Written Answers Nos. 284-304
285. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are being prevented from drawing down their rebuilding Ireland loans despite having approval due to having been on the EWSS payment during the past year. [55713/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities when processing Rebuilding Ireland Home Loans (RIHL) must lend mortgages on a prudent basis, taking into account the most recent income and employment data available. It would not be appropriate to lend when there is an identifiable risk that the person’s income and ability to pay might not return to the level required to support the borrowing requested. This is both for the protection of the lender and the borrower, in particular to seek to ensure that borrowers are not left with unsustainable debt burdens, given that a mortgage is a long-term commitment.
Where employment supports are in place for an applicant approved for an RIHL loan, draw down would not usually commence until their unsupported income post PUP/EWSS has returned to the level specified in the original application for a period of time, usually up to three months. However, this is not a blanket ban and local authorities can use their discretion and knowledge of local employers to advance loans to applicants before the end of this three-month period, where appropriate. This discretion was set out in Circulars 19 and 29 of 2020 and 9 of 2021.
There are further exceptions to this approach. In the case of a joint application where only one party is on PUP/EWSS, the application can also proceed to drawdown if repayment capacity can be assured based on the principal applicant’s income. For applicants whose post PUP/EWSS income is lower (e.g. due to reduced hours) than stated on their application can be re-assessed to determine the most appropriate borrowing amount for them.
In addition, persons currently on the PUP/EWSS can continue to apply for a RIHL mortgage based on their pre-PUP/EWSS Income. This will provide clarity to applicants regarding their eligibility for the loan amount and will enable them to commence the property search.
286. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total departmental finances allocated to Emmet Road, St. Michael's Estate development; the proposed loan from the EIB and other ways that the Government can subside this project in order to ensure that the rents are realistic and truly affordable while not compromising on the quality of design; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55727/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress on the regeneration of the St. Michael’s site, Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8 including the finances allocated, the proposed loan from the EIB and other ways that the Government can subsidise this project in order to ensure that the rents are realistic and truly affordable while not compromising on the quality of design. [55930/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 290 together.
Along with O’Devaney Gardens and Oscar Traynor Road, Emmet Road (4.9 hectare brownfield site, formerly St Michael’s Estate) is one of three significant sites, which is currently being brought forward for development by Dublin City Council (DCC). I have confirmed support for the proposed development, as being a project of strategic importance in its own right, as a Cost Rental ‘pathfinder’ project.
Although the design of the Emmet Road development has not been finalised, current plans propose 484 units in total, of which circa 375 units will be designated for Cost Rental homes and the remainder for social housing.
In terms of financial support, in addition to value the Council may be able to leverage via its own land, my Department gave funding approval to a Serviced Sites Fund (SSF) application totalling €18,750,000 from DCC for the Emmet Road project in Q1 2021. Subject to the standard processes, my Department will also fully fund the cost of the social homes in the development.
In line with the publication of the Government’s Housing for All plan, a number of significant improvements to the SSF scheme, now named the Affordable Housing Funding (AHF) scheme, have been agreed and communicated to local authorities. These changes include expanding the scope of costs covered to sub vent the all-in development cost of delivering the housing; accepting applications as they are developed on a rolling basis as opposed to time constrained funding calls; and, allowing funding support to now exceed the current maximum of €50,000 per affordable dwelling on a stepped scale to €100,000, based on location and density.
Discussions have been undertaken with the European Investment Bank (EIB) about potential loan funding from the EIB for the development and the EIB has confirmed support in principle for the project. The presence of an EIB representative in an advisory capacity will allow the Board for this project to draw on the EIB’s extensive experience of funding affordable housing. The input of the EIB is also relevant in ensuring that there is a full understanding of the banks’ strategic lending needs and priorities, which in turn, will help to inform a wider national model for Cost Rental.
The principle of Cost Rental is that the rent for the homes made available will be a function of the costs incurred in financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes. As such, it is essential for costs to be managed carefully, in order to deliver rents that are as low as possible. In determining viability, there is a clear need ensure that the design and specifications of Cost Rental homes is balanced appropriately with cost.
