Parliamentary questions

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Paudie Coffey

442. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government , further to Parliamentary Question No. 144 of 12 December 2012, which specific section in the Valuation Act 2001 he refers to in his answer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9877/13]

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Michelle Mulherin

443. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if all community child care groups have their premises exempt from payment of commercial rates and if so on what basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9895/13]

Commercial Rates Exemptions

Michelle Mulherin

444. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider exempting registered private child care facilities from commercial rates on the basis of their educational function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9896/13]

Public Sector Staff

Jerry Buttimer

445. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a moratorium on former employees of local authority planning departments precluding such former employees from providing planning consultancy services for a period of time after their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9943/13]

Local Authority Finances

Michael Healy-Rae

446. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown on a county basis of the debt levels of county councils; if he is satisfied that all local authorities are financially viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9947/13]

Water Charges Introduction

Paul Connaughton

447. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the way Irish Water will charge for water for households; if consideration will be given to households with multiple occupants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10029/13]

Local Authority Finances

Terence Flanagan

448. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process that will be in place to audit the spending of property taxes in the local communities in which they are collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10039/13]

National Spatial Strategy

John Lyons

449. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to engage in a consultation process on the formulation of a replacement spatial plan to the national spatial strategy; if he will provide a timeframe for this consultation and delivery of a new plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10044/13]

National Spatial Strategy

John Lyons

450. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put any successor to the national spatial strategy on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10045/13]

Light Pollution

Michael Healy-Rae

451. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a letter of support in respect of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10049/13]

Fire Service Staff

Robert Dowds

452. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be any recruitment of Fire Service staff in the foreseeable future; and if so, if there will be any age limit placed on such recruitment when it recommences. [10102/13]

National Spatial Strategy

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

453. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reassure the people of Letterkenny, County Donegal, on their serious concerns now that they have lost their Gateway status and are soon to lose their town council. [10111/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Gerry Adams

454. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if as part of the process of social housing reform, a review of the 2011 social housing assessment regulations has been carried out; if the review has been completed; if any revised regulations or guidance has been issued on foot of the review; if consideration has been given to giving wider discretion to housing authorities to deal with complex cases such as those involving newly separated persons or situations where persons flee the family home as a result of domestic violence and are in need of long term housing. [10117/13]

Alternative Energy Projects

Pat Deering

455. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when an application for funding for a Miscanthus plant will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [10120/13]

Water Services Registrations

Thomas Pringle

456. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to bring forward amending legislation and issue guidelines to regulate those bodies or persons deemed to have the appropriate level of qualification to tender expert technical advice as stated in Chapter 6 - Inspections, page 25 of the Environmental Protection Agency document, National Inspection Plan 2013 prepared on behalf of his Department, in relation to the exact remedial works to be undertaken by the owner of a DWWTS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10129/13]

Local Government Reform

Charlie McConalogue

457. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that businesses in the town of Bundoran, County Donegal, will not be subject to higher rates as a direct result of his plans to abolish Bundoran Town Council in favour of bringing it under the remit of Donegal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10155/13]

Local Government Reform

Charlie McConalogue

458. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that the businesses in the town of Letterkenny, County Donegal, will not be subject to higher rates as a direct result of his plans to abolish Letterkenny Town Council in favour of bringing it under the remit of Donegal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10157/13]

Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration

Thomas Pringle

459. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the payment of bonuses or other performance related payments and or allowances made to the staff of agencies under the aegis of his Department with a yearly breakdown from 2008 outlining the overall amount paid in each year period and the number of staff that received such payments and or allowances. [10164/13]

Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration

Thomas Pringle

460. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of payments made to the CEO or equivalent of all agencies under the aegis of his Department including details of any bonuses, pension entitlements or any other remuneration paid to him or her in 2012. [10181/13]

Local Government Reform

Charlie McConalogue

461. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that businesses in the town of Buncrana, County Donegal, will not be subject to higher rates as a result of his plans to abolish Buncrana Town Council in favour of bringing it under the remit of Donegal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Finian McGrath

462. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the entire legal costs of defending ECJ Judgement C-188-08 in which the Court found that Ireland had failed to transpose into domestic legislation the requirements of the Waste Directive regarding the disposal of domestic waste water from septic tanks and other individual treatment systems, excluding any possible fines imposed on Ireland in Case C-374/11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10226/13]

RAPID Programme

Eoghan Murphy

463. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of those streets in Dublin that are in RAPID areas. [10241/13]

Homeless Persons Supports

Kevin Humphreys

464. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that was paid for a property (details supplied) in Dublin 2 when it was purchased; the intended use of same; if it was funded by his Department as part of the homelessness strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10251/13]

