Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Mar 2006

Vol. 616 No. 2

Written Answers.

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies received from the Departments [unrevised].

Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, answered orally.

Planning Issues.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

11 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the wording of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 will make it possible for profit driven projects to receive critical infrastructure status and so bypass the normal planning process; and the steps he intends to take to ensure that projects such as shopping centres or office blocks will not fall within the remit of the fast-track process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9570/06]

Mary Upton

Question:

18 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the new procedures which he envisages being introduced to the High Court to speed up planning cases; if such procedures will result in restrictions to public participation and scrutiny of planning proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9578/06]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

36 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which he reconciles the restrictions placed on public participation in the planning process in the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006, particularly in relation to environmental issues, with the letter and spirit of the Aarhus Convention. [9572/06]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

46 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the effect of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 on An Bord Pleanála and whether it has implications for its independence; the steps he intends to take to ensure that public confidence in An Bord Pleanála is not affected by its changed role; and if he intends to formulate a new planning appeals process if the Bill becomes law. [9571/06]

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

56 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to speed up the planning application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9490/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 18, 36, 46 and 56 together.

The Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 which was debated at Second Stage in Seanad Éireann yesterday and today, 7 and 8 March, provides for the introduction of a streamlined consent process for specified classes of infrastructure development. In parallel, An Bord Pleanála will be restructured to establish a new strategic infrastructure division that will handle all the major infrastructure projects that come before it.

At present, the board's existing responsibilities include motorway and major road proposals and other large-scale local authority projects that require environmental impact assessment. The Bill proposes that the new strategic infrastructure division will also handle the strategic consent process for certain types of environmental, energy and transport infrastructure. The types of infrastructure involved are listed in a new Seventh Schedule to the Planning and Development Act 2000. These types of infrastructure bring major public benefit to the State or the region in which they are located, regardless of whether they are provided by a State, semi-State or a private infrastructure provider. The Bill's proposals are confined to major environmental, transport and energy infrastructure and it is not planned to extend them to cover developments such as shopping centres or office blocks.

The Bill provides for a full public consultation process before the strategic infrastructure division of the board makes its decision on a project. The division will be required to consult with the relevant local authorities. Elected members will be given a specific opportunity to make their views known on a proposed infrastructure development. In addition I propose to widen the right of access to apply for leave for judicial review of major infrastructure decisions to include environmental non-governmental organisations. I am happy therefore that this legislation fully meets Ireland's obligations under the Aarhus Convention and related EU legislation on public participation.

The Bill represents a major evolution of the planning code to meet the demands of our rapidly expanding economy and society. It places reliance on the experience and competence of An Bord Pleanála, which already deals with many major types of infrastructure including motorways. The board will apply the same independent and rigorous approach to its consideration of these projects, as it does for decisions coming before it at present. The Bill does not affect the existing appeals process for other types of development. I understand that, in addition to the provisions of the Bill, a new initiative is being introduced by the courts in relation to managing their procedures for processing legal challenges to infrastructure cases.

Private Rented Accommodation.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

12 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to provide stronger incentives, financial or otherwise, to local authorities in order to enforce the dwelling standard criteria and to allow a meaningful number of inspections to be carried out on dwellings being considered or in use for rent supplement tenants. [9595/06]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

61 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to update the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) 1993 to reflect modern living standards; and when he proposes to make such updates. [9592/06]

Eamon Ryan

Question:

63 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will adopt a co-ordinated approach to ensuring that all private rental accommodation has fire safety certificates, planning permission and adequate heating, cooking and lighting provision. [9531/06]

Seán Crowe

Question:

103 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the standard of accommodation in the private rented sector. [9432/06]

Joe Sherlock

Question:

104 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to initiate a more proactive system of enforcement in respect of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) 1993, as the current system normally only operates on the basis of complaints received; and his views on including a provision within such a proactive system to allow his Department to request a higher rate of inspections in areas which required them, for instance, in areas where the properties are older. [9594/06]

Joe Sherlock

Question:

114 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of dwellings currently being used as accommodation for rent supplement tenants; the percentage of these which have been inspected at least once; the percentage of those inspected which have been deemed unsuitable; and the percentage of those deemed unsuitable which have been the subject of legal action. [9593/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 61, 63, 103, 104 and 114 together.

The very high level of investment in new accommodation in recent years has improved the quality of accommodation generally. However, there is still a proportion of sub-standard rented properties. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, which specify the minimum standards applying to rented accommodation. Local authorities have statutory responsibility for enforcing the regulations in relation to private rented accommodation and other statutory requirements coming within their remit.

The regulations and enforcement powers apply to rented accommodation generally; local authority statistical returns do not provide specific data on enforcement in relation to rent supplement accommodation. Regulation of the SWA rent supplement scheme is the responsibility of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. I understand that entitlement to rent supplement is conditional on the community welfare officer being satisfied that the accommodation is reasonably suited to the claimant's needs. Data are not available regarding the number of dwellings being used to accommodate rent supplement tenants. There are currently in the region of 60,000 rent supplement claimants but the number of dwellings is likely to be lower due to accommodation sharing in some cases.

An objective of the new rental accommodation scheme, RAS, is to help bring about improvement in the quality and standards of private rented accommodation. Accommodation must meet all statutory requirements as determined by the local authority before the authority will enter into contract with landlords. Guidance has issued to authorities on the minimum standards to be met and also encouraging them to adopt higher standards where possible so as to promote improvement in the stock of private rented accommodation.

A range of measures is being applied to improve the level of compliance and enforcement in relation to rented accommodation standards generally. A scheme of tax relief for refurbishment of private rented accommodation, which has been in operation since 2001, is being continued in full throughout 2006 and on a reducing basis up to the end of July 2008. I would strongly encourage landlords to avail of this continuing relief to rectify deficiencies in standards. The cost of repairs to private rented accommodation will continue to be tax deductible.

Funding of €1.6 million was provided to local authorities in 2005 from the proceeds of tenancy registration fees to fund enforcement of the regulations. I hope to be able to increase this funding further in 2006. Furthermore, from this year onwards, funding will be related to each authority's performance in enforcing the regulations, which will provide an incentive to maximise performance. I also envisage issuing good practice guidelines in this area to help increase effectiveness, including more strategic and proactive approaches. The very substantial increase that has been achieved in the level of tenancy registration will also help in enforcing the standards regulations. Accommodation that fully complies with the existing regulations will be of an acceptable standard. However, in view of the time since the regulations were introduced, I intend to have them reviewed as soon as the demands involved in bedding down the new tenancy legislative regime permit.

Nuclear Plants.

Willie Penrose

Question:

13 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to raise the possible siting of a nuclear power station here, under the UK Energy Review, at EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9409/06]

Seán Ryan

Question:

79 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has discussed the UK Energy Review, and its nuclear power implications, with any other fellow EU members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 79 together.

Following the recent announcement regarding a review of the United Kingdom's progress under the medium and long-term goals of the White Paper on Energy 2003, a consultation document entitled Our Energy Challenge: Securing clean, affordable energy for the long term was launched on 23 January by the UK Secretary of State and the Minister for Energy. While the UK White Paper on Energy 2003 concluded that replacement nuclear build was an unattractive alternative, the current consultation document states that the forthcoming review will examine whether recent changes in energy prices have changed that assessment. It will also examine other issues in relation to nuclear including the important issue of waste.

My Department, in conjunction with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, will fully engage in this consultation process on all relevant issues including the potential siting of new nuclear reactors should the decision be made by the UK to proceed with building additional nuclear capacity. At a recent meeting in London with the Northern Secretary, the Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed that the Irish Government would be strongly opposed to the building of any new nuclear plants on the island of Ireland.

Ireland remains firmly opposed to the nuclear industry on the grounds of the many risks it poses to human health, the environment and the economy, as well as risks associated with waste and transport. Environmental consequences have arisen for Ireland from historic and ongoing discharges to the sea from Sellafield and the potential risk for a serious accident or incident at nuclear plants including Sellafield. Any proposals by the UK to develop new nuclear capacity must be addressed in this context.

The sourcing and nature of energy supplies is a matter for decision by each individual member state within the EU including the UK. The views in relation to nuclear energy among member states are divided. For example, France sources almost 80% of its energy requirements from nuclear while Belgium, Germany and Sweden have nuclear phase-out policies. Member states such as Ireland, Austria and Denmark have stated policies against nuclear power and Ireland co-operates in the EU on a regular basis with like-minded countries on the nuclear issue. While I have not, as yet, had an opportunity to discuss the UK Energy Review and associated issues with my fellow EU Ministers, I met EU Commissioners Andris Piebalgs — Energy — and Franco Frattini — Security — in Brussels in January. While these meetings primarily concentrated on issues relating to Sellafield, I took the opportunity to convey Ireland's views on nuclear energy generally in a forthright manner.

Social and Affordable Housing.

Simon Coveney

Question:

14 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the work and objectives of the new Centre for Housing Research; its annual budget and membership of the board of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9475/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The new Centre for Housing Research replaces the housing unit which was set up as a joint initiative between my Department and the local authorities in 1998. The overall purpose of the centre is to facilitate the improved management of the public and social housing sector and, in this regard the centre will continue to undertake tasks previously done by the housing unit. These tasks include the publication of guidelines for housing practitioners on best practice for the management of social housing; working with local authorities and other social housing sectors to identify training needs for both local authority staff and tenants and, devising programmes and strategies to meet those needs. In addition, the new centre will now be enabled to expand its research role and conduct and commission relevant research as appropriate.

Funding of up to €300,000 will be provided this year for the centre. Its board of management consists of the following members: Eddie Lewis, principal officer, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Peter Humphreys, executive director, Institute of Public Administration; a representative of the County and City Managers' Association who has not yet been nominated; Donal McManus, executive director, Irish Council for Social Housing; and David Silke, director, Centre for Housing Research.

Waste Management.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

15 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to initiate a campaign to promote and encourage parents of babies and small children to use alternatives to disposable nappies, such as nappy laundering services, biodegradable or compostable nappies; and his views on including schemes to make such alternatives accessible and cost-effective, in addition to communication campaigns in such an initiative. [9580/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Race Against Waste campaign, funded by my Department, in advising the public on easy ways to reduce waste at home, suggests using a nappy laundry service and saving disposable nappies for holidays or long journeys. This advice is intended to encourage people to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill. It also encourages people to consider the environmental impact of their lifestyle choices and to adopt more sustainable habits and actions. The current campaign is nearing completion and my Department will be reviewing the issues to be considered for future campaigns directed towards waste reduction.

In considering what advice might be given in relation to nappies in the future, careful consideration will be given to a study published by the UK Environment Agency in June 2005 on the Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies. This found no significant difference between the overall environmental impacts of the different systems studied in the UK. Disposable nappies take a long time to decay when disposed of to landfill. Reusable nappies reduce demand on landfill but impact on the environment in other ways through the water, detergents and energy used in washing and drying them. The published study is available on-line at www.environment-agency.gov.uk. The effects of the study will hopefully be to encourage those manufacturing nappies of all types to develop more sustainable products and thus reduce the overall impact of their products on the environment.

Recycling Facilities.

Damien English

Question:

16 Mr. English asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of recycling facilities broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9506/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The following tabular statement sets out the information requested. These latest figures collated by my Department show that there were 68 local authority civic amenity sites and 1,891 bring banks in operation throughout the country at the end of June 2005. This represents a very significant increase since 1998, when there were only 837 bring sites and 30 civic amenity facilities nationally. In the same period, municipal waste recovery has increased from only 9% to the current level of 34%.

The number of civic amenity facilities and bring banks, broken down by county.

Local Authority	No. of Bring Banks	No. of Civic Amenity Sites
Carlow	45 Bring Banks	3 Civic Amenity Sites
Cavan	28 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Clare	57 Bring Banks	4 Civic Amenity Sites
Cork	176 Bring Banks	8 Civic Amenity Sites
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown	69 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Donegal	55 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Fingal	84 Bring Banks	3 Civic Amenity Sites
Galway	92 Bring Banks	4 Civic Amenity Sites
Kerry	90 Bring Banks	5 Civic Amenity Sites
Kildare	38 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Kilkenny	42 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Laois	38 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Leitrim	38 Bring Banks	No Civic Amenity Sites
Limerick	46 Bring Banks	3 Civic Amenity Sites
Longford	31 Bring Banks	No Civic Amenity Sites
Louth	40 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Mayo	87 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Meath	23 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Monaghan	22 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
North Tipperary	39 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Offaly	46 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Roscommon	36 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Sligo	39 Bring Banks	No Civic Amenity Sites
South Dublin	51 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
South Tipperary	73 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Waterford	47 Bring Banks	3 Civic Amenity Sites
Westmeath	41 Bring Banks	3 Civic Amenity Sites
Wexford	140 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Sites
Wicklow	75 Bring Banks	3 Civic Amenity Sites
Cork City	38 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Dublin City	106 Bring Banks	2 Civic Amenity Site
Galway City	16 Bring Banks	No Civic Amenity Sites
Limerick City	18 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Waterford City	25 Bring Banks	1 Civic Amenity Site
Total	1,891 Bring Banks	68 Civic Amenity Sites

Biological Records Centre.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

17 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the actions which have been taken towards the establishment of a biological records centre, which has been identified as being essential for the effective management and protection of Ireland’s biodiversity. [9577/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. B. O’Keeffe)

The establishment of an Irish biological records centre was pledged in the national biodiversity plan. The Heritage Council is now undertaking this project.

The council has entered into an agreement with Waterford Institute of Technology to locate the centre on campus and a premises is being fitted out there for the purpose. The Heritage Council will, before the summer, be tendering for the provision of services in the centre to run a biological records centre that will meet Ireland's requirements as determined by the scientific community who will use it.

A management group, on which my Department is represented, was established last year by the Heritage Council to bring the project forward. This management group is carrying out extensive consultations with the scientific community, including both professional and voluntary biological recording experts, and has made substantial progress in identifying existing databases of recent and historical biological records. My Department is grant assisting the council in relation to the capital and current resources required for the establishment and operation of the centre.

Question No. 18 answered with QuestionNo. 11.

Recycling Policy.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

19 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the projected amount of funds to be collected in environmental management charges by the two collective schemes set up with respect to the regulations under the WEEE directive in the first year of the scheme; and when he expects the review of the environmental management charges with respect to the WEEE directive to be complete. [9596/06]

Bernard Allen

Question:

23 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the operation of the WEEE directive to date; if he intends to reduce any of the existing charges to consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9471/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 23 together.

The WEEE scheme has now been operating for almost six months and the real benefits of this new system for consumers and the environment are becoming apparent. WEEE is now being collected from over 180 collection points nationwide. Early indications are that significant quantities of this waste type are being returned for recycling. In the first 12 weeks alone 4,800 tonnes, equivalent to an annual rate of almost 20,000 tonnes, of household WEEE was collected. This points to a fourfold increase in the recycling of household WEEE as 5,510 tonnes of this waste type was recovered in 2004; and indicates widespread public support for the implementation of the directive.

The implementation of the directive has not had any negative impact on the consumer price index. This is confirmed by the CSO which recently reported that prices of major household appliances have decreased by 1.3% in the last 12 months and prices of small electrical household appliances have decreased by 0.5% over the same period.

The WEEE directive allows producers to show the cost of recovering and recycling "historic" waste, that is, waste arising from electric and electronic products put on the market before 13 August 2005. These costs are referred to as environmental management costs or EMCs. They are not imposed by, or remitted to, the Government, but are paid by producers to the two collective compliance schemes operating in Ireland, WEEE Ireland and the European Recycling Platform which are operating a producer responsibility initiative. Consequently, information on the revenue collected to date or on future projections is not available in my Department.

The EMCs currently applied show the costs of recycling based on data submitted by producers to the WEEE Register Society Limited, the industry-based national WEEE registration body, which has an independent committee of management. The WEEE register assessed and approved the EMCs. The EMCs are currently under review and while my Department has no function in the matter, I am advised that the WEEE register hopes to complete the review in April. It will be a matter for the WEEE register to validate any revisions.

Site Maintenance.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

20 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to date of implementing the rehabilitation of the Irish Steel Company site; the initial budgeted cost; the expected total cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9465/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

As indicated in reply to Question No. 204 of 14 February 2006, my Department's mandate has been to secure and make safe the former Irish ISPAT site, and to have an appropriate site investigation carried out. The report of this site investigation is now being finalised and is expected to be presented in the coming weeks, following which I will be reporting to Government.

Certain demolition works are continuing and some of the buildings have had to be decontaminated as part of that contract to allow demolition proceed without causing severe dust nuisance. The costs to the State of securing and managing the site and of the site investigation up to the end of 2005 total approximately €2 million. I do not wish to pre-empt the findings of the site investigation interpretative report but it is my understanding that its estimate is not likely to diverge significantly from that provided in the 2002 Enviros report which suggested that costs of remediation could be in the region of €30 million.

Decentralisation Programme.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

21 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that just 81 people have applied for the 805 decentralised positions with his Department; his views on the reason for the poor response. [9588/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Under the Government's decentralisation programme all Dublin based operations of my Department are being decentralised, with the exception of Met Éireann, ENFO, the Private Rented Tenancies Board and a small co-ordination section which it is proposed to retain in Dublin to assist with the Department's Dáil and other business. The programme involves the relocation of my Department's operations to four locations in the south east, namely, Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and Kilkenny.

At this stage a total of 195 staff, in respect of 661 posts to be decentralised and which are fillable through the CAF, have confirmed their availability to decentralise to the south east. Some 70 of these are now in the Department and the process of agreeing arrangements for the early transfer of the others to the Department has commenced. My Department is continuing the process of contacting other staff who applied for one of the four locations as a second or subsequent choice or who applied after 7 September 2004, the date for receipt of priority applications.

My Department is co-operating with the Department of Finance, the decentralisation implementation group, and the Office of Public Works to ensure the Government's decentralisation programme is implemented efficiently and effectively. A decentralisation implementation team has been established to oversee the arrangements for the transfer of the Department's Dublin based staff to the four locations.

Implementation plans, setting out the issues to be addressed in implementing the decentralisation programme for this Department, have been submitted to the decentralisation implementation group. These plans are also published on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

In relation to property requirements I have recently announced that my Department has reached agreement with OPW on the site for its headquarters in Wexford, which will be acquired from Wexford Borough Council. As regards the remaining three locations the Office of Public Works is evaluating site options at present.

Planning Issues.

Billy Timmins

Question:

22 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to make the planning process more user friendly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9419/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department has completed a comprehensive review of the part of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 which set out the detailed rules, requirements and procedures for the planning application process. I intend to publish new regulations shortly.

The purpose of the new regulations is to remove unnecessarily bureaucratic and administrative obstacles to people using the system, to minimise any problems with the planning system and to produce a more uniform planning application procedure throughout the country. In particular, the regulations will introduce a standardised application form to be used by all planning authorities to bring greater clarity to the system.

My Department also published draft Development Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities in November 2005. The guidelines are intended to assist planning authorities and other stakeholders in dealing with the planning application process. The guidelines are a step-by-step guide to all stages of the process from pre-application consultation through validating a planning application, processing a planning application, to deciding a planning application, formulating planning conditions, and enforcing planning decisions and conditions. The guidelines are intended to promote best practice in the processing of planning applications and have a strong customer service focus. The consultation period for the guidelines will end shortly, and I intend to publish finalised guidelines before the end of the year.

I would also add that planning authorities are committed to improving the planning service on an ongoing basis and that many have made great strides, for instance, in the use of their websites to provide information about the planning service. I consider that the new Planning and Development Regulations and the development management guidelines will assist the planning authorities in providing an improved and more user-friendly planning service.

Question No. 23 answered with QuestionNo. 19.

Homeless Persons.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

24 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of families housed in emergency bed and breakfast accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9512/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

Local authorities are responsible for meeting the accommodation needs of homeless persons. It is consequently a matter for individual authorities to determine the level of bed and breakfast accommodation to be provided, having regard to the need for such accommodation within their areas. My Department does not have detailed information on the number of families housed in bed and breakfast accommodation by local authorities.

The further development and reorientation of services for families will be taken forward in the context of a revised Government strategy on homelessness, to be prepared by my Department having regard to the Independent Review of the Implementation of Homeless Strategies, which I published recently.

The need for particular focus on the development of long-term accommodation, as opposed to emergency accommodation such as bed and breakfast, is one of the main recommendations of the independent review. While the use of bed and breakfast accommodation is seen, at present, as essential for the provision of emergency accommodation, it is recognised that it is not suitable as a long-term solution to homeless accommodation and that its use should be phased out, particularly for families. I am concerned to ensure that high standards prevail in the operation of the sector and that it is used only as a short-term response to homelessness.

At the request of my Department, Dublin City Council, which is a major user of bed and breakfast accommodation, and the Homeless Agency are conducting an ongoing review of this type of accommodation. This has led to increased monitoring, improved co-ordination and better management practice within the Dublin area. The research report Planning for Children published recently by the Homeless Agency, recommended the establishment and monitoring by the agency of length of stay targets for children in such accommodation.

Register of Electors.

Phil Hogan

Question:

25 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take to improve the accuracy of the electoral register; if he will implement a proper integrated system using voters PPS numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9463/06]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

34 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he is taking to ensure the integrity of the next general election in view of the fact that there are now 20% more names on the electoral register than people in the State; if he intends to provide resources and funding to local authorities to carry out their responsibilities in respect of the electoral register; and his views on using the census, due in April 2006, to compile an accurate and reliable register for the next general election. [9591/06

Dinny McGinley

Question:

41 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the significant inaccuracies in the register of electors he will contract An Post to assist in the updating of the register of electors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9478/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 34 and 41 together.

In law, preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the co-operation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register.

I share the concerns that have been expressed on the quality of the register. My Department wrote to registration authorities on 14 July 2005 and requested them to take all necessary steps to secure significant improvement in the quality of the register. A national awareness campaign was conducted in November 2005 associated with the work on preparation of the register under way at that stage. Also in November 2005, my Department completed work on new and updated Guidance for Registration Authorities on Preparing and Maintaining the Register. The aim of the guidance is to secure significant improvement in the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register by setting out clearly the legal requirements in this complex area, and identifying best practice for registration authorities in their work on the register.

The draft guidance was circulated for comment to all registration authorities and returning officers and to the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government which, in December 2005, discussed the guidance. Following this consultation process, my Department is now finalising the guidance. However, in view of the importance of securing improvements in the register, registration authorities have also been asked to proceed to implement the draft guidance with immediate effect.

As regards funding, local authorities meet their general expenditure — including in relation to the register — from a variety of sources such as commercial rates, rents, fees, charges for services, and general purpose grants from the local government fund. In 2006, I allocated general purpose grants to local authorities totalling €875 million, an increase of €57 million or 7% over the amount provided last year. I will continue to keep these important issues, including proposals along the lines referred to in the questions, under close review.

Litter Pollution.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

26 Ms Enright asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of litter fines issued in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9496/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Statistics on local authority enforcement action, including the number of litter fines issued, are submitted by local authorities to my Department every six months; these figures are also available in the Oireachtas Library. The number of litter fines issued for the first six months of 2005 — the most recent information available — is 13,787. There were 22,397 litter fines issued in the 12 months ending 31 December 2004.

Local Government Ethics.

Bernard Allen

Question:

27 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce a standards board for local government elected members and officials here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9470/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Local Government Act 2001 provided for a new and comprehensive ethics framework for those involved in local government. This is now in operation. Details of the regime were set out in the reply to Question No. 102 of 14 February 2006.

The effectiveness of the local government ethics regime is being kept under close and active review in the light of experience since its introduction. I will continue to monitor developments in this regard and will bring forward proposals for amendment of the regime, if necessary. However, I have no proposals along the lines suggested in the question.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

28 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he intends to take in view of the fact that CO2 emissions attributable to the concrete industry increased in 2004 by almost 20% and since the building trend continues to rise to ensure that this trend does not continue in 2006; the actions he will take to promote energy efficient modern methods of construction; and the way in which he intends to ensure that there is an actual reduction of emissions. [9573/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The 20% increase in cement emissions in 2004, as contained in the EPA's provisional report on greenhouse gas emissions, relates to increased emissions from cement manufacturing installations. Since 2005, these cement installations have been participating in the EU emissions trading scheme, which will contribute to control of emissions from this sector, as the cost of purchasing carbon allowances will act as an incentive for industry to invest in new technologies and processes that will reduce CO2 emissions.

As regards energy efficiency in the construction sector generally, my Department has progressed a number of important measures which will reduce CO2 emissions from construction activity. For instance, higher thermal performance standards apply to new dwellings commencing on or after 1 January 2003 under amended Part L — conservation of fuel and energy — of the Building Regulations 2002 and the related 2002 edition of Technical Guidance Document L published by my Department.

It is currently estimated that the amendment to the Part L regime in 2002 will reduce CO2 emissions by at least 250,000 tonnes per annum by end 2012 in line with the estimate contained in the national climate change strategy, NCCS. This estimate is based on the assumption that some 420,000 new houses will be completed to the amended Part L standards by the end of 2012.

