Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Housing Schemes

Ceisteanna (263)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

263. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what grants or supports are available to a person with intellectual disabilities owing to an injury (details supplied), where the individual received a substantial compensation award on foot of this injury and whose assessed income therefore disqualifies them for social housing; whether this award can be excluded for the purposes of income assessment; what non-means tested housing supports are available to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23561/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.

The regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/

Under the Policy, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.

My Department issued a guidance note to assist local authorities when applying the Policy which stated that savings or lump sums are relevant to the income assessment only in so far as they generate an income for applicants, by way of dividend or interest. Should a lump sum generate an income by way of dividend or interest, then the generated income may be relevant to the income assessment.

Decisions on the qualification of specific persons for social housing support, the most appropriate form of any such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter solely for the local authority concerned.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (264, 265)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

264. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of all funding provided by his Department to Clonmel town under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23568/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

265. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of all funding provided by his Department to Nenagh town under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23569/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.

A flagship element of Project Ireland 2040, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was one of four new funds established under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027. Launched in 2018 with committed Exchequer funding of €2 billion, the review of the NDP in 2021 extended the URDF to 2030.

To date, there have been three rounds of funding provided under the URDF with more than €1.9 billion allocated so far. While Call 1 and 2 was for specific proposals, the latest round of funding (Call 3) is supporting a programme of acquisitions in each local authority to address long term vacancy and dereliction. Under Call 1 and Call 2 there were 132 proposals, comprising almost 400 projects, approved for funding.

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: www.experience.arcgis.com/experience/98a739a585944cf887f2dffe54c4f129/

With regard to Tipperary County Council’s URDF Programme, over €30 million has been provisionally allocated to the Council’s three successful applications under the first two calls for proposals. This includes a current allocation of €15,104,741 in URDF support under Call 1 for their Kickham Barracks and the Regional Sports Hub project in Clonmel and €9,525,000 in URDF support under Call 2 for their Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Energy project in Nenagh.

Officially opened in 2023, the Regional Sports Hub and Kickham Barracks project saw the regeneration of the former Barracks site into a civic, cultural and educational campus quarter and the development of the existing Technological University of the Shannon campus on the Frank Drohan Road into a sports hub, providing shared facilities (athletics track, BMX track, playground, walking/cycling track) for clubs and schools.

In 2021, following the second call for proposals under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, I announced a provisional allocation of €9,525,000 in URDF support for Tipperary County Council's successful proposal in Nenagh – A Pathway to a Low-Carbon Society: A Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Energy. Building on other regeneration initiatives in the town, this project will see the delivery an educational campus, with residential and enterprise uses, along with public realm enhancements to the public spaces.

It is a condition of URDF support that advancement of proposals/projects must abide by the Infrastructure Guidelines (formally the Public Spending Code). The Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Energy project has received Preliminary Business Case approval (Approval Gate 1) under these guidelines and is currently undergoing detailed design works with a view to making a submission to the department for pre tender approval (Approval Gate 2) in 2025.

Further to the above, €5 million has also been allocated to Tipperary County Council under the URDF’s Third Round of Funding Support. Supporting key objectives of Housing for All, Town Centre First, and the Vacant Homes Action Plan, this round of URDF support has been specifically designed to address long term vacancy and dereliction across URDF eligible cities and towns.

This will be achieved through the provision of a €150m revolving fund for local authorities to acquire long term vacant (> 2 years) or derelict properties (residential and/or commercial) and to carry out any associated works needed to de-risk or improve the site to make it more attractive for re-use or sale. The fund would then be replenished from the proceeds received from the end use/user thereby, allowing the local authority to put in place a rolling programme of acquisitions in order to tackle long term vacancy and dereliction without recourse to borrowing and the associated financial risk.

77 properties have been identified as suitable for acquisition under this first stage of the programme across Tipperary’s three URDF-eligible towns - Clonmel, Thurles and Nenagh.

