Denise Mitchell
Ceist:150. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on the application for a certificate of freedom to marry for a person (details supplied). [9758/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCivil Registration Service
Ceisteanna (150)
Freagraí scríofa
Further to PQs 2660/24 and 2721/24 regarding this case, I would like to assure the Deputy that officials from the Marriages Abroad Unit of the Consular Directorate in my Department are in regular and direct contact with the applicant concerned.
We are awaiting additional material in support of the application. Once officials receive the required material, the department will process the application in a timely manner. As my officials have advised the applicant, such applications are processed within an eight-week timeframe.
My Department's Marriages Abroad Unit can be contacted for guidance or assistance at marriagesabroad@dfa.ie and full information on the process is available on the Department's website under the 'Consular Services' section of www.ireland.ie.
Passport Services
Ceisteanna (151)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:151. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what avenues are open to a person (details supplied) who has to apply for a passport if the copies of their birth certificate, name change and gender recognition certificate are notarised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9767/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Passport applicants who are resident in Ireland can apply for a first time passport or to renew their passport if they have a Gender Recognition Certificate issued by the Department of Social Protection.
Original documents are required. These will be returned to the applicant once their passport issues.
For passport renewal, the following original documents are required:
• Original Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) as issued by the Department of Social Protection
• Current Irish passport. This will be cancelled and returned to the applicant.
• If applicant is changing their name, the Passport Service requires two documents from two different sources dating back at least two years from the date of the passport application.
For a first time Passport Online applicant, the following original documents are required:
• Witnessed identity verification form generated by Passport Online system.
• Original Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) as issued by the Department of Social Protection.
• Original Civil Birth certificate as re-issued after gender recognition.
• Proof of address such as Government correspondence such as a letter from the Department of Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners.
• Proof of name such as Government correspondence such as a letter from the Department of Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners
• Photographic identification such as a copy of a Public Services Card or certified copy of a driver's licence.
Further information on changing names and recognising gender on an Irish passport, including for applicants resident outside the State is available on my Department's website at www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/documentary-requirements/adult.
EU Funding
Ceisteanna (152)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:152. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9806/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Foreign Affairs is not a recipient nor manager of EU funds and therefore the question of the amount and purpose of any such funding remaining unallocated does not arise.
EU Funding
Ceisteanna (153)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:153. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9804/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland's EU Just Transition Fund Programme, formally launched in April 2023, will provide €169 million (including €84.5 million of EU funding) until 2027 to support the economic transition of the Midlands Territory. This includes Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, and Westmeath and certain municipal districts in Galway, Kildare, and Tipperary.
The programme is designed to address the longer-term economic transition of the region arising from the end of commercial peat extraction and peat-fired power generation. Funding under this programme will be allocated through the votes of my Department as well as the Departments of Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Housing Local Government and Heritage, Transport and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Approximately €71 million of funding has already been made available under the Programme for projects that support the bioeconomy, electric vehicle charging, regenerative tourism, and the implementation of local and regional economic strategies. Call documentation is currently in development for a further €91 million of funding under the Programme, with these schemes expected to launch over the course of 2024.
My Department has also received an EU funding allocation of €2 million under the Digital Europe Programme to progress the National Co-ordination Centre - Ireland (NCC-IE) cyber security project. This aim of this project is to:
• coordinate with industry, academia, research, and other stakeholders to develop awareness of, and promote funding supports and associated networking opportunities;
• distribute EU and national funds to industry and societal stakeholders, notably small and medium sized enterprises (SME), with the aim of strengthening the uptake of state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions;
• contribute to policy and strategy formulation on cybersecurity funding.
The grant scheme to distribute these funds is currently being developed with grant allocations expected to commence in Q4 2024.
All other EU funding made available to my Department since January 2023, is allocated to specific projects.
Post Office Network
Ceisteanna (154)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:154. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the proposed conversion of Phibsborough Post Office was discussed at the meeting with Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and An Post on 14 February 2024; if this post office is included in An Post's undertaking to review its decision to the proposed conversion; and if An Post has provided any update to him on this review. [9834/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. An Post has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network.
Decisions relating to the network , including those in relation to the future closure of post offices are operational matters for the Board and management of the company and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function.
Following the announcement by An Post in relation to the conversion of six post offices from being An Post run to contractor run, I met with An Post officials on 14th February and these discussions are ongoing.