In addition, I brought in regulations in December 2005 which amended Part L of the building regulations to set higher thermal performance and insulation standards for new non-domestic buildings commencing on or after 1 July 2006, which it is estimated will result in a further reduction in CO2 emissions of 45,000 tonnes per annum by the end of 2012. The thermal performance standards for new dwellings are due for review and further upward adjustment by 2008. I am advised that these prospective developments should enable CO2 emission reduction targets from new construction, as contained in the NCCS, to be exceeded by 2012.

Carbon Fund.

Dan Boyle

Question:

29 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the 2006 allocation for the proposed carbon fund, as promised in his budget 2006 speech, is contingent on when and if a carbon fund Bill is passed. [7933/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

An allocation of €20 million is already available in my Department's Vote for 2006 to finance the purchase of carbon credits for Ireland by the National Treasury Management Agency. I intend later this year to bring forward legislative proposals to support the operation of carbon credit purchasing through a multi-annual fund.

Local Authority Funding.

Catherine Murphy

Question:

30 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in accordance with the recommendations of the Indecon report released by his office on 1 March 2006, he intends to move the focus of local government funding away from central government and towards local sources, in effect imposing a system of local taxation on private citizens and industry; if so, his views on the implications of flat taxes on lower income households considering that such charges do not take cognisance of the ability to pay as PAYE does; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9523/06]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

64 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to address the predicted local authority funding shortfall identified by the Indecon report. [9524/06]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

70 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his position in respect of recommendations contained in the Indecon report on local government financing, published on 1 March 2006. [9436/06]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

71 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reforms he will be introducing in respect of local government funding following the publication of Indecon report on local government financing, published on 1 March 2006. [9433/06]

Seán Crowe

Question:

83 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the recommendations contained in the Indecon report on local government financing, published on 1 March 2006, which he intends to implement. [9437/06]

Shane McEntee

Question:

87 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the latest report on local government finance from Indecon Consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9513/06]

Shane McEntee

Question:

94 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he intends to take to increase funding of local authorities in view of the recent Indecon report on local government finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9514/06]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

96 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the connection made in the Indecon report between local authority accountability and locally raised funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9525/06]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

208 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to introduce, either fully or partially, the recommendations of the Indecon report on local government funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9919/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 64, 70, 71, 83, 87, 94, 96 and 208 together.

I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 4 on today's Order Paper. While I will be pursuing a number of initiatives in line with recommendations made in the Indecon report on local government financing, I do not intend to implement the recommendations regarding the introduction of domestic water charges and new taxes on non-principal private residences which would run counter to current Government policy.

Waste Management.

Phil Hogan

Question:

31 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the extent of his review of the overall regulation of the waste management sector with particular reference to identifying public sector obligations appropriate to service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9462/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

As I have already indicated, I have been examining the various options as to how best the rapidly evolving waste market might be regulated in future. This has entailed giving careful consideration to a wide range of issues, including how any regulatory regime could include elements of public service. I will shortly be in a position to present proposals to Government in regard to regulation in this sector.

Nuclear Plants.

Seán Ryan

Question:

32 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action the European Commission has taken over THORP and the B30 storage pond following his meeting with Andris Piebalgs and Franco Frattini on 31 January 2006; and the extent to which the Commission was misled over the THORP Plant. [9412/06]

Richard Bruton

Question:

112 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the recent formal warning issued by the European Commission to British Nuclear Group Sellafield, formerly known as BNFL, that its accounting and reporting procedures in place at Sellafield do not meet EURATOM standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9480/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 112 together.

On 31 January, I met with the EU Commissioner for Energy with responsibility for nuclear energy and protection, Andris Piebalgs, to impress upon the European Commission the strength of Irish Government concerns in relation to the continued operation of the Sellafield nuclear plant. In support of Irish Government concerns, I again drew the attention of the Commissioner to the leak at the THORP plant in 2005, and to the B30 storage pond which is the subject of a directive issued by the Commission to the UK. In response the Commission indicated it had been misled in regard to the THORP plant but did not elaborate further on the issue. The Commission also indicated further legal action was expected in relation to the B30 pond but I am not aware of any further developments to date.

On 15 February 2006 the EU Commission issued a warning to the operators of Sellafield, British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited, BNG SL, under Article 83(1)(a) of the EURATOM Treaty. That decision resulted from a series of inspections carried out by Commission inspectors at the Sellafield plant. The Commission also requested BNG SL to implement the appropriate remedies within the periods specified in the decision and to ensure the adequate quality of its systems for accounting for nuclear material. I believe this warning was linked to the THORP incident arising out of safeguards issues raised by the leak of the radioactive material.

The purpose of my meeting with Commissioner Piebalgs was to articulate clearly the Irish Government's view that we expect the Commission to exercise its competence robustly in respect of the continued operations at Sellafield, a situation we believe has not been the case heretofore. In that context, I believe the Commission's recent actions are a step forward and, in that these actions signal a more proactive approach by the Commission to the serious issues raised by me in relation to Sellafield, I certainly welcome them.

End-of-Life Vehicles.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

33 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the proposed operation of the draft regulations on end-of-life vehicles for cars and vans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9476/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Necessary enabling provisions to facilitate implementation of Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, ELVs, were incorporated in the Protection of the Environment Act 2003. Part VA of the Waste Management Act 1996, as inserted by section 44 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, explicitly provides for producer responsibility for the free deposit of ELVs at authorised treatment facilities by their last owners; the appropriate treatment and recovery of ELVs deposited at authorised treatment facilities in line with the directive's requirements; the mandatory deposit of ELVs by their registered owners at authorised treatment facilities for appropriate treatment and recovery; and the issuing of certificates of destruction in respect of ELVs deposited at authorised treatment facilities for scrapping.

Last month I published the draft Waste Management (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2006 for a period of public consultation that will conclude on 24 March. These draft regulations will, when finalised, fully transpose and provide the framework for the implementation of the ELV directive in Ireland.

In general terms, the principal responsibility for putting in place a national network of authorised treatment facilities providing take-back of end-of-life vehicles of any particular brand rests with the producer of that brand. Each producer's national collection system will comprise at least one authorised treatment facility in the functional area of each local authority and must have sufficient capacity to treat the number of end-of-life vehicles of that producer's brand, or for which that producer is responsible, that arise in any given year. Where a vehicle is accepted for appropriate treatment and recovery, no charge shall be imposed on the registered owner of that vehicle except in cases where the vehicle's essential components are missing or where waste has been added to that vehicle. Local authorities will have responsibility for the registration of producers, the processing and approval of producers' implementation arrangements and will take the lead in enforcing the new regulatory regime.

Obligations are imposed on authorised treatment facilities to ensure that such facilities operate under a waste licence or, as appropriate, a waste permit and meet the minimum technical requirements for the (i) storage, including temporary storage, of end-of-life vehicles prior to their being the subject of appropriate treatment and recovery; (ii) appropriate treatment and recovery of end-of-life vehicles; and (iii) storage of components containing fluids, recoverable components and spare parts.

On the deposit of an end-of-life vehicle at an authorised treatment facility for appropriate treatment and recovery, the owner or operator of that facility shall issue a certificate of destruction to the registered owner, authorised person of a local authority or member of the Garda Síochána and all relevant information relating to that certificate of destruction shall be noted on the national vehicle records. No charge may be imposed by the authorised treatment facility on the registered owner of the end-of-life vehicle in respect of the certificate of destruction. Both producers and authorised treatment facilities will be subject to reporting requirements. The regulations also include provisions to minimise the use of specified hazardous substances in vehicles. The draft regulations are available on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. I will examine the submissions made in the consultation process and then proceed to finalise the regulations to allow for the commencement of the free take back of end of life vehicles from 1 January 2007.

Question No. 34 answered with QuestionNo. 25.

Social and Affordable Housing.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

35 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the housing initiatives he intends to take to help people in view of the increase recorded in the last census in the number of people over 30 who remain living with their parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9488/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The Government has been actively addressing the issue of housing affordability. Our policy has been to make housing supply more responsive to demand in order to improve affordability and access to housing, particularly for first-time buyers. There is clear evidence that this policy is having an effect — 2005 was the eleventh year of record overall house completions with nearly 81,000 completions. Increased investment has resulted in some 100,000 households benefiting from the range of targeted social and affordable housing measures since 1997.

In addition to planning, taxation and other measures such as mortgage interest relief, the Government has placed a particular emphasis on targeted affordable housing measures which are designed to assist those who cannot access affordable housing without assistance. These include the shared ownership scheme, the 1999 affordable housing scheme, affordable housing through Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004 and the affordable housing initiative in Sustaining Progress. We will be streamlining these schemes to make them simpler to implement and understand but in the meantime eligibility and subsidy levels under the various schemes were increased in January this year. About 15,000 households will benefit under these measures in the next three years.

In addition, the Affordable Homes Partnership, which we established last year, is already making good progress in its efforts to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing in the greater Dublin area where the problem is most acute. The recently launched Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities will ensure that we build on our achievements to date, continue to create the conditions where housing output will meet demand and provide targeted support for those with affordability problems.

Question No. 36 answered with QuestionNo. 11.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

37 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he is taking to make more affordable houses available in order that vulnerable people will not have to revert to potentially exploitative home reversion schemes to help their children onto the property ladder. [9586/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

Consumer protection and information in relation to financial products is a matter for the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, under the aegis of the Minister for Finance, which has responsibility for the regulation of financial institutions generally.

The Government has been actively addressing the issue of housing affordability. Our policy has been to make housing supply more responsive to demand in order to improve affordability and access to housing, particularly for first-time buyers. There is clear evidence that this policy is having an effect; 2005 was the eleventh year of record overall house completions with nearly 81,000 completions. Increased investment has resulted in some 100,000 households benefiting from the range of targeted social and affordable housing measures since 1997.

In addition to planning, taxation and other measures such as mortgage interest relief, the Government has placed a particular emphasis on targeted affordable housing measures which are designed to assist those who cannot access affordable housing without assistance. These include the shared ownership scheme, the 1999 affordable housing scheme, affordable housing through Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2004 and the affordable housing initiative in Sustaining Progress. We will be streamlining these schemes to make them simpler to implement and understand but in the meantime eligibility and subsidy levels under the various schemes were increased in January this year. About 15,000 households will benefit under these measures in the next three years.

In addition, the Affordable Homes Partnership, which we established last year, is already making good progress in its efforts to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing in the greater Dublin area where the problem is most acute. The recently launched Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities will ensure that we build on our achievements to date, continue to create the conditions where housing output will meet demand and provide targeted support for those with affordability problems.

Departmental Agencies.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

38 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied that the Private Residential Tenancies Board has the staff and resources required to properly carry out its work in line with the provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. [9435/06]

Gay Mitchell

Question:

100 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to provide the Private Residential Tenancies Board with additional funding in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9485/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 100 together.

Substantial resources are being provided to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, to meet the high level of demands on its services. There is currently a total of 35 staff working in the PRTB, which also receives ongoing support from my Department. The PRTB has also engaged a panel of 175 mediators and adjudicators to assist with its dispute resolution functions. An increased provision of €3.707 million is available to fund the PRTB's administration and services in 2006, compared with an outturn of €1.737 million in 2005.

Planning Issues.

Dan Boyle

Question:

39 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the discussions which are taking place between his Department and the European Commission on the level of retrospective planning permission and EC Directive 85/337/EEC. [9526/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

A reasoned opinion was received from the European Commission on 5 January 2005 regarding planning enforcement procedures in relation to unauthorised developments for which Environmental Impact Assessments, EIA, are required. A formal response issued to the Commission on 8 March 2005. My Department has not received any further formal communication from the Commission or from the European Court of Justice.

Environment Commissioner Dimas visited Ireland last week and I had very useful and informal discussions with him on a wide range of issues, including that referred to in the question. It would not be appropriate for me to disclose the detail of these discussions, which were without prejudice to any legal proceedings which may continue between Ireland the European Commission.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

40 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action which can be taken to speed up the construction of water and sewerage schemes; if his Department can take a greater leading role on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9482/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 198, 216 and 621 of 14 February 2006.

Question No. 41 answered with QuestionNo. 25.

Denis Naughten

Question:

42 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the grant aid available for group sewerage schemes will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9286/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 630 of 14 February 2006.

Litter Wardens.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

43 Ms Enright asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of litter wardens employed here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9495/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Returns from local authorities indicate that, as at the end of June 2005, 399 litter wardens were employed. A total of 126 wardens were employed on a full-time basis.

Noise Pollution.

Enda Kenny

Question:

44 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the powers of local authorities and law enforcement agencies are adequate to deal with the issue of loud noise coming from houses and apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9504/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 216 of 2 February 2006.

The adequacy of the powers available to the Garda Síochána would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

House Prices.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

45 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the recent ESRI-Permanent TSB house price index which showed the average house price for a first-time buyer had exceeded €250,000 for the first time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9489/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

91 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has examined the contributory factors to the continuous increase in house prices; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9516/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 91 together.

I am aware that the Permanent TSB-ESRI index of house prices showed an overall average figure of €281,197 in January 2006, with an average first-time buyer figure €30,000 lower. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the Permanent TSB index, which is based on its own lending data. The very large increase in housing output that has been achieved including a new record of almost 81,000 completions in 2005 — almost two and a half times the 1996 level — has had a restraining effect on house price increases in the face of very strong demand pressures and increased mortgage lending.

Our strong economic performance has impacted significantly on housing demand in 2005 and 2006, particularly through substantial increase in employment of around 90,000 and immigration at around 70,000 in 2005. Demand can, potentially, be further fuelled by additional factors such as excessive lending. There are indications that the extent of demand pressures has had an adverse effect on the trend of house price moderation, particularly in the later part of 2005.

My Department will continue to liaise with relevant agencies such as the Department of Finance and the Central Bank in relation to housing market developments generally. The Government will continue to promote moderation in house prices through effective policies, including measures to ensure adequate overall housing supply in keeping with demand in the context of balanced and sustainable growth of the housing market and to maximise availability of affordable housing.

Question No. 46 answered with QuestionNo. 11.

Question No. 47 answered with QuestionNo. 8.

Planning Issues.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

48 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on waiving or reducing the fee for making planning submissions for those groups that may find the fee prohibitive. [9528/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I am satisfied that the €20 fee for third party submissions or objections to planning applications does not represent a major barrier to any person who wishes to participate in the planning process. In this regard, it should be noted that the Indecon report on the Review of Local Government Financing calls for a move towards a planning system which operates at full economic cost recovery. I intend to undertake a study of the cost of the planning service later this year with a view to reviewing the fees regulations thereafter.

Recycling Policy.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

49 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the results of the promised thorough evaluation of the current levels of environmental management charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9473/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I assume that the question refers to environmental management costs or EMCs that retailers display when selling electrical and electronic equipment.

The EMCs currently applied show the costs of recycling based on data submitted by producers to the WEEE Register Society Limited, the industry-based national WEEE registration body, which has an independent committee of management. The WEEE register assessed and approved the EMCs. The EMCs are currently under review and it will be for the WEEE register to validate any revisions. My Department has no function in this regard.

The WEEE scheme has now been operating for six months and the real benefits of this new system for consumers and the environment are becoming apparent. WEEE is now being collected from over 180 collection points nationwide. Early indications are that significant quantities of this waste type are being returned for recycling. In the first 12 weeks alone 4,800 tonnes, equivalent to an annual rate of almost 20,000 tonnes, of household WEEE was collected. This points to a fourfold increase in the recycling of household WEEE as 5,510 tonnes of this waste type was recovered in 2004, and indicates widespread public support for the implementation of the directive.

The implementation of the directive has not had any negative impact on the consumer price index. This is confirmed by the CSO which recently reported that prices of major household appliances have decreased by 1.3% in the last 12 months and prices of small electrical household appliances have decreased by 0.5% over the same period.

EU Directives.

Michael Noonan

Question:

50 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of EU Directives for which his Department has responsibility which remain to be transposed into Irish law; when he plans to transpose them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9498/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I am aware of the importance of timely transposition of EU environmental legislation, some 200 items of which, including more than 140 directives, have by now been transposed in this country. There are nine directives in my Department's area of responsibility which are outstanding for transposition, details of which are set out in the following table.

Directive Number and Title	Date Due for Transposition	Current Position on Transposition
Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 September 2000 on end-of-life vehicles	21 April 2002	My Department has published draft regulations for public consultation to give effect to this directive. It is anticipated that the legislation fully transposing the directive will be finalised in the second quarter of 2006.
Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise	18 July 2004	It is intended that the regulations to transpose this directive will be signed shortly.
Directive 2002/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 December 2002 amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery Directive 2004/26/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 amending Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery	11 August 2004 20 May 2005	The drafting of regulations to transpose these is ongoing and will be completed as quickly as possible.
Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information and repealing Council Directive 90/313/EEC	14 February 2005	Regulations for the transposition of this directive are in drafting and it is intended that it will be transposed at the earliest possible date.
Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC	25 June 2005	Work is continuing on the various instruments with a view to completing transposition at the earliest possible date.
Directive 2004/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste	18 August 2005	My Department has prepared draft regulations to transpose this directive. These have been submitted to the EU Commission.
Directive 2004/42/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products and amending Directive 1999/13/EC	31 October 2005	The drafting of regulations to transpose this directive is ongoing and will be completed as quickly as possible.
Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings	04 January 2006	Elements of this directive have already been transposed and this was notified to the Commission on 20 January 2006. Work is continuing, in co-operation with the Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources, with a view to the submission of the outstanding transposing material by the second quarter of 2006.

Pat Breen

Question:

51 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date on the nitrates directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9466/06]

David Stanton

Question:

76 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his progress to date on the implementation of the nitrates directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9543/06]

David Stanton

Question:

86 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to the implementation of the nitrates directive, if he is satisfied that this legislation has taken into account all the advice he has received from different bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9544/06]

Liz McManus

Question:

93 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the advice he has received from Teagasc in relation to recommendations for phosphate limits to be included in the implementation of the nitrates directive; and if no advice has been received thus far, when he expects to receive advice on the matter from Teagasc. [9585/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 76, 86 and 93 together.

Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive was formally submitted to the European Commission on 29 July 2005 and I made the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2005 on 11 December 2005. These regulations give legal effect to the action programme and respond to the judgment of the European Court of Justice in 2004 which held that Ireland did not comply with the nitrates directive mainly by reason of failing to make an action programme under the directive. The action programme and regulations were prepared jointly by my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food, in consultation with Teagasc, and involved an extensive consultation process with interested parties. The regulations generally came into effect on 1 February 2006 with specific provisions to be phased in over a three-year period.

The fertilisation standards for nitrogen and phosphorus specified in the regulations are in line with good agricultural practice and the agronomic requirements of crops and are based on the fertilisation guidelines published by Teagasc. They are also consistent with the environmental standards set out in the directive and were subject to detailed scrutiny by EU scientific experts.

Subsequent to the making of the regulations in December 2005, Teagasc indicated that it may be possible to review part of its advice on crop nutrient requirements in a way which could improve the effectiveness of the regulations. My Department secured agreement with the European Commission that there was merit in allowing time for this advice to be elaborated. To this end, I announced a brief de facto deferral of Part 3 of the regulations. I received a copy of the Teagasc advice on phosphorus and nitrogen limits on Friday 3 March 2006 and this advice is now being considered carefully by my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food.

In accordance with the Government's commitment under Sustaining Progress, Ireland is pursuing with the European Commission, and other member states, its case for a derogation from 170 kg to 250 kg organic nitrogen per hectare. The scientific case in support of the derogation was prepared by the Department of Agriculture and Food in consultation with Teagasc and my Department. At the EU nitrates committee meeting on 12 December 2005, officials from my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food made their initial presentation in seeking to secure Ireland's derogation. The objective had been to secure agreement on a derogation by mid-2006. Discussions with the European Commission on the derogation are at present in abeyance pending finalisation of issues in relation to nutrient management in the context of the regulations.

Fire Services.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

52 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress that has been made to date on implementing the recommendations of the report Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland, 2002; the progress which has been made to date towards modernising the fire service under Government strategy; and if he intends to review his decision to shelve plans for a national fire authority, as recommended in the review. [9583/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department has implemented a number of the important recommendations of the report Review of Fire Safety and Fire Services in Ireland. These include in particular the enactment of the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003, which addressed several legislative changes called for in the review. In addition, the high level of capital investment in the fire service has been continued and now stands at almost €20 million per annum. The interdepartmental committee on major emergency planning, which is chaired by my Department, has just completed a review of the major emergency planning framework on which local authority, Health Service Executive and Garda major emergency plans are based and I will be taking proposals to Government shortly for the implementation of an updated framework.

In February 2005, I announced a fire services change programme to implement the key fire services and fire safety recommendations of the review of fire safety and fire services. This programme sets out the strategy for the future development of the fire service and includes measures addressing the development of community fire safety programmes, the development of a risk-based approach to the determination of fire cover standards, the introduction of a competency-based approach to recruitment, retention and career progression in the fire service and the enhancement of health, safety and welfare programmes within the fire service. Work on the change programme is being carried out by a dedicated project team and is progressing satisfactorily. My priority under the fire services change programme is not to pursue further institutional change at this time but to use the available resources to bring about direct improvements in these key areas

Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

53 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the further initiatives he intends to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9479/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 7 on today's Order Paper.

Homeless Persons.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

54 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether homelessness will ever be eradicated here; if so, when; the measures he will take to achieve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9484/06]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

77 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to provide for the establishment of emergency accommodation in suburban areas following the recent review of the Government’s homelessness strategy which pinpointed the lack of such facilities for young homeless people as being of particular concern. [9598/06]

Arthur Morgan

Question:

110 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the actions he will be taking on foot of the publication of the independent review of the implementation of the Government’s integrated and preventative homeless strategies; and the timetable for the implementation of the recommendations contained in this report in view of the fact that he has indicated that he accepts the broad thrust of the recommendations. [9438/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 77 and 110 together.

The Independent Review of the Implementation of Homeless Strategies, which I published recently and copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library, examined the implementation of the Government's integrated and preventative homeless strategies and concluded that the two strategies should be amalgamated and revised.

The review specifically recommended that the resultant revised strategy should have an overarching goal to eliminate long-term homelessness in Ireland by a defined date in the future and should include clearly defined objectives, actions, projected outcomes, timescales for delivery and an appropriate monitoring mechanism to track progress. In Dublin the Homeless Agency has already defined as its overarching goal the elimination of long-term homelessness and the need to sleep rough in Dublin by 2010. The Government has accepted the broad thrust of the recommendations of the review and work has commenced on the preparation of a revised and updated strategy on homelessness, having regard to the recommendations of the independent review.

The review acknowledges that, while emergency accommodation is largely sufficient in the major urban centres, it should continue to be provided to address outstanding requirements in other areas. The planning and provision of accommodation and care for homeless persons services at local level are matters for the local authority concerned and the Health Service Executive to be progressed in the local homeless action plans. My Department will take the foregoing issues into account as it develops a revised Government strategy on homelessness, under the aegis of the cross-Department team on homelessness.

Nuclear Plants.

Willie Penrose

Question:

55 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the legal avenues the Government is examining internationally in the State’s campaign to close Sellafield, given the preliminary judgment on the UNCLOS case. [9410/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Government's international legal proceedings against the United Kingdom under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in respect of the Sellafield MOX plant were suspended in 2003 pending resolution of jurisdictional issues in the dispute raised by the European Commission.

These issues were the subject of proceedings by the European Commission against Ireland before the European Court of Justice, ECJ. The advocate general's opinion, issued in the case on 18 January last, considers that the ECJ has jurisdiction in the dispute between Ireland and the UK. While this opinion favours the case made by the Commission, it will be a matter for the court to issue the final judgment which is expected later in the year. The final outcome should clarify international and community law on the protection of the marine environment and other issues raised by the continued operation of the Sellafield reprocessing plant.

The Government, in consultation with the Attorney General, will decide future legal strategy based on the final judgment of the ECJ case; it would be premature at this point to speculate on the legal options or avenues open to the Government arising from this process.

Question No. 56 answered with QuestionNo. 11.

Fire Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

57 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when responsibility for fire safety, previously the function of the National Safety Council, will be transferred to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9477/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

As indicated in reply to Question No. 662 of 21 February 2006, arrangements for the transfer of the fire safety remit of the National Safety Council to my Department are being discussed with the Department of Transport. An exact date for the transfer has not been agreed but I expect that it will take place in the second quarter of this year.

Waste Management.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

58 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the actions he has instructed local authorities to take to address the recent slippage in the application of the plastic bag levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9472/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The 15 cent levy on plastic bags, as provided for in the Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) Regulations 2001 — which took effect on 4 March 2002 — applies to all plastic bags supplied to customers at the point of sale for the conveyance of goods or products.

Prior to the introduction of this levy, an estimated 1.2 billion plastic bags were given away free by retailers. The levy has led to a dramatic reduction in use of plastic bags with a consequent positive environmental benefit. Plastic shopping bags accounted for 5% of litter arising prior to the introduction of the levy, but for just 0.22% of litter arising in 2004.

