Written Answers Nos. 430-449
430. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how much each local authority spent on retrofitting in 2022, in quarter 1 2023 and in quarter 2 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35403/23]
View answer465. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the post-retrofit BER status of local authority homes retrofitted in 2022, in Q1 2023, and in Q3 2023, by area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35110/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 465 together.
In 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2 (BER)/Cost Optimal Equivalent standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.
Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works.
An annualised breakdown of the funding and number of properties completed by each local authority since 2013 is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/ - Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme - Expenditure & Output (www.gov.ie)
My Department also introduced a pilot Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme in 2020, the details of which are found below. A further 481 properties were retrofitted to a BER of B2/ Cost Optimal Equivalent and these figures are in addition to the National Retrofit Programme.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/ - Midlands Energy Retrofit Programme - Expenditure and Units (www.gov.ie)
The 2023 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support to €87 million in 2023 which will allow approximately 2,400 local authority owned social homes to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER). Local authorities have been notified of their targets and funding available but it will be later this year before significant claims have been received. Full details on 2023 will be available early in 2024.
Separately, details in relation to an individual properties BER rating should be available directly upon request from the local authority themselves.
431. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which game species such as the red grouse, woodcock, partridge or others continue by way of specific conservation measures; the extent to which the numbers of these various species are being monitored and recorded at this present time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35562/23]
View answerThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPSW) of my Department has supported projects, monitoring and research for the aforementioned species in recent decades. The information collected has been used to inform Ireland’s reporting under the EU Birds Directive on the status of these species as recently as 2019. Furthermore, through NPWS-funded supports, the Grey Partridge Project, with Boora as its flagship site, has implemented conservation measures successfully for the species and others (e.g. Lapwing). These include targeted control of generalist predators, supplementary feeding, the appropriate release of captive-bred birds, and the management and creation of supporting foraging and nesting cover, chick-rearing cover and over-winter seed crops for partridges, raptors and birds in the wider countryside. Farmland habitat measures, supported by agri-environment schemes, not only provide vital financial aid to farmers, but also help them manage their land in ways beneficial to target species and also other biodiversity, including other priority species/habitats.
The necessity for conservation interventions to reverse fortunes of the aforementioned species is clear, and these include provision of targeted agri-environment schemes/supports.
432. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which predators are an increasing threat to game birds or songbirds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35563/23]
View answerRecently published research (including Irish research) has explored the role of generalist predators, such as the common European Red Fox, American Mink and some Corvid species, in bird population declines. Across Europe, 74% of ground-nesting bird species are in decline, and the declines for this group are greater than other bird species. There is little evidence that predators are limiting populations of pigeons, woodpeckers and passerines (including songbirds), however. On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest that ground-nesting seabirds, breeding waders and gamebirds can be limited by predation.
It is important to note that even for the latter species groups; predation is not the ultimate cause of declines. The influence of anthropogenic pressures and threats on our farmed, grassland, upland, peatland, coastal, marine and freshwater habitats, over the past several decades, have precipitated in changes to these habitats, including reduced suitability and extent for those aforementioned ground-nesting bird species.
See the publications below for further details.
Roos, S., Smart, J., Gibbons, D.W., and Wilson, J.D. (2018) A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator-rich landscapes: a case study of the UK. Biological Reviews. Cambridge Philosophical Society.
McMahon, B.J., Doyle, S., Gray, A., Kelly, S.B.A. and Redpath, S.M. (2020) European bird declines: Do we need to rethink approaches to the management of abundant generalist predators? Journal of Applied Ecology, 57(10): 1885–1890
cdr.eionet.europa.eu/Converters/run_conversion?file=ie/eu/art12/envxztxxq/IE_birds_reports_20191031-130157.xml&conv=612&source=remote#A644_B
433. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on extending the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme to non-principal primary residences, such as holiday homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34822/23]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023, and the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) were adopted on 29 June 2023.
The new Enhanced Scheme is now open for applications. Like its predecessor the Scheme is not a compensation or redress scheme rather it is a remediation grant scheme of last resort. It has been put in place by Government in order to voluntarily assist homeowners to remediate damage caused by the use of defective concrete blocks.
The primary focus of the new enhanced scheme remains the remediation of family homes with priority being assigned to those most severely impacted by block defects. This Scheme has been extended beyond the original scope of the 2020 Scheme i.e. Principal Private Residences. It now covers Residential Tenancies Board registered rental properties subject to the introduction of a clawback mechanism upon re-sale within a set time period depending on the remediation option used.
