Written Answers Nos. 421-432
421. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps being taken to include more mortgage lenders, in particular sub-prime lenders, in the mortgage to rent scheme; and if he will list the mortgage providers operating here who are and are not participating in the scheme. [45829/12]
View answerOn foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears, the Government launched a mortgage to rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting those low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. The scheme ensures that the family remains in their home, while ownership is transferred to an approved housing body who in turn rent it to the original owners.
Householders seeking to avail of the mortgage to rent scheme must meet the following criteria:
- their mortgage has to have been deemed unsustainable under a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process as provided for under the Central Bank’s Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears;
- they are agree able to a voluntary repossession of their home;
- they are eligible for social housing support; and
- they do not have significant positive equity in the property.
Additionally applicants must own the property, and it must have a current market value of less than €220,000 in the Dublin area or less than €180,000 in the rest of the country.
The property must be in good condition, in a suitable location and must suit the household’s needs. In addition applicants must not own any other property or have assets in excess of €20,000 and the net household annual income must not exceed a maximum of €35,000, depending on its location. The scheme operates on a collaborative basis between the borrower, lender and the approved housing body acquiring the property. It is anticipated that all lending institutions will participate in the scheme.
422. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow persons aged 16 and 17 years to vote in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45845/12]
View answerThe Dáil and Seanad passed resolutions in July approving the setting up of a Constitutional Convention. The issues to be considered by the Convention include reducing the voting age to 17. I will bring forward proposals for change to electoral law in light of any decision for change which may arise from that process.
423. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow those on a low income to pay the household charge in smaller instalments by convenient methods, like by budget card/bill pay; if his attention has been drawn to the numbers willing to pay the charge by this method as they are unable to come up with the lump sum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45852/12]
View answerThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the household charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date of 1 January 2012 is liable to pay the household charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is administering the household charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. Instalment payments were available by direct debit only and persons opting to pay in this way had to register their details with the LGMA before 1 March, 2012. This deadline was necessary in order to meet banking requirements for direct debit arrangements. While there is no provision relating to ability to pay included in the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011, the Act does place collection of the charge under the care and management of local authorities and application in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority.
424. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding being provided this year for the senior alerts scheme 2012; the amount of funding provided for the same or similar scheme in the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; his plans to provide further funding in 2012 for the senior alert scheme in view of the importance of this scheme to the security and well being of older persons; and the demand for the scheme. [45875/12]
View answerMy Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages and assists the community’s support for older people by means of a community-based grant scheme to improve the security of people over 65 years of age. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. The following table outlines the budget provision from 2008 to 2012.
|
Year |
Budget |
|
2008 |
€3.059m |
|
2009 |
€3.5m |
|
2010 |
€3.10m |
|
2011 |
€2.35m |
|
2012 |
€2.45m |
The aim of the Seniors Alert Scheme is to support independent living for those over 65 who live alone or who live with a person who is also over 65 years of age and of limited financial means. A key element of the Scheme is the provision of funding for a socially monitored alarm which supports this independence. So far this year funding has been provided to 7810 people.
425. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the information that has been gathered by his Department in relation to the use by local authorities of Section 140 of the Local Government Act 2001 motions; the number of such motions that have been moved in each local authority in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45878/12]
View answerMy 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 motions, concerning planning issues, made under section 140 of the Local Government Act 2001 where notice is given, the number of motions passed by the council and those motions superseded by material contravention procedures are included within that range. My Department does not maintain records in respect of section 140 motions concerning other matters.
426. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on plans for dredging works at Rathbarry river, West Cork; if he will provide a timeline for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45898/12]
View answerMy Department has no responsibility for, or role to play in, managing or dealing with the dredging of rivers.
427. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of complaints received by local authorities in 2010 and 2011 as a result of anti-social behaviour; the number of evictions that have been carried out by local authorities as a result of these complaints; the steps being taken to combat anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45938/12]
View answerStatistics compiled by my Department show that in 2010, 39 warrants under section 62 of the Housing Act 1966 were sought by local authorities for anti-social behaviour reasons with 14 resultant evictions, 56 Section 62 warrants for anti-social behaviour were sought in 2011 with 15 evictions. My Department does not collect statistics on the number of complaints received by local authorities.
Arising from a Supreme Court judgment in February 2012 relating to section 62 of the Housing Act 1966, the Housing Bill currently being developed in my Department will include a revised procedure enabling housing authorities to recover possession of their dwellings from households that are in breach of their tenancy agreements or engage in anti-social behaviour. I will also, in the context of the Bill, examine the scope for strengthening the range of statutory powers available to housing authorities for dealing with anti-social behaviour in their housing stock.
Criminality associated with anti-social behaviour is addressed under the Criminal Justice Acts, responsibility for which rests with the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Law Reform.
428. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the independently chaired Reorganisation Implementation Group will be established to produce an implementation plan for the reorganisation process and dual management arrangements of Waterford city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45999/12]
View answerOn 22 October I announced the membership and terms of reference of the Waterford Reorganisation Implementation Group, which will be chaired by Mr Sean Aylward, who chaired the Waterford Local Government Committee. The Group will complete its work by the end of June 2013 with the production of an Implementation Plan to set a clear agenda and guidance for the completion of the reorganisation process leading to the establishment of the unitary authority for Waterford in 2014. Details of the full membership and terms of reference of the Group are attached.
Waterford Reorganisation Implementation Group
Establishment and Terms of Reference
Arising from the Government decision to implement the recommendations of the Waterford Local Government Committee, involving the creation of a new single local authority to replace the existing Waterford City and County Councils in 2014, with proposed interim dual management arrangements, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has established an Implementation Group consisting of the following members: -
Mr. Sean Alyward (Chair) (former Secretary General of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform);
Mr. Joe Allen (former Principal Officer, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government);
Mr. Frank O’Regan (Vice President of Bausch and Lombe);
Mr. Ned Gleeson (former County Manager, Limerick Co. Council);
Mr. Denis McCarthy (County Manager, Waterford County Council); and
Mr. Michael Walsh (City Manager, Waterford City Council).
