Written Answers Nos. 452-471
452. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the active management plans operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63077/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s six National Parks are managed as Category II National Parks under the criteria set out by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Accordingly, all National Parks in Ireland are fully owned and managed by the State. and all are actively managed, inter alia, for habitat conservation purposes.
In 2017, the partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department and Fáilte Ireland was created to achieve the shared goal of further developing quality experiences at our National Parks and Nature Reserves. One major output from my Department's Strategic Partnership with Fáilte Ireland, was a Masterplan for the six National Parks and Nature Reserves. This provides a high level and integrated blueprint for the NPWS to invest in and better manage the Parks for conservation, biodiversity and visitor alike. In effect, it enables the aligning of conservation objectives of the Parks with increasing visitor appeal and numbers. The Masterplan guides the phased development of these enhanced visitor facilities and improved visitor experiences based on research into international best practice. My Department intends to produce visitor and management plans for its National Parks on an on-going basis.
As part of my Department’s continuing commitment and contribution to protecting our heritage and recreation product, it has 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 my Department negotiated the extension of Wicklow Mountains National Park by purchasing almost 4,900 acres of Dublin Uplands at Glenasmole in 2016 at a cost of €800,000. In 2017, the entire Wild Nephin area was consolidated into the ownership of the NPWS. This creates a State – owned re-wilding 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.
Given the resources available within our National Parks and Nature Reserves, I am of course mindful of the need to focus on the core responsibilities relating to the management of the existing Parks and Reserves lands; my Department is focused upon conservation objectives for Natura 2000 sites in the first instance. Ireland's 3rd National Biodiversity Plan runs from 2017 to 2021 and captures the objectives, targets and actions for biodiversity to be undertaken by a wide range of stakeholders in government, civil society and private sectors to achieve Ireland’s Vision for Biodiversity not just in our own National Parks, but countrywide.
453. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the National Parks and Wildlife Service review; when he envisages it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63078/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of the 2nd of December 2021. The position is as outlined therein - the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) paper referred to is close to completion following the extensive research, consultation, orientation and feedback work. This punctuates that part of the Review process and creates the conjunction to the next phases. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Review process is proceeding apace.
The next phases of the review process are in train. Firstly, the Reflect Phase as I and my Department consider the outcomes of this work and then synthesize the resourcing gains of the past 18 months with a detailed, expert analysis of governance, organisational structures, communications, data systems and future resourcing, and outline the NPWS’ specific requirements across those areas. The final, Renew Phase will detail the objectives and prioritised actions required to equip the NPWS to continue to deliver on the ambitious goals, objectives and targets emerging from our Programme for Government – Our Shared Future , the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, Heritage Ireland 2030 and the new National Biodiversity Action Plan.
454. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the re-fencing of Uragh Wood Nature Reserve will be completed; if funding has been allocated to this project; the measures that will be put in place in terms of the additional grazing pressures on the site by both domestic stock, feral goats and deer at the site; the timeline for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63079/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 222 of 7th October 2021. The position is unchanged.
455. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of enforcement actions taken under section 40 of the Wildlife Acts over the past ten years, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63080/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of enforcement actions taken by my Department in the period 2011 to 2021 under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 is set out in the attached table.
456. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the hen harrier threat response plan will be published; the process it will then undergo; the full timeline for the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63081/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra545. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the hen harrier threat response plan will be published; the reason for the long delay in the publication of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1780/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 545 together.
My Department recently sent the draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan to the Consultative Committee, established to support the Plan's development, for their comments. The responses received from the Committee are now being carefully considered in my Department and will also be considered by the Inter-Departmental Steering Group in the coming weeks.
The Plan will then move to a period of consultation, as well as screening for appropriate assessment and strategic environmental, and full assessment, as may be required.
A timeline for completion will be developed once the Steering Group has had an opportunity to consider the submissions received.
457. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the curlew task force recommendations; the funding being made available in 2022 to address the concerning decline of the species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63082/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Curlew is a pressing national conservation concern, having experienced a 96% decline in the breeding population in the last 30 years.
