Written Answers Nos. 156-175
156. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department will be providing details of the types of funding schemes that are available for local festivals and events funded by Fáilte Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46963/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. With specific regard to funding schemes for local festivals and events, these are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland in line with its tourism development functions. 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.
157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a schedule of the costs for all live studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by her; and the details of the person or body that is conducting each study, review and research project, in tabular form. [47053/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the Deputy's previous Parliamentary Question No. 254 (Tuesday, 20 Sep 2022), concerning studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by my Department, the costs and details of the bodies conducting such projects are provided in tabular form at the following link.
158. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if consideration will be given to the inclusion of an individual complaints mechanism within the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47197/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January this year, I established an Expert Group to assess the feasibility of providing for an individual complaints mechanism in the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Bill. My intention, as I have made clear on a number of occasions, is that I would like to provide for an individual complaints mechanism if it were feasible to do so.
On 20 September, I brought the report of the Expert Group to Government and subsequently published it. The report backed the feasibility of an individual complaints mechanism subject to some important considerations and recommended that provision be made in the OSMR Bill for a phased roll-out of the mechanism, initially prioritising those complaints about online content relating to children.
The report identifies various dependencies upon which the effectiveness, feasibility and success of an individual complaints mechanism will hinge, including that the individual complaints mechanism will not have its full or intended effect unless and until effective systemic regulation of complaints handling process, through Online Safety Codes made by Coimisiún na Meán, has become well established.
Amendments to the OSMR Bill are currently being drafted to provide for the recommendations of the Expert Group. Following this legislative drafting process, it is my intention to seek Government approval to table the amendments at Dáil Committee Stage.
Second stage of the OSMR Bill was completed in Dáil Éireann on 22 September and it is my intention to progress the Bill through the remaining stages of the legislative process and ensure enactment as soon as possible.
159. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of general Government capital expenditure on social and affordable housing by local authorities, approved housing bodies and the Land Development Agency, LDA, in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, by funding via voted Government capital expenditure, approved housing body borrowing for capital developments and LDA capital expenditure in each of those years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46611/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
|
Year |
Social Housing Delivery |
Affordable Schemes |
||
|
Build & Acquisition |
Service Sites Fund (SSF)/Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) |
Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) |
First Home Scheme |
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
2016 |
406 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2017 |
715 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2018 |
1,162 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2019 |
1,332 |
0.45 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2020 |
1,312 |
1.96 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2021 |
1,403 |
3.8 |
9.25 |
n/a |
|
2022 (to date) |
568 |
1.148 |
22.64 |
40 |
|
Year |
CALF |
CAS |
|
€m |
€m |
|
|
2016 |
35.25 |
37.03 |
|
2017 |
55.68 |
54.99 |
|
2018 |
120.88 |
80.65 |
|
2019 |
150.62 |
97.70 |
|
2020 |
190.23 |
95.13 |
|
2021 |
238.04 |
99.83 |
|
2022 (to date) |
92.25 |
59.66 |
|
Year |
Capital Expenditure |
|
€m |
|
|
2016 |
0 |
|
2017 |
0 |
|
2018 |
0.03 |
|
2019 |
0.51 |
|
2020 |
7.44 |
|
2021 |
8.53 |
|
2022 |
12.19 |
|
Year |
€m |
|
2016 |
126 |
|
2017 |
171 |
|
2018 |
283 |
|
2019 |
634 |
|
2020 |
549 |
|
2021 |
709 |
|
2022 (to date) |
426 |
160. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the vacant property refurbishment grant will be made available for urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46586/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ease the restrictions governing the Croí Cónaithe towns fund: vacant property refurbishment grant scheme to include all otherwise eligible properties, regardless of their location, in the context of a severe shortage of available accommodation in many areas of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46677/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the areas of County Galway with a population of fewer than 400 persons that are eligible for assistance under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund, vacant property refurbishment grant scheme; if any area within a certain distance of Galway city and other cities that are suffering a severe shortage of available accommodation will be included; and if he intends to extend the scheme to areas within city boundaries, previously signalled as a possibility. [46679/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) being advised they will be refused access to the Croí Cónaithe fund given that their location is very rural; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46682/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 164, 166 and 167 together.
