided in 2021 are set out in the table below. It is anticipated that a similar level of funding in the order of €3m will be allocated to these activities in 2022.
|
Name of Scheme |
Funding provided in 2021 |
Brief description of Scheme |
|
Core Funding for Community Development Organisations |
€2,816,000 |
Údarás na Gaeltachta provides core funding and support services to 33 Community Co-Operatives and Community Development Organisations throughout the Gaeltacht. The funding is allocated based upon agreed annual development plans. Údarás recognises the important role of the development organisations in local development and in assisting with the implementation of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Development Strategy 2021 – 2025. |
|
Gaeltacht Social Enterprise Fund (Scéim Tacaíochta do Thograí Fiontraíocht Shóisialta na Gaeltachta |
€179,000 |
This was a new support programme that commenced in 2021. The programme was aimed at assisting development organisations in planning and developing social enterprises in their local areas. The programme has proved to be very successful and is proposed to allocate additional funding for 2022. This programme will be specifically aimed at supporting social enterprises covering different sectors including the digital economy, blue economy, social services, tourism, renewable/green energy, natural resource development, culture and language. |
|
Mentoring and Consultancy |
€105,000 |
This support programme was initiated in 2021 and a fund of €105,000 was allocated. The support programme was aimed at providing mentors and consultants to community organisations to assist them in addressing specific needs in relation to the development of their work, such as mentoring in sectors such as finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Business Planning. It is planned to provide similar support in 2022. |
I am also advised that from time to time the Creative Ireland Programme may also collaborate with social enterprises directly to support the delivery of creativity in relation to the Programme’s work including with children and young people, community-led local authority initiatives, inclusion and diversity, climate action, and health and wellbeing. Details of any funding to be provided to social enterprises in this regard will only become available during 2022.
227. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the review and negotiations regarding the RTÉ pension dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59989/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have received the advice of NewEra on this matter which is currently being considered and will be subject to review and decision by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
228. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports that are being given to the Irish teams in preparation for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60100/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, supports winter sport athletes through funding provided to the Snowsports Association of Ireland. The Snowsports Association of Ireland (SAI), formerly known as the Ski Association of Ireland, was formed in 1971 to promote the development and growth of the sport of skiing in Ireland and is affiliated to the International Governing Body of the sport, namely Federation Internationale De Ski (FIS). The Snowsports Association of Ireland is primarily responsible for the growth and development of cross-country skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding.
The Snowsports Association of Ireland plays a key role in supporting Irish athletes to qualify and participate in the Winter Olympic Games. In 2021 Sport Ireland provided €25,000 of High Performance funding to the Snowsports Association of Ireland.
Sport Ireland also provides services to a number of winter sport athletes through the Sport Ireland Institute. These athletes are provided access to the Sport Ireland Institute and may avail of services through the specialist providers there.
Sport Ireland is working closely with the Olympic Federation of Ireland who will lead Team Ireland at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Sport Ireland is currently reviewing proposals by the Olympic Federation of Ireland to assist with the costs associated with attendance at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in 2022. This will be a matter for the Board of Sport Ireland to consider. It is unlikely that there will be any Irish representation at the Winter Paralympics.
Team Ireland will be also supported on-site at the 2022 Winter Games by the Sport Ireland Institute service providers.
229. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the fee charged to access the Museum of Literature on St. Stephen's Green given that public museums in Ireland are usually free at the point of entry; and if her Department will take the steps needed to ensure this museum can be accessed free of charge. [60249/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not provide operational funding to the Museum of Literature in Ireland. I have no role in relation to the management and operation of this museum.
230. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of large-scale sporting infrastructure funding that has been drawn down in the past five years in respect of Departmental funding sports grant funding which requires 30% matched funding in both total amount per annum and the percentage of the total allocated funding in tabular form. [60345/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. It was a condition of the scheme that all applicants provide a minimum of 30% match funding towards the cost of their project.
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and, thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals. Details of the amounts awarded and the total cost of each project are published at www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/ .
To date a total amount of €156,553 has been drawn down in 2021 in respect of one project, the Regional Athletics Hub in Newcastle West. I expect that there will be further drawdowns before year end in respect of that project and in respect of the redevelopment of Dalymount stadium in Dublin.