The Group has a general mandate to oversee planning, preparatory work and initial implementation of the reorganisation process taking account particularly of the report of the Waterford Local Government Committee and the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government . Without restricting its scope or flexibility pursuant to this mandate, and subject to any additional matters that the Minister may require, the functions of the Group will include oversight of, and assuring delivery in relation to, the following matters:-
1. Detailed planning and identification of early actions for the amalgamation of the local authorities, including analysis of income, expenditure, assets, liabilities, staff (numbers/grades and identification of any surpluses), services, procedures and other relevant matters in the two authorities, and identification of requirements for organisational rationalisation and integration and such other preparatory, transitional, procedural or administrative measures as may be necessary in relation to the existing authorities or their functions, in preparation for the establishment of the unified authority and the effective performance of its functions.
2. Establishment of effective co-ordination/project management arrangements to oversee and deliver successfully the restructuring process.
3. Rationalisation of the provision of services (not already subject to joint arrangements) in preparation for merger of the authorities, including consolidation of particular services and establishment of joint arrangements, as appropriate, in respective authorities, with a view to ensuring orderly transition to the unified authority.
4. Organisational rationalisation and integration as soon as possible, including the early establishment of a joint management team and deployment of staff within the two authorities in line with the integration/consolidation of services; in particular, integration of corporate functions and any other necessary rationalisation.
5. Action necessary to ensure that cost reductions and efficiencies are maximised and arrangements to measure and monitor their achievement, having regard to the potential savings quantified in the report of the Waterford Local Government Committee of €5.14m to €8.95m , including savings necessary to ensure that the level of the commercial rate in the County is reduced to the current City level following the establishment of the unitary authority, and any further potential savings.
6. Arrangements to support continued effective performance of functions by the elected councils of the two authorities, service to the councils by management and staff in the context of organisational changes, and arrangements to prepare for the effective operation of the unified council, including such matters as committees, procedures and representation on other bodies.
7. Information of, and consultation with, the elected councils, as appropriate, in relation to the reorganisation process, including provision of regular reports to a joint committee of the elected councils.
8. Measures to ensure adequate balance between the two authorities in the reorganisation process and in their management generally prior to establishment of the unified authority.
9. Action to achieve alignment and convergence between the objectives and policies of the two authorities as part of the transition towards a unitary authority in 2014 in the context of the overall development of the Waterford gateway.
10. Arrangements to merge relevant bodies linked with or related to local government, such as Joint Policing Committees and County and City Enterprise Boards /Local Enterprise Offices, and relevant measures to ensure consistency with act ions to align local government and local/community development in line with overall policy in that regard.
11. Identification of measures to maximise the capacity of local government to contribute to the economic development of Waterford and its wider hinterland/region and, in particular, to enhance the role of Waterford City as a generator of growth and a strong and dynamic focus for development of the wider region.
12. Proposals on ways to ensure that the status, identity, character, and heritage of the city of Waterford are maintained and enhanced within the unified authority , with an appropriate metropolitan district comprising the wider city and hinterland area in the eastern part of the county, which will be determined on the basis of a statutory review of local electoral areas in the context of new sub-county local government arrangements, while having regard to the respective urban and rural considerations.
13. Action arising from recommendations in the report of the Waterford Local Government Committee, as appropriate.
The Group will ensure that Government policy on local government, particularly the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government , public service reform, the public finances and other relevant matters are reflected, as necessary, in the implementation process and that due account is taken of relevant analysis and recommendations in relevant reports such as the Local Government Efficiency Review and the report of the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group.
The Implementation Group will adopt an Implementation Plan by end June 2013, having regard to the foregoing and any other matters considered appropriate, to set a clear agenda and guidance for the continuation and completion of the reorganisation process under transitional management arrangements leading to the establishment of the unitary authority in 2014.
429. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered the Thornhill Report; when he expects it to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40096/12]
View answer431. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will publish the report of the expert group on property tax in advance of the publication of the Finance (Property tax) Bill 2012. [42258/12]
View answer432. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the advice he has received from the expert group on the property tax he intends to introduce in Budget 2013; if he will make the advice of this group public in advance of the Budget; if this group has raised any concerns regarding the property tax as was the case with the tax strategy groups concerns with the household charge in 2011. [42493/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 431 and 432 together.
An independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group was established to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable local property tax to replace the household charge. The Group has submitted its report to me and proposals will be brought to Government as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the details of implementation taking into account the modalities involved including the publication of relevant material . The Government has decided that the local property tax will be collected and administered by the Revenue Commissioners.
430. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline any proposals currently being developed by him to ensure that the commercial rates of a business reflect the ability of a business to pay. [41608/12]
View answerI have no immediate plans to amend the legislation governing commercial rates.
Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The Commissioner for Valuation has sole responsibility for all valuation matters , including the most appropriate method of valuation. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
It is important to acknowledge that commercial rates, as a local tax, and the rating system generally are deeply embedded in the local government system. A large body of case law is well established and local authorities and ratepayers are, in the main, very familiar with, and generally accepting of, the operation and practice of the rating system. Rates are also a stable source of financing for local government which is not affected unduly by short-term changes in economic circumstances.
A property-based tax such as rates has a distinct advantage over any tax based on profits or incomes as it is generally found to be easy to collect and difficult to evade. A system having regard to economic factors on an ongoing basis would create uncertainty by providing for continuous change to the valuation base. Such a system would not provide a stable basis for funding local government and would require significant additional resources to operate.
