Written Answers Nos. 1126-1142
1127. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of reminder letters that have been sent out to residents in relation to the non-payment of the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39168/12]
View answerThe Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) administers the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. I am informed by the LGMA that between 2 and 13 July, reminder letters in respect of 103,905 non-registered addresses were issued by local authorities nationwide, with a second tranche issuing between 7 and 20 August in respect of 65,212 households. Local authorities are currently in the process of issuing a further tranche of reminder letters to 52,246 households nationwide. In total, some 221,363 letters have been issued to date to households that have not paid the charge.
1128. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the practice of Cavan County Council writing off substantial amounts of planning contributions or development levies in return for applicants paying the amount up-front or in cash; his views in relation to such practices and the way he proposes to deal with same. [39173/12]
View answerAs with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of due amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures.In accordance with the Local Authority Accounting in Ireland Code of Practice and Accounting Regulations, issued by my Department in December 2009 under section 107 of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities are required to make provision for doubtful debts and to write off known uncollectable debts.
1129. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if any funding requests have been submitted by Dublin City Council for the redevelopment of an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39174/12]
View answerThis year, my Department is providing funding of over €62 million to Dublin City Council to support the Council’s various social housing supply and improvement works programmes currently underway. This includes over €40 million in respect of various regeneration programmes operating across the city including Ballymun and projects which were previously included in the City Council’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme.
Dublin City Council set up a multi-disciplinary Special Housing Taskforce to examine all options for the future regeneration of all the estates included in the former PPP programme. My Department is working closely with the City Council to advance the proposals which have emerged following consultation and discussions with the Regeneration Boards for the relevant projects. While proposals for O’Devaney Gardens and Dominick Street are being progressed through the planning and design phase, neither are sufficiently advanced at this stage to be considered for budget approval or implementation. It is also a matter for the City Council, in the first instance, to manage the prioritisation and phasing of those projects within its work programme.
In the interim the City Council operates a de-tenanting strategy, with the support of my Department, in respect of the former PPP estates to facilitate their ultimate regeneration. My Department provided approximately €5 million for this specific purpose in 2011 and a further €6.5 million has been allocated for this in 2012.
1131. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Sligo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39242/12]
View answerI am aware of the financial position in Sligo County Council. I can confirm that I have received a copy of the report of the independent financial consultant engaged by Sligo County Council to review its financial position. I have also received a request from the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council to meet with a delegation from the Council to discuss the report’s findings. The report recommendations are currently being considered in my Department in consultation with the local authority.
1132. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if a local authority is permitted by law to take foster care allowance into account as means for rent calculation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39279/12]
View answerHousing rents are set in accordance with a rent scheme adopted by each local authority. The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of housing authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions.It is a matter for housing authorities, when assessing individual households, to consider whether rents payable are in accordance with the authority’s rent scheme. Therefore, decisions on whether or not to disregard either a proportion of income or particular sources of income for the purposes of calculating rents are matters for each individual housing authority to consider in accordance with their own rent scheme.
Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, when commenced, will replace existing enactments in relation to differential rent schemes. Regulations and guidelines for housing authorities to give effect to section 31 are currently in preparation in my Department. When these are made section 31 will be commenced and authorities will have one year in which to put in place a differential rent scheme under the new provisions. While it is not the intention to introduce a national standardised differential rent scheme, the regulations to be made will more clearly set out the matters that may be included in a local rents scheme, including the level, type and sources of household income that may be assessed for rent purposes.
1133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the extent to which it is intended that local household or other service charges will go directly towards the provision of services currently or previously provided by local authorities or likely to be so provided in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39313/12]
View answerLocal authorities are permitted, under statute, to charge fees in relation to the services they provide. Internationally, local services are administered by local authorities and financed by local service charges. In Ireland, local authorities are responsible for, among other services, public parks; libraries; open spaces and leisure amenities; planning and development; fire and emergency services; roads; maintenance and cleaning of streets and street lighting. These facilities benefit everyone.
The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides that income from the household charge is paid into the Local Government Fund. Revenues from the charge are disbursed back to local authorities in general-purpose grants and support the provision of essential local services. Income from the household charge and the potential from a future property tax are critical in ensuring that local authorities have the necessary resources to continue to deliver services to their communities.
1134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if it is intended to give any particular financial recognition by way of incentives to local authorities with a better than average record in terms of budgetary control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39314/12]
View answer1135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will indicate those local authorities now faced with the most serious level of budgetary cutbacks; the extent to which the cause or causes have been identified; the measures available or likely to become available to the local authorities directly or through the aegis of his Department to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39315/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1134 and 1135 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. PQ 49 on today’s order paper. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. It is also a matter for individual local authorities to manage their own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner.