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy to towns of all sizes around the country and new accommodation to both urban and rural areas. We want to see vacant homes, and indeed vacant commercial properties that could be converted, brought back into use and we are incentivising people to do that through the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund.
Schemes under the Fund, which is delivered by local authorities, will provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, through the provision of a grant to support the refurbishment of vacant properties and by providing serviced sites in towns and villages to people in order to build their own homes.
On the 14 July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant will benefit those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence.
A grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not previously been used as residential. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000.
On 21 September, I launched the Ready to Build Scheme as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. Under the Ready to Build Scheme, local authorities will make serviced sites in towns and villages available to potential individual purchasers to build their homes. These sites will be available at a discount on the market value of the site for the building of a property for occupation as the principal private residence of the purchaser.
When the Fund was launched, I committed to ongoing review of the schemes under it and in particular I am pleased to see that the feedback on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Scheme to date has been overwhelmingly positive, with 169 applications submitted by the start of September.
Given that Pathway 4 of Housing for All is intended to support re-use of existing buildings and the synergy with the Government's Our Rural Future policy, I do see the sense in extending the eligibility for the scheme to vacant properties in both our cities and rural areas to ensure we are using our existing housing stock to the fullest extent possible. In that context, I am pleased to say that the Government has decided to extend the vacant property refurbishment scheme and I expect to have that extension to cities and rural properties in place by the end of October.
It will continue to be only for those who intend to occupy the property as their principal private residence. Officials in my Department will work with the Vacant Homes Officers in each local authority in the coming weeks to update the details of the Grant, with a view to the expanded scheme being available by the end of October.
Vacant Homes Officers in each local authority will be available to provide advice and information on the schemes and the application process.
161. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a national breakdown, per local authority, of the number of accommodation places that each local authority has secured and made available to refugees from Ukraine in each month since February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46594/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra162. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a national breakdown, per local authority, of the number of offers of accommodation that have been received by local authorities from members of the public for refugees from Ukraine to Ireland since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022; the number of these that have been secured and made available to Ukrainian families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46595/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
The locus of responsibility for local authority activities and functions is determined by the nature of the particular issue in question, in this instance the provision of accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. While my Department is supporting the cross-Government response to the consequences of the invasion of Ukraine in a number of ways, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEIDY) has primary responsibility for the provision of accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection. My Department does not hold any information on how pledged accommodation is allocated, either by local authorities or by DCEIDY, or where such accommodation is located.
163. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who is having ongoing issues with pyrite and other contaminants appearing in cement and concrete blocks used to build their principal private residence will be able to receive financial assistance through the proposed defective concrete block redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46669/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on from the Government decision of the 30 November 2021 in respect of the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme, the Government approved the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 on 21 June and the Bill passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was subsequently signed into law by the President.
The purpose of this Act is to implement and give legislative underpinning to a series of measures to improve and enhance the scheme as agreed by Government on 30 November 2021. Full details can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/328d7-minister-obrien-welcomes-progress-on-enhanced-defective-concrete-blocks-grant-scheme/
The Act provides for two new local authorities, Clare and Limerick, to begin accepting applications to the Enhanced Grant Scheme upon its commencement.
The extension of the scheme to other local authority areas was considered as part of wider deliberations on the Scheme by Government. I, as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, may, with Government approval, extend the scheme to additional counties, where the evidence supports such an extension.
Any consideration of an extension to the Scheme would, in the first instance, require the relevant local authority to conduct the same rigorous analysis as that was carried out in Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick. Such analysis will provide the evidential basis necessary for the consideration of any extension of the scheme. Officials from my Department have been in touch with Tipperary County Council in relation to this matter and will continue to liaise with and support them in any application for an extension of the scheme to Tipperary.
165. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications that have been received to date for grants under the Croí Cónaithe towns fund, vacant property refurbishment grant scheme, by local authority area; the number that have been approved for grant aid; the average expected time between application and payment of grant; and if he is satisfied with the progress of the scheme to date. [46678/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 14 July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. This grant is focused on supporting refurbishment of vacant homes. It is being delivered by local authorities and will provide new choices for people to live in towns and villages in Ireland, with priority given to areas where the level of vacancy or dereliction is high.
