Written Answers Nos. 447-467
447. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the breakdown of spending in her Department in the Revised Estimates for 2022; the breakdown of A.5. tourism marketing fund; and the amount of funding under that heading that goes to Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, respectively. [29458/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary objective of the Tourism Marketing Fund (TMF) is to increase overseas tourism revenue by attracting a greater number of overseas visitors to Ireland. Irish tourism is primarily marketed overseas on an island of Ireland basis and the majority of the TMF goes towards Tourism Ireland’s core funding for all-island overseas marketing activity.
A proportion of the fund is allocated for the development of product and regional marketing specific to the State, delivered jointly by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
A total of €81.823 million has been allocated to the TMF under the A.5 Subhead in 2022.
Tourism Ireland’s total TMF allocation is €73.479 million. This total includes €66.562 million for Tourism Ireland’s core overseas marketing activity, of which €7.04 million is a Capital Expenditure allocation. The remaining €6.917 million is for marketing activity specific to the State.
Fáilte Ireland’s total TMF allocation in 2022 is €8.344 million and will be used to deliver product and regional marketing within the State.
448. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 24 May 2022, the details of the heading or headings under which the entirety of the €91,782,000 allocation to Tourism Ireland falls. [29459/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTourism Ireland’s 2022 funding allocation of €91.782 million from my Department is provided under two subheads of the Tourism Services programme in the annual Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services, namely:
- Subhead A.4 - Administration and General Expenses
- Subhead A.5 - Tourism Marketing Fund
A total of €18.303 million has been allocated under Subhead A.4 and this allocation of is made up of an Exchequer Pay provision of €11.946 million, a Pension allocation of €0.566 million and a Non-Pay allocation of €5.791 million.
A total of €73.479 million has been allocated under Subhead A.5. This total includes €66.562 million for Tourism Ireland’s core overseas marketing activity, of which €7.04 million is a Capital Expenditure allocation. The remaining €6.917 million is for delivery of specific marketing activity within the State.
449. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the bursary scheme for community and local radio stations will be introduced in the near future; if she will provide details of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29507/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 will, inter alia, dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, establish a new regulatory body, Coimisiún na Meán, and provide for an updated regulatory framework for broadcasting and audiovisual on-demand media services and for a new regulatory framework for online safety to be overseen by An Coimisiún.
Section 50 of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 (as initiated), amends the Broadcasting Act 2009 by inserting a new section 155A into that Act. Pursuant to this section, Coimisiún na Meán shall prepare and submit to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for their approval a scheme or schemes to make grants to community sound broadcasters for the purposes of supporting and promoting good professional journalistic practices and standards in community sound broadcasting.
The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 completed Committee Stage in the Seanad on 31 May 2022, with Report Stage to be scheduled in due course. It is my intention that section 50 of the Bill will be commenced in due course following the enactment of the Bill.
The commencement of section 50 of the Bill following enactment will provide the legal basis for An Coimisiún to prepare and submit a scheme or schemes for Ministerial approval and to make and carry out any approved schemes. Under the Bill, any scheme made by An Coimisiún is required to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, where it will be subject to a negative resolution procedure.
450. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of funding that an organisation (details supplied) has received from the Exchequer in each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29508/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I allocate funding to Fís Éireann\Screen Ireland, the development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry.
The allocation for 2020 was €31.416m.
The allocation for 2021 was €30.093m.
The allocation for 2022 is €36.743m.
451. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the allocation that her Department made for outdoor dining in 2022. [29514/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development. The implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as other bodies.
The 2021 Fáilte Ireland Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme was developed as part of the agency's "Opening the Outdoors" strategic pillar which sought to capitalise our outdoor assets and re-imagine our urban spaces. There are no plans for such a scheme in 2022.
452. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that a club (details supplied) in County Wexford was unsuccessful in its appeal to the sports capital grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29631/22]
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 €1.11 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.
The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted.
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.
