Tuesday, 18 Sep 2012

Written Answers Nos. 1054-1072

Water Services Funding

Questions (1054)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1054. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the additional allocations under the rural water programme to various local authorities in addition to the programme announced earlier in the year and if additional funds have been allocated to this programme or if it is a re-allocation of resources between local authorities within the overall programme; if he will confirm the total allocation under this programme for 2012; if he will provide the list of the original allocations plus any additional allocations for each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37796/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Some €40 million in Exchequer funding was allocated to the Rural Water Programme in 2012.

In March 2012, my Department notified local authorities, who have responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, of block grant allocations totalling €31.625 million. This consisted of €20.010 million towards group water schemes and €11.615 million towards small public water and wastewater schemes. The balance was held to meet commitments from previous years, including commitments on grants approved in respect of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Remedial Action List.

Following a mid year review of the programme, some local authorities were notified in August of additional allocations totalling over €3 million. Details of the allocations notified to each local authority in March 2012 and the additional allocations notified in August 2012 are set out in the following table.

Total Allocation Notified March 2012

Total Allocation Notified August 2012

Total Allocation per county

Local Authorities	Group Schemes	Public Schemes	Group Schemes	Public Schemes	-
Carlow	256,000.00	288,000.00	10,000.00	97,000.00	651,000.00
Cavan	200,000.00	308,000.00	-	-	508,000.00
Clare	355,000.00	379,000.00	-	-	734,000.00
Cork (full county)	-	1,552,000.00	-	-	1,552,000.00
Cork (North)	165,000.00	-	-	-	165,000.00
Cork (South)	150,000.00	-	-	-	150,000.00
Cork (West)	100,000.00	-	-	-	100,000.00
Donegal	800,000.00	350,000.00	-	-	1,150,000.00
Galway	5,100,000.00	1,044,000.00	-	-	6,144,000.00
Kerry	1,209,000.00	828,500.00	-	90,000.00	2,127,500.00
Kildare	110,000.00	290,000.00	-	-	400,000.00
Kilkenny	286,000.00	329,000.00	46,000.00	150,000.00	811,000.00
Laois	9,000.00	250,000.00	310,156.00	50,000.00	619,156.00
Leitrim	1,200,000.00	500,000.00	115,000.00	170,000.00	1,985,000.00
Limerick	422,000.00	334,000.00	100,000.00	-	856,000.00
Longford	164,000.00	226,000.00	7,019.61	178,844.13	575,863.74
Louth	76,000.00	250,000.00	-	95,000.00	421,000.00
Mayo	5,430,000.00	502,500.00	602,109.63	-	6,534,609.63
Meath	72,000.00	548,000.00	-	-	620,000.00
Monaghan	25,000.00	250,000.00	-	100,000.00	375,000.00
North Tipperary	450,000.00	250,000.00	252,187.00	-	952,187.00
Offaly	22,000.00	500,000.00	125,000.00	-	647,000.00
Roscommon	1,750,000.00	250,000.00	-	-	2,000,000.00
Sligo	310,000.00	295,000.00	145,000.00	-	750,000.00
South Tipperary	95,000.00	317,000.00	-	-	412,000.00
Waterford	101,000.00	662,000.00	-	200,000.00	963,000.00
Westmeath	72,000.00	216,000.00	46,000.00	161,625.00	495,625.00
Wexford	481,000.00	589,000.00	-	360,000.00	1,430,000.00
Wicklow	600,000.00	307,000.00	-	-	907,000.00

Community Development Initiatives

Questions (1055)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1055. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the current position regarding the abolition of Pobal and merging of its functions with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37819/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There are no plans to abolish Pobal, which delivers a range of publicly and EU funded programmes on an out-sourced basis on behalf of a number of Government Departments. It also delivers funding on behalf of a number of Departments involved in supporting services in the not-for-profit, community and voluntary sectors, and is in a unique position to bring considerable value-added because of its comprehensive knowledge of the sectors. The central administration and integration of services offered by the Company across the various programmes with integrated staffing resources, is a considerable strength which would not be easily replicated if Departments separately implemented programmes.

