Written Answers Nos. 138-159
138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of any contracts or services procured by her Department with top security, including any that are subcontracted to top security; the value of such contracts since 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49007/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that my Department has no current contracts with or receives services from the company referred to by the Deputy.
From 2015 to 2019 , the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht engaged the company referred to by the Deputy for the following:
1. A key-holding service at its offices on Ely Place, Dublin 2 from 2015 - 2017
2. A full security service at its premises in North King Street, Dublin 7, for 2018 and up until 11 January 2019 (some of the 2019 expenditure was for services supplied in 2018).
These contracts previously existed in respect of the Heritage function of the former Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which transferred in 2020 to the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government.
The relevant expenditure figures are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Expenditure € |
|
2015 |
672 |
|
2016 |
613 |
|
2017 |
613 |
|
2018 |
23,275 |
|
2019 |
2,953 |
|
Total |
28,126 |
139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if all her Department’s buildings have recycling arrangements in place; if not, the steps that are being taken to ensure that the recycling of workplace waste is facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49552/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that all my Department's buildings have recycling arrangements in place.
140. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to bring forward proposals to prevent landlords from skirting the spirit of rent pressure zones by charging tenants additional charges for miscellaneous items such as cleaning, waste disposal and parking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48673/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) regulate the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and set out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Acts to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 introduced the Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where rents are highest and rising fastest. The Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024 and prohibit any necessary rent increase in a RPZ from exceeding general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). The Act also provides that rent reviews outside of RPZs can, until 2025, occur no more frequently than bi-annually.
To address the rent affordability challenges building on foot of the unexpectedly fast rising inflation rate, as recorded by HICP, the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted to provide, from 11 December 2021, a cap of 2% per annum pro rata on rent increases in RPZs where the inflation rate is higher. In all cases, section 19(1) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022 (RTA) prohibits the setting of a rent that exceeds market rent.
Section 16 of the RTA obliges a tenant to pay any charges or taxes in accordance with the lease or tenancy agreement unless they are unlawful or contravene any other enactment.
In general, the question of whether or not a tenant has to pay charges to a landlord depends on the terms of the lease or tenancy agreement. The amount of any such charges, if applicable, is a matter to be agreed between landlord and tenant. Contract law governs such arrangements. The specific terms associated with an individual tenants rights and obligations are likely to be set out in a written contract signed by both the tenant and the landlord.
Comprehensive information including guidance and frequently asked questions in relation to rent reviews and on general tenancy matters is available on the RTB's website - www.rtb.ie. Where there is a disagreement regarding charges payable under a lease or tenancy agreement, the tenant or landlord may refer a dispute to the RTB for resolution.
141. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated to Met Éireann in each of the years 2002 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48719/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the allocations provided to Met Éireann in the years 2002 to 2022 are set out in the table below. These can also be found in the Revised Estimates for Public Services published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the respective years and are available at the following link:
www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/
|
Met Éireann Allocations
|
|||
|
Year |
Current €000 |
Capital €000 |
Total €000 |
|
2002 |
4,195 |
- |
4,195 |
|
2003 |
9,996 |
- |
9,996 |
|
2004 |
10,995 |
- |
10,995 |
|
2005 |
13,507 |
400 |
13,907 |
|
2006 |
14,156 |
600 |
14,756 |
|
2007 |
14,677 |
609 |
15,286 |
|
2008 |
15,028 |
1,081 |
16,109 |
|
2009 |
15,011 |
853 |
15,864 |
|
2010 |
13,574 |
798 |
14,372 |
|
2011 |
18,696 |
553 |
19,249 |
|
2012 |
16,505 |
1,000 |
17,505 |
|
2013 |
16,240 |
1,000 |
17,240 |
|
2014 |
15,250 |
3,100 |
18,350 |
|
2015 |
15,077 |
3,995 |
19,072 |
|
2016 |
16,952 |
4,757 |
21,709 |
|
2017 |
15,098 |
4,300 |
19,398 |
|
2018 |
19,028 |
5,750 |
24,778 |
|
2019 |
22,384 |
8,000 |
30,384 |
|
2020 |
26,767 |
9,000 |
35,767 |
|
2021 |
29,681 |
13,140 |
42,821 |
|
2022 |
29,474 |
13,687 |
43,161 |
142. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons within his Department who are working remotely on a part-time or full-time basis in County Clare in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48738/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to work as per transitional work arrangements following the lifting of restrictions on workplace attendance in the spring of this year. Staff who normally worked from home under pandemic restrictions currently attend the office on a minimum of 2 days per week.
The Blended Working policy for my Department was formally launched in July 2022, this policy was developed in line with the central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service. My Department is moving into the implementation phase of this policy and will commence accepting applications for Blended Working in the coming months. The Blended Working Framework does not allow for fully remote work and as such 5 day per week working from home arrangements are not and will not be available in my Department.
