Written Answers Nos. 119-139
119. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reasons a grant application from a club (details supplied) was refused; when this club will be able to submit an appeal; the specific clarification required for this appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39301/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 25 September Minister Martin and I announced €230m in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme).
Over a quarter of a billion euro has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of €256 million. This will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
The majority of invalid applications failed on the grounds that the applicant failed to submit the correct documentation at application or when given a second chance to do so. Unsuccessful applicants will be sent an email in the coming week with details of why their application was deemed invalid or why the majority of their grant sought was rejected. Those applicants will also be given the opportunity to appeal the decision if they believe that the Department has made an error in its assessment.
Department officials will be available to assist applicants with any clarifications required if they wish to proceed with an appeal.
120. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is a restriction on the funding of indoor swing rooms in golf clubs under the sports capital programme funding; if so, the rationale for this restriction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39309/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe guide to making an application under the current round (2023) of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme), which is available on my Department's website, sets out that funding is restricted to projects that are sporting in nature. To help determine if a project is sporting in nature the Council of Europe definition of sport is used: “All forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aims at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being and at forming social relationships.”
The 2023 round was the first time that applications for indoor swing rooms at golf clubs were submitted and these were not considered as a priority for funding. In line with previous rounds, a review of the current funding round will be undertaken and that review will inform the timing of the next round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund and the terms and conditions applying.
121. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to the use of AI generative art by An Post; if her Department has issued any guidelines to public bodies around the use of AI generative art; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39353/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no regulatory function in relation to this matter and accordingly it has not issued any guidelines to public bodies on this issue.
122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of sports capital applications, successful and unsuccessful, per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39402/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 25 September, Minister Martin and I announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme).
Over a quarter of a billion euro has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of €256 million. This will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
The majority of invalid applications failed on the grounds that the applicant failed to provide the correct documentation when applying or when given a second chance to do so. Unsuccessful applicants will be sent an email in the coming week with details of why their application was deemed invalid or why the majority of their grant sought was rejected. Those applicants will also be given the opportunity to appeal the decision if they believe that the Department has made an error in its assessment.
Department officials will be available to assist applicants with any clarifications required if they wish to proceed with an appeal.
The data requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
County |
Total applications |
Valid |
Invalid |
|
Carlow |
53 |
48 |
4 |
|
Cavan |
57 |
51 |
6 |
|
Clare |
125 |
111 |
13 |
|
Cork |
365 |
335 |
28 |
|
Donegal |
148 |
134 |
13 |
|
Dublin |
450 |
408 |
40 |
|
Galway |
205 |
190 |
15 |
|
Kerry |
162 |
150 |
11 |
|
Kildare |
113 |
97 |
16 |
|
Kilkenny |
77 |
71 |
6 |
|
Laois |
75 |
69 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
34 |
30 |
3 |
|
Limerick |
151 |
142 |
8 |
|
Longford |
29 |
27 |
2 |
|
Louth |
85 |
74 |
11 |
|
Mayo |
111 |
97 |
13 |
|
Meath |
145 |
137 |
8 |
|
Monaghan |
51 |
43 |
7 |
|
Offaly |
72 |
66 |
6 |
|
Roscommon |
72 |
65 |
7 |
|
Sligo |
74 |
69 |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
144 |
128 |
15 |
|
Waterford |
104 |
98 |
6 |
|
Westmeath |
89 |
76 |
13 |
|
Wexford |
125 |
113 |
12 |
|
Wicklow |
94 |
75 |
19 |
|
Grand Total |
3210 |
2904 |
293 |
|
County |
Total withdrawals |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Clare |
1 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Dublin |
2 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
13 |
123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will give detailed and urgent consideration to the issues raised in correspondence from a national representative organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39404/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIndependent radio plays an important role in providing valuable public service content to the Irish public. The Future of Media Commission (FOMC), in examining the challenges faced by the media sector and consequent impact on the provision of public service content, made a number of recommendations to counter these challenges and to support the provision of public service content. This included the establishment of a new Media Fund to provide support for the provision of public service content by the wider media sector at local, regional and national levels on a platform neutral basis.
