Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 9 May 2024

The Minister of State is more than welcome and I thank him for coming to the House. This matter is on the need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement regarding the application for an exemption from commercial rates for community swimming pool projects. He knows where I am from. Cork South-West has a beautiful coastline. The need for our people to learn to swim is significant. We need to make sure we have all the tools that are available, including making all our swimming pools available to teach kids to swim. Getting lessons is a big issue.

I had the pleasure and privilege of going to a community-run swimming pool down in Baltimore. It is a lovely part of the world. The location of the swimming pool is very peripheral. The big issue is that even though it is community run, it has a rates bill of €6,700 a year. The pool is run by the community and is not for profit. The history of this complex is just amazing. In 2019, the community took it over after the previous owner went out of business. The community came together, fundraised, took the project on board and made the swimming pool open to the public seven days a week. It is an exemplary project, with community spirit all the way through. That part of the world now has a complex that can cater to the needs of young and old, from Cope Foundation and CoAction all the way up to swimming lessons for kids, schools, secondary schools are all using this complex. The biggest problem is that it is trying to survive in a regime where the local authority is levying a rates bill on it of €6,700 a year. The community owners have no way around it. The nearest competition to them is a council swimming pool in Dunmanway, which has no rates because it is run by Cork County Council. I am dealing with quite a bizarre situation here. We are trying to make sure people have the opportunity to learn to swim and get into the pool. It is a model we could look at across the entire country. We have had campaigns to get swimming pools into places like Bandon, the biggest town in the south west, which has no pool. We have a wonderful complex in this wonderful part of the world. It got through Covid and all the issues regarding energy bills, Covid restrictions and everything else. If it closes, it will be because the local authority is going to levy a rate of €6,700 on it. I could not make it up. It is an absolute joke in so many ways. It is far from the Minister of State's fault.

What we need here is an intervention. We need to make sure Government is going to look on community-run complexes like this in a special way to make sure they are viable going forward. The local authority needs to change its approach, particularly in respect of the rates element. At the moment they community owners are pushing the council to get re-rated and so on. They are going nowhere. It really will not happen unless the Minister for local government steps into the arena to say we need to more to protect community-run complexes like this.

My plea this morning is very clear. We need Government to look at these individual community-run pool complexes, and make them rate-exempt so they can be viable going forward and so we can have the benefit for the entire community. I would love the Minister of State to come down to Baltimore some day to look at this beautiful complex. It is community run and not for profit. It would not be seen it anywhere in the world. It is a wonderful example of what we can do in Irish society. He is more than welcome to come down and look at this. The more people I show this project to, the more people say it is something we need to protect.

This is one of the really important elements of community involvement we need to protect if we possibly can.

I thank the Senator for asking this question, which the Minister for housing has asked me to answer on his behalf. Tailte Éireann is the State agency formed on 1 March 2023 following the merger of Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office. All the functions previously carried by those bodies are now being performed by Tailte Éireann. Tailte Éireann is independent of its valuation functions under the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, and the Minister has no function in decisions in this regard.

The Act provides that all buildings used or developed for any purpose are rateable, unless expressly exempted under Schedule 4 to the Act. As a matter of course, Tailte Éireann examines all properties on their individual merits by reference to the relevant statutory provisions governing the operation of the Valuation Acts. Subsections 4A and 4B of Schedule 4 provide for exemptions for property used exclusively for community sport and otherwise than for profit. It is understood from Tailte Éireann that an organisation seeking exemption must apply in each case, by way of a revision application to Tailte Éireann valuation. The statutory fee for such an application is €250. Tailte Éireann valuation will then consider the applicability, or not, of the claim for exemption under Schedule 4 to the Act.

