Written Answers Nos. 234-255
234. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the 3,325 hares said to have been captured for coursing in the 2023/2024 season were all individual hares or if the figure includes multiple captures of the same hares. [39684/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide copies of the results of post-mortems carried out on two dead hares at both the November 2022 and October 2023 Thurles coursing meetings; and if the release of the remaining hares before the results of tests were received constituted a breach of condition 7 of the licence issued (details supplied). [39685/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra236. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given the growing calls for a ban on hare coursing, he will refuse a request from the Irish Coursing Club for multi-year coursing licences and bring this cruel blood sport to an end by revoking the current 2024-2025 licences. [39686/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra237. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will remove subsection (3)(b) from Section 45 of the Wildlife Act 1976 which allows for ‘the sale by a person of live hares to a coursing club affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club’. [39687/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra241. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason NPWS officials agreed to provide the coursers with ranger reports prior to their publication on its website (details supplied). [39719/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 235, 236, 237 and 241 together.
All hares that are captured under licence are captured and tagged by the Irish Coursing Club in advance of any regulated coursing event. Data in relation to the number of hares captured along with tag numbers are submitted to the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and this information is subsequently published on the NPWS website. Ear tags are removed prior to release. It is not possible, therefore, to know if a hare had been captured previously.
The post mortem results requested can be provided.
The licences to allow for the capture and tagging of hares by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) under the Wildlife Act, as amended have been signed and issued for the upcoming 2024/25 coursing season. I have no plans to revoke this licence nor to issue multi-year licences at this time.
The NPWS is undertaking a project to review and update wildlife legislation. This is an extensive review and is a multi-year project. It is examining closely the effectiveness of our legislation in protecting wildlife and regulating activities that adversely impact on wildlife and biodiversity. A first phase of the public consultation was undertaken earlier this year. The matter raised will be considered as part of the review.
The ICC are provided with copies of the completed data fields on NPWS Ranger reports in advance of publication in order to deal with any discrepancies that may arise prior to publication.
238. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of licences that have been issued in the past five years under Sections 23(6) of the Wildlife Act 1976 to ‘capture or kill humanely, or capture and humanely kill, a protected wild animal of a species specified in the licence for educational, scientific or other purposes as shall be so specified’; the species involved; and the nature of the related educational, scientific and other purposes. [39689/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe vast majority of licences issued under Section 23(6) are for activities relating to surveying and assessment of species, and thus are better categorised as capture and release. These activities include population counts, identification surveys, research and other such studies, but also works such as translocation of species in order to protect it from potential works such as flood relief schemes, road works etc. This licence does also allow for activities relating to predator control.
Table 1 outlines the number of licences issued under Section 23 of the Wildlife Act 1976 for each of the last five years. In total, 866 licences have issued since 2020 up to and including 30 September 2024.
Table 2 outlines the species of animal for which licences were issued over the last five years.
Table 1
|
YEAR |
NUMBER OF LICENCES |
|
2020 |
177 |
|
2021 |
167 |
|
2022 |
139 |
|
2023 |
198 |
|
2024 (Up to and including 30 September 2024) |
185 |
Table 2
|
YEAR |
Species for which licence issued |
|
2020 |
White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Otter, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn. Grey seal , Harbour Seal, Common Lizard. |
|
2021 |
White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn, Common Lizard, Tadpoles. |
|
2022 |
White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn. |
|
2023 |
White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Lizard, Frogspawn. |
|
2024 (Up to and including 30 September 2024) |
White Clawed Crayfish, All Bat Species, Smooth Newt, Common Frog, Kerry Slug, European Eel, Three Spine Stickleback, Kerry Slug, Pine Marten, Stoat, Badger, Otter, Fresh Water Pearl Mussel, Hedgehog, Irish Hare, Deer, Red Squirrel, Natterjack Toad, Pygmy Shrew, Moth, Frogspawn. |
239. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of licences that have been issued in the past five years under Sections 22 (9)(a) of the Wildlife Act 1976 to ‘capture and humanely kill, a protected wild bird of a species specified in the licence for such educational, scientific or other purposes as shall be so specified’; the species involved; and the nature of the related educational, scientific and other purposes. [39690/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of licences issued under Section 22 of the Wildlife Act 1976 for each of the past five years is set out in the table below. In total, 190 licences have issued since 2020 up to and including 30 September 2024. These licences, referring to Section 22 & 34 of the Act, allow the licence holder to capture protected wild birds with the use of certain traps and snares.
