Written Answers Nos. 118-140
119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of retired senior civil servants and public servants appointed by the officeholder of the day to State boards, authorities and other State-appointed bodies, after being recommended on draft lists submitted by the Public Appointments Service, in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9061/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in its current configuration on 27 June 2020 following the General Election of that year. Details of appointments to State Boards of public bodies under the aegis of my Department are published on the StateBoards.ie website. Details in relation to the composition of Boards, as well as in relation to other high-level appointments to those public bodies, are also available on the websites of the bodies concerned. If the Deputy has a particular query in relation to any particular Board or other appointment, my officials will be happy to assist him.
120. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of senior staff members of her Department or of State bodies under the aegis of her Department who are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities; if it is intended to issue directions at to the appropriateness of such involvement in these bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9079/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that no senior staff members of my Department are on boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies that have had to disclose that they are engaged in lobbying State authorities.
With regard to State bodies under the aegis of my Department, I am aware that six senior staff members of State bodies are also on the boards of bodies that are registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.
All senior staff of my Department, as well as more junior grades, are reminded of their obligations under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 and required to complete statements of interest, on an annual basis. I am aware that similar arrangements are implemented within the State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent and context of any engagements she has had with media interests, with particular reference to the need to protect the privacy of the individual and protect adults, children and the vulnerable from cyber abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9194/23]
View answerMatters relating to data protection and the disclosure of personal data without authority are set out in Data Protection Act 2018, which is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice.
As regards types of cyber-abuse which do not relate to the protection of personal data, the Online Safety and Media Regulation (OSMR) Act 2022 will address certain forms of harmful online content. The Act, which was signed into law on 10 December 2022, provides for the dissolution of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and establishment of a new regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, which will oversee updated regulatory frameworks for broadcasting and video-on-demand service and a new regulatory framework for online safety.
It will be the role of the Online Safety Commissioner to oversee the regulatory framework for online safety. As part of the framework, the Commissioner will devise binding online safety codes that will set out how designated online services, including certain social media services, are expected to deal with defined categories of harmful online content on their platforms. This will include online content which is linked to one or more of 42 existing criminal offences, for example, that which is connected to relevant offences under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, or Coco's Law. This is aimed at addressing the availability, on designated online services, of intimate images which have been shared without consent and of threatening or grossly offensive communications about, or to, another person.
The OSMR Act also provides that online safety codes may include measures that a designated online service must take to reduce the availability of online content by which a person bullies or humiliates another person.
It is the intention to commence the relevant provisions of the OSMR Act and establish Coimisiún na Meán in the coming weeks. At this time, the Online Safety Commissioner, as well as other key senior personnel including the Executive Chairperson of An Coimisiún, will be formally appointed.
Stakeholder engagement was vital to the development of the OSMR Act and this engagement will remain important going forward, particularly in the context of the work of Coimisiún na Meán and in the development of online safety codes. My Department held a public consultation to inform drafting of the proposed OSMR Bill:www.gov.ie/en/consultation/430d0-regulation-of-harmful-online-content-and-the-implementation-of-the-revised-audiovisual-media-services-directive/ The Act was subject to extensive pre-legislative scrutiny and scrutiny in both Houses of the Oireachtas as part of the legislative process, and as part of stakeholder meetings with representative organisations, industry, children's rights organisations, and various NGOs.
122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she remains satisfied that adequate precautions are taken to protect the public from online bullying or abuse through social media or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9195/23]
View answerThe Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, which was signed into law on 10 December 2022, will establish a multi-person media commission (to be known as Coimisiún na Meán) including an Online Safety Commissioner, dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, establish regulatory frameworks for online safety and the regulation of audiovisual media services, and transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
It will be the role of the Online Safety Commissioner to oversee the regulatory framework for online safety. As part of the framework, the Commissioner will devise binding online safety codes that will set out how designated online services, including certain social media services, are expected to deal with defined categories of harmful online content on their platforms.
Online safety codes will ensure that designated online services take appropriate measures to reduce the availability of content on their services which is linked to one or more of 42 existing criminal offences. Such content will include, for example, material which is connected to relevant offences under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, or Coco's Law. It is intended that this will have the effect of tackling the availability, on designated online services, of intimate images which have been shared without consent and of threatening or grossly offensive communications about, or to, another person.
