Written Answers Nos. 143-151
143. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will outline in tabular form, the amount of money allocated by his Department and agencies within his Department to Ballina, Castlebar and Westport Town Council between 1997 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43946/12]
View answerInformation on funding provided to Ballina, Castlebar and Westport Town Councils in respect of the programmes for which my Department is responsible is set out in the following table for the years from 2007. Information in respect of earlier years is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work; funding provided by agencies is a matter for the bodies concerned.
|
- |
Ballina TC |
Castlebar TC |
Westport TC |
|
2007 |
2,378,412 |
3,755,050 |
3,777,990 |
|
2008 |
2,976,811 |
5,018,463 |
3,243,430 |
|
2009 |
2,685,172 |
3,153,946 |
4,333,027 |
|
2010 |
2,486,56 2 |
2,687,056 |
1,409,525 |
|
2011 |
1,502,8 10 |
955,058 |
1,018,933 |
|
2012 to date |
1,287,570 |
761,20 8 |
562,50 5 |
|
Total |
13,317,33 7 |
16,330,78 1 |
14,345,410 |
144. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the number of Leader projects of values of more than €250,000 that are waiting for his approval; the length of time in each case since these were forwarded to his Department for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43967/12]
View answerFunding of €314m is available under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. There are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations.
Projects that request funding of €150,000 or more are required to seek final approval from the Department. The assessment of higher value projects (projects with a grant approval of €150,000 or more) usually involves detailed consultations between my Department and the relevant local development company. It frequently necessitates the provision of further documentation or clarifications. It may also, in some instances, result in modifications to the project proposed to ensure best value for money and compliance with all the necessary regulations, both national and European, governing the activities funded under the programme. These assessments also consider whether the project as proposed addresses the needs of the local community in the best possible way. A full and detailed assessment of all projects is essential. Currently, LEADER activities are co-financed by the European Union at a rate of 85% and, accordingly, come within the remit of a strict regulatory regime which requires that each project must be compliant before any funding is awarded by the LEADER companies.
My Department currently has thirty eight projects at various stages of assessment, with an amount of €14.7 million in total project costs and €9.6 million in grant aid requested on hand.
A substantial number of those projects have been received since June 2012; however, in relation to a small number there has been ongoing correspondence with the LAGs concerned for some time.
The policy in my Department is to work with the Local Development Companies to ensure that the projects submitted are fully compliant and can be approved rather than to refuse approval for funding and it can therefore take some time to come to a final conclusion. My Department will continue to work with the relevant LAGs to make a full assessment of the eligibility of these projects and will inform the LAGs once all queries have been addressed satisfactorily.
145. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when permission to approve projects was withdrawn from North East Mayo Integrated Leader Company; the reason for same; when it is intended to give permission to them to resume approving projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43968/12]
View answerMayo North East Leader Partnership (MNELP) is the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver both the Rural Development Programme (RDP) and the Local Community Development Programme (LCDP) to the North Mayo area.
On foot of correspondence I received in 2011 regarding a possible governance issue at Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company, I directed my Department to investigate the matter. This investigation is complex and ongoing and pending its completion the authority for MNELP to approve projects under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme was suspended in early March 2012 and that will remain the position for the time being.
I expect the final investigation report to be finalised and submitted to me shortly.
146. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the opportunity cost, in terms of employment in the recycling and resource recovery industry, when untreated waste electrical and electronic equipment is exported for recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43984/12]
View answerThe Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in July 2012, sets out the actions through which Ireland will make the further progress necessary to become a recycling society, with a clear focus on resource efficiency and the virtual elimination of landfilling of municipal waste. The policy contains measures to ensure that the management of waste will be in accordance with the waste hierarchy, as set out in the Waste Framework Directive, whereby prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery are favoured to the disposal of waste. Maximising the resources recovered from waste is a central principle of the policy.
Under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, financing the environmentally sound management of waste electrical and electronic equipment, including recycling, is solely a producer responsibility. Waste destined for recovery/recycling is, subject to environmental controls, a freely tradable commodity and cannot be directed into indigenous facilities. Approved bodies are however required to consider the impact their operations have on climate change, on the reduction of greenhouse gases by minimising transport and how Ireland can secure credit for savings in CO2 emissions that derive from recycling activity. It is my understanding that part of the business strategies of both Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment compliance schemes, WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland, is to provide commercially viable solutions for their members that support local service providers for the treatment of WEEE wherever possible.
The Government’s new waste policy contains measures to improve the quality of recycling and resource recovery from waste and thus provide greater opportunities for Irish industry to exploit this resource. While we must accept that our relative size will place some limits on the scope for a comprehensive recycling infrastructure, I fully support efforts to reduce our dependence on overseas recycling operations and provide local facilities with local employment that can provide cost effective solutions to WEEE producers.