My Department currently has 31 staff based in various Department locations in Co. Clare. This does not take account of staff who are living in Co. Clare but who are assigned to/work from any of my Department’s offices in nearby counties.
143. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the current income threshold eligibility for social housing in the greater Dublin area including counties Wicklow, Meath and Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48760/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All 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 and I have recently approved implementation of its recommendations. The review has now been published on my Department's website.
The recommendations contained in the review included the commissioning of work to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it. It is expected that the work will be complete by the end of 2022.Pending completion of this work later this year, 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 came into effect from 1 October 2022. It is now appropriate to await the report I referred to before considering the appropriate income threshold levels for all counties, and the potential impact of any changes that might arise.
144. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the €87 million in funding announced in Budget 2023 to support alleviation of fuel poverty and ensure more energy efficient homes, through the upgrading of 2,400 local authority social homes includes funding for homes owned and managed by Approved Housing Bodies. [48789/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new enhanced ten year energy efficiency programme was launched in 2021 in response to a commitment made under the Programme for Government, which called for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent BER standard by 2030, of which approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes.
The energy efficiency programme which is run by my Department is available only in respect of local authority owned social homes. It does not extend to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) owned or leased homes. AHBs can and do avail of the suite of grants available from the SEAI for energy efficiency upgrades.
145. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total family income permissible to remain in receipt of supports and on local authority waiting lists; the position when a child reaches 18 years of age and begins working; if this additional family income could place the family outside of State supports and access to waiting lists; if there are any exemptions in relation to fixed income limits in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48800/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA table setting out the details of the three bands and the limits currently applicable in each local authority area is available on my Department's website on the following link:https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/04c69-social-housing-support-table-of-income-limits/
The income of all persons aged 18 years and over included in a social housing application is assessable for social housing assessment purposes, local authorities have no discretion in this regard.
Housing for All 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 and I have recently approved implementation of its recommendations.To this end, I have 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.
146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grant-aid is available for the purposes of purchasing and renovating vacant properties which will not be occupied by the purchaser (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48813/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile grant-aid is not provided for the purposes of purchasing and renovating properties which will not be occupied by the purchaser, the Repair and Leasing Scheme does provide an upfront loan, to a maximum of €60,000 (including VAT) per unit, to owners of vacant properties which require work to bring the units up to the required standard for rental properties.
Under the Repair and Leasing Scheme, the local authority, or approved housing body, pays for the repairs upfront and the home is taken into social housing stock by way of lease for a period of between 5 and 25 years. The cost of repairs is offset against reduced lease payments to the property owner and therefore has a neutral cost to the Exchequer.
147. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will expedite the publication of the Mulcahy Report in view of the fact that to not do so gives rise to a perception that the integrity of the planning process is compromised further; if he has received any external advice on the contents of the report; if he will provide the number of requests that his Department has received to date to publish the report. [48815/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. The Attorney General's office has been consulted on both the content of the report and also on the issue of its potential publication and dissemination. The review is a scoping report and as such it does not make findings as to the truth or otherwise of allegations that have been made by an individual against named persons.
Regarding the question of the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the Information Commissioner (OIC-59426-Q8D7T8) of 27 February 2020 in relation to requests to publish this report will also be taken into account. Both decisions are publicly available on those bodies' websites.
It should be noted that in each of these cases, both the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Information Commissioner decided not to grant access to the report. The Office of the Information Commissioner decision stated "placing the details concerned in the public domain would significantly breach the rights to privacy of identifiable individuals." Therefore, this is a matter that requires careful consideration given that the report details unproven allegations against named persons.
148. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the new updated guidelines will be released following changes made to the tenant purchase scheme in early 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48834/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, with a number of changes subsequently coming into effect from 1 February 2022.The changes include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years. While local authorities were formally advised of these changes by Department Circular on 12 January 2022, revised scheme guidelines, and a Ministerial Order giving effect to changes in the treatment of the State contributory and non-contributory pensions for reckonable income purposes issued to all local authorities on the 29 September 2022.
149. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way that the allocation of funding to the croí cónaithe towns fund specifically in Budget 2023 will be spent. [48955/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPathway 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 and provide new accommodation in those areas. The Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund is a key initiative which underpins these policy objectives set out in Pathway Four of Housing for All.Schemes under the Fund, which are 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, also funded by 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. Feedback on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Scheme to date has been overwhelmingly positive, with 169 applications submitted by the start of September.Given that a key objective of Pathway 4 of Housing for All is to ensure that the houses we already have are being fully used, I have decided to extend the eligibility for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to vacant properties in both our cities and rural areas.
Both schemes under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund 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 (VHO) in each local authority in the coming weeks to update the details of the Grant, with a view to the expanded scheme being available in November.
