Thursday, 9 Dec 2021

Written Answers Nos. 215-234

Local Authorities

Ceisteanna (215, 221)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

215. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the process by which 200 new posts for local authority housing delivery teams were chosen; if councils were consulted in the process of the allocations; if so, the way in which they were chosen; if the allocations are representative of the number of persons on respective waiting lists; if they are representative of the average waiting time in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60890/21]

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

221. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of the 200 new staff posts for council housing departments announced on 3 December 2021 that are to fill existing vacancies following retirements or illness; and the number that are additional posts above the current level of staffing in the relevant housing departments. [60996/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 221 together.

The Housing for All strategy is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. Under Housing for All, 47,600 new build social homes will be delivered in the period 2022-2026. In September, I issued individual targets for social housing delivery to each local authority for this period.

As part of the measures to support institutional capacity, Housing for All commits to strengthen the capacity of local authorities to initiate, design, plan, develop and manage housing projects and recognises that this requires the resourcing of the housing services of local authorities. My Department has been working with the Housing Delivery Coordination Office (HDCO) and the County and City Management Association to identify the additional staffing resources required to deliver the social housing targets set out in Housing for All. As part of this process, the HDCO has undertaken a detailed analysis with each local authority to assess its existing housing delivery capacity and to identify any additional staffing requirements, having regard to the level of social housing to be delivered in that local authority.

The posts I have approved are all additional posts, which will provide a significant increase in the capacity of local authority housing teams.

State Bodies

Ceisteanna (216)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Irish Water continues to meet its obligations under the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 given the fact that the dedicated team dealing with public representatives varyingly require permissions from the entity on whose behalf the inquiry is being made pursuant to GDPR legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60892/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels under Section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 and one in which I, as Minister, has no function.

Irish Water is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as the independent economic regulator and the Environmental Protection Agency as the independent environmental regulator.

While Irish Water is independent in the performance of its functions, my Department will enquire from Irish Water if there are issues in relation to the obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation and the service which it provides to public representatives. I will revert further to the Deputy on the matter.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

As you are aware, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local level since 1 January 2014, under Section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, and one in which I, as Minister, have no function. Irish Water is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities as the independent economic regulator and the Environmental Protection Agency as the independent environmental regulator.

While Irish Water is independent in the performance of its functions, my Department has made enquiries with Irish Water regarding them meeting their obligations under the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 with respect to enquiries from public representatives, and, in particular, whether issues are arising in relation to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation.

In their response, Irish Water has confirmed that it provides a dedicated service to all elected representatives. This is a non-statutory service over and above any statutory requirements as set out in the Water Services Acts 2007-2017. It is understood that all interactions with elected representatives are conducted in accordance with the “Guidelines on the Processing of Personal Data by Elected Representatives Under Section 40 of the Data Protection Act 2018 ” as published by the Data Protection Commission. Irish Water has outlined that in limited instances, there may be reasons other than data protection/GDPR where Irish Water is unable to provide information to an elected representative, for example, this may occur where there is a contractual relationship between Irish Water and a third party.

Irish Water remains available to any Deputies who have any queries on specific issues in relation to water services. In this regard, Irish Water has a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at [e-mail] or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

Hare Coursing

Ceisteanna (217)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

217. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the investigation into the circumstances that led to the immediate cancellation of the Loughrea coursing meeting on 15, 16 and 17 October 2021 has been concluded; and if not, when it is expected to be concluded. [60898/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The investigation is still ongoing; I anticipate that it will be concluded in the coming weeks.

Hare Coursing

Ceisteanna (218)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

218. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a hare coursing meeting was called off in County Cavan the day before it was scheduled to go ahead on 12, 13 and 14 November 2021. [60899/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

I understand that the coursing meeting due to take place in County Cavan was called off by the club as they did not have enough hares available to run the meeting.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (219)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

219. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on electricity costs in tabular form; and if he will provide an additional schedule that sets out all energy costs associated with their ICT hardware, that is, servers and so on in tabular form. [60941/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Expenditure on electricity costs for my Department are outlined in the following table:

Year	Electricity costs
2017	€246,719
2018	€257,974
2019	€254,185
2020	€749,576
2021 to date	€718,112

It should be noted that the Heritage function transferred into my Department in September 2020. This transfer of functions added over 40 locations to my Department’s portfolio and the figures for 2020 include the full year’s electricity costs for all Departmental locations, including those related to Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

It is not possible to provide a schedule or breakdown of energy costs solely associated with my Department's ICT systems.

