Written Answers Nos. 86-98
86. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline all capital investments, if any made by her Department in the constituency of Louth East Meath since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45409/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought in respect of my Department is specified in the table below.
|
Year |
Project / Programme |
Total Allocation |
|
2020 |
Droichead Arts Centre - Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream D) |
€9,306 |
|
2020 |
CCÉ Oriel Centre Dundalk Gaol – Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream D) |
€8,846 |
|
2020 |
An Táin Arts Centre – Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream D) |
€1,744 |
|
2020 |
Highlanes Gallery – Research and curation for Nano Reid Exhibition: Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme 2020 |
€10,000 |
|
2021 |
Highlanes Gallery - Publish and exhibit extensive research and curation on the life and work of Nano Reid: Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme 2021 |
€13,500 |
|
2021 |
County Museum Dundalk – Faraway Hills Exhibition: Regional Museums Exhibition Scheme 2021 |
€12,000 |
|
2021 |
The National Ballet of Ireland – Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream D) |
€4,936 |
|
2021 |
St. Oliver’s Community Centre CLG t/a Venue Theatre Ratoath - Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream D) |
€4,844 |
|
2021 |
Louth County Council re An Táin Arts Centre - Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream B) |
€72,929 |
|
2021 |
Droichead Arts Centre - Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream B) |
€70,000 |
|
2021 |
Meath County Council re public space outside Solstice Arts Centre in Navan - Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021 |
€250,000 |
|
2022 |
St. Oliver’s Community Centre CLG t/a Venue Theatre Ratoath - Cultural Capital Scheme 2019-2022 (Stream A) |
€49,024 |
|
2023 |
Shifting Tides – The Wheel Creative Climate Action Fund II - Creative Ireland Programme |
€16,000 |
|
2024 |
Shifting Tides – The Wheel Creative Climate Action Fund II - Creative Ireland Programme |
€107,000 |
|
2024 |
Dear Future Me Creative Health & Wellbeing - Creative Ireland Programme |
€54,900 |
Creative Ireland Programme
The Creative Ireland Programme within my Department has been allocated €6 million over three years (2023-25) to invest in creative initiatives on a Shared Island basis.
Data for this Programme is not collated on a constituency basis. However, the three Creative Ireland Programme capital investments detailed in the table above are the elements of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Shared Island initiatives that are managed by Louth County Council, or, are based in County Louth.
Sport
My Department also provides capital investment through the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital Programmes) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund. However, the information sought by the Deputy is not collated in the format requested for these funds.
Details of allocations under the current round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund can be found by using this link www.gov.ie/en/publication/3f9fa-community-sport-facilities-funding
Details of allocations under previous rounds of the Community Sport Facilities Fund can be accessed by using this link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/ .
Details of allocations under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund can be found by using this link: gov.ie - Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) .
87. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the additional measures that will be implemented in 2025 to promote at home and abroad Ireland’s Ancient East; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45444/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to both agencies for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
88. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of a case of a data breach (details supplied) where a named individual’s personal data were disclosed to a public representative without the person’s permission; the implications of this data breach; what action has been taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45328/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for the executive functions of the local authority, and for that purpose to manage and control generally, the administration and business of the authority, subject to law.
All Local Authorities are required to have a data protection policy which must be adhered to. As set out in the Wexford County Council data protection policy, which can be found on the Council’s website: www.wexfordcoco.ie/sites/default/files/content/GDPR/Wexford-County-Council-Data-Protection-Policy-GDPR-18.pdf, “personal data shall be: (a) Processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject b) Collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes..”
A breach of the nature outlined would be considered a very serious matter, therefore, if determined, an obligation exists to notify the Data Protection Commission of a personal data breach and for all public bodies to maintain a register of all personal data breaches.
In this regard, it is more appropriate that this question be posed to Wexford County Council directly.
89. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of litigation being taken (details supplied) following a data breach in Wexford County Council; the circumstances of this case; the implications of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45329/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for the executive functions of the local authority, and for that purpose to manage and control generally, the administration and business of the authority, subject to law.
All Local Authorities are required to have a data protection policy which must be adhered to. As set out in the Wexford County Council data protection policy, which can be found on the Council’s website: www.wexfordcoco.ie/sites/default/files/content/GDPR/Wexford-County-Council-Data-Protection-Policy-GDPR-18.pdf, “personal data shall be: (a) Processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject b) Collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes..”
A breach of the nature outlined would be considered a very serious matter, therefore, if determined, an obligation exists to notify the Data Protection Commission of a personal data breach and for all public bodies to maintain a register of all personal data breaches.
In this regard, it is more appropriate that this question be posed to Wexford County Council directly.
90. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the backlog drawing down the croí cónaithe grant in Dublin (details supplied). [45346/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
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. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to €70,000. The Grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built prior to 2008, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
The grant process involves the local authority receiving and reviewing applications to ensure that the grant conditions are met and arranging for a qualified person to visit the property to check the refurbishment work being applied for and to assess the proposed cost. Following confirmation of a successful application and the works being completed, the local authority will conduct a final property visit to review that the work has been completed in line with the grant application. Once the local authority is satisfied, they will then pay the grant. Payment of the grant at the end of the process is to ensure that the applicant has carried out the works applied for and for which the grant is being paid.
91. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of fire trucks currently in Dublin Fire Brigade fleet; the number that are operational; the age of each fire truck; the date each was procured; and whom they were procured from, in tabular form. [45349/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to procure additional fire trucks for Dublin Fire Brigade; if so, if those being considered are new or second-hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45350/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra93. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will conduct a full audit of the standard of the Dublin Fire Brigade fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45351/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 92 and 93 together.
The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003.
My Department supports the fire authorities through setting national policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding, including recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and emergency equipment, as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations.
Decisions regarding the number and type of fire appliances maintained are a matter for each fire authority, having regard to the assessment of their individual fire cover needs and the provision and management of a fleet adequate to their requirements. In the assessment of their fire cover needs, including the provision and management of a fleet adequate to their requirements, fire service management determine fire station Area Risk Categorisation based on multi-annual data of fire risk, having regard to the standards set out in the national policy document “Keeping Communities Safe” for benchmarking service delivery.
In December 2020, I announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Included within the capital programme was the allocation of 35 new appliances, from which Dublin City Council received an allocation of four new ‘Class B’ appliances. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority; that is why, in October 2023, I announced the allocation of an additional 40 new fire appliances at a cost of €20.8m. Dublin City Council received an allocation for a further four new appliances. Dublin City Council was also grant-aided to procure three new “Class B” fire appliances in both the 2015 and 2017 Programmes.
My Department works with fire services in Dublin in relation to their priority projects. In July 2019, Dublin City Council were approved to purchase a new turntable ladder/ aerial appliance at a cost of €800,000 plus VAT, which they took delivery of in 2021. In September 2021, the Council requested approval for the purchase of a second new turntable ladder at a cost of €850,000 plus VAT which was delivered in 2023.
In May 2023, the council received approval for the purchase of two new Emergency Tender appliances at a cost of €760,000 plus VAT.
In September 2024, following consideration of a business case from Dublin Fire Brigade, grant assistance funding of approximately €438,000 was approved for the purchase of seven pre-owned Class B appliances for the DFB training/reserve fleet.
Fire appliances are acquired through a competitive tendering process. The detailed information on the age, number and vehicle type of the Dublin Fire Brigade fleet is not available in my Department. It should be available directly from the Fire Authority, in this instance Dublin City Council who, through Dublin Fire Brigade, provide fire services for all four Dublin local authorities.
94. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the refurbishment and new unit spends, and number in each case, of Traveller accommodations, per local authority, from 2019-2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45369/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
95. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the Traveller Accommodation and Support Programme pipeline across all Traveller accommodation projects initiated in the period 2019-2024.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45370/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra96. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a centralised national report of the Traveller Accommodation Programme 2019-2024, of all local authorities, to include expenditure, delivery and programme pipeline status. [45371/24]
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.
The TAPs provide a pathway for the delivery of a range of accommodation solutions for Travellers including halting site bays, group housing schemes, acquisition of homes, HAP and RAS. My Department’s TAP Guidelines provide for an assessment of need, local authority annual targets, measures for implementation and a policy statement in relation to meeting accommodation needs to be included in each TAP. Local authorities, who are responsible for the delivery of TAPs, remain responsible for reporting on progress in relation to their TAPs at the local level.
The current stage of the ongoing project approval pipeline and funding allocated by my Department to all Traveller Accommodation Programme projects being undertaken across all local authorities is set out in the table below.
|
Traveller-Specific Accommodation Development Stage |
Remaining Allocation Commitment |
|
Single Stage |
€21,832,601 |
|
Stage 1 |
€18,263,189 |
|
Stage 2 |
€65,889,118 |
|
Stage 3 |
€4,966,758 |
|
Stage 4 |
€6,842,814 |
|
Final Account |
€387,516 |
|
Acquisitions |
€5,436,966 |
Local authorities will be able to provide further detail on the status of individual projects, which are dynamic in nature, in their respective areas as it is not possible to fully disaggregate by year, given that this table refers to all ongoing project approvals.
97. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing delivered for Travellers nationwide under Housing for All, in tabular form. [45372/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra98. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details and the pro-rata percentage of all housing allocations for social housing which have gone to Travellers 2019-2024. [45373/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All provides provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. It is a multi-annual, multi-billion euro plan which is improving Ireland’s housing system and delivering more homes for people with different housing needs including Travellers.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and delivery partners in each local authority area. Data for the years 2022 and 2023 and for the first half of 2024 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/?#affordable-housing-delivery
Housing for All recognises the importance of addressing Traveller accommodation needs and commits to working with local authorities to improve the quantity and quality of Traveller-specific accommodation. My Department is also committed to support the ambition of local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) and grow the Traveller-specific accommodation pipeline.
Traveller families live in standard social housing as well as Traveller-specific accommodation (i.e. halting sites and group housing schemes) provided at local authority level. Local authorities carry out an Annual Estimate of Traveller Families in Local Authority and Local Authority Assisted Accommodation each year and this provides a breakdown of the accommodation provision across the categories. These reports can be accessed through the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/29c76-traveller-accommodation-statistics/
The allocation of local authority dwellings is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with their allocation schemes made under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations. Details on the pro-rata percentage of all housing allocations for social housing to Travellers is not available in my Department and may be available directly from local authorities.