I am anxious that the plastic bag regulations are rigorously enforced. From representations I have received there appears to be some anecdotal evidence of slippage in application of the levy. I recognise the need to ensure that the efforts and commitment of the vast majority of retailers are not undermined by the non-compliance of a few. Therefore, I have asked my Department to write to local authorities asking them to carry out inspections of retail outlets with a view to improving current practices in inspection of the Plastic Bag Levy Regulations. An enforcement network of local authority officers has been established to monitor and co-ordinate the enforcement drive.

The relevant enforcement officers have extensive powers to enter any retail premises, to conduct any searches or investigations considered necessary, and to inspect or remove any records, books and documents for the purposes of any proceedings regarding the levy.

All complaints received in my Department concerning non-compliance are forwarded to the relevant local authority and the Revenue Commissioners. The operation of the levy is also subject to the normal Revenue Commissioners auditing arrangements.

Election Management System.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

59 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to date of the electronic voting project, including storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9487/06]

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

60 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to date with respect to the electronic voting system including capital expenditure, testing of the electronic voting machines, storage of the electronic voting machines, training of staff, reviews and reports on the system and all other associated costs; the specific costs to date for capital expenditure, testing of the electronic voting machines, storage of the electronic voting machines and training of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9601/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

67 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to liquidate the e-voting system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9515/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

220 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of centres here at which electronic voting equipment is stored; the cost per annum in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9735/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

221 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he can quantify the saving to the Exchequer in terms of storage and security costs in the event of the liquidation of the electronic voting equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9736/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 60, 67, 220 and 221 together.

The total cost incurred to date in the development and rollout of the electronic voting and counting system is some €51.3 million, which includes €46 million in respect of capital investment in voting machines and ancillary equipment. My Department has spent €731,000 to date on assessment and testing and €273,000 on training returning officer and local authority staff. In addition, information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage cost for the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment — including rental, insurance and security costs — is some €696,000. The following table sets out annual storage costs for each of the 25 locations.

The timing of the further use of the system depends on the progress made with the work being undertaken by my Department and by the Commission on Electronic Voting, the associated decisions arising, and the dates on which future polls may be held.

Constituency	Annual Storage Costs (incl. VAT)
	€
Carlow-Kilkenny	29,595.00
Cavan-Monaghan	25,828.00
Clare	3,600.00
Cork City	42,499.50
Cork County	37,609.30
Donegal	15,714.00
Dublin City	72,350.00
Dublin County	62,938.66
Galway	5,253.00
Kerry	26,125.00
Kildare	27,125.86
Laois-Offaly	28,178.00
Limerick	57,675.86
Longford	15,095.16
Roscommon	10,374.98
Louth	298.00
Mayo	34,930.00
Meath	20,366.00
Sligo	—
Leitrim	3,000.00
Tipperary (N&S)	42,700.00
Waterford	52,888.48
Westmeath	22,805.34
Wexford	16,876.00
Wicklow	42,455.80
Total	696,281.94

Question No. 61 answered with QuestionNo. 12.

Waste Management.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

62 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to conduct research into the reason 21% of the population do not avail of a waste collection service; if he will examine this problem to ascertain the way in which many of these people cannot access a waste collection service due to genuine difficulties with the cost of the scheme; and his views on setting up a national waiver scheme to help with this difficulty. [9587/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

In accordance with section 33 of the Waste Management Acts 1996-2005, local authorities are obliged to collect, or provide for the collection of, household waste. Section 33(3) provides exemptions whereby a local authority need not provide a collection in cases where an adequate waste collection service is available; the cost of providing a waste collection service by the local authority would be unreasonably high; or the local authority is satisfied that adequate alternative arrangements can reasonably be made by the householder.

Following publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's, EPA, National Waste Report 2004 which calculates that 23% of households are not availing of, or not provided with, a waste collection service, my Department wrote to all local authorities on 10 January 2006 to request that they take active steps to establish if any of the exemptions of section 33(3) apply in the case of these households. In addition, local authorities were asked to outline the actions taken, or intended to be taken, to establish where this uncollected waste is being directed. This is considered to be an appropriate mechanism to address further the implications of the EPA finding.

Based on replies received to date it is clear that a variety of factors influence whether householders avail of a waste collection service. While illegal burning of waste or fly-tipping is certainly occurring other factors are also reported to be contributing to a distortion of the picture. These factors include deposition of household waste at recycling centres and landfills by householders themselves; the sharing of bins by some households; the recording of waste collected from some apartment complexes as one household; difficulty in quantifying the number of pay-by-tag customers; the numbers of vacant dwellings and holiday homes that do not require a regular waste collection service. It is also the case that collection services are absent from certain routes due to their remote location or where the road is too narrow and is not suitable for large trucks.

I am considering what might be appropriate regulatory arrangements for the rapidly evolving waste management sector, including any public service obligation which might reasonably be imposed in respect of low income households or in areas where service provision is not economically viable.

Question No. 63 answered with QuestionNo. 12.

Question No. 64 answered with QuestionNo. 30.

Local Authority Funding.

Billy Timmins

Question:

65 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of funding collected by local authorities in their areas of responsibility for the years 1996, 2000 and 2005; the breakdown of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9418/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The following tables show the income for local authorities from commercial rates, charges for goods and services, and development contributions for the years 1996, 2000 and 2005. Inter-authority transfers are not included. In the case of rates and charges, the data for 1996 and 2000 are based on out-turns and data for 2005 are based on published local authority budgets. Information on development contributions is based on estimates provided by the local authorities.

County Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Carlow*	113,882	1,900,508	4,477,406
Cavan*	58,544	2,744,842	5,432,827
Clare*	423,227	14,133,353	9,796,649
Cork *	2,744,498	29,562,740	39,775,840
Donegal*	605,515	7,587,626	17,810,404
Dún Laoghaire	3,228,941	26,557,936	19,646,995
Fingal	5,229,046	19,617,696	25,215,548
Galway*	454,679	4,834,703	10,841,336
Kerry*	830,791	7,265,031	17,327,808
Kildare*	8,875,524	7,976,968	15,836,649
Kilkenny*	248,316	3,542,784	13,048,750
Laois	171,002	2,683,282	6,268,872
Leitrim	87,232	989,539	3,152,921
Limerick	456,048	8,619,401	13,752,256
Longford*	78,065	1,346,633	3,895,033
Louth*	1,238,194	2,080,054	4,484,434
Mayo*	224,958	4,673,130	12,577,261
Meath*	2,150,759	4,810,789	12,071,801
Monaghan*	605,094	1,867,941	4,430,925
North Tipperary*	195,848	2,274,079	6,156,014
Offaly*	230,297	2,452,517	7,150,597
Roscommon	119,876	2,856,676	5,989,417
Sligo*	187,763	1,470,914	24,643,499
South Dublin	6,094,743	28,348,431	5,281,498
South Tipperary*	633,189	2,509,613	9,644,090
Waterford*	171,812	2,296,058	7,199,580
Westmeath*	457,715	2,764,916	9,380,984
Wexford*	639,396	5,374,212	12,065,541
Wicklow*	1,886,892	4,466,182	9,608,954
Total Counties	38,441,845	207,608,555	336,963,892

City Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Cork	705,679	25,490,408	26,055,114
Dublin	3,878,684	117,884,964	100,073,729
Galway	1,451,420	8,097,946	9,114,447
Limerick	650,908	10,945,427	9,740,702
Waterford	810,586	6,989,215	7,530,927
Total Cities	7,497,276	169,407,960	152,514,918

* County council figures for development levies include amounts relating to relevant town councils.

1996 Funding and Source

Town Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Arklow		995,778	1,043,292
Athlone		1,038,035	3,025,091
Athy		835,932	617,616
Ballina		924,768	1,048,835
Ballinasloe		661,528	1,094,947
Birr		427,206	435,024
Bray		2,338,291	3,085,499
Buncrana		529,455	515,790
Bundoran		388,743	257,208
Carlow		1,793,188	1,720,156
Carrickmacross		443,175	449,847
Carrick-on-Suir		360,416	955,249
Cashel		177,473	558,935
Castlebar		860,058	1,176,760
Castleblayney		287,837	230,107
Cavan		743,004	648,374
Clonakilty		382,186	406,705
Clones		184,845	245,680
Clonmel		1,856,794	3,611,366
Cobh		291,245	691,116
Drogheda		3,982,085	4,945,215
Dundalk		4,976,613	5,591,416
Dungarvan		1,023,387	1,369,273
Ennis		1,507,003	2,117,625
Enniscorthy		601,960	935,382
Fermoy		435,394	898,768
Kells		250,020	503,356
Kilkenny		1,485,059	2,534,273
Killarney		2,035,112	1,909,191
Kilrush		251,449	357,440
Kinsale		379,567	362,421
Letterkenny		1,023,509	1,151,258
Listowel		807,946	541,419
Longford		832,490	860,692
Macroom		291,821	421,139
Mallow		1,043,717	811,590
Midleton		541,880	422,127
Monaghan		1,220,901	1,385,128
Naas		1,749,239	1,517,916
Navan		761,600	915,213
Nenagh		918,845	757,114
New Ross		524,691	844,303
Skibbereen		380,396	326,880
Sligo		2,304,463	3,596,584
Templemore		131,617	301,934
Thurles		678,372	922,597
Tipperary		619,914	887,285
Tralee		2,964,960	4,156,763
Trim		266,352	325,356
Tullamore		1,423,252	1,150,552
Westport		751,516	906,453
Wexford		1,305,366	3,193,935
Wicklow		515,890	751,102
Youghal		529,374	781,443
Total Towns	0	54,035,718	70,270,740
Overall Total	45,939,121	431,052,233	559,749,551

2000 Funding and Source

County Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Carlow	364,096	3,215,443	6,259,482
Cavan	974,913	4,558,694	7,279,031
Clare	679,136	20,801,897	14,228,786
Cork	9,388,408	52,186,795	61,511,304
Donegal	1,691,664	12,393,976	21,387,029
Dún Laoghaire	5,978,273	48,144,963	31,023,547
Fingal	13,612,512	49,257,624	45,503,668
Galway	2,735,311	8,596,472	14,166,892
Kerry	980,369	13,141,338	26,084,892
Kildare	5,586,197	18,050,876	20,609,037
Kilkenny	874,960	5,639,439	13,626,820
Laois	1,732,248	4,574,944	9,071,824
Leitrim	643,846	2,166,549	5,192,566
Limerick	1,632,093	15,776,023	23,931,390
Longford	300,128	2,295,010	5,463,449
Louth	2,864,286	3,688,109	6,647,634
Mayo	1,560,257	7,809,524	16,225,857
Meath	5,825,477	8,925,449	16,102,940
Monaghan	3,047	3,196,531	6,750,644
North Tipperary	426,425	4,418,855	7,296,596
Offaly	795,233	3,408,471	8,594,397
Roscommon	1,173,977	4,993,088	9,577,359
Sligo	166,336	2,586,469	6,651,566
South Dublin	10,901,971	53,152,776	57,359,724
South Tipperary	599,958	4,657,415	13,132,537
Waterford	1,734,937	3,612,162	9,042,473
Westmeath	1,826,890	4,340,975	12,873,951
Wexford	4,101,779	9,778,803	16,914,557
Wicklow	2,133,846	7,015,837	12,756,101
Total Counties	81,288,573	382,384,506	505,266,055

City Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Cork	1,924,379	41,560,273	44,475,921
Dublin	10,563,548	187,266,438	178,644,786
Galway	3,523,296	14,561,064	16,088,706
Limerick	1,255,951	18,240,725	13,433,307
Waterford	1,801,140	11,228,986	12,367,462
Total Cities	19,068,314	272,857,486	265,010,182

2000 Funding and Source

Town Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Arklow	288,021	1,558,541	1,152,042
Athlone	115,927	1,579,301	2,446,821
Athy	105,257	1,284,332	976,964
Ballina	80,722	1,560,756	2,347,833
Ballinasloe	119,056	1,054,067	3,341,231
Birr	99,587	706,612	457,535
Bray	550,109	3,949,264	3,332,195
Buncrana	48,377	880,948	613,595
Bundoran	125,454	740,746	181,028
Carlow	502,426	3,006,586	2,432,181
Carrickmacross	64,418	543,805	1,151,430
Carrick-on-Suir	2,222	830,079	592,201
Cashel	39,375	319,574	754,585
Castlebar	85,263	1,569,973	2,175,225
Castleblayney	N/S	520,941	219,045
Cavan	5,409	1,183,096	895,135
Clonakilty	N/S	717,650	736,758
Clones	N/S	309,341	336,886
Clonmel	619,608	3,213,986	4,527,496
Cobh	146,477	467,890	875,559
Drogheda	985,329	5,279,966	6,287,933
Dundalk	421,240	7,804,910	7,637,103
Dungarvan	284,055	1,774,563	2,217,182
Ennis	609,637	2,497,433	3,567,419
Enniscorthy	72,173	929,239	1,092,505
Fermoy	24,252	717,652	1,248,508
Kells	69,328	423,205	386,734
Kilkenny	77,443	2,861,706	4,602,117
Killarney	256,290	3,821,013	2,900,497
Kilrush	49,075	407,510	470,534
Kinsale	101,643	682,291	423,185
Letterkenny	138,313	1,788,523	1,597,282
Listowel	85,034	1,259,599	740,717
Longford	369,879	1,263,285	1,221,529
Macroom	N/S	523,606	606,741
Mallow	162,619	1,656,221	1,796,568
Midleton	180,366	960,048	625,408
Monaghan	23,490	1,863,024	1,429,964
Naas	737,229	3,100,698	1,778,382
Navan	132,554	1,379,433	1,375,867
Nenagh	N/S	1,792,554	1,591,382
New Ross	40,816	803,973	1,484,363
Skibbereen	97,770	594,686	596,252
Sligo	377,385	3,876,226	5,002,621
Templemore	21,947	224,469	435,372
Thurles	195,266	1,220,228	1,159,659
Tipperary	23,405	929,742	1,077,632
Tralee	337,576	5,198,857	6,469,088
Trim	1,282	401,985	300,137
Tullamore	516,606	2,237,817	1,178,859
Westport	207,507	1,637,650	1,937,119
Wexford	302,886	1,917,237	3,749,064
Wicklow	123,165	770,977	708,452
Youghal	N/S	805,364	1,198,317
Total Towns	10,023,268	89,403,177	98,440,237
Overall Total	110,380,155	744,645,169	868,716,474

N/S: Not Supplied.

2005 Funding and Source

County Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Carlow	3,826,306	3,971,318	11,101,300
Cavan	2,571,730	6,137,500	12,463,677
Clare	6,064,000	26,758,658	21,148,341
Cork	38,739,433	67,964,000	84,542,040
Donegal	4,998,423	16,484,600	30,911,118
Dún Laoghaire	23,000,000	65,072,500	56,426,500
Fingal	50,780,348	80,106,155	66,875,300
Galway	12,354,285	13,969,550	18,970,812
Kerry	7,100,000	14,181,348	29,394,000
Kildare	18,000,000	26,519,938	36,617,781
Kilkenny	10,900,000	7,989,230	13,653,100
Laois	12,907,000	6,916,657	18,439,234
Leitrim	217,495	3,150,070	5,114,224
Limerick	12,675,000	21,498,969	26,468,568
Longford	2,845,302	2,800,400	8,316,000
Louth	19,500,000	5,284,300	22,711,000
Mayo	13,531,000	10,441,604	31,693,213
Meath	38,000,000	14,344,694	22,445,291
Monaghan	2,608,157	4,371,298	13,920,746
North Tipperary	3,653,190	5,374,346	15,091,154
Offaly	3,786,399	4,557,663	12,874,863
Roscommon	6,389,417	6,388,300	10,887,600
Sligo	2,391,151	3,519,742	7,019,986
South Dublin	31,566,815	86,457,410	89,278,000
South Tipperary	3,045,000	5,651,216	22,215,848
Waterford	3,322,730	4,360,700	17,872,300
Westmeath	6,150,000	5,776,433	15,232,276
Wexford	30,000,000	13,207,038	28,067,473
Wicklow	31,413,167	8,917,112	18,283,091
Total Counties	402,336,348	542,172,749	768,034,836

City Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Cork	11,043,400	48,576,900	61,357,500
Dublin	58,403,217	229,456,190	303,896,592
Galway	5,400,000	21,786,738	27,550,900
Limerick	7,687,886	24,270,497	22,620,686
Waterford	6,450,605	15,916,744	16,066,207
Total Cities	88,985,108	340,007,069	431,491,885

2005 Funding and Source

Town Council	Development Levies	Commercial Rates	Goods and Services
	€	€	€
Arklow	95,000	1,659,517	844,062
Athlone	2,188,049	2,549,912	3,629,051
Athy	1,620,462	1,580,225	1,419,284
Ballina	1,674,223	2,399,925	2,744,895
Ballinasloe	299,475	1,095,270	5,597,895
Birr	275,817	937,847	566,624
Bray	1,389,753	4,497,319	4,139,895
Buncrana	N/S	1,134,662	377,880
Bundoran	116,227	722,114	789,018
Carlow	1,152,920	4,310,612	2,440,085
Carrickmacross	1,299,670	1,121,828	357,506
Carrick-on-Suir	300,000	653,482	1,999,365
Cashel	385,000	449,274	1,019,878
Castlebar	3,465,781	2,265,061	2,939,200
Castleblayney	1,414,838	606,653	311,375
Cavan	334,240	1,389,083	1,440,500
Clonakilty	N/S	950,946	392,699
Clones	251921	402,779	219,816
Clonmel	1177000	3,976,091	6,141,830
Cobh	N/S	661,653	875,563
Drogheda	2802955	5,284,300	10,297,500
Dundalk	5,807,387	10,154,542	10,114,960
Dungarvan	1,721,571	2,219,000	1,952,100
Ennis	2,380,659	3,485,480	6,497,000
Enniscorthy	155,448	1,147,091	1,005,128
Fermoy	N/S	836,573	1,415,073
Kells	98346	511,462	980,536
Kilkenny	2641275	3,960,500	4,644,586
Killarney	3,309,191	5,742,481	3,766,000
Kilrush	194,428	538,303	608,588
Kinsale	N/S	852,562	283,900
Letterkenny	306,000	3,679,722	1,996,500
Listowel	262,605	1,301,278	998,400
Longford	729,010	1,878,948	1,508,868
Macroom	N/S	577,801	364,000
Mallow	N/S	1,811,153	2,471,480
Midleton	N/S	1,236,707	393,400
Monaghan	3,151,319	2,553,590	1,637,694
Naas	600,000	4,637,162	2,300,109
Navan	1,708,331	1,790,717	2,501,957
Nenagh	2,323,889	2,622,723	1,570,967
New Ross	1,500,000	999,188	2,145,812
Skibbereen	N/S	787,002	290,297
Sligo	2087959	5,367,982	3,949,561
Templemore	106,066	358,000	407,500
Thurles	830,129	1,907,500	1,352,000
Tipperary	320,000	1,071,268	1,688,467
Tralee	1,433,427	6,680,174	6,056,100
Trim	323,511	545,968	675,750
Tullamore	1,135,377	3,057,217	1,547,157
Westport	372,045	2,223,393	2,288,773
Wexford	469,063	2,695,129	4,679,606
Wicklow	482,256	1,012,184	1,402,600
Youghal	N/S	1,135,815	1,318,650
Total Towns	54,692,623	118,027,168	123,357,440
Overall Total	546,014,079	1,000,206,986	1,322,884,161

N/S: Not Supplied.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Joan Burton

Question:

66 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to use the proposed Water Services Bill to reintroduce domestic water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9589/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Government's national water services pricing policy framework requires local authorities to recover the cost of providing water services from the users of these services, with the exception of households using the services for domestic purposes. There is no intention to reintroduce domestic water charges through the Water Services Bill or on any other basis.

Question No. 67 answered with QuestionNo. 59.

Planning Issues.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

68 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on using his power under section 19(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2001 to draft regulations which would ensure that all major developments in a designated area of a local area plan be subjected to environmental impact assessments in accordance with Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations 2004 including those developments that had been considered in previous local area plans which pre-dated the strategic environmental assessment regulations 2004 and therefore were not subjected to environmental impact assessments. [9534/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

There is a distinction between environmental impact assessment, EIA, which applies to individual projects, and strategic environmental assessment, SEA, which applies to plans and programmes forming the framework for development consent for projects liable to EIA.

Under part X of the Planning and Development Act 2000, major developments falling within project categories specified in Schedule 5 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 must be subjected to EIA, as part of the planning consent process. This applies to all scheduled projects, whether or not they are covered by the provisions of local area plans.

The Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004, apply to the preparation of development plans, local area plans and planning schemes in strategic development zones, or any variation thereof. In accordance with the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive 2001/42/EC, the 2004 regulations apply only to relevant plans, planning schemes and variations for which the first formal preparatory action is taken on or after 21 July 2004.

Section 19(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for the prescribing, by regulations, of classes of area in respect of which local area plans should be prepared. I have no proposals to make such regulations.

Waste Disposal.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

69 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Question No. 188 of 14 February 2006, if he will make a statement on the meetings his officials and predecessor had with a company (details supplied); the dates of such meetings; the agenda of such meetings; and the topics discussed and actions taken subsequently by his Department. [9464/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department's files indicate that officials of the Department met two representatives of Indaver Ireland on 21 July 2003; that my predecessor, accompanied by officials, met representatives of Indaver Ireland on 28 January 2004 and that officials met representatives of Indaver Ireland on 8 June 2004.

I understand a range of issues were discussed at these meetings, including inter-regional movement of waste, the regional approach to waste management, and the availability of grant assistance for hazardous waste management infrastructure under the regional operational programmes.

My Department and I hold regular consultations with stakeholders in the context of the ongoing implementation of Government policy on waste management. It should not, however, be concluded that either my officials or I undertake any course of action on the basis of discussions with a single stakeholder. Consulting widely, with a range of stakeholders, is designed to ensure that my Department and I have as full as possible an understanding of the issues and concerns of stakeholders and are therefore in a position to address them, where it is possible and appropriate to do so.

There can be no question of any such meetings comprehending matters proper to the physical planning or environmental licensing processes from involvement with which I, and my officials, are precluded.

Questions Nos. 70 and 71 answered with Question No. 30.

Social and Affordable Housing.

John Deasy

Question:

72 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to assist the voluntary housing sector increase its output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9511/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The voluntary and co-operative housing sector has an important contribution to make in the provision of social housing. By working in close partnership with local authorities, it plays a significant role in supplementing their efforts in providing social housing in areas where particular housing needs have been identified. It is supported by my Department through two separate funding schemes, the capital assistance scheme and the capital loan and subsidy scheme.

The Government is fully committed to developing and expanding the voluntary and co-operative housing sector by supplying the necessary financial resources and support to enable it become an important and significant provider and force in the housing area. To this end, provision of funding for the schemes has been increased significantly from €56 million in 1999 to €243 million in 2006.

In addition to providing increased funding, my Department has initiated the development by local authorities of five-year action plans, commencing in 2004, for the delivery of social and affordable housing, including the voluntary programme, to ensure a systematic and integrated approach to the effective use of these resources. In addition, and in order to further develop and assist the sector in achieving its full potential, the funding limits available have recently been significantly increased.

EU Directives.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

73 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention to come before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9599/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the ratification process for the convention. These deal with public access to environmental information, 2003/4/EC, and public participation in certain environmental decision-making procedures, 2003/35/EC. Ratification of the convention will take place after these directives have been transposed into Irish law. Work is continuing in my Department on the transposition of the two directives and will be completed as soon as possible.

Anti-Social Behaviour.

Enda Kenny

Question:

74 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take regarding anti-social behaviour in both public and private housing developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9503/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform announced proposals late last year for the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders that will give the Garda additional powers to combat anti-social behaviour generally. As regards public housing estates, local authorities and approved housing bodies have extensive powers under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 to deal with anti-social behaviour. I am reviewing the provisions of this Act with a view to strengthening their powers.

Genetically Modified Organisms.

John Gormley

Question:

75 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the motions on non-genetically modified produce passed by county councils and town councils (details supplied). [9529/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Government favours a positive but precautionary approach to applications of modern biotechnology. This is based on the work of the interdepartmental group on modern biotechnology whose report in October 2000 was endorsed by the Government. The report concluded that we should acknowledge the potential benefits of genetic engineering while maintaining a fundamental commitment to safety and environmental sustainability, based on scientific risk assessment and management.

I understand the motions in question advocate GM-free status for the areas concerned. Taking account of the EU regulatory framework in respect of genetically modified organisms, I am not aware of any basis on which a region might implement a blanket ban on the cultivation of approved GM varieties and-or the sale or use of approved GM ingredients in foods or animal feeds, other than by voluntary agreements between all farmers and consumers in that region.

Question No. 76 answered with QuestionNo. 51.

Question No. 77 answered with QuestionNo. 54.

Planning Issues.

Paul McGrath

Question:

78 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce an elected members planning code of good practice in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9469/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department published draft development management guidelines for planning authorities in November 2005, which are intended to assist planning authorities in dealing with the planning application process. They aim to promote best practice in the processing of planning applications and have a strong customer service focus. Although primarily aimed at the management of the planning process, they recognise that councillors will have an interest in how the development plan they are responsible for adopting is applied. The guidelines also note that individual councillors, in their representative capacity, are entitled to make submissions and should be kept informed on particular applications. They further note that the use of information technology systems can provide councillors with a range of relevant information, thus saving time in responding to routine queries.