Local Authorities
Ceisteanna (155)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:155. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if funding can be provided to a local authority (details supplied) in order to upgrade litter bins and provide additional litter bins in an area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9835/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Waste management planning, including with regard to infrastructure provision such as public waste bins, is the responsibility of local authorities under Part II of the Waste Management Act, 1996 (as amended). Under section 60(3) of that Act, as Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of their statutory functions under the Act. As such, the provision of public waste bins is a matter for each local authority within its functional area.
My Department provides significant annual funding to local authority efforts to tackle litter through the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. €750,000 was provided under this Scheme in 2023 with a similar amount expected to be made available in 2024. This funding allows local authorities to support local community and environmental groups in their efforts to promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter and/or graffiti while also supporting community clean ups etc.
Broadband Infrastructure
Ceisteanna (156)
Peter Burke
Ceist:156. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the provision of broadband to a location (details supplied). [9870/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In December 2022, my Department published Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and sets out a number of ambitious targets, including that:
• all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028
• all populated areas will be covered by 5G no later than 2030, and
• digital connectivity will be delivered to all schools and broadband connection points by 2023
These targets will be achieved through commercial operators investing in their networks, complemented by the State’s National Broadband Plan intervention. When taken together, all premises in the State will have access to high-speed broadband in every part of the country no matter how remote.
The premises in question is in the BLUE area on the broadband map. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard. There may be a choice of operators offering this service in any given area. Further information in this regard is available at www.comreg.ie/compare/#/services.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the DECC webform at secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/NBP-Customer-Service.aspx and DECC will escalate with open eir to investigate this matter further.
The Department expects that the majority of the Blue area of the NBP Map will be served with high-speed broadband from commercial operators. The European Electronics Communications Code (EECC) requires a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) to be implemented by Member States, which provides an assurance that all premises can access a high-speed broadband connection. This provides another tool to help deliver upon the NBP’s policy objectives that every home and business in the country will have access to high-speed broadband.
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace. Open eir have already passed over over 1.1 million homes. SIRO has recently reached a milestone of enabling over 545,000 premises for full fibre and is on track to reach 700,000 premises by 2026. Virgin Media recently announced a €200 million investment plan to upgrade its cable network to bring full fibre to up to 1 million premises over the next three years, to date it has passed 252,000 premises with full fibre.
Recent ComReg data shows that Quarter 2 of 2023 saw a 7.4% increase in fibre broadband subscriptions compared to the first 3 months of the year, and a 33.7% increase when compared to Quarter 2 of 2022. This demonstrates that take-up of fibre connectivity for homes and businesses is increasing substantially as it is deployed to areas where it had previously been unavailable. The same ComReg data also indicates that c. 40% of homes and business throughout the State now have access to gigabit services through either fibre (576,856) or cable (359,669) infrastructure.
Defence Forces
Ceisteanna (157)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:157. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence why the archive of the official Defence Forces magazine, An Cosantóir, first published in 1940, is no longer online; who took the decision to have it removed; if there are plans to make a full back catalogue, and not just the current edition, available online in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9746/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The online platform, which is available found through military.ie (digital.jmpublishing.ie/read/account_titles/154612) is currently being refurbished and updated.
That platform currently contains online issues of An Cosantóir dating back to 2009.
EU Funding
Ceisteanna (158)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:158. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9801/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Defence have submitted three projects for reimbursement of eligible elements of incurred costs, under the provisions of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). All three projects received approval in principle from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), the Responsible Authority, but funding is yet to be drawn down. The projects are:
• Purchase of new Maritime Patrol Aircraft – €9,000,000
• Training relating to new MPA - €675,000
• Upgrade of Lirguard Fishery Protection system - €1,350,000
The Department understands that final verification checks of all allocated expenditure under the EMFF is being undertaken by DAFM and following this, claims can then be submitted to the Commission for reimbursement to the Exchequer of the co-funded element of incurred costs.
Defence Forces
Ceisteanna (159)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:159. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he intends to advance proposals to amend age limits for those wishing to join the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9832/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. The entry age limits for General Service Recruits, Air Corps Aircraft Apprentices and certain Direct Entry ‘other rank’ specialists (DFSM Instrumentalists) were increased to 29 years in 2023.
Further age increases require legislative change and, in that context, the General Scheme of the Defence Amendment Bill 2023, published on 10 January 2024, includes an amendment to the provisions regarding the engagement of enlisted personnel. This amendment will remove current obstacles, and provide for greater flexibility on increasing the maximum age limits for personnel who wish to enlist in the Permanent Defence Force. Any amendments made to the Permanent Defence Force upper age limits will inform a decision on increasing Reserve Defence Force age limits.