Table 2 sets out the species of bird for which licences were issued during the same time period.
Licences are issued to allow for various activities including removal from work area, predator control, capture for breeding, feather sampling, tagging, accidental or intended capture, GPS tagging, to commence a breeding programme, conservation, protection of ground nesting waders, genetic sampling, collection of barn owl carcases for national road fatality monitoring.
|
YEAR |
NUMBER OF LICENCES |
|
2020 |
55 |
|
2021 |
61 |
|
2022 |
23 |
|
2023 |
43 |
|
2024 (Up to and including 30 September 2024) |
9 |
|
YEAR |
Species for which licence issued |
|
2020 |
Blackcap, Rock Dove, Chiffchaff, Robin, Northern Gannet, Northern Fulmar, Atlantic Puffin, Manx Shearwater, European Storm Petrel, Parakeet, Wren, Rooks, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Crows, Magpies. |
|
2021 |
Sparrowhawk male, Sparrowhawk female, Long eared owl, Merlin, Wren, Rooks, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Crows, Magpies, collection of barn owl carcases, Red Grouse, Northern Gannet, Northern Fulmar, Atlantic Puffin, Manx Shearwater, European Storm Petrel, Black Legged Kittiwake, Various Gull Species, Rose-ringed Parakeet. |
|
2022 |
Rooks, Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, Corncrake, Crows, Magpies, Tern, Curlew, Manx Shearwather, Artic tern, Herring Gull, Coal Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Jay, Wren, Pheasant. |
|
2023 |
Rooks, Woodcocks, Jackdaw, Eurasian Magpie, Hooded Crow, Barnacle Geese, Corncrake, Crows, Magpies, Common Cuckoo, Teal, Tern, Curlew, Manx Shearwather, Kestrel, Red Grouse, Artic tern. |
|
2024 (Up to and including 30 September 2024) |
Storm Petrel, Puffin, Manx Shearwather, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Eurasian Magpie, Hooded Crow, Pheasant, Northern gannet, northern fulmar, Atlantic Puffin, Sanwich Tern, Common tern, Roseate tern, Greylag Goose, Crow, Magpie, Raven, Common Buzzard, Kestel, Sparrowhawk, Long Earned Owl, Barn Owl, Jay, Rave, Blackcap, Rock Dove, Chiffchaff, Jay, Corncrake. |
240. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 229 of 5 July 2022 and 105 of 14 June 2023, if the National Parks and Wildlife Service has yet carried out a review of the issue of claimed woodpigeon damage to crops during the summer months, including the collection of new scientific data; and if not, the reason, in the absence of this data, he has included woodpigeons in a year-round killing derogation relating to preventing ‘serious damage’ to crops. [39691/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is entering into a research agreement with a University for the undertaking of research on a number of topics. These include research into the estimation and mitigation of bird damage to crops and stock. The recruitment process is underway to fill the post-doctorate position and it is anticipated that this will conclude in the coming weeks.
In the interim, the population of Woodpigeon in Ireland is considered stable to moderately increasing, based on the most recent species trends published in the Countryside Bird Survey Newsletter in March 2024.
The Countryside Bird Survey (CBS), has been monitoring breeding bird populations of Ireland’s common and widespread birds since 1998. This ongoing annual monitoring covers over 300 1km squares nationally each year and this level of sustained coverage ensures that all common and widespread breeding species are surveyed across a wide range of habitats and geographical locations. A high proportion of 1 km squares surveyed in CBS are entirely or at least partly within farmland habitats. Formerly a bird of deciduous woodland, Woodpigeon is now found in any habitat with sufficient vegetation for nesting, including hedgerows, tall heather and garden shrubs. As per published 2019 figures (Lewis et al. 2019), the Woodpigeon has increased by 37.4% during CBS (1998-2016), with an estimated population of >2,500,000 individuals, making Woodpigeon the seventh most numerous CBS species.
