Written Answers Nos. 146-157
146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the reason that he did not allow registration forms for persons registering their septic tanks to be available in post offices which would have been a convenient way for members of the public to access these forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39864/12]
View answerThere is a range of options available for owners of premises connected to domestic waste water treatment systems to register their systems. An on-line registration system www.protectourwater.ie is in place or householders can register by posting an application form to Protect Our Water, PO Box 12204, Dublin 7 or to their local authority. Forms can also be handed into local authority offices. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is charged with managing the registration system on a shared services basis for the water services authorities, including the processing of applications and payments through its central bureau. My Department requested An Post to stock registration forms in rural post offices. However, An Post replied that its normal policy is to only stock literature in Post Offices which is associated with the over the counter business transacted in those offices and accordingly the company declined to stock the forms as requested by the LGMA.
Application forms are available from City and County Councils , including branch offices, and from libraries and Citizens Information Centres. Registration commenced on 25 June 2012 and must be effected by 1 February 2013. Early registration up to and including 28 September 2012 will cost €5 and thereafter will increase to €50. Ample time has been provided for householders to access registration forms and I consider that the options outlined above are comprehensive in facilitating persons in the registration of their on-site waste water treatment systems.
147. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if the rules in relation to the maximum size of property eligible under the home choice loan scheme are absolute in all cases or whether there are any exceptions allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39894/12]
View answer148. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of approvals given to date under the home choice loan scheme; the number of loans paid out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39895/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
Details relating to the maximum size of property eligible under the Home Choice Loan are set out in the Housing (Home Choice Loan) Regulations 2009. These specify that loans may not be made available for the purchase or construction of a house where the total floor area of the house is, or would exceed, 175 square metres. This is a general eligibility criterion which applies to all applications.
The following table sets out the position in relation to activity under the Home Choice Loan scheme.
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
Total |
|
Approvals |
4 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
18 |
|
Loans drawn down |
4 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
15 |
149. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the rationale considered by him in preparing the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 which led to tenants of residential properties not being considered as having any liability for the local services to which the charge contributes through the local government fund. [39901/12]
View answer150. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views whether legislation suggesting that tenants of residential properties are not liable for the household charge is discriminatory, in view of the fact that tenants, whether in public or private accommodation, benefit from the local services provided through the charge, notwithstanding the legislative provision that certain buildings are not considered as residential for the purposes of the legislation. [39902/12]
View answer151. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views on the provision in standard residential letting contracts whereby owners of private residential property can legally pass on the household charge and the non-principal private residence charge to tenants. [39903/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 151, inclusive, together.
I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 1018, 1019 and 1020 of 18 September 2012, which set out the position in this matter.
152. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 595 of 6 June 2012, if the household charge is a property tax rather than a charge for local services; if it is not a property tax, the reason the legislation says that certain buildings are not residential property for the purposes of section 2(2) of the Household Charge (Local Government) Act 2011. [39905/12]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 1021 of 18 September 2012, which sets out the position in this matter.
153. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to reform the motor tax system in order to stop abuse of declarations of non-use. [39910/12]
View answerThe General Scheme of a Bill to tighten the relevant motor tax procedures was approved by Government on 22 May 2012 and the Bill will be published as soon as possible once the legal drafting process has been completed.
I intend to provide that drivers will be able to declare their intention to keep their vehicle off-the-road in advance, so that if a vehicle is not to be used on a public road for a number of months, the owner will be able to inform the relevant authorities before taking the car off the road rather than afterwards, and so avoid a liability for motor tax. Under the current system, owners declare vehicles off the road for the purposes of motor tax after the fact, which is effectively unverifiable and open to abuse.
154. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the total amount allocated in this year's Estimates for payment to local authorities as a block grant; the amount that will now be withheld due to non payment of the household charge and if it is intended to surrender this money to the Exchequer at the end of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39932/12]
View answer155. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the amount that will be withheld from each local authority this year in funding to them from his Department due to non-payment of the household charge; the percentage of the block grant involved; the method by which this amount of money was calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39933/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 46 of 18 September, which sets out the position in this matter.
156. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the date on which it is proposed to set up the commission to examine local authority boundaries; if he intendeds to abolish any local authorities or town councils; the proposed terms of reference of the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39934/12]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 43, 56, 69 and 74 of 18 September 2012. The decisions to merge local authorities in Limerick and Tipperary will give rise to a review of local electoral areas in these counties and, subject to the final shape of the decisions by Government, the wider local government policy proposals being brought forward will also give rise to an examination of local electoral boundaries. The Terms of Reference for the review will reflect these decisions. I am not in a position to define timelines for the review but it will be completed in good time before the 2014 local elections.
157. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will confirm if there is an issue with the silting that is occurring down the docks seafront and coming over to Clontarf seafront, Dublin 3; and if this is causing the sea to further erode. [39947/12]
View answerI have no responsibility for, or role to play in, managing or dealing with silting of river beds, docklands or seafront areas or its consequences.