Defence Forces
Ceisteanna (160)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:160. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on his proposals to better facilitate re-enlistment in the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9833/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In April 2020, a scheme was launched to re-enlist former Permanent Defence Force (PDF) enlisted personnel. The focus of the scheme is on those former PDF personnel with particular skillsets identified by the Chief of Staff which are not available within the Defence Forces.
The re-enlistment of former personnel with the relevant skills and experience is one of the many actions being pursued to address skills shortages in the PDF. Under the terms and conditions of the scheme, which were agreed with the Representative Association for enlisted ranks, PDFORRA, the scheme allows for initial re-enlistment for a minimum of six months and up to three years and the duration of the re-enlistment offered depends on the vacancies that exist.
During 2023, 18 personnel were approved to be re-enlisted (Army 12, Air Corps 5, and Naval Service 1) while in 2024 a total of 7 personnel have been approved to be re-enlisted (5 Army, 2 Air Corps).
In total, 134 candidates have been approved by the former Minister and Tánaiste since the re-enlistment scheme began and 107 members have been attested under the terms of the scheme.
An internal review of the Re-Enlistment of Former Personnel to the PDF is currently being finalised and is expected to be completed shortly.
The recently published Defence (Amendment) Bill 2023 General Scheme to amend the Defence Act includes a proposal to amend section 53A(3), which deals with the re-enlistment of former members of the Permanent Defence Force. The aim of the proposal is to allow the period of re-enlisted service to extend for further terms where necessary.
In addition, this Government is committed to restoring the strength of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and last year saw positive growth in terms of the number of personnel completing a growing number of training days with the result that there has been an increase in the budget for the RDF this year.
One strategy currently being examined to help underpin the restoration of the strength of the RDF is the identification of a legal mechanism to facilitate the re-entry of former members of the RDF at their former rank. Internal discussions are ongoing on this topic and the identification of a pathway will be a positive step in bolstering the strength of the RDF.
Road Traffic Offences
Ceisteanna (161)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to legislate to make it an offence to drive while disqualified, either as a qualified driver or a learner driver. [9846/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is already an offence to drive while disqualified, either as a full driving licence holder or as a learner permit holder. Once a driver is disqualified, their licence is no longer valid.
The offence for driving without a licence is set out in section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. An individual driving without a driving licence may be fined up to €5000, or be imprisoned for up to 6 months, or both.
Tax Collection
Ceisteanna (162)
John Brady
Ceist:162. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the reason motorists are being charged a premium for paying their motor tax in quarterly or half-yearly instalments; if this is a matter his Department could review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9768/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are no plans currently to amend or review motor tax legislation to provide for pro-rata rates for half-yearly and quarterly motor tax. Any such change would be a Budgetary matter for the Minister for Finance.
The rates applicable to the half-yearly and quarterly options as set out in law are 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual charge, respectively. This means those who opt to pay motor tax twice a year pay an additional 10% per year and those who pay four times per year pay an additional 13% per year. The surcharges for the quarterly and half yearly payments for motor tax have remained generally consistent since the 1960's.
It is not unusual to pay more when paying more frequently. Each half-yearly or quarterly renewal of motor tax requires the same administrative procedures as the annual renewal process. Accordingly, aside from the loss in receipts, any consideration of re-balancing of the charges for non-annual discs must take account of the fact that overheads, both direct and indirect, would also increase significantly. If the surcharge were abolished many more people would opt to pay quarterly, which could more than double the number of transactions and the number of motor tax discs required.
The loss of income that would arise from changing these arrangements would have a negative impact on the total collected via motor tax and would have to be borne elsewhere in the tax system. The loss to the Exchequer has been estimated at some €35.3m, based on the pattern of transactions in 2022.
State Properties
Ceisteanna (163)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:163. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 23 January 2024, if he can comment on the particulars of the event requested (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9787/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
AirNav Ireland are the State agency responsible for managing air traffic in Irish airspace. Having consulted with them, they have informed me that while they would not have data relating to the altitude of a flight such as that mentioned in the Deputy's question, they may be able to retrieve data related to the flight path/trajectory of the aircraft from Eurocontrol, the Network Manager for the European area. I have therefore passed the request on to AirNav Ireland to provide such information directly to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
EU Funding
Ceisteanna (164)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:164. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9816/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Transport does not have any unallocated EU funding. All EU funding provided to the Department has been allocated for a specific purpose. This includes the following agreed funding:
• National Resilience and Recovery Programme (NRRP) Funding (€71.92m) which is allocated to the Cork Commuter Rail project;
• Shared Island funding (€7m) and EU Just Transition Fund (EUJTF) funding (€6.8m) which is allocated to EV Infrastructure projects;
• EU Just Transition Funding (€1.650m) which is allocated to Rural Transport Projects;
• RePowerEU funding (€56m) which will be allocated to the Electrification works at Drogheda train station to facilitate the charging of battery electric trains.
