Written Answers Nos. 74-94
74. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to work with three organisations (details supplied) and all sporting organisations to drive increased participation in sport as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37963/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIncreasing participation levels in sport among all cohorts is a key objective of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and is a priority for me in my role as Minister for Sport.
Increased funding secured for sport in Budget 2025 has resulted in record levels of core funding for sporting organisations. €18.3 million is being invested in the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) through Sport Ireland this year, representing an increase of €1 million on the 2024 figure.
This record level of funding demonstrates Government’s commitment to supporting Irish sport and will ensure that NGBs can continue to provide valuable opportunities for everyone to participate in sport, in line with the National Sports Policy.
Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport in Ireland, including with regards to participation. A key focus of Sport Ireland is to assist all NGBs to develop sustainable and effective structures with the aim of increasing numbers of participants and volunteers in sport.
I have referred the Deputy’s question to Sport Ireland in relation to their work in partnership with the specified NGBs to drive increased participation in sport. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
75. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to expand support for para-sports and special needs programmes by providing grants to clubs that demonstrate inclusive policies and facilities as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37964/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out an ambitious future for sport in Ireland where equality of access and opportunity is a key theme. Inclusion and diversity is an absolute priority for me in my role as Minister for Sport.
Increased funding secured for sport in Budget 2025 enabled Sport Ireland to appoint a Disability in Sport Lead in February of this year. The creation of the post delivered on an action set out in both the Sport Action Plan 2024-2027 and the Sport Ireland Statement and Commitment to Action in Disability Sport. This was in turn reflected in the Programme for Government.
The role has the potential to be transformational and the Disability in Sport Lead will work with National Government Bodies (NGBs), Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting bodies to develop and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport.
Sport Ireland has allocated an additional €2.4 million for supporting disability sport focused NGBs to continue their work in this area. This investment will help ensure that anyone with a disability, at any level, grassroots and above, can avail of their absolute right to enjoy and reap the benefits of sport and physical activity.
Under the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF), all projects must be accessible to people with disabilities and capital projects must conform to the 7 principles of universal design www.universaldesign.ie.
All gym equipment funded by CSFF must be accessible to people with disabilities. The department has written a guide to accessible gym equipment - Guide to Accessible Gym Equipment
Furthermore, all CSFF grantees must sign a declaration stating that they agree that, from the date of the grant, they will not deny anybody access to any facility or part of a facility for which they receive a grant on the grounds of gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, sexual orientation, religious belief, or membership of the Traveller or Roma community without just, reasonable and proper cause
76. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to implement the New National Swimming Strategy by investing in pools and swimming facilities allowing everyone an opportunity to swim as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37965/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s first National Swimming Strategy sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.
The public consultation that informed the development of the National Swimming Strategy suggested that existing swimming pool stock is insufficient and, as a result, a key focus of the Strategy is on providing improved facilities. There is a specific action in the strategy to complete an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for swimming, is currently undertaking an analysis of the type and nature of swimming pool ownership in the country and will publish a report in this regard in the coming period.
This report will be central to the future development of swimming pool facilities. Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects.
In support of the Strategy, additional funding of €500,000 was provided to Swim Ireland in 2024 for the deployment of swimming activators to work within local authority areas, focusing on increasing participation amongst under-represented groups and improving coaching supports and facilities. This additional funding will also be provided in 2025 and 2026 – totalling €1.5 million over three years.
Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan is shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. Sport Ireland recently established an oversight group of key stakeholders to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support, monitor and measure the Strategy’s implementation.
77. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to work with all sporting organisations to promote a ‘one club’ ethos, encompassing male and female participants and promoting equality of access to sporting facilities as of July 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37966/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEquality, diversity and inclusion are a key focus for me in my role as Minister of State for Sport.
The Programme for Government commits to supporting the sporting ecosystem so more people can participate, reap the benefits of sport, and fulfil their potential from grassroots right up to high performance level. This will be achieved through a range of measures including continuing to support the funding of sports capital projects and assessing the distribution of funding to maximise participation in all sports at community and national level, as well as continuing to work with sporting organisations to promote equality of access to sporting facilities and to drive increased participation in sport.