Extending the Scheme to holiday homes would require a primary legislative amendment to the Act. I have no plans to make such an amendment.
434. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if clarification will be provided regarding a statement by a person (details supplied) in Seanad Éireann on 15 December 2022; if he can confirm that in order for the local authority or State agency to avail of the exemption, the land must have been owned by the local authority or State agency at the proposed residential zoning of that land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34827/23]
View answerSection 179A of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended - as inserted by section 14 of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Act 2022 - was commenced on 08 March 2023 and introduced a temporary time-limited exemption for local authorities from the 'Part 8' local authority "own development" approval process and from planning for the provision of specified forms of housing developments on designated State lands.
The primary purpose of the measure is to help expedite the provision of housing supply by local authorities, particularly social, affordable and cost rental housing at a time of need. The use of the exemption is mandatory for local authorities in strictly defined circumstances where the following criteria are satisfied:
• the land is owned by the local authority or another specified State Body;
• the land is zoned for residential development;
• the proposed development does not materially contravene the development plan or local area plan for the area;
• the proposed development is in accordance with the relevant local authority’s housing strategy;
• the land is serviced or will be serviced with the necessary supporting infrastructure or facilities within the timeframe of the development;
• the proposed development is not required to undergo environmental impact assessment (EIA) under the EIA Directive or appropriate assessment (AA) under the Habitats Directive; and
• the development works in question are commenced by no later than 31 December 2024
The exemption can be utilised on any land owned by a local authority or by the prescribed State bodies and where the zoning objectives for the land as set out within the adopted development plan or local area plan includes residential use (i.e. where the land is zoned for residential purposes or for mixed use including residential). However, it is not required that the land be in the ownership of either a local authority or prescribed State body at the time the required residential zoning was designated; the land in question may be subsequently acquired by a local authority or a prescribed State body but must be in the ownership of such bodies at the time the exemption is being availed of.
435. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to each local organisation in Limerick from the Economic and Social Intervention Fund through the Limerick Regeneration Programme for the coming year, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34845/23]
View answerThe Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) sets out a programme of physical, social and economic interventions over a ten-year period from 2014-2023.
Under the LRFIP, my Department provides funding for social regeneration activities, through the Economic and Social Intervention Fund (ESIF), for the duration of each project as it is understood that regeneration goes beyond mere bricks and mortar. The ESIF is an integral part of the overall approach to regeneration and it helps to leverage additional mainstream funding for the benefit of the relevant areas.
As the agreed Limerick programme concludes in 2023, I have asked Limerick City and County Council to develop a strategy for the future funding of these important initiatives, so that the benefits of regeneration can be built upon and carried on into the years ahead post 2023. This process involves the local authority identifying appropriate alternative funding streams that would support these services in the future.
Furthermore, the Council is currently working with KPMG and their sub consultants O’Mahony Pike Architects and Tobin Engineers, on a Status Update for Limerick Regeneration. The resulting report on the Status Update will assess the current position and provide strategic masterplan options, targets and recommendations for the post 2023 period, out to 2030. This process is well advanced and I am advised that the report will be completed shortly. Until a strategy is agreed, it would be premature to decide what form any future supports will take.
436. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount allocated to each local organisation in Limerick from the Economic and Social Intervention Fund through the Limerick Regeneration Programme since its creation, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34846/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
437. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline what plans there are for the construction of social and affordable housing in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34847/23]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity. This data 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/. This provides information for a number of categories of social housing delivery in terms of the various delivery streams and also contains the targets for each local authority during each year of the programme.
With 2022 representing the first full year of delivery under the schemes introduced under the Affordable Housing Act 2021, my Department also publishes progress updates on Affordable Housing Delivery, based on local authority returns, in a similar manner as for social housing. The 2022 progress report on affordable housing provision across all delivery streams has been published on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
In addition, Limerick City and County Council’s Housing Delivery Action Plan, which sets out details of social and affordable housing delivery in the period 2022-2026, is available on the Council’s website at www.limerick.ie/council/services/housing/housing-delivery/housing-delivery-action-plan.
The Council has a social housing delivery target of 2,693 units over the period 2022 to 2026. The Action Plan will be subject to ongoing review to ensure that it reflects changing social housing pipelines and needs as they arise.
438. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications, per county for the local authority home loan in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34848/23]
View answer439. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approvals, per county for the local authority home loan in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34849/23]
View answer469. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of applicants for Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans from counties Cavan and Monaghan; the total number that have been successful; the total number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35213/23]
View answer472. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority home loan applications, approvals and drawdowns to date in 2023, broken down by local authority and with an average amount for the applications, approvals and drawdowns; if he will provide the same information for 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35253/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 438, 439, 469 and 472 together.
The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. The Local Authority Home Loan is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL). While the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan closed to new entrants in 2022, outstanding approvals and applications in progress at that time continued to be processed.
The Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Local Authority Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.
The most recent figures provided by the Housing Agency on the number of valid Local Authority Home Loan applications (and its predecessor the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan) that it assessed for each local authority in 2022 and valid Local Authority Home Loan applications assessed to the end of June 2023 are set out in the below table:
|
Local Authority |
2022 RIHL Applications Assessed |
2022 RIHLRecommended to Approve |
2022 LAHL Applications Assessed |
2022 LAHL Recommended to Approve |
2023 LAHL Applications Assessed |
2023 LAHL Recommended to Approve |
|
Carlow County Council |
5 |
4 |
33 |
12 |
17 |
5 |
|
Cavan County Council |
2 |
1 |
18 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
|
Clare County Council |
1 |
0 |
39 |
19 |
20 |
5 |
|
Cork City Council |
14 |
3 |
116 |
40 |
34 |
9 |
|
Cork County Council |
12 |
5 |
216 |
72 |
89 |
30 |
|
Donegal County Council |
3 |
0 |
18 |
10 |
10 |
1 |
|
Dublin City Council |
21 |
12 |
198 |
117 |
83 |
53 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
0 |
0 |
45 |
21 |
21 |
11 |
|
Fingal County Council |
20 |
13 |
142 |
86 |
65 |
27 |
|
Galway City Council |
2 |
0 |
45 |
30 |
37 |
20 |
|
Galway County Council |
20 |
5 |
87 |
34 |
29 |
11 |
|
Kerry County Council |
11 |
3 |
67 |
16 |
27 |
9 |
|
Kildare County Council |
14 |
6 |
86 |
34 |
44 |
22 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
5 |
3 |
46 |
27 |
14 |
7 |
|
Laois County Council |
4 |
2 |
50 |
18 |
11 |
6 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
0 |
0 |
14 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
12 |
3 |
59 |
27 |
16 |
9 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
0 |
34 |
18 |
12 |
6 |
|
Louth County Council |
12 |
5 |
96 |
29 |
56 |
20 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1 |
0 |
36 |
17 |
7 |
4 |
|
Meath County Council |
5 |
3 |
127 |
85 |
40 |
28 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
0 |
0 |
44 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
|
Offaly County Council |
0 |
0 |
21 |
10 |
11 |
2 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
0 |
35 |
6 |
18 |
5 |
|
Sligo County Council |
3 |
1 |
28 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
10 |
7 |
116 |
46 |
40 |
20 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
2 |
1 |
56 |
25 |
20 |
8 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
6 |
2 |
90 |
12 |
44 |
9 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
4 |
3 |
30 |
16 |
12 |
6 |
|
Wexford County Council |
2 |
2 |
77 |
34 |
39 |
8 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
12 |
5 |
99 |
31 |
28 |
9 |
|
Total |
203 |
89 |
2168 |
921 |
870 |
355 |
My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount).
Information on drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals for the Local Authority Home Loan and the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan up to Q3 2022 is available on my Department’s website at the following link, which will be updated as soon as figures are available:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid
440. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an impact study has, or will be, commissioned to assess if there has been a change to the number of applicants for social housing support following the change to the social housing support income limit thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34850/23]
View answerThe baseline income eligibility thresholds were increased for all local authorities, with effect from 1 January 2023, by €5,000 to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. On foot of these changes, my Department estimates that 16,000 additional households might potentially be eligible for social housing support. It is anticipated that the impact of increasing the thresholds will be reflected in the number of qualified households on the social housing waiting list as part of the forthcoming Summary of Social Housing Assessment 2023 which will take place in November 2023 and will be published in Q1 2024.
441. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in Limerick whose occupants are currently availing of the rental supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34851/23]
View answer442. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in Limerick whose occupants are currently availing of the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34852/23]
View answer443. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties in Limerick whose occupants are currently availing of the housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34853/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 441, 442 and 443 together.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery and spend activity, including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), in all local authority areas, on the statistics page of its website.