Customs and Excise
Ceisteanna (165)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:165. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider his decision to introduce an increase in fuel excise on 1 April 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9884/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, in 2022 in light of the acute impact rising prices were having on households and business, Government provided for excise rate reductions in the order of 21, 16 and 5.4 cent per litre on petrol, diesel and Marked Gas Oil (MGO) respectively. These temporary reductions were due to end initially on 31 August 2022 but following review and monitoring of fuel prices were extended until February 2023 with a phased restoration beginning in June 2023, followed by a second restoration in September 2023. A final restoration of excise rates was due to take place on 31 October 2023 but in Budget 2024, I provided for a further extension until 31 March 2024 with a phased restoration legislated to occur in two final stages on 1 April 2024 and 1 August 2024.
While I recognise that households and business continue to face challenges, the Government must strike the appropriate balance between providing support and avoiding fuelling cyclical inflationary trends.
To note national average prices have eased considerably from highs of over €2.00 per litre which we saw in 2022. As per the Central Statistics Office Consumer Price Index, average national retail prices of auto diesel and petrol have decreased from approximately €1.85 per litre in October 2023 to approximately €1.69 per litre for diesel and €1.68 for petrol in January 2024. More recently the European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin shows that the national average price as of 26 February 2024 was approximately €1.72 for both fuels.
In conclusion, I have no plans to postpone the excise restorations of 8cpl for petrol and 6cpl for diesel, the first phase of half these amounts (4cpl and 3cpl respectively) which is due to commence on 1 April 2024.
Tax Code
Ceisteanna (166)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:166. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Finance the total cost of the seafarers' allowance in the years 2021 and 2022; the total number of recipients per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9759/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Section 472B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the Seafarers' Allowance which is intended to support those working in the commercial maritime sector.
I am advised by Revenue, that the estimated cost and number of claimants for the allowance for seafarers, for the years 2004-2021, are included in the ‘Cost of Tax Expenditures’ publication which is available on the Revenue website at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/costs-expenditures.aspx.
The below table sets out the figures in respect of the 2021 year of assessment, the latest year for which fully analysed data are available.
I am further advised that figures for 2022 will become available in the coming months, once returns for that year have been fully processed and analysed.
|
Year |
Cost (€m) |
Number of claimants |
|
2021 |
0.4 |
180 |
Planning Issues
Ceisteanna (167)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:167. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that when the residential zoned land tax comes into force in January 2025, it will have profound implications for many farmers and small landowners who are not developers, but have owned their land for generations; if the Government will provide exemptions from the residential zoned land tax for individuals who are not developers, as the vast majority of requests by landowners for a rezoning of their land have been refused by the local authority and by An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9797/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) was introduced in Finance Act 2021 and seeks to increase housing supply by encouraging the activation of development on lands which are suitably zoned and appropriately serviced.
It aims to bring those lands which have benefitted from investment in services and are capable of being developed forward for housing. The tax is an action contained in Housing for All, the Government’s plan for housing, to increase housing supply and is supported in the Programme for Government.
The tax applies to land that is:
• Zoned suitable for residential development whether it be solely or primarily for residential use, or for a mixture of uses, including residential use, and
• Serviced; This means where it is reasonable to consider the land may have access, or be connected, to public infrastructure and facilities, including roads and footpaths, public lighting, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage and water supply, necessary for dwellings to be developed and with sufficient service capacity available for such development.
In order to be liable for the tax the land must meet both criteria.
Each local authority in the State is responsible for the preparation of a RZLT map for their functional area. In preparing the draft RZLT maps each local authority determines whether the zoned land is connected or able to connect to the six required categories of services. Any exclusions which would rule the land out of scope were applied. Each local authority then published a draft RZLT map identifying the land which meets the requirements of the legislation and which may be liable to the tax.