Organisations applying to the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) must be open to new members and must not have any restrictions on who may join or obtain full membership. All CSFF applicants must agree that, from the date of the grant, they will not deny anybody access to any facility. In addition, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) requires that recipients of LSSIF funding must accommodate the needs of women and men, on a similar basis, with respect to accessing the facilities.
In 2024, Sport Ireland published its Statement of Commitment and Action to Disability Inclusion in Sport. This policy will be a key driver of disability inclusion in the coming years and sets out key actions that my Department and Sport Ireland will pursue to ensure that everyone has equal access to sport. Increased funding secured for sport in Budget 2025 enabled Sport Ireland to appoint a Disability in Sport Lead in February of this year.
78. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to include a property (details supplied) in the intervention (amber) area for fibre broadband; when this property will receive fibre broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37984/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
The premises in question is in the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on my Department's website https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/.
The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.
The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
As per information available at www.openeir.ie/fibre/broadband-checker the premises can currently receive high speed broadband from local retail service providers (RSPs) via the Open Eir copper network and is also included in open eir Full Fibre deployment programme. The Department does not have sight of information that provides an estimated timeline of when commercial operators will provide a full fibre connection to the area, other than what’s on the Open Eir messaging.
If a person lives in the BLUE area and after contacting their Retail Service Provider are told they cannot get access to greater than 30Mbps, they should raise a query via the webform which can be accessed by clicking on “contact us” in the Contact section on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/ and the Department will escalate with the commercial operator to investigate this matter further.
79. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will provide an update on the provision of fibre broadband to a property (details supplied); the reasons for the ongoing delays in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan at this location which was originally scheduled for October 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37989/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie
The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
NBI have advised that the premises in question is included in the Dowra Deployment Area (DA). NBI have stated the initial anticipated timeframe for connection published in Q3 of 2021 was January 2025- December 2026.
In Q4 2024, NBI updated this timeframe to July 2026 - December 2026 which still falls within the initial anticipated timeframe for connection. NBI provides the public with indicative rollout dates, based on the best information available at any given time.
NBI has stated the route of the network rollout is not based on cost or an economic model. Instead, it is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to get to every premises as quickly as possible, working within the confines of how fibre networks are built and utilising existing infrastructure wherever possible.
The latest information on when high-speed broadband will become available to this premises can be found on National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) website at https://nbi.ie/map/. This website is regularly updated providing the expected timeline for delivery and status of any works that are initiated at any point in time. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
80. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for an update from the Chief State Solicitor's Office on a matter (details supplied). [37991/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe organisation referred to by the Deputy was provisionally allocated €170,259 from the 2023 Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) towards works for an artificial surface. The club should submit the necessary grant agreement form to my Department in order to progress the grant approval and my officials will engage with the organisation on the grant approval process and on the matter referred to in its correspondence with the Chief State Solicitor's office.
81. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if, in light of his contribution to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Culture, Communications and Sport on 2 July 2025 that the Arts Council should not exclude comedy, he is prepared use his powers under section 5(3) of the Arts Act 2003 to give a direction in writing to the Council requiring it to comply with the policy of not excluding comedy; and if he supports this Deputy’s Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024. [38009/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 2 of the Arts Act 2003, “Arts” means any creative or interpretative expression (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purposes.
As I indicated at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Culture, Communications and Sport on 2 July 2025, once the Review of Governance and Culture in the Arts Council is concluded, it is my intention to examine how that can be achieved and how the activity of the Arts Council can be widened to support more art forms.
82. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has been in contact with the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Protection around the application of the Karshan ruling, in light of recent issues around bogus self-employment in bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38119/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra83. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has issued any guidance or provided any support to bodies under its aegis regarding bogus self-employment and how to correctly apply the Karshan ruling in their work, given the widespread issues regarding bogus self-employment in the arts, media and communications sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38120/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.
HR matters in the bodies under the Department's aegis are operational matters for those bodies.
From time to time, my Department advises the bodies under its aegis of changes in public service HR policy, and application of that policy, such as the implementation of national pay increases under the Public Services Agreement and updating of DPER Circulars.