The data requested in relation to the number of households in Limerick that are in receipt of HAP can be found at the following link - assets.gov.ie/126035/413e7beb-7ac1-4cb6-b2e7-d17723b824e5.xlsx.
The data requested in relation to the number of households in Limerick that are in receipt of RAS can be found at the following link - assets.gov.ie/99975/9e41898e-1bc5-4628-b770-cb3138aaffe4.xlsx.
The Department of Social Protection operates the Rent Supplement scheme which continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation. This scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation. Further data in relation to this scheme is available from the Department of Social Protection.
444. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress to date to engage specialists in the marine and climate unit in An Bord Pleanála; if the nature of the two in-house roles have been defined including the breadth of disciplines they will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34867/23]
View answer455. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the progress of recruiting new staff following the approval by his Department to add 59 new posts; how many of these new posts had expertise in biodiversity and-or climate change; when he expects this process to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34951/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 455 together.
An 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.
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board, as detailed below.
• In October 2021, my Department approved an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades including the setting up of a new Marine and Climate Unit.
• In December 2022, 34 additional posts were sanctioned, and the Board is in the process of filling these positions.
• In April 2023, the Board submitted sanction requests for a total of 59 new posts, all of which were approved 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.
In order to be of assistance, my Department obtained the information requested from the Board who have provided the following information.
The Board has received approval and sanction from my Department for a total of 313 posts for 2023. The Board have advised that, as of the 30 June 2023 there were 221 people working in the Board including Board Members. The vacancies remaining from the sanctioned posts are at various stages of the recruitment process.
The Board has advised that, while the new posts do not relate specifically to biodiversity/climate change, the planners employed by the Board have a broad range of skills and the recruitment processes in place seek additional requirements in those areas.
The Board currently employs an in-house Ecologist on a full-time basis and a number of the Board's in-house staff have qualifications in Environmental Protection and Assessment. The Board continue to provide upskilling opportunities for all in-house staff in the area of biodiversity. The Board also engages a number of specialist consultants on a case-by-case basis across a range of disciplines on biodiversity and Environmental matters.
The Board has advised that, in relation to marine expertise, 18 specialists across a range of disciplines have been interviewed and the Board is continuing to interview and will form a panel of expertise which can be utilised for future needs.
The criteria for the two in house Marine Specialist roles in the Board can be found at the following link: www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/careers/ecologist-(1-post)-and-environmental-scientist-mar
445. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date on the strategic workforce plan and skills need assessment in MARA; how this has impacted on the workforce plan and recruitment; how this will be resourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34882/23]
View answer446. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress to date on the strategic workforce plan and skills need assessment in MARA with reference to environmental and marine expertise specifically; how this has impacted on the workforce plan and recruitment; how this will be resourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34883/23]
View answer453. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the staffing levels in the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority; the appointments to date and their salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34939/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 445, 446 and 453 together.
An initial Strategic Workforce Planning exercise and skills needs assessment for MARA was completed in Q1 2023. This identified some of the specialist skills, such as legal, financial and technical that MARA will require. Building on this work, a Strategic Workforce Plan for MARA is currently being developed. This will set out the medium term resourcing requirements for the agency which will be complemented by a recruitment strategy. It will be a matter for MARA to prepare and submit workforce plans to my Department for consideration and approval, as appropriate.
It is expected that MARA will need to expand to a workforce of at least 30 as soon as possible to allow it to undertake its statutory functions. A staff complement of approximately 60 is envisaged as being required in the medium term. Additional resources will be required across administrative, legal, financial and technical areas including marine engineering, environmental, planning and GIS. MARA has been allocated a budget of €4.3m for 2023, including €2.4m for payroll related costs.
A breakdown of the current staffing complement of MARA is below. Staff of MARA are civil servants and as such are paid under the civil servants payscales which are available on the Civil Service Payscales website at the following link - civilservicepayscales.per.gov.ie .
|
Grade |
Headcount |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
4 |
|
Engineer Grade 1 Civil |
1 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
9 |
|
Executive Officer |
4 |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
447. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on legislation committed to on the renaming of streets. [34890/23]
View answerProvisions relating to placename changes in Part 18 of the amended Local Government Act 2001 were commenced in early 2019. Previous provisions under local government legislation were repealed. In addition, provisions in the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, amending Part 18 of the 2001 Act, were commenced.