The Act also provides that online safety codes may include measures that a designated online service must take to reduce the availability of online content by which a person bullies or humiliates another person. Importantly, this category of content will be subject to a risk of harm test which is set out in the Act.
Finally, under the Act, in the event of a failure to comply with a relevant online safety code, and subject to Court approval, Coimisiún na Meán will have the power to sanction non-compliant designated online services, including through financial sanctions of up to €20 million or 10% of turnover.
It is the intention to commence the relevant provisions of the OSMR Act and establish Coimisiún na Meán in the coming weeks. At this time, the Online Safety Commissioner, as well as other key senior personnel including the Executive Chairperson of An Coimisiún, will be formally appointed.
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which the swimming pool development programme is expected to continue; the basis on which it will continue over the next two years; the extent of the programme to date in dealing with the needs as represented by local communities throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9197/23]
View answerIn relation to my Department's responsibilities, capital funding for new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools was previously provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP). 52 pools have been completed under the LASPP and three swimming pool projects (Lucan, Buncrana and Edenderry) remain in the programme with the Lucan project currently under construction.
My Department's capital support for any new swimming pools is now being provided through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The National Development Plan provided a capital allocation of at least €100 million for the Fund over the period to 2027. The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. The first allocations were announced in January 2020 and thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals including 8 swimming pool projects. Full details of all allocations are available at: www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/
While the priority in the short term is to advance the projects that were already allocated funding, a review of the LSSIF Programme is underway. My Department has now met with all successful grantees and work is at an advanced stage in drafting the review. I expect this work to be finalised shortly. As part of that review, the Department is examining, inter alia, progress on all projects awarded funding to date, whether there is any scope to award additional grants and whether there should be a new call for proposals.
Furthermore, work has advanced on the development of the first National Swimming Strategy based on a vision to ‘provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim’. The Working Group tasked with the detailed work of preparing the strategy is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives from relevant NGBs and stakeholders. An extensive consultation process has been undertaken across both stakeholders and the public and work is ongoing on the analysis of the very large number of responses received to ensure that the Strategy encompasses all of the issues raised to the greatest extent possible. It is hoped to finalise the new Strategy in the coming months and it will further guide future swimming pool investment policy.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which her Department continues to reach out to those involved in sporting activities, with a view to continuation of sporting activities in the future in line with the needs as presented by local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9198/23]
View answerI recognise the importance of sport and physical activity for our society and the need to ensure that opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in sport. Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the promotion of sports participation.
Sport Ireland provides funding to the network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs). For 2023, Sport Ireland is investing core funding of €10.3 million in the LSPs. The network of 29 LSPs undertakes a wide range of actions with the aim of increasing sport and physical activity participation levels in their local communities. The design, delivery and evaluation of targeted initiatives by LSPs directly increases the level of sports participation locally, particularly amongst the harder to reach social groups such as people with a disability, people from areas of socio economic disadvantage, ethnic minorities, older adults and women. Through their expertise and local connections with the sports communities, LSPs are able to identify specific needs and deliver effective initiatives accordingly.
With regard to capital support, the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising the investment in disadvantaged areas. The 2020 round of the SCEP closed for applications on Monday 1 March 2021 and by the deadline a record 3,106 applications were submitted. Following the conclusion of the appeals process, the final set of allocations were announced at the end of May last year. The total allocation of €166.6 million for the 2020 round represented the highest level of allocation ever made under the SCEP. Details of all allocations can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/471ed5-sports-capital-allocations/
Following completion of the appeal process, my Department commenced a full review of all aspects of the 2020 round of the SCEP. A draft of the Review has now been complete and I expect to be in a position to publish it shortly. Any recommendations arising from the Review will be reflected in the next round. Furthermore, my officials are engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the next round of the SCEP. Once this process is concluded, I will announce the exact dates from which new applications will be accepted.
125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the degree to which she continues to support the arts throughout the country, with particular reference to both amateur and professional, given the need to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9199/23]
View answer126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the role she sees for the arts at local, national, professional and amateur levels to develop in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9200/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.
As Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I allocate funding to the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland. The Council works under its 10 year Strategy to address its statutory remit through a policy-driven focus on investment, advice, advocacy and partnership. My Department continues to invest in the development of the arts and artists countrywide with record €130m annual funding for the Arts Council now in place for the third year running.
I am informed that in January, the Arts Council announced funding of over €9 Million for Arts Centres and Ealain na Gaeltachta for 2023. The purpose of Arts Centre funding is to invest in and support the infrastructure of Arts Centres required to sustain and develop the arts in Ireland. Arts Centres are where artists and audiences meet and this is a key part of the Arts Council strategy to invest in public engagement. The Arts Council also announced the following allocations:
• €19 million in individual artist awards which includes bursaries across all art forms, artist in residence schemes and new commissions.
• €28 million for arts grant funding, project awards, festivals and touring ensuring that audiences throughout the country can experience the highest quality work.
• Over €4 million for partnerships with each local authority and to Ealaín na Gaeltachta.
• €13 million will be invested in a range of developmental projects including Creative Schools, Creative Places, Creative Europe and Culture Night, and towards the Arts Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion plans.
• €50 million for 107 strategically funded organisations across all parts of the country.
The Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based initiative within my Department designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. Under its Creative Communities initiative, in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, it has allocated over €29 million from 2018 to 2022 to the 31 local authorities to empower and support community-led participation. Creative Communities delivers investment directly into local creative economies through their local authorities, for example, €191,290 has been allocated to Kildare County Council for 2023.
My role as Minister with responsibility for leading the co-ordination of the Decade of Centenaries Programme is to help ensure that the challenging events of this important and formative period in our history and related themes, are meaningfully, proportionately and sensitively remembered. I have allocated €5 million to support the 2023 commemorative programme to deliver rich and diverse national and local programmes marking the significant centenaries arising in 2023. Many of these investment programmes are delivered through the local authorities.
My Department also provides funding to support Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann which is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music both at community and national level. Annual funding is provided to CCÉ for its work in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture.
My Department runs a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme. The Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government monies, and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies.
The Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme is a three year, €105m scheme, involving 2,000 artists and creative arts workers nationwide. Payments of €325 a week for three years to 2,000 recipients began at the end of October last. The pilot will research, over a three-year period, the impact of a basic income style payment on artists and creative arts workers.
I have allocated €6 million to the Night-Time Economy for 2023 which includes €2 million of capital funding to work with the sector to develop a sound-proofing grants package. The overall allocation will allow my Department to build on some of the foundational work started last year and it will also help stimulate new ideas and new initiatives in the Night-Time Economy.
Much of the nationwide infrastructure of venues and arts centres used by the artistic communities was initiated and funded by local authorities. My Department focuses on providing capital grant funding to assist and maintain these arts and cultural facilities. Funding is administered through applications received for specific Grant Schemes. Under Budget 2023, I announced €7m in additional capital funding for artists’ spaces and climate adaptation.
Also supported annually under this subhead are smaller capital schemes. The Music Capital Scheme is supported by my Department and managed by Music Network. This provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional musicians.
In response to Covid-19, capital funding towards the pilot Outdoor Public Space Scheme 2021 funded local authorities to adapt, equip or otherwise improve public spaces for cultural and events activities, taking account of public health guidelines and of the needs of the local arts community. Outdoor public spaces can provide year-round use can improve well-being and contribute positively to the public realm. 22 projects have been allocated funding under the scheme and a number of these have now been completed.
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department continue to monitor the tourism sector, with a view to ensuring customers do not get ripped off; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9201/23]
View answer128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which hotel bed spaces continue to remain sufficiently available throughout Dublin city and greater areas, with a view to ensuring tourists and those seeking hotel accommodation are not pressured into paying exorbitant prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9202/23]
View answer130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department have monitored the number of hotels that have closed down permanently or otherwise in the Dublin area over the past three years; if sufficient steps are being taken to ensure hotel accommodation is not lost to the market by virtue of being replaced by other investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9204/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 128 and 130 together.