To this end, as part of the review of the Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI) agreements, I have requested an examination of all further measures which could be undertaken to support the development of indigenous reprocessing capacity for PRI waste, as well as the issue of a reuse policy for Electrical and Electronic Equipment. Reuse, and the preparation for reuse of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, has the potential to deliver environmental, economic and social benefits. This review is at an advanced stage and I look forward to considering its recommendations with regard to the development of an indigenous recycling industry that respects the principles of proximity and self-sufficiency.
147. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide the necessary funding for the replacement of water mains in the Mid Kerry regional water supply, County Kerry as a matter of urgency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43999/12]
View answerSubstantial funding towards local authorities’ water conservation programmes is being provided under my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. Watermains rehabilitation is a key priority under the Programme which includes the Kerry Watermains Rehabilitation Project valued at €18.79 million.
As part of this project, I recently approved funding of €2.65 million for countywide rehabilitation works which included works to be carried out by direct labour in the Killorglin area. In addition, a proposal from Kerry County Council to carry out mains rehabilitation works in mid and south Kerry, including work in the Killorglin, Beaufort and Milltown areas, is currently being examined in my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the Council shortly.
148. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a Garda investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Pilot Training College in County Waterford which has recently been placed into liquidation leaving many Irish students with losses both in terms of college fees and legal costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43848/12]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that formal complaints have been made to An Garda Síochána in relation to circumstances surrounding the closure of the college referred to by the Deputy.
As an investigation is ongoing in this matter it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.
149. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43868/12]
View answerThe whole-time equivalent (FTE) staffing level of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) which includes the asylum determination and direct provision agencies of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC), the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) and the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) stands at 565. The corresponding FTE figure at the end of 2008 was 740 which represents a reduction of over 23% in staff numbers working on immigration related functions.
Through efficient and effective redeployment of staff and operating within the terms of the Croke Park Agreement, INIS has been able to absorb this reduction in overall staff numbers while maintaining a balanced and appropriate level of staff resources in priority areas. For example, since the end of 2008 the total number of staff assigned to the asylum determination bodies (ORAC and RAT) has been reduced by over 50% reflecting the decreasing number of new asylum applications. However, other areas of INIS have experienced huge increases in application volumes, particularly in the citizenship and EU Treaty Rights areas where new applications per year have significantly increased and in some instances, this has more than doubled.
In addition, a number of staff of INIS have been allocated to certain immigration functions in Dublin Airport as part of the pilot project to assign civilian staff to border control duties thus freeing up Gardaí for operational duties. Further significant civilianisation and replacement of Gardaí in this area is also planned.
150. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the compensation, if any, given to persons who are assaulted by other prisoners while on remand. [43876/12]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service records do not differentiate between compensation paid out to sentenced or remand prisoner. In addition, the vast majority of compensation claims are managed by the State Claims Agency. The compilation of such information, as requested, would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. However, I can inform the Deputy that to date in 2012, the sum of €12,500.00 has been paid by the Irish Prison Service in compensation to prisoners who alleged that they had been assaulted whilst in detention. In 2011, the corresponding figure was €65,000.00.
151. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the remuneration of the chairman and board members of the Property Services Regulatory Authority; the annual running costs of the authority; and if he will provide a list of their achievements to date. [43938/12]
View answerThe Chairperson of the Property Services Regulatory Authority is paid a fee of €8,978 per annum and ten ordinary members of the Authority are paid a fee of € 5,975 per annum.
The cost of the Authority in 2012 is estimated at €738,000. It should, however, be noted that under section 25 of the 2011 Act, the Authority is required to be self-financing. It is anticipated that the amount of fees which will be taken in by the Authority in 2012 will more than cover the costs of operation of the Authority.
Since its establishment, just over 6 months ago, the Authority has;
- Introduced a new comprehensive licensing system covering all Property Service Providers (PSPs) with effect from 6 July 2012 and is currently processing over 5,000 licence applications;
- Drafted and introduced a wide range of regulations under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, namely
- Licensing Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 180 of 2012) - to provide for different classes of licence and rules for the granting of licences;
- Qualifications Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 181 of 2012) - to specify the minimum qualifications and experience necessary to obtain a PSP licence;
- Professional Indemnity Insurance Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 182 of 2012) - to specify the terms on which indemnity against losses is to be available to licensees under a policy of indemnity insurance;
- Compensation Fund Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 183 of 2012) - to provide for the establishment of the PSRA
Compensation Fund, the level of contributions to the Fund and the rules governing the payment of compensation;
- Client Account Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 199 of 2012) - to provide for statutory rules for the keeping and preservation of client accounts.
- Established a system for the investigation and adjudication of complaints against PSPs;
- Established the Property Services Compensation Fund;
- Established and published the Residential Property Prices Register;
- Published a "Guide to becoming a Licensed Property Service Provider".
The Authority is also currently working on the establishment of a Commercial Leases Database; the establishment of a public Register of Licensees; the production of a Code of Practice for Property Service Providers; and the production of guidance material for the industry and the public.
