Written Answers Nos. 583-603
583. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacancies in the National Parks and Wildlife Service by grade and location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44698/24]
View answerAs part of its ongoing workforce planning processes my Department keeps staffing matters under constant review in order to ensure all priority vacancies are filled in a timely manner and that resource allocations are balanced across the Department to meet key priorities as necessary.
My Department's latest round of formal workforce planning will get under way in the coming months following the confirmation of the budget for 2025. The outcome of this process will determine the estimated number of vacancies in NPWS across all grades, administrative, professional/technical, due to arise going forward.
My Department has been generally successful in filling roles advertised or falling vacant. From time to time, some technical and professional roles can take more time to recruit. In the period from 2020 to 2024 the total staff number has increased from 350 to 550 in line with the NPWS Strategic Action Plan.
584. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding that has been allocated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to support conservation efforts in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44699/24]
View answer585. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the National Parks and Wildlife Service is addressing habitat loss and degradation in Kildare’s nature reserves and protected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44700/24]
View answer586. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has for the development of green spaces and nature reserves in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44701/24]
View answer587. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that the National Parks and Wildlife Service are implementing to protect endangered species in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44702/24]
View answer588. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what engagement the National Parks and Wildlife Service has had with local authorities in Kildare to promote environmental education and awareness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44703/24]
View answer590. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way the National Parks and Wildlife Service is addressing the issue of illegal wildlife poaching and habitat destruction in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44705/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 584, 585, 586, 587, 588 and 590 together.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), an Executive Agency of my Department has primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves in Ireland. The NPWS Strategic Plan 2023-2025, and the National Biodiversity Action Plan published earlier this year, set out how the NPWS will achieve that objective and the ambition to play its part in the collective response required across Government and society to the biodiversity emergency.
There are over 550 people working across the NPWS to fulfil this mandate. There is an established NPWS office which sits within the Wildlife Enforcement and Nature Protection Directorate of the NPWS based in Kildare town and covers the NPWS Region of Kildare and East Offaly. Noteworthy Natura 2000 designated sites within the Region are Pollardstown Fen Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and National Nature Reserve, River Barrow SAC, numerous protected raised bog sites such as Mouds Bog, Ballynafagh Bog in Kildare and Clara Bog and Clara Bog Visitor Centre in Offaly. Regional staff consisting of Conservation Rangers, Education Guides, General Operatives, Managers and administrative support are based in the Kildare and Clara Offices. The work of the Region is supported by other Directorates within the NPWS including Science and Research and Conservation Measures.
The NPWS received €62.25m in capital and current funding from the Exchequer in 2024 to protect biodiversity. I have secured a budget provision of €78.1m in Exchequer funding for 2025. The entire budget of the NPWS is applied for the purpose of fulfilling its mission, which is to Protect Nature. This encompasses a wide range of activity and functions all of which support the overall goal of protecting nature.
For county Kildare specifically, funding for conservation is delivered through a variety of channels, including through peatlands restoration and conservation programmes. Just under €3m has been paid out to date by the NPWS in Kildare to applicants under the Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS) along with circa €18,000 spent to date on area based restoration payments under the Protected Raised Bog Restoration Incentive Scheme (PRBRIS). Since 2021, under the Enhanced Decommissioning, Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme, enhanced rehabilitation measures have been carried out on more than 1,100 ha of Kildare peatlands previously used for extraction of peat for electricity generation, with the NPWS acting as scheme regulators.
The Peatland and Natura Community Engagement Scheme, Local Biodiversity Action Fund Conservation projects, the Breeding Wader European Innovation Partnership, the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme and the NPWS Regional Capital Works Programme for State Owned lands are some further examples of NPWS initiatives that are supporting biodiversity and nature in Kildare.
In 2024, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council were awarded grant funding towards their ‘Peatland Community Education through the World Wide Web’ project under the NPWS Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme and projects in Kildare received funding of just under €189,000 under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund between the period 2020-2024 supporting a number of projects and initiatives including education and awareness.
I recently announced the intention to designate two new nature reserves in Offaly and Kilkenny. Whilst there are no immediate plans to designate a new nature reserve in Kildare, the NPWS remains focused on the management and conservation of its current nature reserves in the area. The NPWS Conservation Measures Programme at Pollardstown Fen SAC and Nature Reserve, is establishing an appropriate conservation grazing regime and scrub control to enhance Annexed habitats and species present. Improving boardwalks and enhanced visitor interpretation in collaboration with Tóchar, is a priority project for Pollardstown Fen in 2025, subject to planning consent. The County Kildare Municipal Districts of Athy and Clane-Maynooth, together with Pollardstown Fen fall within the Just Transition Territory for allocation of funding through the Tóchar Midlands Wetland Restoration Scheme.
