Written Answers Nos. 272-293
273. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the grant schemes under which sports clubs can apply for funding for lighting not floodlights to facilitate night and winter training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3404/22]
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. Full details of the Programme and the type of projects funded can be found at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie
While LED floodlighting is specifically referenced in the "Guide to Making an Application", applications for other forms of lighting (including mobile lighting options) can also be submitted and will be considered so long as the other terms and conditions of the Programme are adhered to.
In relation to the latest round of the SCEP, work is at an advanced stage and I expect grants to be announced in the coming weeks. Once these allocations are finalised an announcement on the timing of the next round of the Programme will be made.
274. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will meet with a person (details supplied) from the live entertainment sector informed by her Department that they are not eligible for LPSS2 and LPSS3 and faces huge financial loss due to Covid-19 restrictions on their business. [3433/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have engaged extensively with the producer referred to by the Deputy and have fully explained the eligibility criteria for both LPSS 2 and 3.
An application was submitted on Friday January 20th from this producer under LPSS 2 and my officials will assess this in line with the scheme parameters. This strand of the Live Performance Support Scheme will remain open until January 31st.
275. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her Department’s total capital and current expenditure budget for 2021 and 2022 for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence with a breakdown for each related allocation for both years in tabular form. [3509/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has no function in relation to domestic, sexual or gender based-violence services, or other services of this nature.
Therefore, no funding has been ring-fenced by this Department for the provision of such services in these years.
276. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the new MICA redress scheme will result in any upfront costs for homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2906/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the 30 November 2021. It included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn.
Included as part of this enhanced scheme is a revised application process which will be introduced and will only require the homeowner to submit an initial ‘Building Condition Assessment’ at minimal cost recoupable on entry to the Scheme.
Full details in relation to the changes announced are available at the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e365e-minister-obrien-announces-enhancements-to-the-defective-concrete-block-scheme/.
Work is currently ongoing within my Department to progress the primary legislation required to underpin the enhanced scheme.
277. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the reason that a local authority can grant a transfer from social housing. [2912/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll social housing support recipients can apply for a transfer, including from one form of support to another, for example from HAP to social housing, or from one local authority dwelling to another.
The oversight and practical management of housing lists is a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations, including determining the conditions to be met in relation to transfer applications.
Section 22 of the 2009 Act requires local authorities to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for transfer. While applicants are prioritised in accordance with the relevant allocation scheme, including those applicants seeking a transfer, local authorities also take into account the condition of existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds, etc.
278. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether the HAP agreement between landlords and tenants is fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2970/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. Under HAP, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. The tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord and is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, as amended. HAP supported tenancies are afforded the same protections as all private rented tenancies.
Under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, HAP provides for the payment of rent for a dwelling to a landlord on behalf of a qualified household. The HAP application form comes in two parts, Section A to be completed by the applicant tenant and Section B to be completed by the landlord or agent. An application for HAP will only be accepted by the local authority when both Section A and Section B are completed, signed and returned, along with the required supporting documentation.
279. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current progress being made with the Barrow Blueway; the cost of the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2973/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Barrow Blueway project is a significant initiative which will support communities, and create exciting opportunities for recreation and ways to experience interesting places from new perspectives.
Waterways Ireland obtained planning permission for the Project, a 46 kilometre stretch from Lowtown to Athy, including the canal side works and the roadside works. Work commenced on this project in late summer 2020 with completion expected in late 2022.
Kildare County Council is the Project Manager for the Barrow Blueway Project and is responsible for overall project delivery.
The project objectives are to:
(1) Provide upgraded and new physical infrastructure in accordance with planning permission;
(2) Provision of infrastructure to achieve ‘Accredited Blueway’ status for the route; and
(3) Co-ordinate marketing activity to maximise the potential of the Blueway.
Waterways Ireland is responsible for the delivery of the canal side works with the roadside works being undertaken by Kildare County Council.
To date Waterways Ireland have completed 20.2km of the canal side works; expenditure on the construction of the project to date is €1,490,500.
Project updates are published regularly by Kildare County Council on its website
280. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the board for Waterways Ireland will be fully reinstated. [3034/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWaterways Ireland is a North-South Body under the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999, and as such was established without a Board. The functions of the Agency are exercised by a Chief Executive, under the direction of the North South Ministerial Council.
