Cathal Crowe
Ceist:206. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the total amount in Euro given to support businesses under the Covid restrictions support scheme by county, in tabular form. [8040/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCovid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (206)
Freagraí scríofa
The Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), which was introduced by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2020, was a targeted support for businesses significantly impacted by restrictions introduced by the Government to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scheme was available to companies, self-employed individuals and partnerships who carried on a trade or trading activities from a business premises that was subject to restrictions that prohibited or considerably restricted customer access. The scheme was designed to help traders meet their costs at a time when they could not provide goods or services to their customers from their business premises, or could only do so to a limited extent, due to COVID-19 related restrictions.
The total cost of the CRSS was €727m. The scheme ended in early 2022.
The amount paid out by county is as follows:
|
County of Business |
CRSS Amount €million |
|
Carlow |
€7 |
|
Cavan |
€9 |
|
Clare |
€17 |
|
Cork |
€73 |
|
Donegal |
€26 |
|
Dublin |
€263 |
|
Galway |
€46 |
|
Kerry |
€38 |
|
Kildare |
€19 |
|
Kilkenny |
€11 |
|
Laois |
€7 |
|
Leitrim |
€4 |
|
Limerick |
€25 |
|
Longford |
€3 |
|
Louth |
€29 |
|
Mayo |
€20 |
|
Meath |
€22 |
|
Monaghan |
€6 |
|
Offaly |
€7 |
|
Roscommon |
€5 |
|
Sligo |
€9 |
|
Tipperary |
€16 |
|
Waterford |
€16 |
|
Westmeath |
€12 |
|
Wexford |
€19 |
|
Wicklow |
€16 |
|
Total |
€725m* |
*subject to rounding.
Revenue published a list of the businesses that received payments under the CRSS in May 2022, available at the link provided below:
www.revenue.ie/en/self-assessment-and-self-employment/crss/list-of-businesses-received-payments-under-crss.aspx
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (207)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:207. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the number of first-time buyer help-to-buy scheme applicants and approved recipients since its inception by county; and the total number of approved recipients in 2020, 2021 and 2022, by county, in tabular form. [8041/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers (FTP) with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive provides a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation.
I am advised by Revenue that applications for Help to Buy may be made on a provisional basis as first-time buyers seek to clarify their entitlements in advance of commencing the purchase of a property. An application will only progress to the “claim” stage if and when the applicant decides to purchase a property that is eligible for the scheme. It is only at claim stage that the property address details become available, and therefore a county breakdown of applications, encompassing those that do not progress to claim stage, is not available.
Revenue have advised that the table below provides a county breakdown of the number of approved claims for the years 2017 – 2022, based on the date of the commencement of the claim stage:
|
- |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Carlow |
35 |
36 |
60 |
60 |
105 |
61 |
|
Cavan |
34 |
40 |
60 |
69 |
87 |
69 |
|
Clare |
60 |
74 |
126 |
104 |
166 |
94 |
|
Cork |
509 |
563 |
804 |
804 |
1,104 |
958 |
|
Donegal |
43 |
49 |
88 |
114 |
148 |
175 |
|
Dublin |
1,974 |
1,574 |
1,679 |
1,145 |
1,110 |
1,057 |
|
Galway |
201 |
218 |
290 |
331 |
417 |
326 |
|
Kerry |
45 |
41 |
81 |
98 |
104 |
115 |
|
Kildare |
514 |
473 |
675 |
772 |
990 |
1,029 |
|
Kilkenny |
36 |
48 |
85 |
142 |
122 |
118 |
|
Laois |
63 |
88 |
85 |
142 |
222 |
144 |
|
Leitrim |
12 |
16 |
<10* |
19 |
29 |
18 |
|
Limerick |
162 |
151 |
210 |
213 |
256 |
176 |
|
Longford |
19 |
18 |
34 |
22 |
29 |
25 |
|
Louth |
130 |
185 |
218 |
189 |
342 |
312 |
|
Mayo |
64 |
78 |
144 |
131 |
160 |
166 |
|
Meath |
599 |
585 |
845 |
746 |
867 |
633 |
|
Monaghan |
30 |
43 |
67 |
66 |
100 |
81 |
|
Offaly |
55 |
34 |
59 |
78 |
135 |
153 |
|
Roscommon |
32 |
31 |
63 |
61 |
80 |
62 |
|
Sligo |
26 |
39 |
54 |
37 |
74 |
62 |
|
Tipperary |
83 |
84 |
112 |
96 |
133 |
112 |
|
Waterford |
127 |
113 |
145 |
161 |
192 |
162 |
|
Westmeath |
60 |
70 |
80 |
94 |
95 |
101 |
|
Wexford |
64 |
98 |
191 |
168 |
296 |
285 |
|
Wicklow |
258 |
211 |
305 |
224 |
310 |
249 |
|
Total |
5235 |
4960 |
6560* |
6086 |
7673 |
6743 |
* Where there are fewer than ten cases in a county, the exact number is not provided due to Revenue's obligation to protect taxpayer confidentiality. The number of Leitrim-based claims is therefore excluded from the 2019 total.