1137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will identify and provide for a reorganisation of the shared ownership loan system which is currently penalising holders of such mortgages in a most unfair fashion whereby the rent being charged in respect of the local authority equity in the dwelling is vastly in excess in some cases of the mortgage on the remaining equity; if he will identify the ways and means of addressing this issue as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39317/12]
View answerUnder the Shared Ownership scheme the rent charged on the local authority’s equity in a shared ownership transaction is to cover the funding costs to the Housing Finance Agency which are based on borrowings at the prevailing interest rates. Any difference between the rent and prevailing interest rate is reflected in the capital outstanding on the property, i.e. if the rent charged in any period is greater than the prevailing mortgage interest due on the local authority’s share the purchase price of the outstanding equity will be reduced accordingly.
The review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts announced in the context of the standing down of affordable housing schemes as part of the Government’s housing policy statement will include an examination of the operational aspects of the shared ownership scheme. That review is currently on-going and I expect the report to be delivered to me later this year. Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, will be informed by that review.
1138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when it is expected to bring the structures appertaining to the operation of voluntary housing associations into line with the operational rules operated by local authorities with particular reference to the determination of rent and the governance structures of such organisations in line with company law and their articles of association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39318/12]
View answerThe Government’s Housing Policy Statement, published in June 2011, identifies approved housing bodies (AHBs) as key partners in the delivery of social housing. This recognises both the constrained funding levels available for local authority construction programmes and the capacity and track-record of the voluntary and cooperative housing sector.
The move from capital funded programmes of construction and acquisition by approved housing bodies to more revenue funded options presents challenges for AHBs and will take some time to be fully agreed and implemented. As such, I intend to develop a regulatory framework for the sector that will provide support and assurance both to the sector itself and to its external partners as it takes on the expanded role envisaged for it in the policy statement and to underline its status as a viable and attractive investment opportunity for financial institutions.
I will develop this framework in consultation with the sector but I expect that it will:
- assist approved housing bodies to develop key governance and management structures to facilitate an expanded remit;
- provide independent scrutiny and validation of such bodies’ competences; and
- place sustainable housing management policies and practices at the heart of a coordinated approach to the development of the sector.
To this end, on 8 August 2012 a draft voluntary code for the regulation of approved housing bodies was published on my Department’s website www.environ.ie for public consultation. The consultation period runs until 21 September and I invite all interested parties to make their views known. This code will be a first step towards a statutory regulatory framework that will protect the very significant State investment in the sector over the last two decades and will provide assistance to those working in the sector to meet the challenges ahead. This code will serve as a learning opportunity for the sector and for my Department as we develop this longer-term statutory framework to best support the enhanced role of AHBs.
1139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when it is expected that a local authority house building programme can be put in place in view of the vast number of applicants currently on local authority housing lists; the extent to which these numbers are likely to increase in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39319/12]
View answerThe Government’s housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme is framed in a manner which optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this it is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing conditions and explore the full range of solutions to address housing needs.
The social housing capital budget has been reduced from €1.535 billion in 2008 to just over €333.7m this year, and the financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. Nevertheless, the Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing. In spite of the challenging circumstances within which local authorities are now operating, a tentative projection of 4,000 to 4,500 housing units is anticipated for 2012.
Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as social leasing, but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. In this regard, the Housing Finance Agency has received twelve applications for Certified Borrower status and awarded status to four bodies. The Agency has approved four applications for 98 social housing units in total (at a valuation of €13.4 million). It is envisaged that further lending will be generated for the Agency in 2012, under this scheme, with more approved housing bodies applying for Certified Body status and subsequent loan applications for social housing schemes.
I am conscious that the move from capital funded programmes of construction and acquisition by approved housing bodies to more revenue funded options presents challenges for them. I intend to develop an enabling regulatory framework for the sector that will provide support and assurance both to the sector itself and to its external partners as it takes on the expanded role envisaged for it by Government and to underline its status as a viable and attractive investment opportunity for financial institutions. My Department is actively working with the sector on the development of a voluntary code which I expect most bodies will endorse. This code, which should be finalised and agreed in the coming months, will serve as a learning opportunity for the sector and for my Department as we develop a longer-term statutory framework that will best support the enhanced role of AHBs.
There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government’s objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). My Department and the Housing Agency are working closely with NAMA with the aim of ensuring that a significant number of housing units are made available in this way by NAMA in the current year and beyond.
