Written Answers Nos. 275-292
275. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 27 September 2022, the amount of capital carryover for each of these categories in each of these years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56363/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 91 of the Finance Act 2004, all or part of any unspent appropriations for capital supply services may be carried over for spend in the following year. This provides for the carryover of up to 10% of the REV allocation (Capital) from one year to the next. This must be expended in the following year- i.e. it is not permissible to further defer any surplus. Details of the capital carryover for the years 2016-2022 are set out below.
|
Vote 34 - DHLGH |
REV Allocation |
Final Outturn |
Deferred Surrender – capital carryover |
|
2022 |
€6,148m |
tbc |
€340m (proposed) |
|
2021 |
€5,469m |
€5,077m |
€275.8m |
|
2020 |
€5,444m |
€5,217m |
€214m |
|
2019 |
€3,937m |
€3,897m |
€33.5m |
|
2018 |
€3,331m |
€3,317m |
€0 |
|
2017 |
€2,027m |
€2,023m |
€0 |
|
2016 |
€1,389m |
€1,379m |
€0 |
There was no capital carryover from my Department’s REV provision in the years 2016-2018.
In 2019, unspent capital balances from the Urban Renewal & Regeneration Fund and the Land Development Agency amounting to €33.5m was carried over into 2020.
2020 and 2021 saw very significant disruption to the construction sector due to Covid-19 and there have been consequential impacts on drawdown of capital funds. In 2020 there was a surplus arising from unspent allocations in respect of the capital elements of Programmes A (Housing), B (Water), D (Planning) and F (Heritage) of which €214m was carried forward to 2021. In 2021, there was a surplus arising from unspent capital allocations on elements of Programmes A (Housing), D (Planning) and F (Heritage) of which €275.8m was carried forward to 2022.
Some of the key challenges being faced in 2022 has been the significant level of price inflation to construction materials; supply chain disruption and inflation in the prices of fuel & energy. Despite the very challenging situation of a very limited construction sector during the Covid pandemic and new challenges emerging in 2022 with the impact of pricing /supply and the war in Ukraine, work assertively continues to ramp up the scale of activity across all areas.
There has, however, been an 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.
For 2022, I have confirmed to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that I am seeking full capital carryover of 10%, amounting to some €340m. The details of the source and subsequent allocation of that funding will be published in the REV later this year. Despite the very challenging context my Department continues to engage proactively on a range of measures to manage, mitigate and expedite where possible throughout 2022.
As is the norm with major capital programmes, the bulk of housing capital expenditure occurs during Q4 when local authorities submit large volumes of claims for recoupment. This level of activity is expected to result in a very significant increase in capital expenditure on housing programmes in the final weeks of the year.
The Department will continue to carefully monitor and consider all capital expenditure areas in 2022 with a view to keeping within projected investment levels.
276. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue guidance to local authorities requesting that they facilitate housing assistance payment tenants who wish to move from one local authority's transfer list to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56377/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, set down a standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing support. Under this procedure, a household may apply for support to one housing authority only, which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or the authority that agrees, at its discretion, to assess the household for support. A household, meeting either the residence or local connection condition, may specify up to three areas of choice for receipt of support in the areas of all housing authorities in the county and city concerned and, if qualified, will be entered on the housing waiting list of each of those housing authorities.
Consistent with the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a payment under the HAP scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. However, acknowledging that some households on the waiting list, who avail of HAP, have expectations that they would receive a more traditional form of social housing support, Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list.
Furthermore, local authorities are also directed that HAP recipients who apply to go on the transfer list should get full credit for the time they spent on the waiting list and be placed on the transfer list with no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list.
Guidelines on inter-authority movement were issued to local authorities to facilitate the movement of HAP households from one local authority area to another in cases where a HAP tenant wishes to access rented accommodation, with HAP support, in another local authority area. Inter authority movement is, however, subject to certain conditions, such as the relevant Social Housing Income Eligibility Bands and confirmation that the applicant's income is below the threshold in the new local authority.
In order to maintain equity between all tenants in receipt of social housing support, inter-authority movement for HAP will be facilitated without reference to Social Housing Eligibility Income Bands in areas that offer shared areas of choice in their allocation schemes, as no change to existing treatment is involved in such areas. For example, in Dublin, the four local authority areas currently offer shared areas of choice in their allocation schemes.