Housing Schemes

Ceisteanna (220)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

220. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of all housing development project applications for Longford County Council. [60968/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on social housing delivery for each local authority on a quarterly basis. The statistics are available to the end of Quarter 3 and are published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/

In addition to the statistical overview of activity in each local authority, a detailed Social Housing Construction Status Report is published each quarter which provides scheme level detail on new build activity. The most recent publication covers the period up to the end of Quarter 3 2021 and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/feea9-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q3-2021/. The CSR provides details of the individual projects that make up the new Build programme for each local authority.

Question No. 221 answered with Question No. 215.

Traveller Accommodation

Ceisteanna (222)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

222. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issues of lack of water and adequate sanitation at a site (details supplied); the steps his Department will take to ensure that the budget allocated to Traveller accommodation in the area will be utilised to resolve this health and safety matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61000/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.

My officials understand from Mayo County Council that the site in question is unauthorised and that the Council has been engaging with the families in offers of accommodation over the years. The Council will continue to work with the families to meet their housing needs.

Commercial Rates

Ceisteanna (223)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

223. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total payments made to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council under the commercial rates waiver scheme in 2020 and 2021; the projected payment for the first quarter of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61014/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

In order to support ratepayers, and in recognition of the impacts of COVID 19 and the associated public health restrictions, the Government put in place a commercial rates waiver in 2020 and recouped €729m to local authorities in respect of its cost. This meant that for eligible businesses their commercial rates were funded by Government for nine months of 2020. Payments to the 31 local authorities in respect of the 2020 waiver were completed in early 2021. Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council received totals of €5,968,334.74 and €6,137,861.96 respectively.

€480m was allocated by Government to fund the cost of a nine month waiver for Q1 to Q3 this year. It applied to businesses most seriously affected by the restrictions. Automatic eligibility was extended to hospitality including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as hairdressers and barbers, and various other sectors. Categories of commercial property, such as offices, industrial premises, and banks that were not automatically eligible could qualify if they could provide proof of serious impact to their local authority. Payments to the 31 local authorities in respect of the Q1-Q3 2021 waiver are due to issue to local authorities shortly. Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council are due to receive totals of €3,494,232.81 and €3,331,203.26 respectively.

The Government, in Budget 2022, announced a more targeted commercial rates waiver for Q4 2021 to cover the hospitality and tourism sectors and €62.3m has been allocated by Government for this purpose. Details of the funding to be recouped to local authorities for the Q4 waiver will be available in the new year, once all local authorities have completed returns.

On 3 December I announced, with my colleague, Minister of State Peter Burke TD, an extension for the first three months of 2022, of the current targeted waiver covering the hospitality and tourism sectors. Details of the funding to be recouped to local authorities for the Q1 waiver will be available in 2022.

Student Accommodation

Ceisteanna (224)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

224. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if sufficient consideration is being given to housing policy as it relates to student accommodation across all locations in which there is a university, technological university or other such higher educational institution in view of the Housing for All strategy. [61030/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

Section 3.6.3 of Housing for All (Facilitate Lending for Social and Affordable Housing) foresees the Housing Finance Agency's (HFA) role being expanded to enhance the supply of student accommodation by allowing them to lend to Technological Universities (TUs). A commitment is made to legislate for this and the relevant Action Point in Housing for All is 18.10 with delivery expected Quarter 2 2022.

My Department has reviewed the legislation currently in place regarding The Housing Finance Agency Act 1981 (as amended) and is satisfied that it is robust enough to allow any such lending to take place without any further legislative changes. This is because "Institutes of Higher Education" are as defined by the Higher Education Authority Act 1971. The 2018 Technological Universities Act amended the 1971 Act to include TUs in this definition. As such, the current text of the 1981 Act will allow HFA loans to be advanced to TUs once of course they have gone through the appropriate application procedures etc.

