Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Written Answers Nos. 164-176

Commemorative Events

Ceisteanna (164)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

164. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason for the delay in announcing the venue for the 2022 State commemoration of the 1845-1850 famine; her views on whether it would be prudent to announce the venue for 2023 at the preceding year's National Famine Commemoration, thus allowing the host town time to work with her Department to prepare a full programme befitting such an important national commemorative event; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21776/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

I am pleased to confirm that arrangements for this year's National Famine Commemoration which will be held at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, County Roscommon on Sunday 15 May. The Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D. will represent the Government at the ceremony. As in previous years, the ceremony will include military honours and a wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of all those who suffered or perished during the Famine, and the ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ News Now. 

Further announcements in relation to the details of the arrangements for the National Famine Commemoration 2023 will be made in due course.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (165)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

165. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total number of applications received in respect of the live performance support scheme strand I and II by county; the total number of applications refused by county; the total number of appeals that were subsequently submitted by county; the total number of appeals that were successful by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22057/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Throughout the pandemic I have been very cognisant of the challenges the restrictions caused for the arts, culture and live entertainment industry and I remain committed to the live entertainment sector as the industry recovers following the lifting of all restrictions in January. 

In 2021 an allocation of €25m was made available for the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 2021).  I was delighted to be in a position to fund 237 successful applications under this scheme, the details of which are available on my Department’s website.  This scheme provided thousands of days of employment to hundreds of actors, musicians, crew and technicians in tandem with a pipeline of high quality on-line much needed entertainment for Irish audiences. The grants awarded helped to support employment and wellbeing opportunities across all genres including theatre, music and circus performance.

As part of a €50m suite of supports for the live entertainment sector for 2022, €5m was allocated for the LPSS- Strand II to support pantomime and seasonal musical theatre impacted by the Covid restrictions in place in December and January. This scheme closed for applications on 31st January with a total of 17 applications submitted. Grants have been offered to 9 applicants through this scheme.

The details requested by the Deputy are included in the table below:

	Applications Submitted		Successful Applications		Appeals Submitted		Decisions Varied
County	LPSS 2021	LPSS Strand II	LPSS 2021	LPSS Strand II	LPSS 2021	LPSS Strand II	LPSS 2021	LPSS Strand II
Carlow	5		2
Cavan	4		2
Clare	13		7
Cork	37	2	25	2	1
Donegal	19	1	14		1
Dublin	156	7	83	5	13	1
Galway	18		10
Kerry	24		12		1
Kildare	10		3
Kilkenny	9		6		1
Laois	5		3
Leitrim	3		2
Limerick	10		5
Longford	2		1
Louth	11	1	8		2	1
Mayo	13	1	9		1
Meath	16	2	11	1	1	1	1
Monaghan	4		1
Offaly	7		3
Roscommon	2	1	2
Sligo	8		4
Tipperary	12		7
Waterford	3		1
Westmeath	8		4		1		1
Wexford	6	1	5
Wicklow	11	1	7	1		1		1

Wind Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (166)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

166. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has made any review on the way the planned wind farms in Gougane Barra, County Cork will impact local tourism in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22171/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

As Fáilte Ireland is the relevant prescribed body under planning legislation, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Tourism Industry

Ceisteanna (167)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

167. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures being taken to alleviate pressure on hotel availability for tourism given that many rooms will be allocated for emergency accommodation this summer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22172/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The immediate emergency and accommodation needs of people arriving in Ireland as a result of the war in Ukraine will continue to be met by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the International Protection Accommodation Services through hotel and guest house accommodation, holiday homes and pledges which includes pledges by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies as well as through use of vacant buildings where minor or no refurbishment is required.

My Department and Fáilte Ireland continue to work with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify longer term options beyond the hotel accommodation sector. Tourism sector accommodation is an important component of Ireland’s response to housing people from Ukraine but it is a short-term, responsive element rather than a long-term solution.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is leading cross government consideration and development of medium and long-term accommodation solutions including a cross-sectoral and cross-departmental Humanitarian Crisis Housing Taskforce. The taskforce has met several times including with the construction and development sectors.

I understand that all local authorities are very actively engaged in supporting the national response to the provision of emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees, with many directly operating emergency accommodation centres and staff being diverted from other activities they carry out on behalf of Government to facilitate this response.