Public Procurement Contracts
Ceisteanna (208)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:208. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if there is a legal obligation on the design team or organisation dealing with a tender to inform the winner of the tender of the next closest price, if the difference in price is in the €1 million range; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7779/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Public procurement in Ireland is governed by legal requirements, rules and guidelines set both at national and EU level. The aim of European and national rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. The general requirements for works and works-related contracts are set out in the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). This guidance incorporates key elements of EU legislation that have been transposed into Irish law and is complemented by circulars and guidance issued by this Department and the Office of Government Procurement.
The management of the tendering process for a public contract is a matter for each contracting authority. It is the responsibility of each contracting authority to ensure that tenderers comply with all the requirements of the process.
The design team is a team of professional consultants and experts who advise and support the contracting authority. They undertake various technical activities within their service disciplines to achieve a successful result which provides a facility that satisfies the contracting authority’s output requirements. Design team members have an individual and collective responsibility throughout the planning stage including input into the tendering process. This responsibility includes:
- Adopting best practice to suit the chosen procurement strategy - when preparing design and specification information for tender documents for a tender competition;
- Short-listing tenderers, if required, (in cooperation with the project coordinator) to establish the most suitable panel of tenderers;
- Providing up-to-date market information to ensure that the latest approved budget reflects current market prices;
- To structure the tender so that it is placed appropriately in the market;
- Producing complete tender documentation in a comprehensive, coordinated and cohesive manner;
- Dealing with tender queries during the tender period;
- Analysing submitted bids and/or proposals; and
- Preparing a tender report for consideration by the contracting authority with a clear recommendation to approve the Most Economically Advantageous Tender or lowest price tender (where appropriate).
There is an obligation on the contracting authority under Section 6 of the European Communities (Public Authorities’ Contracts) (Review Procedures) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 130 of 2010) to notify all tenderers and candidates of the outcome of a tender process.
The successful tenderer is informed of the marks they received under each of the criteria where the award criterion is the Most Economically Advantageous Tender in the circumstances where technical merit (or quality) criteria are used. Where the award criterion is the lowest price they are simply advised that they are the lowest price tender with no obligation to disclose the prices of the other tenderers.
International Bodies
Ceisteanna (209)
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:209. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the OECD Civic Space Scans which have been carried out in Finland and Portugal (details supplied); if he will undertake to request a similar scan be carried out in Ireland by the OECD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7825/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Officials from my Department engage with the OECD with work on civic space through the OECD Public Governance Committee and the OECD PGC Working Party on Open Government.
In December, representatives from my Department attended the report launch of ‘The Protection and Promotion of Civic Space: Strengthening Alignment with International Standards and Guidance’ which was hosted by the OECD Observatory of Civic Space. This report aims to support Members and non-Members to raise standards and improve their policies by providing an overview of the different dimensions of civic space and a wide range of measures to safeguard it. The report is based on data from a survey of 52 central governments, of which Ireland participated, and focuses on 4 key areas: the protection of civic freedoms; access to information as a right; media freedoms and civic space in the digital age; and the enabling environment for civil society. Findings from the report highlight the need for respondents to adopt a whole of government approach to protect civic space, as well as ongoing reviews of the manner in which legal frameworks governing civic space are implemented at the national level (OECD 2022: 19).