In early 2017, my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) established a Curlew Task Force. The Task Force adopted a collaborative approach to identify the policies and supports necessary to support breeding Curlew in Ireland. A wide range of stakeholder groups contributed and a series of 26 agreed recommendations was published in 2019. Good progress has been made in terms of some of the recommendations but as is the case with challenging conservation issues, further progress could be made in other areas.
To establish how many pairs of Curlew remain breeding in Ireland and where they are, NPWS has completed two national surveys in recent years, the first of which was published in a journal called Wader Study. The second survey was completed in 2021 and the data is being currently analysed and compiled.
Approximately €10m in funding has been dedicated to on-the-ground measures for Curlew over the past five years, predominantly through GLAS, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
In addition to GLAS, the Curlew Conservation Programme, established in 2017 by NPWS, operates across nine geographical areas. These combined efforts have supported overall productivity levels that should sustain a stable population of Curlew. However, in some of the nine areas productivity levels are still below the critical threshold.
For the nine areas over the five years to date, a total of approximately €1.5m has been spent. In 2022, with the continued partnership of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, a budget of €0.5m has been allocated.
The Irish Breeding Curlew European Innovation Partnership operates in two other localities and this is funded by Irish Rural Development Programme, administered by both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Bird Watch Ireland. The budget for this project is €1.1m.
A Memorandum of Understanding between NPWS and RSPB Northern Ireland was signed in 2021 to progress a feasibility study for curlew headstarting on an all-island basis. This is a necessary step in establishing whether headstarting can be a valuable tool in efforts to reverse the decline in Curlew.
Work by NPWS and UCD is progressing to support the analysis of satellite tracking data for breeding Curlew in Ireland, under a Masters Research Project, to better understand the landscapes that Curlew utilise.
In terms of the CAP Strategic Plan up until 2027, NPWS and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are proposing to support Curlew and other breeding waders under a dedicated delivery framework, funded by the CAP and the national exchequer. This will include dedicated survey, nest protection and habitat enhancement across the country in various breeding wader hotspots.
458. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress being made with the establishment of the National Parks and Wildlife Service's working to examine the hunting of birds of conservation concern; the actions that will be considered as part of the working group; the timeline for work to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63083/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra459. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the precautionary measures he will put in place as an interim management tool to ensure that sufficient protections are offered to bird species of conservation concern that are currently listed on the National Parks and Wildlife Service's open season order, and in advance of the finalisation of the working group on the hunting of birds of conservation. [63084/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together.
My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service is establishing a Working Group to build on my commitment to ensure that any hunting of birds of conservation concern is sustainable. The Group will meet in the coming weeks and will consider the short, medium and long-term actions required to achieve this.
In this context, the Group will make recommendations as appropriate in due course on whether the removal of certain species from the Open Seasons Order is required.
460. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that are in place to ensure that sites of high maritime biodiversity potential are protected from overdevelopment and impact under the Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63085/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 was been recently passed by the Oireachtas and was signed into law on 23 December 2021.
This legislation puts in place a comprehensive and coherent planning system for Ireland's entire maritime area. It sets out four key pillars on which our maritime planning system is to be based, namely: forward planning; the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, or MARA; development consent; and enforcement.
Forward planning happens through the National Marine Planning Framework and comprehensive sub-national planning. Ireland's National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) was launched on 1 July 2021 and is Ireland’s first comprehensive marine spatial planning framework. The NMPF brings together all marine-based human activities for the first time, outlining the Government’s vision, objectives and marine planning policies for each marine activity.
The establishment of MARA will mean that we will have a new regulatory agency to consider applications for Maritime Area Consent (MAC); licence scheduled maritime usages; ensure compliance and enforcement of MACs, licences and offshore development consents; assume responsibility for the management and enforcement of the existing foreshore portfolio of leases and licences; and provide a nexus for inter-agency cooperation and collaboration.
The legislation provides for consent to development proposals by the Board and local authorities. The Board will examine the merits of projects and will balance their impacts against the relevant environmental objectives. Any project that may give rise to likely significant effects on the environment will need to be accompanied by an appropriate environmental and/or ecological report.
Comprehensive enforcement provisions are included to copper-fasten these new provisions.
The NMPF will be a key decision-making tool for regulatory authorities and policy makers into the future in a number of ways, including decisions on individual consent applications which will have to have regard to the provisions of the plan in the same way that terrestrial plans form part of the decision-making tool kit in the on-land planning process.