While we head into 2023 in a strong position, following last year’s rebound in international visitors, I am conscious that there are immediate challenges facing our tourism industry. These challenges include accommodation capacity, energy costs and labour shortages and I and my officials continue to closely monitor these issues in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Notwithstanding the challenges, we must continue to plan for further recovery in the sector and building for a sustainable future.
Many economic factors such as the current humanitarian crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and significant cost pressures, are affecting tourism businesses.
The return of a sustainable and vibrant tourism sector is important and I stress that it is important that businesses maintain a long term perspective on competitiveness and value for money. Fáilte Ireland has written to all registered providers of tourism accommodation to advise that they will have a renewed focus on compliance with their scale of charges in 2023. The agency has requested each individual business to consider the wider implication of its price setting models and has reminded them of the importance of maintaining Ireland's reputation as a good-value destination.
It will be important that Dublin, as the capital city, can cater for all types of visitors with quality and value choices to suit different budgets. Fáilte Ireland continues to monitor closely accommodation capacity in Dublin, both in terms of pipeline and supply, to ensure capacity meets the requirements for tourism demand.
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she remains satisfied that adequate and sufficiently trained personnel remain available to the hotel industry to ensure the sector is adequately catered for in terms of accommodation throughout the summer and winter months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9203/23]
View answerThe latest research by Fáilte Ireland shows that while recruitment is still a significant challenge for tourism businesses, the situation is improving and employers are making positive strides. The number of vacancies across the industry has fallen, from circa 40,000 at the start of 2022 to around 22,000 today. Overall, positions have become less difficult to fill while staff retention has become less difficult. For employees, hourly rates of pay have improved, compensation for working unsocial hours has become more common and job security among workers has grown.
My Department participates in the Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group which brings together industry representatives, state agencies, Government Departments and the education sector.
My Department and Fáilte Ireland are also working with industry and across Government to ensure a co-ordinated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages. For example, in 2022, my Department and Fáilte Ireland worked closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) to ensure processing times for work permits were reduced significantly. My Department and Fáilte Ireland have also worked with DETE to increase work permit application success rates by providing information sessions to industry. In 2023 and the years ahead my Department and Fáilte Ireland will continue to work with industry and recruitment experts to share best practice guidance on retention and building capability.
With regard to working conditions in the sector, Fáilte Ireland’s research indicates that 70% of people within the sector see tourism as a long-term career option. Around 70% of businesses surveyed indicated that they are increasing their pay and offering flexible work patterns, more stable work schedules and other benefits.
Fáilte Ireland has also launched a new “Employer Excellence” programme to help participating businesses to improve their employer practices, and enhance their reputation as excellent employers. This will help employers to drive great employee engagement, build the appeal of their workplace and unlock greater levels of performance across their business. Further initiatives undertaken include a Transition Year Work Placement Programme to give Transition Year students a high-quality work placement along with a major recruitment awareness campaign called “Works For Me” to encourage people of all ages to consider a career in the industry.
When we look at the wider economy and the particular set of challenges facing the tourism industry it is clear that a collective and concerted multi-stakeholder approach to tackling these challenges is required and that is the approach that my Department and I will continue to pursue.
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the extent to which she and her Department support the potential hosting of various global sporting events in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9205/23]
View answerIreland has consistently demonstrated an ambition to attract major international sports events that can make a positive return to the country. This is most recently evidenced by the Government’s decision to support the submission of a preliminary bid by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), with the UK football associations, for the right to host the UEFA Euro 2028 championships as well as the upcoming hosting of the following events:
- US College Football matches every August from 2022 to 2026
- The UEFA Europa League final in 2024, and
- The Ryder Cup in 2027 in Limerick
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a Major International Sports Events Policy is currently being developed by my Department. The aim is to establish whether and how Government should support major international sports events, the benefits it should seek to derive from such events, the supports it could offer and the kind of events it would prioritise for support. This will provide the basis for a Strategy to support and attract major international sports events and an assessment model based on the identified priorities. Mechanisms and channels to support events will also need to be developed.
While progress on the development of the policy was delayed by the pandemic, focused consultations with key stakeholders have been held and a public consultation was completed last year. Research, including consideration of the policies and strategies in place in other countries, has been undertaken and is continuing.
