Written Answers Nos. 143-150
143. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will bring forward amendments to section 254 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, for overground electronic communications infrastructure and associated physical infrastructure (details supplied). [3811/25]
View answer144. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether it is appropriate that development of large-scale permanent telecommunications masts can avail of the section 254 licensing process generally utilised for temporary signage and street furniture, rather than the standard planning permission process; if the grant of such a licence on local authority land by An Bord Pleanála conflicts with the reserved function of councillors to dispose of property under section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3821/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.
It is a matter for individual planning authorities to consider licence applications under section 254 of the Act on a case by case basis, including those for telecommunications infrastructure along public roads.
Under section 254(5) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, in considering an application for a licence under this section a planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) on appeal, shall have regard to
• the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,
• any relevant provisions of the development plan, or a local area plan,
• the number and location of existing appliances, apparatuses or structures on, under, over or along the public road, and
• the convenience and safety of road users including pedestrians.
The planning authority or the Board on appeal must consider the appropriateness of the proposed telecommunications infrastructure on a case by case basis.
Where a planning authority grants a licence under section 254 of the 2000 Act, in accordance with section 254(6) of the 2000 Act any person may, in relation to the granting, refusing, withdrawing or continuing of a licence under this section or to the conditions specified by the planning authority for such a licence, appeal the decision to the Board. It is then a matter for the Board to consider. Additionally, the decision on any appeal by the Board may be subject to Judicial Review under sections 50, 50A and 50B of the 2000 Act and is a matter for the Courts.
The granting of a licence under section 254 of the 2000 Act does not affect the ownership of, or necessitate disposal of property, as the licence is restricted to infrastructure on a public road. Public roads are declared under section 11 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended and fall under the responsibility of the Minister for Transport.
Where necessary, in accordance with section 254(4) of the 2000 Act a planning authority may include that a licence may be granted under section 254 by the planning authority for such period and upon such conditions as the authority may specify, including conditions in relation to location and design.
The provisions under section 254 of the Act provide that applications for licences are considered on a case-by-case basis and that any person may appeal such licences to the Board. Additionally, where issues arise and the planning authority considers it appropriate, licences under section 254 of the 2000 Act may be withdrawn.
145. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will engage with an association (details supplied) that are owed an outstanding payment from Cavan County Council in respect of social houses delivered in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3826/25]
View answerI understand that there have been recent contacts between Cavan County Council and the housing association concerned relating to the final account for a housing project delivered under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). My Department gave our funding approval in respect of the final account in January 2025 and I understand the Council and the housing association must now finalise certain legal documents to facilitate final payments and I look forward to both parties ensuring this work is completed as soon as possible. I can confirm that CAS funding is available from my Department and from the Council on completion of the legal elements.
146. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 810 of 22 January 2025, to provide the full address and Eircode of each property that is directly occupied by his Department, including where that address is located in Dublin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3880/25]
View answerMy Department directly occupies the following properties in Dublin:
|
Occupant |
Address |
|
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
Custom House, Dublin, D01 W6X0 |
|
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
90 King Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 N7CV |
|
Met Éireann |
Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Dublin 22, D22 X2Y4. |
|
Met Éireann |
Dublin Airport Old Terminal Building, Terminal Complex, Dublin Airport, Swords, Co. Dublin K67 XY76 |
|
Met Éireann |
65/67 Glasnevin Hill Dublin 9 D09 Y921 |
The information requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the individual bodies concerned. Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas.
The contact email address for each agency is set out in the following table:
|
Agency |
|
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce |
oireachtas@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Electoral Commission |
oireachtas@electoralcommission.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@gasnetworks.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
oireachtas@housingagency.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
oireachtasmemberqueries@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
oireachtas@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Tailte Éireann |
oireachtas@tailte.ie |
|
Uisce Éireann |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
oireachtas@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
oireachtas@waterwaysireland.org |
148. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether additional funding will be made available to local councils for the purposes of dealing with fallen trees and the damage to council property caused as a result of Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3895/25]
View answerLocal authorities are designated as the lead agencies for coordinating a response to flooding and severe weather emergencies.
All local authorities have an established Severe Weather Assessment Team in place, monitoring Met Éireann weather warnings, High Tide Advisories and European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) advisory warnings. Local authorities also have Severe Weather/ Flood Plans in place to support the response to weather emergencies.
My Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to the coordination of national level responses to severe weather and flooding emergencies, where warranted. My Department's National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management undertakes this role and works closely with local authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams and Met Éireann.
Since 2009, my Department has made financial support of over €100 million available to assist local authorities in meeting the unbudgeted costs of clean-up and necessary immediate works, including for exceptional overtime payments, the hire of plant and heavy machinery, the purchase of materials required for the clean-up and the hire of contractors associated with significant severe weather emergency events.