The operation of both schemes under the fund is delegated to and managed by local authorities. In 2022, it is not anticipated that there will be a constraint on allocations. Expenditure and associated allocations will be kept under review for 2023, as the schemes roll-out.
150. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that he intends to allocate to local authorities for the voids programme returns in 2023; and the funding allocated in each of the past five years in tabular form. [48956/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.
An annualised breakdown of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme for the years 2014-2021 is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme
Under the 2022 Voids Programme, funding of €25 million has been made available across the local authorities for the remediation of 2,273 properties.
Given the very significant investment into the Voids Programme over recent years local authorities should now be in a strong position to begin the transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.
To that end, my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under the various stock improvement programmes is aligned with this approach. In this regard, €5 million in funding has been ring-fenced for Planned Maintenance under this years Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme to support the implementation of an ICT asset management system for the local authority sector and to provide a funding contribution for the commencement of stock condition surveys.
Details of the 2023 Voids Programme will be announced in early 2023.
151. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of additional Housing First tenancies that will be delivered with Budget 2023. [48957/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing First recognises that a stable home provides the basis for recovery in other areas. With Housing First, the priority is to support a person who has experienced homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, without any preconditions around addiction or mental health treatment. Then, intensive work continues on these issues once they are housed. Housing First has been a key element of Government homelessness policy.
The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).
Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The new Plan outlines the targets for each region and in each year. Budget 2023 provided funding of over €215m, an increase of 10% on last year, for the delivery of homeless services ensuring enhanced funding for Housing First to deliver these tenancies. In 2023, it is aimed to create a total of 269 Housing First tenancies.
152. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of any contracts or services procured by his Department with top security, including any that are subcontracted to top security; the value of such contracts since 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49001/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works engaged Top Security to provide security services for the Custom House, Dublin during the renovation of the Visitors Centre in 2015. My Department assumed responsibility for payment of this service in 2016, and the contract was extended twice.
A new Office of Government Procurement managed procurement process began in 2018 for the provision of security services to the Custom House. The new contract signed was in 2019 and awarded to Top Security. This contract is due to expire on 10 February 2023.
Payments made to Top Security by my Department are as follows:
|
Year |
Payment |
|
2015 |
€0 |
|
2016 |
€174,171.69 |
|
2017 |
€178,271.28 |
|
2018 |
€117,934.25 |
|
2019 |
€102,524.23 |
|
2020 |
€53,867.62 |
|
2021 |
€23,937.70 |
|
2022 to date |
€21,025.84 |
153. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A4 local-authority housing at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49035/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A7 capital assistance scheme at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49036/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A10 mortgage-to-rent at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49037/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra156. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A11 capital advance leasing facility at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49038/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra157. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A12 Traveller accommodation and support at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49039/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A15 estate regeneration and refurbishment at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49040/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra159. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A16 energy efficiency – retrofitting at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra160. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A17 repair-and-leasing scheme at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49042/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra161. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A28 cost-rental equity loan at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49043/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra162. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A31 first-home scheme at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49044/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra163. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A32 affordable housing fund at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49045/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra164. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital spent under vote A33 Croí Cónaithe (cities) fund at the end of September 2022; the projected amount to be spent under this heading by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49046/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 to 164, inclusive, together.
Total expenditure in 2022, to end September, under the various Housing capital programmes is set out in the table below.
Overall expenditure on the housing programme, including at individual programme level, will not be determined until the end of the year. Typically, Quarter 4 sees the highest level of capital expenditure as my Department recoups claims submitted by local authorities.
During 2022, the construction sector has been impacted by construction product inflation, constrained supply chains and high energy costs. This has resulted in delays to a number of housing projects, with consequential delays in the submission of claims by local authorities.
However, there has been a strong improvement in the delivery environment, supported by measures introduced by this Government to address material inflation and energy costs, through the introduction of the Inflation/ Supply Chain Delay Co-operation Framework.
We are now looking at very strong delivery in the last months of the year which will see an acceleration in the payments made by my Department across all capital programmes.
|
Programmes |
2022 Expenditure (to end Sept)* |
|
A.3 - Local Authority Housing |
€392.9m |
|
A.7 - Capital Assistance Scheme |
€59.7m |
|
A.10 - Mortgage to Rent |
€7.1m |
|
A.11 - Capital Advance Leasing Facility |
€92.3m |
|
A.12 – Traveller Accommodation |
€8.6m |
|
A.15 - Regeneration |
€18.1m |
|
A.16 - Energy Efficiency |
€4.0m |
|
A.17 - Repair & Lease |
€2.6m |
|
A.28 - Cost Rental Equity Loan |
€14.4m |
|
A.31 - First Home Scheme |
€40m |
|
A.32 - Affordable Housing Fund |
€1.15m |
|
A.33 - Croí Cónaithe Fund |
€0.07m |
*includes capital LPT
