Thursday, 11 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 134-42

Housing Grant Payments

Questions (134)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

134. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the progress being made by each of the relevant local authorities on their allocations for housing aid for older people and mobility aid grants; if local authorities have allocated their entire allocation for 2012; if the budget for 2011 is exhausted; if he has plans to recoup unspent allocations from those local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43874/12]

Written answers

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

Exchequer allocations for 2012 totalling some €54.2 million were notified to local authorities in February 2012 in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. Some €33.4 million (61%) of this has been drawn down to date by local authorities.

My Department’s involvement relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of the individual grants. The grants schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority to determine how the funding is apportioned between the various grant measures and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within the allocations provided by my Department.

All the funding allocated in 2011 was fully spent. My Department monitors expenditure under these schemes on an on-going basis and any savings resulting from an under-spend by local authorities of their 2012 allocation will be made available for re-allocation to authorities whose allocations have been fully spent.

Planning Issues

Questions (135)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

135. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 3 October 2012, and notwithstanding his Department's management guidelines, if a local authority may as a matter of policy preclude councillor's and or Oireachtas members from attendance at formal pre-planning consultation when they are accompanying the prospective applicant; if such a policy were it be adopted would it be an executive or reserved function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43890/12]

Written answers

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

As stated in the reply to Question No. 155 of 3 October 2012, it is a matter for the planning authority concerned to decide whether another person or persons may accompany an applicant to a section 247 pre-planning consultation, having regard to the effective conduct of the consultation, the number of persons concerned, limitations of time and space and any other relevant considerations. Such a decision would be an executive function as there is no provision in law making it a reserved function.

Traveller Accommodation

Questions (136)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

136. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide this Deputy with copies of correspondence that his office has received from Dublin City Council since June 2012 on the regeneration of Labre Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin; if he will forward a copy to me of the application received from Dublin City Council for funding of Traveller Specific Accommodation for which the city received €50,000; and if his office will meet with this Deputy to discuss the matter. [43897/12]

Written answers

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

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. Future arrangements for a meeting with my Department will be addressed as part of this response.

Planning Issues

Questions (137)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

137. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if any changes were made this year to regulations or by other means in relation to the size of windmill covered by the Critical Infrastructure Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43910/12]

Written answers

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

Under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended by the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006) a wind farm with more than 50 turbines or having a total output greater than 100 megawatts was categorised as strategic infrastructure. Section 78 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 reduced these thresholds to 25 turbines/a total output greater than 50 megawatts. The relevant amendment was commenced on 5 October 2010.

Voluntary Sector Funding

Questions (138, 139)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

138. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the amount of funding provided to volunteer centres around the country in each year, broken down centre for the years 2008 andto date in 2012; the proposed amount of money to be allocated to volunteer centres in 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43911/12]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

139. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his views on whether the work of the volunteer centres to be of national importance; the steps he is taking to develop volunteering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43912/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 139 together.

The following table sets out the amounts paid to each Volunteer Centre from 2008 to date in 2012. Ongoing funding for my Department’s programmes for next year, and beyond, will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process. In addition 1% of funding under the Local and Community Development Programme is for volunteering activities. This funding is paid directly to Volunteer Centres which operate in LCDP areas.

Volunteer Centres	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Carlow Volunteer Centre	€151,433.00	€135,907.20	€118,102.00	€106,290.00	€106,290.00
Clare Volunteer Centre	€0.00	€0.00	€32,410.00	€47,410.00	€59,340.00
Cork Volunteer Bureau	€43,861.96	€49,521.00	€67,226.00	€86,170.00	€97,720.00
Donegal Volunteer Project	€161,589.00	€135,599.04	€127,553.00	€114,800.00	€114,800.00
Dublin City South Volunteer Centre	€139,050.00	€189,745.92	€171,287.00	€154,150.00	€154,150.00
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown	€0.00	€80,644.00	€91,780.00	€83,352.60	€87,850.00
Fingal Volunteer Centre	€96,397.00	€119,854.32	€101,168.00	€104,370.00	€104,370.00
Galway Volunteer Centre	€89,711.00	€118,275.00	€116,749.00	€105,070.00	€105,070.00
Kerry Volunteer Bureau	€133,834.00	€124,800.00	€107,510.00	€96,760.00	€96,760.00
Kildare Volunteer Bureau	€126,690.00	€125,270.40	€107,745.00	€93,220.00	€97,720.00
Limerick City Volunteer Centre	€41,742.66	€41,273.28	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00
Limerick Volunteer Centre		(formerly Limerick City & West Limerick)	€144,940.00	€130,446.00	€123,343.75
Longford	€0.00	€0.00	€32,410.00	€32,410.00	€29,670.00
Louth Volunteer Bureau	€119,748.00	€118,406.40	€111,702.00	€100,530.00	€100,530.00
Mayo Volunteer Bureau	€63,300.00	€60,768.00	€88,507.00	€84,081.00	€93,177.00
Meath Volunteer Centre	€46,172.23	€116,923.88	€122,963.00	€110,670.00	€110,670.00
Monaghan Volunteer Centre	€35,500.00	€56,231.93	€66,904.00	€66,015.00	€66,008.00
Sligo Volunteer Centre	€118,489.66	€119,816.64	€106,842.00	€96,150.00	€97,720.00
South Dublin County Volunteer Centre	€198,252.00	€196,032.00	€172,816.00	€155,534.00	€155,534.00
South Tipperary Volunteer Centre	€99,328.00	€129,312.00	€130,861.00	€117,770.00	€117,770.00
Volunteer Ireland				Volunteer Centres Ireland & Volunteer Ireland merged during 2011	€425,120.00
Volunteer Centres Ireland	€247,229.60	€269,202.24	€207,614.00	€214,315.00	€0.00
Volunteering Ireland	€232,500.00	€211,740.00	€257,614.00	€228,522.00	€0.00
West Limerick Resources Ltd	€81,443.00	€102,330.52	€0.00	€0.00	€0.00
Westmeath Volunteer Centre	€116,154.00	€123,782.40	€119,841.00	€107,860.00	€107,860.00
Wicklow Volunteer Bureau	€114,639.00	€113,354.88	€122,957.00	€111,410.00	€115,910.00