Unsuccessful applicants were able to appeal the Department's decision. The deadline for submission of capital appeals was Monday 4 April and 146 appeals were received. The assessment of all appeals is complete and the consequent allocations amounting to €6.14 million were announced on Tuesday 31 May. Of the appeals submitted, a small proportion were unsuccessful, including the organisation referenced by the Deputy. The club in question has already been advised that its appeal was unsuccessful due to failure to demonstrate registered title in the required format under the terms and conditions of the Programme. The organisation was given several opportunities to provide the required Appendix, including under the second-chance facility and the appeals process.
453. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a breakdown of the number of television licences paid by households and businesses; and the number of television licences paid by the Department of Social Protection household benefits package. [30055/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra454. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of revenue collected from the television licence fee in 2021; and a detailed numerical breakdown of the proceeds allocated to RTÉ, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sound and Vision and An Post. [30056/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 453 and 454 together.
In accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, 2009, An Post act as issuing agent for television licence fee collection. The total number of licences sold by An Post in 2021 was 951,454, with resultant revenue from licence sales amounting to €150.9m. In addition, the average number of free licences issued by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) during 2021 was 478,482. The amount received by my Department from DSP in respect of these free licences amounted to €69.8m. Total licence fee receipts in 2021 therefore amounted to €220.7m.
With regard to the disbursement of television licence fee revenues, the Broadcasting Act makes provision for the payment of a commission to An Post in respect of its work in issuing television licences. The Act also provides for the disbursement of 7% of net licence fee receipts (i.e. total receipts less commission paid to An Post) to the Broadcasting Fund, administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), which supports both the Sound and Vision (S&V) and Archiving Schemes. The balance of licence fee revenue is paid to RTÉ. The licence fee distribution in 2021 was €9.9m to An Post, €14.7m to BAI and €196.1m to RTÉ. Both the BAI and RTÉ provide further detail of how this funding is spent in their Annual Reports and Accounts. The 2021 Reports will be published in the Autumn.
455. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cé mhéad airgid a cuireadh ar fáil do Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge gach bliain ó 2008 ar aghaidh; an bhfuil i gceist aici méadú suntasach a dhéanamh ar an liúntas seo an bhliain seo chugainn chun cuidiú le forbairt na hearnála seo [30359/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAistríodh feidhmeanna Bhord na Leabhar Gaeilge chuig Foras na Gaeilge ar 1 Eanáir 2008. Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge a tugadh feasta ar an Scéim a riartar faoi scáth Fhoras na Gaeilge, scéim a chuireann tacaíocht ar fáil do scríbhneoirí, d’fhoilsitheoirí agus do phobal léitheoireachta na Gaeilge i gcoitinne.
Tá eolas maidir le Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge ar fáil ar shuíomh an Fhorais: https://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/tacaiocht/leabhair-foilsitheoireacht/.
Seo a leanas an maoiniú imfhálaithe atá curtha ar fáil ó 2008 go dáta ag mo Roinn do Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge:
|
Bliain |
Maoiniú |
|
2008 |
€1,820,000 |
|
2009 |
€1,588,563 |
|
2010 |
€1,499,917 |
|
2011 |
€1,323,883 |
|
2012 |
€1,259,142 |
|
2013 |
€1,170,996 |
|
2014 |
€1,117,395 |
|
2015 |
€1,105,380 |
|
2016 |
€1,061,165 |
|
2017 |
€1,061,165 |
|
2018 |
€1,061,165 |
|
2019 |
€1,061,165 |
|
2020 |
€1,061,165 |
|
2021 |
€1,061,165 |
|
2022 |
€1,061,165* |
*Chomh maith leis an maoiniú imfhálaithe thuas, chuir mo Roinn maoiniú breise aon uaire de €300,000 ar fáil do Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge don mbliain reatha, 2022, maoiniú atá le dáileadh ar Scéim na bhFoilsitheoirí agus Scéim na Meantóirí de chuid Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge. Tugann an t-allúntas breise seo maoiniú an Chláir ar ais go dtí thart ar an leibhéal ag a raibh sé i 2011.
456. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way that she plans to support the appointment of night-time economy advisers; the role this will entail; the body that will fund the role; the eligibility criteria for local authority selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30408/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce was published in September 2021 and it contained 36 practical recommendations in the areas of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of activities as part of the night-time offering.