A code of conduct for councillors was issued in June 2004 under the Local Government Act 2001. The code represents a standard against which the conduct of elected members in the performance of their duties can be judged. The code is also intended to inform the public of the standards of behaviour it has a right to expect and so help to maintain and enhance public trust and confidence. It covers areas such as general conduct and behaviour, conflict of personal and public interest, planning, gifts, hospitality, personal dealings with local authority, regard for council resources and satisfactory working relationships. It is not proposed to introduce a separate code of good practice in planning matters for elected members.

Question No. 79 answered with QuestionNo. 13.

Local Authority Housing.

Dan Neville

Question:

80 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to increase the frequency at which housing needs assessment is conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9500/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

An objective and comprehensive assessment of a person's or family's need is an essential first step in establishing a modern system of housing supports. The document Housing Policy Framework Building Sustainable Communities contains a commitment to develop new means of assessing housing need. Further details on the new arrangements will be announced later in the year.

Special Areas of Conservation.

Denis Naughten

Question:

81 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for a three-year delay in dealing with appeals on the proposed designation of lands as a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9285/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Any landowner or person with a legal interest in land proposed for designation as part of a special area of conservation, SAC, may lodge an objection to my Department on scientific grounds and have the proposed designation reviewed. Three months are allowed to lodge such appeals.

The first stage of the appeals process is an internal review within the national parks and wildlife service, NPWS, of my Department. To initiate this process an appellant must contact an official of NPWS either locally, usually through the local conservation ranger, or at headquarters. Each appeal must be accompanied by a map indicating a clear outline of the area under appeal. Local staff then visit the site to re-examine the scientific grounds for including the specific area under appeal in the SAC, and submit a recommendation for decision at a more senior level. A decision will be made to grant the appeal in full or for part of the land or to reject it. The appellant is then informed of the outcome.

The second stage of the appeals process is only invoked when an appellant is dissatisfied with the outcome of the first stage. He or she is given the option to have the appeal referred for consideration by the Nature Conservation Designation Appeals Advisory Board. This is a non-statutory board, independently chaired and with equal representation of land owners or users and conservationists. It provides independent advice to the Minister on appeals. A sample analysis of appeals dealt with since January 2005 indicates that the first stage took on average 14 weeks from the date of the appellant's letter to the issue of the letter advising the appellant of the outcome.

Appeals referred to the Nature Conservation Designation Appeals Advisory Board take longer to complete. The process includes the preparation of a scientific case on the specific lands under appeal by each side, an opportunity for each side to comment in writing on the opposing scientific case, the scheduling of an appeals board hearing which always includes a visit to the site, and the provision of a recommendation for decision by me.

The process from lodging an appeal to a final decision has taken up to three years in some cases, but these are exceptional and due to a variety of causes. Seasonal factors applying to the assessment of particular habitats and species can be a significant cause of delay. In some cases, appellants have chosen not to proceed with the presentation of their cases, sometimes for considerable periods of time. Other cases involve ongoing discussions between the Department and appellants with a view to resolving issues underlying the appeal. Substantial progress was made by the appeals board in 2005 in clearing outstanding appeals awaiting consideration by the board.

Dog Breeding Establishments.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

82 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take on the working group recommendations on regulating breeding establishments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9533/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The report of the working group, which was established to review the management of dog breeding establishments, was submitted to me on 7 September 2005. On 20 October 2005, I announced a public consultation process on foot of the working group's report. In view of the many divergent views on the issue, I wanted to canvass public opinion more widely before taking final decisions on the matter. An advertisement inviting submissions was placed in national newspapers on Monday, 24 October 2005. The closing date for receipt of submissions was Friday, 16 December 2005. The responses received are being examined in my Department and as soon as this exercise is completed, I will consider further the recommendations of the report of the working group and determine an appropriate response.

Question No. 83 answered with QuestionNo. 30.

Social and Affordable Housing.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

84 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government whether he will seek to have the NESC report recommendations for a net increase of 73,000 units of social housing included in the new National Development Plan 2007-13, which is being prepared. [9439/06]

Martin Ferris

Question:

99 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the targets in respect of social housing he will seek to include in the new National Development Plan 2007-13, which is being prepared. [9442/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 99 together.

The preparation of the National Development Plan 2007-13, NDP, is co-ordinated by the Department of Finance. A high-level steering group, chaired by that Department and comprising senior officials of other relevant Departments, has been established to oversee drafting. The housing material of the NDP will be drafted by my Department and, while the final content and focus of the overall plan will be a matter for decision by Government, priorities for investment in housing will take account of a number of factors, including the key policy challenges highlighted by the NESC report, the results of the 2005 housing needs assessment and the policy framework set out in the document Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities, which was launched in December 2005.

Recycling Policy.

Simon Coveney

Question:

85 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department’s new targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9474/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

In recent years, Ireland has achieved considerable success in meeting targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency show that the 25% target for 2001 set under Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste was achieved. It also shows that with 56% recovery of packaging waste in 2004, Ireland exceeded the 2005 recovery target of 50% set under the directive. The comparable figure for 1998 was 14%.

Directive 2004/12/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, amending the original Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, introduces a new increased packaging waste recovery target of 60%. Of this 60%, 55% must be by way of recycling. The directive includes the material specific recycling targets of 60% for glass, paper and board; 50% for metals, 22.5% for plastics and 15% for wood. Ireland must achieve these targets by 2011.

Building on our success in the area of packaging waste recycling, I established the national strategy group on packaging waste recycling in October 2004, involving key public and private stakeholders such as Repak, IBEC, producers, waste collectors, reprocessors, local authorities and my Department. The group is mandated to develop a strategy for achieving the 2011 targets.

Draft Waste Management (Packaging) (Amendment) Regulations 2006, which will transpose the amending directive, have been notified to the European Commission as required by the packaging directive. Consultations with stakeholders on further proposed changes to the packaging waste regulatory regime continue to take place. I will bring forward draft consolidated packaging regulations later this year, after those consultations have concluded.

Question No. 86 answered with QuestionNo. 51.

Question No. 87 answered with QuestionNo. 30.

Waste Management.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

88 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he expects the baseline studies of the national waste prevention programme to be produced by the core prevention team; and his rationale for waiting until now to initiate the national waste prevention programme, in view of the fact that waste prevention is the top priority in waste management. [9597/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Government is committed to an integrated approach to waste management based on the internationally recognised hierarchy of prevention-minimisation, significantly increased levels of recycling, energy recovery and, finally, utilising landfill as the last resort for residual waste that cannot otherwise be recovered. The policy document, delivering change, published in 2002 contained a commitment to establish a core prevention unit in the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and drive a national waste prevention programme.

This unit was subsequently established by the Environmental Protection Agency which also produced a draft national waste prevention programme which was published in 2004. In 2004, I also established a national waste prevention committee made up of representatives of the key public and private sector stakeholders to oversee and guide the programme.

While the implementation of the programme is a matter for the EPA, I understand that the core prevention team has produced an outline work plan for the period 2004-08, which describes the focus of the programme and provides an outline of the projects to be undertaken. A certified training programme in waste prevention and minimisation has been developed in consultation with IBEC and the clean technology centre. A grant aid programme for waste prevention by local authorities is also being undertaken.

Where regulatory provisions are required as the programme is implemented, these will be given consideration by my Department. Further information on the programme can be obtained at the agency's website at www.epa.ie.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

89 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he intends to take to tackle the problem of unauthorised waste collection and fly-tipping which according to the Environmental Protection Agency annual report is a problem for over 50 local authorities nationwide. [9581/06]

Michael Noonan

Question:

95 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the volume of fly-tipping detected here in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9497/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 95 together.

My Department does not compile detailed information on the incidence of fly-tipping. The recently published report of the Office of Environmental Enforcement, entitled The Nature and Extent of Unauthorised Waste Activity in Ireland, identifies the unauthorised collection and fly-tipping of waste as one of the problem areas in regard to waste management which needs to be tackled further. The report draws attention to the measures already being taken, including the appointment of over 100 additional enforcement officers across local authorities, funded by my Department, and the stepped up enforcement activity generally being led by the office and local authorities. The report also identifies additional actions which would further bolster the effort to stamp out this socially and environmentally unacceptable practice.

Enforcement of environmental legislation is a matter for local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. I understand that the office, through the enforcement network it has established, arranged a meeting of regional co-ordinators on 17 January 2006 to finalise the overall content of the work plans for enforcement activities for 2006, which includes initiatives planned to deal with fly-tipping in each of the regions. The implementation of these measures, or other local initiatives to address issues of litter or waste, are essentially a matter for the local authority concerned.

My Department will continue to liaise with the Office of Environmental Enforcement and other enforcement authorities to ensure that the momentum to tackle such activities is maintained.

Housing Statistics.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

90 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of apartments here, broken down by number of bedrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9493/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

Details of dwellings by number of rooms is available from the Central Statistics Office as part of the housing volume of the census of population, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. My Department publishes data on the number of new dwellings completed by type of dwelling and the latest data indicate that apartments made up 22.4% of the 80,957 houses built in 2005, 53% of which are in Dublin. Details are also available on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. My Department does not have details of the number of bedrooms comprised in apartments.

I refer also to the reply to Question No. 6 of Wednesday, 8 March 2006.

Question No. 91 answered with QuestionNo. 45.

Question No. 92 answered with QuestionNo. 8.

Question No. 93 answered with QuestionNo. 51.

Question No. 94 answered with QuestionNo. 30.

Question No. 95 answered with QuestionNo. 89.

Question No. 96 answered with QuestionNo. 30.

National Biodiversity Plan.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

97 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made to date on each of the 13 initiatives announced in November concerning the national biodiversity plan. [9576/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Significant progress has been achieved on the 13 initiatives, which I announced in November, to support the ongoing implementation of the national biodiversity plan. This progress is indicated as follows. A dedicated biodiversity unit has been put in place in my Department. A biodiversity fund of €1 million, spread over the years 2006-07, has also been put in place and has been advertised nationally by the Heritage Council which is administering the fund. I understand from the council that over 100 applications were received for the current year and that these applications are currently being evaluated.

The membership of the biodiversity forum, established as a standing committee of Comhar, the national sustainable development partnership, is being finalised. It is envisaged that the forum will hold its first meeting in April 2006. Agreement has been reached with the Waterford Institute of Technology concerning the location of the biological records centre on its campus. The centre will operate under the aegis of the Heritage Council, which will be issuing a tender shortly for the provision of services.

The national platform for biodiversity research has finalised its proposals for a biodiversity knowledge programme for Ireland. I understand that the programme is in final draft stage. When completed, I will be asking the interdepartmental steering group, which oversees implementation of the plan, to explore means by which this knowledge programme can be implemented from the existing science budgets within the State.

The biodiversity unit of my Department will be developing terms of reference for research on the social and economic benefits of biodiversity and a request for tenders for this research will issue in the first half of 2006. The development of species action plans for the Irish hare, the pollan, the corncrake and the Irish lady's tresses orchid has commenced.

The text of a biodiversity undertaking, covering the biodiversity-friendly management of buildings and lands, has been agreed by the interdepartmental group and is being issued to all Departments. Guidelines on the production of local biodiversity action plans have been prepared for issue to local authorities. The biodiversity unit of my Department is developing proposals for a public awareness campaign to be launched this year.

The EU recently completed a consultation process on its forthcoming communication and road map on the EU biodiversity strategy. At the Council of Environment Ministers later this week, I will be pressing my colleagues to ensure that the forthcoming communication will take account of the Malahide message.

My Department is developing a strategy for the phased conversion of its 160-strong fleet of vehicles to biofuel consumption over the next two years. The engineering division of the Office of Public Works is advising my Department on this project.

Local Authority Services.

Catherine Murphy

Question:

98 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce legislation that explicitly sets out the responsibilities which are held by local authorities with regard to the provision of communal facilities such as sewerage, roads and water services and the maintenance of public spaces in order that the public will have a degree of certainty and consistency in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9542/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Section 34(4) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 enables a planning authority to attach conditions requiring a developer to provide roads, open spaces, sewers, watermains or drains and the giving of adequate security for satisfactory completion of the proposed development. Once the developer has completed the development in accordance with the terms of the planning permission, section 180 of the 2000 Act makes provision for the estate — that is, the roads and any sewers, watermains or drains within the grounds of the development — to be taken in charge.

I am satisfied that the legislation is clear on the respective responsibilities of housing developers and local authorities with regard to infrastructure provision. In that regard, my Department issued a circular letter on 25 January 2006 reminding local authorities of their obligations under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to begin the procedures to take in charge the public services of housing estates once these are completed to a satisfactory standard, where they are requested to do so by the developer or a majority of the residents of the housing development. The circular letter also clearly states that the existence of a management company to maintain elements of common buildings, carry out landscaping, etc., must not impact upon the decision by the authority to take in charge roads and related infrastructure where a request to do so is made.

Question No. 99 answered with QuestionNo. 84.

Question No. 100 answered with QuestionNo. 38.

Planning Issues.

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

101 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the figures indicating the proportion of planning permissions granted that were for planning retention. [9527/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department does not complie information from planning authorities on the number of decisions relating to retention planning applications.

Housing Statistics.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

102 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether more needs to be done to ensure a greater number of larger apartments are built to accommodate families in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9492/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 6 on today's Order Paper.

Questions Nos. 103 and 104 answered with Question No. 12.

Litter Pollution.

Richard Bruton

Question:

105 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of people or companies who lobbied him in relation to the course of action he took on chewing gum litter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9481/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

On foot of the success of the plastic bag levy, An Agreed Programme for Government contained a commitment to consider the extension of environmental levies to other materials which may be problematic from a waste management or litter perspective. A consultancy study was commissioned to carry out a comprehensive and objective analysis on the application of economic instruments, including environmental levies, on chewing gum, fast food packaging and ATM receipts as a means of minimising the litter problems caused by such items and to make appropriate recommendations. Following a competitive tendering process, the consultancy study was undertaken by McIvor Consulting in association with Patel Tonra Environmental Solutions.

Following detailed analysis and consultations with the relevant stakeholders, the consultants considered a number of options for tackling chewing gum litter. Their report proposed the options of a mandatory 10% levy or a negotiated agreement between the Department and the industry, involving the putting in place of a comprehensive action plan incorporating intensive education and awareness campaigns, and including agreed funding levels with agreed tangible targets and timeframes, aimed at changing consumer behaviour in relation to chewing gum disposal and reducing gum litter.

My predecessor announced a four-week period to allow the public to comment on the consultancy study and report in 2004. The purpose of the consultation process was to obtain the views of relevant stakeholders and other interested parties on the report's recommendations. The deadline for the receipt of comments and submissions under the public consultations phase was 29 October 2004. During this period, 19 submissions relating to chewing gum were received. My Department has to date also received some 50 representations on the matter from interested members of the public. Additionally, in March of last year, I met the US Ambassador at his request. The ambassador relayed the views of the Wrigley Company Ltd., which wished to co-operate in the development of a realistic and practical initiative to tackle chewing gum litter.

My Department undertook a series of meetings with a number of companies in the chewing gum sector represented under the auspices of the Food and Drink Industry Ireland division of IBEC with a view to negotiating an agreement with the sector. I participated directly in the final two meetings that culminated with the negotiated agreement launched recently.

Fire Services.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

106 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to establish and fund a proper and consistent fire policing regime to ensure that fire chiefs have the resources to carry out spot checks on entertainment venues and to inform owners of such premises of their responsibilities, following recent revelations by the Chief Fire Officers’ Association that the current funds shortfall could result in a tragedy on the same scale as the Stardust. [9582/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The provision of a fire service, including the carrying out of inspections of buildings and taking enforcement proceedings, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities and my Department has no direct role in this matter.

My Department supports local fire authorities through the setting of general policy, the provision of capital funding, the issue of guidance to fire authorities in relation to fire prevention and operational matters, and other such initiatives. The local government fund general purpose grants paid to local authorities by my Department have been significantly increased in recent years and it is a matter for individual local authorities, in the context of their budgetary process, to set their own expenditure priorities and determine how the resources available from grants and other income should be spent.

Land Development.

John Perry

Question:

107 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether zoned land is being hoarded and drip fed onto the market in order to keep prices high, especially around urban centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9508/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

In 2003, consultants engaged by my Department carried out a study that among other things considered factors affecting the supply of land to the housing market, including the possible hoarding of building land. The study considered previous analyses of the housing and land markets, and sought possible evidence of hoarding, based on case studies of three areas, including Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The consultants concluded there was no evidence that hoarding of land was a widespread problem or that there were excessive levels of land banking.

There were over 80,000 housing completions in 2005, and planning permission was granted for over 137,000 housing units in the first three quarters of the year. These figures do not suggest that hoarding of land zoned for housing development is at present a significant contributory factor to house prices. House price inflation reflects a range of factors driving demand, including strong economic growth, full employment, low interest rates, dynamic demographics and net immigration.

Recycling Policy.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

108 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to provide incentives for the provision and use of reverse-vending machines for can, bottle and plastic recycling; and if he has met or intends meeting the providers of such machines. [9532/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste is based on the concept of producer responsibility, which effectively requires producers to contribute to the waste management costs of products which they have placed on the market at end of life. Under the directive, Ireland was required to achieve a 25% recovery rate of packaging waste by 1 July 2001, increasing to a 50% recovery rate by 31 December 2005. Practical implementation of the directive in Ireland is organised mainly through a collective industry-based compliance scheme operated by Repak Limited which is working successfully and in 2001 met the target of 25% packaging waste recycling required by the directive.

The EPA has reported in its National Waste Report 2004, published in January 2006, that packaging waste recovery increased to 56.4% in that year, indicating that Ireland exceeded its 50% end 2005 target one year ahead of schedule. This compares with a recovery rate of 14.8% in 1998. Work is already under way by the national strategy group on packaging waste recycling, which is co-chaired by my Department and Repak and involves key public and private sector stakeholders, to develop a strategy to achieve the 2011 packaging waste recovery and recycling targets required under the new Directive 2004/12/EC which amends the original Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste.

Successful deposit and refund schemes operating internationally are generally located in those countries where there has been no break in the continuity and cultural tradition of deposit and refund arrangements. This is not the case in Ireland and there would now quite likely be significant costs involved in re-establishing deposit and refund arrangements here. The cost of storage for returned items either by retail outlets or in automated reverse vending machines — which redeem refunds to consumers based on the type and number or weight of containers deposited in the receptacles concerned — the additional transport movements and the costs associated with collecting returned items from the substantial number of authorised collection points that would be required, together with other ancillary costs and demands associated with operating deposit and refund systems, are issues that would have to be taken into account in assessing the adoption of such an approach in Ireland.

Deposit and refund schemes increasingly involve the provision of adequate national coverage of automated reverse vending machines. It is envisaged that the start-up costs associated with putting in place comprehensive and convenient automated deposit and refund mechanisms would be considerable. Account would also have to be taken of the possible impact on existing compliance arrangements. Given that these arrangements are rapidly achieving the desired result in relation to meeting the recycling targets, the introduction of deposit and refund schemes is not under consideration.

Social and Affordable Housing.

John Perry

Question:

109 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of completions in 2005 under the Part V scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9507/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

Provisional figures supplied by local authorities to my Department indicate that some 1,370 social and affordable housing units had been acquired under Part V in 2005.

Question No. 110 answered with QuestionNo. 54.

Recycling Policy.

Damien English

Question:

111 Mr. English asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of household recycling broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9505/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The detailed information sought is not available in my Department. National waste statistics for all waste streams are published at three-yearly intervals by the Environmental Protection Agency with the most recent national waste report being in respect of 2004. Between 2001 and 2004, two interim database reports have been published to provide data on municipal waste, specifically household and commercial waste, for the years 2002 and 2003 respectively. While the database reports do not provide recycling rates for individual local authorities, an overall recycling figure for Ireland is provided for in respect of a number of waste streams.

The recent National Waste Report 2004 shows that 33.6% of municipal or household and commercial waste generated in that year was recovered. This continues a very positive trend, with equivalent rates 28.4% for 2003, 20.7% for 2002 and only 9% in 1998, and shows that we have almost reached the 35% national recycling target set for 2013. The national recovery rate for the household component of municipal waste in 2004 was 19.5%. This represents an improvement over the 13.1% household waste recovery reported for 2003, and the 9.3% achieved in 2002, and demonstrates further progress towards the achievement of the 50% household waste landfill diversion rate by 2013. For the third consecutive year, the reported quantity of household waste sent to landfill has decreased, indicating that the trend is moving in the right direction.

The local government management services board published its Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2004 in July 2005. A copy of the 2004 services indicators may be obtained from the Oireachtas Library. The report provides information on services provided to the public by local authorities such as kerbside collections and bring facilities.

Question No. 112 answered with QuestionNo. 32.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Mary Upton

Question:

113 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the rise in green house emissions from vehicles by 6% according to recent Environmental Protection Agency figures, he intends to seek an integrated strategy between his Department and the Department of Transport to tackle this trend. [9579/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 506 and 513 of 28 February 2006 and to Question No. 7 on today's Order Paper. My Department works closely with the Department of Transport, within the framework provided by the national climate change strategy, to ensure implementation of an optimum mix of policies and measures to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Question No. 114 answered with QuestionNo. 12.

Cancer Screening Programme.

James McDaid

Question:

115 Dr. McDaid asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the status of the breast cancer unit in Letterkenny General Hospital; and the action her Department will take in view of the recent article in a magazine (details supplied) which states that the breast cancer unit is threatening to withdraw services from 1 September 2006. [9625/06]

James McDaid

Question:

116 Dr. McDaid asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children further to her statement on 2 February 2006, the stage of the sanctioning of a permanent breast surgeon based at Letterkenny General Hospital and providing full surgical services therein. [9631/06]

James McDaid

Question:

117 Dr. McDaid asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the state of discussions between clinicians north and south of the Border to serve breast cancer services in Letterkenny General Hospital. [9632/06]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 117, inclusive, together.

The Deputy's questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services.

Pat Breen

Question:

118 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if additional funding has been allocated for home care help to the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9642/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. S. Power)

As the Deputy is aware, additional funding of €150 million was allocated to services for older people-palliative care in the 2006 budget. This is a full year cost, €110 million of which is for 2006 with the remaining €40 million for 2007. This is the largest ever increase in funding for services for older people and the package has a strong focus on community based supports. Of this investment, an extra €33 million — full year cost — was allocated to the home help service. Of this total, a sum of €30 million is provided for 2006 and will deliver approximately 1.75 million home help hours.

Hospital Accommodation.

Pat Breen

Question:

119 Mr. P. Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to provide emergency funding and resources to alleviate the current chronic overcrowding at Ennis General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9646/06]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Medical Cards.

Denis Naughten

Question:

120 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioners only medical cards issued to date; the number of full medical cards issued during the same period; the number of people in receipt of medical cards; the corresponding figures for counties Roscommon and Leitrim respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9704/06]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Information supplied to my Department by the Health Service Executive's, HSE's, primary care reimbursement service indicates that as of February 2006, there were 1,159,794 persons covered for services under the general medical services scheme, representing approximately 28% of the estimated current national population. This is 14,711 higher than the HSE's figure for January 2005, which represents December 2004 activity. As of 6 March 2006, a further 10,523 people hold general practitioner, GP, visit cards.

The number of persons in receipt of a GP visit card and a medical card in counties Roscommon and Leitrim respectively on 1 February 2006 are set out in tabular form.

	Roscommon	Leitrim
No. of persons with a GP visit card	113	114
No. of persons with a medical card	20,186	11,098

In 2005, I made significant improvements to the way in which people's eligibility for medical cards and GP visit cards is assessed. The income guidelines used in assessing applications are now 29% higher than they were at the end of 2004. The assessment is now based on an applicant and spouse's incomes after tax and PRSI and takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, child care and travel to work, which is much fairer to applicants. The income assessment guidelines bases for GP visit cards are 25% higher than those used for medical cards. The HSE has publicised these changes through a number of measures, including a national advertising campaign, and has made the application process as simple as possible.

In December 2005, my Department asked the HSE to take account of the welfare, taxation and other changes announced in the budget on the operation of the income guidelines and to identify any changes that may be required in order to ensure that medical cards and GP visit cards continue to be available to those who need them. The HSE has recently responded and its report is under consideration. My Department and the HSE will continue to monitor the number of cards issued and will examine any further changes to ensure the targets of an additional 30,000 medical cards and the provision of 200,000 GP visit cards are met.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Finian McGrath

Question:

121 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding practical proposals to assist a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 with a disability; and if she will work with the family in relation to finding them a job. [9717/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

The Deputy's question relates to the employment of people with disabilities, which is the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Accordingly, the Deputy may wish to contact the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in this regard.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

Denis Naughten

Question:

122 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to an application for research funding submitted by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to the Health Research Board for a screening programme on haemochromatosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9755/06]

Denis Naughten

Question:

123 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will request the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to review its decision not to accept blood donations from people with haemochromatosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9797/06]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.

My Department has been informed by the Irish Haemochromatosis Association that a proposal for a screening programme was developed by St. James's Hospital in conjunction with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, in 2005, but was not successful in obtaining research funding from the Health Research Board. I am not aware that another application has been made for funding in 2006.