In relation to the Karshan ruling in particular, I can confirm that on 09 April 2024, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media circulated a letter, from the Revenue Commissioners to the Department’s Secretary General (dated 25 March 2024), to all bodies under the Department’s aegis at the time, including commercial state bodies. The letter concerned tax compliance in the context of the overall corporate governance responsibilities of Government Departments and their respective aegis bodies, in the exercise of their official duties. The letter, amongst other points of guidance, alerted public bodies to the Karshan Ruling of the Supreme Court in October 2023 and provided guidance on the tax treatment of remuneration of persons engaged for short periods/specific contracts. The implementation of this guidance is an operational matter for the body itself.
Outside of this my Department has not had specific engagement with the Departments referred to in relation to the judgment.
84. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is concerned about the scarcity of hares in the area of Roseberry, County Kildare, as highlighted in the attached December 2024 return (details supplied), which stated that "only two courses run–hare stock low this year". [37301/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish hare is protected under the Irish Wildlife Acts and under the EU’s Habitats Directive. As such Ireland is required to ensure the favourable conservation status of the species.
The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department undertakes regular monitoring surveys of hares nationally. From their work, and the results of surveys in other countries, it is clear that hare numbers vary naturally from year to year. Low numbers of hares in a particular area in a particular year are not necessarily a cause for concern. The hare is currently considered to be in favourable conservation status. The NPWS will continue to monitor the status of the species both nationally and regionally.
85. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of apprenticeships commenced through local authorities for the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37312/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the specific role and function of each individual staff member is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from individual local authorities.
I am aware that the local government sector participates in the employer-led national apprenticeship programme which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The Public Sector Agreement highlights that the Sector is committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships through Co-operation with the objectives of the Public Sector Apprenticeship Plan, with a view to increasing the number of Apprenticeships and developing further opportunities for apprenticeships across the sector. This is further supported by Action 12 in the Local Government Sector's Strategic Framework for Workforce Planning which is available on my Department's website here: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/strategic-framework-for-workforce-planning.pdf
The Guide on employing Apprentices for the Public Sector developed by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has been produced to support the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan which is a key deliverable under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 -2025. This Plan sets out the pathway to significantly grow the uptake of apprenticeships with an annual target of 150 for the local authority sector.
86. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, given that his Department previously advised that it was unable to locate the policy files for S.I. No. 254/1986 - European Communities (Wildlife Act 1976) (Amendment) Regulations, 1986, and was/is therefore legally non-compliant with the National Archives Act 1986 (the ’30-year rule’) in these regards, his Department has complied with the terms of the National Archives Act 1986, by providing all files–including policy files–pertaining to the Wildlife Act 1976–viz. primary legislation–to the National Archives Office under the ’30-year rule’; and if it transpires that his Department, in addition to its non-compliance vis-à-vis the 1986 Regulations, is also non-compliant with regard to the files on the Wildlife Act 1976; the reason for his Department’s non-compliance; the directions he will give to his Department/NPWS to achieve and sustain legal compliance in respect of both sets of files; if he will make immediate and convenient arrangements in his Department/NPWS for public scrutiny of all of the pertinent files on the 1976 Act, as is legally required of his Department/NPWS under the terms of the National Archives Act 1986; if he will provide a complete copy of the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU)–including all relevant background notes and files pertinent to the MOU–that was provided by the Department of the day to the Oireachtas Committee(s) to inform the Committee(s)’ members during the passage of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37968/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wildlife Act 1976 was sponsored by the Minister for Lands and came into operation on 1 June 1977.
My Department is seeking to establish the custody of the files referenced, the extent to which those files have been archived and to ensure that these files are identified, archived and made available for inspection. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department (NPWS) has searched all physical files held in central storage and has made efforts to locate relevant files held in remote storage and these efforts will continue.
The Ministry responsible for nature conservation has moved across a number of Departments of State in the intervening years. The NPWS has been part of a number of Departments of State during this time. In view of the number of Departments in which these files originated this will take some time to complete.
87. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount of rent arrears (rent owed by housing tenants) in each local authority across the country, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37986/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the total rent collected by local authorities and the levels of arrears are contained in the annual local authority Audit Reports prepared by the Local Government Audit Service and published by my Department. Details of rent local authority rent arrears from 2019 to 2023, the most recent year for which audit reports are available, are included on the table attached.
The collection of rents and the management of arrears is a matter for individual local authorities.
|
Local Authority |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Carlow County Council |
380,000 |
260,000 |
350,000 |
570,000 |
513,000 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1,000,000 |
1,400,000 |
1,600,000 |
1,900,000 |
2,100,000 |
|
Cork City Council |
4,900,000 |
5,000,000 |
5,100,000 |
4,900,000 |
5,500,000 |
|
Cork County Council |
520,000 |
-30,000 |
-120,000 |
1,050,000 |
930,000 |
|
Clare County Council |
1,420,000 |
1,430,000 |
1,500,000 |
1,600,000 |
2,168,000 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1,500,000 |
1,400,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,500,000 |
1,900,000 |
|
Dublin City Council |
31,500,000 |
34,300,000 |
35,000,000 |
37,000,000 |
36,100,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
4,300,000 |
4,400,000 |
5,000,000 |
5,400,000 |
5,400,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
4,300,000 |
6,000,000 |
7,200,000 |
7,900,000 |
8,700,000 |
|
Galway County Council |
808,000 |
765,900 |
857,000 |
1,220,000 |
1,250,000 |
|
Galway City Council |
2,000,000 |
2,300,000 |
2,300,000 |
2,300,000 |
2,400,000 |
|
Kerry County Council |
980,000 |
1,210,000 |
1,100,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,100,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
1,200,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,300,000 |
1,300,000 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
500,000 |
400,000 |
300,000 |
400,000 |
5,000,000 |
|
Laois County Council |
260,000 |
510,000 |
310,000 |
270,000 |
410,000 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
260,000 |
240,000 |
140,000 |
80,000 |
70,000 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
6,300,000 |
6,300,000 |
6,700,000 |
5,200,000 |
5,700,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
737,000 |
840,000 |
800,000 |
883,000 |
907,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
3,100,000 |
3,000,000 |
2,500,000 |
2,600,000 |
2,900,000 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1,000,000 |
1,100,000 |
1,300,000 |
1,100,000 |
1,000,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
1,300,000 |
1,600,000 |
1,670,000 |
2,290,000 |
2,400,000 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
200,000 |
160,000 |
190,000 |
200,000 |
300,000 |
|
Offaly County Council |
730,000 |
580,000 |
480,000 |
560,000 |
640,000 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
475,000 |
394,000 |
371,000 |
525,000 |
647,000 |
|
Sligo County Council |
1,350,000 |
1,180,000 |
1,300,000 |
1,300,000 |
1,300,000 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
8,200,000 |
9,500,000 |
10,100,000 |
9,300,000 |
9,700,000 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
790,000 |
520,000 |
560,000 |
2,080,000 |
1,610,000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
4,100,000 |
4,400,000 |
3,900,000 |
3,900,000 |
5,100,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
160,000 |
170,000 |
140,000 |
230,000 |
300,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1,800,000 |
1,300,000 |
900,000 |
1,200,000 |
1,500,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1,850,000 |
2,740,000 |
2,800,000 |
3,300,000 |
3,500,000 |
88. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any grant or funding opportunities through his Department towards the purchase of a mobile home where a family cannot provide accommodation through other means. [37994/25]
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 new Caravan Loan Scheme allows local authorities to offer preferential discounted loans to Travellers to purchase a caravan or trailer for use as their primary residence on official halting sites. Funding of €4 million is allocated towards the scheme in 2025 and similar levels of funding are expected to allocated annually subject to the annual budgetary and estimates process. It is a matter for each local authority to assess applications and allocate loans accordingly.
There are no other schemes available for the purchase of mobile homes.
89. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will urgently provide additional funding to Westmeath County Council in relation to housing aid for the elderly and housing adaptions for those with a disability. [37999/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.