Action 19 within the Report calls for a pilot initiative to establish new "Night-Time Advisors" in six cities and towns to develop new Night-Time Economy opportunities. The County and City Management Association (CCMA) are leading on this initiative with support from my Department. The pilot will run for a two year period and my Department will cover the costs of the Night-Time Advisors, subject to the normal budgetary estimates process in 2023. The CCMA recently issued a call for applications to all local authorities for the six pilot towns/cities which will close on the 24th June. An evaluation committee with membership from the CCMA, DTCAGSM and an external independent member will review each application.
Towns and cities in two categories will be selected by the evaluation committee – three towns between 5,000 and 10,000 and three town/cities above 10,000, and they will be assessed using the following criteria:
- Selected pilots must meet either of the two categories (between 5,000 and 10,000 or above 10,000)
- The proposed pilot must clearly outline potential opportunities and current gaps to be addressed in the proposed pilot area, for the development of a more vibrant, diverse and sustainable Night-Time Economy.
- The proposed pilot must demonstrate a willingness to develop a broad NTE offering, including recreational, cultural, and commercial offerings, across a range of time-spans and catering for a diverse range of stakeholder groups.
- The proposed pilot must demonstrate a commitment to a wide-ranging consultation/engagement process with new and existing stakeholders in the city or town.
- The proposed pilot must identify potential assets and potential funding streams which could be accessed for the pilot (assets could include buildings, outdoor spaces, organisations, individuals, etc.) which could contribute to a more vibrant Night-Time Economy.
- The proposed pilot must demonstrate the provision of administrative/organisational support for the new Advisor Post and new Committee and identify a future long-term structure should the pilot be successful.
Once appointed, the Night-Time Advisor will establish a Night-Time Economy Committee which will consist of artists, cultural facilities, event promoters, festival organisers, hospitality interests, local champions, public bodies, retailers and other businesses, residents, venue owners/operators. The Advisor will ensure that all existing local structures are assessed to ensure synergies are developed where possible and that duplication of effort is avoided.
A key element of this initiative will also include an extensive consultation process led by the Advisor, who will engage the local community in the process of developing ideas for the NTE in their own locality. The Advisor will develop a cohesive action plan for the specific town/city and it will contain key deliverables, including a range of proven interventions and the identification of potential funding streams to support the NTE in the chosen cities/towns.
I look forward to the establishment and work of the Night-Time advisors, as it will be another significant step towards securing a vibrant and importantly a more sustainable night-time culture for all our citizens.
457. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on a meeting with officials from her Department regarding the live performance support scheme (details supplied). [30847/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the issues raised by the organisation to which the Deputy refers. The company had applied for the LPSS - Live Performance Support Scheme and were ineligible under the terms of the scheme. Following an appeal to that decision officials from my Department met with the applicant a number of weeks ago.
The issue is under consideration at present and officials will be in a position to provide an update to the applicant shortly.
458. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding that was provided to each county under each funding scheme from an agency (details supplied) for each of the past five years from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31001/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe agency referred to by the Deputy is the primary mechanism through which the Government supports the Arts in Ireland. Funding increased from €65m in 2017 to €130m in 2021 and details are shown in the table below.
|
Year |
Annual funding |
|
2017 |
€65.15m |
|
2018 |
€68.2 million |
|
2019 |
€75.0 million |
|
2020 |
€105.0 million |
|
2021 |
€130 million |
The Council is statutorily independent in relation to its funding and executive decisions. Details of the expenditure and the individual grant amounts can be viewed on the Council's decisions database gives a listing of 2008–2021 Arts Council funding decisions. This can be accessed at this link www.artscouncil.ie/funding-decisions/. Funding decisions are routinely published in the Arts Council newsletter, and historical decisions are recorded in the Arts Council's annual reports which are available online in the publications section of that website www.artscouncil.ie/publications/?&Category=Annual%20reports.
459. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Government has undertaken an assessment of needs created by the arrival of Ukrainian refugees; and the contingency planning that is in place. [30495/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra460. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the planning assessments that are being carried out in relation to housing given the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. [30496/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 460 together.