The priority in the short term is to advance all of the successful projects but 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 has met with all grantees in this regard and that review process is now nearing completion.
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.
231. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount that has been spent to date on the refurbishment of the National Museum of Ireland; and when the museum will reopen to visitors. [60380/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the National Cultural Institutions Investment Programme under the National Development Plan, a major refurbishment of the Natural History Museum is being carried out. This will address structural, environmental and accessibility issues and provide a fit for purpose set of galleries and ancillary facilities, in line with modern international museum standards..
The Natural History Museum has been closed since 19 September 2020 to enable a partial decant of the building in preparation for works to the roof of the building by the Office of Public Works. Following the completion of the roof works a risk assessment will be carried out to determine the feasibility of reopening the ground floor of the Museum to visitors for a period before the commencement of the major refurbishment work on the building. The overall refurbishment work is due to be completed by the end of 2026.
To date the National Museum of Ireland has spent approx €730,000 on the project.
232. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has met with a group (details supplied); and if she has plans to meet with the group in coming weeks in view of the changing situation regarding public health advice. [60387/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWeddings are an important source of income for some businesses in the tourism sector such as hotels, with whom I meet on a regular basis. The group in question represents a wide range of enterprises involved in weddings such as caterers, florists, hairdressers etc., which do not fall under my tourism remit. Nonetheless, I am pleased to confirm that weddings are not affected by any of the restrictions introduced today, 7 December. This is well understood now by the key tourism representative bodies with which I and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment most recently met on 6 December as we co-chaired the Hospitality and Tourism Forum.
233. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the existing 12 metre rule for solar panels on the roofs of domestic properties without the need for planning permission will be abolished (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60506/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. Project scoping feedback has been received from interested parties through the draft Request for Tender process and has been considered by my Department in the development of the final Request for Tender documentation. My Department intends to publish the call for tender shortly.
Whilst this work is ongoing, my Department has advanced 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. It is anticipated that the formal SEA process will commence, with consultation with the statutory environmental authorities to inform the content of the Environmental Report, following the completion of the screening for Appropriate Assessment by my Department’s Ecological Assessment Unit. The SEA Environmental Report will be published alongside a draft of the interim regulations for a period of public consultation of not less than 4 weeks. This public consultation is expected to commence in December. A copy of the draft interim regulations and the Environmental Report will be made available for inspection over this period. Written submissions or observations will be taken into consideration before finalisation of the draft interim regulations in early 2022.
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 early 2022. 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 in Q2 2022. 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.
234. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the supports available for a couple that have both been married before and lost their homes in their divorces; the schemes that are available to persons in this situation in relation to purchasing and building their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60517/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing for All strategy prioritises an increase in social and affordable homes committing to the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes by 2030. Full details of the strategy can be found at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/.
Pathway 1 of the strategy refers to “Pathways to Home Ownership and Increasing Affordability”. This pathway provides for the establishment of two new affordable purchase schemes, the Cost Rental scheme and the local authority home loan.
Whilst, in general, the affordable purchase schemes and the local authority home-loan will be targeted at First Time Buyers, the strategy confirms that a “Fresh Start” principle will be applied to applications. This means that people who are divorced/separated and no longer have a financial interest in the family home, or who have undergone insolvency proceedings, will be eligible to apply. These individuals would also be eligible to apply for homes made available under Cost Rental subject to the standard criteria being put in place for that scheme.
Specifically in relation to the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme, the Fresh Start principle has already been accommodated under Part 2, Section 10 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021. This scheme will support purchasers in purchasing local authority delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit.
Part 4 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021 provides for the establishment of the First Home scheme, which will act in a similar way to the local authority led scheme, though will apply to homes delivered by private developers. The First Home scheme will be deployed in 2022 and will apply to newly built homes within designated price ceilings.
The Housing for All strategy also introduced the Local Authority Home Loan scheme as a successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. The Local Authority Home Loan will commence early next year and will incorporate an increase in the income ceiling for single applicants, as well as a lower rate of interest. The Local Authority Home Loan is available to individuals buying new or second-hand homes, as well as self-builds.