The Exchequer funding available for these grants in 2025 has been increased substantially by €25 million to €99.5 million, or over €117 million when accounting for the local authority contribution, continuing the year on year increases since 2014. Westmeath County Council received an Exchequer allocation of over €2 million, an increase of 36% on the original allocation in 2024.
My Department advises local authorities annually that, as far as practicable, a percentage of the allocation under the schemes should be ring fenced in respect of any emergency applications which might arise under these schemes during the course of the year. Consequently, all local authorities manage their schemes to ensure access to the grants programme is maintained to the extent possible throughout the year in the highest priority cases and further information in this regard would be available directly from the local authorities.
My Department works closely with the local authorities to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of available funding. This means that any underspends that arise on the part of any local authority can be redistributed to other authorities which have high levels of grant activity and my Department makes every effort to redistribute such funding throughout the year. My Department expects to undertake redistribution shortly of any underspends being identified, including to Westmeath County Council.
90. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason he proposed to delete the specific words recognising “the sacrifice of the men and women of 1916, who fought and died in the General Post Office (GPO), Moore Street, across Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland, so Ireland may be free” from the private members’ motion on GPO and Moore Street Regeneration as a 1916 Cultural Quarter; and the reason these words were not included in his amendment. [38008/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is firmly committed to honouring the men and women of 1916. The Government's countermotion to the aforementioned Private Members' Business, which is published in the Official Report of Dáil Éireann of 1 July 2025, clearly reaffirmed this.
In this regard, it is worth recalling that the Government ran a hugely successful and inclusive Decade of Centenaries, including a keynote 1916 Centenary year in 2016, and has invested in key capital projects, including the seminal 1916 Exhibition at the GPO and the purchase by the State of the National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street.
91. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the eligible areas under the domestic wastewater treatment systems grant scheme; if he has any plans to extend those areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38019/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the number of domestic wastewater treatment systems grants approved by county for the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38020/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together.
The responsibility for the proper operation and maintenance of Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, lies with the individual property owner.
Owners must ensure that their systems are functioning effectively and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. Regular maintenance, desludging, and repairs, where necessary, are part of the owner’s obligations.
The policy of providing grant funding for remedial work to septic tanks, arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular. The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority to protect human health and the environment, and are not general in application.
The table below sets out the number of grants paid by my Department to each local authority from 2020 to date.
Householders can avail of the grants if their DWWTS has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has been issued, or if located in designated areas where septic tanks are identified as a potential threat to water quality or human health and require remediation.
Substantial improvements to the terms and conditions of the grants available have been made and the objective of the changes is to encourage more householders to seek and avail of the grants and consequently help reduce the risk of the impact of defective systems.
I have no plans to make further changes at present.
93. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the multi-annual water programme 2024–2026 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38046/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the current cycle of my Department's Multi-annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP), which covers the period to the end of 2026, almost 900 applications for funding were received from local authorities across the country.
As part of the application process, an independent Expert Panel is tasked with evaluating all applications received and reviewing each individual project, assessing the information provided in the application against the objective of the programme and making recommendations for my consideration and decision on their suitability of funding.
Given the large number of applications received and in order to allow work to begin on projects as soon as possible, it was decided to take a phased approach to funding approval. In November 2024, funding of €47.1 million was approved for 256 individual projects which are improving water services for households across rural communities nationwide.
The Expert Panel has completed their evaluation of the vast majority of remaining applications and I expect to conclude my consideration of their recommendations and announce funding approval shortly.
94. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will legislate to ensure that there is an obligation on landlords and letting agents to inform tenants of any overpayments they may have made. [38047/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2024, to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Where there is a question regarding the appropriate level of rent paid, a dispute may be referred to the RTB under Part 6 of the Acts - please see www.rtb.ie for information on the RTB's dispute resolution service.
When landlords, tenants and third parties bring disputes to the RTB, they receive a legally binding Determination Order, which may direct the payment of damages of up to €20,000, and if not complied with, can be enforced through the District Court.
My Department and the RTB keep the operation of the Residential Tenancies Act and the residential rental sector under review with a view making any necessary legal change.