It is important to note that, to come within the scope of RZLT, farmland must be both zoned for residential use and serviced. Farmland that is zoned for residential use, but which is not currently serviced, is not within the scope of the tax and will only come within the scope of the tax should the land become serviced at some point in the future.
Agricultural land which is zoned solely or primarily for residential use and meets the criteria set out within the legislation therefore falls within the scope of the tax. These zonings are considered to reflect the housing needs set out within the core strategy for the relevant local authority area and landowners within such zonings may fall within the scope of the tax, in the interests of ensuring an appropriate supply of housing on zoned lands.
As part of Budget 2024, it was decided to extend the liability date of the tax by one year, from February 2024 to February 2025. This is to allow for the annual mapping cycle to complete and afford landowners another opportunity to raise issues for the consideration of the local authority regarding particular matters which would preclude housing being developed on the land, which may result in the land not meeting the criteria for inclusion as set out in legislation.
The deferral provides a further opportunity to landowners, whose land appears on a draft revised final map published on 1 February 2024, to request re-zoning or to make a submission regarding land not meeting the criteria for inclusion on the map.
Landowners who wish to make a submission regarding land not meeting the criteria for inclusion will have until 1 April 2024 to make submissions to the relevant local authority. Landowners wishing to make submissions regarding land for which they wish to make a re-zoning request have until 31 May 2024 to make submissions to the relevant local authority.
Decisions on whether to amend zonings as a result of submissions or at any other time are a matter for each local authority, taking into account the need to ensure that housing supply targets across the county can be met. Furthermore, provision is made in the Planning and Development Act 2000 for elected members to seek a report from their Chief Executive on the matter of proposed re-zonings.
Furthermore, Finance Bill 2022 introduced an exemption for land that is within the scope of the tax but is subject to a contract that precludes the landowner from developing it. For the exemption to apply, the contract must have been entered into prior to 1 January 2022, i.e., prior to the introduction of RZLT. For example, where a farmer leased land prior to 1 January 2022 and the requisite conditions are met, the farmer may claim an exemption from the tax for the period of the lease.
The Department of Finance regularly engages with both the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the implementation of the RZLT.
Further information regarding RZLT maps and the related submission processes are available on each local authority website, or at www.gov.ie/rzlt.
EU Funding
Ceisteanna (168)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:168. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9805/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not have responsibility for the management of specific EU funds, which are managed individually by Departments with the relevant lead policy responsibilities.
That said, my Department plays a key role in the management of the EU budgetary process. This includes leading negotiations on the annual EU Budget as well as forecasting Ireland’s contributions and processing Ireland’s payments into the EU Budget.
In addition, my Department has a leading role in Ireland’s participation in negotiations of the medium term EU budget plans, know as Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFF).
The current MFF spans the years 2021-2027. It was the subject of a recent mid-term revision, which was agreed by the European Council on the 1st of February, primarily for the purpose of enabling the EU to provide structured, predictable funding to Ukraine for the forthcoming years. I expect the negotiation of the post 2027 MFF will commence next year.
Revenue Commissioners
Ceisteanna (169)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of controlled drug operations carried out by the Revenue Commissioners at Weston Airport in 2004; the names of the operations; and the start and end date of each operation, in tabular form. [9853/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by Revenue that it carried out twelve planned and six unplanned visits to Weston Airport in 2004. Given the passage of time, the start and end dates and the names of the operations, if any, are not available.
Office of Public Works
Ceisteanna (170)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:170. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the work being carried out by the OPW in relation to research of burials in Kilmainham Gaol with a view to enabling the future exhumation of these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9795/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Kilmainham Gaol, National Monument Number 681 is a National Monument in the ownership of the State. It is one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe. It opened in 1796 as the new county gaol for Dublin and finally closed in 1924. During that period it witnessed some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland’s emergence as a modern nation. Enclosed on the site are a number of graves which adds an additional resonance to its penal and historical significance.
Whilst the general siting of graves within the walls is recognised, there is no known detailed plan showing exactly where any individual was interred.
In relation to the persons referred to in this question, research on the general subject of graves at Kilmainham Gaol is being undertaken by a senior staff member of the site and in the first instance, concentrating on the years 1883 to 1885. This task involves extensive examination of General Prisons Board files in the National Archives for any possible leads on exact burial locations or ground plans of executed prisoners.