All local authorities were requested by my Department to monitor the operation of the scheme. There has been considerable interest in the grant as reported by local authorities. As of 2nd September 2022, the information was as follows in the table below. Note: The applications received are currently being processed.
|
Local Authority |
Applications Received |
Approved to date |
|
Carlow |
1 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
0 |
|
Clare |
4 |
0 |
|
Cork City |
1 |
0 |
|
Cork county |
20 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
9 |
0 |
|
Dublin City |
0 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
0 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway City |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway County |
13 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
13 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
3 |
|
Kilkenny |
6 |
3 |
|
Laois |
4 |
3 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
10 |
0 |
|
Longford |
2 |
0 |
|
Louth |
5 |
2 |
|
Mayo |
7 |
1 |
|
Meath |
0 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
10 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
9 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
6 |
0 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
0 |
|
Tipperary |
15 |
3 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
2 |
|
Total |
169 |
19 |
Data will continue to be gathered by my Department on the operation of the Scheme and further information will become available in respect of timeframes and grant amounts approved.
The Scheme is under ongoing review, with a comprehensive overall review and evaluation of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund to be undertaken no later than mid-2024.
168. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will accelerate the process of granting a foreshore licence to the ESB for the development of the Moneypoint offshore wind farm off the Clare and Kerry coastline; if he will set out a definite plan for the future role and potential of the Moneypoint generating station, which is due for closure as a coal generating station in 2025, in the context of the development of offshore energy resources; the specific timeline and objectives of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46749/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Foreshore Unit operates the consenting regime under the Foreshore Act 1933, managing the regulation of a range of different marine activities and infrastructural developments. The volume of applications made under the Act in recent years has grown significantly. In parallel, my Department is leading an extensive marine management reform programme, the likes of which the State has never seen.
The expected time for processing and determining foreshore applications can vary considerably and is influenced by the quality of the application and supporting documents received, the nature and complexity of the application, the level of public engagement during the consultation process and up until recently, impacts from restrictions imposed as a result of Covid-19, among other matters. Each application must be assessed appropriately in accordance with the applicable requirements of domestic and EU law including the EIA Directive, Birds and Habitats Regulations and the Foreshore Act.
A range of foreshore consents related to offshore energy infrastructure granted under the Foreshore Act 1933 in recent years have been assessed and prioritized in tandem with the other high level Government objectives in the maritime space. Details for foreshore applications and determinations are available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/f2196-foreshore-applications-and-determinations/
A further proportion of foreshore applications on hand include licence applications for site investigations within the foreshore area linked to the proposed development of offshore renewable energy projects. The site investigations are critical activities developers undertake in order to investigate viability and prepare environmental impact assessments of potential future offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
My Department has also been prioritising site investigation licence applications linked to qualified Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) projects, known as "relevant projects" or Phase 1 projects, which qualify to make an application to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications for a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) as part of the transition provisions in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. Any project in this category granted a MAC by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications must then apply for the necessary development permission from An Bord Pleanála under the new marine planning system. That Department will also shortly conclude the criteria to select a second batch of ORE projects to enter the new maritime consenting system, enabling delivery on our 2030 targets.
The Government recently approved the prioritisation of renewable energy plans and projects in the Irish maritime area, as a direct response to the energy and climate crises. This decision follows on from the recently agreed Government ambitions for an increase of offshore wind energy, which targets the delivery of an additional 2GW of offshore wind for the production of green hydrogen. Following this decision, the Government’s intention is that the following projects in the maritime area will receive priority attention:
- Any marine infrastructure projects that align with Government decisions to address risks to energy security of supply.
- Projects that are capable of delivering 200MW or above of offshore renewable energy to meet domestic demand before 2030, using well established, proven technologies.
- Infrastructure that will support delivery and deployment of Renewable Energy projects such as grid and port facilities.
- Projects utilising emerging technology that may have the ability to assist the State in meeting its 2030 targets such as floating wind and green hydrogen
To give effect to this decision, approval has also been given to the immediate development of a Statutory Marine Planning Policy Statement (MPPS) by my Department that will prioritise energy and energy-related projects above all other maritime activities during the six year lifetime of the MPPS. By taking this action, the State’s consenting authorities, such as An Bord Pleanála and the soon to be established Maritime Area Regulatory Authority will prioritise the processing of renewable energy projects, including those that support the development of ORE infrastructure in both the marine and onshore.