Departmental Staff

Ceisteanna (168)

John Lahart

Ceist:

168. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of secondments from her Department to the university third level sector over the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22260/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

I am advised that there have been no secondments from my Department to the University sector over the past two years.

EU Directives

Ceisteanna (169)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a schedule of fines and totality of the amount paid in respect of fines issued by the EU on her Department for failing to transpose EU directives; if she will include the directive that was not transposed on time; and if she will indicate the directives that are still not fully transposed for the past 25 years to date in 2022. [22335/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

I am advised that my Department has not been issued fines by the EU for failing to transpose EU directives during the period specified by the Deputy.

With regard to those EU Directives falling within the remit of my Department that are overdue for transposition into Irish law, I am advised that work is ongoing to transpose the two directives listed below.  

Directive (EU) 2018/1808 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Directive 2010/13/EU on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) in view of changing market realities was due to be transposed into Irish law by 19 September 2020.  The Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill 2022 will transpose Directive (EU) 2018/1808. The Bill was initiated in the Seanad on 25 January of this year and has completed the Second stage. It is currently at Committee stage in the Seanad. 

Directive (EU) 2019/789 laying down rules on the exercise of copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions of broadcasting organisations and retransmissions of television and radio programmes, and amending Council Directive 93/83/EEC.  This was due to be transposed into Irish law by 7 June 2021.  This Directive will be transposed by Statutory Instrument and my Department is working with Office of Attorney General (OPC) to draft appropriate regulations to ensure transposition at the earliest opportunity.

No fines have been issued in respect of either of these directives.

Tourism Industry

Ceisteanna (170)

Imelda Munster

Ceist:

170. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to provide support and stimulus to the tourism industry in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22337/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

In Budget 2022 the Government allocated €67.6 million in additional funding for tourism, thereby bringing the overall tourism services budget to €288 million. The funding allocated to the tourism agencies in 2022 includes €50 million for further business continuity support for strategic tourism businesses and a €35 million increase in the Tourism Marketing Fund as well as €36.5 million in capital funding for tourism product development.

This funding will enable the tourism agencies to assist in the recovery of the sector as we reopen to international tourism and transition to a more sustainable future. 

I have asked the tourism agencies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, to provide the Deputy with further details of their plans for 2022.   Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (171)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

171. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if funding can be made available for a club (details supplied) to replace its diesel engine powered golf buggies with electric golf buggies considering the environmental and air quality benefits of such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22349/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Deputy Jack Chambers)

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.1 billion.   The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The 2020 round of the Programme closed for applications on 1 March 2021.  By this date, 3,106 applications were submitted seeking over €200 million in funding.  This is the highest number of applications ever received.   

Approximately one thousand of the submitted applications were for 'equipment-only' projects. These applications were assessed first and grants with a total value of €16.6 million were announced on 6 August 2021. The remaining capital applications were then assessed and 1,865 individual grant offers with a total value of over €143.8 million were announced on Friday 11 February 2022. 

Currently my Department is finalising the assessment of appeals from unsuccessful applicants. The deadline for submission of appeals was Monday 4th  April, 2022. Of the record €150 million made available for capital projects, €6 million has been kept in reserve for any successful appeals. 

When the appeal process is complete, a full review of the 2020 round of the SCEP will be undertaken and recommendations arising, including any changes to the type of projects which should be eligible for funding,  will be reflected in the terms and conditions of the next round.  The precise timing of this next round of the Programme will be announced once this review is complete.

Antisocial Behaviour

Ceisteanna (172)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

172. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are currently any Memos of Understanding in respect of housing agreed between local authorities and An Garda Síochána that allows both agencies to work collaboratively to collate information on anti-social housing issues in order for local authorities to manage their stock appropriately to ensure anti-social behaviour within estates is targeted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22216/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Local authorities are responsible under the Housing Acts for managing and maintaining their housing stock and managing their estates, including taking appropriate measures to counter anti-social behaviour. Accordingly, collaborative working arrangements with An Garda Síochána on matters relating to anti-social behaviour by social housing tenants, including Memoranda of Understanding, are generally a matter for local authorities and my Department has no role in this regard.

That said, there is ongoing engagement between An Garda Síochána and local authorities. An Garda Síochána works collaboratively with local authorities through the Joint Policing Committees, while Community Gardaí also liaise with the relevant local authority staff, including Housing Tenant Liaison Officers, on such matters.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (173)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

173. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the applications for the collapsing graveyard wall at Darver and for ongoing conservation work on Drogheda’s town wall at Featherbed Lane were unsuccessful through the Community Monuments Funds 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21672/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Malcolm Noonan)

The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. It contains a number of different measures aimed at enabling conservation works to be carried out on archaeological monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support, encouraging access to archaeological monuments and improving their presentation and also building resilience in archaeological monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.