There are a number of avenues of redress for an occupier of rateable property who is dissatisfied with a determination of valuation made under the provisions of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. Before a determination is made, there is a right to make representations to Tailte Éireann on a proposed valuation. Later in the process, if the occupier is still dissatisfied with the determination, there is a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal which is an independent body set up for the purpose of hearing appeals against determinations of Tailte Éireann. There is a right of appeal to the higher courts on a point of law. Oireachtas Members may obtain information about specific cases by contacting the dedicated e-mail address in respect of Tailte Éireann at oireachtas@tailte.ie. An organisation itself may contact Tailte Éireann in respect of specific cases by emailing valuationadmin@tailte.ie.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response regarding the process we must go through to try to ensure common sense prevails when it comes to this issue. That is what we are trying to do here. Common sense must prevail when we are looking at a community-run project of this nature that has such a benefit to the entire community. The way swimming pools are rated is an issue we probably need to start looking at on a national policy level. We need to have more swimming pools and more swimming lessons. I have had people contact me to say they could get tickets for the Bruce Springsteen concerts faster than they can get swimming lessons for their kids. We need to ensure swimming pool complexes are more attractive for investors. The rates applied to swimming pool complexes need to be looked at because we have to get kids into swimming pools to teach them a skill for life. The Government needs to change its approach by promoting activities in the water and ensuring everyone can swim.

Perhaps the Minister of State or Minister will have an opportunity to visit Baltimore some day and see the wonderful swimming pool complex. It is a wonderful example of a community working hard to provide something society needs, namely, a swimming pool. This is a debate we need to have as a country. At some stage, the Minister of State may find time in his diary to come down to Baltimore. It is a beautiful part of the world, as he knows. We will show him a wonderful complex but we will also show him what we need, which is a slight change in approach to ensure complexes like this are viable going forward.

I thank the Senator. I think I have good news for him. The message from the Valuation Office is that community sports facilities which are exclusively used for community sport and are non-profit are exempt from rates. I encourage him to follow up with the Valuation Office or Tailte Éireann using the contact details I provided.

The Senator mentioned that we need to look more broadly at the rating policy for swimming pools. I agree and I advise him to take the matter up with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. He makes a great point.

I have made an effort to visit every county in Ireland as frequently as I can. It is very important that Ministers and Ministers of State are not stuck in Dublin getting a single perspective on the country from here. I would love to visit west Cork. I appreciate the Senator's offer and I will check if I am ever free to visit Baltimore. I have only been there on holiday in the past but if I can combine business with leisure, it would be fantastic.

I thank the Minister of State for being here. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, has been vocal about the cost of gridlock and the priority that needs to be given to public transport, walking and cycling to help us meet our climate targets. We are investing an eye-watering amount of money - I believe it is €100 billion - in capital transport projects in the coming decades and waiting on a glut of planning decisions from An Bord Pleanála. Examples include DART+ West and BusConnects core corridors.

We know that if we build it, people will come. When we invest in giving people choices their behaviour changes. We have seen a 25% increase in the numbers using public transport, which is very positive. However, residents in west Dublin are in limbo when it comes to their bus services and improved bus links. The roll-out of BusConnects was supposed to take place this year but the latest timings from the NTA indicate it will be in quarter 2 of 2026. A launch date of 2024 for the Blanchardstown to Dublin Airport bus was committed to but has now been pushed out to late 2025. The reason I have been given by the NTA is resource availability and funding. If that is the case, I do not understand the logic of holding back on projects that can be advanced and do not have planning restrictions or infrastructural barriers.

The Dublin Airport link is top of my list. Dublin Airport has made it clear it has the stops available. I have spoken to its representatives and there is no barrier on its side. Other Dublin Bus orbital routes have been implemented, including, for example, the W4 from Blanchardstown going south to Liffey Valley via the M50. All I am asking is that a route going north on the M50 be prioritised. Dublin Airport has reduced its parking spaces because of the issue with QuickPark and we do not have a resolution to that in sight. Where are the practical and positive solutions coming from the NTA to deal with that? Dublin 15 is a 20-minute drive from the airport, but people cannot get there by public transport. Imagine the congestion a population of 80,000 people are creating as they try to get to the airport. We could have a bus link to take cars off the road but there does not seem to be the will to prioritise this route. I am worried about the information coming from the NTA regarding resources and funding for the overall project.

As I said, this one can be prioritised, but I am concerned about hearing that from the NTA and the roll-out for Dublin 15 of BusConnects overall not being until 2026. In the meantime we have disappearing buses, services that have decreased and lengthy journey times, especially from Ongar where it can take an hour and a half to two hours to get into town. The 37, 39 and 39A routes all need to be prioritised in the interim and there does not seem to be a willingness to take a practical solution to services that are needed in the interim. This is affecting people's choices and it is affecting people's lives.