The basis for the inclusion of species on the General Declaration was first discussed in a submission compiled in 1990 (J. Wilson in litt). That submission referred to five species that were listed as ‘pests’ (Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie and Woodpigeon), particularly in an agricultural context. A review of the derogation process was carried out also in 2018 and this stated that Woodpigeon is resident, sedentary and highly numerous distributed throughout Ireland, and most concentrated along the east and south coasts. They are highly congregatory, especially in farmland areas. They feed on crops, but also buds, shoots, seeds, nuts and berries. Woodpigeon is considered a pest among farmers growing cereals and often significant efforts are put in place to deter them from these areas. The recommendation from that report was that no change to the derogation was necessary for Woodpigeon.
243. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the powers that will be held by the resources contracted to augment Waterways Ireland staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39793/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWaterways Ireland is a North South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement of 10 April 1998. It is funded by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
The detailed information requested in relation to external resources contracted by Waterways Ireland is not held in 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 Waterways Ireland is oireachtas@waterwaysireland.org.
244. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the interim remediation scheme for fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes, if a small apartment building (details supplied) will be eligible to receive a reimbursement for fire safety remediation works already carried out either under the interim scheme or the upcoming Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39799/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been advancing the steps to put a scheme for the remediation of eligible defects in apartments and duplexes constructed between 1991-2013 on a statutory footing as a matter of priority. Given the complexity of the issues, including the significant amount of Exchequer funding that this Government has committed to assist affected homeowners, sufficient time for drafting the legislation has been required to ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose, provides value for taxpayers' money and contains appropriate oversight and governance measures.
The Heads of the General Scheme have now been completed. On 18 September 2024, the Cabinet approved the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill 2024. The General Scheme is expected to be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage for pre-legislative scrutiny before the end of this year. Subject to the legislative process, the statutory remediation scheme will be in place shortly thereafter.
With regard to remediation costs previously incurred, the Government has already approved the principle of allowing these to be covered under the statutory scheme, once such costs fall within the scope and defined parameters of the scheme. The details and mechanics of such retrospective payment are currently being worked out as part of the legislative drafting process.
245. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will require an upward revision of income limits for social housing supports. [39809/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing. From this review, completed in November 2021, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds thus increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively.The review further recommended the commissioning of research to develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. My Department received this detailed research, commissioned by the Housing Agency. The scope of the research included examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and population conditions and the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced.My Department is now undertaking a detailed examination of the report, in order to develop a new social housing income eligibility model in line with the Housing for All Action Plan update. This detailed examination will include consultation with stakeholders and will look at, inter alia, how the social housing income limits system interacts with other housing supports and ensure that they continue to target households correctly.
246. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the fire cover review for an area (details supplied) and all costings explored. [39816/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003.
My Department, primarily through the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM), supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In late 2020, Cork City Council commissioned an independent strategic review of the Council’s Fire and Building Control department. A stated core aim of this review was to ensure that Cork City Fire & Building Control department would deliver a safe, efficient and effective service for the people of Cork with the capacity to meet the demand for the projected growth planned over the next 15-20 years.
I am advised that a key element of the review was the undertaking of extensive stakeholder engagement which included staff in the Fire Service and their representative groups. The final strategic review report was published in June 2022. This report made 20 recommendations under three main themes of (i) Strategy and Planning, (ii) Organisation and People (iii) Operations and Processes. A copy of this report is available at,
www.crowe.com/ie/-/media/crowe/firms/europe/ie/crowe-ireland/files/consulting/crowe-cork-city-council-final-report-fire-building-control-june-2022.pdf?rev=5bbc2cf118984251ac8523d6944dfcf0&hash=7BFD67AE824567F835E46445A7E51B80
One of the recommendations in that report is for a complete fire risk review across the city which will identify and inform the most effective use of resources to deliver an efficient Fire Service, meeting both the current and future needs across the entire city of Cork. I understand that review is now underway.
247. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of doubling the housing adaptation grant. [39878/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and budgetary apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities. The Department does not hold the disaggregated information required to provide such costings.
The Exchequer funding provision for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €25 million for 2025 to almost €100 million.
On 26 September 2024, Minister O'Brien and I published the Report on the Review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Amongst the recommendations included in the Report are a proposed increase in the grant limits by over 30% and the income thresholds by 25% as well as number of other measures in relation to the means test.
The Report on the Review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability is available on my Department’s website at the following link: gov.ie - Ministers O’Brien and Dillon announce reforms following review of the Housing Adaptation Grants (www.gov.ie).
My Department will now proceed to implement the review recommendations through bringing forward a statutory instrument as soon as possible, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, with the aim of introducing a revised scheme in Quarter 1 of 2025.
248. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason owners of newly constructed homes are currently ineligible to apply for grants under the water well grant scheme for the drilling of a private water well supply; the reason for a condition in the current grant scheme that the house must have been fully constructed for more than seven years; if he will review this condition and consider removing it to allow newly constructed homes to avail of grant funding when such new homes are not connected to and cannot reasonably be connected to an Uisce Éireann water supply or a group water scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39911/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Departments' Rural Water Programme there is grant support available to households that are dependent on a water supply from a private well for their domestic use. The grant scheme is administered by local authorities on behalf of the Department.
The objective is to provide financial assistance to households where they incur capital expenditure to carry out improvements to an existing private well.
I can confirm that in order to qualify for a grant, the house must have been built at least 7 years ago and not be connected to a public or group scheme.
The material used in the construction of a well for a newly constructed house should, if constructed according to appropriate standards, have a lifespan of at least seven years and not require the household to incur capital expenditure in that period.
I have no plans to review the qualifying criteria for the grant at this time.
249. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to allow flexibility for houses adapted for medical need to be considered for purchase under the tenant purchase scheme. [39915/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority houses which are available for sale under the scheme. All applications for the Scheme must satisfy the requirements outlined in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended.
The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 specifically exclude certain categories of houses from sale, including houses that have been provided to facilitate the transition from institutional care to community-based living of persons with an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment. In addition, local authorities may, within the provisions of the regulations, exclude certain houses which the authority considers should not be sold for reasons such as proper stock or estate management. It is a matter for each individual local authority to administer the scheme in line with the governing legislation and in a manner appropriate to its housing requirements. As such, information regarding houses which a local authority has decided to exclude from sale in the interest of proper stock or estate management reasons is available directly from the relevant local authority.
My Department monitors schemes on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, there are currently no plans to amend the categories of houses which are excluded from sale under the scheme.
250. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department sets out the income disregards for local authorities in calculating differential rent; and if so, to provide a list of the disregards. [39925/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved function of administering rent schemes. Decisions regarding how the rent charged is calculated and any increase or decrease in the amount of rent charged and the type of household income that is reckonable or disregarded for rent purposes under each Differential Rent scheme is a matter solely for individual local authorities. I have no role in this regard.
251. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a schedule of the 2025 estimates by sub head for Vote 34, itemising each provisionally agreed programme allocation, as set out in the abridged Estimates volume. [40006/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe documents referred to in the question are documents that are prepared and published by the Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and & Reform.
It should be noted that the Abridged Estimates for Public Services (AEV) are published as part of the Expenditure Report with the expenditure allocations for Votes limited to programme level only. As such the subhead allocations are draft only and may be subject to change.
The Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services (REV) will be published by the Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and & Reform later this year. The REV provides considerably more detail than the AEV including complete subhead level allocations and performance metrics. The REV also forms the basis for parliamentary scrutiny of allocated expenditure.
The finalised subhead allocations will be provided at that point.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 54
252. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to date to the Land Development Agency since its establishment, broken down by the amount and when it was invested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40062/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo fund the commercial activities of the Land Development Agency (LDA), the Land Development Agency Act 2021 and the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014 currently provide for:
• €2.5bn of funding from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF);
• €1.25bn of borrowings as provided for under the LDA Act, as well as;
• €1.25bn that can be raised by the LDA through the performance of certain functions.
Of this, it has drawn down €1.25bn of equity capital from ISIF since its establishment. The amounts drawn down and the dates draw down occurred were:
|
March 2022 |
February 2023 |
April 2023 |
November 2023 |
May 2024 |
|
€100m |
€250m |
€275m |
€300m |
€325m |
At end-August 2024, the LDA had entered into capital commitments of €1.665bn in aggregate. Total capital commitments are expected to reach €2.191bn by end 2024. The LDA expect to enter into a further €1.25bn worth of capital commitments in 2025.
With respect to Exchequer funding provided to the Agency since its establishment, the LDA was established on an interim basis in September 2018 through S.I. No. 352/2018. The Land Development Agency Act 2021 was signed into law in July 2021. Following the commencement of the relevant provisions of the LDA Act, the interim LDA entity was dissolved and all functions and staff of the interim LDA entity transferred to a new LDA Designated Activity Company (DAC) on 31 March 2022. This LDA DAC was incorporated by the Company Registration Office in December 2021.
