Written Answers Nos. 372-393
372. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total number of copper communication lines within her Department that are currently in active operation and for which her Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18846/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has in operation 30 copper communication lines inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines paid for on a monthly basis. My Department is currently in the process of implementing a Unified Communications initiative for both telephony and video conferencing. This has allowed the Department to streamline its telephony infrastructure and migrate away from traditional voice services where appropriate. As part of this process the Department has been actively phasing out any non-essential landline subscriptions.
373. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what funding is available to national governing bodies of sport to support the implementation of cardiac screening to athletes free of charge funder the age of 18 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18858/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra374. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of defibrillators located in sports clubs throughout the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18859/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together.
While neither my Department nor Sport Ireland provides direct funding for cardiac screening or defibrillators there are grant opportunities and other supports within sport that clubs can avail of.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Grants are available for a wide variety of capital works and non-personal sports equipment including first aid kits and defibrillators.
Local Sports Partnerships have a presence in every county in the country and they provide a variety of educational and training opportunities to local sports clubs and community groups. Among these offerings are first aid workshops, which commonly include CPR and/or defibrillator training.
Through Dormant Account funding, Sport Ireland provides specific funding streams for National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships focusing on volunteer supports, through which bodies can apply for funding specifically to support these types of training.
Defibrillators can improve a person’s survival chances following sudden cardiac arrest and their availability can be an important part of the medical response. I would encourage all NGBs to support their clubs in their efforts to purchase defibrillators.
I am aware that a lot of important work is happening already. The three large field sports have dedicated programmes in place in relation to cardiac care, screening and defibrillator training.
A number of NGBs also have schemes in place to support their club networks in relation to cardiac care, screening and defibrillator training. The GAA’s Community Heart Programme, the FAI’s Heart Care Programme and the IRFU’s Safe Rugby programme are excellent examples of proactive supports to assist clubs and members to participate safely in sport.
While my Department does not hold information on the number of defibrillators located in sports clubs throughout the country, Sport Ireland has led on the development of the national digital database of sport and recreation amenities, Get Ireland Active. Authoritative data were collected from across sectors such as sport, state agencies and local authorities. While information on the location of defibrillators was not collected at this point due to difficulties in ensuring accuracy of those data, Sport Ireland hopes that it will be possible to include such data in the future.
375. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way in which the €7.75 million allocated to her Department under the 2023 EU Brexit Adjustment Fund was spent; and if she will provide headings and sub-headings and amounts associated with same. [18915/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a result of the adverse impact of Brexit on Irish tourism, €7.75 million in Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funding was allocated to Tourism Ireland in 2023 to put in place a marketing strategy to stem and reverse the decline in tourist numbers and associated revenues from Great Britain and Northern Ireland and also to grow tourism from other markets.
The marketing strategy reflected the short-term need to both retain GB business and gain more EU visitors and, in parallel, to help to drive greater market diversification. Tourism Ireland undertook a comprehensive programme of marketing activity throughout 2023, targeting both Great Britain and key European markets.
As outlined by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in PQ 114 of February this year, the exact composition of Ireland's BAR claim will not be finalised until the claim is submitted in September 2024. Work is ongoing by his Department to verify all Brexit-related spending for inclusion in the BAR claim and as such it is not possible at this time to confirm individual projects or final amounts of expenditure in any sector that will be included in the BAR claim.
Notwithstanding that, the actions taken by Tourism Ireland supported the tourism economy by enabling it to remain competitive in response to Brexit, protect jobs in the sector, support exposed regions and diversify markets after Brexit.
Activity programs were implemented under the following headings:
|
Campaign Theme |
Activities |
|
Campaign focus for visitors from GB |
Publicity; Consumer Advertising Campaigns; Work with B2B tour operator partners |
|
Campaign focus for visitors from Mainland Europe |
Publicity; Consumer Advertising Campaigns; Work with B2B tour operator partners |
|
Supporting the Irish tourism industry most impacted by Brexit |
Fairs, workshops and events |
376. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the support her Department is providing for the proposed water hub in Carlow (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18935/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Friday last Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) which is open for applications until 3pm on Monday 1 July 2024. I encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process.