The Community Monuments Fund invests essential capital in our valuable archaeological heritage and helps owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.

My Department received 203 applications under the Community Monuments Fund for 2022 and all of these were assessed on their merits. I'm delighted to confirm that 128 awards were granted to a value of just under €6m.

Three of the Louth County Council applications were successful this year, Glaspistol Castle, Cill Mhuire and the Drogheda Town Wall, indeed, Glaspistol Castle received the maximum award of €100,000. Officials in my Department are available to give feedback to unsuccessful applicants in order that they may submit an improved application for next year's scheme. I hope to announce details of this scheme later this year.

Water Services

Ceisteanna (174)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

174. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of a group water scheme (details supplied); if assistance or advice will be provided on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21697/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In 2019, my Department’s Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021 allocated €350,000 to the group water scheme referred to in the details supplied for water treatment improvements. I understand that the local authority have sought an increase of this funding. There has been ongoing correspondence between the local authority and my Department on this matter. Further information has being requested from the local authority and is awaited.

Each local authority (in this case Cavan County Council) has appointed a Rural Water Liaison Officer (RWLO) to facilitate the flow of information between the group water sector and the local authority. The RWLO deals with the day to day issues in the implementation of the devolved Rural Water Programme and can be contacted at the council offices.

Construction Industry

Ceisteanna (175)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

175. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if steps are being taken to adopt modular building material methods with off-site manufacture of modules in order to speed up the construction time of needed housing. [21698/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Comprehensive steps are being taken towards modular construction methods as part of my Department's cross-cutting strategy to improve productivity in construction and thereby accelerate delivery of housing.

Housing for All commits that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, supported by my Department, will promote a culture of innovation in residential construction. This will be achieved through measures including , the development of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence Demonstration Park for MMC and development of design for manufacture guidance for industry.

Housing for All also provides that Government will enhance the intended role of the new Construction Technology Centre (CTC), which is under development by Enterprise Ireland, beyond the standard remit of Technology Centres in general for its first three years of operation in order to prioritise residential construction, in particular by incorporating:

- structures and funding to enable innovation in residential construction prior to the National Standards Authority of Ireland

- a proactive role in strengthening the residential construction value chain;

- promotion, development and support for innovation / MMCs using digital and manufacturing technology;

- support for Small Medium Enterprises to develop scale and to adopt MMCs and Building Information Modelling techniques for residential construction; and

- support for digitisation in the manufacturing sector for residential construction e.g. digitally controlled manufacturing equipment.

On conclusion of the International and National Technical Review process, a preferred bidder for the CTC has been identified. Enterprise Ireland are now developing contracts with this entity with an expectation that these contracts will be signed in Summer 2022.

In addition Housing for All commits that the State will continue to increase funding for residential construction related innovation and productivity. It will work with industry to strengthen the residential construction supply chain and to introduce MMC.

Housing Policy

Ceisteanna (176)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

176. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if her Department is considering delimiting the right to private property in response to the accommodation crisis generated by the influx of unprecedented numbers of Ukrainian refugees; if remarks attributed to her in several media sources (details supplied) that the Government would avoid if possible forcing persons or businesses to give up property or to open their homes to Ukrainian refugees accurately reflects her position or that of Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21737/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is responsible for meeting the immediate and short-term accommodation needs of persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. As part of a whole-of-government response, DCEDIY, in close cooperation with local government, is securing accommodation for arrivals through:

- hotels, guest houses and B&Bs;

- accommodation pledged by the general public, which is being assessed for suitability;

- State-owned or private properties, which may be suitable for short-term accommodation;

- religious properties; and

- local authority community facilities.

In the meantime, a coordinated, whole-of-Government effort is being marshalled to consider and develop options to meet the medium and longer-term accommodation challenges for displaced Ukrainians. A cross-sectoral Humanitarian Crisis Housing Taskforce, chaired by my Department, has been established by Government for this purpose.

Neither my Department nor the taskforce is considering proposals, as part of this work, to force persons or businesses to give up property or to force persons to open their homes to Ukrainian refugees.