The legislation provides for spatial designations for specified areas and uses called Designated Maritime Area Plans, or DMAPs. DMAPs are prepared by a designated competent authority, underpinned by a mandatory Public Participation Statement and subject to Ministerial oversight and Oireachtas approval. Specific DMAPs may include allowed or restricted usages and mitigating or beneficial measures. A DMAP can be used for environmental purposes in order to safeguard certain areas of environmental concern - for example, to promote the safeguarding of fragile habitats.
It should be noted, however, that this new legislation is just one piece in a suite of maritime legislation, coming after the Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021 and before forthcoming legislation on Marine Protected Areas. Work has commenced on development of a General Scheme of a Bill to allow for designation of Marine Protected Areas and is this Bill is expected to come before the Oireachtas in 2022. This will in due course further underpin this new marine planning system while continuing to protect the State's most important asset, our maritime area.
461. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that the proposed Cooraclare sewerage scheme did not proceed in 2006, as promised (details supplied); the way that this funding was re-allocated; if there are current plans to advance the scheme at Cooraclare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63102/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the scheme in question was included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. The Programme at that time was directly funded by my Department. In 2009, a request was sent to local authorities, including Clare County Council, to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. I understand that the scheme in question was not among the priority schemes selected for inclusion by Clare County Council in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The scope, prioritisation and progression of individual projects, including the plant referred to, is a matter for Irish Water, and is approved through its own internal governance structures.
The Water Services Policy Statement 2018-2025 provides clear direction to strategic planning and decision making on water and waste water services in Ireland. The Policy Statement sets out a series of high-level policy objectives across three thematic objective areas of Quality, Conservation and Future Proofing, which must be pursued when planning capital investment and framing current spending plans.
Taking account of the Water Services Policy Statement, Irish Water delivers its services in accordance with its statutory Water Services Strategic Plan 2015-2040, which sets out a high-level strategy over 25 years to ensure the provision of clean safe drinking water, effective management of waste water, environmental protection and support for economic and social development.
The Programme for Government commits to funding Irish Water's capital investment plan for water infrastructure on a multi-annual basis. The National Development Plan 2021-2030 commits to almost €6 billion capital investment by Irish Water in the period 2021-2025, of which over €4.5 billion will be Voted Exchequer funding in respect of domestic water services.
In Budget 2022, I secured over €1.57 billion to support water services. This includes €1.459 billion for domestic water services provision by Irish Water. The investment will deliver significant improvements in our public water and waste water services, and support a range of programmes delivering improved water quality in our rivers, lakes and marine area.
The Programme for Government supports the uptake of Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme 2020-2024, which will provide water and waste water growth capacity in smaller settlements that would otherwise not be provided for in Irish Water's capital investment plan. Complementary to that Programme, my Department is also currently examining waste water requirements in the context of villages and similar settlements that do not have access to public waste water infrastructure. I have instructed the relevant officials in my Department to prepare a report on this topic at a national level. This process is at an advanced stage, and I will be in a position to consider the matter once I have received the final report.
In addition, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
462. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the positions of an organisation (details supplied) with regard to homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63113/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra“Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland” recognises reducing and preventing homelessness as a priority for the Government with a particular focus on reducing the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Housing for All also recognises the criticality of interagency supports which are required to address the complex combination of social, health and economic needs of homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness, in addition to their specific housing need.
To this end, I have recently established a National Homeless Action Committee which held its first meeting in December. All of the key Government departments, agencies and stakeholders are represented on the Committee. The new body will bring better co-ordination in driving policy measures and actions. A key first task for the Committee is homelessness.
Providing early intervention to people at risk of homelessness is already an existing priority for Government. Local authorities already oversee a range of homeless prevention and tenancy sustainment measures. Many of these services are operated on behalf of local authorities by NGO service delivery partners and are funded by my Department.
My Department is also funding Threshold’s Tenancy Protection Service. This service provides advice and support to individuals, couples and families living in private rented accommodation experiencing tenancy problems. This service has been instrumental in preventing homelessness in the first instance and supporting people to remain in their homes.