While this new round of the programme is again aimed primarily at the local authorities (LAs) and National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), it is also open to other bodies, such as sports clubs, voluntary organisations, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and third level institutions to apply but such applications must be submitted and prioritised by a local authority and/or an NGB. In this regard, all LAs and NGBs are asked to engage constructively with any such requests from outside bodies to ensure all potential projects which best achieve the Fund’s objectives get due consideration.
A guide for applicants is available on my Department's website and the Department will organise a webinar for all National Governing Bodies of Sport and local authorities in the coming weeks.
377. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide all sports grants available to a football club where the club is leasing ground on a long-term basis (not owned); and the associated timeline for applications to be opened, in tabular form. [18963/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. A list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received is published at gov - SCEP 2023 - Applications Received (www.gov.ie/en/publication/1c0f6-scep-2023-applications-received/).
The detailed assessment work has commenced and "equipment-only" applications are being assessed first. I hope to announce these "equipment only" grants soon. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with those allocations to be announced later.
The programme provides that if an applicant owns the land or have a registered lease with at least 15 years remaining at application stage and title is registered in the Property Registration Authority they can apply for up to €200,000 in funding for capital works. Organisations with a registered lease with between 5 and 15 years remaining, can apply for a maximum capital grant of €70,000 over a 5-year period.
On Friday last Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) which is open for applications until 3pm on Monday 1 July 2024. I encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process.
378. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide all sports grants available and the associated timeline for applications to be opened, in tabular form. [18964/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. A list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received is published at gov - SCEP 2023 - Applications Received (www.gov.ie/en/publication/1c0f6-scep-2023-applications-received/).
The detailed assessment work has commenced and "equipment-only" applications are being assessed first. I hope to announce these "equipment only" grants imminently. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with those allocations to be announced later.
On Friday last Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) which is open for applications until 3pm on Monday 1 July 2024. I encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process.
379. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if, following recent press reports that have suggested a new sports capital grants scheme could be launched for schools, she will provide any further details on same. [19078/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 investment in disadvantaged areas.
Grants are available to voluntary, not-for profit sports clubs, community groups, National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), and local authorities. It is also open to other bodies, philanthropic funders, clubs and voluntary organisations to apply but such applications would necessarily have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or an NGB
The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. Examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications, including many from schools, exceeds the record number submitted under the last round in 2020 and the total funding applied for is €359 million, representing an 80% increase over the amount applied for in the 2020 SCEP.
The Scoring System and Assessment Manual for the 2023 round has been published along with a list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. These details can be accessed at gov - SCEP 2023 - Applications Received (www.gov.ie/en/publication/1c0f6-scep-2023-applications-received/). The detailed assessment work has commenced and "equipment-only" applications are being assessed first. I hope to announce these "equipment only" grants next month. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with those allocations to be announced later.
I am confident that the revised National Development Plan capital allocations for my Department will allow for significant funding of the 2023 round of the SCEP. I expect that Minister Martin and myself will confirm the overall allocations for the 2023 round in the near future.
380. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by her Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19175/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department in its current configuration was established in September 2020. In that period, the Acts enacted and Statutory Instruments signed into law, which were necessitated either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level are set out as follows:
• The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, which was signed into law on 10 December 2022. This Act, inter alia, transposed the revised EU Audio-Visual Media Services Directive into Irish Law (Directive 2010/13/EU as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/1808).
• The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2023 (Statutory Instrument No. 71 of 2023) designated 15 March 2023 as the day on which certain provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 came into operation.
381. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the support her Department is providing for the proposed water hub in Carlow (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19230/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Friday last, 26 April 2024, Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) which is open for applications until 3pm on Monday 1 July 2024. I encourage all eligible projects to consider applying for this competitive application process.
While this new round of the programme is again aimed primarily at the local authorities (LAs) and National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), it is also open to other bodies, such as sports clubs, voluntary organisations, Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and third level institutions to apply but such applications must be submitted and prioritised by a local authority and / or an NGB. In this regard, all LAs and NGBs are asked to engage constructively with any such requests from outside bodies to ensure all potential projects which best achieve the Fund’s objectives get due consideration.
A guide for applicants is available on my Department's website and the Department will organise a webinar for all National Governing Bodies of Sport and local authorities in the coming weeks.
382. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when the sports capital funding allocations will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19241/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 investment in disadvantaged areas.