Following extensive engagement with the IBI and other stakeholders in relation to the Media Fund schemes, I am fully aware of the pressures on all commercial media, not least as regards the provision of important news and current affairs programming. In this regard, I have taken the concerns of the independent broadcasting sector on board and I am pleased to have secured €6m in funding for 2025 to expand the Sound and Vision Scheme to support the provision of high quality news and current affairs content on radio and television. Legislative change is required to allow news and current affairs to be funded under Sound and Vision and work is currently underway in this regard. A General Scheme providing for this is expected to be brought forward this Autumn.
This will provide an important avenue for funding in respect of news and current affairs for independent broadcasters and reflects the need to support and sustain the continued provision of free, independent, high-quality journalism that plays an indispensable role in providing objective, trustworthy and accurate news and current affairs coverage to the public.
It is expected that the new Scheme will be designed by Coimisiún na Meán in parallel with the legislation being developed and enacted, and an application for State Aid clearance will be made to the European Commission. A stakeholder consultation will be carried out to ensure that the views of the independent media sector are taken into account. It is intended that applications will open and funding be distributed in the second half of 2025. As independent regulator for independent broadcasters, Coimisiún na Meán will lead the design and administration of the supports for news and current affairs on independent broadcasting services. Further details on the design of the new measure will be made available in due course.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will finally ensure that a project (details supplied) is approved given that it was first initiated fifty years ago and that co-finance was and is available from a university with a student population approaching 20,000, as well as the indigenous population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39454/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the LSSIF is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies of Sport. New swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools were eligible to apply for LSSIF grant funding subject to published guidelines and regulations. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines with the first allocations announced in January 2020.
An application was received from Kildare County Council for design funding towards a new swimming pool in Maynooth with €1 million sought. The total funding applied for under the scheme significantly exceeded the amount available to allocate and the swimming pool project in Maynooth did not score sufficiently highly to be awarded a grant.
Earlier this year, Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new 2024 round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
The application period for LSSIF 2024 closed on 1 July 2024. A total of 96 applications were submitted by the deadline by local authorities and/or National Governing Bodies of Sport and valid applications are now being assessed by my officials. No application was received in respect of funding for the Maynooth Swimming Pool Project.
125. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended by An Bord Pleanála on external communications advice or training for its senior leadership team in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the external companies engaged; and the topics or issues that the training or advices related to, in tabular form. [39326/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn 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 is not held by my Department. 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 .
126. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason graduates from private and independent higher education institutions in Ireland, specifically those awarded QQI, HETAC, and NCEA degrees, have been excluded from the Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024, when the Bill is designed to extend the franchise to a broader range of graduates. [39435/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024 was published on 27 September. The provisions in the Bill respond to the Supreme Court decisions last year which found that sections 6 and 7 of the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937 were unconstitutional because they were not consistent with Article 18.4.2 of the Constitution, as amended. The Court deemed that the manner in which the proposal to amend Article 18.4.2 of the Constitution was framed and put to the people by way of referendum indicated that it required some action to subsequently amend the rules on the franchise for electing university members.
The proposals in the Bill provide for a new six-seat Higher Education constituency, to elect the Seanad’s six University members. It is proposed that this constituency will replace the two existing three-seat constituencies: the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency and the Dublin University constituency. The Bill proposes that the eligibility criteria for being an elector of the Higher Education constituency would be as follows: a person shall be (i) aged 18 years or more (ii) an Irish citizen and (iii) a graduate of the NUI, University of Dublin or a designated institution of Higher Education as defined by Section 53 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, with each elector limited to one vote.
The Higher Education Authority Act provides for a process whereby higher education institutions not currently designated can in future apply for designation.
127. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has considered lowering the voting age to 16- or 17-years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39441/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government – Our Shared Future contains a specific commitment to examine the Scottish experience of reducing the voting age in order to draw conclusions.
The Programme for Government also committed to the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. This was established on the 9 February 2023. An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent Electoral Commission, was established in accordance with the relevant provisions of Part 2 of the Electoral Reform Act 2022. An Coimisiún has been assigned a research, advisory and public information function which will see it carry out research on electoral policy and procedure.An Coimisiún has also been empowered to advise and make recommendations to the Government in relation to any proposals for legislative change, or any other policy matters concerning electoral and legislative proposals.An Coimisiún Toghcháin published its inaugural Research Programme 2024-2026 on 10 July 2024. Its research programme includes a commitment to examine the issue of a possible reduction in the voting age. In accordance with the Government commitment, this policy area will be reviewed by my Department once An Coimisiún has considered and reported on the issue.
128. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide details of third-party bodies who conduct counts of bird species in Ireland on behalf of his Department or the National Parks and Wildlife Service; the details of how these bodies are selected; when further selections are planned; and the criteria for selection. [39200/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how the National Parks and Wildlife Service conducts counts of bird species in Ireland, including the standards and scientific basis underpinning the count process; and whether counts are subject to independent peer review. [39201/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures put in place to ensure consistency and alignment in the methodologies used for counts of bird species in Ireland with those used in Northern Ireland. [39202/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the methodologies and agencies and external bodies involved in conducting assessments on the status and trends of bird species as required under Article 12 of the Birds Directive. [39203/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 129, 130 and 131 together.
Article 12 of the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC) requires Member States to report on the implementation of national provisions taken under the Directive, including specific reporting on status and trends of bird species. Ireland’s Article 12 reporting is informed by data, analyses, reports and publications from a variety of sources. These sources include reports provided under procurement for external services, with deliverables produced under the guidance, direction and management of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department, and those made available/sourced from other bodies, institutions and agencies, such as scientific papers, datasets, publications and reports. All assessments for Article 12 are produced in accordance with the strict criteria and guidance for reporting under Article 12. The current methods, guidelines and format requirements for reporting under Article 12 of the Birds Directive are available at the European Environment Agency website at:cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/birds_art12
The design and execution of specific bird monitoring projects and programmes are dependent upon the particular objectives relevant to the focal bird populations in question. Different methods of observation may be required depending on the species and their ecology (e.g. direct observation, by calls, vantage point surveys or transects). The NPWS typically publishes Irish Wildlife Manuals after the conclusion of a survey, or from time to time, in the case of multi-annual counts. Peer reviewed publications are regularly published for some counts and surveys, such as the Countryside Bird Survey and the Irish Wetland Bird Survey.
When commissioning third parties to coordinate and/or conduct counts of bird species in Ireland, the NPWS undertakes a tendering process, in line with public procurement requirements and guidelines. Service providers are selected following a competitive public procurement process. Further selections are planned periodically, and are aligned with specific conservation projects and budgets. Selection criteria generally include relevant experience and expertise, capacity, and adherence to regulatory requirements. Details of bird surveys from 2022 to the present date are provided below.
|
Survey |
Contractor |
|
Seabird Tracking Study in Northwest Ireland |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
5th National Hen Harrier Survey |
Golden Eagle Trust |
|
Breeding Wader Surveys |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
Breeding Wader survey Support - LIFE on Machair |
Birdwatch Ireland |
|
Collation, organisation and analysis of boat-based seabird surveys in Irish marine waters |
Sally O'Meara |
|
Surveys of Ring Ouzel at selected sites in Co Donegal |
Dr Allan Mee |
|
Targeted monitoring of breeding Merlin at Slieve Aughty Mountains |
Birdwatch Ireland |
|
Breeding Wader Surveys |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
A Study on Cruagh Island's Manx Shearwater population |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
Seabird Tracking along the west coast of Ireland |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
Targeted monitoring of Twite in Co Donegal |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
Digital Aerial Surveys of Marine Birds |
APEM Ltd |
|
Kingfisher Survey |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
The Provision of a Breeding Survey of Lambay Island SPA |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
The Provision of a Breeding Seabird Surveys of a selection of SPAs in Donegal |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
|
Detailed Seabird Survey and Invasive Mammal Survey of Puffin Island |
Rory Dalton |
|
Ring Ouzel Monitoring 2024 |
Dr Allan Mee |
|
Specialist Drone Surveys to Support Monitoring of Breeding Hen Harriers |
Birdwatch Ireland |
|
Targeted Programme of Bird Monitoring (using thermal drones) for Breeding Merlin, Golden Plover and Cormorant in Connemara Bog Complex SPA |
Birdwatch Ireland |
|
Drone surveys of the seabirds of Green Lough, Lough Graney and Keeragh Islands SPA |
Birdwatch Ireland |
|
Bird Species Conservation Project on Rockabill Island |
Bird Watch Ireland |
|
Provision of targeted monitoring support (and training/upskilling as required) within the Stacks - Mullaghareirks (part of SPA) (Co. Cork & Co. Kerry) & Mullaghanish - MusheramoreSPA (Co. Cork) Special Protection Area. |
Dr. Allan Mee |
|
Provision of targeted monitoring support (and training/upskilling as required) within the Slieve Aughty Mts SPA. |
Raptor Ecology Ltd |
|
Provision of targeted monitoring support (and training/upskilling as required) within the Slieve Beagh SPA |
Raptor Ecology Ltd |
Upholding a consistency of approach when surveying across jurisdictions is desirable, as such approaches allow for data collected to be pooled in order to provide valuable information on a bird population’s status at various scales be it at the national, all-island, Ireland and Great Britain or at the European scale. Examples of previous cross border (and wider scale) initiatives include Balmer et al’s 2014 Bird Atlas 2007-11: The Breeding and Wintering Birds of Britain and Ireland and Burnell et al’s 2023 Seabirds Count – a census of breeding seabirds in Britain and Ireland (2015-2021).
132. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the process by which an individual may submit an objection or observation on a development seeking planning permission change under the Planning and Development Bill 2023; the changes from current legislation that will be implemented in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39209/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Act of 2000) if a person wishes to seek an alteration of a permission from the planning authority they submit an application under section 34 of the Act. Applications for permission under section 34 are subject to a 5 week period for public submissions or observations under Article 29 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Under section 146B to 146D of the Act of 2000, a person may request the Board to amend a permission granted by them. The Board must decide if the request constitutes a material alteration or not. If the Board decides the request is not a material alteration, they shall alter the permission accordingly. The Board may invite submissions before making this decision. If the request is a material alteration, the Board requests specified information and require the person who made the request to make information available for inspection and invite submissions for such period as the Board determines.
Under the Planning and Development Bill 2023 (the Bill), an alteration of a permission by both the planning authority and An Coimisiún Pleanála (The Commission) is provided for in Chapter 5 of Part 4. These alteration request procedures are similar to the procedures in section 146B to 146D of the Act of 2000 in that a person may request an alteration and the planning authority or the Commission must decide if the request constitutes a material alteration or not. If they decide the request is not a material alteration, they shall alter the permission accordingly. They may invite submissions before making this decision. If the request is a material alteration, the planning authority or the Commission request specified information and the person who made the request shall comply with such requirements to give notice of the request to the public as may be prescribed. The Bill additionally allows for the planning authority or the Commission to request further information on an alteration request and if the information received contains additional material information it must be made available to the public and allow for submissions within such period as may be prescribed. Procedures around making submissions or observations will be dealt with in the Regulations.
133. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a minimum setback distance for anaerobic digestors, similar to wind turbines; if so, the distance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39210/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has responsibility for the overall development of national planning policy and legislation.
Anaerobic digestors require an application for planning permission in accordance with section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. This ensures that planning authorities can give proper consideration to a range of factors, including location, visual impact, land-zoning plans, and ecology.
There are no specific requirements set out under planning policy and legislation in relation to anaerobic digestors, therefore it is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case by case basis.
However, as committed to in the published National Biomethane Strategy which was published by my colleagues the Minister for Environment Climate and Communications and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in May 2024, the Biomethane Implementation Group is to develop guidelines to support planning authorities when assessing planning applications for anaerobic digestors and biorefineries.
134. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name of the approved housing body that will manage the 326 social homes approved for capital advance leasing facility funding at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39224/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a number of funding programmes that assist local authorities to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to construct and purchase homes and make them available for social housing. One such programme that local authorities and AHBs progress Social Housing projects through is the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF). CALF funding is capital support provided to AHBs by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department.
With regard to the specific project mentioned, I can confirm that the project received conditional Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) funding approval in March 2024 for 326 social housing homes. My Department actively engages with the local authority and Respond the Approved Housing Body (AHB) concerned.
135. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the review of guidance for local authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs. [39229/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service have plans to designate the Aughrim River catchment, County Wicklow as a special area of conservation considering the recent Ballinglen River works by the east Wicklow Rivers Trust that enhanced the migratory pathway for EU Habitats Directive Annex II species such as Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, river lamprey plus brook lamprey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39242/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current focus of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in the context of existing Natura 2000 sites, i.e. Special Areas Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
Whilst I welcome any measures that contribute to an improved condition of and habitat for Annexed species, at present there are no plans to progress the designation of new Natura sites on land.
137. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to this Deputy’s previous correspondence on the inclusion of Sligo in the defective concrete blocks grant scheme and the reply received (details supplied), if he can outline the timeline for bringing a motion for resolution to each House of the Oireachtas and, subject to the passing of a resolution, bringing a second memorandum to Government requesting that the order be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39336/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The Housing Agency wrote to me and recommended that an order under Section 5(9) of the Act designating Sligo County Council in respect of the whole of its administrative area be made and I accepted this recommendation.
An order for the inclusion of a local authority in the enhanced DCB Grant Scheme may only be made by an Order of the Government. I have received Government approval for the designation of Sligo County Council under the scheme. I am now in the process of arranging for the moving of a motion for a Resolution in each House of the Oireachtas and subject to the passing of such a Resolution I will then request the Government to make the Order.
I expect that the designation process to allow for the inclusion of Sligo County Council in the scheme will be finalised shortly.
138. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the specific timeline on the completion of the wastewater scheme for Ramsgrange, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39347/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2023, I approved funding for a number of projects under my Department's funding scheme for the Waste Water Collection and Treatment needs of Villages without access to public waste water services.
I can confirm that Wexford County Council applied and were approved funding under the Programme for a project in the village of Ramsgrange.
Each local authority has a Rural Water Liaison Officer with responsibility for the day to day management of the projects under the Programme in their area. The Officer is best placed to provide the requested information and can be contacted at the Rural Water Section of Wexford County Council.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will with a matter of urgency authorise the purchase of a minimum of 200 houses from the open market to facilitate the housing needs in respect of affordable housing and local authority rental housing in north Kildare given the large number of people now in danger of homelessness (details supplied); if he will ensure that all local authorities have a ready proposal in respect of such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39457/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he continues to monitor the situation throughout north Kildare, where more and more tenants are about to become homeless, and whose only hope is the necessary provision of funding by his Department given the availability of houses on the open market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39458/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.
Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Under Housing for All, each local authority was required to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan. This Plan sets out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. In preparing the Plans, local authorities were required to include details of land available to deliver housing. The Plans also include details of the locations and delivery streams for social housing schemes. The Plans have been published on the local authority’s own websites.
Under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is available to all local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to deliver additional social housing stock through direct construction or in partnership with developers through 'turnkey' projects. As such, housing developments are constructed by professional contractors/developers in line with those agreements.
In relation to affordable housing, affordability is at the heart of Housing for All. Since its launch over 3,800 affordable homes have been delivered, supported by the Affordable Housing Fund, the Cost Rental Equity Loan, Project Tosaigh and the First Home Scheme. This momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by our delivery partners, including local authorities, AHBs, the LDA, and First Home.
The Government has developed the Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ (CRTiS) scheme for tenants in private rental homes who are at risk of homelessness because a landlord intends to sell the property but who are not in receipt of social housing supports. The scheme was established on a temporary administrative basis from 1 April 2023 and is managed by the Housing Agency, pending further policy development over the longer term, with the intention of transitioning these tenants and homes to the standard Cost Rental model. I am informed that the Housing Agency is engaging with more than 190 landlords across all Local Authority areas, with a view to the purchase of those homes.
For 2023 and 2024, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding for local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes per annum. The additional acquisitions have primarily focused on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular in March 2023, setting out details of these arrangements.
Each local authority has been provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2024. An increase of 50%, in addition to this initial allocation, has been applied to enable local authorities to acquire homes within these parameters under delegated sanction. Acquisitions above this increased amount are subject to a sanction request. Additional guidance in this regard issued to local authorities in June.
Comprehensive data on social and affordable housing is published on my Department's website up to Quarter 1 2024, including completed acquisitions, including those completed in County Kildare: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/ .
My Department 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.
The most recent publication was for Quarter 1 2024. 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 at the link below: www.gov.ie/en/publication/cbe5c-social-housing-construction-projects-status-report-q1-2024/
Significant progress is being made to deliver the ambitious targets contained in Housing for All and my Department is working closely with the local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies and other stakeholders to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable housing.