In 2021, the North South Ministerial Council agreed that officials from the sponsor departments, in consultation with the Joint Secretariat of the NSMC would explore options for the establishment of a Board to oversee the work of Waterways Ireland.
Consideration of this matter is ongoing with a view to bringing proposals to a future meeting of the Council.
282. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the review of the planning system regarding delays to development of housing and critical infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3094/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All sets out a number of objectives with the aim of improving the functioning of the planning system including the comprehensive review and consolidation of planning legislation. The Planning Legislation Review forms one of the actions in Housing for All and is set in the context of the broad policy outlined therein.
It is being led by the Attorney General and he has appointed a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work. Extensive work is underway on the review and my Department is engaging with the Attorney General and the working group on it. The review is due to be finalised by September 2022 to allow updated legislation to be enacted by December 2022.
My Department is also engaging stakeholders with regard to the review and in this regard, has established a Planning Advisory Forum consisting of representatives from a broad range of sectors, including the public sector, business, environmental, social and knowledge based sectors. It will be a key element of the planning review and the first meeting of this group took place on 14 December 2021. The role of this forum, which I chair, is to input to the evolving policy and legal agenda, particularly in relation to the Planning Legislation Review.
283. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes that have been made to SI No. 484 of 2015 - Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 to enable pensioners to purchase their local authority homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3095/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant Purchase Scheme was reviewed in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments in 2021, with amendments to these criteria subsequently approved by Government. The new regulations were published on 11 January 2022 and will come into effect from 1 February 2022.
The scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. Applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports, to be eligible.
The recent changes reduce the minimum reckonable income required from €15,000 to €12,500. This means older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, will be eligible to buy their homes if they have the financial means to do so. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be eligible under the scheme has also been revised, from one to ten years.
284. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that water and electricity services are not provided in public moorings during the winter mooring period; if he will request Waterways Ireland to restore these services for the winter given that many persons now live in their boats all year round due to the housing crisis and rely on these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3101/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWaterways Ireland provides a variety of free public moorings throughout its navigation network, ranging from basic safe harbours to high quality floating moorings fitted with lighting, electricity, pump outs and water supply to cater for the more than 8,500 vessels registered on the Shannon Navigation and Shannon Erne Waterway. These facilitates are maintained during the boating season, which runs from the beginning of March to the end of October each year.
Outside of the boating season Waterways Ireland provides a Winter Mooring Service where boats can avail of moorings for the winter period. No other services are available during the winter period at the Waterways Ireland harbours. Providing and maintaining a permanent electricity and fresh water supply along the length of the Shannon Navigation and Shannon Erne Waterway for a small number of boat owners is unsustainable from a staffing and maintenance perspective. In 2021-2022 a total of 155 boat owners are availing of Winter Moorings on the entire length of the Shannon Navigation and Shannon Erne Waterway from Limerick to Belturbet.
Waterways Ireland has commissioned a feasibility study to investigate the options for sustainable models of on-water living development on the canal network, which will impact on how it develops the waterways going forward to serve a wider range of communities. This study will inform future development plans for the wider navigation network. This will involve thorough engagement and consultation of concerns and solutions of stakeholders. Output from the programme is expected in Q1 2022. The conclusions of the study will lead to new design imperatives and infrastructure development over the next 10 years and beyond, requiring significant investment.
Waterways Ireland has stated that any potential future development of a sustainable on-water living programme will take place in consultation with local communities and be cognisant of the local canal environment.
285. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the engagement by his Department with Limerick City and County Council regarding homes and properties impacted by mic and pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3104/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme was informed by the report of an Expert Panel which was published in 2017 which involved extensive research, investigations and analysis. Any consideration of extension to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grants Scheme would, in the first instance, require the relevant local authority to conduct the same rigorous analysis as that carried out in Donegal and Mayo.
Where an extension of the scheme is being sought by a local authority they must take the lead in demonstrating that the purported issues are in fact due to the presence of excessive amounts of deleterious materials (mica or pyrite) in the aggregate used to manufacture the concrete blocks as set out in the I.S.465 protocol, and secondly to quantify the extent of the problem in the area. This would provide the evidential basis necessary for the consideration of any extension of the scheme and would be of assistance to my Department in its deliberations.
Preliminary discussions have taken place between officials in my Department and Limerick City and County Council on the matter. The Council is currently working on putting together the necessary submission.