The IBTS does not currently accept blood donations from people with haemochromatosis. Blood donors must donate on a voluntary basis and a significant reason donations are not taken from people with haemochromatosis is that blood is taken from them as part of the treatment for their condition rather than for the specific purpose of donating. The IBTS is working with the Irish Haemochromatosis Association to identify practicable solutions that would address the concerns of people with haemochromatosis in this regard.

I have set up a working group comprising key experts with representation from my Department and chaired by Dr .Maurice Manning, president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, which will meet for the first time next Monday to examine the issues above and others relating to haemochromatosis. The analysis by this group and its recommendations should help to progress matters for the Irish Haemochromatosis Association and persons with this condition.

Alternative Energy Projects.

Willie Penrose

Question:

124 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the level of financial incentives and aids available to people who are producing biofuel, in particular biodiesel, and with reference to correspondence (details supplied); if comprehensive details will be furnished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9617/06]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

Policy in respect of the promotion or development of biofuels, including biodiesel, is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

However, acknowledging that tax can play a role in the promotion of biofuels, a duty exemption scheme for pilot projects in biofuels was introduced by section 50 of the Finance Act 2004. The purpose of the provision was to allow qualified and conditional relief from excise for biofuel used in approved pilot projects for either the production of biofuel or the testing of the technical viability of biofuel for use as a motor fuel. It was necessary to obtain approval from the European Commission as the proposed scheme represented a State aid. Approval was granted in March 2005 and the scheme was subsequently advertised by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Excise relief was granted to eight successful applicants to the scheme from August 2005 for a total of 16 million litres of fuel.

The number of applications made for relief from excise duty under the pilot scheme clearly indicated the strong interest in developing a biofuels industry in Ireland and, consequently, I am making a provision in the Finance Bill 2006 for a significantly expanded five-year scheme of mineral oil tax relief to commence in 2006 and end in 2010. The scope of the relief will be extended to projects that are not just of a pilot nature.

Based on the biofuel market penetration targets of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the measure is estimated to cost €20 million in 2006, €35 million in 2007 and €50 million in each of the following three years. This relief scheme, when fully operational, is expected to support the use and production in Ireland of some 163 million litres of biofuels per year. Further details on how this scheme will operate will be produced by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in the coming months once the necessary EU State aid approval has been obtained.

Financial Services Regulation.

John Deasy

Question:

125 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the proposal by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority on the restriction of investment options available to credit unions; his views on whether the proposed investment restrictions will reduce investment yields and returns resulting in lower investment income, result in a declining surplus and a corresponding reduction in dividend rates, put huge pressure on the ability of credit unions to maintain the required level of reserves, reduce funds available for community projects, reduce funds available to fund social finance initiatives; his further views on whether the large majority of credit unions follow responsible investment policies and are being unfairly penalised under the proposals; his further views on whether the small number of individual credit unions that carry out reckless and high risk investment policies can be adequately dealt with under the existing powers available to Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9666/06]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Cowen)

In light of the high proportion of credit union assets now invested, the Registrar of Credit Unions has highlighted that under the current investment rules, credit unions are not precluded from taking on inappropriate levels of risk. The registrar made proposals in November 2005 for a new investment framework to protect and safeguard the risk profile for credit unions and ensure that members' savings continue to be safeguarded.

The current position is that the registrar is consulting with the representative bodies for credit unions with a view to securing an agreed approach to the measures and to the implementation of the proposed new investment framework. The Deputy may wish to note that notwithstanding the continuing discussions regarding certain details of the proposed investment framework, there is a broad consensus that a tightening up of investment rules is required, taking into account the need for credit unions to generate a reasonable return on their investments.

My intention is to submit the registrar's proposals for the new investment framework to the Credit Union Advisory Committee, the statutory advisory body for credit unions under the Credit Union Act 1997, at an early date for its views in order to inform my decision on the next steps required. I understand that an element of the registrar's proposal is to establish minimum investment standards and then authorise credit unions on a case by case basis taking account of their capacity to manage more sophisticated investments.

In addressing these matters, I can assure the Deputy that among my priorities will be the need to ensure that the interests of credit unions are protected and that the regulatory system operates effectively to safeguard the deposits of credit union members. In this respect, it is essential that an investment framework strikes the correct balance in reining-in inappropriate investment activities while at the same time ensuring the continued stability, financial sustainability and development of the credit union movement.

National Monuments.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

126 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance his proposals to upgrade, repair and restore the obelisk at Maynooth, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9725/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Parlon)

The position remains unchanged as outlined in my response of 14 February last, and 13 December 2005 to the Deputy's most recent question on this issue.

Energy Resources.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

127 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the consultation which has taken place in respect of the proposed grant aid package on renewable energy; the number of groups-companies which were involved; the name of each; and when he expects to publish the package of grant aid. [9620/06]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The announcement on budget day of a five-year renewables package of €65 million underlines this Government's commitment to developing renewable energy potential. Under this package I intend to launch a range of innovative grant schemes relating to biofuels, combined heat and power, biomass commercial heaters and domestic heat grants. My Department in consultation with SEI, is currently developing a suite of programmes to rollout these initiatives. I intend to launch the domestic grants programme and biomass commercial heat programme in the coming weeks.

In developing the range of programmes, SEI commissioned a study by Tipperary Institute, which was completed by the end of January 2006 and included consultation with industry. In February SEI held a consultation workshop with industry exploring a range of issues relating to the roll-out of domestic grants. The workshop was attended by 71 people representing almost 60 different companies-organisations involved in the area, as detailed in the following table:

1.	Cork County Energy Agency
2.	Sweco Ltd.
3.	Master Heat
4.	Environmental Installations
5.	GLAS Energy
6.	Renewable Heating
7.	Construct Ireland
8.	Climate Control
9.	Eco Stove
10.	Heatlink
11.	Natural Power Supply
12.	Powertech Ireland
13.	Precision Heating
14.	Kingspan
15.	Keenaghan Engineering
16.	Eco Heat
17.	Liffey Mills
18.	Energy Master
19.	Heatright
20.	SmartHeat
21.	Dimplex
22.	Mid West Mantle & Design
23.	Ollie McPhillips Limited
24.	Eco NRG Ltd
25.	Kovara Ireland
26.	About EnergyTech 365
27.	Indigo
28.	Elementary Energy
29.	IGNEUS
30.	Absol
31.	Young Field Workshop Ltd
32.	NuTech Consultants
33.	Solaris
34.	AJT Heating Services
35.	Stemark Ltd
36.	Dunstar
37.	Solar Energy Ireland
38.	Eurotech
39.	OCAE
40.	Geothermal Solar
41.	AHAS
42.	Shamrock Solar Energy
43.	Newheat
44.	Solar Heat Ire
45.	Green Heat
46.	Heat Surv
47.	Swiftbrook
48.	Quest Utility
49.	Carlow/Kilkenny Energy Agency
50.	Eskimo
51.	Hearth & Home
52.	Teagasc
53.	Ger Cross Heating
54.	Pure Energy
55.	Natural Energy
56.	AHES
57.	Pro Air System
58.	Genysis Systems
59.	Danwood

Grant Payments.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

128 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of complacency grants for safety and life belts which are still outstanding; when the grant will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9629/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Browne)

An Bord Iascaigh Mhara is the authority responsible for the implementation of safety grant schemes for fishing boats under the National Development Plan 2000-06. BIM has advised that, to date under the current NDP, applications for safety grants for 266 vessels have been approved and €601,267 in grant aid has been paid. A further 186 applications being licensed under the scheme for traditional pot licensing boats are currently being processed.

Regarding the vessel referred to in the question, an application has been approved by BIM and is scheduled for payment in the next two weeks.

Harbours and Piers.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

129 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there are plans or funding available to improve the condition of a pier (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9630/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Browne)

Ballywhoriskey Pier is owned by Donegal County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with the local authority in the first instance.

In 2002 the Department made a contribution of €63,486.90 to Donegal County Council towards harbour development works at Ballywhoriskey. The harbour development was also funded by the then Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. This Department has no application from Donegal County Council for funding for Ballywhoriskey Pier.

Energy Resources.

Richard Bruton

Question:

130 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the basis of the levies which are placed on ESB bills; the precise purpose of the money raised; the aggregate amount raised per annum over the past twelve months and projected over the next five years; and if the VAT collected on this levy is also diverted to the specified obligation or if it is a source of double taxation. [9703/06]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the public service obligation levy which is payable by all final customers of electricity. The imposition on the ESB of public service obligations is provided for by section 39 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. The section provides that the Minister shall by order direct the Commission for Energy Regulation to impose on the ESB, or other persons referred to in the section, public service obligations which may include obligations in relation to: security of supply; regularity, quality and price of supplies; environmental protection, including energy efficiency and climate protection, and use of indigenous energy sources.

In accordance with the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (Public Service Obligations) Orders, public service obligations have been placed on the ESB concerning the availability of electricity produced using indigenous peat, electricity produced using renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy and electricity produced using peaking generation units.

In accordance with the provisions of section 39, the orders provide for the recovery, by way of a levy on final customers, of the additional costs including a reasonable rate of return on the capital represented by such costs, where appropriate, incurred by the ESB in complying with the orders. The levy is estimated, calculated, adjusted, collected, monitored, certified, accounted for and paid in accordance with the provisions of the orders. The commission is responsible for the computation of the basis of the amount of levy payable in each year and for the approval of the procedures for the collection and payment of the levy amounts. The commission has provided the following information in relation to the charges in respect of each customer category in 2005 and 2006 and the total amount of the levy for each year since 2003.

Table 1: The Monthly domestic and commercial PSO charges for the year 2005

Customer Category	Monthly Charge
Domestic customers	€1.99 / customer
Small commercial customers (maximum import capacity of less than 30 kilovolt amperes (kVA))	€6.18 / customer
Medium and large customers (maximum import capacity of equal to or greater than 30 kVA)	€1.12 / kVA

Table 2: The Monthly domestic and commercial PSO charges for the year 2006

Customer Category	Monthly Charge
Domestic customers	€0.81 / customer
Small commercial customers (maximum import capacity of less than 30 kVA)	€2.55 / customer
Medium and large customers (maximum import capacity of equal to or greater than 30 kVA)	€0.44 / kVA

Table 3: The PSO levy for each year since its implementation

Year	PSO Levy
2003	€46.6 million
2004	€74.8 million
2005	€103.3 million
2006	€44.2 million, projected

Concerning the levy amounts projected over the next five years, the commission states that the levy amount is highly dependent on the wholesale market price of electricity, and consequently on world d fuel prices. Accordingly, the commission is of the view that it would be extremely difficult to predict the amounts to be recovered through the levy for the years in question.

The application and collection of VAT is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. The information provided by the commission set out in tables 1, 2 and 3 above does not include VAT.

Prisoner Transfers.

Finian McGrath

Question:

131 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the health issues of a person (details supplied) will be raised with the British authorities; and if their repatriation will be sought in order to assist their family. [9718/06]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

This case continues to be monitored by my Department through the Irish Embassy in London, which remains in contact with the prison authorities. In particular, the embassy has made representations to the prison authorities in relation to the medical condition of both persons.

As regards possible repatriation, I am informed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that the persons concerned have applied to return to Ireland and that his Department is awaiting one specific document before the Minister will be in a position to make a decision on their applications.

Sports Capital Programme.

Joan Burton

Question:

132 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will confirm the capital allocation of €9.5 million to the Abbotstown campus; if he has identified what this money will be utilised for. [9709/06]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

As I have previously informed the House a sum of €9.5 million has been provided in my Department's budget for 2006 for the commencement of phase one of the development of the sports campus at Abbotstown, by CSID, the company charged with developing the project.

Phase 1 of the development control plan will provide: a national field sports training centre, catering for rugby, soccer, Gaelic games and hockey; a national indoor training centre which will provide world class training facilities for over 30 governing bodies of sport; accommodation for sports men and women; sports science and medical facilities; all-weather synthetic pitches for community use; and renovation of existing buildings to cater for needs identified by sports bodies.

Job Losses.

Pat Breen

Question:

133 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he proposes to take to fulfil the national spatial strategy requirements of bringing foreign direct investment to the hub location of Ennis; if he will establish a task force to stem and reverse the factory closures and downsizing occurring in the mid-west, such as companies (details supplied) in Shannon and the fact that 24 companies were lost to the region in the past three years while only five new projects were attracted to the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9650/06]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

My Department and the development agencies under its remit, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and the city and county enterprise boards, are committed to the economic and industrial development of Clare, including Ennis, in line with national enterprise policy goals, and the achievement of balanced regional development, within the framework of the national spatial strategy.

IDA Ireland is actively promoting County Clare for foreign direct investment, as part of an integrated mid-west region and recognises the need to provide high value employment opportunities that provide sustainable long-term jobs. IDA Ireland's strategies have proved successful to date despite the competitive and ever changing global economy.

Clare has a strong base of foreign direct investment jobs. Total State supported FDI employment represents approximately 15% of total persons in the labour force, based on 2002 CSO figures, in County Clare as compared to about 7% nationally. This includes Shannon free zone FDI employment of approximately 6,000 jobs and about 1,000 jobs in IDA Ireland backed employment.

IDA Ireland has nine supported companies in Clare, employing 1,024, a provisional figure, in December 2005, 67% of which are in Ennis. Employment in IDA supported companies demonstrated strong growth during 2005, growing by about 11 % in County Clare. In moving Clare to a more knowledge based economy, IDA Ireland is partnering with the educational institutions in the region, in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment in activities, such as research and development corporate services, shared services, supply chain management and treasury management.

IDA Ireland is working closely with Shannon Development in the provision of suitable property solutions for potential investors to the county. The development of Ennis information age park has become an integral part of IDA Ireland's international marketing programme and will be pivotal to attracting new investors.

Employment in Shannon Development's portfolio of companies was 19,868 at the end of 2005, with 1,795 new jobs created — 450 at Shannon free zone and 1,345 by Irish owned companies. When job losses are factored in, the net increase in employment was 50, continuing the positive outcome of 2004. The indigenous sector in the Shannon region performed particularly well despite difficult trading conditions in some sectors. Overall employment levels increased for the first time since 2000, a net increase of 339; exports increased by 8% with a similar increase in spend on research and development. There is an emerging picture of a vibrant and innovative indigenous industry sector in the region; it is clearly evident that increased export activity is converting into job gains.

Tyco Electronics' Shannon-based energy division operation recently announced that it is actively moving from manufacturing low technology, commodity products to higher technology, engineered products. This transition forms part of a multi-year strategy begun several years ago, driven by research and development activity in Shannon. In recent years the company has committed very significant capital investment in the higher technology engineered products sector.

In order to progress this transition to higher technology products, the company needs to continue to refocus operations in Shannon. As a result the company announced a limited voluntary redundancy programme, which will result in the loss of up to 40 jobs. The company will enter a period of assessment and consultation over the next 30 days and assistance will be made available to all affected employees in their search for alternative employment. The 40 jobs to go over the next couple of months in Tyco reflect a necessary change of product mix away from older, poor margin, high labour content product to new, higher technology better margin product using automated cellular manufacturing process technologies.

John Crane Sealol's decision to shed jobs comes as part of a restructuring programme due to the transfer of the production of one product line to Mexico. The product line had not been doing well for some time. A maximum of 14 people will be affected on a once-off basis. The company are actively looking at other higher value added product lines at Shannon free zone.

I do not propose to establish a task force as I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the development agencies, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development will bear fruit in terms of additional sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Clare, including those living in Ennis.

Health and Safety Regulations.

Arthur Morgan

Question:

134 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections which were carried out in each of the past five years to assess compliance of employers with the provisions of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996; and the number of prosecutions in each of those years for non-compliance with the provisions of this Act. [9668/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Killeen)

The number of workplace inspections-visits undertaken by the labour inspectorate under the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 for the past five years and prosecutions initiated in respect of each of the years is set out in the following tabular statement.

Year	Inspections/Visits	Prosecutions Initiated
2001	1,062	18
2002	1,464	12
2003	1,593	19
2004	1,836	10
2005	2,007	24

Job Protection.

Tony Gregory

Question:

135 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 147 of 1 March 2006 if his Department is satisfied that a bona fide lay-off situation exists at a hotel (details supplied) that is that there is no work available for the staff on lay-off; if his Department’s inspectors will investigate this matter and liaise with the union representing the staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9713/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Killeen)

My reply to Question No. 147 of 1 March 2006 sets out the situation in relation to lay-off in accordance with the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2003. With regard to the further issue raised concerning the labour inspectorate, I am advised that there is no role for the inspectors in the matter of the lay-off of these workers.

An employer decides whether a lay-off situation exists in an employment. An employee, already on lay-off, may, if he or she so wishes, seek to terminate his or her employment by requesting a statutory redundancy lump sum from his or her employer in the manner detailed to you in my reply to the question of 1 March 2006. An employee, on lay-off, may take up other employment if he so wishes. However, he must return to his or her original employer when offered further work, in order to preserve his or her continuity of service with the original employer. If an employer refuses to pay a statutory redundancy lump sum, it is open to the employee to seek a determination from the Employment Appeals Tribunal regarding the employer's obligation to pay statutory redundancy.

Job Losses.

Enda Kenny

Question:

136 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views at the job losses announced by a company (details supplied) in County Mayo; his further views on whether these 40 jobs have been lost as a consequence of too high operating costs; if he proposes to visit the location; his proposals to provide alternative employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9720/06]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

The company in question has announced that a further rationalisation of its operation in Ballina has been sought by its parent company and this will lead to a reduction in the number of staff over the next two months. This reduction will, in effect, end all manufacturing activities at the plant and the remaining staff will be engaged mainly in customer support and marketing activities. FÁS has made contact with the company and the full range of its services will be made available to the employees who wish to avail of these services.

The company has experienced increasing competition in the market, particularly from Chinese manufacturers, and employment has steadily declined over the past number of years. The company has a manufacturing site in Poland and the remaining production in Ballina will transfer to Poland. The company is also experiencing similar difficulties in the US market where major rationalisation is expected at their plant in Ohio.

While maintaining Ireland's attractiveness as a competitive location from which to do business is a key priority of the Government, we must acknowledge that our country is currently undergoing a fundamental transition to a higher value-added, knowledge economy. It is inevitable that the investment decisions of some companies will be influenced by the low cost competitive attractions of some alternative geographical locations. The focus of my Department and its agencies is concentrated on managing this transition of our economy through the use of the best blend of policies designed to strengthen competitiveness both at national and firm level. While the National Competitiveness Council has expressed concern about increasing labour costs, individual companies can counteract these costs by putting a new emphasis on driving productivity.

Since January 2003, there have been five first-time site visits to Ballina. IDA Ireland is actively promoting Ballina for new foreign investment as well as working with the existing local base of overseas companies to encourage them to expand. The agency's emphasis is on attracting projects in the medical technologies, life sciences, information communications and technology and international services sectors.

Enterprise Ireland is following a twin-pronged approach to the creation of new jobs by supporting entrepreneurs setting up new high potential start-up companies and the creation of new jobs in existing companies. A new Enterprise Ireland supported high potential start-up company, Heatsolve Limited, commenced operations in Ballina last year. Enterprise Ireland provides preferential funding for companies with detailed export plans who are expanding or establishing a business in County Mayo. Enterprise Ireland supports community enterprise centres and has committed funding of over €0.7 million to IRD North Mayo-West Sligo Limited for the development of enterprise space in Ballina. I officially opened this centre during my visit to Ballina, in January 2006.

Following my earlier visit this year I have no immediate plans to visit Ballina. However, the State development agencies will continue to promote Ballina and the surrounding area for investment and job creation.

Industrial Development.

Enda Kenny

Question:

137 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the development of an industrial business park for Ballina, County Mayo which has been ongoing for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9722/06]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio, including the purchase of land and the creation of business parks are day-to-day operational matters for the agency and not matters in which I have a function.

I have been informed by IDA Ireland that it has been in discussions with Mayo County Council regarding the purchase of a site of circa 27 acres owned by the local authority on the Sligo Road, Ballina, County Mayo. As part of an exercise to ensure that the lands are suitable for industrial purposes the agency has completed site investigation works and obtained planning permission for site development works. At present, IDA Ireland is awaiting contract documentation and copy of unburdened title from Mayo County Council.

Enda Kenny

Question:

138 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to Ballina for potential industrial developers and many returning personnel in the past three years organised by the IDA; if the town continues to be recognised for investment purposes as a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9723/06]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Ballina, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency. While I may give general policy directives to the agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

I have been informed by the agency that, since January 2003, there have been five site visits to Ballina. IDA Ireland has specifically assured me that it is committed to the development of Ballina and is actively promoting the linked hub towns of Ballina, Castlebar and Westport for new greenfield investment. In addition, IDA Ireland is actively working with the existing base of overseas companies in Ballina and in County Mayo to encourage them to grow and expand.

However, the decision regarding where to locate is ultimately up to the individual investor and clients looking at Ireland are often only willing to consider larger centres that have the scale, infrastructure and services capable of sustaining their investment. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland in Ballina and in County Mayo in general, together with the ongoing commitment by Government to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of overseas investment and jobs for the people of Ballina and the county of Mayo as a whole.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

139 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a cheque will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of clothing allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9728/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, an exceptional needs payment may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his-her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the executive based on the particular circumstances of the case.

The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that the person concerned applied for an exceptional needs payment in December 2005. He was requested to provide additional information in relation to his claim, outlining the exceptional needs and circumstances. When he supplies the necessary information, the executive will determine his entitlement and notify him accordingly.

Richard Bruton

Question:

140 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way in which money is credited to the swipe card of social welfare recipients; if there is a time limit on encashing the money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9627/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

My Department's policy is to ensure that a range of payment options is available to customers and that service is continually improved by providing access to the wide range of payment options and new services and facilities now available. At present, some 175,000 customers of my Department, mostly those on unemployment and other short term payments, receive their payment by means of electronic information transfer, EIT, at post offices. My Department issues an electronic payments file to An Post, on a daily basis, with payment details for each customer. The customer accesses their payment by using their social services card at their nominated post office.

The timeframe in which payments must be collected before they expire depends on the control measures associated with that payment and the capacity of the computer systems in my Department and in An Post. Unemployment payments, payable on Tuesday and Wednesday each week, must be collected by the following Tuesday. Customers using this system to collect longer-term payments, which are due for collection on Thursdays and Fridays each week, have an extra week that is up to the following Tuesday week, to collect their payments.

Recently some 43,000 one-parent family payment customers of my Department changed from personalised payable order books, PPO, to payment by EIT using their social services card at their local post office. At present, the payments for these customers are due to be collected on a Thursday and if uncollected the payment expires on the following Tuesday. My Department has reviewed the position regarding these customers and as a result the period within which their payment must be collected is being extended by one week. The new arrangements will be put in place during April.

If a customer is unable to collect his or her payment at the post office in time, for instance because of illness, an absence from home or work commitments, arrangements are made by my Department to reissue the payment. Customers may also notify the local office of my Department if they plan to take a holiday so that their payments can be reinstated promptly on their return. Some customers may find it more convenient to have the payment made directly to their bank account and my Department will facilitate this where the customer requests this arrangement.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

141 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there is anything under Irish legislation which permits compensation to be paid to the children of a non-national killed in a motor accident who has working here since 2002 and was the principal breadwinner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9628/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Under Irish social welfare legislation provision is made for the payment of a bereavement grant which is payable on the death of an insured person or of a child under age 18, or under age 22 if in full-time education. The payment is based on PRSI contributions and is a once-off payment of €635 payable to the person responsible for paying the funeral bill.

Entitlement to the grant can be based on the deceased person's own insurance or on the insurance record of the spouse. Contributions paid in any other member state may be combined with the person's Irish record to meet the PRSI conditions.

In addition to bereavement grant, the deceased person's spouse may be entitled to a survivor's contributory pension from Ireland in proportion to the period of insurance completed in Ireland and, to a widowed parent grant, which is designed to help with the income support needs of widowed persons with qualified children.

I understand that some further information is required by the child benefit office of my Department in order to determine entitlement to child benefit for the person concerned. In order to ensure that the surviving spouse and-or family members receive their full entitlements from my Department it will be necessary to have relevant application forms completed and returned to this Department. An official from my Department has been in touch with the embassy concerned in this regard. Officials from my Department will be happy to assist the Deputy in any way possible to ensure that the surviving family members receive any payments due from my Department.

Social Insurance.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

142 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to introduce credited contributions for class S contributors who become disabled and unable to continue in self-employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9652/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The social insurance system in Ireland is generally based on compulsory paid PRSI contributions on which entitlement to a range of contingency-based payments are established. Workers are insured under the Social Welfare Acts as either employed or self-employed contributors. Employees and their employers generally pay contributions at PRSI class A, whereas self-employed workers generally pay class S contributions. The class and number of contributions paid by a worker will determine the range of benefits and pensions towards which contributors can build up entitlement. The class at which a contributor paid his or her last PRSI contribution determines entitlement to credited contributions.