However, HAP tenants who avail of inter-authority movement, can only be offered access to the transfer list of the originating local authority.
The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of their own scheme of letting priorities. The making of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and as such is a matter for the elected members.
277. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that a redress scheme for houses and apartments with fire defects will include all impacted apartments, be they owner occupied or tenant occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56378/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine defects in housing, having regard to the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing’s report Safe as Houses?, and to assist owners of latent defect properties by identifying options for those impacted by defects, to access low-cost, long-term finance. In response, in February 2021, I established a Working Group to examine the matter.
I received the comprehensive report of the Working Group on 28 July titled Defects in Apartments - Report of the Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing, and I published it straight away. I fully acknowledge the difficulties that homeowners and residents of many apartments and duplexes are facing, and the stress that is caused when defects arise in relation to their buildings.
In that context, on 27 September, I brought a Memorandum to Government to inform Government of the content of the report and of the next steps that I will be taking. I am currently, in consultation with Government colleagues, in the process of developing options with a view to providing support to homeowners who find themselves in a difficult financial situation through no fault of their own.
In this regard, I have established an inter–departmental/agency group to bring forward specific proposals to Government by the end of the year.
In addition, an advisory group is being established to develop a Code of Practice in the context of the Fire Services Acts, to provide guidance to building professionals and local authority building control/fire services, including guidance on interim safety measures.
As this work progresses, I am committed to continuing to liaise with key stakeholders such as homeowner representatives and the insurance sector. My Department is also engaging with the Housing Agency for the provision of advice in relation to implementation of the recommendations of the Report.
278. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to widen the criteria (details supplied) for qualification to the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme to include such properties in rural areas which are outside towns and villages and to bring them back to the housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56379/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra279. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects that the vacant property refurbishment grant will be extended to houses outside of settlements of 400 persons, to which the scheme was originally confined; the properties that will be eligible under the expanded scheme; the expected level of increase in applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56413/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the croí cónaithe scheme has yet been extended to allow residents of Dublin city to apply; if not, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56632/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 278, 279 and 289 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 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, 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.
In July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages but I am pleased to say that as of the 15 November, the expanded grant also includes eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas (in addition to those in towns and villages, which have been eligible since July).
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.
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/
280. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received and the number approved, by local authority area, for the vacant property refurbishment grant; the total expenditure on the scheme to date; and the anticipated expenditure in 2023. [56414/22]
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, 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.
In July, I launched the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages but I am pleased to say that as of the 15 November, the expanded grant also includes eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas (in addition to those in towns and villages, which have been eligible since July). See: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/
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 reviews of the schemes under it. Feedback on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Scheme has been very positive, with 419 applications reported to date. In order for applications to be assessed and a decision made, specified supporting documentation must be submitted with the application and a site visit carried out by the local authority to asses the works being applied for. In some cases this may involve the local authority reverting to the applicant for additional information. It is intended that in future data on the scheme will be published on the Department's website on a regular basis.
|
Local Authority |
Applications Received for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant |
Approved |
|
Carlow |
4 |
2 |
|
Cavan |
12 |
0 |
|
Clare |
18 |
1 |
|
Cork City |
1 |
0 |
|
Cork county |
50 |
10 |
|
Donegal |
25 |
0 |
|
Dublin City |
0 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
0 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
6 |
0 |
|
Galway City |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway County |
27 |
7 |
|
Kerry |
36 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
11 |
4 |
|
Kilkenny |
12 |
0 |
|
Laois |
7 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
23 |
9 |
|
Longford |
2 |
0 |
|
Louth |
14 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
27 |
8 |
|
Meath |
2 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
15 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
17 |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
19 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
13 |
8 |
|
South Dublin |
0 |
0 |
|
Tipperary |
30 |
2 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
11 |
2 |
|
Wexford |
14 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
7 |
3 |
|
Totals |
419 |
66 |
The operation of both schemes under the fund is delegated to and managed by local authorities. In 2022, a €50 million fund is available and it is not anticipated that there will be a constraint on allocations. Expenditure and associated allocations will be kept under review for 2023.
281. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will furnish all correspondence and interactions between his Department and the Office of the Planning Regulator in the past 12 months in relation to recommendations made by the regulator regarding the Cork County Council development plan. [56492/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the reply to Question 328 of 25 October 2022, I can advise that the Section 31 Ministerial Direction issued on the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 has been published by my office and the Office of the Planning Regulator in relation to this Plan. This material can be accessed at: www.opr.ie/recommendations-made-by-the-opr-to-the-minister/.
I will arrange for my officials to forward on a copy of other relevant correspondence as appropriate.
282. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if approval will issue for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56541/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the project referred to in the Question, my Department issued Stage 4 approval to proceed to tender on 5 September 2022. My Department has been made aware that the local authority is working with the relevant Approved Housing Body to satisfactorily resolve some issues, which have arisen during the contract award process.
283. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of full-time staff by grade working in the national directorate for fire and emergency management section within his Department as of 1 January 2021 and 9 November 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56561/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 1 January 2021, there were 19 staff working in the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM). This equated to 18.48 staff on a Full-Time Equivalant (FTE) basis as there were three staff on worksharing attendance patterns. On 9 November 2022, there were 19 staff working in the NDFEM. This equated to 18.73 staff on a FTE basis as there was one member of staff on a worksharing attendance pattern.
The below table provides a breakdown by grade, on a FTE basis, of the NDFEM staff serving at 1 January 2021 and at 9 November 2022.
|
GRADE |
01/01/2021 |
09/11/2022 |
|
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER |
|
1.00 |
|
ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
3.00 |
2.00 |
|
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL |
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
ASSISTANT STAFF ENGINEER |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
CLERICAL OFFICER |
3.53 |
3.73 |
|
EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
3.95 |
3.00 |
|
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
1.00 |
3.00 |
|
PRINCIPAL |
1.00 |
|
|
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR HIGHER LEVEL |
1.00 |
|
|
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR HIGHER LEVEL (Acting) |
|
1.00 |
|
SENIOR ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
1.00 |
1.00 |
|
TOTAL |
18.48 |
18.73 |
284. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the budget allocation for the National Parks and Wildlife Service in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the budget allocated to same in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56562/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government’s commitment to transforming the way Ireland values nature is clearly evident in the steady increase in budget and resources for the National Parks and Wildlife Service since 2020.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service will receive €52.6m in programme funding in 2023, in addition to a significant increase in staffing resources. Combined with EU funding for LIFE Programmes and an expansion of the Local Authority Biodiversity Officers Programme through the Heritage Council, this gives us an effective total funding for nature and biodiversity of over €90m.
NPWS Funding 2020 - 2023
|
2020 |
€29m |
|
2021 |
€42m |
|
2022 |
€44m |
|
2023 |
€52m |
285. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of special amenity area orders in place nationally that were issued by ministerial order; their locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56563/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraProvisions in relation to the making of special amenity areas are set out in section 202 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the 2000 Act). Under these provisions, a planning authority may make an order declaring a specified area to be an area of special amenity, for reasons of its outstanding beauty or its special recreational value, and having regard to any benefits for nature conservation.
The making of a Special Amenity Area Order is a reserved function of the elected members of a local authority. However, as Minister I may, if I consider it necessary, direct a planning authority to make an order declaring a specified area to be an area of special amenity for the same reasons as outlined above.
All special amenity area orders made by a planning authority, whether on the initiative of the authority or on foot of a direction by the Minister, require confirmation by An Bord Pleanála under section 203 of the 2000 Act before they can come into effect.
Prior to the 2000 Act, where such an order was made, it required confirmation by Ministerial Order in accordance with the provisions of section 43 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1963, as amended by section 40 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1976.
There are currently three special amenity area orders in place nationally, which required confirmation by Ministerial Order. These are Fingal County Council (Howth) Special Amenity Area Order ( S.I.No. 133/2000), North Bull Island Special Amenity Order(S.I. No. 70/1995 ) and Dublin County Council (Lucan Bridge to Palmerstown) Special Amenity Area Order (S.I. No. 59 / 1990).
286. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will instruct local authorities to make the record of protected structures in their jurisdiction available on their websites as a separate document to the county development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56564/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraConcerning the publication of records of protected structures, Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect architectural heritage by including particular structures on their respective Records of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with any development proposals affecting them.