Facilitating lending in this way will make a positive contribution to supporting the development of Purpose Built Student Accommodation by TUs.

Furthermore, I am committed to working collaboratively with my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to improve student accommodation provision through a dedicated working group set up for that purpose.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (225)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

225. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 304 of 22 June 2021 and 440 of 19 October 2021, the reason such a tenant cannot purchase a rural local authority house when they do not require a loan from the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61101/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme.

To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year. A tenant's reckonable income is determined by the relevant local authority in accordance with sections 24(3) and (4) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and any directions issued by the Minister thereunder. In determining a tenants income, local authorities can include incomes from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments (including pensions) where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.

Financing the purchase of houses under the scheme is generally a matter for tenants and is a not linked to eligibility. Typically, the purchase may be financed from one, or a combination, of (a) their own resources, (b) a mortgage provided by a financial institution or (c) a local authority house purchase loan.

Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, commits to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their homes, albeit with some changes to eligibility. The commitments in Housing for All are being examined as part of the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to finalise changes to the scheme before the end of the year.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (226)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

226. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on electricity costs in tabular form; and if he will provide an additional schedule that sets out all energy costs associated with their ICT hardware, that is, servers and so on in tabular form. [60938/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Details of expenditure by the Department of Foreign Affairs on energy in each of the years 2016-2020 and to date in 2021 are set out in the following table. A breakdown by energy category or consumption category is not maintained by the Department.

Year	€
2016	1,783,446
2017	1,681,609
2018	1,775,801
2019	1,815,369
2020	1,786,669
2021 to date	1,624,480
Total:	10,467,374

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (227)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

227. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm the arrival of an aircraft (details supplied). [60966/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

My Department holds no record of a request for diplomatic clearance in respect of the aircraft registration number and date in question.

Passport Services

Ceisteanna (228)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

228. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and when the passport will be issued. [61076/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application has been approved and a passport is being issued by the Passport Service.

Northern Ireland

Ceisteanna (229)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

229. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference with particular reference to legacy issues and the need to implement in full the Stormont House Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61100/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs

It has been the consistent position of the Government that the Stormont House Agreement provides a balanced and comprehensive framework to address the legacy of the Troubles.

We remain ready to engage with concerns or issues to do with the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement but any such changes must be discussed and agreed by the parties and both Governments. It is vital that any approach is collective if it is to work, and crucially, that it meets both the needs of victims and our shared international human rights obligations.

I have taken every opportunity in our regular engagements with the British Government, including at the recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) on 2 December, to set out this position.

We have cautioned the British Government strongly against any unilateral action on this most sensitive of issues and I did so again at this BIIGC meeting.

As agreed at the BIIGC on 24 June, the Government joined the British Government and the Northern Irish parties in a process of engagement of these issues, with discussions beginning in July. The intention has been to find an agreed way forward that will allow implementing legislation to be introduced in both the UK and Ireland.

As we have consistently stated, a statute of limitations as proposed by the UK Government in their Command Paper is not something the Government can support. It is important to say that there has been a clear message from victims groups throughout this process that this cannot be the way forward.

At the last BIIGC, which took place on 2 December, I also raised our concerns in relation to specific individual legacy cases, including the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.

The position of the Government is guided by the All-Party Dáil motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings that was adopted by the Dáil on 25 May 2016, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, which calls on the British Government to allow access by an independent, international judicial figure to all original documents relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, as well as the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, the bombing of Kay’s Tavern in Dundalk and the murder of Seamus Ludlow. The Programme for Government reiterates Ireland’s commitment to engaging with the British Government on this issue as matter of priority, in accordance with the All-Party Dáil motions.

