Written Answers Nos. 150-155
150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the efforts that are being made to meet the challenges of rare diseases, early diagnosis; the requirement for rare/orphan disease drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25882/24]
View answerIn February 2023, on Rare Diseases Day, I announced a plan to develop a revised National Rare Disease Plan, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.
Since then, a Rare Disease Policy unit has been established in my department. This unit liaises with the National Rare Disease Office in the HSE and relevant stakeholders.
A National Rare Disease Steering Group was established in December 2023, and it has met eight times since it first convened.
The Steering Group has been tasked with developing the new National Rare Disease Strategy and an associated Implementation Plan.
The new Strategy will set out the vision for Rare Disease services in Ireland and the actions required to achieve this, while focusing on delivering positive change for people living with a rare disease in Ireland. The issues raised by the Deputy will be considered by the Steering Group in formulating the Strategy.
151. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Trinity College Dublin applied for funding under the Government's short-term activation programme for their 358-bed Dartry redevelopment project; if so, if the application was successful; if he will ensure that the project goes ahead without delay and that 30% of the beds therein are reserved at a more affordable rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25830/24]
View answerIn April of this year, an Taoiseach and I announced €100m in additional capital under the National Development Plan that will support delivery of over 1,000 new and additional student beds, with delivery commencing in the 2025/2026 academic year.
This allocation enables the activation of Phase 1 of UCD’s stalled student accommodation project for delivery of 493 student beds in 2027/28.
It also provides funding for projects that previously received Government “approval in principle” to progress subject to due diligence and compliance assessments; Maynooth University to progress to onsite construction for delivery of 116 beds in 2025, and progression of the DCU project through the tender process for delivery of 405 beds in 2027.
The Short-Term Activation Programme under which these projects are being funded is the immediate response in advance of implementing the long-term policy focused on regional needs and responses. These are projects that had planning permission in place but which had stalled due to rising costs.
Trinity College Dublin (TCD) submitted a proposal under this short term activation measure for delivery of 358 beds on its Dartry campus. The proposal included provision for 30% of beds to be provided at below market rates for target cohort students. The project which has planning permission in place and has progressed through a due diligence assessment with the Higher Education Authority under the public spending code. Additional capital funding is required to progress this project to tender.
I am continuing to work across Government to identify potential sources of funding to progress the short and long term policies and programmes for student accommodation. My officials stand ready to engage with TCD for progression of this project should additional funding become available under the National Development Plan.
TCD currently has 1,834 on campus beds and avails of nominations agreements to increase supply. As of the end of May TCD has 140 room listings for digs accommodation.
152. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the production of the National Student Accommodation Strategy which was due for publication in the summer months of the previous year (2023); if he will produce a national plan for tackling issues relating to the supply of affordable student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25831/24]
View answerThe first National Student Accommodation Strategy was launched in July 2017. It runs until 2024, with a target of 21,000 additional Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) beds to be delivered. Achievement of this target has been impacted by subsequent events including Brexit, Covid-19 and the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
Housing for All was launched in September 2021 which called for the development of short term state supports to activate construction of PBSA by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as well as development of a policy and methodology for potential long-term state support for the construction of PBSA to provide additionality for targeted cohorts.
The Short-Term Activation Programme has been progressing and is currently supporting development of c.1,000 student beds with €100 million in funding approved by Government in Q1 2024. This short-term approach has been necessary in the context of the housing challenges faced and the inability of HEIs to progress developments with planning permission due to cost viability issues.
Government approval for the long-term student accommodation policy and methodology was received in January. The aim of this policy is to increase the supply of student accommodation and to examine alternative solutions that will remove accommodation as a barrier to higher education through:
• Increasing the supply of student accommodation and relieving pressure on the private rental sector
• Supporting balanced regional development and the Technological University (TU) Transformation Agenda; proposals for accommodation projects for Technological Universities are currently under assessment.
• Enabling supply of new below market rate accommodation for target cohorts
• Reducing cost of delivery of new Purpose-Built Student Accommodation through development of standardised design options for PBSA
• Promoting efficient use of existing building stock
• Examining commuting alternatives to accommodation close to campus
• Continued support of the rent-a-room scheme for provision of digs type accommodation
This long-term policy will inform the revised student accommodation strategy, which will be developed throughout 2024. Engagement with a range of stakeholders has informed development of the approach and will continue as plan progress.
Since 2017 – end April 2024, 14,599 purpose built student beds have been built. Work is underway on site on an additional 2,117 bed spaces. Planning permission has been obtained for a further 10,986 (April Building Information Report). It should be noted that this number could include projects where planning was granted but the project never progressed further than that or may be on hold. Planning permission for a further 2,016 beds has been sought. The total level of stock stands at over 48,000.
153. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of dog wardens employed in each local authority in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25808/24]
View answer154. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that has been made available to the dog control units in local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25809/24]
View answer155. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is satisfied that local authorities are sufficiently resourced and funded to be in a position to enforce the legislation in relation to collecting fines under dog control regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25810/24]
View answerIn March 2024 I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to dog control. The group is independently chaired by retired Deputy Garda Commissioner Mr John Twomey and is comprised of members with a broad range of expertise.
The group have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of this Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In view of recent events involving dog attacks, I have asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs and this will be the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its next meeting to be held later this month.
It should be noted that while my Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014., Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts.
Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities have the power to issue dog licenses, appoint dog wardens, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against dog owners, where appropriate.
My Department does not provide any funding to local authorities in respect of their work in the implementation of the legislative code relating to the control of dogs. Income to support Local Authority Dog Control is sourced in a number of ways, primarily through licence fees and Local Authority own resources with a nominal amount from fixed charge notices. Section 15 of the Control of Dogs Act stipulates that a local authority must employ at least one dog warden.
My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information including the number of dog warders, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on gov.ie: (www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-control-statistics/). The 2023 dog control statistics have been requested from local authorities and will be published on gov.ie once available.