Self-employed individuals pay class S contributions at a rate of 3% and are potentially eligible to a narrower range of benefits than employees who, together with their employers, are potentially liable for a total contribution of 14.05% under PRSI class A. Class S contributors are entitled to the following payments: widow's-widower's contributory pension; orphan's contributory allowance; old age contributory pension; maternity benefit; adoptive benefit; and bereavement grant.

PRSI credited contributions are an integral part of the social insurance system and are for the most part linked with having an underlying entitlement to a social welfare payment while being temporarily detached from the labour force or having an entitlement to statutory leave. The primary purpose of PRSI credits is to secure social welfare benefits and pensions of insured workers by covering gaps in insurance where workers are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as during periods of unemployment, illness or caring. The rules applying to credited contributions in general stipulate that the award of credits is limited to employed contributors, as opposed to self-employed contributors, reflecting differences between the nature of employment and self-employment. Rather than receiving credits that are not linked with a benefit, self-employed people who are no longer compulsorily insured are eligible to pay voluntary contributions. This enables contributors to maintain their contribution record in respect of the period they are not liable for paid contributions.

There are no immediate plans to extend short-term income support benefits or credited contributions to self-employed persons. Such an extension could have considerable cost implications in terms of creating entitlements to benefits in the future, necessitating a significant increase in the rate of class S contribution to fund it and would also require considerable changes to existing administration and control procedures. Self-employed workers who do not qualify for an insurance-based benefit may claim supplementary welfare allowance, which is subject to a means test.

Social Welfare Code.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

143 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a formal review of child dependent rates last took place; the outcome of same; the research upon which he bases his current policy of not increasing child dependent allowance rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9653/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Since 1994, successive Governments have followed the policy of holding the rate of child dependant allowances constant while concentrating additional resources for child income support on the child benefit scheme. Child benefit is neutral vis-à-vis the employment status of the child’s parents and does not contribute to poverty traps, whereas the loss of child dependant allowances by social welfare recipients on taking up employment can act as a disincentive to availing of work opportunities. As a universal payment, which is not taxable and is not assessed as means for other secondary benefits, child benefit is therefore more effective than child dependant allowances as a child income support mechanism when account is taken of these incentive issues.

While the appropriate mix between universal and targeted child income support instruments has been regularly reviewed since the introduction of the children's allowance in the 1940s, the most recent and comprehensive research which underlies the current approach is found in the report of the expert working group on the integration of the tax and social welfare systems which reported to the then Minister for Social Welfare in 1996. While the focus of the report extended considerably beyond child income support policy, the report concluded in section 12.4(b), page 133 that: "reform of income support for children, with the aim of making it more neutral between work and unemployment, must be a major part of any reform package".

These policy conclusions were also supported by the report to the then Minister for Social Welfare of the child benefit review committee in January 1995 which on page six concluded that: "the committee accepted that moves away from CDAs and towards child benefit can improve work incentives; [the committee] recommended that, in view of the severe level of unemployment in this country, some reduction in disincentives must be given serious consideration by adjusting CDAs even though there are other arguments — based on redistribution, poverty and a subsidy towards the costs of children, for not making this adjustment". The Government's commitment to this policy is reflected in the substantial resources invested in the child benefit scheme since entering office. Since 1997, expenditure on child benefit has increased from €505.8 million to an estimated €2,044.6 million in 2006.

While circumstances have changed dramatically since these reports were completed, the need to provide support to low income families with children without worsening incentives to take up employment is still highly relevant. The ESRI report, Reforming Child Income Support, in Callan, T. et al, Reforming tax and Welfare, ESRI research series No. 42 October 2001, page 72, concluded that: “child dependent additions to regular weekly social welfare payments do reach many of those on low incomes, but can contribute to serious unemployment traps”.

The broad approach over the last ten years in relation to child income support policy was recently commended in the document, NESC Strategy 2006: People, Productivity and Purpose, December 2005, page 154, which said that: "in many respects this approach was a success, as shown in the now relatively small number of children whose parents-guardians are in unemployment and on whose behalf CDAs are added to UB or UA adult payments". However the NESC has also raised the question of a new instrument which would target low-income families across the welfare-work divide and is, I understand, currently working on a more detailed report on this approach.

While leaving many of the detailed parameters to be addressed by Government, I expect that the NESC's finalised report will be of significant assistance in informing the future direction policy in this area. On receipt of the report I will consider how this approach can be brought to address the problem of poverty in families with children in a practical and effective way.

Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Pat Carey

Question:

144 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures which are taken by his Department on an annual basis to monitor the achievement of the objectives of the national anti-poverty strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9660/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The causes of poverty and its effects are multifaceted and require an integrated, multi-policy response at national, regional and local levels. The Government's strategic approach to tackling poverty was initially provided through the national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS, which was introduced in 1997. This strategy has now been subsumed into the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion, NAP-inclusion. The Deputy will be aware that Ireland has produced two NAPs-inclusion covering the periods 2001-2003 and 2003-2005, respectively, as part of the EU open method of co-ordination aimed at making "a decisive impact on poverty" by 2010.

As Minister for Social and Family Affairs, I have lead responsibility for driving this process, working closely with my ministerial colleagues through the Cabinet committee on social inclusion. Strong institutional structures are in place to underpin the process. The Office for Social Inclusion, OSI, in my Department co-ordinates the process at official level and has responsibility for monitoring, developing and driving implementation of the NAP-inclusion on an ongoing basis.

A key priority for the office during 2005 was the production and publication of a report to the EU on the implementation of the NAP-inclusion 2003-2005. This report was prepared by the office following an in-depth monitoring and evaluation process which involved senior officials and policy owners from relevant Departments, representatives of the social partners and the voluntary and community sector. The report outlined progress achieved in relation to the social inclusion targets and commitments contained in Ireland's second NAP-inclusion, which cover a wide range of policy areas. It found that some 51 of its 58 targets and commitments had either been met or were in the process of being met, but that progress was still needed in some areas.

EU member states are due to submit the next round of NAPs-inclusion, covering the two year period from 2006 to 2008, to the EU in September 2006. The experts on the nature, causes and reality of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland are the people actually experiencing poverty and those who work with and support them. Therefore, as part of our preparation for the next NAP-inclusion, OSI late last year embarked on an extensive consultation process with stakeholders, including people who are experiencing poverty and social exclusion and those who work to support them either directly or indirectly, in an effort to capture first hand their knowledge, experience and expertise.

During the course of this consultation we obtained valuable information, much of it positive in relation to many aspects of the current NAP-inclusion. This information will inform us in evaluating the programmes and policies that are working well, the areas which need more attention and what the priorities should be for the next plan. Much more remains to be done to tackle the problems of poverty and exclusion experienced by persons in the most vulnerable groups and areas. Our work in this area must continue. I want the next national action plan to be focused and to sharply reflect the experience, views and priorities of Irish society in meeting one of our greatest challenges, that of building not just a prosperous, but a fair society, which values and supports all of its people, and particularly its most vulnerable. I am determined, therefore, through vigorous monitoring, implementation and development of the strategic process, in full consultation with all the stakeholders at national, regional and local levels, to continue to build and improve on our achievements so far.

Social Welfare Benefits.

David Stanton

Question:

145 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of claims for the carer’s allowance received in each of the past three years; the percentage in each case of persons who transferred to the carer’s allowance from other social welfare payment; the approximate proportion for each year of such cases that transferred from carer’s benefit, an unemployment payment, sickness benefit or other social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9700/06]

David Stanton

Question:

146 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of claimants for carer’s allowance who receive 100% of their potential entitlement and the percentage receiving less than 50%, less than 75% and less than 90% of their potential entitlement at present; the equivalent figures for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9701/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.

Support of carers has been a priority of Government since 1997. Payments to carers have been greatly improved over that period and qualifying conditions for carer's allowance have been significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer's benefit and the respite care payment have been introduced. The further development of support for carers continues to be a priority for me and for Government. There are now 25,318 persons in receipt of carer's allowance, end of February 2006. The number of persons in receipt of carer's allowance has increased by almost 4,000 since December 2003.

The information requested by the Deputy has been prepared in tabular format as follows:

1. Total number awarded and numbers transferring from other Social Welfare Payment

	2003	2004	2005
Total claims awarded	3,984	4,739	5,066
From Invalidity	1	5	10
From Disability Benefit	49	62	100
From Disability Allowance	55	56	57
From Unemployment Assistance	70	399	502
From Unemployment Benefit	107	162	179
From Widows Pension	15	21	28
From Retirement Pension	1	9	8
From Old Age Pension	25	41	82
From Carers Benefit	77	119	173
From One Parent Family Payment	94	201	233
From Qualified Adult on SW payment	523	625	780
From Supplementary Welfare Allowance	183	217	295
Other	9	10	21
Total transfers from SW payment	1,209	1,927	2,468
Transfers as % of all awards	30%	41%	49%

2. Total number in receipt of Carer's Allowance in 2003 and 2006

	2003	%	2006	%
Total in receipt of carer’s allowance	21,326		25,318
In receipt of maximum rate of carer’s allowance	19,099	89.50	22,904	90.50
In receipt of less than 90% of maximum rate	2,227	10.40	1,726	6.80
In receipt of less than 75% of maximum rate	1,180	5.50	999	3.90
In receipt of less than 50% of maximum rate	578	2.7	374	1.50

Social Welfare Appeals.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance has been reduced in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9727/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.

Under standard SWA rules rent supplements are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to his or her family circumstances less a minimum contribution, currently €13, which recipients are required to pay from their own resources. Many recipients pay more than €13 because they are also required, subject to income disregards, to contribute any additional assessable means that they have over and above the appropriate basic SWA rate towards their accommodation costs. The Dublin/mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that the person concerned, who has earnings from part-time employment, had been awarded a rent supplement of €377.80 per month. However on re-examination, the executive now advises that this rate of supplement is incorrect and that the correct rate of rent supplement payable in this case is €402.20 per month. The executive advises that this will be payable from the next payment date and any arrears due, if any, will issue as soon as possible.

Industrial Relations.

Denis Naughten

Question:

148 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Question No. 87 of 26 January 2006, the discussions which have taken place with staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9742/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

There have been no developments on this matter and the position remains as outlined in my reply to a question, reference number 2677/06, of 26 January 2006. There have been no discussions between staff representatives and the company contracted by the OPW to oversee the installation.

Decentralisation Programme.

David Stanton

Question:

149 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff currently working in the maintenance recovery unit of his Department; the number of these who have chosen to relocate under his planned decentralisation programme; the way in which he intends to fill the posts that will be vacated by staff who opt not to decentralise; the date by which he expects the full decentralisation of the MRU to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9775/06]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

Under the Government programme of decentralisation, it is proposed that all headquarter sections of the Department will relocate to six provincial locations: Drogheda, Carrick-on-Shannon, Sligo, Donegal town, Buncrana and Carrickmacross.

As part of the Department's decentralisation implementation plan, the maintenance recovery unit, MRU, which comprises some 14 employees and is currently located in Finglas, has been included in those sections of the Department designated to decentralise to Carrick-on-Shannon. None of the employees currently serving in MRU has applied through the central application facility to relocate with the section to Carrick-on-Shannon.

Posts in the MRU will be filled by applicants on the decentralisation central applications facility who have expressed an interest in relocating to Carrick-on-Shannon. Accommodation in Carrick-on-Shannon is being provided in a new building that is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2006. It is anticipated that the relocation of staff and sections of the Department to Carrick-on-Shannon will begin in early 2007 and be completed later that year.

Rural Transport Services.

Enda Kenny

Question:

150 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he has received an application for funding for an extension of the rural transport scheme for north Mayo covering 13 services per week from six rural transport providers; if he has examined this application; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the area involved is 87% rural and has a population of 26,000 persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter regarding approval of the scheme. [9721/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The rural transport initiative, RTI, to which I understand the Deputy refers, is a pilot scheme, under which funding is at present made available to 34 community-based organisations across the country to address the transport needs of their rural areas through the provision of local transport services. The RTI is administered on behalf of my Department by Pobal — formerly Area Development Management Ltd. — which, together with the RTI groups concerned, is responsible for all the operational aspects of the initiative, including the areas to be served. Any applications for extensions to existing schemes are a matter for Pobal, and my Department has no role in these matters.

The pilot period for the RTI comes to a close at the end of 2006, and I announced last year that I intend to put the RTI on a permanent footing from 2007 onwards. Proposals for the rollout of the RTI from 2007 onwards are currently in preparation and, in due course, will form the basis for a public consultation process. In developing proposals for the post-2006 period, I will pay particular attention to the needs of rural communities that do not currently have access to public transport.

Driving Tests.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

151 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans to make drivers of many years re-sit their driving test. [9640/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

I am keeping potential revision of licensing regulations generally under review. However, my priority is the elimination of the present backlog. In relation to existing qualified drivers re-sitting the test, my primary focus will be on the position as regards drivers who have been disqualified, particularly as a result of drink-driving.

Road Network.

Liam Aylward

Question:

152 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the huge number of people who are excluded from using the motorways here due to the lack of service stops; his plans to provide such facilities on all motorways here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9654/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The provision of service stops on or near motorways and national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under section 54 of the Roads Act 1993.

I recently asked the NRA, which has responsibility in the area, to review its policy on the placement of service and rest areas on the major inter-urban routes. The authority has undertaken a detailed review and has produced a policy statement. The statement envisages the provision, where feasible, of service areas at regular intervals of approximately 50 km to 60 km along both motorways and high quality dual carriageways. The strategy for the provision of service areas will entail a combination of facilities located on-line and at or close to interchanges along motorway-high quality dual carriageway routes.

In the case of all future motorway and dual carriageway projects, consideration will be given in the proposed scheme design to the inclusion, where appropriate, of suitable sites for the development of service areas as part of the overall road scheme.

Driving Tests.

Phil Hogan

Question:

153 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport when a driver's licence application will be available for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9669/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The reference number refers to a driving test application received from the person concerned on the 2 March 2006. A driving test appointment will be issued shortly.

Road Safety.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

154 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if fixed penalties in respect of traffic offences are applied to non-resident foreign licensed drivers here; if not, the other ways in which drivers are penalised; the statistics available to him on the number of such fixed penalties in any given time period in respect of this driver category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9694/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

Fixed penalty offences do not distinguish between vehicles being used by non-resident foreign licensed drivers and other drivers.

The enforcement and issue of notices in respect of the range of offences that come within the fine-on-the spot system at present and in relation to the fixed charge system that applies in respect of speeding offences and seat belt offences is a matter for the Garda Síochána.

The enforcement and affixing of notices to parked vehicles in respect of the range of fine-on the-spot offences that are prescribed for the purposes of section 3 of the Local Authorities (Traffic Wardens) Act 1975 are matters for traffic wardens or persons authorised by local authorities.

Driving Tests.

Denis Naughten

Question:

155 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the pass rate, waiting time, number of applicants, number of testers in each driving test centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9702/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The table shows the number of driver testers assigned to headquarter centres within each region. Driver testers are in turn assigned from headquarter centres to meet the demand in other test centres. In addition, a chief tester, and ten supervisory testers are employed by my Department.

I have brought forward firm proposals to reduce the backlog for driving tests. This includes a bonus scheme for existing testers and temporary outsourcing of a set number of tests for a set period. Our proposal will see the average waiting time for tests reduced to six weeks. The matter is currently being considered at arbitration with a final binding decision expected shortly.

If the backlog question is resolved, we will get an improved customer service for test applicants, improved road safety and reduced insurance premiums, particularly for younger drivers. Furthermore, it will enable me to bring forward further licensing reforms.

Driving Test Applicants on waiting list at 27/02/06 — Pass rate and Driver Testers at 31 December 2005

Centre	Applications on hands	Average Weeks Waiting	Pass Rate %	No. of Testers
North Leinster
Finglas	11,510	29	45.9	17
Dundalk	3,795	33	51.1	—
Mullingar	1,814	21	58.7	—
Navan	5,010	41	54.3	1
Raheny	7,887	37	52.9	8
South Leinster
Churchtown /Rathgar	11,999	33	48.4	16
Gorey	2,413	46	48.5	—
Naas	6,330	34	51.7	2
Tullamore	1,999	40	52.1	—
Wicklow	2,782	41	45.5	—
Tallaght	9,973	35	47.1	10
West
Athlone	1,211	26	58.7	2
Birr	1,350	33	65.2	—
Castlebar	2,109	25	62.4	3.5
Clifden	334	22	63.3	—
Ennis	1,427	27	64.9	3
Galway	3,608	37	63.0	6
Loughrea	1,143	28	63.1	2
Roscommon	1,123	29	61.3	—
Tuam	1,222	32	65.5	—
North West
Ballina	1,065	29	56.6	—
Buncrana	704	21	65.2	—
Ck-on-Shannon	935	26	59.7	2
Cavan	1,685	28	45.9	2
Donegal	1,242	41	57.5	—
Letterkenny	2,291	34	59.4	3
Longford	970	26	55.6	—
Monaghan	1,157	23	49.9	1
Sligo	1,742	25	60.3	2
South East
Carlow	2,387	37	46.2	1
Clonmel	1,963	40	51.1	2
Dungarvan	1,425	47	59.4	—
Kilkenny	1,669	25	51.6	2
Nenagh	776	34	50.4	—
Portlaoise	1,847	25	54.3	1
Thurles	1,026	41	53.3	—
Tipperary	1,108	43	43.4	—
Waterford	2,778	31	53.8	4
Wexford	2,209	29	52.7	4
South West
Cork	7,519	29	53.6	12.5
Killarney	1,823	35	59.0	2
Kilrush	533	33	60.9	—
Limerick	4,246	44	60.3	4
Mallow	2,173	36	57.6	—
Newcastle West	1,724	30	60.2	—
Shannon	1,035	44	68.2	—
Skibbereen	1,872	37	59.8	—
Tralee	1,567	21	55.8	2
Total	130,508	32.06	53.6	115

Dublin Port Tunnel.

Tony Gregory

Question:

156 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Transport his policy regarding so-called super-trucks that are too large for the port tunnel; if it is his intention to introduce a ban or alternatively to divert same from ports in major cities for example Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9714/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

EU law on maximum weights and dimensions for vehicles is set out in Directive 96/53/EC. Under that directive, which has been fully implemented by Ireland, a member state may not prohibit the use, in its territory, of vehicles from another member state which comply with the authorised maximum weight and dimension limits set down in the directive.

The directive specifies 4 m as the limit value for vehicle height. Consequently, provided a vehicle registered in a member state is 4 m or less in height, every member state must permit that vehicle to operate on its territory. A member state may, however, prescribe a higher limit on its territory.

Ireland does not impose any height limit on goods vehicles at present but the question of whether to prescribe such a limit is currently being examined in my Department. That examination includes consideration of the submissions received from interested parties in response to public consultation on the subject. I intend to make a decision on the matter shortly. In the event that it is decided to introduce a statutory height restriction for goods vehicles, it will be necessary to submit the draft regulations to the European Commission for consideration and for referral to other member states in accordance with Technical Standards and Regulations Directive 98/34.

As regards the Dublin Port tunnel, my officials are liaising with the other stakeholders principally Dublin City Council, the NRA and Dublin Port to ensure that HGV traffic management arrangements, consequent upon the commissioning of the tunnel, achieve the maximum benefits for the city.

Harbours and Piers.

Joe Walsh

Question:

157 Mr. Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if he has ministerial responsibility for Baltimore Harbour, County Cork; if so, his plans for its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9750/06]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

Responsibility for Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour transferred from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to my Department with effect from 1 January 2006.

The Government's ports policy statement, which was launched in January 2005, states that the continued operation of many of the regional harbours under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance. The policy statement reiterated the view that these harbours would best achieve their potential through their transfer to local authority ownership or, where this is not possible, sale to the private sector will be considered. In harbours where significant commercial traffic exists consideration will be given to bringing them under the control of a port company.

My Department is working with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to advance the implementation of the ports policy statement with regard to the transfer of the designated regional harbours to their respective local authorities, where appropriate, and to proceed individually in conjunction with the relevant local authorities and harbour authorities, having regard to local requirements in each case.

Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour is a candidate for transfer to local authority control. As the harbour is situated in the functional area of Cork County Council, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government requested the council to undertake an overall assessment of the potential of the harbour for transfer. This report has been received and is currently being assessed.

Afforestation Programme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

158 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for the planting of trees with a high carbon trapping potential with a view to enhancing Ireland’s compliance with Kyoto; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9732/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

All new forests established under grant aid by my Department since 1990 qualify as areas that will contribute to Ireland meeting its emission reduction targets under the Kyoto protocol. Current indications are that forests planted since 1990 will absorb, on average, over 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year over the period 2008-2012. Almost all of this contribution will come from trees that are already in the ground, established following Government grant aid.

Regarding the potential of different tree species to sequester or trap carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, this depends mainly on their rate of growth. Some conifer species, for example, rapidly establish and over the first ten years will begin to sequester considerable amounts of carbon. Others, including some broadleaves, are slower to establish and do not make the same positive contribution over the first ten years or so. After that time, however, they will also begin to trap similar amounts of carbon dioxide and over a period of several decades, as crops reach maturity, there is little difference in the total amounts of carbon dioxide sequestered, when all species are compared. All these amounts of verified carbon dioxide sequestration can be used, under the current international agreements, to offset emissions of greenhouse gases, and contribute to compliance with the Kyoto Protocol to UN Convention on Climate Change.

Government policy is to increase forest cover for economic, environmental and social reasons. The contribution to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration is one aspect that is balanced with the need to provide other environmental services, as well as wood raw material for economic development. At present, we have put together the most attractive package ever in terms of planting incentives, including 100% planting grants and generous annual tax-free premiums, as well as the possibility for farmers to stack entitlements and plant up to 50% of their land while still drawing the full single farm payment. I would urge all landowners to strongly consider the package that has been assembled and to plant land now.

Grant Payments.

John Perry

Question:

159 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the circumstances outlined in correspondence, details supplied; the steps she will take; if a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9607/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named is a participant in the rural environment protection scheme. He was late in applying for his second annual payment and was penalised. It is a condition of the scheme that participants have to apply for each annual payment. My Department, as a service to participants, sends out payment application forms in advance of the date but the onus is on the participant to ensure that he or she applies for the payment within the specified time. This is stated in the terms and conditions of the scheme, in the REPS farmer's handbook and in the initial application form which the applicant signs. The decision to impose a penalty has been reviewed and a letter has issued to the applicant stating that, as there were no grounds to overturn it, the penalty was correctly applied. He was also informed that he had the option of bringing the matter to the agriculture appeals office.

John Perry

Question:

160 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will ensure that decision will be made on the single payment scheme for an application of entitlements from the 2005 national reserve for a person, details supplied; when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9616/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payments scheme national reserve under category B. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under livestock premia and-or arable aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002. Investments can include purchase or long-term lease of land, purchase of suckler and-or ewe quota or other investments.

The position is that over 23,000 applications for an allocation of entitlements from the national reserve were received when account is taken of farmers who applied under more than one category. Processing of these applications is continuing and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants at the earliest opportunity. My Department will be in touch with individual applicants as soon as their applications are fully processed. Formal letters setting out my Department's decision will be issued.

Tom Hayes

Question:

161 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment will issue to a person, details supplied, in County Tipperary under the single payment scheme. [9621/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payments scheme national reserve under category C. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold the milk quota into the milk quota restructuring scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under livestock premia or arable aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002.

The position is that over 23,000 applications for an allocation of entitlements from the national reserve were received when account is taken of farmers who applied under more than one category. Processing of these applications is continuing and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants at the earliest opportunity. My Department will be in touch with individual applicants as soon as their applications are fully processed. Formal letters setting out my Department's decision will be issued.

The person named also applied to have his entitlements consolidated under the 2005 single payment scheme consolidation measure. This application has been fully processed and payment in the amount of €990.87 in respect of the entitlements established under the scheme issued to the person named on 24 January 2006.

John Perry

Question:

162 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when balance of payment for the single payment will be issued to a person, details supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9633/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

My Department has no record of receiving an application form from the person named for the single farm payment in 2005. The person named submitted an application requesting consideration under the inheritance provisions of the single payment scheme. Following processing of her application, she was notified that her request was successful. The person named subsequently applied for consideration to transfer all her inherited entitlements by way of private contract clause and this application was also successful. All entitlements have been transferred from the person named and there is no payment outstanding.

Milk Quota.

John Deasy

Question:

163 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the statement by the chief executive officer of the Glanbia Group that he expects 2000 of Glanbia’s 5000 dairy milk suppliers to quit milk production within the next three years because they cannot stay competitive due to the restrictions imposed by the quota regime; the measures she plans to introduce to ensure that such farmers remain competitive and can remain in dairy farming; her views on the fact that failure to take action may result in up to 40% of dairy farmers quitting milk production in the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9667/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The milk quota system was introduced in 1984 to control the over supply of milk in the EU and the mid-term reform of the CAP has ensured its continuation until 2014-2015. Under the quota regime, Ireland has a national quota of 5.2 billion litres, representing about 3.5% of the EU total. This limited quota regime places production constraints on the dairy sector.

