Thursday, 23 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 198-208

Sports Events

Ceisteanna (200)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

200. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the discussions that she has had with the sporting bodies and the Minister for Transport in relation to the need to ensure that large sporting events are held in the locations that minimise the distance that supporters have to travel to attend and that have good public transport links in place for them in order to reduce the carbon footprint of such events and minimise the cost for patrons attending these events at a time of a climate and cost of living crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33435/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

National Governing Bodies of Sport are independent, autonomous bodies and have responsibility for their own operational arrangements for their sports, including the scheduling of fixtures and selection of venues for matches and events. I have no role in the scheduling of fixtures or selection of venues and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in such operational decisions of sporting organisations. Accordingly, I have not had discussions in this regard. 

Notwithstanding this, I acknowledge that the current cost of living pressures could potentially impact on attendance at sporting events and I would encourage sporting organisations to be mindful of this as well as of climate impacts when scheduling venues for matches and events.

Significant funding support was provided to sporting organisations in 2020 and 2021 to assist them in meeting the challenges of Covid. This funding was particularly important for those National Governing Bodies that depend on revenue from gate receipts and spectator attendance. Since the restrictions on spectator attendance were lifted, spectators have returned to sporting events in great numbers and I hope that this will continue to be the case for upcoming events. My officials and I will continue to monitor the situation over the coming weeks.

With regard to climate action and major sports events, my Department is currently developing a new Major Sports Events Policy, which was recently the subject of a public consultation process.  The policy is still in development and it is envisaged that improving the sustainability of major sports events and exploring the use of high profile events as platforms to promote sustainability will form part of that policy development process. This, along with other specific actions under the Climate Action Plan, will ensure that sustainable practices are adopted across the sport sector. 

Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

Ceisteanna (201)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

201. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán an bhfuil an Coiste Comhairleach um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge bunaithe mar a shonraítear é in Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), 2021, ó tharla go bhfuil an tAcht i bhfeidhm le sé mhí anuas agus go sonraítear san Acht go mbunófar a leithéid laistigh de shé mhí den Acht a bheith rite. [33437/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

Tá áthas orm a chur in iúl don Teachta gur bunaíodh an Coiste Comhairleach um Sheirbhísí Gaeilge ar 20 Meitheamh 2020 - laistigh den spriocdháta sonrach de 6 mhí ó achtú Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021.

Déanfar comhaltas an Choiste a fhógairt níos moille sa tseachtain agus toradh an chomórtais a reáchtáladh tríd an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí curtha in iúl dóibh siúd nár éirigh leo ceapachán a fháil ón gcomórtas. 

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna (202)

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

202. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current status of St. Andrew's Church, Suffolk Street, Dublin 2 which is owned by Tourism Ireland and that has been vacant and on sale for over five years; the number of offers that have been received for the site; the works that are being carried out to maintain the structure and prevent dereliction; if her Department has sought alternative purposes for which it could use the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33470/22]

Freagraí scríofa

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

The property referred to by the Deputy is owned and managed by Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the question to the agency for further information and direct reply. 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 (203, 204, 205)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

203. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that the annual audited accounts and financial statements of a public company, Cill Ulta, LAN Teoranta, Cill Ulta, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, which is funded by several agencies under the remit of her Department, is not published on the company’s website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33519/22]

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

204. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide a copy of the audited accounts and financial statements of a public company, Cill Ulta, LAN Teoranta, Cill Ulta, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, which is funded by several agencies under the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33520/22]

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

205. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide a breakdown of the salary scales paid to the management team at a public company funded by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33521/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

I propose to take Questions Nos. 203, 204 and 205 together.

Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha CTR is a community-based social economy enterprise, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, with charitable status. LAN CTR has submitted an Annual Report for 2020 to the Charities Regulator which incorporates a copy of the company’s annual accounts as per requirements.  The company directors understand that the accounts are available to the public under the Register of Charities / Charities Regulator.

The Department has been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that the company is managed by directors operating in a voluntary capacity.  The company manager is paid a gross salary of €32,000 p.a. in line with POBAL funding guidelines and funding contract.

I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that the company directors have made their financial statements available to the company's funders.  The directors are not aware of any requirement to publish its annual audited accounts on the company’s website. 

Question No. 204 answered with Question No. 203.

Question No. 205 answered with Question No. 203.

Departmental Appointments

Ceisteanna (206)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

206. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the appointment of a harbour master for Fingal, following a business case for the position in March 2022; if he will approve an application by Fingal County Council for a harbour master; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26518/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department received a staffing sanction request for the post of Harbour Master from Fingal County Council on 8 June 2022.  A sanction approval letter in respect of the post issued to the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council on 20 June 2022.

Housing Provision

Ceisteanna (207, 230, 232)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

207. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when income eligibility limits for social housing will be increased in counties Cavan and Monaghan given existing limits are low at present and are unrealistic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29583/22]

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the income eligibility limits for local authority housing in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan will be increased without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33488/22]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent, if any, to which it is expected to increase the income thresholds for qualification for eligibility for the local authority housing list having particular regard to the fact that the current income thresholds make it impossible for certain categories of persons to qualify for inclusion on local authority housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33523/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 207, 230 and 232 together.

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations.The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. A blanket increase of €5,000 was also introduced prior to the new system coming into operation.

Housing 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, has been completed. I am currently considering its findings and expect to decide on proposed changes and recommendations shortly.

Question No. 208 answered with Question No. 59.