The commenced provisions under the amended Part 18 of the 2001 Act require updated Regulations to be made for the holding of plebiscites to change placenames.
However, in advance of making those Regulations, my Department is engaging with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media regarding the interaction of the amended Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001 and provisions contained in Official Languages legislation, under the aegis of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The two Departments are considering proposed amendments to the current placenames provisions to address the identified issues in the interaction between the two legislative codes.
448. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the workforce plan in An Bord Pleanála; the full cost per year per post; if there are plans to increase the workforce; how many new posts will be recruited; the full cost per year per new staff, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34893/23]
View answer460. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the staffing levels in An Bord Pleanála; the appointments to date and their salaries, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34996/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 460 together.
An 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.
There are now more people working at the Board than at any time previously. Since October 2021, my Department has agreed to 117 new staffing posts in the Board, as detailed below.
• In October 2021, my Department approved an additional 24 posts across a range of technical and administrative grades including the setting up of a new Marine and Climate Unit.
• In December 2022, 34 additional posts were sanctioned, and the Board is in the process of filling these positions.
• In April 2023, the Board submitted sanction requests for a total of 59 new posts, all of which were approved 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.
In order to be of assistance, my Department obtained the information requested from the Board who have provided the following information.
The Board has received from my Department for a total of 313 posts for 2023. The Board has advised that the total cost for filling all new posts sanctioned since October 2021 is estimated at €6,220,054.
As of the 30 June 2023 there were 221 people working in the Board including Board Members. The vacancies remaining from the sanctioned posts are at various stages of the recruitment process.
Table 1: Board Membership at An Bord Pleanála at 30 June 2023
|
Board Member Grade ABP |
FTE |
PPC rate |
Non-PPC rate |
|
Chairperson |
1 |
€227,369 |
€216,000 |
|
Deputy Chairperson |
1 |
€155, 384 |
€147,614 |
|
Board Member |
13 |
€135,478 |
€128,706 |
|
15 |
Table 2: Staffing at An Bord Pleanála as of 30 June 2023
|
Staffing Grade |
FTE |
Average Cost Per Grade |
Grade Category |
Overall Cost |
|
Chief Officer |
1 |
€111,256 |
Principal Officer Higher |
€111,256 |
|
Director of Corporate Affairs |
1 |
€103,605 |
Principal Officer |
€103,605 |
|
Director of Planning |
2 |
€108,593 |
Senior Advisor |
€217,186 |
|
Director of Legal Affairs |
1 |
€97,207 |
Principal Officer |
€97,207 |
|
Assistant Director of Planning |
4 |
€103,505 |
Engineer Grade I |
€414,021 |
|
Senior Planning Inspector |
43 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
€3,757,125 |
|
Ecologist |
1 |
€87,375 |
Engineer Grade I |
€87,375 |
|
Planning Inspector |
24 |
€74,700 |
Engineer Grade II |
€1,792,800 |
|
Senior Administrative Officer |
9 |
€83,625 |
Assistant Principal |
€752,625 |
|
Senior Executive Officer |
19 |
€59,888 |
Higher Executive Officer |
€1,137,872 |
|
Executive Officer |
53 |
€44,500 |
Executive Officer |
€2,358,500 |
|
Administrative Assistant |
48 |
€35,458 |
Clerical Officer |
€1,701,984 |
|
Total |
206 |
449. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of personnel in his Department, at principal officer level or above, who on retiring from that position, were subsequently appointed to a State or semi-State board over the past ten years. [34926/23]
View answerThe Public Appointments Service (PAS) has responsibility for managing an open, accessible and transparent system to support Ministers in making appointments to State boards.
Appointments to Boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department are made in line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies ((Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, 2016) and the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, 2014). It is open to the public to apply for positions advertised on the stateboards.ie website, and PAS welcome applications from people who believe they have the relevant skills and experience to join a State Board, barring any disqualifications that may apply under legislative provision.
My Department does not hold information regarding whether retired personnel from the Department, at Principal Officer level or above, are subsequently appointed to a State or semi-State board.
A full list of board members serving on State Boards under the remit of my Department is available on the Stateboards.ie website at the following link:
membership.stateboards.ie/en/department/Department%20of%20Housing,%20Local%20Government%20and%20Heritage/