Question No. 265 answered with Question No. 264.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (266, 267)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

266. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of all funding provided by his Department to Clonmel town since the abolition of the borough council ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23570/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

267. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of all funding provided by his Department to Nenagh town since the abolition of town councils ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23571/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.

My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, homeless services, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, housing grants, rural water schemes, urban renewal/regeneration, fire services, and natural and built heritage. In order to achieve its business objectives, the Department provides significant resources to an extensive range of organisations, local authorities, Tipperary County Council, dedicated agencies and other bodies. Some allocations, depending on the programmes concerned, are made on a national or other non-county basis.

More information on expenditure is set out in the Department's Appropriation Accounts (Vote 34) for the relevant years which are published by the Comptroller and Auditor General and are available at: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/. My Department's 2023 Appropriation Account will be published later this year when the audit is completed.

In relation to this year, the Total Gross allocation for Vote 34 in Budget 2024 is €7,046m. This is made up of €3,017m Current expenditure,€3,888m Capital expenditure and €141m in Capital Carryover. A further breakdown is available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2024 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPENDR) .

Current and Capital allocations will be further supplemented through additional funding for Housing purposes provided by certain local authorities from Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts. The funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of local sources including commercial rates, Local Property Tax (LPT), charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government.

Additional detail on Central Government funding of local authorities is provided in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Annual Report. The 2022 Report is accessible at the following link: www.audit.gov.ie/en/find-report/publications/2023/3-central-government-funding-of-local-authorities.pdf.

Question No. 267 answered with Question No. 266.

Local Authorities

Ceisteanna (268)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will respond to the contents of a news article (details supplied) regarding Dublin City Council tenants having to live with extensive mould and damp in their homes for long periods of time; the steps his Department is taking to ensure that local councils can better address these issues for their tenants; if he has engaged with Dublin City Council in recent times in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23591/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In accordance with Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966 Local Authorities are legally responsible for the management and maintenance of their housing stock including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a Planned Maintenance Programme and carrying out of responsive repairs. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019.

Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support of c. €200m to Local Authorities under a number of stock improvement programmes, namely, the Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme, the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme, the Disabled Person Grants and programmes of Regeneration.

The detailed administration of the schemes including assessment, approval and prioritisation of works is a matter for each local authority.

Given the very significant Exchequer investment into the Programmes over recent years local authorities are now in a strong position to transition to a strategic and informed planned maintenance approach to stock management and maintenance.

To that end, my Department and local authorities are continuing to progress from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response.

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna (269)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

269. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Planning and Development Bill 2023 provides that applicants seeking planning permission to build one-off family homes on land owned by them will have a legal right to pre-planning meetings with local planners and to necessary site visits from them. [23595/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Applicants for permission to build one-off housing are not required to partake in pre-application consultations. However, any such person may request a pre-application consultation under section 90(1) of the Planning and Development Bill 2023 (as amended).

Where the applicant makes this request and provides any documentation or information required by the planning authority under section 90(2) then the planning authority, under section 90(3), shall hold a consultation meeting.

The legislation does not prescribe the mode of such meetings and there is no compunction upon the planning authority to conduct an on-site visit, unless they decide that one is required.

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ceisteanna (270)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

270. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 16 May 2024, the progress made to date in implementing the actions, committed to in the Strategic Action Plan for the Renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service 2022-2024, relating to the establishment of a structured stakeholder forum, and first meeting of forum held which was due to be implemented by September 2022; the membership and terms of reference of the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23643/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Reflect and Renew - A review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), recommended that external communications by the NPWS should be professionalised and should prioritise a more open and collaborative engagement with civil society groups and others. NPWS is constantly working to improve all aspects of its communication including with external stakeholders. There are a number of actions in the Strategic Action Plan to deliver on the recommendation including the establishment of a structured stakeholder forum.

An initial meeting was held in June 2023 with a number of environmental NGOs, including the Irish Environmental Network, an umbrella network that represents over 35 eNGOs, and a number of bilateral meetings have been held in the interim. It is hoped to hold another meeting of the group at a mutually convenient time to further develop a stakeholder forum.