Combatting wildlife crime, including damage and degradation to habitats and species is a priority for the NPWS. My officials work closely with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) and this is recognised in Joint Protocols with both organisations. The NPWS also works with Inland Fisheries Ireland, local authorities and all other statutory bodies and the public in attempting to address wildlife crime and protect nature. Preliminary figures for county Kildare for 2024 up until 1 September, indicate 73 reports of suspected or alleged wildlife offences that my officials received and investigated. These would have been received via the NPWS dedicated wildlife crime reporting email, direct reports to staff and issues discovered during dedicated monitoring and enforcement patrols directly by staff. More information is available at the following link: www.npws.ie/wildlife-crime
The NPWS recognises the critical role the public has to play in reporting suspected wildlife crime to the authorities but it should also be noted that not every suspected wildlife crime reported turns out to be an offence on review by NPWS staff on the ground. The suspected offences reported to the NPWS included the suspected unlawful destruction of vegetation during the bird nesting season (1 March to 31 August), wilful disturbance to wildlife and the shooting of birds of prey amongst other reports. For the years 2020 to 2024, eighteen case files for alleged offences under wildlife legislation in Kildare have been submitted to the CSSO by the NPWS for their consideration for prosecution, some of which are still before the Courts.
Promoting general environmental awareness is undertaken by the NPWS liaising closely with the Heritage and Biodiversity Officers of Kildare County Council. NPWS officers have presented at Kildare Wildlife Rescues (KWR) Biodiversity Conferences and have organised educational walks on Pollardstown Fen National Nature Reserve. My Department has recognised the role that KWR can play in protecting Kildare and Ireland’s wildlife by making emergency funding of €50,000 available to assist KWR in their considerable efforts at rescuing oiled seabirds following an oil spillage incident on the East Coast in May 2024.
As part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the NPWS also has a role in relation to development proposals – both on land and offshore, and across various sectors – where nature conservation issues and concerns arise. This role is primarily advisory, whether in the context of statutory notifications or referrals to the Minister by various consent authorities, or in the context of non-statutory pre-application consultations received. The NPWS remains available to advise the local authority in the implementation of their biodiversity and green infrastructure objectives.
589. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current staffing levels within the National Parks and Wildlife Service in County Kildare; whether additional resources are planned to support conservation efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44704/24]
View answerStaffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Strategic Action Plan 2023-2025 has delivered an increase of staff from 350 to 550 staff across a range of disciplines. My Department continues to work with the Public Appointments Service to fill various positions across the country, including County Kildare.
The NPWS does not provide staff numbers at local level for operational reasons.
591. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of hare coursing licences issued, by county, over the past four years; the number of hares captured under those licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44716/24]
View answer595. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of hares captured for coursing for the 2022-2023 season; the number that have run courses to date in this season; the number pinned; the number examined by a vet; the number requiring treatment; the number euthanised; the number that died from injuries and natural causes, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44728/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 595 together.
Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. Statutory responsibility for the Act resides with the Minster for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
One licence was issued each year to the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) under Section 34 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, to allow for the capture of hares and also one licence under Section 32 of the Wildlife Act, as amended, to tag hares. One licence under Section 26(3) of the same Act was also issued to Kilflynn Coursing Club each of the last four years to hold regulated coursing trials/meetings.
Licences are published on the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) website www.npws.ie/licencesandconsents/hare-coursing.
The number of hares captured under the licences issued under Section 34 of the Act for the past 4 years are as follows:
• 2020/2021 Season - 3,430
• 2021/2022 Season - 3,690
• 2022/2023 Season - 3,398
• 2023/2024 Season - 3,325
The information requested is set out below:
• hares captured for the 2022-2023 coursing season - 3,398
• hares that have run courses to date this season - 1,316
• hares pinned this season - 18
• hares examined by a vet this season - 19
• hares requiring treatment this season - 1
• hares euthanised this season - 0
• hares that died from injuries this season - 1
• hares that died from natural causes this season - 0
592. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff employed by each local authority in each of the past five years relative to the population of each local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44717/24]
View answer593. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how often his Department reviews the number of staff employed by each local authority and how this relates to the population of each local authority area and the shared functions carried out by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44718/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 593 together.
While my Department has an oversight role in strategic workforce planning within the local government sector, section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.
Accordingly, the staffing resources of each local authority is a matter for the Chief Executive of that local authority.