Homeless Persons Supports

Kevin Humphreys

465. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of maintaining security and other services at a premises (details supplied) in Dublin 2 since it was purchased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10252/13]

Proposed Legislation

Michael Healy-Rae

466. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce climate legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10260/13]

Housing Regeneration

Terence Flanagan

467. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that has been spent over the past five years on retrofitting housing stock; if there is a plan for a new stimulus package this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10292/13]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Terence Flanagan

468. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of vacant local authority housing units at present and the proposed turnaround for upgrading these homes is versus the actual turnaround for vacant homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10293/13]

Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure

Terence Flanagan

469. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money that has been spent on the rental accommodation scheme and rental schemes over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10294/13]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Eligibility

Seamus Healy

470. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the details of the recently announced local authority tenant purchase scheme; the date of publication; the date of commencement of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10315/13]

Local Authority Finances

John McGuinness

471. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money held on deposit by Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council; if the money is on call or of it is attracting a preferential rate on interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10316/13]

Proposed Legislation

Michael Healy-Rae

472. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if future climate legislation is to be brought before Dáil Éireann, if he will give an assurance that it will be poverty proofed in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10322/13]

Planning Issues

Derek Nolan

473. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a clause in the Galway County Development Plan that only allows local persons, particularly in Barna, County Galway, to apply for planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10354/13]

Priory Hall Development

Finian McGrath

474. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on support for the Priory Hall, Dublin, residents. [10423/13]

Criminal Prosecutions Data

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

475. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if any prosecutions were initiated as a result of information gathered by RTE in the course of its Prime Time programme, Profiting from Prostitution, broadcast on 7 February 2012; the offences charged; and the current status of the prosecutions. [9536/13]

Departmental Reports

Dominic Hannigan

476. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any plans for an inter Departmental report to investigate the activities of mother and baby homes that operated here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9538/13]

Organised Crime

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

477. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider establishing an all-Ireland joint-taskforce between An Gardaí Siochána and PSNI in order to combat organised crime. [9566/13]

Garda Transport Data

Patrick O'Donovan

478. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda vehicles by type and category in the Limerick Division serving in the Bruff and Newcastle West (amalgamated with Askeaton) Districts of An Garda Síochána that were available for policing duties in 2011 and 2012 and the mileage that is currently on the vehicles in these districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9569/13]

Prison Committals

Joe McHugh

479. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of males and the number of females who have been committed in the past 12 months for the non-payment of fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9574/13]

Crime Prevention

Michelle Mulherin

480. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider extending the pilot community text alert scheme to all rural areas where a Garda station has closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9625/13]

Family Law Cases

John Lyons

481. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 7 November 2012, if he will provide an update on his efforts to reform the family court system; and if he will provide an up to date timescale for the introduction of a Bill to promote mediation as a viable and cost effective alternative to court proceedings in family law cases to the benefit of all parties. [9633/13]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Catherine Murphy

482. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the average time it takes for the Garda Síochána to process vetting applications; the measures he has taken to reduce the amount of time persons are waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9643/13]

Citizenship Applications

Paschal Donohoe

483. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/13]

Legislative Programme

Pearse Doherty

484. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline any obstacles preventing him from announcing a commencement order and establishment day in respect of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9763/13]

Personal Insolvency Act

Pearse Doherty

485. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions he has had with the programme finance troika of the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission since 26 December 2012 in respect of the implementation of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012. [9764/13]

Personal Debt

Pearse Doherty

486. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions he has had with the British authorities regarding so-called bankruptcy tourism and the practice of citizens of the State relocating to Britain in order to take advantage of more lenient bankruptcy legislation. [9766/13]

Personal Debt

Pearse Doherty

487. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions he has had with European authorities regarding the so-called bankruptcy tourism and the practice of citizens of the State relocating to other member states in order to take advantage of more lenient bankruptcy legislation. [9767/13]

Tribunals of Inquiry Reports

Pearse Doherty

488. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 12 December 2012, the progress made on the recommendations of the Moriarty Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9768/13]

Commercial Leases Database

Pearse Doherty

489. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 823 of 6 November 2012, if he will confirm that the commercial leases database will be published by 31 March 2013; the information that will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9769/13]

Garda Expenditure

Joe McHugh

490. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to the State in 2012 of posting payslips to members of An Garda Síochána; the number of gardaí who are not paid via paypath; the number of gardaí who do not have access to internal email; if he envisages reform in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9794/13]

National Substance Misuse Strategy

Nicky McFadden

491. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will give statutory effect to Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 which provides for the structural separation of alcohol products from other products in supermarkets, convenience stores, petrol stations and any other licensed premises which are deemed to be mixed-trading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9843/13]