The NPWS also hosts bilateral meetings with many environmental and community stakeholder groups on a wide range of issues both local and national. The NPWS is committed to further strengthening its engagement in line with a commitment in its Strategic Plan 2023-2025 to "enhance engagement with all stakeholders including the scheduling of regular conferences, seminars, workshops and so forth".

In addition, The Biodiversity Forum is an independent group of biodiversity experts that provides independent monitoring of progress in the on-going implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan, highlighting progress and bottlenecks. Membership of the Forum includes representatives from natural heritage and environmental NGOs, industry, Local Authorities, academia and representatives from Northern Ireland.

Housing Schemes

Ceisteanna (271)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

271. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average all-in development costs for one-bed bungalows and low-rise apartment blocks delivered under the SHIP, Part V, CALF and CAS schemes in 2023, in tabular form. [23680/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department assesses, approves and records local authority social housing delivery on a project basis, rather than on the basis of individual unit types.

I refer to my answer to Question No. 689 on 9 April 2024 which sets out the average cost of social homes delivered by SHIP, CAS, CALF and via Part V arrangements in 2023.

Local Authorities

Ceisteanna (272)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

272. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Cork County Council has been limited to only taking a €75,000 equity share in Rathealy Close, Fermoy. [23681/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In the case of support for affordable purchase homes, subventions of €50,000, €75,000 and €100,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund per home are in place towards the development costs of affordable homes. The higher subsidy funding (€100,000) relates to schemes involving high density development and typologies in urban areas (which tend to have higher construction costs).

The approved funding of €75,000 is the level for the scheme density relevant to the specific scheme referenced. This will enable Cork County Council to offer the homes to eligible applicant households at a price that they can afford of up to 22% below their market value. The local authority will retain an equity stake in the homes, commensurate with the discount below market value.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (273)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

273. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of targeted and delivered social and affordable homes in Kerry for the years 2021 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [23709/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). The table below sets out the Build and Leasing targets for Kerry County Council.

Year	Build Target	Long-Term Lease Target
2021	260	70
2022	315	31
2023	261	8

My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and AHBs 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/

My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. This includes details of which local authority or AHB delivered or is delivering the development. The most recent publication was for Quarter 4 2023. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/

A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis by local authority, funding stream etc. at this link: www.data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q4-2023

Following the publication of Housing for All in September 2021, I asked all local authorities to prepare Housing Delivery Action Plans to address social and affordable housing needs in their areas over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. A copy of Kerry County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan is available on its website at the following link: www.kerrycoco.ie/housing-delivery-programme/

Kerry does not have specific affordable housing target as the assessed level of affordability need is not high. However, support is available to local authorities to develop affordable purchase or cost rental housing from the Affordable Housing Fund where localised affordability needs may arise. Kerry County Council has not applied for AHF funding to date but assistance in developing schemes is available from my Department, the LGMA and the Housing Agency if required.

Supports to make refurbishing a vacant home more affordable are available also and may be of greater relevance to counties such as Kerry. The Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund provides up to €70k in grant funding to enable vacant and derelict properties to be brought back into use as homes.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties and is making the transformation of these properties into homes an affordable option for buyers and owners. My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes breakdowns by local authority. See gov.ie - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics (www.gov.ie)

Animal Culls

Ceisteanna (274)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

274. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that persons licensed to cull deer will be able to continue such services and that such licences will not just be made available to large-scale operators and exclude one-person licensed services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23719/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

All deer hunting licences issued under Section 29 of the Wildlife Act, as amended, are issued to individuals and there is no plan to alter this process.

Sport and Recreational Development

Ceisteanna (275)

Steven Matthews

Ceist:

275. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 369 of 14 May 2024, the position regarding the licence for a club (details supplied) applied for through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23726/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The licence referred to was issued to the applicant on 17 May last.