This is in recognition of the exceptional nature of the activities carried out by local authorities in responding to these types of emergencies and the fact that the costs of these un-programmed activities could not be foreseen in annual expenditure planning. This practice is considered a vital enabler of the local authority action, providing the assurance that availability of resources is not a limiting factor in providing a very effective local response.
In the context of Storm Éowyn and the exceptional nature of the response activities carried out by local authorities, clearly the costs of these activities were not budgeted for within existing resources. As always, my Department will work with local authorities to support them over the coming months, as they co-ordinate recovery and restoration works.
It should be noted that funding of repair of public infrastructure is undertaken by the relevant Department in line with its sectoral responsibility. Capital costs associated with infrastructural damage, for example damage to the roads network and coastal protection infrastructure (where relevant), are funded under relevant sectoral arrangements.
149. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the role housing authorities have during emergencies that affect their tenants’ safety and well-being such as the one ongoing due to Storm Éowyn; if housing authorities are responsible for ensuring that vulnerable tenants have access to basic necessities during extended power and water outages; if this policy will be reviewed in light of the experience of social housing tenants during Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3904/25]
View answerThe Framework for Major Emergency Management 2006 (Framework) designates local authorities as the “Lead Agency” for coordinating the response to nine emergency scenarios, including severe weather and flooding. Local authorities are recognised as being best placed to lead and co-ordinate an emergency response in terms of capability, experience and knowledge. They work with the other two Principal Response Agencies (An Garda Síochána and the HSE) and together form the hub around which a local response is mobilised, directed and coordinated.
As part of the response to Storm Éowyn, local authorities undertook the clearing of roads (trees and debris), and prioritised the clearing of access routes to critical infrastructure to allow the utilities providers to carry out repairs and restoration works.
Local authorities also established Local Co-ordination Groups that were responsible for establishing Community Hubs in areas that were impacted and without power and services. These hubs act as information centres, contact points, and provide access to charging facilities and in some cases hot food and drink and showers. These also act as sites for Uisce Éireann to provide alternative water sources such as tankered water and bottled water for collection by those living in impacted communities. There is also a welfare element to the Community Hubs with Social Protection Community Welfare Officers and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment representatives on site to advise on state supports which are available to those impacted.
These Community Hubs and the other services provided by the local authorities and other agencies are available to all citizens in the impacted communities including tenants of local authorities. These services will remain in place where necessary until all citizens’ connections to essential utilities are full restored.
In relation to their housing function, local authorities may disregard the order of priority given to a household under an allocation scheme in certain exceptional circumstances, including displacement by fire, flood or any other emergency, development, redevelopment or regeneration of an area by the housing authority, or exceptional medical or compassionate grounds. This can facilitate a local authority tenant being provided with alternative accommodation in circumstances where the dwelling they are living in is no longer habitable due to exceptional circumstances. I have no plans to review the policy in this area at this time.
150. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of children are now in emergency homeless accommodation; to provide details on the length of time children are being left in emergency accommodation under the following categories: 1-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months, 12-18 months, 18-24 months, and more than 24 months; if he has any policy or plans to establish a policy of a maximum stay time in emergency accomodation for children, given the seriously adverse impact on their well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3930/25]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
My Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local authorities. These reports are based on data provided by local authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The most recently published data is in respect of December 2024. The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform & Digitalisation open data portal, https://data.gov.ie/.
My Department also publishes quarterly progress reports which are based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level. These quarterly performance reports include details of the numbers of individuals prevented from entering emergency accommodation, and those exiting emergency accommodation into tenancies and the duration of stay in emergency accommodation. The quarterly progress report summarises the data submitted to the Department.
The duration of stay data is reported as six-monthly bands ranging from less than six months to more than 24 months and is also disaggregated by household type. These bands refer to consecutive stays in emergency accommodation and are based on a point-in-time count, informed by emergency accommodation usage on the last night in the quarter. The most recent published data is in respect of Q4 2024 and the report is available on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/
A key priority for the Government is to support families experiencing homelessness to exit homelessness to a tenancy as soon as possible. An allocation of €303 million, an increase of €61m on the 2024 provision, has been made available under Budget 2025 to support the work of local authorities and their service delivery partners. This includes the provision emergency accommodation and supports to households experiencing homelessness.
Increasing housing supply is key to addressing homelessness and Budget 2025 provided Exchequer funding be of €4.85bn to support housing programmes, comprising €3.2bn capital funding and €1.65bn current funding. The Exchequer Capital provision of €3.2bn will be supplemented by Land Development Agency (LDA) investment (projected up to €1.25bn) and Housing Finance Agency (HFA) lending (projected €1.65bn), resulting in an overall capital provision of over €6bn.