Pobal administers a number of Programmes on behalf of my Department, including the Local and Community Development Programme. In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, and in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, I established a Steering Group last year to examine the scope for greater alignment between the local government and local development sectors. I am currently considering its recommendations, with a view to maximising efficiency and cost effectiveness in the delivery of services for communities.

Local Authority Staff

Questions (1056)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1056. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the number of people employed in each local authority with a disability and the number of people who have been employed with a disability since 1 January 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37826/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The number of employees with a disability in each local authority as at 31 December 2011 is set out in the table below. My Department collects information on an annual basis regarding the number of persons with a disability employed in each local authority.

Local Authority	Number of Employees with a Disability as at 31 December 2011
Carlow Co Council	8
Cavan Co Council	31
Clare Co Council	41
Cork Co Council	79
Donegal Co Council	33
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	45
Fingal Co Council	61
Galway Co Council	32
Kerry Co Council	71
Kildare Co Council	41
Kilkenny Co Council	24
Laois Co Council	12
Leitrim Co Council	14
Limerick Co Council	27
Longford Co Council	13
Louth Co Council	45
Mayo Co Council	73
Meath Co Council	27
Monaghan Co Council	20
Offaly Co Council	16
Roscommon Co Council	21
Sligo Co Council	11
South Dublin Co Council	45
North Tipperary Co Council	15
South Tipperary Co Council	26
Waterford Co Council	17
Westmeath Co Council	36
Wexford Co Council	46
Wicklow Co Council	24
Cork City Council	57
Dublin City Council	311
Galway City Council	23
Limerick City Council	13
Waterford City Council	27

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Questions (1057)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1057. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the position regarding recruiting persons with a disability; the number of persons currently employed in his Department; the number of persons with a disability that have been employed since 1 January 2011 to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37836/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 requires all public bodies, in so far as practicable, to take all reasonable measures to promote and support employment by them of people with disabilities. Unless there are good reasons to the contrary, public bodies are required to employ 3% of staff with disabilities and report every year on compliance. As of December 2011, my Department exceeded this target with 4% of staff declaring a disability. My Department currently employs 761 whole time equivalent staff.

Question No. 1058 answered with Question No. 1053.

Local Authorities Management

Questions (1059)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1059. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will consider making provision for decisions of local authorities which are made by way of managers' orders to be published and made available on the local authorities’ website rather than the current arrangement where access is quite restricted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37854/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The provisions for Managers’ Orders are set out in Section 151 of the Local Government Act 2001. The manager is required to keep a register, with a copy of every order made by him or her. At every meeting of a local authority so much of the register as contains any orders made since the previous meeting must be made available for inspection by the elected council.

Any member of a local authority is entitled, on demand, to be supplied with a copy of any specified order made by the manager.

The Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003, S.I. No. 274/2003 provides for a local authority to supply documentation to a member of either House of the Oireachtas. Local authorities have been asked, when dealing with correspondence by parliamentary representatives, to apply equivalent systems, procedures and timeframes as operate for councillors.

Making managers’ orders more widely available, including publication on their website is a matter for the local authority concerned. In this regard, while the orders are public documents, some may contain information specific to named individuals, and the need for discretion in regard to the publication, as a matter of course, of all managers’ orders would need to take this into consideration.

Question No. 1060 answered with Question No. 86.

RAPID Programme

Questions (1061)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1061. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when it is intended to hold the next meeting of the national rapid coordinating committee; if he intends attending this meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37856/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I understand that arrangements are being made to hold a RAPID National Monitoring Committee meeting this autumn, which I hope to attend, subject to diary and Dáil commitments. The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within designated RAPID areas nationally.

Dormant Accounts Fund Management

Questions (1062)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1062. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he intends running a module for flagship projects using dormant account funding similar to that delivered by the previous Government in view of the success of the previous round of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37857/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Disbursements on dormant accounts measures are paid in the first instance “up front” from Departmental Votes in the same way as with any other spending programme. Therefore, Government Departments have to source funding for dormant accounts programmes from their annual Exchequer allocations.

At a time of severe budgetary pressures, resulting in reduced allocations across all Departmental Votes, there is a need to prioritise and keep all existing funding programmes under review. I am prepared also to keep under review proposed new funding measures under the Dormant Accounts Fund, particularly in the context of improvement to the budgetary situation in future years.