I thank the Senator for her questions, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport.

From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials is involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority, NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators, who deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. That said, I would like to reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal.

To support this objective, under budget 2024, a funding package of €613 million has been secured for the provision of public service obligation and Local Link services - an increase from €563 million in 2023. As the House will be aware, this package includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the extension of the young adult card on both PSO and commercial bus services to include 24 and 25-year-olds, and the continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2024. I can confirm that funding has also been secured to support the continued roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services this year.

As the Senator will be aware, the Government is committed to improving public transport – both bus and rail - and is backing up that commitment with significant investments across the network. This includes the continued roll-out of the BusConnects programme.

In 2017, NTA launched BusConnects. BusConnects Dublin is a transformative programme of investment in the existing bus system which provides better bus services to more people. The programme brings together all areas of bus investment identified in the greater Dublin area transport strategy, including enhanced and new bus infrastructure, investment in fleet and service enhancements such as higher frequency and new routes serving a wider catchment. All 11 phases of the BusConnects programme will be subject to additional Government funding.

As the House will be aware, the most recent phase of the BusConnects network redesign in Dublin, phase 5b, commenced on 26 of November 2023 and involved the introduction of the new southern orbital, radial and local routes. This latest phase of BusConnects represents an increase in service levels of 80% for the area, which makes it one of the most significant changes under the network redesign to date.

As outlined earlier, funding has been provided for BusConnects in 2024, and I understand that it is currently anticipated that the next phase of the network redesign, phase 6a, which includes E spine and associated services, will commence later this year, and that the planned O route will also commence service by year end. I am advised that a more precise launch date will be known closer to the time when the NTA has completed detailed checks on operational readiness with the operators.

The planned continued roll-out of BusConnects Dublin will involve the creation of new bus routes and improved bus frequencies to help transform the public transport network to meet anticipated growth and future demand in the region.

As the House will be aware, the PSO budget is negotiated each year with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the annual Estimate and budget processes. The 2024 PSO package of €613 million includes funding for new and enhanced public transport services, part of which was allocated to the continued roll-out of BusConnects Dublin.

It is not currently intended to seek further funding for BusConnects Dublin services during 2024 and any future funding allocations for the BusConnects programme will be negotiated with the Department for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of future budgetary processes, and in line with Government policy.

I thank the Minister of State for the update.

As the Minister of State will be aware from my opening remarks, I am concerned about the drift in timings and delivery. While we can say that part of this, in terms of the overall delivery of BusConnects for Dublin 15, relates to the bus corridors and planning, there are routes that could be prioritised in the meantime. The year 2026 is a long time to wait from when we first started talking about BusConnects in 2018.

We need to think pragmatically. My community is being left behind when it comes to public transport. I have spoken about the disappearing buses, the long journey times and the need for a strategic link between the wider Blanchardstown area and Dublin Airport. The airport serves people who want to travel by aeroplane on holidays and business but it is also a key employer for Dublin West. I believe that it needs some intervention at a ministerial level to say that we should be pragmatic and positive and give people better choices so that we see better change.

The Minister recognises that it can be frustrating for public transport users when delays occur with the roll-out of planned new services. Unfortunately, issues such as the ongoing bus driver and mechanic shortages have continued to impact on the speed at which the public transport network can expand. However, the Department of Transport will continue to engage with the NTA and bus operators to work to identify solutions to accommodate the growing level of passenger demand across our public transport network and ensure reliable and convenient transportation for all.

I have listened carefully to what Senator Currie said and I appreciate it. The Senator has mentioned disappearing buses, long journey times and the fact that there is no direct link between Blanchardstown or Dublin 15 and the airport, and the need for such a link. Later today, I will be meeting with the Minister for Transport directly. I will discuss with him if there is anything we can do as an interim solution on those issues that the Senator has raised. If the Senator wants to correspond directly with my Department or my office, I will come back to her and give her a direct answer on it.

I thank the Senator for raising the matter.