Staffing numbers for the local authority sector for the period 2008 to Q2 2024 are available on the Public Service Numbers databank, which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and is available at the following link:
databank.per.gov.ie/Public_Service_Numbers.aspx?rep=LA
594. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to provide a second bridge over the Liffey at Celbridge, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44725/24]
View answerOverall responsibility for roads policy and funding for the implementation of transport strategies is a matter for the Minister for Transport. Kildare County Council as the Roads Authority, is responsible for the management of the road network in its administrative area.
Notwithstanding the above, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is providing part-funding for some applicant-led roads projects that will enable residential and mixed-use development to be delivered.
A key measure in Project Ireland 2040, the URDF, with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion, is supporting a programme of significant transformational capital projects that will contribute to the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning Framework.
In 2021, following the URDF’s second call for proposals, I announced a preliminary allocation of €10,237,500 towards Kildare County Council’s proposal for a Celbridge to Hazelhatch Link Road. This followed on from Kildare County Council’s successful application for €400,000 towards the provision of technical assistance for the advancement of the project under the URDF’s first call for proposals in 2018, bringing the total URDF support towards the overall cost of the project across both calls to €10,637,500.
This project, involving the proposed delivery of a 2km link road and second bridge over the River Liffey, would provide essential infrastructure to support compact urban growth in Celbridge and enhanced connectivity between the Town and Hazelhatch Train Station.
All successful applications for URDF support must be carefully developed and managed in accordance with the normal conditions and arrangements that apply to public sector managed projects and in full compliance with the recently published Infrastructure Guidelines. On this basis, Kildare County Council is currently preparing a Preliminary Business Case for submission to my Department as part of Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. Upon receipt of this submission further consideration will be given to the continued advancement of this project.
It should be noted that while my Department works closely and communicates regularly with Kildare County Council in respect of their URDF Programme of works, responsibility for the advancement of their supported projects through the various stages of planning, development and completion is, in the first instance, a matter for Kildare County Council. Accordingly, detailed queries regarding the projects should be directed to the Council.
Finally, an interactive GIS Story Map site, containing details of all successful URDF projects under Call 1 and Call 2, was recently launched to give elected representatives and members of the public access up to date information on all URDF supported projects at a Local Authority level. The site is available through the URDF site www.gov.ie/URDF or directly via the following link: experience.arcgis.com/experience/98a739a585944cf887f2dffe54c4f129/
596. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been trying to access funding from Mayo County Council’s disabled person grant since 2021 for urgent works to their home; if he will examine this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44739/24]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities under the Disabled Persons Grants scheme to carry out works on social housing stock to address the needs of older people, people with a disability who may require stair lifts, ramps, rails, level deck showers and other minor works deemed necessary to facilitate the mobility needs of a member of a household. The extension scheme exists as a last resort for local authorities to deal with overcrowding or aged/disability issues which require additional accommodation to be provided.
I understand that the relevant application and many others are being progressed by Mayo County Council with the decision on prioritisation of individual applications being a matter for the Council. I have no role in this regard.
597. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected timeframe for construction of a new fire station in Charleville, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44741/24]
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 Services Act 1981 & 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
• Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
• established Health and Safety needs;
• state of development of the project;
• value for money offered by the proposal; and
• the totality of requests from all authorities.
The 2021 - 2025 Programme was projected to see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further 12 new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of 35 new fire appliances. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority; that is why, in October 2023, I announced the allocation of an additional 40 new fire appliances at a cost of €20.8m.
In the 2021 – 2025 fire services capital programme Cork County Council prioritised new Fire stations at Kanturk, Macroom and Clonakilty. I had the pleasure to officially open both Kanturk and Macroom fire stations in May and September of 2022 respectively. I understand that significant progress has been made on the new Clonakilty fire station project, which is nearing final completion.
My Department has not received a proposal from Cork County Council for a fire station project for Charleville. Any future capital programme will have regard to Cork County Council’s priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide for funding in considering any proposal.
598. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the present delay in deciding planning appeals by An Bord Pleanála including the percentage of cases where it is taking over four months to decide an appeal; the percentage where it is taking over one year, over two years and over three years to decide appeals; the progress made by him in the past four years to deal with this issue through legislation and the authorising of extra staff; the projected time it will take to ensure that all planning appeals are dealt with by the new An Coimisiún Pleanála within the statutory framework in the new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44763/24]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála (the Board) is the national independent statutory body with responsibility for the determination of planning appeals and direct applications for strategic infrastructure and other developments under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and certain other Acts.
The information requested regarding timelines is not held by my Department as the determination of planning appeals is a matter for An Bord Pleanála. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie .
There are now more people working at An Bord Pleanála than at any time previously. Since October 2021, I have agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board. The Board has received approval and sanction for a total of 313 posts to date.