An extension of the Scheme to other local authority areas was considered as part of wider deliberations on the Scheme by Government. To that end, on 30 November 2021, I announced significant enhancements to the existing Scheme. Included as part of these improvements, I as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, may, with Government approval, extend the scheme beyond the counties of Donegal and Mayo to additional counties, where the evidence supports such an extension.
287. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that applicants for local authority housing can include a preference for another local authority area while persons who go on the housing assistance payment scheme in one local authority area and can only get a property in an adjacent local authority area and cannot seek to get a transfer to the local authority area in which they are now living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3257/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. Under this procedure, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or the authority that agrees, at its discretion, to assess the household for support. A household, meeting either the residence or local connection condition, may specify up to three areas of choice for receipt of support in the areas of all housing authorities in the county and city concerned and, if qualified, will be entered on the housing waiting list of each of those housing authorities.
Consistent with the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a payment under the HAP scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. However, acknowledging that some households on the waiting list, who avail of HAP, have expectations that they would receive a more traditional form of social housing support, Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list.
Furthermore, local authorities are also directed that HAP recipients who apply to go on the transfer list should get full credit for the time they spent on the waiting list and be placed on the transfer list with no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list.
Guidelines on inter-authority movement were issued to local authorities to facilitate the movement of HAP households from one local authority area to another in cases where a HAP tenant wishes to access rented accommodation, with HAP support, in another local authority area. Inter authority movement is, however, subject to certain conditions, such as the relevant Social Housing Income Eligibility Bands and confirmation that the applicant's income is below the threshold in the new local authority.
In order to maintain equity between all tenants in receipt of social housing support, inter-authority movement for HAP will be facilitated without reference to Social Housing Eligibility Income Bands in areas that offer shared areas of choice in their allocation schemes, as no change to existing treatment is involved in such areas. For example, in Dublin, the four local authority areas currently offer shared areas of choice in their allocation schemes.
However, HAP tenants who avail of inter-authority movement, can only be offered access to the transfer list of the originating local authority.
The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities. The making of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and as such is a matter for the elected members.
288. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a review of the income threshold to qualify for social housing given that low to middle earners are struggling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3263/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland was published in September 2021 and, as part of a broad suite of social housing reforms, committed to reviewing income eligibility for social housing.The review, which examined inter alia the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, was completed in Q4, 2021. I expect to make a decision on proposed changes and recommendations shortly.
289. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allow flexibility for the recoupment of engineer fees to facilitate emergency accommodation for urgent housing needs and other hard cases such as health issues prior to the introduction of the defective concrete block grant scheme and the revised mica redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3297/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the mica legislation will be published; if he will provide an indicative timeframe for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3298/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.
I brought a Memorandum to Government on an enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on 30 November 2021 and it included an unprecedented suite of improvements to the current scheme. Government approved the enhanced scheme which it is estimated will cost approximately €2.2Bn. The comprehensive changes include:
- The current 90% maximum grant will be increased to a 100% grant for all remediation options 1-5.
- The maximum grant cap for option 1 (demolition and rebuild) will be increased from €247,500 to €420,000.
- The grant calculation methodology in respect of option 1 remediation will be based on a cost per square foot with costings to be set by my Department in consultation with the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). An indicative rate of €145 per square foot for the first 1,000 sq foot with a sliding scale thereafter has been announced by my Department and this will be subject to review as required in line with construction cost changes. In the case of remediation options 2-5 a similar but necessarily different approach will be taken to inform the appropriate rate for blockwork removal and replacement following consultation with SCSI.
- A revised application process will be introduced which will only require the homeowner to submit an initial ‘Building Condition Assessment’ at minimal cost recoupable on entry to the Scheme. The Housing Agency will take over testing, sampling and categorisation of homes on behalf of homeowners and local authorities and will thereafter recommend the appropriate remediation option and grant amount for each home.
- Alternative accommodation and storage costs are to be included, subject to a maximum of €20,000.
- €5,000 will be available for essential immediate repair works recommended by a building professional as part of the Building Condition Assessment process.
- In relation to works carried out under remediation options 2-5, a second grant option, will be available for such a home in the future if blockwork which was not removed as part of the initial remediation work subsequently proves defective in accordance with the IS:465 standard.
- A new independent appeals process will be introduced.
- The Scheme will be extended beyond the current scope of Principal Private Residences only, to also cover Residential Tenancies Board registered rental properties, subject to the introduction of a clawback mechanism upon re-sale within a set time period depending on the remediation option used. Opportunities for the State to acquire such rental properties for social housing purposes will also be examined.
