Written Answers Nos. 195-209
195. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the scheme reported in January 2022 to provide a grant of €20,000 to €30,000 to those renovating derelict or long-term vacant properties to live in. [24013/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All (published in September 2021) provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.
The suite of measures under the pathway to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock includes the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund which will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of serviced sites for housing, to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages, in a sustainable way.
Work in relation to the operation of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is at an advanced stage, including determining the scope and appropriate timeframes, and it will be launched shortly.
196. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all members of An Board Pleanála and the relevant subsection of section 106(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 that is, sub-section a, b, c, d or e, under which each was appointed under in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24014/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe appointment of Board members to An Bord Pleanála is governed by section 106 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), and Part 7 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. It provides that appointments to the Board by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage are generally made from candidates nominated by panels of prescribed bodies.
The information sought by the Deputy regarding the relevant sub-section of the Act under which the current members of the Board of An Bord Pleanála were appointed is set out in the following table:
|
NAME |
RELEVANT SECTION OF ACT |
|
Mr. David Walsh (Chairperson) |
Appointed by the Government under Section 105 |
|
Mr. Paul Hyde (Deputy Chairperson) |
106(1)(d) |
|
Mr John Connolly |
106(1)(b) |
|
Mr Chris McGarry |
106(1)(a) |
|
Ms. Michelle Fagan |
106(1)(b) |
|
Mr. Stephen Bohan |
106(1)(b) - Additional Board member appointed under Section 104(2) of the Act from Panel B nominations |
|
Ms. Patricia Calleary |
106(1)(c) |
|
Mr Terry O'Niadh |
106(1)(c) |
|
Dr. Maria Fitzgerald |
106(1)(d) |
197. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on his recent visit to the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23595/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI travelled to the United States from 27 - 29 April for a series of engagements in Washington, D.C. and Boston. Over the course of the two-day programme, I met with senior officials from President Biden's Administration, engaged with a number of foreign policy organisations, and met representatives from the Irish American community.
In Washington D.C., I participated in a public discussion at the German Marshall Fund on Ireland’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as Ireland’s unique position within the EU-US transatlantic relationship. I underscored the need for strong international cooperation in support of the international rules based order, now more than ever.
My engagements with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez, and Senator Pat Toomey, were valuable opportunities to discuss priority issues, particularly in relation to Northern Ireland, Brexit, immigration, and foreign policy issues such as Ukraine, the JCPOA, and the humanitarian situation in Syria.
On Northern Ireland, it was clear to me in my discussions that this remains a priority on a bipartisan basis across the political system in the US. The US will continue to play a vital role in supporting peace, stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland. The role of the US Special Envoy to NI has been greatly valued by the Irish government over many years, and the appointment of a new Envoy was something I emphasised in my exchanges. We will continue to ensure that the Irish perspective is understood through continued high-level contact, as well as through the ongoing engagement by our Embassy in Washington DC.
I was also pleased to visit Boston, a city with a large and historic Irish-American population, where there is great interest in Ireland and the Irish perspective. I participated in a number of engagements including at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Harvard University, and Boston College, where I discussed developments in Northern Ireland, Ukraine, and the EU-US relationship.
I also met with leaders of local Irish community organisations, who briefed me on their critical support to the Irish community in Boston during the pandemic. My meetings with Governor Charlie Baker and members of the Massachusetts State House were a great opportunity to reaffirm Ireland’s strong historic, political and economic links with the State of Massachusetts and to explore how we might further strengthen these links.
198. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a decision will be made regarding citizenship for a person (details supplied); if the matter will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23887/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow approximately 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of FBR staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.
The application referenced was registered on 26 May 2021 and is being stored in a secure environment. Given the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, this application will be reviewed by the Passport Service in the coming days.
FBR staff continue to provide an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly. For other applications, the FBR service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt.
My Department is fully committed to the continued allocation of additional resources over the coming period to assist with the processing of the Foreign Birth Registration applications currently on hand and the high volume of new applications anticipated this year.
199. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will provide an update on same. [23890/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the passport application for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [23969/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport renewal for a person (details supplied) will be completed considering that the passport is required for work-related travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23979/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport for a child (details supplied) will be dispatched considering that it was received by the Passport Office on 16 March 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24050/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 201, inclusive, and 213 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants.
202. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if passport applications by persons (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23993/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra203. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue on time for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in order to allow them to travel in view of the fact that this application is with the passport office since 10 March 2022. [23994/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will be dispatched to a minor (details supplied) considering that the application was lodged on 27 February 2022 and this family have imminent travel plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24001/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24010/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra206. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24011/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24012/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 207, inclusive, together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.
208. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the policy of his Department in relation to Garda stations that are not contactable by phone in relation to witness signatures for passports; if his attention has been drawn to this issue; his views on whether training is needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24022/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. These applications include:
- All Passport Express applications - Section 9 Certificate of Identity
- First time adult online applications - Identity Verification Form
- First time child online applications - Child Passport Identity and Consent Form (Guardian A)
The witnessing of these forms is a vital element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person presenting to submit the passport application form.
In the case of an application for a minor the witnessing of this form provides evidence that guardians give consent for a passport to be issued to the child. In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and also the rights of parents or guardians and children, it is important that forms are correctly completed and verified by the Passport Service by calling the Garda station to confirm the Garda's signature.
It is stated in a note to the witness on the identity and consent forms that they may be contacted to confirm the validity of their signature. It is the responsibility of the witnessing Garda to ensure that the signature is correctly recorded in the logbook, so that when the Passport Service calls at a later date the signature can be verified.
There are a small number of cases where the Passport Service has difficulty contacting a Garda station in order to verify the Garda's signature. Whilst the Passport Service makes every effort to contact the Garda station in these cases, unfortunately, the passport application may be delayed. In some cases, the applicant may be requested to submit a new witnessed form where the Passport Service has been unable to contact the Garda station. The Passport Service will only request a new witness form after multiple attempts have been made to contact the Garda station.
A new document management system that was put in place at the beginning of March is ensuring that these applications which require further documents are being turned around within 15 working days of receipt of the additional documents.
It is not the experience of the Passport Service that failure to contact Garda stations to verify witnesses is a widespread issue.
The Passport Service is continuously looking at ways to make the application process easier for applicants and advises during the online application process to make sure that the identity and consent form is correctly witnessed once they have completed the online process.
The Passport Service provides instructions on how to correctly complete these forms on the Department's website (www.dfa.ie/passports/how-to-get-your-application-witnessed/).
The Passport Service is also working on public education materials, including video tutorials, with a view to assisting applicants to complete their application correctly.
In addition to this, the Passport Service maintains a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána and regularly offers training and guidance to Gardaí on the correct completion of the required identity and consent forms.
The Passport Service published a full-page informational advertisement in the April and May editions of An Garda Síochána’s magazine, the Garda Review, to assist Gardaí with the process of witnessing passport identity and consent forms. This advertisement includes the information that Passport Service will ring the Garda station to verify all first time passport applicants’ consent form details.
The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 5th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 187 countries.
There are no plans at present to amend the process for the witnessing of identity and consent forms by An Garda Síochána.
209. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of first-time passport applications currently being processed. [24023/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of first-time passport applications that are incomplete, requiring further action from the applicant. [24024/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of incomplete passport applications that require further action from the applicant that are as a result of witnesses being uncontactable. [24025/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 211, inclusive, together.
There are currently 88,000 first time online passport applications in the Passport Service system. Of these, 39,000 (44%) are incomplete passport applications which require further action from the applicant. Figures show that consistently 40% of applications in the Passport Service system are incomplete.
It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of incomplete passport applications that require further action from the applicant as a result of the witness being uncontactable as the Passport Service does not maintain such records. In these circumstances, the Passport Service makes every effort to contact the witness, and will only request a new identity or consent form following multiple attempts to reach the witness.