Fire Service

Ceisteanna (276)

John Brady

Ceist:

276. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on plans to move all retained firefighters to a fortnightly pay cycle; if he can provide, in tabular form, details on each fire authority when they moved to a fortnightly cycle; when it is planned to be implemented for all outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23733/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

My Department does not hold the detailed information requested related to payment process management within the local authority sector.

I understand that the transition to a fortnightly pay cycle is being coordinated by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) with the local authorities. Each local authority is working with an ICT systems supplier to implement the fortnightly payment cycle for retained firefighters in a timely fashion, notwithstanding technical issues that may need to be overcome in advance of full implementation across the sector.

My Department fully supports the move to fortnightly pay for all retained firefighters under the implementation of the 2023 WRC agreement. Taking account of the technical complexity and the due diligence required when making modifications to critical payment systems, the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management is supporting the LGMA and local authorities to progress this change as quickly as possible.

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ceisteanna (277)

John Brady

Ceist:

277. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on plans to complete the removal of invasive species such as cherry laurel from the Glen of the Downs nature reserve; to provide details of financial costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23734/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department prioritises the ongoing management and eradication of invasive species as part of its conservation role, dedicating a significant level of its resources to these management activities each year.

Monitoring of invasive species at Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve in County Wicklow continues throughout the year. The most recent contract for the control of invasive species in Glen of the Downs was for the control and removal of Cherry Laurel, with the successful tenderer bidding approximately €164k.

The species have not been eradicated completely from the site, but the project has already significantly transformed the structure of the woodland from a conservation viewpoint. This project is one of the many projects funded through the Conservation Measures Unit of the NPWS aimed at addressing the site specific conservation objectives of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

The remaining area of Cherry Laurel on the eastern side of the glen - circa two hectares - has also secured funding and will be progressed this year, while the remaining areas on the western side will be mapped with works progressing into 2025.

Invasive Species Policy

Ceisteanna (278)

John Brady

Ceist:

278. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on plans to remove invasive species in the State; to provide, in tabular form, the projects undertaken for each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23735/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Managing invasive species is one of the important areas of work undertaken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), with a significant amount of resources devoted to this task every year. Invasive species cause grave damage to the ecosystem and to conservation objectives, with species colonising the environment and having significant impacts on biodiversity. The NPWS tackles invasive species in numerous ways and invasive species management forms part of the routine work of the NPWS. The attached table lists specific initiatives aimed at controlling invasive species in NPWS regions containing National Parks.

Location	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Killarney Division	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo
Mid Western Division (inc Burren NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)	Scrub Control (NP)Survey of Invasive Species (Region) - e.g. Japanese Knotweed
Mid Western Division (inc Coole Park NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)Treatment & removal of invasive sycamore (NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)	Cherry Laurel removal (NR)Treatment of invasive Clematis Vitalba (NR)	Commencement of Invasive Species Control works
Northern Division (inc Glenveagh NP)	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control	Invasive Species Control
South Eastern Division (inc Wicklow Mountains NP)		Removal of Invasive Species inc Cherry Laurel, Conifers (NP)	Invasive Species Control inc Spruce (NP)		Invasive Species Mapping (NP)
Western Division (inc Connemara NP)	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhode Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhode Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhodo Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhodo, Montbretia, Cotoneaster, Lesser Knotweed Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel	Invasive Species Control (NP) inc Rhode Invasive Species Control (Region) inc Rhodo & Laurel
Western Division (inc Wild Nephin NP)	Invasive Species Control - Rhodo		Invasive Species Control - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control (multiple locations) - Rhodo	Invasive Species Control (multiple locations) - Rhodo

Departmental Policies

Ceisteanna (279)

John Brady

Ceist:

279. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details on plans for nature rewilding; the details of State-funded projects between 2020 and 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23736/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Ireland's 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2023-2030 was published in January 2024. Taking an ‘all-of-government, all-of-society’ approach, the NBAP aims to meet urgent conservation and restoration objectives across Ireland’s terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems and secure nature’s contributions to people, while enhancing the evidence base for action and strengthening Ireland’s efforts on international initiatives.