My role, as Minister for Agriculture and Food, is to ensure that the areas within my scope of influence are implemented in a manner which enables the dairy sector remains competitive and, thereby, continue to develop and support farmers' incomes. It is clear, in the light of the Prospectus report and the mid-term review of CAP reform decisions, that increased scale at producer level is needed to achieve competitiveness in the dairy sector and to maintain producer incomes. The current milk quota restructuring scheme model, which has helped producers gain access to available quota at a reasonable price, has been successful in helping to increase the average quota size by about 25% since 2000.

I will continue to review all aspects of the quota regime with a view to maximising the competitiveness of Irish producers and encouraging the dairy sector to make the necessary changes, both at producer and processor level, to strengthen and improve its position in the increasingly competitive markets in which it operates.

Grant Payments.

Joe Walsh

Question:

164 Mr. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if full payment of single farm payment will be made to a person, details supplied, in County Cork. [9695/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme on 13 May 2005. Payment amounting to €18,868.28 issued to the applicant on 1 December 2005. The person named subsequently applied to have his entitlements consolidated under the 2005 single payment scheme. This application has been fully processed and the entitlements have now been consolidated. A supplementary payment amounting to €5,339.37 will issue to the person named shortly.

Joe Walsh

Question:

165 Mr. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if full payment of single farm payment will be made to a person, details supplied, in County Cork. [9696/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme on 11 May 2005. Payment amounting to €8,597.90 issued to the applicant on 1 December 2005. However, the person named subsequently applied to have his entitlements consolidated under the 2005 single payment scheme. This application has been fully processed and the entitlements have now been consolidated. A supplementary payment amounting to €1,417.12 will issue to the person named shortly.

Willie Penrose

Question:

166 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she will take to ensure the entitlements of a person (details supplied) which have been transferred to another person are immediately recognised by her Department and the signed transfer of such entitlements be acknowledged forthwith; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9708/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

Applications under the single payment scheme were submitted by both persons named on 12 May 2005. The herd number changed ownership in November 2004 from the first person named to the second person. However, all 61.78 single payment entitlements with a total value of €10,534.11 were established under the previous ownership.

To date, my Department has not received any request in respect of the transfer of the entitlements from the previous to the current herd owner. Entitlements may be transferred by means of inheritance, private contract clause or administrative transfer form depending on the circumstances of the change of ownership of the lands and-or herd number. My Department is endeavouring to contact the named persons to establish which measure of the single payment scheme represents the most appropriate method to complete the transfer of these entitlements. Payment cannot issue until such time as the transfer of the entitlements is completed.

Michael Moynihan

Question:

167 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the moneys which have been awarded to a person (details supplied) under the single payment scheme; and if there are outstanding moneys due to them. [9716/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The person named submitted an application for consideration in respect of force majeure-exceptional circumstances and consolidation measures of the single payment scheme.

Following processing of the force majeure-exceptional circumstances application, the person named was notified that his circumstances did not fulfill the force majeure criteria laid down in Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as production was not affected during one or more of the three reference years 2000-02. Subsequently, a provisional statement of entitlements issued to the person named and he was advised if he was dissatisfied with same to request a review. No such request was received by my Department.

The herd owner also applied to have his entitlements consolidated under the 2005 single payment consolidation measure. This application has been processed and full payment in respect of 82.02 entitlements amounting to €34,121.44 issued to the person named on 1 December 2005. Therefore, the person named is deemed to have been paid in full.

John Deasy

Question:

168 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on providing grant aid to farmers who in the interests of public safety wish to provide a cattle underpass where their farm is divided by a non-national roadway; the discussions she has had with the IFA and the Department of Transport in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9752/06]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

This is not a matter for my Department. It is my understanding that applications for such works are made to an individual's own county council.

EU Directives.

Richard Bruton

Question:

169 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the EU Employment Directive 2000/78/EC; when it was due to be transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9626/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Equality Act 2004, which was enacted on 18 July 2004, amended both the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 to give effect to EU Equality Directives 2000/43/EC (Race Directive), 2000/78/EC (Framework Employment Directive) and 2002/73/EC (Gender Equal Treatment in Employment Directive). With this enactment, Irish national law is now fully compliant with the framework employment directive.

Legislative Programme.

Finian McGrath

Question:

170 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if primary legislation on both parental leave and term time will be amended to allow parents and carers to be able to spend more time with their children when they are needed; and if he will work with all relevant Departments on this matter. [9719/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

In accordance with section 28 of the Parental Leave Act 1998 and a Government commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, a working group chaired by my Department and comprising representatives from relevant Departments and the social partners was established in 2001 to review the operation of the Act. The report of the working group on the review of the Parental Leave Act 1998 was published in April 2002 and is available on my Department's website www.justice.ie and in the Oireachtas Library. The Government is committed, as part of the Sustaining Progress partnership agreement, to strengthen the parental leave scheme in line with the agreed recommendations of the social partners arising from the working group.

As a result of the Review of the Parental Leave Act 1998, the Government introduced the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 which provides for a range of improvements to the existing parental leave legislation which will offer greater flexibility to working parents. The Bill, which implements the range of improvements agreed by the social partners was published on 16 December 2004. The main provisions of the Bill which is scheduled for Committee Stage consideration in the House on 22 March 2006 include raising the maximum age of the eligible child from five to eight years; an increase in the maximum age of the eligible child to 16 years in the case of children with disabilities; extension of parental leave entitlements to persons acting in loco parentis in respect of an eligible child; a statutory entitlement to take the 14 weeks’ parental leave in separate blocks of a minimum of six continuous weeks, or more favourable terms with the agreement of the employer; that an employee who falls ill while on parental leave and as a result is unable to care for the child may suspend the parental leave for the duration of the illness following which period the parental leave recommences.

I should mention that term time is a non-statutory initiative and responsibility for the promotion of work-life balance initiatives, including term time, at the level of the enterprise is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is equally important to ensure that the measures put in place whether statutory or otherwise are accessible in the workplace. In this regard, the Government established the national framework committee for work-life balance polices under the Sustaining Progress social partnership agreement. The committee has continued to build on the work of the former national framework committee for family friendly policies which was set up under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The framework committee supports and facilitates the development of work-life balance policies at the level of enterprise through the development of a package of practical measures that can be applied. One of its key tasks is to examine how best to improve access to family friendly working arrangements so that the potential benefits that these arrangements offer in regard to equality and competitiveness can be fully realised.

Registration of Title.

John Perry

Question:

171 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take with the Land Registry Office on an application (details supplied); if same will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9603/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question.

I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason underlying the urgency.

Citizenship Applications.

John Perry

Question:

172 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for citizenship-approval of stamp four will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9604/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

Officials in the citizenship section of my Department have informed me that there is no record of an application for Irish citizenship having been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.

The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, provides that the Minister may, in his absolute discretion, grant an application for a certificate of naturalisation provided certain statutory conditions are fulfilled, including where the applicant has had a period of one year's continuous residency in the State immediately before the date of the application and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years.

The person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State in November 2001 on the basis of having a work permit. His current permission expires in January 2007 and, if he renews this permission in February 2007, he will meet the statutory residency criteria to apply for a certificate of naturalisation at that time. Any such application will be examined in accordance with the statutory provisions in place at the time.

Officials in the immigration division of my Department have informed me that there is no record of the person concerned applying to have his existing permission amended or to obtain further permission to remain in the State.

Residency Permits.

John Perry

Question:

173 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the avenues open to a person (details supplied) to pursue residency here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9605/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The person concerned currently has permission to remain as the holder of a work authorisation until 22 July 2006. It is open to her to seek to renew her permission to remain on this basis by attending her local immigration office with supporting documentation.

Visa Applications.

John Perry

Question:

174 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application for family reunification for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if the necessary documentation will be issued directly to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9606/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

There is no provision for the granting of family reunification to adult family members of naturalised Irish citizens. The person concerned has permission to remain in the State until 9 January 2007 on a self-sufficiency basis. It is a condition of this permission to remain that an individual cannot have access to State funds, services or benefits.

Registration of Title.

Willie Penrose

Question:

175 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to have an application for registration for a person (details supplied) expedited as same is in being since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9618/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I wish to inform the Deputy that I have requested the Land Registry to contact him directly concerning the current position of the application in question. I understand that, in circumstances where the completion of an application in a particular case is urgent, the Land Registry will make every reasonable effort to facilitate such requests on receipt of a written explanation as to the reason underlying the urgency.

Human Rights Issues.

Jerry Cowley

Question:

176 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether the Irish Human Rights Commission is in need of reform in view of the fact that the decisions made by it on applications for assistance in human rights matters are taken by one person, the chief executive officer, in private and with no process of appeal; if he intends to amend same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9622/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Human Rights Commission was established under the Human Rights Commission Acts 2000 and 2001 in line with the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement on Northern Ireland. Under those Acts, the commission is a fully independent national human rights institution and as such, it is not accountable or answerable to me in relation to its procedures or the conduct of its operations.

Proposed Legislation.

Pat Carey

Question:

177 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to amend the laws on the production, display, sale and distribution of pornographic material; if he is satisfied as to the adequacy of existing laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9661/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have no plans at present to amend legislation on the production, display, sale and distribution of pornographic material. However, I can inform the Deputy that my Department is currently reviewing certain aspects of the Censorship of Films Act 1923 and the Video Recordings Act 1989.

Crime Levels.

Pat Carey

Question:

178 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures which are being taken by the gardaí to deal with the crime in the Whitehall and Santry areas of Dublin; the level of reported crime to Garda stations in the areas mentioned for each year since 2002 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9662/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of headline offences by group, recorded and detected in the Garda district of Santry, which includes Whitehall, for the years 2002 to 2005, inclusive. I am pleased to note that the figures show a decrease of 9% in the headline crime rate for 2005 in the Santry district, when compared with 2004.

I am also informed that the current policing plans in the area are designed, inter alia, to address the following issues, burglaries; the prevention of anti-social and public order offences; the prevention of crime including crimes of violence against persons and property and the maintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of quality of life of the residents. This strategy is, and will continue to be, central to the delivery of a policing service to the area in question.

In addition to regular patrolling by uniform and plain-clothes gardaí there are community police assigned to these areas, who have an excellent rapport with the local community and offer advice, support and assistance. The district units are supplemented by the divisional task force and traffic units.

It should be borne in mind that any interpretation of the crime figures should factor in the increase in our population in the past ten years. In 1995 with a population of almost 3.6 million people, there were 29 crimes per 1,000 of the population. In 2005, with a population of over 4.1 million, there were 24.6 crimes per 1,000 of the population, a reduction of 4.4 crimes per 1,000 of the population. A certain proportion of the increase in the figures for recorded headline crime is due to the increases in recording rates resulting from the phasing in of the Garda PULSE IT system from 1999 to 2002.

Headline Offences Recorded and Detected for Garda District of Santry for Years 2002 and 2005*

	2005*	2004	2003	2002
	Rec	Det	Rec	Det	Rec	Det	Rec	Det
Homicide	28	26	17	14	4	4	3	3
Assault	151	119	180	149	138	109	158	121
Sexual Offences	60	44	33	16	46	32	52	23
Arson	33	7	21	4	28	8	40	7
Drugs	116	116	64	64	91	91	134	134
Thefts	1,042	388	1,049	327	992	451	1,044	409
Burglary	436	101	665	160	519	94	539	155
Robbery	63	19	103	37	71	26	88	48
Fraud	192	133	215	126	475	132	123	94
Other	92	58	73	58	65	54	83	64
Total	2,213	1,011	2,420	955	2,429	1,001	2,264	1,058

* Figures provided for 2005 are provisional, operational and liable to change.

Garda Deployment.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

179 Mr. Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí in Kildare Garda station assigned to purely administrative duties; if this work could be carried out by civilian personnel; his plans to increase the number of civilian personnel supporting the primary work of the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9698/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength — all ranks — of Kildare Garda station as on 28 February 2006 was 25. I have been further informed that there is currently one Garda and three civilian staff employed purely on administrative duties at Kildare Garda station.

Garda management state that the figure of one Garda is based on those personnel who are in receipt of designated post and ex gratia allowance and as such are employed on administrative duties. The incumbent in this case is the holder of a designated post.

The civilianisation programme approved by Government in 2001 is to be implemented on a phased basis over a number of years. I am pleased to say that significant progress has been made with the appointment of 113 civilian finance officers who are doing the district finance officer duties which were hitherto performed by gardaí. Moreover, the recent establishment of the Garda information service centre, GISC, in Castlebar, and the pending transfer of civilian staff from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the Garda Síochána as civil servants of the State are significant developments in the context of greater Garda civilianisation.

The establishment of the GISC alone will, when fully operational, allow for the equivalent of up to 300 gardaí to be freed up for frontline outdoor policing duties. While the immediate focus is on providing the necessary staffing, training and resources so that the GISC will be fully operational during 2006, it is also the case that my Department, on an ongoing basis, reviews the possibility of civilianising other posts where possible, and progress is being made in this regard. However, the civilianisation programme has to be implemented within the confines of the Government decision of 4 December 2002 which placed a cap on numbers across the civil and public service.

I assure the Deputy that I am committed to the ongoing implementation of the civilianisation programme. I am also determined that the additional gardaí being recruited under the current historic expansion of the force will be deployed to frontline, visible and effective policing duties.

In this regard I should add that the timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government remains as when I announced the Government approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year.

As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate this record expansion, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda college during 2005. The college will induct a further 1,100 recruits this year and again in 2007, by way of intakes to the Garda college of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. This project is fully on target and will be achieved. In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí under the programme of accelerated recruitment will take place on 16 March.

Denis Naughten

Question:

180 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí stationed in each Garda district in the Roscommon-east Galway division and the Sligo-Leitrim division; the corresponding figure for 1997; the numbers in each district which are on leave other than annual leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9710/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength — all ranks — of each Garda district in the Roscommon-Galway east division and the Sligo-Leitrim division, as at 31 December 1997 and 28 February 2006, was as set out in the following tables.

Roscommon-Galway east division.

District	31/12/97	28/02/06
Roscommon	65	63
Ballinasloe	50	52
Boyle	32	37
Castlerea	36	42
Tuam	48	53

Sligo-Leitrim division.

District	31/12/97	28/02/06
Sligo	113	136
Ballymote	33	33
Carrick-On-Shannon	41	49
Manorhamilton	70	55

The Deputy will be pleased to note that in respect of the Roscommon-Galway east division, there has been an increase of 6.9% in the number of gardaí attached to the division since 1997. In relation to the Sligo-Leitrim division, there has been an increase of 6.2% in the number of gardaí attached to the division since 1997.

The decrease shown in Garda personnel assigned to the Manorhamilton district reflects the fact that the necessity for the large Garda presence in the Border counties has significantly diminished since the Good Friday Agreement.

It is the responsibility of each divisional officer to allocate personnel within his or her division at levels on a priority basis in accordance with the requirements of different areas in the division. The allocation of such resources throughout the division is determined by a number of factors, including demographics, administrative functions, crime trends and other operational policing needs.

I am further informed that currently one member of the Garda Síochána in the Roscommon-Galway east division and one member in the Sligo-Leitrim division are availing of parental leave. I am also informed that one member in the Roscommon-Galway east division is on a career break and that no members in the Sligo-Leitrim division are on a career break. Garda management states that there are no members in either divisions on paid or unpaid maternity leave at present. Statistics in relation to members on certified-uncertified sick leave are not available at present.

The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government remains as when I announced the Government approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength of both attested gardaí and recruits in training of 14,000 by the end of this year. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.

As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate this record expansion, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda college during 2005. The college will induct a further 1,100 recruits this year and again in 2007 by way of intakes to the Garda college of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. The first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí under the programme of accelerated recruitment will take place on 16 March 2006.

The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources and in this context, the needs of the Garda districts referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda districts throughout the country.

Garda Strength.

Denis Naughten

Question:

181 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda members who are on maternity leave and their grades; the average number of members who are on maternity leave at any one time; the steps taken to ensure unit manpower is not reduced during such leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9711/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

Where vacancies and absences arise on foot of maternity leave, the Assistant Commissioner — human resource management — in consultation with divisional officers, arranges for the allocation of Garda personnel throughout the State. The Assistant Commissioner is assisted in this regard by a model known as the Garda establishment redistribution model, GERM, which is a scientific, rational and pragmatic model and is the most effective means of distributing Garda personnel.

With regard to the specific figures requested by the Deputy, I understand that this information is currently being collated by the Garda authorities. I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Garda Deployment.

Tony Gregory

Question:

182 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the vacancy will be filled at Mountjoy Garda station where there has been no sergeant in the community Garda section for some time. [9712/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the post of community policing sergeant at Mountjoy Garda station became vacant on 1 November, 2005.

I have been further informed that local Garda management are in the process of advertising the position and once a suitable candidate has been identified, he or she will be deployed as the community policing sergeant for Mountjoy Garda station.

The timescale for achieving the target strength of 14,000 members of the Garda Síochána in line with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government remains as when I announced the Government approval in October 2004 for my proposals to achieve this objective. The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate this process, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda college during 2005. The college will induct 1,100 recruits this year and a further 1,100 in 2007, by way of intakes to the Garda college of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.

In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the first incremental increase of newly attested gardaí due to the programme of accelerated recruitment into the Garda Síochána will take place on 16 March 2006. Garda management states that during the allocation of the newly attested personnel, the needs of the Mountjoy Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.

Disability Act 2005.

David Stanton

Question:

183 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform , further to Question No. 414 of 13 December 2005, if he has received the draft codes of practice for the implementation of sections 26 to 28 of the Disability Act 2005 which cover the accessibility of public services, accessibility of goods and services supplied to a public body and accessibility of information provided by a public body from the National Disability Authority; if so, when he expects these to be approved and be implemented; if not, when he expects to receive them and when he expects them to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9747/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The National Disability Authority has prepared a code of practice, at my request, in regard to section 26, on accessibility to services provided by public bodies, section 27, on accessibility of services supplied to public bodies, and section 28, on access to information through communication formats. I have arranged with the Attorney General for formal drafting of an order for my signature to give effect to the code.

Sections 26, 27 and 28 of the Act are operational and public bodies are implementing these provisions. The code will be circulated to public bodies when the order has been finalised.

Travel Documents.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

184 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a replacement travel document will be supplied to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [9749/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The person in question has not made an application for a replacement travel document to my Department. However, her original travel document was recently returned to the immigration division of my Department by the Irish embassy in Addis Ababa for investigation in regard to possible misuse of this travel document.

An investigation into the circumstances of the suspected misuse of this document is ongoing. Any request for a replacement travel document can only be considered when the investigations have been completed.

Garda Retirements.

John Deasy

Question:

185 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on offering retired members of the Garda Síochána a back-to-work scheme on a part-time basis; his further views on a general scheme for those members who may be considering retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9751/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The position on Garda retirements is that members of the force who joined before April 2004 can retire on full pension after 30 years service, provided they are aged 50 or over. Members at the rank of Garda, sergeant and inspector must retire by the age of 57, while members at superintendent rank and higher can remain in the force up to the age of 60. Members who joined after April 2004, following the enactment of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 may not retire on full pension until age 55 and must retire by age 60.

Naturally, it is a disappointment to me that some members choose to leave at a time when they have perhaps further energy and expertise to contribute to the force. I would encourage every member to stay for as long as that member feels he or she has a positive contribution to make. However, it is a matter for each individual member to make his or her own decision, taking account of all relevant considerations, as to when he or she wants to retire from the Garda Síochána, as in any profession.

I believe, however, that the Garda reserve, which will be established this year, will offer an opportunity to retired members of the force to continue to make a contribution to the community and to enhance the capacity of the Garda Síochána to serve the public.

Asylum Applications.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

186 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people from Somalia in Ireland currently. [9777/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

There are 528 Somalian nationals recorded on the register of non-nationals who have permission to be in the State, maintained by the Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004.

I refer the Deputy to my replies to Question Nos. 187 to 189, inclusive, today which deal with Somalians in the asylum process.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

187 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a report listing the number of Somalians currently seeking asylum here; of that number, the number who are waiting for decision on their applications at first instance; the number who are at appeal stage; the number who have applied for and are still awaiting a decision for leave to remain on humanitarian grounds; and the number awaiting a judicial review decision. [9778/06]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

188 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers from Somalia who have been given refugee status; the number who have been given leave to remain; and the number who have been refused refugee status or leave to remain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9779/06]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

189 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement regarding the inordinately long time that Somalians are having to wait for a final decision on their applications; and if efforts will be made to speed up or facilitate decisions on those applications on humanitarian grounds. [9780/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 189, inclusive, together.

Applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted.

As at 28 February 2006, 205 Somalian nationals were in the asylum determination process of which 78 were awaiting a recommendation at first instance from the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and 127 were awaiting a decision on their appeal to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. In regard to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, I am advised that some 35% of cases are on hold pending the outcome of a particular judicial review and a large proportion of the remainder are at an advanced stage of processing.

In so far as statistics are readily available, as at 28 February 2006, 380 Somalian nationals had been granted refugee status since 2001; during the same period 302 had been refused refugee status. The following table shows a breakdown of these figures per year since 2001.

Year	No. of Somalian Nationals Granted Refugee Status	No. of Somalian Nationals Refused Refugee Status
2001	55	79
2002	48	41
2003	50	16
2004	81	52
2005	123	84
2006(to end February)	23	30

At present, there are a total of 22 judicial review applications from Somalian nationals outstanding in respect of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

In addition to those granted refugee status, a further nine Somalians were granted leave to remain since 2000 with some 53 deportation orders signed since that date of which 44 resulted in evasions.

In the case of the asylum determination process, I do not agree with the Deputy's view that at the present time applications for asylum from nationals of Somalia take an inordinately long time to process.

Throughout 2005, the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner has achieved significant progress in the processing of applications generally and with the virtual elimination of backlogs. As of 28 February 2006 there were 78 Somalian cases, including children, awaiting a recommendation at first instance. Of the 78 cases, 28 are awaiting a determination under the EU Dublin II regulation regarding their possible transfer to another EU state to have their asylum application processed there. The remaining 50 have already been interviewed or will be shortly. During 2006, increased emphasis will be placed on the use of the EU Dublin II regulation as there is evidence to suggest that large numbers of Somali nationals are entering the State via other EU states. The number of transfer orders made in 2005 under the EU Dublin II regulation in respect of nationals of Somalia amounted to nearly 30% of total asylum applications received that year from that nationality. Overall, 135 transfer orders under the Dublin II regulations have been made in respect of Somalian asylum seekers, of which 88 have been effected. It should also be noted that 15 Somalians were granted leave to remain under the IBC, 2005, scheme.

In the case of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, as I mentioned previously, there are 127 appeals outstanding from nationals of Somalia some 35% of which are on hold pending the outcome of a particular judicial review and a large proportion of the remainder are at an advanced stage of processing.

In the case of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, from 1 November, 2005 all applicants for asylum are allocated an interview date on the day that they apply for refugee status, except where this is not possible for medical or other compelling reasons. For applicants such as Somalian nationals, an interview date is usually scheduled approximately four or five weeks from the date of application. Their applications are generally finalised within a further four weeks giving a total processing time of approximately eight or nine weeks from the date of application. The average length of time taken to complete appeals from Somalian nationals in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is, on average, between six and 20 weeks depending on the type of appeal involved.

Considerable progress continues to be made in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal in regard to dealing with outstanding asylum applications. For example, the number of cases on hands in each organisation for over six months has declined from 6,500 at the end of September 2001 to some 401 at the end of January 2006. This is a considerable achievement and the staff of both organisations are to be congratulated on their hard work in this regard.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

190 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the status of an asylum application by a person (details supplied) who had been refused refugee status. [9781/06]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The person concerned arrived in the State on 8 September 2003 and applied for asylum. She arrived with her daughter and her nephew. Her application was refused following consideration of her case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, she was informed by letter dated 15 June 2005 that the Minister proposed to make deportation orders in respect of her, her daughter and her nephew. She was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons she should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State; leaving the State before an order is made; or consenting to the making of a deportation order.

Her case file, including all representations submitted, will be considered under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, and section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 — prohibition of refoulement. I expect the file to be passed to me for decision in due course.

Schools Building Projects.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

191 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science when she will purchase a site for a new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9619/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The school to which the Deputy refers opened with provisional recognition from the Department in September 2005. During the period of provisional recognition, it is the responsibility of the school patron to provide interim accommodation. This accommodation must be capable of fully meeting the needs of the developing school until permanent recognition has been secured and the Department is in a position to acquire a site and provide a permanent school building.

However, in this particular case, the patron has indicated that it is his intention to provide the site for the permanent school building. When the site has been acquired, progress on the building project will be considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme from 2006 onwards.

Tom Hayes

Question:

192 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the case of a school (details supplied) in south Tipperary for which an application has been made for upgrading or the provision of a new school building. [9623/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

On Monday 6 March 2005, a list of 75 schools which will receive funding this year under the Department's permanent accommodation scheme was published. The school to which the Deputy refers is included among these schools. The school building unit of the Department will be issuing instructions to the schools concerned as to how to proceed under this devolved scheme shortly.