A net household income limit of €53,000 has applied to the first Cost Rental projects, so that a household could not spend any less than 25% of net income on a ‘reference rent’ of €1,100 per month, which is reflective of the rents for Enniskerry Road and the first Cost Rental homes funded by the Government’s Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme. Cost Rental projects can benefit from State supports, such as grants for infrastructure works, the provision of public land at no or low cost and State assistance with financing. All three of these methods are being used by the Department to support initial Cost Rental projects.
As the design and other key metrics for the Emmet Road development have not yet been finalised by DCC, it would not be prudent at this juncture to comment on exact finances to be allocated to it nor on the ultimate Cost Rents that may emerge. However, as previously stated, my Department fully supports this development as a 'pathfinder' project and DCC will be able to avail of State supports to achieve its realisation.
287. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the contribution anticipated from financial institutions to the various schemes to restore buildings which have suffered from building product defects, in view of the benefit they enjoy in the value of the security of their portfolio of property as a result of the restoration of these properties at the taxpayer's expense. [55751/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudgets 2021 and 2022 provide funding of €40 and €60 million respectively to fund the operation of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme and the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, both supporting homeowners who have been affected by building product defects.
In accordance with the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013, the Board pursues contributions from all appropriate parties e.g. builders, developers and quarries and where scheme participants have received payments in respect of remediation works, other than under the Scheme. In addition, in June 2014, an agreement was signed regarding HomeBond’s contribution towards technical and project management services, under the direction and supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board and/or the Housing Agency, to the value of €2 million.
In respect of the Defective Concrete blocks scheme, I intend very shortly to bring a Memorandum to Government setting out proposals for improvements to the existing scheme, it’s future administration and various other matters raised in the report of the working group including pursuing potentially responsible parties and revenue streams.
The oversight of the banking sector falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
288. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the equipment available to the Tallaght fire brigade in view of the events following the recent fire in which there was a need to get an aerial platform used to conduct the rescue from Tara Street station; if there are plans to reduce the valuable response time to fight fires in high rise buildings by getting the equipment needed in Tallaght fire station in view of the approved and planned increase in high rise residential buildings in Tallaght; the other areas that are in the same predicament with waiting times for aerial platforms; and the estimated waiting times are for these areas. [55789/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
Dublin City Council provides fire prevention and fire and rescue services for the four Dublin local authorities: Dublin City, South Dublin, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Councils. The management of resources, equipment and the number and type of fire appliances is a matter for the City Council based on their assessment of local needs and requirements. Continued investment in the national fleet is one of the key priorities for my Department's Fire Services Capital Programme.
Dublin City Council was allocated four new “Class B” fire appliances in the latest Appliance Procurement Programme at an approximate cost of €1.9m. Dublin City Council was also grant-aided to procure three new “Class B” fire appliances in both the 2015 and 2017 Programmes.
My Department works with fire services in Dublin in relation to their priority projects. In July 2019, Dublin City Council was approved to purchase a new turntable ladder/ aerial appliance at a cost of €800,000 plus VAT, delivery of which is due later this year. In September 2021, the Council requested approval for the purchase of a new turntable ladder at a cost of €850,000. This application has recently been approved. Fire appliances are acquired through a competitive tendering process.
The management, disposition and deployment of its appliance fleet is a matter for the officers of Dublin Fire Brigade. I understand that Dublin Fire Brigade's fleet of aerial appliances consists of two turntable ladders based at Dublin Fire Brigade Headquarters in Tara Street, and a hydraulic platform based at Dún Laoghaire Fire Station, all of which can be deployed rapidly to anywhere in the functional area of the four local authorities.
The appropriate fire safety measures, including facilities to assist fire service response, in any building are based on the scale, density and height of the building and are set out in national Building Regulations and associated Technical Guidance and Codes of Practice. The Fire Safety Task Force established in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy, in its report of May 2018, states “The key to life safety in all apartment buildings is a proper two-stage fire detection and alarm system, together with an evacuation strategy…”. The primary statutory responsibility for ensuring the safety of persons using any building rests with the persons having control of those buildings. The design and construction of buildings in the first instance, including inbuilt fire safety features such as building layout, means of escape and fire resistance are critical for protecting persons from fire. Safety features, such as fire detection and alarm systems, support safe evacuation of occupants and the containment of fires.