My Department is now working towards the development and publication of a high level policy paper in the coming months.
132. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she plans to implement regulations on short-term holiday lettings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9242/23]
View answerOn 7 December 2022 the Government approved the priority drafting of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill and publication of the General Scheme of the Bill which provides for the registration of short-term tourist lettings with Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy.
I have since written to the Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media regarding the Bill in line with agreed protocols for pre-legislative scrutiny. Officials from my Department, along with officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Fáilte Ireland, attended a meeting of the Committee in public session for pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme on 25 January.
My Department is also engaging with the European Commission on the draft legislation under the notification requirements of the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) Directive and had an informal meeting with Commission officials two weeks ago. I look forward to engaging with Oireachtas colleagues with a view to passing the legislation in the coming months.
Briefings on the Bill were provided to key stakeholders on 7 December and further briefings have been provided to stakeholders since then. On 16 February officials from my Department held further discussions with stakeholders.
Preparations are being made for the launch of the register, including the establishment of the necessary systems and procedures to maintain and implement the register, the development of a registration portal, and various stakeholder engagements.
Planning policy is the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That Department has confirmed that new planning guidelines will be issued to planning authorities to assist them in the determination of planning applications in respect of short-term letting.
133. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline his Department's position on how the proposed Planning and Development Bill 2022 appears to remove the requirement for local authorities to reserve land for communities to use for cultivation as allotments, along with the definition of allotment itself, and the regulation, promotion and facilitation of the use of this land for such a purpose, and further, leaving the current 2,500 allotments and community gardens without a legal framework (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8925/23]
View answer135. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way and the reason the proposed Planning and Development Bill 2022 appears to remove the requirement for local authorities to reserve land for communities to use for cultivation as allotments, along with the definition of allotment itself, and the regulation, promotion and facilitation of the use of this land for such purposes, leaving the current 2,500 allotments and community gardens without a legal framework (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8924/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 135 together.
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 302 and 303 of 21 February 2023 which set out the position in this matter.
134. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the turnover of staff in his Department for each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and the percentage of total staff this represents in each category. [9277/23]
View answerThere were 1,247 (1,205.74 FTE) staff serving in my department at the end of 2020.
By the end of December 2021 the headcount had increased to 1,409 (1,365.50 FTE). That growth increased during 2022, finishing the year at 1,605 (1,560.94 FTE).
The year on year headcount changes at grade level within their respective grade streams are set out in the table below.
|
Grade |
General Service Grade Equiv. |
Dec. 2020 |
Dec. 2021 |
Change 2021 vs 2020 |
% |
Dec. 2022 |
Change 2022 vs 2021 |
% |
|
General Service Grades |
||||||||
|
SECRETARY GENERAL |