In addition, the ‘HAP Placefinder Service’ is playing a vital role in keeping families out of homelessness and in housing families who find themselves in emergency accommodation. Under the Placefinder service, all local authorities are provided with the options to pay deposits and advance rental payments for any households in emergency homeless accommodation, in order to secure accommodation. Local authorities can offer households in emergency accommodation the option to source accommodation themselves or with the assistance of Placefinder officers.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021 was introduced by Opposition parties on behalf of Simon Communities Ireland and was debated during Private Members’ time in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday, 14 December 2021.
The contents of the Bill will be considered in the context of the upcoming review of Termination Notice periods, in line with section 16(3) of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019.
463. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level or percentage of funding that local authorities get from commercial rates; if he will provide the breakdown of commercial rates payments, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63145/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra464. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans his Department has for the reform of business or commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63146/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra465. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department can provide both pre and post Covid-19 analysis of the yield to the local authorities from commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63147/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 463 to 465, inclusive, together.
Each local authority is required to prepare an Annual Financial Statement (AFS) by the end of March following year end and to publish it by the end of June. These financial statements undergo an independent audit by the Local Government Audit Service. When all audits are complete, my Department publishes a consolidated Annual Financial Statement, compiled from the AFS published by each local authority. Information on commercial rates collected is available in Appendix 7 of the Annual Financial Statement. The most recent consolidated Annual Financial Statement published is for 2019. In that year local authorities collected €1,425.67m of commercial rates, which included current year accruals and arrears. The consolidated Annual Financial Statement for 2019 is available at this link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e103b-local-authority-annual-financial-statements/
The level of local authority income from commercial rates in 2019 is set out in the table below:
|
Local Authority |
Rates Collected 2019 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€11,604,479.64 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€12,389,243.01 |
|
Clare County Council |
€38,709,115.77 |
|
Cork City Council |
€63,893,897.00 |
|
Cork County Council |
€123,284,692.00 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€27,746,967.88 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€320,093,619.90 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
€79,864,067.64 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€126,852,927.30 |
|
Galway City Council |
€34,079,385.70 |
|
Galway County Council |
€23,236,301.91 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€35,784,703.95 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€51,942,802.43 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€17,424,136.32 |
|
Laois County Council |
€11,592,946.41 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€4,781,009.40 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
€53,627,807.16 |
|
Longford County Council |
€7,367,602.41 |
|
Louth County Council |
€29,884,641.79 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€26,856,075.04 |
|
Meath County Council |
€34,285,905.32 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€10,458,447.48 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€14,488,091.08 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€10,311,745.50 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€10,461,576.18 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€117,950,052.60 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€27,711,053.04 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
€28,437,225.44 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€13,962,140.28 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€32,395,976.00 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€24,194,959.19 |
|
Total |
€1,425,673,594.77 |
The rates accrued as a percentage of total income for 2019 for each local authority is set out in the table below:
|
Local Authority |
Rates Accrued as a Percentage of Total Income 2019 |
|
Carlow County Council |
28% |
|
Cavan County Council |
20% |
|
Clare County Council |
33% |
|
Cork City Council |
34% |
|
Cork County Council |
39% |
|
Donegal County Council |
22% |
|
Dublin City Council |
35% |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
45% |
|
Fingal County Council |
52% |
|
Galway City Council |
41% |
|
Galway County Council |
22% |
|
Kerry County Council |
29% |
|
Kildare County Council |
36% |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
22% |
|
Laois County Council |
19% |
|
Leitrim County Council |
13% |
|
Limerick City & County Council* |
8% * |
|
Longford County Council |
16% |
|
Louth County Council |
32% |
|
Mayo County Council |
22% |
|
Meath County Council |
29% |
|
Monaghan County Council |
20% |
|
Offaly County Council |
24% |
|
Roscommon County Council |
18% |
|
Sligo County Council |
21% |
|
South Dublin County Council |
49% |
|
Tipperary County Council |
19% |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
22% |
|
Westmeath County Council |
20% |
|
Wexford County Council |
29% |
|
Wicklow County Council |
27% |
|
Total |
29% |
* Note that Limerick City & County Council's published current income includes shared service income from Housing Assistance Payments.