In relation to fighting fires in high-rise buildings, my Department has issued guidance entitled “Fighting Fires in High-Rise Buildings”. This was part of a suite of 47 Standard Operational Guidance (SOG) documents developed between 2010 and 2012 by fire service personnel and issued by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.
289. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is further funding planned to provide suitable sheltered and supervised accommodation for homeless persons with addiction issues who often turn down offers in dry facilities in order that they can be treated in a holistic way and are protected while being engaged with in relation to wider mental and physical health issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55816/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with intensive housing and health supports. The programme is a joint initiative of my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities, in conjunction with NGO partners.
A total of 695 tenancies have been achieved under the current National Implementation Plan which ends this year, surpassing the target of 663. Housing for All commits to an expansion by 1,200 additional tenancies over the next five years. A new National Implementation Plan is to be published before the end of 2021.
291. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a person is permitted to sublet a property they received from an approved housing body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55949/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are independent, not-for-profit organisations providing affordable rented housing for people who cannot provide housing from their own means and for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. AHBs also include housing co-operatives, which are housing organisations controlled by their members/tenants who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
AHBs work in partnership with local authorities. Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
Under section 22, an allocation scheme shall apply to dwellings owned or under the control of a local authority, as well as dwellings provided by AHBs supported by Exchequer funding. In this instance, where a vacancy arises in a dwelling owned or managed by an AHB, the relevant local authority may nominate suitable households from its housing or transfer list to that body, having regard to the order of priority set out in its allocation scheme. The local authority relies on the AHB to inform them of vacancies for re-lets and their nomination rights as they arise.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provides that social housing tenants in AHB dwellings may not assign or sublet their tenancies. The provision of dwellings by AHBs to social housing tenants is funded almost entirely by the state and is a means of providing housing to those in need who cannot provide housing from their own means. If social housing tenants were permitted to assign or sublet their tenancies, it could result in an individual not on the social housing list occupying the dwelling rather than an individual who has been assessed as having a housing need. This is in conflict with the purpose of social housing which is to provide housing to those who cannot provide housing for themselves.
292. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to meet the executive of Galway County Council as a matter of urgency to address the funding shortfall in the local authority from the Local Government Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55950/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe plenary budget process for local authorities is now underway and I understand that Galway County Council will hold its initial meeting on 29 November. The Council has up to 14 days after that date to adopt a budget for the year ahead. This is among the most important decisions that the elected members of local authorities are required to make and the adoption of a sufficient budget which balances local resources with local needs is a key statutory obligation of elected members.
As part of this statutory obligation, the members may consider the available resources, including how Galway County Council's income from commercial rates, goods and services and from LPT will be allocated within the authority. While I have no plans to meet with the executive at this time, if a request for such a meeting is received, it shall be considered.
293. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the caravan rental scheme; if there are plans to expand it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55970/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) to roll out a pilot Caravan Loan Scheme offering a limited number of preferential and affordable loans for the purchase of residential trailers to Travellers in a select group of local authorities. The scheme is, therefore, not a rental scheme as the mobiles/trailers purchased under this scheme become the property of the loan recipient.
Following consultation with stakeholders including the local authorities, the National Traveller MABS and the Traveller representative organisations a pilot scheme was designed and commenced by my Department in July of 2021 for a trial period of 6 months. The participating local authorities are Cork City Council, Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council and Limerick City and County Council.
Officials from my Department are communicating regularly with the local authorities piloting the scheme and other stakeholders to monitor progress with the pilot scheme. The local authorities are reporting a good level of interest in the pilot scheme from Traveller families at these initial stages. When the pilot phase is complete, officials from my Department will review the operation of the pilot scheme with input from the local authorities and other stakeholders. A report will be prepared for DPER and options for the expansion of the pilot scheme will be considered at the conclusion of this process.
294. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason there are discrepancies in funding allocations from his Department to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55972/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of local sources including commercial rates, Local Property Tax (LPT), charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government.
Central Government funding of local authorities similarly presents a complex picture, with transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of Departments and Offices, not solely from my Department, for a variety of purposes. Some streams of funding are delivered directly from funding departments to local authorities, while others are routed through departmental agencies.
Most of the funding sourced from Central Government and provided to local authorities must be used for specified services. These can be grouped into 5 broad programme categories: recreational, education, environment, housing and transport. In 2020, funding from central government to local authorities totalled €6.08 billion, an increase of 46% on 2019.