1 |
2 |
1 |
100.00% |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
|
ASSISTANT SECRETARY* |
8 |
7 |
-1 |
-12.50% |
6 |
-1 |
-14.29% |
|
|
PRINCIPAL |
46 |
59 |
13 |
28.26% |
65 |
6 |
10.17% |
|
|
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE MINISTER |
2 |
2 |
0 |
- |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
|
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL |
132 |
153 |
21 |
15.91% |
170 |
17 |
11.11% |
|
|
INVESTIGATOR |
0 |
1 |
1 |
100.00% |
0 |
-1 |
-100.00% |
|
|
PRINCIPAL CLERK |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
|
SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE MIN. OF STATE |
0 |
1 |
1 |
100.00% |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
|
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER |
25 |
39 |
14 |
56.00% |
51 |
12 |
30.77% |
|
|
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
131 |
156 |
25 |
19.08% |
192 |
36 |
23.08% |
|
|
EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
166 |
203 |
37 |
22.29% |
231 |
28 |
13.79% |
|
|
CIVILIAN DRIVER |
6 |
6 |
0 |
- |
3 |
-3 |
-50.00% |
|
|
CLERICAL OFFICER TEMPORARY |
8 |
4 |
-4 |
-50.00% |
11 |
7 |
175.00% |
|
|
CLERICAL OFFICER |
119 |
135 |
16 |
13.45% |
148 |
13 |
9.63% |
|
|
ICT APPRENTICE |
2 |
0 |
-2 |
-100.00% |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
|
VISUALLY IMPAIRED TELEPHONIST |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
|
CLEANER |
2 |
2 |
0 |
- |
1 |
-1 |
-50.00% |
|
|
HEAD SERVICES OFFICER |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
|
SERVICES ATTENDANT |
2 |
2 |
0 |
- |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
|
SERVICES OFFICER |
19 |
20 |
1 |
5.26% |
18 |
-2 |
-10.00% |
|
|
General Service Totals |
672 |
795 |
123 |
18.30% |
906 |
111 |
13.96% |
|
|
Professional & Technical Grades |
||||||||
|
DIRECTOR METEORLOGICAL SERVICE |
ASC |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
DIRECTOR OF AUDIT |
ASC |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 2 |
PO |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MET SERVICE |
PO |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
CHIEF ARCHAEOLOGIST |
PO |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR HIGHER LEVEL |
PO |
5 |
5 |
0 |
- |
5 |
0 |
- |
|
PRINCIPAL AUDITOR |
PO |
5 |
5 |
0 |
- |
6 |
1 |
20.00% |
|
SENIOR ADVISER |
PO |
8 |
8 |
0 |
- |
12 |
4 |
50.00% |
|
SENIOR ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
PO |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
SENIOR METEOROLOGIST |
PO |
7 |
7 |
0 |
- |
8 |
1 |
14.29% |
|
SENIOR STATISTICIAN |
PO |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
-100.00% |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 3 |
AP |
3 |
3 |
0 |
- |
4 |
1 |
33.33% |
|
ARCHITECTURAL ADVISOR |
AP |
4 |
6 |
2 |
50.00% |
7 |
1 |
16.67% |
|
ARCHITECTURAL/ENG INSPECTOR |
AP |
11 |
14 |
3 |
27.27% |
15 |
1 |
7.14% |
|
ASSISTANT FIRE ADVISOR |
AP |
3 |
3 |
0 |
- |
3 |
0 |
- |
|
ASSISTANT STAFF ENGINEER |
AP |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT |
AP |
23 |
23 |
0 |
- |
22 |
-1 |
-4.35% |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 1 CIVIL |
AP |
4 |
5 |
1 |
25.00% |
5 |
0 |
- |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 2 CIVIL |
AP |
3 |
1 |
-2 |
-66.67% |
3 |
2 |
200.00% |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 2 MECH/HEATING |
AP |
2 |
2 |
0 |
- |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
FORESTRY INSPECTOR GRADE 2 |
AP |
2 |
1 |
-1 |
-50.00% |
0 |
-1 |
-100.00% |
|
INSPECTOR PLANNING |
AP |
2 |
1 |
-1 |
-50.00% |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
INSPECTOR GRADE 1 |
AP |
7 |
13 |
6 |
85.71% |
14 |
1 |
7.69% |
|
METEOROLOGIST |
AP |
60 |
60 |
0 |
- |
66 |
6 |
10.00% |
|
PRINCIPAL METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER |
AP |
15 |
17 |
2 |
13.33% |
22 |
5 |
29.41% |
|
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT GRADE 1 |
AP |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
-100.00% |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT GRADE 2 |
AP |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
0 |
-1 |
-100.00% |
|
QUANTITY SURVEYOR GRADE 1 |
AP |
5 |
5 |
0 |
- |
6 |
1 |
20.00% |
|
SENIOR ARCHAEOLOGIST |
AP |