The NBAP is underpinned by a number of actions to restore nature in Ireland by a broad range of stakeholders. Nature restoration actions relevant to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department include commitments to enhance the network of National Parks and Nature Reserves, implement conservation measures to contribute towards achieving favourable conservation status nationally in Natura 2000 sites, and develop and publish a National Nature Restoration Plan by 2026 in order to contribute to the ambition of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and Global Biodiversity Framework.

A number of existing programmes also support nature restoration objectives through engagement with communities. These include the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme, which aims to support and reward farmers and land managers for conserving biodiversity; a €25m Breeding Waders European Innovation Partnership (EIP) aimed at securing existing breeding wader populations and supporting population recovery through landscape management and policy development; and a number of EU LIFE Projects that work with farmers, landowners, local communities, state agencies and others to protect and restore key habitats and species.

A number of funding streams are available to support biodiversity action at various levels. These include the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF), which was established to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in support of the NBAP. The LBAF has operated since 2018 and, to date, a total just over €8.6m has been granted to local authorities. The Heritage Council’s County Biodiversity Action Plan funding scheme for Local Authority Biodiversity Officers opened in 2024 and funding of €375,000 was allocated to projects in 20 Local Authorities. NPWS also co-funds the Community Foundation Ireland Biodiversity Fund, which provides grants to community groups undertaking biodiversity initiatives.

From 2026, projects and programmes in support of the NBAP will also be eligible for funding under the €3.15bn Climate and Nature Fund, which was announced in Budget 2024.

Turbary Rights

Ceisteanna (280)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

280. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any restriction on the exercise of the turbary right of turf cutting on lands included in Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) SAC and Lough Nillan Bog SPA, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23743/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Schedule 4 of Statutory Instrument 386/22, which provides for the designation of the site at Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) as a Special Area of Conservation, states that all activities relating to turf cutting and/or peat extraction – with the exception of continued domestic turf cutting from existing turf banks – on Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) SAC (000165) require the permission of the Minister before they can be carried out.

Where such an application for the consent of the Minister has been made, I may make a decision informed by the level of impact to habitats and/or species that will occur as a result of the activity taking place.

The permission of the Minister to carry out these activities is similarly required on those lands within the footprint of Lough Nillan Bog SPA (004110) that overlap with Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) SAC (000165).

Under the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC), any activity which is likely to have significant effects on a European Site (a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or a Special Protected Area (SPA), or candidate area, designated under the Habitats Directive) requires an Appropriate Assessment and therefore may require planning consent.

Landowners or occupiers should contact the local National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department before undertaking any of the works listed at Schedule 4 of S.I. No. 386 of 2022.

Departmental Programmes

Ceisteanna (281)

Denise Mitchell

Ceist:

281. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when funding for the caravan loan scheme for 2024 will be allocated to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23776/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.

The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas.

The 2023/2024 nationwide pilot Caravan Loan Scheme concluded at the end of Quarter 1 2024, with approval for 80 caravan loans provided. My Department is preparing a comprehensive review of the pilot Caravan Loan Scheme following the conclusion of the pilot. The review includes engagement with local authorities and other stakeholders to inform the evaluation of the pilot scheme. A comprehensive report is currently being prepared and will be completed in Q2 2024 with options for a national scheme to be brought forward later this year.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (282)

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

282. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of full and part-time staff, broken down by grade, working in the Residential Tenancies Board for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23777/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2022, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.

My Department does not hold the details sought. However, arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies to members of the Oireachtas. The RTB has set up a dedicated email address for this purpose and may be contacted at OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie to establish the extent to which it may hold the information sought.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (283)

Patrick Costello

Ceist:

283. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of whole-time equivalent Residential Tenancies Board minimum rental standards inspectors, per local authority, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23778/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Responsibility for the enforcement of the Regulations in the private rental sector rests with the relevant local authority. If a property has been found to be non-compliant with the Regulations, it is a matter for the local authority to determine what action is necessary and appropriate. Under sections 18A and 18B of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992, a housing authority may serve an Improvement Notice or Prohibition Notice, respectively, where a property is found to be non-compliant.