My primary concern has been, and will continue to be, the protection of front line services delivering vital programmes and initiatives, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities. Ensuring a continued positive impact across the Community and Voluntary sector will remain a key part of my Department’s work in the coming years. As well as funding the local Volunteer Centres, my Department also funds Volunteer Ireland which was founded in 2011 following the amalgamation of Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteer Ireland. Volunteer Ireland facilitates and promotes the services offered by the local Volunteer Centres. Its role is also to develop best practice within and across the Volunteer Centres and, it co-ordinates a national programme of volunteer management training that is delivered locally via the Volunteer Centres.

My Department seeks to encourage and support the spirit of volunteerism, which has resulted in much good work here and abroad. The implementation of measures to encourage volunteering will continue to be an important element of the work of my Department.

Unfinished Housing Developments

Questions (140, 141)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

140. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the funding provided by his Department to assist in making unfinished housing estates safe and inhabitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43925/12]

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

141. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the amount of funding drawn down from his Department by each local authority for the purposes of making unfinished housing estates safe and inhabitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43926/12]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together.

I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. The Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector and real progress is being made with regard to the public safety works required to improve the living conditions of existing residents on some unfinished estates. The Committee is meeting on a regular basis.

Under the Public Safety Initiative, my Department has made allocations totalling some €3.49 million to 21 local authorities from the funding allocation made available to address immediate safety issues in 2011. The types of works that have been approved to date include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. A provision of €2 million has been made for 2012 and my Department will be making further allocations as applications are received from local authorities and assessed. To date, a total amount of €1.78 million has been drawn down by local authorities. The following table provides details of this funding by local authority.

Local Authority	Funding Approved	Funding drawn down
Carlow County Council	€ 210,228.10	€ 105,114.05
Cavan County Council	€ 259,521.34	€ 106,201.98
Clare County Council	€ 36,247.36	€ 18,123.68
Cork County Council	€ 274,846.50	€ 131,045.25
Galway County Council	€ 129,132.93	€30,262.00
Kildare County Council	€ 17,025.00	€ 0.00
Kilkenny County Council	€125,800.89	€ 67,263.51
Laois County Council	€113,398.72	€ 86,579.86
Leitrim County Council	€380,999.13	€16,500.00
Limerick County Council	€ 105,636.01	€ 105,636.01
Longford County Council	€ 808,408.44	€ 474,626.67
Louth County Council	€ 40,076.73	€ 40,076.73
Mayo County Council	€ 10,981.13	€ 10,981.13
Monaghan County Council	€ 31,182.83	€ 31,182.83
Offaly County Council	€ 54,086.28	€ 54,086.28
Roscommon County Council	€ 162,921.02	€ 107,134.12
Sligo County Council	€ 123,013.98	€ 68,540.50
South Tipp Co. Council	€ 97,414.86	€ 46,805.36
Waterford County Council	€ 121,257.50	€ 41,050.00
Westmeath County Council	€ 143,727.95	€ 53,514.95
Wexford County Council	€ 249,085.44	€ 180,999.78
TOTAL	€ 3,494,992.14	€ 1,775,724.69

Voluntary Housing Sector

Questions (142)

Tom Fleming

Question:

142. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if funding is currently available for sheltered housing projects, housing projects for returning emigrants; if so, where one may apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43929/12]

Written answers

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

Under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding is provided to Approved Housing Bodies, through the local authorities, for the provision of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need, including older persons, persons with a disability, homeless persons and elderly returning emigrants who qualify under the Safe Home Programme.

My Department’s involvement with the voluntary and co-operative housing schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, including the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding scheme , and the nomination of tenants is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. In the case of elderly returning emigrants the Safe Home organisation assesses applications and compiles a list of eligible applicants for use by approved housing bodies and local authorities in the allocation of accommodation. Elderly emigrants wishing to apply for accommodation may contact the Safe Home Programme at St. Brendan’s Village, Mulranny, Co. Mayo.

A total of €50 million is available in respect of the CAS programme for 2012. Earlier in 2012 funding was allocated to local authorities in respect of existing commitments on projects underway. In July I announced details of a €35 million programme of special needs housing provision which is intended to deliver some 377 housing units at 55 locations across the country.