In addition to the survey on the Protection and Promotion of Civic Space, the OECD also conducts Civic Space Scans. The OECD’s civic space work is anchored in the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Open Government (OECD 2022: 20). The Recommendation defines open government as “a culture of governance that promotes the principles of transparency, integrity, accountability and stakeholder participation in support of democracy and inclusive growth” (OECD, 2017[24]). Actions to improve Civic Space in Ireland are identified through the Open Government Partnership, the secretariat of which is located in my Department. Open Government in Ireland recognises that the active engagement of citizens and civil society is an essential element to co-create and monitor the Open Government National Action Plan, which includes the following commitments:
- Progressing civic participation with the objective of further enhancing the proactive and meaningful participation and engagement with citizens in the decisions that affect them
- Strengthening inclusion and civic deliberation in local decision making
More recently, we have committed to increasing our work on civic space through the new OECD Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy Initiative. This 5 year initiative was launched with the declaration in Luxembourg in November 2022 at which my colleague Minister of State Smyth was in attendance. Officials are currently working across government on the Reinforcing Democracy Initiative, and the relevant Action Plan on Representation, Participation and Openness in Public Life of which civic space comes under. Important examples of the promotion of civic space include the continued use of The Citizens’ Assembly and Public Participation Networks (PPN). The Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy Initiative within Ireland is co-ordinated by officials in my Department who sit on the OECD Public Governance Committee.
Semi-State Bodies
Ceisteanna (210)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:210. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide a schedule of the non-commercial and semi-State commercial companies under his aegis; if an explanatory memorandum will be provided in respect of the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2022; if his Department collects the funds and forwards it to the central fund or whether it goes directly; if over that period his Department has requested an increase in respect of the dividend due over it’s percentage shareholding; the number of occasions that it waived the dividend; the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7910/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The table below lists all of the bodies under the aegis of my Department for the information of the Deputy. None of these bodies are commercial Semi-State companies. Most of these bodies are funded through their own Votes and the remainder are either grant funded or self-funded and, as such, no dividends have been payable since the Department was established in 2011.
Bodies under the aegis of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform
|
- |
Dividend paid since the establishment of the Department in 2011 |
|
Office of Public Works |
Nil |
|
Public Appointments Service |
Nil |
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
Nil |
|
National Shared Services Office |
Nil |
|
State Laboratory |
Nil |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute |
Nil |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
Nil |
|
Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery |
Nil |
|
Special EU Programmes Body |
Nil |
Office of Public Works
Ceisteanna (211)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:211. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of a project (details supplied). [7920/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would refer the Deputy to the answer I gave to his very similar question in 2021 (55947/21) regarding this property - www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2021-11-16/243/#pq-answers-243.
The position regarding Vernon Mount House remains the same. The House and it’s immediate curtilage registered under Folio CK136041F is owned by a private company VernonMount House Restoration Ltd. This company is live, its annual returns are up to date and the CRO status is Normal. The house is not State property and, that being the case, the OPW has no role in this matter.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (212)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:212. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has received a request from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of his Department or under the control of agencies under the remit of his Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if he has identified potential properties and their locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7941/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received such a request from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. In responding to the request, I advised the Minister that my Department (including the Office of Government Procurement) does not lease or own any properties that are currently unoccupied.
With the exception of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this is also the case for each of the bodies under the aegis of my Department.
I further noted that I was advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the OPW manages a property portfolio in excess of 2,500 properties which includes heritage buildings, commercial office blocks, green field sites, warehouses, Coast Guard Stations and Garda Stations. As would be the norm in such a large portfolio, at any given time, there will be a number of properties being refurbished or vacant. The State will always retain a number of vacant properties for future use.