Neither my Department nor the Residential Tenancies Board has an operational role in the inspection of private rental accommodation under these regulations. Staffing of this function is a matter for each local authority. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, 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.

The Government is committed to ensuring that a stock of high quality accommodation is available for those who live in the private rented sector. Housing for All sets a target of 25% for the inspection of all private residential tenancies from 2021. A total of €9 million in Exchequer funding is being made available by my Department to local authorities this year to help them meet their private rental inspection targets.

Local authorities conducted over 49,000 inspections of private rented dwellings in 2022 and an all-time high of over 63,500 in 2023. Annual data in respect of the level of inspection and enforcement activity by each local authority is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/da3fe-private-housing-market-statistics/#private-rented-inspections.

Local Elections

Ceisteanna (284)

John Paul Phelan

Ceist:

284. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons for his decision to increase the spending limits for local election candidates; the information he considered before making this decision; the extent of any consultations or research he conducted before reaching his decision; and the total number of candidates who spent in excess of €12,000 at the 2019 local elections. [23793/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Section 12A(1)(a) of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 sets out the aggregate total of election expenses which may be incurred by candidates at a local election. In addition, section 19C(1) of the Act provides that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may by order vary, among other matters, the amounts set out in section 12A having regard to the change in the Consumer Price Index since those amounts last came into operation.

In advance of the 2024 local elections and having engaged with the Association of Irish Local Government, a review was undertaken of the spending limits that apply at the local elections. The review was undertaken in accordance with the requirements of section 19C of the Act, having particular regard to the meaning of change in the Consumer Price Index as set out in that Act.

Over the period since the spending limits were last revised (i.e. May 2014 to January 2024), the change in the Consumer Price Index was examined and was found to have increased by 18.4%. Given the aggregate increase in the consumer price index since 2014 was significant and material, and in recognition that candidates will likely incur additional expenditure when contesting this year’s local elections due to said change in the Consumer Price Index, I increased the spending limits in accordance with the provisions of section 19C of the Act.

The Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 (Variation of Monetary Amounts) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 134 of 2024) raised the three bands to €15,350, €13,600 and €11,500 respectively. My Department does not maintain figures for the number of candidates who spent in excess of €12,000 at the local elections held in 2019.

Island Communities

Ceisteanna (285)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Ceist:

285. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider invoking the special policy planning regulation for county development plans in relation to planning on the islands due to their unique housing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23830/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Darragh O'Brien)

The Government’s housing plan to 2030, Housing for All, supports the need to fully consider the housing needs of island communities as part of the objective to drive social sustainability and foster sustainable communities. The National Planning Framework (NPF) also identifies the need to sustain vibrant rural communities on our offshore islands. It is a National Policy Objective of the NPF to encourage sustainable growth in rural areas experiencing population decline such as many of our island communities.

Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the NPF, in particular on National Policy Objective 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other.

The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF. It is envisaged that draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation in due course.

The statutory county development plan, and its related housing strategy, prepared and adopted by each local authority provides the strategic policy context at a local level for planned new housing development. This provides the specific planning policy and objectives for the consideration of new proposals for housing development and the basis for meeting the identified housing needs of the local authority area.

While a development plan is required to relate to the whole functional area of a planning authority by virtue of section 9(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities do have the option of preparing a local area plan for any particular part of their functional area, including the islands. This would be a decision for the local authority concerned and the power to adopt a local area plan rests with the elected members.

The recent publication of the National Islands Policy 2023-2033 provides an appropriate framework for engagement and further development of housing policy on our off-shore islands in conjunction with the local authorities and other stakeholders.