Leader Programmes Funding

Questions (1063)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1063. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the amount of money allocated to each Leader company broken down between administration and project expenditure; the amount approved for expenditure by each company to date for project expenditure; the expenditure to date in each company broken down between administration and project expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37858/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There is an ongoing system of monitoring and review of all systems and processes used to implement Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) by my Department and this has recently resulted in a suite of amendments to the programme. These amendments provide scope for Local Development Companies (LDCs) to have greater flexibility to deliver actions that support the achievement of the objectives of their local development strategies and thereby increase the likelihood of the success of the programme. My Department is responsible for ensuring that the aims and objectives of the RDP are achieved and has implemented systems which reflect this new approach and which will support LDCs in delivering the RDP in an efficient and effective way in their local areas. This approach, supported by the European Commission, will also ensure that the financial resources available through the RDP are used to their full potential. The increase in the EU co-financing rate to 85% for Axes 3 & 4 of the RDP, which applies to expenditure in 2012 and 2013, will also have an impact on the Programme complement, the outcome of which will become more apparent as expenditure progresses in 2013. The information requested is set out in the following table.

LAG	Original allocation	Original Project Allocation	Original Administration Allocation	Project Expenditure approved to date	Project Expenditure to date	Administration Expenditure to date
Avondhu/ Blackwater Partnership Limited (Cork East)	9,057,810	7,246,248	1,811,562	3,830,647.43	2,722,653.07	1,071,827.95
Ballyhoura Development Limited (Limerick East & North Cork)	11,673,519	9,338,816	2,334,703	9,267,048.88	4,058,454.30	1,734,673.20
Carlow County Development Partnership Limited	8,878,177	7,102,542	1,775,635	3,052,847.10	2,482,948.17	1,130,324.31
Cavan Partnership Ltd. & County Monaghan Area Partnership Ltd.	12,035,118	9,628,095	2,407,023	3,907,189.99	2,114,191.44	1,339,980.57
Clare Local Development Company Limited	14,028,529	11,222,823	2,805,706	7,157,462.00	4,057,534.00	1,666,112.87
Comhar na nOileáin Teoranta	4,642,415	3,713,932	928,483	2,223,699.72	1,299,568.76	684,559.87
Donegal Local Development Company Limited	12,831,901	10,265,521	2,566,380	4,868,923.61	2,666,557.01	1,514,313.76
Fingal LEADER Partnership (Dublin Rural)	7,766,780	6,213,424	1,553,356	2,106,834.67	617,984.07	799,727.20
FORUM Connemara	9,668,965	7,735,172	1,933,793	2,492,928.53	1,420,230.14	906,515.46
Galway Rural Development Company Limited	15,257,985	12,206,388	3,051,597	6,021,338.73	3,593,476.54	1,441,471.98
Inishowen Development Partnership	8,286,143	6,628,914	1,657,229	3,889,308.00	2,549,770.48	910,764.17
I.R.D. Duhallow	10,315,943	8,252,754	2,063,189	6,123,743.87	2,788,209.60	1,214,509.63
Kildare (Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta)	12,282,448	9,825,958	2,456,490	3,168,475.76	1,561,271.21	1,460,070.64
County Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Limited	11,523,729	9,218,983	2,304,746	5,545,580.99	3,166,770.14	1,453,259.15
Laois Community & Enterprise Development Company Limited	10,993,608	8,794,887	2,198,721	3,898,966.14	2,230,002.24	1,100,284.55
Leitrim Integrated Development Company	10,845,497	8,676,398	2,169,099	4,106,213.84	2,170,181.49	1,218,472.74
Longford Community Resources Limited	8,714,110	6,971,288	1,742,822	3,441,778.76	1,963,862.26	845,718.32
Louth LEADER Partnership	8,839,815	7,071,852	1,767,963	2,792,239.36	1,894,917.21	1,069,314.99
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company Teoranta	10,751,894	8,601,515	2,150,379	4,193,555.99	2,583,201.91	1,162,576.54
Meath Partnership	12,748,771	10,199,017	2,549,754	4,987,795.67	2,430,433.40	1,677,464.64
M.F.G. (Meitheal  Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta)	17,278,809	13,823,048	3,455,761	4,169,606.03	1,968,042.53	1,441,051.55
North & East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teoranta	10,558,882	8,447,106	2,111,776	3,635,886.02	2,184,413.10	1,257,808.82
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Company	9,708,008	7,411,407	2,296,601	5,592,664.43	3,360,435.74	1,038,825.27
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company	11,520,489	9,216,392	2,304,097	4,637,695.12	2,761,624.15	1,233,477.83
Roscommon Integrated Development Company	12,838,021	10,270,417	2,567,604	4,877,858.88	2,835,447.32	1,487,153.33
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Company	10,888,673	8,710,939	2,177,734	5,507,668.44	3,574,141.25	1,168,461.11
South East Cork Area Development Limited	10,641,494	8,513,196	2,128,298	4,562,631.69	3,096,641.38	1,187,189.19
South Kerry Development Partnership Limited	12,370,667	9,896,534	2,474,133	3,152,566.94	1,940,793.86	1,563,591.04
South Tipperary Local Development Company Limited	11,106,187	8,884,950	2,221,237	6,266,797.45	2,881,426.33	1,217,735.08
South West Mayo Development Company Limited	12,150,007	9,720,006	2,430,001	4,464,132.53	3,435,618.66	1,451,335.16
Waterford LEADER Partnership Limited	10,558,519	8,446,815	2,111,704	4,637,698.01	2,930,540.98	1,275,419.90
West Cork Development Partnership	14,601,149	11,680,920	2,920,229	5,297,645.98	3,147,130.30	1,710,569.94
West Limerick Resources	9,997,751	7,998,201	1,999,550	3,818,617.59	1,976,346.64	1,236,936.81
Westmeath Community Development	10,987,060	8,789,648	2,197,412	2,925,827.18	1,787,569.28	1,219,956.08
Wexford Local Development	12,515,565	10,012,452	2,503,113	5,713,897.35	3,394,727.18	1,272,856.16
County Wicklow Partnership	11,135,560	8,908,448	2,227,112	2,939,631.00	1,966,345.00	1,167,356.67
Total	399,999,998	319,645,006	80,354,992	159,277,404	91,613,461	44,164,309.81