3 |
5 |
2 |
66.67% |
5 |
0 |
- |
|
SENIOR ARCHITECT |
AP |
4 |
4 |
0 |
- |
4 |
0 |
- |
|
SUPERVISING HOUSING INSPECTOR |
AP |
2 |
2 |
0 |
- |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 1 |
AP |
10 |
8 |
-2 |
-20.00% |
21 |
13 |
162.50% |
|
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 2 |
AP |
21 |
21 |
0 |
- |
27 |
6 |
28.57% |
|
ARCHAEOLOGIST |
AO |
25 |
26 |
1 |
4.00% |
33 |
7 |
26.92% |
|
ARCHITECT |
AO |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
6 |
5 |
500.00% |
|
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT GRADE 1 |
AO |
3 |
4 |
1 |
33.33% |
4 |
0 |
- |
|
ARCHIVIST |
AO |
2 |
2 |
0 |
- |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
DISTRICT CONSERVATION OFFICER |
AO |
14 |
19 |
5 |
35.71% |
15 |
-4 |
-21.05% |
|
ENGINEER GRADE 3 CIVIL |
AO |
3 |
3 |
0 |
- |
3 |
0 |
- |
|
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER |
AO |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
STATISTICIAN |
AO |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
SURVEY CONTROLLER |
AO |
4 |
4 |
0 |
- |
1 |
-3 |
-75.00% |
|
WILDLIFE INSPECTOR GRADE 3 |
AO |
24 |
31 |
7 |
29.17% |
24 |
-7 |
-22.58% |
|
ASSISTANT AUDITOR ENVIRONMENT |
HEO |
9 |
7 |
-2 |
-22.22% |
7 |
0 |
- |
|
SENIOR METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER |
HEO |
52 |
46 |
-6 |
-11.54% |
42 |
-4 |
-8.70% |
|
CONSERVATION RANGER |
EO |
73 |
82 |
9 |
12.33% |
82 |
0 |
- |
|
METEOROLOGICAL OFFICER |
EO |
29 |
39 |
10 |
34.48% |
44 |
5 |
12.82% |
|
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER |
EO |
1 |
3 |
2 |
200.00% |
1 |
-2 |
-66.67% |
|
Professional & Technical Totals |
461 |
496 |
35 |
7.59% |
533 |
37 |
7.46% |
|
|
Industrial Grades |
||||||||
|
CRAFT CHARGEHAND |
2 |
2 |
0 |
- |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
|
CRAFT FOREPERSON |
6 |
6 |
0 |
- |
6 |
0 |
- |
|
|
CRAFT WORKER |
9 |
9 |
0 |
- |
9 |
0 |
- |
|
|
FOREPERSON GRADE 1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
|
FOREPERSON GRADE 3 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
- |
5 |
0 |
- |
|
|
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
|
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 2 |
28 |
24 |
-4 |
-14.29% |
40 |
16 |
66.67% |
|
|
GENERAL OPERATIVE GRADE 3 |
15 |
23 |
8 |
53.33% |
21 |
-2 |
-8.70% |
|
|
GUIDE |
31 |
33 |
2 |
6.45% |
66 |
33 |
100.00% |
|
|
GUIDE SUPERVISOR |
6 |
5 |
-1 |
-16.67% |
6 |
1 |
20.00% |
|
|
STOREKEEPER CLERK GRADE 1 |
5 |
4 |
-1 |
-20.00% |
4 |
0 |
- |
|
|
STOREKEEPER CLERK IN CHARGE |
4 |
4 |
0 |
- |
4 |
0 |
- |
|
|
STORES/OFFICE SUPERVISOR |
1 |
1 |
0 |
- |
1 |
0 |
- |
|
|
Industrial Totals |
114 |
118 |
4 |
3.51% |
166 |
48 |
40.68% |
|
|
Grand Totals |
1,247 |
1,409 |
162 |
12.99% |
1,605 |
196 |
13.91% |
*the number of official serving at Assistant Secretary Level has remained constant, however at end 2021 there was 1 acting Assistant Secretary and at end 2022 there were 2.
136. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allocate funding to Tipperary County Council to rectify the developer-provided infrastructure in estates and allow the council to proceed with the taking-in-charge process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8946/23]
View answer137. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of taking-in-charge applications that are held up nationally due to the existence of developer-provided infrastructure within estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8947/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
I can confirm that funding of €68.5 million has been allocated, under the National Development Plan, for the period 2021-2025, to address legacy water services issues including the Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI) which is run by my Department.
The DPI programme is focused on housing estates which do not have their water services connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network and are not in the charge of local authorities but rely instead on infrastructure provided by developers. The DPI programme provides funding for the progressive resolution of the issues involved.
Although it will take a number of funding programmes, my Department is committed to resolving DPI issues.