To mitigate the impact of COVID related restrictions, the Government recouped €729m to local authorities to fund the cost of a commercial rates waiver in 2020. This meant that for eligible businesses their commercial rates were funded by Government for nine months of 2020. Details of payments to local authorities to fund the commercial rates waiver for 2020 can be found at this link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/3ac02-support-for-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19-through-the-commercial-rates-waiver/
A further €424m was recouped to local authorities by Government to fund the cost of a commercial rates waiver for the first nine months of 2021. Details of payments made to local authorities in relation to Q1 to Q3 2021 can also be found at the above link. These are unprecedented measures, which offered support to businesses and financial certainty to local authorities. The Government, in Budget 2022, announced a more targeted commercial rates waiver for Q4 2021 to cover the hospitality, leisure and entertainment, and tourism sectors. €62.3m has been allocated by Government for this waiver. The annual financial statements for 2020 have not yet been audited and published. Therefore it is not possible to provide a post-Covid 19 analysis of the yield to the local authorities from commercial rates.
The Government recognised the need to modernise the collection of rates and the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 was enacted on 11 July 2019. Elements of the Act include a modernisation of rates legislation and practice, including variation of rates payment arrangements; provision that newly valued properties and amendments to valuations of existing properties are effective immediately for rating purposes; the pro-rata levying of rates on occupiers based on period in occupation within a year; provision to enable a local authority to introduce rates waiver schemes to support the implementation of policy objectives, including: local economic and community plans; objectives contained in Development Plans, Local Area Plans and national planning policies; the application of interest payments on unpaid rates; and minimum charges for vacant commercial premises.
Currently only a portion of the Act has been commenced. Commencement of the remaining elements of the Act has been delayed due to the COVID crisis. The revised aim is to achieve the necessary amendments and make prescribed regulations in 2022 so that the legislation would be operational for the planning of local authority 2023 budgets.
466. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has plans to harmonise the conduct of revaluation efforts of the local authorities in order that they occur at regular intervals and during the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63148/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions. Decisions with regard to the optimum work programme of the Valuation Office, including the selection, sequencing and grouping of rating authority areas for revaluation, are a matter for the independent Commissioner, taking into account the extensive valuation work required in each case and in terms of engaging with ratepayers and other stakeholders.
In this regard, the Valuation Office is currently engaged in a national revaluation programme. The objective of the programme is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas in over 160 years is completed, as soon as possible, on a phased basis.
Revaluation is a process whereby all rateable properties in a local authority area, rather than in a particular business sector, are valued periodically by reference to a single valuation date. The statutory provisions in the Valuation Acts provide for the revaluation of all rateable property within a rating authority area so as to reflect changes in value due to economic factors, differential movements in property values or other external factors such as changes in the business environment or infrastructural changes in the vicinity of a property. Each local authority area is a legal entity in its own right for the purposes of carrying out a revaluation. This requires the application of a separate valuation order and the publication of a new valuation list for each local authority area.
The Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides the legislative basis for the local authority budget process. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the total amount of rates to be levied by it in a particular year having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The size or aggregate value of rateable properties on a valuation list does not determine the total amount of rates to be collected by a local authority and the sequencing of revaluations does not affect this process.
Having a modern valuation base is very important for the levying of commercial rates on a fair and equitable basis across all economic sectors. The revaluation reflects changes in value due to economic factors such as business turnover, differential movements in property values or other external factors and changes in the local business environment. The revaluation programme is not designed to benefit any particular business categories.
Once the first revaluation of all areas is completed, the exercise must be repeated on a recurring basis, with revaluations required no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the previous revaluation. Where frequent revaluations occur on a rolling basis, this ensures equity and uniformity of the entire valuation system which underpins commercial rates.
467. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a person who has acquired the necessary funds through alternative means such as inheritance is deemed ineligible to participate in the tenant purchase scheme on the grounds that his or her sole income is from social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63158/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra582. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the tenant purchase scheme to allow carers who have given up work to care for loved ones to avail of the amended scheme to ensure that carers are not discriminated against in terms of purchasing their own homes. [2039/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 582 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.
Section 30 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides that the Minister may set out a minimum income required to purchase under the scheme. The minimum income requirement has a dual purpose - it ensures the scheme is sustainable and the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period. For these reasons, certain social welfare payments, including Carer’s Allowance, are not considered when determining an applicant's reckonable income.