The latest round of the SCEP closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. Examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications. The total number of 3,210 applications exceeds the record number submitted under the last round in 2020 and the total funding applied for is €359 million, representing an 80% increase over the amount applied for in the 2020 SCEP.
The Scoring System and Assessment Manual for the 2023 round has been published along with a list of all applications received by county including the relevant sport type for each application received. These details can be accessed at gov - SCEP 2023 - Applications Received (www.gov.ie/en/publication/1c0f6-scep-2023-applications-received/). The detailed assessment work has commenced and "equipment-only" applications are being assessed first. I hope to announce these "equipment only" grants next month. Work will then commence on assessing the capital applications with those allocations to be announced later.
383. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to her Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19370/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will issue directly to the Deputy in accordance with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.
384. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to update and modernise wind turbine setback guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19295/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects of the Guidelines including setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) which has primary responsibility for environmental noise matters, has been working to advance guidance on the noise aspect of Guidelines, which is highly technical in nature.
The two Departments have been engaging on proposals regarding the measurement and assessment of noise from wind turbines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose having regard to, inter alia, the revised 2030 target to generate up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources.
Further to this engagement, DECC appointed noise consultants in May 2023 to inform any amendments to the noise aspect of the Guidelines. This work is substantially complete. My Department, in conjunction with DECC in respect of its environmental noise remit, will make any further changes to the draft Guidelines which are deemed necessary or appropriate in the wake of this work to ensure that the finalised Guidelines, once issued, are fit for purpose to provide guidance in line with renewable energy and climate targets, whilst having appropriate regard to the impacts of wind energy development, including in relation to noise annoyance and setback distance.
With regard to the finalisation of the review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, the Climate Action Plan 2024 sets out a timeline of Q4 2024 for publication of the final updated Guidelines and my Department is working towards meeting this commitment. When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended or, subject to enactment of the Planning and Development Bill 2023, as a National Planning Statement, as appropriate. The current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force pending the finalisation of the review.
385. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if those seeking to avail of a postal vote due to illness must pay for a certificate stating they are not fit to vote in person from a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18734/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register.
Under the provisions introduced under Part III of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, rolling or continuous electoral registration (in contrast to the former annual registration process) means that people can register or update their details, including by submitting postal vote applications at any time of year up to the usual deadlines in advance of an electoral event.
Applications for a postal vote due to illness or disability must be certified by a registered medical practitioner to enable the registration authority consider and be satisfied that the applicant is unable to attend their polling station to vote on polling day due to their illness or disability as provided for under Section 14(d) of the Electoral Act 1992 as amended. The certifying medical practitioner no longer needs to provide the nature of the illness or disability, but can indicate an expected duration, which the registration authority will have regard to when assigning a postal voting arrangement. This means that for those people with longer term or ongoing issues, annual renewal will not necessarily be required.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future contains a commitment to examine the use of postal voting, with a view to expanding its provision. In support of this commitment I wrote to An Coimisiún Toghcháin in July 2023, and outlined a number of issues that An Coimisiún might include in its initial research programme. This included the commitment in the Programme for Government relating to postal voting. An Coimisiún’s draft research programme, published on 10 November 2023, included a proposal to examine the issue of postal voting. Once An Coimisiún has completed its work and made recommendations on the issue of postal voting further consideration will be given to this and related issues.
386. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a road safety officer in each of the 31 local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18774/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra387. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that a road safety officer vacancy will be filled in Clare County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18775/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together.
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/she is responsible.
My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis. However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the numbers and grades of staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department. The relevant information would be available from each local authority.
It is a matter for each Chief Executive to progress new appointments or the filling of vacancies as appropriate.
388. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if carer's allowance can be considered a form of income in the purchase of a council house for a person (details supplied). [18777/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority houses which are available for sale under the scheme. All applications for the Scheme must satisfy the requirements outlined in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the associated Regulations.
In order to be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum primary reckonable income of €11,000. In determining a tenant’s minimum annual reckonable income, local authorities can include incomes from employment, private pensions, the State pension, Widow's, Widower's, Surviving Civil Partner's Pension, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, and certain social protection payments, where the social protection payment is secondary to income from employment or a pension/allowance. However, other social protection payments including Carer's Allowance, which are considered shorter term in nature, are not considered when determining an applicant's annual reckonable income.