Special Educational Needs.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

193 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will examine the delay in having a person (details supplied) in a school in County Cork; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that he remains in mainstream primary school which does not have the necessary educational facilities to suit his needs and that his behaviour has deteriorated significantly; and if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that his siblings are receiving counselling owing to their serious disruption in the home and that the school they should be attending will provide all the facilities which will help control their problems. [9636/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The school planning section of the Department has recently approved the rental of two resource rooms under the additional accommodation scheme to facilitate the child's placement in a special school. School management is currently making arrangements to procure this accommodation.

Meanwhile, the National Council for Special Education, through the local special educational needs organiser, is exploring how the child's special educational needs can be met pending the provision of this accommodation. The SENO is liaising with the family and schools concerned as part of this process.

Schools Building Projects.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

194 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a post-primary school building project (details supplied) in County Cork. [9641/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The school planning section of the Department is currently re-examining the schedules of accommodation that were agreed with the school authorities to ensure that level of accommodation being proposed will meet the long-term needs of the school. The project is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10.

Traveller Education.

Dan Neville

Question:

195 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science when the traveller education strategy will be published. [9643/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Miss de Valera)

I expect to receive shortly a report on the recommendations for a five year traveller education strategy. This report spans the full spectrum of lifelong learning from pre-school to adult and further education. It also emphasises the important role that Traveller parents have in their own education and that of their children. The report is in the final stages of preparation.

Inclusion is a core principle which has guided the development of this report. The report will provide me with advice and guidance on how best to continue to cater and improve the education provision for the Traveller community. The education needs of the Traveller community are a high priority for the Department and I look forward to examining the report.

Schools of Music.

Liz McManus

Question:

196 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will ensure that her Department gives recognition to the Bray Music Centre in Bray, County Wicklow, as it does with other vocational educational committee music schools such as Donegal, Limerick, Dublin and Cork, in view of the fact that the Bray Music Centre will be forced to raise the fees for students in September 2006 in order to bring teachers’ salaries up to the national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9644/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Department has recently received an application from County Wicklow Vocational Education Committee for an additional allocation of tuition hours for the purpose of supporting music in its area of responsibility. This application is under consideration at present and a decision will be notified to the committee in due course.

Educational Disadvantage.

Dan Neville

Question:

197 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason there is no representative on the educational disadvantage committee; and if this situation will be rectified when the new educational disadvantage committee is formed. [9645/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The role of the educational disadvantage committee is to advise on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage. The Department has written to the education and social partners seeking their views on the composition and future work of the committee. When all of these have been received and considered, members will be appointed to the new committee as provided for under section 32 of the Education Act 1998. Under section 32(3) of the Act, up to half of the membership of the committee shall be appointed from nominees of such voluntary and other bodies which have objects that are considered relevant to the work of the committee.

Psychological Service.

Pat Breen

Question:

198 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to extend the National Educational Psychological Service to all of County Clare’s primary schools; the proportion of County Clare primary schools which are currently without the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9647/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

All schools in County Clare have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, or the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, full details of which are available on my Department's website. The latest figures indicate that 50% of primary schools — 65% of pupils — and all post-primary schools in County Clare have access to a dedicated NEPS service at present.

In addition, NEPS provides a service to every school and school community in the event of a critical incident regardless of whether the school already has a dedicated service from a NEPS psychologist. Also in relation to all schools, NEPS processes applications for reasonable accommodations in certificate examinations and responds to queries concerning individual children from other sections of my Department and from the specialist agencies.

The number of NEPS psychologists has increased from 43 on establishment to 122 at present. The Public Appointments Service recently concluded a new recruitment competition for the appointment of educational psychologists to NEPS. Regional panels have been established to allow my Department give greater priority in filling vacancies to areas with the greatest need. My Department has recruited two new psychologists and is currently in the process of recruiting a further nine, four of whom are to be assigned to the mid-western region. This is expected to lead to a significant increase in the number of schools in the region, including primary schools in County Clare, enjoying a dedicated NEPS service. Any increase in the overall numbers of psychologists in NEPS must take account of Government policy on public sector numbers.

Pat Breen

Question:

199 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science her plans to provide mental health services, where appropriate, to County Clare’s secondary schools; the proportion of schools which are currently with such a service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9648/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

All post-primary schools in County Clare have access to a dedicated service from the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. The promotion of mental health in schools is one of the main objectives of NEPS. The NEPS psychologists working in County Clare work closely with the guidance counsellors and co-ordinators of social personal health education — SPHE — in the schools regarding mental health issues. The NEPS psychologists also liaise with the Health Service Executive and have contributed, on a collaborative basis, to the training of teachers in student support in the context of mental health issues in County Clare post-primary schools.

School Completion Programme.

Pat Carey

Question:

200 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures which are being taken by her Department to improve the level of transfer from primary to post-primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9656/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The Government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to complete his or her education. To this end, we are providing increased resources for schools in disadvantaged areas by offering extra educational supports and services. Measures designed to improve school completion include the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board in 2002 with a remit to monitor school attendance, help parents to get a school place for their child and run promotional campaigns on the importance of finishing school.

Working with parents to promote school attendance is an important part of the work of the home school community liaison scheme and, in addition to this, a key component of the school completion programme is developing strong links between primary and post-primary schools in disadvantaged areas. Under the new action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS, additional supports are being targeted at children in the most disadvantaged schools to encourage them to stay in school. The key principle of early intervention, to identify and help children at risk of leaving school early, is a major component of the plan.

Under DEIS, a continuing emphasis will be placed on the development of effective transfer programmes for pupils making the transition to second level, by building on the existing work of HSCL scheme and the school completion programme in this area. Initiatives such as familiarisation days and week long transfer programmes for new entrants to second level have been shown to have very positive results in helping children to make a smooth transaction to their new school and I am anxious that a strengthening of such programmes be prioritised under the new action plan.

Third Level Education.

Pat Carey

Question:

201 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures which are taken by her Department to increase the level of participation in third level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9657/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Broadening access to further and higher education is one of the Government's major policy priorities. As the Deputy will be aware the Government made a €42 million package available in 2003 which involved substantial increases in grant levels while extending the income thresholds and linking the amount of the top-up grant to the maximum personal rate of unemployment assistance. The impact of the scheme resulted in an increase in the number of grant-holders from 51,000 in 2002-03 to more than 56,000 and an increase in the number of top-up grant-holders to more than 12,500.

In addition to the initiatives within the mainstream grant schemes, the national officer for equity of access to higher education, the national office, manages for my Department a number of funding programmes to widen access and support the participation of certain targets groups including the socio-economically disadvantaged groups. These include the student assistance fund which provides financial support to benefit from their third level studies; the fund for students with disabilities which has contributed to an increase in participation by students with a disability, with 1,696 students in receipt of funding under the 2004-05 scheme, an increase of almost 1,200 since 2000 when 511 were in receipt of funding under the scheme; and the millennium partnership fund for disadvantaged through which 57 partnerships and community groups received funding.

A number of practical steps are being taken to address increased participation rates. This includes the establishment in August 2003 of the national office within the HEA as a co-ordinating unit to lead work nationally on achieving equity of access to higher education, co-ordinate funding and resources and monitor and report on progress. In December 2004 the national office published a three year action plan — 2005-07 — which sets out a range of practical steps which need to occur so that more opportunities are created for groups who have to date been under-represented in the sector, such as socio-economically disadvantaged school leavers. This will include arrangements so that all disadvantaged regions, schools and communities, in particular those with low levels of representation, are linked to access activities and programmes in at least one higher education institution in their region.

An integrated and coherent strategy is required if we are to further increase the participation rates among persons from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Incentivised funding at the level of the institutions and the individual as advocated in the action plan from the national office for equity of access to higher education will be an important element of funding policies in the future. I also attach considerable importance to the recommendations in the action plan in relation to awareness issues and the need for user friendly and accessible processes and procedures for the allocation of funding.

A priority area for action is evaluation of access programmes which have been established in higher education institutions to ascertain what strategies and partnerships work best in achieving equity of access to higher education for all under-represented groups. Building upon this work, the national office will develop and support the implementation of a national framework of access policies and initiatives for each target group, including young people from socio-economically disadvantages areas. The national office will monitor and report on progress in implementing the action plan and reaching national and institutional targets on equity of access to higher education.

State Examinations.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

202 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) is still the central co-ordinating and managing authority for the Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge; if not, the areas in which this information is available to teachers trained outside Ireland who wish to pursue the course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9658/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Coláiste Mhuire Marino is responsible for holding the SCG examination in 2006. The examination will be held in a number of centres throughout the country in the week beginning 17 April. Full details are available from Coláiste Mhuire. Regarding course provision, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a number of education centres throughout the country, which are directly funded by my Department, are providing preparation courses for the SCG examination at a reasonable cost that has been set by my Department. These courses are based upon a training programme, also funded by my Department, which was developed by the Irish department in Coláiste Mhuire Marino.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

203 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on replacing the Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge with an examination and syllabus more in tune with changes that have taken place in teaching and learning in recent years and with more emphasis on the spoken language; if she will also ensure that preparation courses for the examination are more accessible to students in different parts of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9659/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

As recently as 2001, I established a working group to review all aspects of the syllabus and examination for the Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (SCG). The review group drafted an interim examination syllabus which was circulated to all schools in December 2002. The SCG examinations held in October 2003 were the first series of SCG examinations to be based on this revised syllabus.

A language syllabus and an examination handbook with sample questions and answers were published during 2004. The literature textbook containing the revised literature syllabus for 2007 onwards was published in January 2006. From April 2004, more time was made available for candidates in the aural test. A new literature syllabus will be introduced for the examination in 2007. In addition, it is intended that, from 2007 onwards, the written examination will be complemented by assessments of classroom practice. The oral and aural modules which comprise 50% of the total examination place a sufficient overall emphasis on the oralcy element of the SCG.

Passes in the examination are recognised at two levels. The overall pass mark in the examination with effect from the April 2004 examinations was decreased to 40% from the previous 50%. With effect from the April 2004 examinations, candidates who achieved pass — 40% — are eligible to teach in Galltacht — English medium — schools. Teachers who achieve 70% or more are eligible to teach in any primary school, including Gaeltacht and all-Irish schools.

Regarding course provision, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a number of education centres throughout the country, which are directly funded by my Department, are providing preparation courses for the SCG examination at a reasonable cost that has been set by my Department. These courses are based on a training programme, also funded by my Department, which was developed by the Irish department in Coláiste Mhuire Marino.

Schools Building Projects.

Denis Naughten

Question:

204 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science, further to Question No. 322 of 15 December 2005, if the assessment has been completed by the school planning section of her Department; the progress on obtaining a site for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9743/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria which was revised last year following consultation with the education partners. The proposed project, including the acquisition of a site, is being considered for progression in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

205 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Science the position on the proposed new school for Rathcormac, County Cork, especially in view of the overcrowding. [9756/06]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. This application has been assessed in accordance the published prioritisation criteria. The property management section of the Office of Public Works is in the process of acquiring a site to facilitate the provision of the new school building. Progression of the building project is dependent on the finalisation of the acquisition of this site and is being considered in the context of the school building and modernisation programme 2006-10.

Motor Vehicle Registration.

John Deasy

Question:

206 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of vehicles licensed in each of the past ten years. [9754/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The information requested for the years 1995 to 2004, inclusive, is published in table 1 of the annual Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics 2004, available in the Oireachtas Library. The figure for the year 2005 is 2,138,680 vehicles.

Planning Issues.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

207 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the phenomenon of recent property inflation of up to 20% in areas located on proposed public transport routes, such as Cherrywood, south County Dublin and Dunboyne, County Meath; if the Government will be introducing amendments to legislation to ensure that local authorities can request that developers make higher contributions for public transport in proportion to the property inflation profits within the new transport corridor areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9212/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities have been enabled to adopt supplementary development contributions schemes in order to help pay for particular public infrastructure services or projects, including the provision of particular rail, light rail or other public transport infrastructure.

A number of local authorities have adopted these schemes, including Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in respect of the proposed extension of the Luas line to Cherrywood. It is appropriate that supplementary development contributions should help to ensure that developers in certain areas which are benefiting from major public investment in public transport and other infrastructure are contributing to the cost of that infrastructure. It is not proposed to amend the legislation in this regard.

Question No. 208 answered with QuestionNo. 30.

Local Authority Funding.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

209 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the way in which he envisages local Government being properly resourced and funded to carry out all their responsibilities following the recommendations of the Indecon report. [9611/06]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

210 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to address the predicted local authority funding shortfall identified by the Indecon report. [9774/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.

On the basis of different methods of projecting expenditure, the consultants identify that by 2010, local authority expenditure will increase by €1 billion to €2 billion in nominal terms over 2004 levels. Funding for this expenditure will be met by a combination of the buoyancy in the existing funding system, some additional funding and the achievement of efficiencies and accountability over the period.

As regards the existing funding system, there is significant natural buoyancy in the current revenue sources of local authorities. For example, at local level, the valuation base is growing rapidly as a result of our continued economic growth. In addition, revenue from motor taxation, which is paid directly into the local government fund, continues to increase without any increases in the rates of this taxation. In 2006, the fund will amount to some €1.4 billion. I was in a position to announce record levels of general purpose grants to local authorities from the fund amounting to some €875 million for 2006. This was an increase of some 8% on the 2005 allocation and 160% of the 1997 level.

To supplement the existing income sources, a number of initiatives will be pursued. I am considering ways of bringing planning fees, which are fixed by regulation, into line with the economic cost of dealing with planning applications. I will introduce legislation to make commercial properties liable for rates from the date of valuation as opposed to the beginning of the following year. This will generate over €25 million extra per year. To boost income to the local government fund, I am tackling motor tax evasion and will be examining a system of continuous registration of vehicles. Additional revenues will be complemented by a range of efficiency initiatives. In partnership with local authorities, I propose to: examine the scope for greater sharing of services between authorities; develop a standard costing system for the sector to deliver enhanced management information, particularly with regard to unit costs; and develop proposals to enhance arrangements for local audit committees in line with best practice.

I am committed to ensuring that the value for money unit in my Department undertakes in-depth analyses of local authority activities and identifies best practice. The availability of good information is a key to good decision making and I have started a process of publishing key financial data on my Department's website. I have set aside €2 million this year for an innovation fund to identify ways of delivering further efficiencies and to disseminate best practice in this regard to local authorities. I will be announcing details of this during the year.

Pat Breen

Question:

211 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the current infrastructural budget allocation guidelines are flawed due to the fact that they favour densely populated areas and fail to take account of the potential of low density zoned areas; whether this results in the collapse of thinly populated areas and discriminates against rural and remote areas such as many parts of County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9649/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The current national development plan has seen a wide range of infrastructural investment throughout the country in roads, public transport, housing and environmental services, as well as health, child care and other services. The national spatial strategy published in 2002 aims to achieve more balanced regional development across the country in both urban and rural areas. The national spatial strategy envisages opportunities for all areas of the country to develop to their potential and will support a better balance of activity and development between areas experiencing congestion and areas that are economically under-utilised. The Government has already agreed that the regional dimension of the next national development plan for 2007 to 2013, which will consolidate and expand on investment under the current plan, will be broadly based on the national spatial strategy.

Planning Issues.

Pat Carey

Question:

212 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if changes are required in planning legislation to control the operation of lap dancing clubs and the change of use of premises for the sale of pornographic material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9664/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I refer to the reply to today's Question No. 10.

Legislative Programme.

Michael Noonan

Question:

213 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends bringing into force all sections of the Local Government Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9665/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Local Government Act 2001 modernises the legislative framework, supports community involvement with local authorities in a more participative local democracy and underpins the programme of local government renewal. The Act is being brought into operation on a phased basis and in excess of 80% of its sections have been commenced. I am currently considering the steps necessary to commence the remaining provisions, a number of which are enabling provisions to replace legislation currently in force.

Wildlife Protection.

Tony Gregory

Question:

214 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of hares captured from the wild for the 2005 to 2006 coursing season which had previously been caught, marked and released by coursing clubs. [9706/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The information sought is not available in my Department.

Tony Gregory

Question:

215 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action being taken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to end the sale of unlawful glue traps from retail outlets here. [9707/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Sale or possession of glue traps, other than in accordance with a licence issued by my Department, is prohibited under the Wildlife Act 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003. No licences are currently in force to permit the sale or possession of such traps.

My Department has, over the past 18 months, been involved in two court cases involving the unlawful possession of rodent glue traps. Recently a substantial quantity of mouse glue was seized at Dublin Port and a prosecution is being prepared. My Department is in contact with a major importer and distributor of these traps with a view to arranging the recall and destruction of all such traps.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

216 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if methane gas seepage from the sewerage system at Leixlip, County Kildare has been satisfactorily resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9730/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The lower Liffey Valley sewerage scheme has been approved for construction in my Department's water services investment programme for 2005 to 2007 at an estimated cost of €31 million. The scheme, under which the waste water collection systems in Leixlip, Kilcock, Straffan, Celbridge and Maynooth will be upgraded and improved, also includes measures to eliminate odours from the existing collection system in Leixlip. I understand that work on an advance section of the scheme at Straffan is nearing completion.

Kildare County Council's contract documents for the major elements of the scheme are under examination in my Department and a decision will issue shortly. Approval of the contract documents will enable the council to seek tenders for the scheme.

Drainage Schemes.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

217 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he or his Department have had discussions with Kildare County Council in regard to the completion of drainage and cleaning works at the Slate River, Allenwood, County Kildare; when it is intended the works will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9731/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I understand that drainage works were carried out in Allenwood, County Kildare, in 2003 by the Office of Public Works as agents for Kildare County Council. My Department had no function in these works nor is it in any discussions with the council about them.

Alternative Energy Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

218 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans for waste to energy conversion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9733/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Thermal treatment with energy recovery forms an important part of a modern, integrated and sustainable approach to waste management consistent with the internationally accepted waste hierarchy. Its role is fully recognised within the EU environmental framework which moreover regulates waste incineration in accordance with strict environmental standards.

This type of incineration forms a key part of an integrated approach to waste management here in Ireland, as has been affirmed in a variety of policy documents from 1998 onwards. Supporting and developing this policy framework is the extent of my Department's involvement in planning for waste to energy in Ireland. The detailed implementation of waste policy is a matter for local authorities, consistent with their waste management plans, and private sector initiatives, regulated by the independent statutory waste licensing and physical planning processes.

I hope to see further progress on the provision of waste to energy facilities in Ireland over the coming years and the development of an approach to waste management similar to that of the Scandinavian countries, Germany and the Netherlands. These countries, which are often cited as adhering to the highest environmental standards and providing a model of best practice, use incineration with energy recovery as a key part of their approach to solid waste treatment. They combine this with extremely high levels of waste recycling to minimise the amount of residual waste landfilled. Ireland should also move towards such a model, attaining the highest possible levels of recycling, incinerating non-recyclable waste, with energy recovery in the form of electricity or district heating, and landfilling only a small proportion of inert waste.

Ireland has significantly increased its recycling levels in recent years. Municipal waste recycling has grown from only 9% in 1998 to a current level of 34%. This alone, because of the increase in waste generation, is not leading to a significant drop in landfilling rates. It is evident that if we are to make further progress in diverting waste away from landfills, we must focus more both on waste minimisation and reduction as well as incineration.

Waste to energy plants will of course at a minimum be subject to the very stringent emission limits provided for in the EU incineration directive and must satisfy our independent physical planning and environmental licensing processes, which can rightly be regarded as among the most rigorous and transparent in Europe.

Water Supply.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

219 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the total domestic water storage capacity, the estimated daily domestic and industrial use; if he has satisfied himself that adequate storage facilities are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9734/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

Some €3.7 billion will be spent under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 on the provision of water services infrastructure. Substantial increases in water treatment and storage capacity, both for domestic and industrial use, are being achieved as a result of this investment. Schemes completed since 1997 have produced additional drinking water treatment capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 1,073,000. The increase in storage capacity over the same period was sufficient to meet the requirements of a population of 1,583,000.

Management of public drinking water supplies is the responsibility of the local authorities, who have a range of instruments and measures available to them to conserve sufficient stocks to meet anticipated needs and ensure quality standards. In addition, my Department co-ordinates and finances a major programme of investment in improved infrastructure, active leakage control, telemetry and rehabilitation of watermains. Details of such projects that have been approved for funding by my Department are set out in the water services investment programme for 2005 to 2007, which is available in the Oireachtas Library. The schemes included in the programme are derived mainly from regular assessments of needs undertaken by local authorities, at my Department's request, as an input to the overall strategy for meeting necessary water supply and treatment requirements.

I am satisfied that the planning and resources are in place to ensure that the national water supply infrastructure can cater adequately for current and anticipated requirements.

Questions Nos. 220 and 221 answered with Question No. 59.

Local Authority Housing.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

222 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of houses built and allocated by the various local authorities in the past 12 months; the number of one, two, three or more bedroom houses involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9737/06]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

Information on the number of houses constructed and acquired by local authorities to the end of September 2005 is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie. Similar information for the full year 2005 will be published in due course in my Department’s annual bulletin of housing statistics and on the Department’s website.

A breakdown of dwellings constructed or acquired by local authorities by the number of bedrooms is not available in my Department. In recent years local authorities have provided a wider range of house types, including an increasing number of one and two bedroom dwellings, which are more suitable to single people and lone parents. My Department continues to advise local authorities of the need to provide a reasonable mix of dwellings suited to the different types of households already on waiting lists and to plan their future programmes taking account of the estimated size and type of households likely to be seeking local authority and voluntary housing in the future.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

223 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of locations in respect of which he has been alerted to the existence of methane gas emanating from the sewerage treatment systems; his proposals to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/06]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

224 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to utilise methane gas from sewerage treatment plants or main sewers with a view to conversion to energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9739/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.

I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 656 of 14 February 2006.

Local Authority Information.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

225 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied that Members of the Oireachtas have the required access to local authorities in accordance with commitments given to Dáil Éireann under the passage of the legislation to abolish the dual mandate; his views on whether the general public is being best served in the intervening period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9741/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Local Government Act, 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003 provide, inter alia, for the supply of specified documentation to Oireachtas Members by a local authority such as a local authority budget or draft development plan. Equivalent systems, procedures and timeframes to those used for correspondence from local authority members apply also to Oireachtas Members. Managers are required to meet at least annually with local Oireachtas Members and thus provide an opportunity for an update on developments and for any difficulties encountered to be raised and addressed. This is additional to normal and regular contacts between public representatives and local authority officials regarding particular problems or issues.

As indicated in earlier replies to questions on this topic, I am concerned that local authorities should at all times facilitate parliamentary representatives, in both the spirit and the letter of the regulations, on the timely provision of local authority documentation to Members of the Oireachtas carrying out their work on behalf of local communities.

My officials are engaged at present in gathering information from local authorities on the practical application of the scheme to date and, arising from this, I will, if necessary, issue supplementary guidance to local authorities taking account of the responses on the matter.

Heritage Sites.

Denis Naughten

Question:

226 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Question No. 775 of 8 November 2005, the steps which are being taken by his Department to provide public access to sites at Rathcroghan, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9744/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department is finalising the tender documentation for the preparation of a conservation plan for archaeological sites at Rathcroghan, which will include matters such as public access. It is hoped to go to tender by the end of this month.

Waste Management.

John Gormley

Question:

227 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the discussions he has had with the management of Dublin City Council concerning the Strategic Infrastructure Bill 2006 and the possibility that the Ringsend incinerator project might be delayed to take advantage of the proposed new planning process; the powers he has to prevent the city council management from delaying the project in this way; the assurances he may have received from the city manager in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

As I have previously stated, my Department's role in the approval process for this proposed waste to energy plant is limited to validating compliance with public policy on procurement by way of public-private partnership, as laid down in guidelines issued by the Department of Finance. Having reviewed the detailed proposals of Dublin City Council, and consulted with the National Development Finance Agency, my Department is satisfied that the project is designed to provide value for money within the parameters of the above guidelines and certified its compliance accordingly in September 2005.

It is now a matter for Dublin City Council to finalise contractual arrangements with the private partner and advance the project through the statutory physical planning and environmental licensing process. My Department is precluded from involvement in these processes and has neither sought nor received assurances from Dublin City Council in their regard.

The regulatory processes to be applied to the project will be those in force at the time the approvals are sought. I expect that approval will have been sought for the facility before the Bill becomes law.

Airport Safety.

Seán Ryan

Question:

228 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status and stage of the draft public safety zone guidelines for Irish airports; and if and when there is to be a public consultation on the guidelines. [9798/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department is currently preparing draft guidelines for planning authorities on public safety zones at State airports. The draft guidelines will be published shortly for public consultation.

Construction Industry.

John Cregan

Question:

229 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to give protection by way of regulation or legislation to sub-contractors who, in some instances, are not paid by the main contractor, despite the fact that the main contractor has been paid public moneys by local authorities for public contracts, such as road building, sewerage schemes etc.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9800/06]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

My Department is not responsible for regulating contractual relationships or for the sponsorship of new legislation in this area. I understand, however, that the European Communities (Late Payments in Commercial Transactions) Regulations, 2002 already provide contractors, including sub-contractors, with legal protection against late payments and unfair contract terms. In addition, organisations representing small and medium-sized enterprises may take representative actions in the Circuit Court seeking a declaration that particular contract terms are grossly unfair and may not be used. Any review of these regulations would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.