Full details in relation to the changes announced are available at the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/e365e-minister-obrien-announces-enhancements-to-the-defective-concrete-block-scheme/
I aim to bring the required primary legislation to give effect to the enhanced scheme before the Oireachtas as soon as possible with Spring 2022 being the indicative target timeline.
In the immediate term I intend making amendments to the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2020 which will allow for the recoupment of Engineer fees to homeowners who have applied for entry into the scheme. Furthermore, as part of these amended regulations, €5,000 will be recoupable as an allowable cost under the scheme for essential immediate repair works which are deemed necessary by a homeowners engineer under a Building Condition Assessment report.
291. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps which remain to be completed in order to finalise the new guidelines for renewable generation at wind farms; when these new guidelines will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61453/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
Guidance on the noise aspect is currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters. Significant work has been undertaken on the noise elements and the two Departments recently met to discuss new developments in this regard including consideration of the impact of the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources and the need to ensure that proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines are fit for purpose. These aspects are currently being considered and further engagement between the Departments is expected imminently. Following this inter-departmental engagement, I will be in a better position to provide an update on the expected publication date of the revised Guidelines, the finalisation of which remains a priority.
It should also be noted that the review and finalisation of the Guidelines has been included as a specific action in the recently published Climate Action Plan.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála, must have regard to guidelines issued under section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. In the meantime, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
292. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the work his Department is carrying out to address water quality issues arising from farming activities across Ireland, particularly in the south-east of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60679/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary 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.
In addition, local authority functions, including enforcement activities, are set out under Part 6 of the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2017. These regulations, which give effect to Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme, are designed to prevent pollution of surface waters and groundwater from agricultural sources and to protect and improve water quality.
My Department works closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on these and on other programmes that will help address issues effecting water quality, such as the River Basin Management Plan and the CAP Strategic Plan.
The current Good Agricultural Practice Regulations run to the 31 March 2022 and a new Nitrates Action Programme will be published in March. A public consultation on the Nitrates Action Programme's Natura Impact Statement and Strategic Environmental Assessment is currently ongoing and the outcomes of this process will inform the final Nitrates Action Programme once all submissions are received (www.gov.ie/en/consultation/72a50-public-consultation-on-the-natura-impact-statement-and-strategic-environmental-assessment-for-irelands-draft-fifth-nitrates-action-programme/). The closing date for this consultation is the 26th January. The Nitrates Action Programme and the associated Regulations apply to all farms.
Improving compliance and enforcement with the Regulations is a key measure in the draft Nitrates Action Programme.
Farmers are provided with detailed information on how to comply with the current regulations and on how to improve farm sustainability more generally. This information comes from local authorities; from the Nitrates Section of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and from Teagasc advisory services as well as through communications from programmes such as the Agricultural Catchments Programme and the Signpost Farms programme.
The current River Basin Management Plan for Ireland also saw the establishment of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) to promote and encourage sustainable farming while meeting stringent water quality requirements. This initiative is an innovative collaboration between Government and industry and is supported by my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and by Dairy Industry Ireland.
The initiative supports a free one-to-one sustainability advisory service to farmers to encourage behavioural change, facilitate knowledge transfer and achieve better on-farm environmental outcomes.
On compliance assurance, inspections are currently conducted by local authorities with assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has responsibility within the regulations for oversight of local authority enforcement functions and for reporting on implementation and compliance with the requirements of the regulations. This is managed through the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement and through the collaborative Network for Ireland’s Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (NIECE network).
293. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the National Coastal Change Management Strategy which was due at the start of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61470/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government established the Inter-Departmental Group on Managing Coastal Change to scope out an approach for the development of a national co-ordinated and integrated strategy to manage the projected impact of coastal change to our coastal communities. The Inter-Departmental Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the OPW and will bring forward options and recommendations for the Government to consider. The Inter-Departmental Group has met on three occasions to date and is also supported by a Technical Working Group.
During 2021, to assist and support the work of the Group, my Department and the OPW also engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with relevant Departments and key stakeholders to discuss the emerging work of the Group and for issues relating to coastal change management to be identified and explored in the context of the particular operations of the participating organisations. The Inter-Departmental Group is due to meet again shortly to further advance the drafting and finalising of its report which will be presented to Government for their consideration.