The Foreshore Unit in my Department is currently assessing the current caseload of foreshore lease and licence applications in the context of this Government decision. A key consideration will be how the significant number of site investigation licenses that are on hand and not associated with the Phase 1 projects can be managed given the priority status afforded across Government to applications associated with projects capable of delivering before 2030 using well established technologies.
The specific long-term plan for the operation of the Moneypoint Power Station is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in the context of energy supply security policy generally.
169. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the resources and funding that have been allocated to Clare County Council for the provision of emergency accommodation; if additional funding will be administered by his Department given the emergency accommodation is at full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46750/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department.
A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
Clare County Council is included in the Mid West Region for the purposes of homelessness administration, with Limerick City and Council as the lead authority for the region. To date in 2022, some €6.5 million in Exchequer funding has been provided to the Mid West region for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services, and I expect this will increase in the coming months.
I am aware of the pressures currently being experienced in accessing Emergency Accommodation nationwide and am working to address these. A range of measures have been introduced to tackle accommodation shortages and in terms of the provision of Emergency Accommodation. My Department will work with Local Authorities to assess requirements within the Region and will provide funding where an additional need has been identified.
Funding will continue to be provided for all required homeless services as the year progresses.
170. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his Department's winter plan in relation to funding and resources allocated by the Department to county councils to deal with growing homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46866/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of these funding arrangements with my Department.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context. My Department is in active and ongoing discussions with lead authorities of the nine homeless regions concerning the extent of the funding requirements.
Specifically in relation to Cold Weather Initiatives, these arrangements operate across all local authorities to provide additional emergency beds for rough sleepers where needed. These arrangements ensure that additional temporary beds can be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities, for singles and couples who need them during periods of cold weather. These beds are temporary in nature and it is a matter for individual local authorities to determine the period of their operation. The cold weather arrangements are typically introduced in November and funding will continue to be provided by my Department to meet additional costs associated with these measures.
171. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of prosecutions that have been taken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service against other State bodies; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of successful prosecutions, in tabular form. [46911/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe function of the enhanced Wildlife Crime Operations is to support the law enforcement work that has been, and continues to be done by National Parks and Wildlife Service Regional staff.
Some 110 staff are working across all regions of the country to address wildlife crime. These include District Conservation Officers and Conservation Rangers, supported by Regional Managers and Divisional Managers. Additional staffing resources are being allocated to support this work, and it is my intention that ranger numbers will be increased to 120 across the country.
The work being carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service saw 21 prosecutions successfully closed in 2021. Twenty four prosecutions have been successfully closed to date in 2022, and a further 45 are on hand at present.
In the past 5 years, the Department prosecuted one local authority. The outcome of this case was successful.
172. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will remove the working family payment from the list of income that is assessable when considering social housing applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46918/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Household Means Policy, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. All income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, including Working Family Payment, are assessed.
I have recently, approved proposals to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly and is expected to complete by the end of 2022.
Pending completion of this work later this year, and on foot of review conducted in November 2021, I have approved changes to the social housing income eligibility bands. Five local authorities - Carlow, Clare, Galway County, Laois and Westmeath - will be moved from Band 3 to Band 2. Accordingly, the baseline income eligibility threshold for these areas will increase from €25,000 to €30,000. The change reflects the movement in rents in recent years in these areas and will ensure local authority areas with similar accommodation costs continue to be grouped together in the respective bands. The changes will come into effect from 1 October 2022.
It is now appropriate to await the report I referred to before considering any further changes to income threshold levels, and the potential impact of any changes that might arise.
173. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to reports indicating that the Residential Tenancies Board has spent millions of euro on a computer system that is not working; if he has requested the details of the work that has been carried out for this cost; and if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that most estate agents have to input the full details for the past 20 years for each tenant they ever had and that the system is not working and has dropped many of these files. [46953/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants and as such, the implementation of the new tenancy management system is an operational matter for the RTB.