1140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the extent to which the future development of the fire services operated by the local authorities continues to be examined with particular reference to the increasing need to ensure adequate strength, equipment and compliance with modern health and safety requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39320/12]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and provision of premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities. My Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management provides support through setting general policy, the provision of training support and guidance on operational and other related matters and capital funding which, over the last decade, has exceeded €180 million. My Department provides capital grants to:
- Construct modern fire stations and for improvement works to existing stations
- Acquire front line fire appliances, (including specialist appliances) and
- Acquire emergency and rescue equipment and communications equipment.
There have been very significant improvements in fire service infrastructure, fleet and equipment in recent years, and Ireland is now acknowledged to have a first rate infrastructure for its fire service.
My Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management is currently developing a policy document called Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) which is intended to set the future direction of fire services in Ireland. The draft policy document seeks to define an integrated approach to efficient fire safety by ensuring an appropriate response to incidents from the fire service while strengthening the service’s role in fire prevention and community fire safety. The KCS document represents the outcome of a wide ranging review of all the activities that go into the provision of fire services – including the roles which fire services should provide for society into the future and having the right structures in place to deliver effective services efficiently. It also looks at finding the right balance between fire prevention, fire protection and response, all of which is underpinned by a risk categorisation approach. The National Directorate has engaged in a round of stakeholder consultation on the draft KCS document, which is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie, and it is intended to finalise the document in the near future.
My Department has been working to assist local authorities in achieving consistent implementation of safety, health and welfare initiatives since the introduction of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work legislation in 2005. The development of an Ancillary Safety Statement Template for Fire Services (2007) and the National Incident Command System (2007) were significant contributions in this area. A national Critical Incident Stress Management programme has been provided for fire services staff. Among the National Directorate’s priorities over the last few years has been the preparation and issuing to all fire authorities of a suite of Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) which cover all aspects of fire service operations, as well as the publication of a range of operational guidance and running an Annual Training Programme for Officers.
1141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the position regarding the upgrading, improvement and development of the quality and quantity of domestic drinking water in all areas throughout the country with particular reference to the need to ensure adequate supply and storage; the extent to which provision can now be made for such requirements in the future in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39322/12]
View answerThe overall strategy of investment in water services is to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public domestic water supplies is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme.
The current Programme, which runs to the end of 2013, provides for the commencement of contracts with a value of over €800m in relation to water supply infrastructure. This includes contracts to address deficiencies in the quality of supply, to improve the overall capacity of the system and an accelerated programme of mains rehabilitation. The Programme also provides for the advancement of a further range of schemes through planning, for progression to construction in future investment cycles. In the period, 2000 to 2011 (inclusive), over €5.5 billion has been invested in the water services sector; this led, inter alia, to an increase in drinking water storage capacity by a level equivalent to the needs of a population of 1,847,000.
In order to create efficiencies, improve service delivery and achieve cost savings in the delivery of water services, the Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure. The Department is currently finalising work on the implementation strategy for the establishment of Irish Water. This strategy will take account of the need to ensure that this critical public service is delivered efficiently during the transition, that there is no loss of momentum in the delivery of key projects and that a sustainable funding model is put in place to support increased investment in the sector.
1142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the extent to which he has received submissions from the local authorities in County Kildare in respect of their prioritised requirements in respect of group water schemes, group sewerage schemes or other such small schemes; the degree to which any such plans have been awaiting approval in the past ten to 15 years such as the proposed scheme at Ballyna; if costings have been submitted to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39323/12]
View answerResponsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group water schemes, group sewerage schemes and small public water and sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, approval and prioritisation of individual schemes for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for the water services authorities, including Kildare County Council.
The block grant allocations provided by my Department to the water services authorities are based, in the first instance, on the requests for funding received from the water services authorities at the beginning of each year. There may also be some additional allocations, or variations to existing allocations, during the course of the year based on responses from the authorities to any reviews of expenditure which may be carried out.
The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Kildare. While provision is made to commence contracts to the value of some €160 million in the county during the period of the programme, it was not possible to include the Ballyna Regional Water Supply Scheme amongst the priority contracts and schemes selected for inclusion. The programme aims to prioritise projects that target environmental compliance issues and support economic and employment growth. A key input to the development of the programme was the assessment of needs prepared by local authorities, including Kildare County Council, in response to my Department’s request to the authorities in 2009 to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. These were subsequently appraised by my Department in the context of the funds available and key criteria that complemented those used by the authorities. Inevitably, through this process, certain projects that had been proposed had to give way to others that are more strategically important at this time.
Progress under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 was reviewed in mid-2011 and through this process consideration was given to any newly emerging priority contracts and schemes submitted by local authorities for addition to the Programme. In response to the review process a proposal was received from Kildare County Council seeking to include a new scheme in the Programme that might facilitate Ballyna. As there was no significant change in this scheme from the one submitted at the time of the Assessment of Needs, it was not among the strategically important schemes inserted into the Programme.
