Written Answers Nos. 387-404
387. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to differences in the acceptable wind turbine noise levels as per guidelines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29644/24]
View answer388. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm plans, and timeline, to regulate operating wind farms (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29646/24]
View answer389. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed that work on the revised wind energy development guidelines is near completion, expert guidance having been tendered and engaged to assess an acceptable level of noise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29647/24]
View answer390. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm that the revised WEDGs have adequately assessed the potential impact of wind turbine noise on human health (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29648/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 390, inclusive, together.
My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of Guidelines, which is highly technical in nature.
The two Departments have been engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose having regard to, inter alia, the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources.
A ten-week public consultation on the draft revised Wind Energy Development Guidelines was held from 12 December 2019 to 19 February 2020. Almost 500 submissions were received as part of the public consultation, many of which are extremely detailed and technical in nature. These submissions were considered by my Department and DECC. Further to this, DECC, in light of its responsibility for environmental noise matters, appointed expert noise consultants to inform any amendments to the noise aspect of the Guidelines in line with existing standards and international best practice. This work is substantially complete.
My Department, in conjunction with DECC in respect of its environmental noise remit, will make any further changes to the draft Guidelines which are deemed necessary or appropriate in the wake of this work to ensure that the finalised Guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose to provide guidance in line with renewable energy and climate targets, whilst having appropriate regard to the impacts of wind energy development, including in relation to noise annoyance.
With regard to the noise monitoring aspects of the draft Guidelines, in line with the “preferred draft approach”, my Department will work in conjunction with DECC, in light of its environmental noise remit and responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to ensure that the finalised Guidelines provide an appropriate noise monitoring framework for wind energy developments.
With regard to the finalisation of the review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, the Climate Action Plan 2024 sets out a timeline of Q4 2024 for publication of the final updated Guidelines and my Department is working towards meeting this commitment. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended or, subject to enactment of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, as a National Planning Statement, as appropriate. The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force pending the finalisation of the review.
391. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of affordable homes that have been built in Cork county in each of the past five years; the total amount planned for 2024; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30175/24]
View answer392. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of affordable homes that have been built in Cork city in each of the past five years; the total amount planned for 2024; the total funding allocated each year to the local authority to supply affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30174/24]
View answer432. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable housing schemes which have been provided in Cork south west to date; and the details of future plans for affordable housing projects in the area. [29669/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 391, 392 and 432 together.
Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing out to 2030 including 54,000 affordable homes to be delivered by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, the Land Development Agency and through the First Home Scheme, which is a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
Funding under the various affordable housing streams is made available on a programme basis in support of approved affordable homes delivery, rather than by allocations to counties.
Local authorities have published 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out affordable housing delivery targets up to 2026. These plans relate to planned delivery for which the local authority is directly responsible and do not include additional affordable homes that will be delivered by the Land Development Agency (LDA), Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and via the higher Part V requirements introduced in the Affordable Housing Act 2021. The plans published by Cork City and Cork County councils are available on their official websites.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on affordable housing delivery activity by Local Authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and the Land Development Agency in each local authority area. This data is available to the end of 2023 and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/?#affordable-housing-delivery. Data is currently being verified for Quarter 1 2024, which I anticipate my Department will be in a position to report on delivery shortly.
Both councils continue to expand and develop their affordable housing delivery programmes and to work with all delivery partners to ensure an effective response to the affordable housing need identified in Cork City and County.
393. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the unit cost ceiling for housing has been updated since it was issued by his Department in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29104/24]
View answerThe Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) formally referred to as Unit Cost Ceilings, specifically relate to social housing build projects developed directly by local authorities or approved housing bodies on their own land, using Public Works forms of contract. While not a record of actual delivery costs, the BUCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes and act as a key benchmark for local authorities or approved housing bodies with the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. The BUCs are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department, usually on an annual basis, with the most recent BUCs being issued to all local authorities on 24th May 2024.
394. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what affordable housing will be or has been provided in Cherrywood in return for the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund providing funding; the price of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29128/24]
View answerThe Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) was a scheme initiated in 2016 under the previous Rebuilding Ireland plan which funded the building of public infrastructure by local authorities. Its objective is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages to housing delivery. This enables the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in Dublin and in urban areas of high demand.
The Cherrywood LIHAF infrastructure project consists of 3 Phases. Phase 1 - New N11 junction 'Q' at Druid Glen Road is complete; Phase 2 - Druid's Glen Road (road only); Druid’s Glen Bridge - (short bridge structure transversing valley) is under construction with completion anticipated in 2024; and preparations are under way for Phase 3 - Druid's Glen Road.
The LIHAF scheme pre-dates the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and the current affordable housing scheme. As part of the original agreement in 2017 to provide the funding for the infrastructure, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) agreed a local agreement with the relevant developers to provide cost reductions on housing on the adjacent sites. DLRCC has advised that cost reductions amounting to €11.39 million were agreed to be applied across the relevant units at the time. It is understood that engagement between DLRCC and the relevant developers on this matter is ongoing.
395. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide the details of the prices being set for affordable purchase and cost rental in Shanganagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29129/24]
View answerThe social and affordable housing development at Shanganagh is being delivered by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in collaboration with the Land Development Agency and includes 306 cost rental and 91 affordable purchase homes.
I understand that the cost rental apartments will be let and managed by the Land Development Agency (LDA). The designation of cost rental homes requires that the initial rent is set at a rate that is at least 25% below the market rent for comparable homes in the same location.
In addition, funding of €9.1m is approved under the Affordable Housing Fund to assist with the development costs of 91 homes for affordable purchase. It is a condition of this funding that the homes will be offered to eligible households at a discounted upfront affordable price that will be at least 15% below the market value of the homes.
In line with the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the administration of affordable housing schemes is a matter for the delivery partners, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in collaboration with the LDA, who I expect will announce the cost rents and discounted affordable prices at which the homes will be made available to eligible persons when they are in a position to advertise the properties in line with standard arrangements.
396. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the national hare coursing finals in Clonmel in February 2024 were monitored by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (details supplied). [29150/24]
View answerThe National Coursing Meeting held by the Irish Coursing Club in Clonmel on 3rd, 4th & 5th February 2024 was monitored by NPWS staff.
All reports of this event are now available on the NPWS website.
397. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will respond to a pre-Budget 2025 submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29175/24]
View answer436. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when new income thresholds and grant payment limits under the housing adaptation grants for older people and with a disability scheme will be finalised with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29715/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 397 and 436 together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
The Exchequer funding provision of €74.5 million for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €8 million for 2024. Local authorities were informed of their 2024 allocations with each local authority receiving an increase on the 2023 allocation, continuing the year on year increases since 2014.
Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a report on the review has been prepared by my Department. Among the areas the review considered are the income thresholds (including the means test provisions) and grant limits, and the application and decision-making processes including the supplementary documentation required. My Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on the recommendations in the report with a view to bringing forward amendments to the relevant Regulations governing the schemes as soon as possible with a view to also publishing the final report.
As part of the annual Estimates process, the 2025 Budgetary allocation for my Department will be agreed with the Minister Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and will be announced on Budget day.
398. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter concerning birds in Balbriggan, County Dublin (details supplied). [29209/24]
View answer399. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter concerning birds (details supplied). [29210/24]
View answer400. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an itemised total cost to the Exchequer incurred in respect of his Department/National Parks and Wildlife Services’ independently chaired consultative committee (CC) on urban gulls (2019-2021), including the cost of expert legal advices sourced by his Department/NPWS to advise the CC; and if he will confirm that both the CC and its expert legal advisor concluded and recommended that derogations enabling the removal of nests and eggs of seagull species were unreservedly justified in the interests of public health and safety, based on detailed evidence that was considered and on the pertinent national and EU legislation. [29211/24]
View answer401. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter (details supplied). [29212/24]
View answer402. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter concerning birds (details supplied). [29214/24]
View answer424. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on a matter concerning birds (details supplied). [29563/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 398 to 402, inclusive, and 424 together.
Under the terms of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC) all Member States of the EU are bound to take measures to protect all wild birds and their habitats. The Directive prohibits, inter alia, the deliberate killing or capture of wild birds by any method, the removal of nests or the taking of eggs.
There are other legal methods available that can be used by individuals to control protected wild birds, such as gulls, where they are causing serious damage. The facility to apply for a Section 42 permit under the Wildlife Acts will continue to be available.
The matters raised in relation to Ireland’s legal obligations under the Birds Directive and in relation to the interpretation of the intention of the Oireachtas in respect of the Third Schedule of the Wildlife Act 1976 are matters for the Courts. The Third Schedule of the Wildlife Act 1976 as originally passed listed a number of birds to which the protections of the Act did not apply. The Third Schedule was last amended by the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations 1985 (S.I. No. 397 of 1985). This is the only amendment of the Third Schedule and it brought the Act into better compliance with the Birds Directive.
As highlighted in the 2021 Irish Wildlife Manual Urban Gulls report, there are a myriad of factors which may influence the presence or absence of urban nesting gulls (including proximity to known/historical breeding sites, to water bodies, distance from the sea). Anthropogenic factors supporting urban nesting gulls include the abundance of food in these urban/suburban areas; suitability of some structure/building as nesting locations, and conversely, increased pressures in the marine environment, such as commercial fishing limiting foraging opportunities for many seabirds, seabird bycatch, and climate change effects on availability of key prey species.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is not the lead organisation in relation to matters raised. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has responsibly for avian influenza testing in Ireland and the NPWS will always contact them when it becomes aware of such issues. The NPWS is fully aware of the situation in relation to Avian Influenza, including with regard to advice from DAFM & various authorities, protocols & procedures, etc., and liaise and work with DAFM on an ongoing basis in relation to Avian Influenza
Matters relating to prohibiting the feeding of wild birds; correctly disposing of rubbish on our streets to make them less attractive and to discourage them from congregating in particular areas; any warning signage or publicity campaigns in relation to same is a matter for the relevant Local Authority.