Additional detail on Central Government funding of local authorities is provided in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Annual Report, accessible at the following link:
www.audit.gov.ie/en/find-report/publications/2021/chapter-3-central-government-funding-of-local-authorities.pdf.
Local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, population distribution, public service demands, infrastructure and other income sources, all factors which must be taken into account when comparing levels of funding in different local authority areas.
My Department has a wide and diverse business agenda, covering a broad range of functions, including local authority housing, voluntary housing, homeless services, estate regeneration, energy efficiency retrofitting, housing grants, rural water schemes, urban renewal/regeneration, and fire services. In order to achieve its objectives, my Department allocates significant resources to an extensive range of organisations, including local authorities, dedicated agencies, and other bodies; some allocations, depending on the programmes concerned, are made on a national or other non-county basis in the form of grant funding.
The local government funding model changed in 2014, primarily due to the establishment of Irish Water. Its financial relationship with the local government sector had a considerable impact on local authority financing at that time. In allocating General Purpose Grants from the Local Government Fund for 2014, my Department took account of the movement of certain water related activities from local authorities to Irish Water. In this context, it was necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the LPT to be retained in each local authority and the setting of LPT baselines until 2015.
Local retention of LPT began in 2015 and is now established as an important source of funding for the local government sector, which reduces reliance on central funding. In accordance with decisions taken by Government regarding the distribution of LPT funding, every local authority has a minimum level of funding available to it known as the LPT baseline. The redistribution of the 20% of LPT from all local authority areas assists in providing equalisation funding to those authorities that have lower property tax bases.
The Programme for Government 'Our Shared Future', commits to bringing forward LPT reforms. These reforms will bring new homes, previously exempt from LPT, into the taxation system as well as providing for all money collected locally to be retained within the county. This will also be done on the basis that those counties with a lower LPT base are adjusted via an annual national equalisation fund paid from the Exchequer, as is currently the case.
295. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when new maps of the approximate 9,000ha of land which will fall under the scope of the new zoned land tax will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56015/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Finance has the lead responsibility for the new zoned land tax, with legislation setting out the provisions relating to the tax measure included in Finance Bill 2021. The purpose of the proposed measure is to activate existing residential zonings where the zoned land is serviced, but remains undeveloped.
The scope of the tax is proposed to be based on lands zoned for housing development on statutory development plan or local area plan zoning maps, where such lands are able to connect to the necessary infrastructure to enable housing development and for which there is capacity available, with land subject to known issues relating to contamination or the presence of known archaeological or historic remains, to be excluded.
The lands falling into scope are in the first instance, all land zoned as of 01 January 2022 and meeting the above criteria with regard to servicing and taking into account any exclusions. These lands must be identified by each local authority on ‘residential zoned land’ maps to be published in advance of the introduction of the measure on 1 February 2024.
Each local authority will therefore be required to prepare and publish a map to indicate the land falling within the scope of the tax, with the final map to be published by 1 December 2023. In advance of this, it will be necessary to publish an initial draft map by 1 November 2022 to identify the land in question. Preparation of the map will involve consultation with infrastructure providers to provide a robust evidence base with regard to servicing, including capacity.
Landowners will be given the opportunity to challenge the identification of their land as being within scope (with such challenge being limited to consideration of the exclusions set out within the legislation). Where the local authority fails to uphold this challenge, the landowner may appeal this decision to An Bord Pleanála.
The timescales for the various stages of the process will be specified in order to ensure the map can be updated by the local authority by 1 December 2023, in advance of the measure coming into effect on 1 February 2024.
Once established, maps will be updated every year, to reflect any changes in zoning, development servicing status or other criteria which would bring land into or out of scope. Where any land comes into scope after 1 January 2022, such land would not be liable for the tax until 3 years later.
The tax will be a percentage of site value, to be self-assessed by the landowner where in scope, with liability and enforcement arrangements to be managed through the Revenue system. Any site occupied by a dwelling liable for Local Property Tax will not be liable for the tax.
296. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the dedicated email addresses for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact his Department and bodies under his aegis as outlined in circular 25/2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56019/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe dedicated e-mail addresses for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department are as set out in tabular form below.
|
State Body |
Contact E-mail Address |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Valuation Office |
oireachtas.enquiries@VALOFF.ie |
|
Valuation Tribunal |
info@valuationtribunal.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
297. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans with respect to the creation of a Liffey Valley national park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56052/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe six existing National Parks of Ireland account for circa 65,000 hectares, with another almost 22,000 hectares of nature reserves and other heritage sites. These extensive natural heritage sites are managed from a conservation perspective, and attract in excess of 4 million visitors annually. Given the resources available for capital investment within our National Parks and Nature Reserves, my Department is ever mindful of the need to focus on the core responsibilities relating to the management of the existing Parks and Reserves lands and have no plans at present to increase the number of National Parks in the country.
As part of my Department’s continuing commitment and contribution to protecting our heritage and improving our tourism and recreation product, we have been exploring ways to optimise the sustainable potential of heritage sites under our control in a way that is compatible with conservation objectives.
In this context, it should be noted that in late 2016 my Department negotiated the extension of Wicklow Mountains National Park by purchasing almost 4,900 acres of Dublin Uplands at Glenasmole at a cost of €800,000. The purchase underpins the Government’s on-going commitment to the preservation of our natural heritage for future generations of citizens and visitors alike to enjoy.
In 2017 the entire Wild Nephin area was consolidated into the ownership of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. This creates a state-owned wilderness project of over 11,000 hectares and aims to provide increased nature conservation benefits and biodiversity as well as enhanced recreational and social benefits through the ‘re-wilding’ of the forest which adjoins the National Park. Thanks to the acquisition, we will be returning the area to a natural wilderness state.
My Department, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, launched a strategic partnership in 2017 with a view to growing tourism revenues in the rural areas where the parks are located and increasing Ireland’s appeal as a recreation destination. One of the outputs from the partnership with Fáilte was Experiencing the Wild Heart of Ireland – an interpretative master plan for the development of our National Parks and Reserves, which sets out a road map for investment at these important nature conservation, public amenity and tourism sites and underpins the objectives of Project 2040 as well as Heritage 2030.
The investment in our National Parks will create memorable and meaningful experiences of Ireland’s landscapes, wildlife and culture. This will be done though sensitive design and the development of authentic experiences, providing better access to nature and an increased understanding of society’s conservation responsibilities, as well as supporting significant investment in recreational facilities, including upgrading and development of the trails network, increased visitor facilities and improved signage and branding. These will be designed and delivered with a strong emphasis on conservation and allow us to protect and preserve our most fragile environments and, by investing in our culture, language and heritage, provide a well-being benefit for all.
The recent land acquisitions as well as ongoing and future projects described above reflect some of the key objectives of Heritage 2030 , including increased investment in our heritage, improved access, and better quality of information, guidance and advice as a resource for stakeholders, visitors, researchers and the general public.
So while I have no plans to expand the National Park network at present, my Department is actively ensuring the preservation, protection and presentation of the assets we already own.
298. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 320 and 321 of 9 November 2021, if the homeless HAP numbers in the third table in the question are active HAP tenancies or set-up HAP tenancies. [56074/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the figures given for total number of homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin, at the end of each quarter from Q1 2016 to Q1 2021 and used in the third table of the reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 320 and 321 of 9 November 2021, represent cumulative Homeless HAP tenancy set-ups.
299. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of all reports commissioned by his Department or reviewed by his Department on defective buildings in the past five years including the authors of the report and if the reports have been or are due to be published. [56080/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA list of relevant reports commissioned by my Department is set out below.
|
The Framework for Enhancing Fire Safety in Dwellings where concerns arise |
Eamonn O’Boyle and Associates |
Published July 2017 |
|
Report of the Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks |
Expert panel |
Published June 2017 |
In the course of its work on the development of policy in relation to defective housing, my Department receives and/or considers a broad range of material, including from local authorities and other stakeholders as well as material available from other countries.
300. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a list of local authorities that do and do not have biodiversity officers; the local authorities that have funding requests pending for such officers; and the efforts he is making to ensure that all local authorities have such officers as soon as possible. [56148/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the current time there are five biodiversity officers employed in the following local authorities:
- Fingal County Council
- Wexford County Council
- Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
- Dublin City Council
- Kerry County Council
Under 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. The role of a Biodiversity Officer is therefore prescribed at local level by the employing Local Authority, but the primary function of a Biodiversity Officer is to promote, manage and co-ordinate biodiversity related activities within the Local Authority. Biodiversity Officers are the public face of biodiversity-related activities within the Local Authority, commissioning biodiversity surveys, implementing community related projects to improve the status of biodiversity in the local authority area, and organising relevant public events.