Many of these types of buildings are not readily adaptable to full time residential use. The OPW however has actively engaged with the relevant State agencies to ensure that they are fully aware of vacant properties in the portfolio that could be considered for either use for housing or for use as part of the current humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine. The relevant agencies then assess those buildings in terms of what might be suitable for residential use. Many of these properties were deemed unsuitable as they were constructed over 50 years ago and would require significant investment to comply with current regulations for residential use or are located in rural areas without the necessary services and supports.
As of February 2023, the OPW is preparing three vacant sites in the ownership of the Commissioners which have been identified as suitable for the installation of modern quality off-site housing units for Ukrainians fleeing the war. The successful delivery of these homes will form a significant component of the State’s overall humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis.
Departmental Bodies
Ceisteanna (213)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:213. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 17 November 2022, if the National Famine Commemoration Committee met to consider arrangements for the 2023 ceremony and will reflect on the experience of the past two years in putting forward proposals for 2023 as stated in her response; if a rotation of venue by province remains the policy for the National Famine Commemoration Day; if it is intended to proceed with an international twinning of An Gorta Mór Day in 2023 as previously been intended to happen annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7777/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the National Famine Commemoration Committee has responsibility for considering arrangements for the annual commemoration ceremony.
I am pleased to advise that the Committee met in December 2022 to consider arrangements for the commemoration of the Great Famine in 2023. My Department is currently developing proposals put forward by the Committee. Further details on plans for this year's commemoration will be published shortly.
Irish Language
Ceisteanna (214)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:214. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the Irish Language Service Plan will be finalised for Cahersiveen; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7847/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department and I are currently working on the Language Plan for Cathair Saidhbhín. I should be able to provide the Deputy with a further update in the coming weeks.
To date, under Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, 36 language plans have been approved; all of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas have been approved; of the 16 Gaeltacht Service Towns, 7 have been approved and 3 Irish Language Networks have been approved so far.
There are 29 language planning officers and 3 assistant language planning officers currently working on implementing these language plans.
I am happy that progress is being made with the process and I hope to build on that in 2023. To that end, I was very happy that an increase in the funding available for language planning was secured for 2023, thus ensuring that funding of €6.55 million is now available for the process.
Semi-State Bodies
Ceisteanna (215)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:215. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a schedule of the non-commercial and semi-State commercial companies under her aegis; if an explanatory memorandum will be provided in respect of the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2022; if her Department collects the funds and forwards it to the central fund or whether it goes directly; if over that period her Department has requested an increase in respect of the dividend due over it’s percentage shareholding; the number of occasions that it waived the dividend; the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7914/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A schedule of State Agencies and Bodies under the aegis of my Department is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/9af0f-state-agencies-bodies-under-the-departments-aegis/
Two of these bodies, RTÉ and TG4, are State-owned enterprises.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in its current configuration in June 2020. With regard to the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer, I am advised that no dividends have been paid by either of these two organisations since that date nor during the period specified by the Deputy and that no dividends are projected to be paid.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (216)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:216. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has received a request from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to identify properties under the control of her Department or under the control of agencies under the remit of her Department for the purposes of providing accommodation to international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if she has identified potential properties and their locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7945/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that I have recently received correspondence from my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to this matter.
Throughout the past year my Department has continued to work with agencies and stakeholders in the sectors under my remit to identify opportunities to assist in addressing the accommodation challenges arising in relation to people from Ukraine fleeing Russia’s illegal war and international protection applicants. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) have been provided with details of offers of accommodation. Further information in relation to accommodation deemed as suitable for use are available from that Department. On foot of Minister O’Gorman’s request my Department has again contacted its agencies and stakeholders to identify further options for accommodation.
Repatriation Costs
Ceisteanna (217)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:217. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the campaign to repatriate the remains of a person (details supplied) from Belgium to Ireland; if her Department will assist with the repatriation effort given the cultural and historical significance of the person and the tourism implications for the Irish location chosen as the final resting place for his remains; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8038/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have no function in the repatriation of the remains of the person cited in the Deputy's question. Given the complexity of issues related to the exhumation and repatriation of remains generally, all of which fall outside the remit of my Department, I am not in a position to assist such activities.