Any issue that arises in relation to public health is a matter for the Department of Health.
A breakdown of the costs to the Exchequer of the Consultative Committee to undertake a review of the issues surrounding the impact of gulls in urban areas are set out below:
|
Role |
Amount |
|
Chairman – Consultative Committee on Urban Gulls |
€9,631.09 |
|
Researcher (University of Bristol) |
€668.23 |
|
Environmental Sociologist, National University of Galway |
€500.00 |
|
Barrister at Law |
€4,000.00 |
403. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for seeking a legal order exempting a portion of State land at the Technological University Dublin college on Aungier Street from social and affordable housing provision requirements when the land transfers; his views on the shortage of social and affordable housing in south Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29226/24]
View answerThe Government is firmly committed to using vacant or underutilised lands in state ownership for the delivery of housing. A range of measures are in place to advance this commitment and the Land Development Agency's (LDA) delivery programme of housing on State lands is well advanced. Good progress is being made on transferring lands to the LDA and constructing homes, such as in Cork where the first phase of a total expected delivery of 265 homes is under construction at the former HSE owned St. Kevins Hospital, and in Naas, Co. Kildare where 219 new homes are being delivered at Devoy Barracks, with a very strong pipeline of homes being delivered both on those State lands and also in partnership with local authorities on lands like Shanganagh, which will see its first delivery this year.
Under Section 53 of the LDA Act 2021, relevant public bodies must notify the LDA of any relevant public lands they intend to sell. The LDA then assesses the land involved to determine if it can be used to provide affordable and social housing and has the option of buying it should it be found to be viable for this purpose.
It is understood that in accordance with Section 53, the LDA was advised by the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) of the planned sale of property owned by TU Dublin on Dublin’s Aungier Street. However, the LDA was aware that the sale of this property was part of long-standing plans by the GDA to relocate TU Dublin facilities to the university’s new Grangegorman Campus and, as such its planned sale had already been effectively agreed with Government, with a view to reinvesting the proceeds in new facilities. These plans pre-dated the LDA Act.
It is the case that the LDA Act 2021 provides that any planning permission for 5 or more dwellings on relevant public lands must have a specified percentage of the housing used for affordable and social housing. This clause is used in valuing relevant public lands and provides the LDA with the ability to develop these lands for viable housing schemes. The Government, by order of the Minister for Housing, may exempt a parcel of relevant public lands from this clause. This allows the relevant public body to dispose of the site at full market value. Lands referred to in the Grangegorman Development Agency Act were specifically listed as being suitable for such an exemption in the LDA Act 2021, mindful of these long standing plans.
It is understood that, taking account of all these factors, and a site assessment carried out by the LDA which found viability challenges, the LDA notified the GDA that it would not be seeking to acquire the property. The GDA confirmed that it would progress with its proposals to dispose of the property and to seek an exemption from Part 9 of the LDA Act. This exemption has since been granted by agreement of the Government. The Government is fully supportive of the development of the Grangegorman Campus.
With regard to the provision of social and affordable housing in Dublin, local authorities have published 5 year Housing Delivery Action Plans setting out social and affordable housing proposed delivery in their areas to 2026. The plans published by the four Dublin local authorities are available on their official websites.
404. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the relevant departments will work together to explore how members of the fire service can supplement the work of the ambulance service in response to emergency call outs and; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29244/24]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Acts, 1981 and 2003.
The National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM), within my Department, supports fire authorities by establishing fire service policy, setting national standards for fire safety and fire service provision, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
Fire services are provided in Ireland by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Fire Services Acts, 1981 & 2003. Under this legislation, there are 31 local authorities which provide fire prevention and fire protection services for communities through 27 service delivery structures.
The Department of Health is responsible for all aspects of public health policy. Responsibility for the provision of emergency medical services, including pre-hospital emergency care, rests with the HSE which operates the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Emergency Departments in hospitals, in accordance with health sector legislation and national policy.
Some exploratory work has been undertaken to examine if the retained Fire Service could provide a first response to cardiac emergencies, on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE). This is in the context of the extensive coverage provided by fire stations across the country, and the availability of first responder trained staff with Automatic External Defibrillators in all fire stations.
Following a request from the HSE, the County and City Management Association (CCMA) are considering the possibility of Fire Services providing a response to cardiac emergencies, where NAS resources are not immediately available to respond. Retained Fire Services have indicated a willingness to provide a first response to cardiac emergencies.
Any proposal to formalise this assistance would require the development of appropriate clinical governance arrangements together with a formalised mechanism for full cost reimbursement to the local authority by the HSE, set in a service level agreement between each participating local authority and the HSE.