The taking in charge of residential estates is, under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as amended, the responsibility of the planning authorities which are the City and County Councils.
My Department does not compile data on the numbers of housing estates nationally awaiting taking in charge including the small subset of estates with developer-provided infrastructure (DPI).
138. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make funding available for a second vacant homes officer for Tipperary County Council due to the size of the county and the large workload that is left to one person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8952/23]
View answerAddressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All. In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022.
This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that VHOs are full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development. 30 out of 31 local authorities now have a full time VHO in place, including in Tipperary County Council.
The role of the VHO in each local authority is:
- To actively promote and lead the uptake within the local authority of various initiatives, schemes and funding programmes to address vacancy and bring vacant properties into residential use;
- To actively engage with owners of vacant properties and other relevant stakeholders and promote use of relevant schemes and supports to bring vacant properties into use;
- To collect, monitor and assess vacancy data locally and use that data to actively engage with property owners and promote schemes to encourage activation of properties; and
- Play a communication, promotion and advisory role both internally within the local authority and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties.
VHOs across local authorities are supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department. The Vacant Homes Unit supports the VHOs and the VHO network, providing information and advice, facilitating dissemination of information and best practice.
While my Department has a role in strategic workforce planning within the local government sector, Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that 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.
Accordingly, the staffing resources of Tipperary County Council is a matter for the Chief Executive of that local authority.
The VHO role and funding position for Vacant Homes Officers will be kept under review by my Department.
139. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to significant wait periods to get a fire safety certificate from Wicklow County Council (details supplied) for completed building works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9004/23]
View answerThe design and construction of buildings is regulated under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2020. The Act provides for the making of Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations.
The Building Regulations set out the minimum legal performance requirements for the construction of new buildings and certain works to existing buildings. The purpose of the Building Regulations is primarily to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. The Building Control Regulations set out the system of administrative controls to support compliance with the Building Regulations.
A Fire Safety Certificate is a certificate granted by a Building Control Authority, which certifies that the building or works, if constructed in accordance with the plans, documents and information submitted to the Authority, would comply with the requirements of Part B of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997 as amended.
Fire Safety Certificates and all other statutory Certificates required pursuant to the Building Regulations and Building Control Regulations are lodged with the appropriate local Building Control Authority who are independent in the exercise of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990 - 2020. My Department has no involvement in the operational or transactional element of this mandatory statutory requirement.
140. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of notice-to-quit properties bought in each local authority in 2022, in tabular form. [9040/23]
View answerHousing for All, is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes by 2030. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency. Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) and, with this, to reduce the numbers of social homes delivered through acquisition programmes.
In January 2022 my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities advising that social housing acquisitions by local authorities and AHB CALF acquisitions in 2022 would be focused on a number of priority areas, as follows:
- One-bedroom units to deliver on Housing First and meet the short supply in this category;
- Other properties that allow persons/families to exit homelessness; and
- Specific housing required for/suitable for individuals with a disability or other particular priority needs;
Local authorities were also advised that limited acquisitions through the Capital Assistance Scheme will also be approved, subject to the available budget for specific vulnerable cohorts, such as housing for older people, accommodation for individuals and families who are homeless and for people with a disability. In April 2022, a further circular letter issued to local authorities in relation to social housing acquisitions. The key purpose of this circular was to advise local authorities that I had reinstated the delegated sanction to local authorities in respect of social housing acquisitions which are:
- in one of the priority categories set out in the January circular letter;
- in line with acquisition cost guidelines; and
- can be completed during 2022.
The reinstatement of delegated sanction has allowed local authorities to respond more flexibility to secure acquisitions which support a household to exit or to prevent homelessness. I have requested local authorities to be proactive in acquiring properties which can prevent homelessness, including properties where a notice of termination has been issued to the tenant. In November I wrote to local authorities to inform them that the current arrangements for social housing acquisitions were being extended to the end of June 2023.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity in all local authorities, including information on social housing acquisitions. This data is available until the end of Quarter 3 2022 and 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/. Data for Quarter 4 is currently being collated and will be published in due course.
My Department does not hold data on the occupation status of properties acquired for social housing.