The Board has advised that, as of 30 September 2024 there were 286 personnel, including Board Members. The Board has further advised that there are vacancies remaining from the sanctioned posts and existing posts due to resignations, and that these vacancies are at various stages of the recruitment process. It is intended that when all the approved posts are filled, over 300 people will be employed by the Board. This will represent an increase in the overall agreed staffing to in excess of 50% since before 2021.
With the increase in the number of Board members and, in conjunction with the significant increase in resourcing and the filling of these posts in a timely manner, An Bord Pleanála is working to address the backlog of cases that are currently awaiting a decision as quickly as possible. The Board has advised that cases disposed of in the nine months to end September 2024, was 2748, an increase of 24% on cases disposed in the same period for 2023. The Board has also advised that it is now running simultaneous board meetings, and it is expecting to hold board meetings in both the morning and evening to progress decision making on cases.
The newly enacted Planning and Development Act 2024 provides for the introduction of statutory mandatory timelines for all consent processes, including appeals and consent applications made to An Bord Pleanála. Timelines for the Board will be introduced on a phased basis, starting with those for Strategic Infrastructure Developments (including energy and transport projects).
599. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the enhanced defective block grant scheme to allow homeowners to have their engineer fees reimbursed if that qualified engineer has recommended a remediation option under the previous scheme. [44792/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023, which provides for the current grant scheme, and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
Prior to the commencement of the current scheme, I signed amendments that allowed relevant homeowners in counties Mayo and Donegal who lodged an application to the previous scheme either before 24 February 2022 (in accordance with the Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks in Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) Regulations 2022), or between 24 February 2022 and 12 December 2022 (in accordance with the Dwellings Damaged by the Use Of Defective Concrete Blocks In Construction (Remediation) (Financial Assistance) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022) to seek the recoupment of 90% of the cost of their engineer’s report fees associated with the preparation of an I.S. 465 report without the requirement for Stage 1 approval from their local authority, provided that such payment did not exceed €6,300.
The transitional arrangements provided for in the current grant scheme provide that following notification by the designated local authority of approval of the remediation grant option and amount, the homeowner may then submit an application for payment of the grant (Part/Full Payment) to the designated local authority, which may include payment towards the cost of the engineer’s fee, all under the maximum cap.
A legislative change is required to allow local authorities process these payments at an earlier point in the process and the legislative drafting process is underway in my Department.
600. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the social housing income limits; if he will outline his plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44811/24]
View answerHousing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds thus increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
The review further recommended the commissioning of research to develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. My Department received this detailed research, commissioned by the Housing Agency. The scope of the research included examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and population conditions and the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced.
My Department is now undertaking a detailed examination of the report, in order to develop a new social housing income eligibility model in line with the Housing for All Action Plan update. This detailed examination will include consultation with stakeholders and will look at, inter alia, how the social housing income limits system interacts with other housing supports and ensure that they continue to target households correctly.
601. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he last met the CEO of Waterways Ireland; and the issues discussed. [44847/24]
View answerI last met the CEO of Waterways Ireland at the twenty-ninth North South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways Sectoral meeting which was held at the Canal Stores, Clones, County Monaghan on 19 June 2024. The meeting was attended by myself, my colleague Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, John O’Dowd MLA, Minister for Infrastructure and Pam Cameron MLA, Junior Minister at the Executive Office. Minister O’Dowd chaired the meeting.
After each Sectoral meeting, the Council issues a Joint Communiqué to inform the media and the general public about what was discussed and agreed at the meeting. The Joint Communiqué for the twenty-ninth North South Ministerial Council Inland Waterways meeting is available on the website of the North South Ministerial Council at www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/publications/inland-waterways-joint-communique-19-june-2024 .
The Sectoral meeting was followed by an event to mark the completion of Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal restoration, on the same day also at the Canal Stores in Clones.
Senior officials of my Department are in touch several times weekly with the CEO and his senior management team and keep me briefed fully on all developments.
602. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of mobile phones issued to staff in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the total costs expended by his Department on handsets and phones bills over the same timeframe. [44864/24]
View answerMobile phones are issued to staff for work related purposes according to the OGCIO Mobile Phone Policy.
The number of handsets issued and the overall expenditure on handsets and phone bills is set out in the table below. The total bills include the costs of new handsets issued, and those already in existence.
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Handsets Issued |
364 |
136 |
125 |
|
Total Bills (incl VAT) |
€ 377,175.91 |
€ 436,059.03 |
€ 371,328.82 |
603. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a person (details supplied) received a reduction in their terms and conditions in a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44916/24]
View answerSection 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which they are responsible. Therefore, I have no role in relation to individual employment contracts. In all instances, personnel with queries in relation to their employment terms and conditions, including the payment of allowances, should contact their employing authority.