Environmental Schemes

Questions (1064, 1117, 1118)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1064. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the date of all meetings that have been held of Comhairle na Tuaithe since March 2011; the number of these meetings he attended; the proposed date for the next meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37859/12]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of meetings held since its inception of Comhairle na Tuaithe; the date of each meeting; his attendance or otherwise at these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37866/12]

Brendan Smith

Question:

1118. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the progress made by Comhairle na Tuaithe since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37867/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1064, 1117 and 1118 together.

From March 2011 to date, meetings of Comhairle na Tuaithe were held on 5 October and 7 December 2011 and on 8 February and 4 April 2012. The next meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe is scheduled for 20 September 2012. All of these meetings to date have been chaired by my Department, and I have not been present at them.

Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) continuously supports and oversees the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy and its associated schemes, programmes and activities. Since March 2011 progress has been made on a number of issues including the following.

Mountain Access

A Pilot Mountain Access scheme has been developed, Its purpose is to facilitate access to the uplands for hill walking and similar activities. Pilot schemes have been developed at Mount Gable in Connemara where 94 landowners are involved; a second pilot is under development in Carrauntoohil and the MacGillicuddy Reeks in Co. Kerry. This pilot is currently being expanded from an initial 8/10 landowners to approximately 150 landowners and will encompass an area of about 1002Km . An indemnity scheme for landowners is a requirement of this process.

Indemnity Scheme

A National Indemnity Scheme for Landowners to facilitate access to private lands for recreation and tourism purposes is currently under development in association with the State Claims Agency following approval by Comhairle Na Tuaithe.

Access Issues

An Access and Public Liability document which has been prepared through Comhairle na Tuaithe is currently with the Attorney General’s Office. I anticipate that this document will be available to the public in the coming weeks, to provide clarification to landowners and recreational users regarding access to private lands and the situation regarding public liability.