The Government has recently established a dedicated Cabinet Committee, chaired by An Taoiseach, to oversee and coordinate the Ukraine humanitarian response, including accommodation and supports for for persons arriving in Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D/CEDIY) is leading the initial humanitarian response, including providing emergency and longer-term accommodation and related supports. My Department is supporting this work, focusing on solutions to the longer-term accommodation challenges, and is leading cross-government efforts through a Housing Taskforce established by the Government for this purpose.
The Taskforce is examining options under three headings: rapid delivery volumetric accommodation; use of vacant public and private buildings as multi-occupancy accommodation; and measures to stimulate and accelerate construction of new permanent build homes.
The Office of Public Works is leading on the modular or volumetric accommodation solutions. While a potentially smaller piece of the overall response, it can help meet accommodation needs where other accommodation is not readily available.
I have also established an Emergency Vacant Housing Delivery Unit in the LGMA, as well as a Ukraine Accommodation Unit in my own Department, to support local authorities and public bodies in repurposing vacant public and private buildings as temporary multi-occupancy accommodation. Over 500 properties have been identified and analysed to date, with 90 or so capable of accommodating around 5,300 persons already notified to D/CEDIY.
Local authorities have since been requested to submit further proposals for priority refurbishment of vacant buildings suitable as temporary multi-occupancy accommodation in their respective areas. The aim is to provide an initial 3,100 beds, with approximately 100 beds available in each local authority area. Further phases of this programme will follow in line with the need identified by D/CEDIY.
To meet increased demand for housing arising from the unexpected and urgent need to accommodate persons from Ukraine, I also established a Clearing House Group to examine contractual, operational and compliance matters associated with planning permissions. The Group, comprising a small number of experts, will recommend measures to address blockages and constraints to residential and student accommodation development, as well as related local infrastructure required to facilitate housing. These measures may include using emergency planning powers under the Planning and Development Acts.
The Government is committed to the continued delivery of Housing for All. Any new accommodation developed in response to the humanitarian crisis will be separate and additional to Housing for All targets. That said, any suitable permanent accommodation delivered through these measures will be directed to social and affordable housing when the crisis resolves.
461. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the investigation that he initiated into possible conflicts of interest at the national planning authority An Bord Pleanála is expected to conclude. [28831/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published the terms of reference (attached) for the Report into the management of conflicts of interest and relevant disclosures by the Deputy Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála in relation to certain Decisions of that Board on the 12th of May 2022. In accordance with the terms of reference, Remy Farrell, Senior Counsel, is requested to provide a report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage within a period of 6 weeks from the 12th of May 2022.
462. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a grant to renovate roofing in a private owned home; if so, the age that the roof needs to be; and the way that a person can apply for same. [28833/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department’s grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof, funding of up to €6,350, or 80% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, may be payable in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland where the private owner holds a medical card. A higher level of assistance of up to €8,252 is available for houses on specified offshore islands, where the owner has a medical card. In the case of private owners without a medical card, funding of up to €3,810, or two thirds of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, may be payable in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland, rising to €5,714 where the house is situated on a specified off-shore island.
Eligibility under the grant scheme is contingent on the house being occupied as a normal place of residence on completion of the approved works. The age of the roof is not considered under this scheme and further details on eligibility and how to apply can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/32e72-thatching-grant/.
My Department also provides funding for the Housing Adaptation Grant for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, which is a range of grants for necessary improvement works or adaptations to houses, in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. These schemes cover works reasonably necessary for the purposes of rendering a house more suitable for the accommodation of applicants, and could in those circumstances include the repair or replacement of roofing.
The schemes are administered by local authorities and details of the application process can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/.
Separately, my Department also oversees a number of schemes to assist in the conservation of protected structures, which may include repairs to historic roofing. These schemes are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund. They are administered through the local authorities and details are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/32ae3-financial-assistance-for-architectural-heritage/.
463. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a couple (details supplied) are eligible to apply to purchase their home under the tenant incremental purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28870/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant Purchase 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 minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme is €12,500.
In determining a tenant’s minimum reckonable income, local authorities can include incomes from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments, and certain social welfare payments, including the Invalidity Pension, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income. However, certain other social welfare payments, including Community Employment Scheme payments, are not considered when determining an applicant's reckonable income.
The minimum income requirement ensures the scheme is sustainable, and the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period.