EU Funding
Ceisteanna (171)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:171. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a breakdown of all EU funding made available to his Department which has not yet been allocated; and the purpose for which this funding has been made available by the EU. [9811/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department's role regarding EU funding in the 2021-2027 period is as set out below.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) is the designated body for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. DPENDR also includes the implementing body for Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Programme (NRRP) and the Certifying Authority for Ireland’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme. It should be noted that while the Department has Member State and/or Certifying Authority functions for the ERDF, European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes and PEACEPLUS, it is not the Managing Authority for Cohesion funds.
Cohesion Funding
DPENDR is the Member State and Accounting Authority for the ERDF. ERDF funds allocated to Departments are managed by the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) as managing authority for the Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) as managing authority for the Northern and Western Operational Programme.
The funding available to Ireland in the period 2021-2027 under the two ERDF Programmes, including technical assistance, is set out in the table below:
|
- |
ERDF |
Exchequer |
Total |
Per capita |
|
Southern & Eastern Programme |
€265,477,482 |
€398,216,224 |
€663,693,706 |
€160 |
|
Northern and Western Programme |
€130,238,539 |
€86,825,693 |
€217,064,232 |
€320 |
|
Totals |
€395,716,021 |
€485,041,917 |
€880,757,938 |
€219 |
Ireland also has access to EU Funding through ETC programmes, also known as INTERREG. These programmes are designed to promote cooperation between Member States on shared challenges and opportunities. This funding is allocated on the basis set out in the Partnership Agreement, which is the overarching framework agreed between Ireland and the European Commission.
Ireland has an allocation of €293m for the 2021-2027 round to distribute among programmes in which we participate. The bulk of this is to the cross border programme PEACEPLUS, which makes up €235m of the ETC allocation. The remainder is as follows:
Atlantic Area: €13m
North West Europe: €32.77m
Northern Periphery & Arctic: €13.15m
The PEACEPLUS programme covers an eligible area of Northern Ireland and the border Counties of Ireland (i.e. Cavan, Donegal, Louth, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo). Its development is a strong signal of the continuing commitment of the EU, Ireland and the UK to ongoing North South cooperation and peace and reconciliation.
The programme budget for PEACEPLUS is €1.145bn. This is underpinned by a formal Financing Agreement between the EU, UK and Ireland. The breakdown of this funding is below.
|
- |
ERDF €m (80%) |
Match Funding €m (20%) |
Total €m |
|
EU/Ireland (25.6%) |
€234m (EU) |
€59m (IE) |
€293m |
|
UK/NI (74.4%) |
€681m (UK) |
€170m (NI) |
€852m |
|
Total €m |
€916m |
€229m |
€1145m |
Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and REPowerEU
Ireland is to receive €915m in grants over the lifetime of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). To access this funding, Ireland has developed the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The RRF is a performance-based instrument with payment contingent on the satisfactory achievement of milestones and targets. The NRRP is based on 23 projects and their associated 104 milestones and targets covering the green, digital and social priorities.
REPowerEU is the EU’s response to the global energy market disruption caused by Russia's war on Ukraine and provides the potential for further funding via the Recovery and Resilience Facility. To avail of the €240m REPowerEU funding, a new chapter will need to be added to Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The Government has agreed potential investment and reform proposals to be funded under REPowerEU. These proposals will be subject to negotiation, assessment and agreement by the Commission. ·
Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR)
The European Union’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) is a unique regulation established specifically to provide support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial, and environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. The regulation is clear that in order to be eligible for BAR funding, the expenditure must fall within the eligibility period for expenditure which runs from the 1st of January 2020 to the 31st of December 2023. The application for BAR funding must set out the negative impacts of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, and how the measures carried out under the Fund alleviate the adverse consequences.
Following the BAR Regulation coming into force in October 2021, the Government allocated specific funding of €389 million in Budgets 2022 and 2023 across a number of sectors. Officials in my Department have been engaging in a review exercise of Brexit related spending outside of that allocated in Budgets 2022 and 2023 which may qualify for inclusion in Ireland’s BAR claim. A figure of approximately €0.7 billion has been identified in this regard.
The exact composition of Ireland's BAR claim will not be finalised until the claim is submitted to the EU Commission in September 2024. As work is ongoing to verify all Brexit-related spending it is not possible at this time to confirm individual projects or final amounts of expenditure that will be included in the BAR claim. That being said, the Government has made significant investments across a range of sectors to mitigate Brexit impact. Significant funding has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This funding was allocated across the Department’s areas of responsibility, with a large proportion going to Fisheries and Aquaculture initiatives. Significant funding was also provided to increase operations in ports and address the customs implications of Brexit, including through funding for upgrade works in Rosslare port.