National Countryside Recreation Strategy

Comhairle na Tuaithe has agreed a list of the top ten priorities of the National Countryside Recreadion Strategy and partners have taken positions to support delivery of these agreed actions.

State Agencies

Through Comhairle na Tuaithe various state agencies with land holdings have come together to produce a draft National Outdoor Recreation Plan for Public Lands and Waters in Ireland. Together they have identified a vision, objectives and a common approach to managing, maintaining, facilitating and developing outdoor recreation opportunities on Ireland’s publicly owned lands. The draft plan has been prepared by the Department and those bodies that are public land and waterway owners or fishery owners, together with other organisations that set policy or support developments in outdoor recreation. When finalised it will form part of the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy. I expect negotiations on the final version of the plan to be concluded shortly.

Walks Scheme

The Walks Scheme continues to be implemented and currently has 1,805 participants on over 40 trails; this includes 20 National Way Marked Ways and 20 Fáilte Ireland Looped Walks and other priority walks that traverse both public and private lands. These participant landowners received €1.91m in annual maintenance payments in 2011 to maintain these trails.

New Contracts with Local Development Companies

New Service Level Agreements have been signed with 12 Local Development Companies for the delivery of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy at county level and continuing implementation of the Walks Scheme and other appropriate schemes and actions to implement the priority objectives of the Strategy. These agreements have facilitated the continuation of the role of the Rural Recreation Officers to maintain their profile and the good work that has been acomplished to date.

I anticipate that Comhairle na Tuaithe and its constituent members and stakeholders will continue their work on the delivery of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy over the coming months. I would like to express my appreciation for work and commitment of the various stakeholders to date.

Question No. 1065 answered with Question No. 1008.

Planning Issues

Questions (1066)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

1066. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of developers being refused planning permissions under section 35 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2010, which provides for the refusal of planning permission by a local authority where the authority is satisfied that a person is not in compliance with a previous permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37935/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy, and those data are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. Data on the number of refusals made under section 35 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 are not included within that range.

Building Regulations Amendments

Questions (1067)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

1067. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will introduce a system of mandatory registration of builders and property developers; if builders and developers who fail to discharge their responsibilities with regard to existing and previous developments will be barred from registration under such a system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37936/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department is currently considering the question of a registration process for house builders/contractors and has held discussions on the matter with the Construction Industry Federation. The CIF has been invited to prepare a paper setting out proposals for such a scheme. My Department has indicated that such a scheme should be in keeping with competition law, include strong quality assurance checks, provide strong consumer protection, have the cover of insurance and not add excessively to the economic cost of house construction/purchase/rental.

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Questions (1068)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

1068. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will introduce a waiver from the household charge and forthcoming property tax for homeowners affected by pyrite until such time as their developments have been fully remediated; if this waiver will apply retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37938/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge. The legislation provides for a number of exemptions and waivers from payment of the household charge. The waivers which apply concern -

- Owners of residential property entitled to mortgage interest supplement, and

- Owners of houses in certain unfinished housing estates.

While there is no specific exemption for properties affected by pyrite, the owner of a property which is not occupied or suitable for occupation on the liability date would not be liable for the household charge.

I have recently published the report of the independent Pyrite Panel. The Pyrite Report recommends that consideration be given to providing an exemption from the proposed property tax, for a set period, for dwellings where damage from pyritic heave has been proved by testing. While the Government will have regard to this recommendation as appropriate in the context of the proposed property tax legislation, no decisions have been made as yet on the details of the local property tax, including what exemptions might apply.

Insurance Industry Regulation

Questions (1069)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

1069. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will introduce regulations regarding structural insurance, home insurance and insurance for building projects and quarries to ensure that there is adequate consumer protection as per recommendations 22, 16 and 19 in the Pyrite Report; if he will further ensure that the insurer in these instances will be entirely independent of the entity responsible for construction and of the building industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37939/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department has no regulatory function in the area of insurance or insurance based products but will, however, be working with the appropriate regulatory bodies to advance the recommendations in the pyrite report in relation to these issues.

Questions Nos. 1070 to 1072, inclusive, answered with Question No. 1046.