My Department is committed to supporting local authorities in the important role they play in the implementation of actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan. Officials of my Department are working on establishing a programme to facilitate the roll-out of biodiversity officers within local authorities nationwide. My Department’s investment in the biodiversity officer programme, through support of local authorities, will enhance their efforts to deliver benefits for biodiversity. In that context, I have allocated €600k in 2022 towards the programme.
301. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will examine the passport application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55469/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra302. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact the Passport Office received this application on 19 May 2021. [55525/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has already issued passports to the applicants.
303. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the additional procedures which must be completed for issuing a passport to a child of Irish citizens who are not Irish born; and if there are steps which can be taken to speed up this process. [55582/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“The 2008 Act”). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this legal requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in his/her passport application.
As part of the identity and citizenship verification process, the Passport Service requires applicants themselves, or the applicant’s guardian in the case of applications for children, to submit all necessary supporting documents in order to establish the applicant’s identity and entitlement to citizenship.
For example, in the case of a child born on the island of Ireland to an Irish citizen, who themselves were not born on the island of Ireland, proof of the parent’s Irish citizenship at the time of the applicant’s birth is required. In such cases, parents must submit a certified copy of their Irish passport along with their child’s first time passport application.
In a similar manner, In the case of Irish-born children claiming Irish citizenship through a parent who is a naturalised Irish citizen or received Irish citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration or Post Nuptial Citizenship Declaration, evidence must be given that the parent was in fact an Irish citizen before the child was born.
The current processing time for first time passport applications is 40 working days for Passport Online and 8 weeks for applications submitted through An Post's "Passport Express" service.
The Passport Service is currently experiencing a high demand for first time passports. There are currently 62,000 first time online applications on hand with the Passport Service. Over a third (23,000) of online first time applications are incomplete and require the applicant or their guardian to submit the documents necessary to complete the passport application. These cannot be processed by the Passport Service until all relevant documents have been submitted and the application is fully complete. The Passport Service engages with all applicants who have not submitted the required documentation to ensure that their application is completed correctly and can proceed through the processing system.
To protect the integrity of the Irish Passport, first time applications require careful processing in order to validate the identity of the applicant and their entitlement to Irish citizenship for the first time. Additionally, in the case of children, the consent of guardians must be validated. Accordingly, the current processing time for first-time online applications is longer than for that of a passport renewal application.
In the case of children born abroad to an Irish citizen, who themselves were not born in on the island of Ireland, but received Irish citizenship through descent, naturalisation, Foreign Birth Registration or Post Nuptial Citizenship Declaration before the child was born, the child may apply for Irish citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration. Once the child is entered onto the Foreign Births Register, they are an Irish citizen and are entitled to apply for an Irish passport. Information on how to apply for Irish citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration is available on my Department’s website (www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth).
Operations at the Passport Service were severely disrupted by public health restrictions brought about by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period, unfortunately, it was necessary to pause Foreign Birth Registration processing in order to focus also on the provision of urgent passport services. As of Monday, 15th November, the processing of Foreign Birth Registration has resumed on a phased basis. My Department is fully committed to allocating resources over the coming weeks to assist with the high volume of applications, with a focus on reducing turnaround times.
The Passport Service continually examines how to improve processing times, including examining the processes around the verification and processing of the supporting documentation for first time passport and Foreign Birth Registration applications. The Passport Service is also working closely with the Department’s Human Resources Division and with the Public Appointments Service on an ongoing basis to recruit additional staff to meet the current and forecasted demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration. We are planning for the recruitment and assignment of an additional 384 permanent and temporary staff between now and the end of January 2022, bringing total staff numbers to 920 and effectively doubling the number of staff at the Passport Service since June of this year.
304. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport renewal in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55603/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55605/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra307. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport can issue for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that this person has not seen their family for two years. [55624/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra325. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56164/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 304, 305, 307 and 325 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant.
The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport Express for applications which have been completed correctly.