In line with commitments in Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, I recently introduced changes to the Tenant Purchase Scheme. These included inter alia revising the minimum income criteria for applicants downwards from €15,000 to €12,500, thereby allowing older tenants in particular (whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension) to buy their homes if they have the means.
468. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide additional funding under the housing aid for older people scheme to reflect the unprecedented increase in the costs of materials and labour; if this funding will be 100% grant funded by his Department to the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63175/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability currently provides up to 95% grant funding under the Scheme. The Scheme facilitates older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes.
Funding of €81.25 million is available nationally in 2022 and has been increasing year on year since 2014. As part of the annual estimates and budgetary process, consideration will be given to this funding in future years in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government and the Housing Options for Our Ageing Population Policy Statement (February 2019) and the more recently published Housing for All strategy.
Housing for All commits to undertaking a review of the range of housing grants available to assist with meeting specific housing needs both for our ageing population and people with a disability. A review of the existing grant limits and income thresholds applicable to the grant schemes is currently underway.
469. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department support the master plan for Moore Street as developed by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63176/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2021, €121,285,388 was allocated to Dublin City Council in respect of the North Inner City Concept Area 1 under Call 2 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. The North Inner City project involves the regeneration and redevelopment of several areas of the north city that have experienced a degree of decline and dereliction over a number of years.
The main objective of this project is to achieve long term sustainable regeneration around the redevelopment of various areas centred around the Fruit and Vegetable Market, Parnell Square and Mountjoy Square. Complementary projects include Moore Street Public Realm Renewal works with the intention of reactivating one of the most important trading streets in the city along with structural and restoration works to the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street which is in my ownership as Minister and which will facilitate the protection and reuse of these historic buildings as an iconic heritage/visitor attraction (1916 Commemorative Centre) alongside the rejuvenation of the historic street. Plans are under way for the sensitive restoration of the national monument.
The Moore Street Advisory Group produced its final report, which was presented to Minister O’Brien and myself, last year. This report included recommendations in relation to the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street as well as recommendations for the future development of the wider Moore Street area. This report was noted by Cabinet in May 2021.
Much of the property surrounding the national monument is in private ownership. A planning application for the wider area was lodged with Dublin City Council (DCC) last year and I understand that DCC has approved the application. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, I am specifically precluded from commenting in relation to any individual planning case.
470. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will issue a circular to local authorities updating housing policy as set out under section 63 of the Housing Act 1966 on the age of siblings sharing a bedroom to bring it into the 21st century; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63197/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 63 of the Housing Act 1966 deals with overcrowding and inter alia establishes effective limits on the numbers of people that can occupy the same bedroom. Accordingly, a property will be considered overcrowded when the number of people normally sleeping there and the number of bedrooms are such that any two people, if they are older than 10 years old and of the opposite gender, must sleep in the same room.
Generally, the legislation empowers local authorities to prohibit the use of an overcrowded dwelling, serve notice on an owner specifying the maximum number of persons that may occupy it without causing overcrowding, and require property owners to take appropriate action to alleviate such overcrowding. Local authorities will also have regard to the existing accommodation of qualified households, including the extent to which it may be overcrowded, when prioritising the allocation of social housing.
Housing for All, the Government's national housing plan, will provide the environment for the delivery of an average of 33,000 homes per year over the period to 2030. This will also help address issues of overcrowding in residential accommodation by increasing the number of affordable, suitable and high quality homes available to all households.
471. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to allow tenants living in homes provided under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to purchase their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63198/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra549. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to review the tenant incremental purchase scheme to allow those who were tenants of Part V houses prior to the introduction of the regulations to proceed with the purchase of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1865/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra581. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to introduce a new tenant purchase scheme for tenants of social houses, including Part V houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2038/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra610. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 19 October 2021, when reform measures under the social housing reform agenda are likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2430/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 471, 549, 581 and 610 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. The scheme is governed by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. These regulations provide for specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including those provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties are excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people most in need of social housing support.
In line with commitments in Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, I recently introduced changes to the Tenant Purchase Scheme. These included inter alia revising the minimum income criteria for applicants downwards from €15,000 to €12,500, thereby allowing older tenants in particular (whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension) to buy their homes if they have the means.