The Government will continue to engage with the British Government on this request, at senior political level and in official level engagement by my Department, to pursue all possible avenues to achieve progress on this issue until a resolution is found.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (230)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

230. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on electricity costs in tabular form; and if he will provide an additional schedule that sets out all energy costs associated with their ICT hardware, that is, servers and so on in tabular form. [60933/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The table below sets out the amounts spent by the Department of Defence over the past five years on electricity costs in relation to its buildings at Newbridge, Roscrea, Renmore and Dublin. The figures provided reflect the apportionment of costs arising from shared usage of buildings in Renmore and Dublin with other Departments.

Year	Electricity
2017	€160,557.68
2018	€152,263.24
2019	€152,079.58
2020	€158,182.62
2021 (YTD)	€138,554.98

However, the Department is not in a position to provide the information requested in relation to an additional schedule that sets out all energy costs associated with our ITC hardware, that is, servers and so on in tabular form.

Each of the Department’s existing buildings has a single MPRN ESB network meter, which accounts for all energy consumption used throughout each building. There is no separate itemisation of IT systems available within the costs incurred for electricity. Therefore, costs includes all forms of electric usage (i.e. printers, IT systems, lighting, etc.).

Defence Forces

Ceisteanna (231)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

231. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence the annual Army bill to the State for protecting the US military at Shannon Airport in each of the years 2010 to 2020, in tabular form. [60965/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.

I am satisfied that there is ongoing and close liaison between both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, and between my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality regarding security matters generally, including the Defence Forces ATCP roles.

The cost of the presence of Defence Forces performing ATCP duties at Shannon airport for the years 2010 to 2018 are set out in the table below.

These costs incurred relate to security duty allowance paid to members of the Defence Forces, rations and fuel. The cost of ATCP operations is met entirely from the Defence Vote.

The costs associated with ATCP duties at Shannon for 2019 and 2020 are currently being collated. The Security Duty Allowance increased in July 2019 and October 2020 and therefore it is not possible to collate the required information for 2019 and 2020 within the time available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.

Year	ATCP costs Shannon Airport
2010	203,366
2011	259,739
2012	275,008
2013	196,769
2014	180,913
2015	180,814
2016	181,699
2017	180,580
2018	180,533

Air Corps

Ceisteanna (232)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

232. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the date of the most recent air quality test carried out within the Air Corps main technical stores, Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel and adjoining office complex; and if he will provide the results of this test. [61024/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. My Department has requested a report from the military authorities on the matter. I will arrange to have the requested information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Defence Forces

Ceisteanna (233, 234)

John Brady

Ceist:

233. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61078/21]

John Brady

Ceist:

234. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the maximum and the current strength levels of the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61079/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.

The table below provides a breakdown, by Branch, of the whole time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 31st October 2021 which is the latest date for which such data is available, along with those of the agreed establishment.

Branch	Establishment	Strength
Army	7,520	6,946
Air Corps	886	748
Naval Service	1,094	878
Total	9,500	8,572

The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed establishment of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015).

I have previously acknowledged the current staffing issues within the Defence Forces, particularly within the Naval Service. A range of actions have been taken to address these issues which includes the 15 projects undertaken to facilitate the implementation of the PSPC Report on Recruitment and Retention. Most of these projects have been completed with others being considered in the context of wider public sector pay arrangements.

Other measures undertaken, aimed at retaining capacity, include two Commitment Schemes, one in the Air Corps which has had a stabilising effect on pilot numbers and one in the Naval Service to incentivise sea going duties. In addition, a sea-going naval personnel tax credit of €1,270, introduced in 2020, was extended for the current tax year and increased to €1,500, and will be further extended into 2022.

Concurrent recruitment initiatives have been, and continue to be, undertaken which complement the above retention measures in countering current staffing challenges. Recruitment in 2021 has resulted in 577 inductions as at 15th November which includes 78 inductions into the Naval Service.

Additionally, the independent Commission on the Defence Forces is examining a range of recruitment and retention matters and I look forward to receiving their recommendations, which will be considered and implemented as appropriate.

My focus remains on retaining/restoring all branches of the Defence Forces at their full capacity, but there is no quick fix to the current challenges. In that context, I would reiterate that there has been significant work undertaken to date, and such work continues, but it will take time to see the full effect of the measures introduced.

Question No. 234 answered with Question No. 233.