The annual cost to the Exchequer of the interim LDA entity between September 2018 and its dissolution in 2021 is set out in the table below:
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
€ 254,000 |
€ 2,408,000 |
€14,100,000 |
€16,600,000 |
As a commercial State body, the commercial activities of the LDA DAC are not funded by the Exchequer. However, funding is provided to cover expenditure associated with their non-commercial functions. The annual Exchequer cost of the LDA following the dissolution of the interim LDA entity and the establishment of the LDA DAC is set out in the table below:
|
2022 |
2023 |
|
€ 535,000 |
€ 1,124,000 |
Exchequer funding of €3.8 million is being provided to the LDA for 2024 which is to cover expenditure associated with their non-commercial functions. These functions are detailed under Section 29 of the LDA Act 2021 and include the maintenance of the Register of Relevant Public Lands, the development of a report to Government on relevant public lands and any functions associated with the development of a Strategic Development Zone as provided for under Part IX of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
253. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of capital provided to Uisce Éireann in each of the past five years, in tabular form; the amount allocated for 2025; the mechanism for providing the €1 billion of additional capital for non-domestic capital investment as announced at Budget 2025; what is covered by non-domestic as referenced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget 2025 speech; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40064/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding model for Uisce Éireann was agreed by Government, in September 2017 in the context of the decision to move away from charges for domestic water services and based on recommendations made by the Working Group on the Future Funding Model for Uisce Éireann.
The funding arrangements are based on different approaches to the domestic and non-domestic sectors. The cost of providing normal domestic water services is met exclusively by Exchequer funding through a subvention along with a capital contribution. The subvention received from the Exchequer on behalf of domestic customers covers the domestic portion of operational (current) expenditure along with a contribution towards the domestic portion of capital investment. The balance of the cost of domestic investment is funded through a capital contribution from the Exchequer.
The cost of providing non-domestic services is met by a combination of a non-domestic tariff framework and a loan facility provided by the Minister for Finance. The revenue received from non-domestic billing covers the non-domestic portion of operational (current) expenditure along with a contribution towards the non-domestic portion of capital investment. The balance of the cost of non-domestic investment is funded through a loan facility provided by the Minister for Finance.
The €1 billion equity investment announced in the budget is a contribution towards non-domestic services. I am currently considering the mechanism and timing of providing the €1 billon equity investment in consultation with the Minister for Finance.
The Exchequer capital funding provided to Uisce Éireann over the last five years is set out table below.
|
Actual 2020 €m |
Actual 2021 €m |
Actual 2022 €m |
Actual 2023 €m |
REV 2024 €m |
|
|
Capital Funding |
679 |
599 |
717 |
971 |
983 |
Over €2.7 billion (current and capital, including €1 billon equity) is being provided to Uisce Éireann to meet the cost of water services in 2025.
The amount of loans extended by the Minister for Finance in each of the last four years and the total that may be drawn down in 2024 is set out below.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
Debt facility |
€372m |
€130m |
€112m |
€201m |
€184m |
254. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which the review of the caravan loan pilot scheme was completed; when a replacement for this scheme with a permanent national scheme will be announced; the progress made to date in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40091/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
My Department completed a comprehensive review of the nationwide pilot Caravan Loan Scheme in 2024. Options for a national scheme are currently under consideration with the intention that a proposal for a further scheme will be brought forward later this year.
255. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will confirm in relation to the vacant property refurbishment grant, whether or not the current level of funding is being maintained, or increased, as part of the Budget 2025 announcement, specifically whether the €40 million funding for the scheme is additional and/or specifically for 2025 only; the total level of funding provisioned for the grant under this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40205/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022 under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund, supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
Details of the 2025 budget allocation for the Croí Cónaithe scheme is available in the Budget 2025 Expenditure Report. The link for the Expenditure Report is available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/3ab46-budget-2025-expenditure-reports/
The Abridged Estimates for Public Services (AEV) are published as part of the Expenditure Report with the expenditure allocations for Votes limited to programme level only. As such the subhead allocations are draft only and may be subject to change.
The Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services (REV) will be published by the Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform later this year. The REV provides considerably more detail than the AEV including complete subhead level allocations and performance metrics. The REV also forms the basis for parliamentary scrutiny of allocated expenditure.
The finalised subhead allocations will be provided at that point.