The minimum annual reckonable 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, which may be 20, 25 or 30 years.
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. The operation of and any decisions made in respect of the scheme are, therefore, entirely a matter for the relevant local authority and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the eligibility or otherwise of an individual application.
389. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of social homes in Cork south west; and the number of vacant social homes in Cork south west.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18788/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate data on the numbers of social housing units owned by individual local authorities nor those disaggregated by electoral boundaries. This information may be available from Cork County Council.
The National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) produces an annual Performance Indicator Report for local authorities, which details a range of performance indicators for local authorities, including local authority owned social housing stock.
The most recent report, relating to 2022, is available on the NOAC website at the following link: www.noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231009-NOAC-PI-Report-2022-FINAL.pdf
The 2022 report indicates that at local authority level, Cork County had 8,004 dwellings in the ownership of the local authority as at 31/12/2022. The percentage of the total number of LA owned dwellings that were vacant was 4.82% or 386 dwellings.
390. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the time spent to carry out the four-stage approval process for publicly funded capital projects for each social housing, cost rental, affordable purchase, and mixed tenure development completed in 2023, broken down by tenure type and county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe relevant details are being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
391. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications received by each local authority area under the croí cónaithe town fund scheme, standard grant and top-up grant, respectively since the launch of the vacant property refurbishment grant; the number of approvals by each local authority area for the standard grant and the top-up grant, respectively; the average processing time through to completion for both grants, respectively; if the same qualifying criteria is applied across all local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18825/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra409. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will review the case of a person (details supplied) and issue the full grant payment, given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19177/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra418. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is envisaged that the vacant property grant will have a timeframe when it will no longer be available (details supplied) [19341/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra423. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plans to extend the vacant property refurbishment grant beyond its current remit that is, increase the level of grant available; and if the scheme will be extended beyond this year. [19410/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 391, 409, 418 and 423 together.
Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to properties which have been vacant for 2 years.
The scheme is administered and managed by local authorities who assess all applications in line with the scheme qualifying criteria. The Vacant Homes Unit in my Department offers ongoing support and guidance to local authorities in the administration of the scheme.
I have no function in respect of individual cases. I note that applicants generally can avail of other Government supported grant schemes in addition to the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant such as the SEAI grants. In cases where an applicant has applied for another grant this must be declared on their application for the vacant property refurbishment grant. As part of the due diligence process and in advance of payments issuing the local authority must satisfy themselves that works submitted on the application for the vacant property refurbishment grant have not been included and or approved under another grant scheme and it is not possible to include the same works under grant different schemes.
At the outset, the Croí Cónaithe Towns fund aimed to deliver 2,000 homes by 2025. This has since been increased to 4,000.
When the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund was launched, a commitment was given that the schemes funded by it would be kept under ongoing review. A comprehensive review and evaluation of the schemes under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund is underway and is expected to be completed by mid-2024.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes breakdowns by local authority. See gov.ie - Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant statistics (www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/)
392. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18840/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has 216 ISDN lines and 62 PSTN lines in operation. As these are all copper based lines this equates to 494 copper lines (i.e. 2 copper lines per ISDN and 1 per PSTN)
393. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider applications for projects of a small scale under Measure A7 of the multi-annual rural water programme for connections of less than 25 households in certain circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18854/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026 (MARWP 2024-2026) on 17 January 2024. The core purpose of the MARWP 2024-2026 is to provide the necessary funding to address infrastructure deficits that are having an impact on the provision of safe and secure drinking water supplies for rural dwellers, where public Uisce Éireann water services are not available. Significant capital funding of €175m is committed to the programme under the National Development Plan.
Local authorities were invited to submit, under a range of measures, applications for funding for priority projects in their areas by the closing date of 12 April 2024.
Under the MARWP 2024-2026 individual funding measures are each directed at a specific activity, such as source protection, water treatment, network improvement etc. The funding measures available are broadly in line with those provided under the previous programme.
However, the experience from previous programmes is that for small scale projects under Measure A7 - Community Water Connections and Community Waste Water Connections – the costs per house are extremely high. Therefore, in order to benefit from economies of scale and ensure that such projects are viable, a minimum of 25 households has been set for applications under this funding measure.