Section 51 of the Planning and Development Act (2000), as amended (The ‘Act’), requires that every development plan shall include a record of protected structures, and shall include in that record every structure which is, in the opinion of the planning authority, of such interest within its functional area. Separate to the development plan review process undertaken by a planning authority, section 55 of the Act makes provision for a planning authority to make additions or deletions to the RPS.
A Record of Protected Structures is the record included in a local authority’s Development Plan, correct at the time of publication. It may be amended by the addition or deletion of entries independently of the Development Plan review process. Decisions over the publication of their RPS as posed by the Deputy are for the local authority to decide as it is a function and a decision of the local authority. In that regard, it may be helpful to note that many local authorities have published their respective records of protected structures as separate appendices to their development plans on their websites and may be directly accessed there.
287. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56593/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides Unit Cost Ceilings (UCCs) to each local authority as a key benchmark for the development and costing of new build social housing. As UCCs are based on previously tendered social housing construction projects, they act as useful guide costs for local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies against which to benchmark their projects. UCCs are representative of standard costs, typically encountered on all new build social housing schemes, developed directly by local authorities (or AHBs) on local authority (or AHB) lands, using Public Works forms of Contract. The UCC Construction Cost is reflective of the base build cost, inclusive of normal external / site development works and VAT.
The UCC ‘All-in Cost’ is reflective of a composite target to include the construction cost, with the addition of allowances for land acquisition costs, design team fees, utilities, site investigations, surveys, local authority in-house fees, public art etc., as appropriate. As such, the All-In costs allow for Assigned Certifier costs and performance bonds / insurances.
Items specific to private sector delivery, such as financing costs, developer margins / profits, contingency provisions (required by private funders) and Part V are not included in the UCCs.
With regard to inflation, it should be noted that under all Public Works Contracts, an element of inflation risk is carried by the Contractor (and therefore reflected in the tender price). The UCCs reflect anticipated tender price levels at a point in time (in the case of the most recently published UCCs, Q2 2022).
288. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will advise on the guidelines for local authorities regarding the inclusion of social welfare payments in calculating differential rents; if he will provide a list of social welfare payments and their inclusion as income with regard to this calculation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56618/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved administration of rent schemes and different approaches are taken to rent setting across local authorities. Accordingly, decisions regarding the sources of income included and disregarded for rent assessment purposes, including the various social welfare payments, are a matter for individual local authorities. My Department has no role in this regard.
Housing for All commits to developing proposals for a standardised national differential rents scheme across the country. Following the recent review of Housing for All, and having regard to the significant changes in the economic environment over the past year, this action is now scheduled for completion in Q3 2023.
290. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Part 8 stage one approval applications for Traveller-specific housing submitted to his Department by each local authority for each year since 2016, in tabular form. [56633/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.
My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. Funding of €18 million is available in 2022 for the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation and this funding will increase to €20 million in 2023. Part 8 planning applications are a matter for local authorities and my Department does not compile such information as part of the approval and disbursement of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation.
291. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of participants in the National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme by farm system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56645/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, administered by my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service, is an important instrument that allows for proactive engagement with farmers in designated sites, to trial and deliver bespoke measures that support biodiversity. The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme has been enlarged this year to work with farmersand to apply and test new and innovative approaches for farmand biodiversity.
There are presently 254 active NPWS farm plans, with more to come on stream in the coming weeks and months. Various farm systems (tillage, beef, sheep, dairy, equine, nature-based, organic, non-organic, other) and combinations of farm systems are involved. The core interest of the farm plans is the delivery of quality habitats and environments rather than the farming type, so the farm system, which can be subject to change, is not categorised for data purposes.
292. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the measures his Department is taking to support alternative sources of peat for the horticultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56660/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 17th January 2022, my colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has responsibility for Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the series of actions developed to support Irish horticultural growers who are dependent on peat.
The Working Paper setting out the Series of Actions can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/39315-working-paper-to-address-challenges-related-to-peat-supply-in-the-horticulture-sector/
The actions are being led by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which is the Department with responsibility for Horticulture. The range of actions in the series are those which, in the shared view of the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Environment, Climate and Communications, inter alia, can reasonably, legally and practically be put in place to support the €469 million horticulture industry, the people employed and the many families that depend on this important sector.