Subject to meeting this requirement, monies for the purchase of a house may come from several sources, including savings, inheritance, a mortgage provided by a financial institution, or a local authority house purchase loan.
464. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department received correspondence from An Garda Síochána pertaining to irregularities in the postal voting system in County Sligo in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28897/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has not received correspondence from An Garda Síochána on this matter.
The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, Returning Officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the operation of postal voting arrangements. Local authorities are responsible for the compilation and maintaining of the electoral register, including the postal voters list.
465. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Residential Tenancies Board is requesting landlords to provide personal details such as date of birth, PPSN and photo ID when registering; the purpose of collecting this personal information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 (RTA), to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Section 134 of the RTA requires a landlord to apply to the RTB to register a tenancy of a dwelling within one month of its commencement. All private landlords, Approved Housing Bodies and providers of Student Specific Accommodation are required to register their tenancies with the RTB. This allows the RTB to collect and provide definitive data on the rental sector and for transparency through the public register of tenancies; thus, enabling a better understanding of the sector.
Section 136 of the RTA requires, inter alia, that when a landlord is registering a tenancy with the RTB, ‘the name, address where the landlord ordinarily resides, any other address for correspondence the landlord may wish to provide and the personal public service number (if any) of the landlord and, where the application is made by his or her authorised agent, the name, address for correspondence and personal public service number (if any) of the agent’, and ’such other matters as may be prescribed’, must be provided as part of the application process.
The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (Prescribed Forms) Regulations 2022 sets out the prescribed form to be completed by landlords when applying to register a tenancy in compliance with section 134 of the RTA, which includes a requirement for the landlords date of birth.
Following the passing of legislation in 2019, with effect from 4 April 2022, landlords are required to register their tenancies with the RTB every year, within one month of the anniversary of when the tenancy began. This applies to both new and existing tenancies. To further assist landlords in this changeover to annual registration, there is a four-month transition period for tenancies which commence or have renewal anniversaries between 4 April and 3 July 2022. This transition period ends on 3 August 2022.
For data protection reasons, the names of landlords and tenants are not published on the RTB’s public register of tenancies.
Should further information be required by the Deputy, the RTB set up a dedicated email address for this purpose and may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie.
466. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the pre-lay grapnel and route clearance operations along the route of the proposed sub-sea fibre optic cable system (details supplied) that is expected to be carried out from 31 May 2022 until 10 June 2022, as detailed in the Marine Notice 30 of 2022 issued by the Department of Transport; the details of the required statutory consents required prior to the activity commencement in order to ensure environmental protection; the statutory function of his Department relating to environmental protection and the proposed activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28960/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra467. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has made a determination regarding foreshore licence application (details supplied) in relation to the authorisation of the proposed sub-sea fibre optic cable from Galway to Iceland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28961/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra468. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the pre-lay grapnel and route clearance operations along the route of the proposed sub-sea fibre optic cable (details supplied) that is expected to be carried out from 31 May 2022 until 10 June 2022, if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been consulted in relation to the proposed activities; if so, the observations that the National Parks and Wildlife Service made regarding the proposed activities' environmental impacts and the protection of the area in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28962/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra469. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the authority that authorised the pre-lay grapnel and route clearance operations along the proposed route of the sub-sea fibre optic cable system (details supplied) that is expected to be carried out from 31 May 2022 until 10 June 2022; the environmental impact assessments that have been conducted in relation to this activity; the way in which the public can access information regarding the authorisation and environmental assessments conducted; the action that his Department intends to take to ensure that the activity in question has been granted lawful consent before activity commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28963/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 to 469, inclusive, together.
I recently approved the granting of a licence under Section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 to Farice ehf. Limited following an application made to me in June 2021.
The granting of the licence follows a full and robust statutory assessment and several public consultations. Details of the application, assessment and related documentation including the various responses to the public consultation processes are available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/foreshore-notice/80172-iris-fibre-optic-cable-system-co-galway/.
Following engagement with the licence holder, it has been confirmed that the permitted works will not commence until 10 June 2022 which is consistent with the conditions of the licence.
The matter of Marine Notices and statutory requirements in the context are a matter for my colleague the Minister of Transport.