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.
Although many landlords and agents have successfully registered their tenancies on the system, I have been made aware that some landlord and agent customers are encountering issues with the new RTB tenancy registration system. The RTB has assured my Department that it is working collaboratively and constructively with the sector to assist anyone experiencing difficulties.
The issues landlords and agents are experiencing are regrettable but I would like to assure you that officials from my Department are continuously engaging with the RTB to ensure they are availing of the resources and support available to them in transitioning to this new system and resolving these issues. They will continue to do so until these problems have been fully addressed.
174. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 623 of 26 July 2022, the number of local authorities currently employing a full-time vacant homes officer by local authority in tabular form; when all remaining local authorities will have a full-time vacant homes officer in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47007/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities that it is increasing the funding made available since 2018, to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a vacant homes officer in each local authority, from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum. This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that the vacant homes officer role is full-time. The provision of central funding for the role supports the capacity of local authorities to have a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
Local authorities were requested to arrange for the vacant homes officer position to become full-time by the end of Q2 2022 and to notify my Department accordingly. Of the 31 Local Authorities, 25 Vacant Homes Officers are now on a full-time basis, with the remaining local authorities in the process of transitioning the role to being full time. The Department is continuing the engagement with the remaining local authorities to ensure that full-time Vacant Homes Officers are in place. Details of individual local authorities are contained in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Full-time Vacant Homes Officer |
|
Carlow |
Yes |
|
Cavan |
Yes |
|
Clare |
Yes |
|
Cork City |
Yes |
|
Cork county |
In Transition |
|
Donegal |
In Transition |
|
Dublin City |
Yes |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Yes |
|
Fingal |
Yes |
|
Galway City |
Yes |
|
Galway County |
Yes |
|
Kerry |
Yes |
|
Kildare |
Yes |
|
Kilkenny |
Yes |
|
Laois |
In Transition |
|
Leitrim |
Yes |
|
Limerick |
Yes |
|
Longford |
In Transition |
|
Louth |
Yes |
|
Mayo |
Yes |
|
Meath |
Yes |
|
Monaghan |
Yes |
|
Offaly |
In Transition |
|
Roscommon |
Yes |
|
Sligo |
In Transition |
|
South Dublin |
Yes |
|
Tipperary |
Yes |
|
Waterford |
Yes |
|
Westmeath |
Yes |
|
Wexford |
Yes |
|
Wicklow |
Yes |
175. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 28 of 23 June 2022, the status of the development of the promised section 28 guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht areas; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; the date of the most recent meeting of the interdepartmental group on planning in Gaeltacht areas; if minutes are published in respect of the meetings of the interdepartmental group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47008/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Interdepartmental Group (comprising of officials from my Department, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Údarás na Gaeltachta) is in place to support and accelerate the ongoing work in relation to planning in Gaeltacht areas.
One of the key aims of this interdepartmental group is to ensure that procedures and systems will be tailored, as appropriate to facilitate an effective and consistent approach by the relevant local authorities in managing planning related issues in Gaeltacht areas.
The interdepartmental group has been examining how current practices in the application of these provisions could be strengthened in the overall interest of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht and in the interests of proper planning and sustainable development, underpinned by a policy which the Department Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport and Media is current finalising. It is intended that this policy will provide the clarity and guidance needed in order to integrate the required changes to effect greater consistency and fairness in the planning system as well as providing assistance to the Local Authorities concerned. This policy is critical to the development of the Section 28 Guidelines for planning in Gaeltacht Areas, which my Department will be commencing later this year.
The most recent meeting of the interdepartmental group was held on 25 July 2022 in the offices of my Department and the next meeting of this group is scheduled to take place in October. More recently, a bilateral meeting was held on 26 September. In total, the Departments have met 7 times since February 2021. Minutes are usually taken at these meetings although they are not published.
In terms of the overall development of Section 28 Guidelines, it should be noted that the draft guidelines will be subject to screening for Strategic Environmental Assessment, as well as screening for the purposes of Appropriate Assessment.
Following the completion of both, the draft guidelines will be available for a focused period of public consultation. It is anticipated at this point that the draft guidelines will be published and subject to a public consultation exercise in Q4 2022.
