Tuesday, 6 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 742-762

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (742)

Seán Fleming

Question:

742. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the independent group to review staffing levels in Cork City Council was established; the person who is chairman of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48584/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The independent group to review staffing levels in Cork City Council was established in December 2011. The Implementation Group is independently chaired by Mr. Pat McLoughlin (Chief Executive, Irish Payments Services Organisation, and former chairperson of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group). In addition to the Chair, the members of the Implementation Group are as follows;

Mr. Des Dowling, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Ms. Anne O’Keeffe, Former Director, Office of Local Authority Management

Mr Alf Smiddy, Chairman, Granite Consulting

Dr. Aodh Quinlivan, Director of BSc Government, Department of Government, University College Cork.

The Group has met on four occasions to date and its work is on-going . I am advised that the Group will publish a report once its consideration of all matters is concluded.

Questions Nos. 743 and 744 answered with Question No. 734.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (745)

Seán Fleming

Question:

745. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the environmental law implementation group was established; the person who is chairman of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48587/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Environmental Law Implementation Group ( ELIG ) was established in December 2011 to assist in the protection and enhancement of Ireland’s environment by seeking to support further transposition, implementation and enforcement of environmental law through improved communication between policy makers and environmental non-Government organisations, including An Taisce. The membership of the ELIG will vary, depending on the environmental legislation under consideration. The ELIG is overseen by a Bureau, comprising one nominated representative from An Taisce, one nominated representative from the Environmental Pillar and two senior officials of my Department, which will normally meet bi-annually, with chairmanship of these meetings rotating between the members. Currently the nominated representatives are Ms. Attracta Ui Bhroin (An Taisce), Mr. Michael Ewing (Environmental Pillar) and Ms. Fiona Quinn and Mr. David Walsh of my Department. The role of the Bureau is to maintain an overview of all ELIG activity and to ensure that the ELIG facilitates a cohesive, consistent, efficient and timely approach to communication and consultation.

Since its establishment, the ELIG Bureau members have maintained regular contact by email and phone and have also met formally on two occasions - on 17 July and 24 September 2012. The next ELIG Bureau meeting is scheduled for 19 November 2012.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (746)

Seán Fleming

Question:

746. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the inter-departmental group on property tax was established; the person who is chairman of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48588/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I established the independently-chaired Inter-Departmental Expert Group to consider the structures and modalities for an equitable Local Property Tax in the context of decisions to replace the Household Charge.

The Group had an independent chair, Dr. Don Thornhill, and comprised the following representation:

- Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

- Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

- Department of Finance

- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

- Department of Social Protection, and

- Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

The Group met ten times , between 8 February and 10 May, before submitting its report to me. Since then, considerable work has been progressing to prepare proposals for Government. It would not be appropriate to comment on the content of the Expert Group’s report at this point, pending Government’s consideration of the report and the associated issues. It will then be a matter for Government to decide on the exact details of implementation, taking into account the modalities involved.

The Government has decided that the Local Property Tax will be collected and administered by the Revenue Commissioners.

Question No. 747 answered with Question No. 739.

Household Charge Exemptions

Questions (748)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

748. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that householders living in estates (details supplied) in Dublin 13 will be exempt from paying the household charge and excluded from paying any prospective property related taxes for at least seven to ten years in view of the fact that both estates have been significantly affected by pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48668/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the Household Charge. The legislation provides for a number of exemptions and waivers from payment of the Household Charge. The waivers which apply concern -

- Owners of residential property entitled to mortgage interest supplement, and

- Owners of houses in certain unfinished housing estates.

While there is no specific exemption for properties affected by pyrite, the owner of a property which is not occupied or suitable for occupation on the liability date would not be liable for the Household Charge.

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 submitted its report and proposals will be brought to Government as soon as possible. It will then be a matter for the Government to decide on the exact details of implementation taking into account the modalities involved. The Government has decided that the Local Property Tax will be collected and administered by the Revenue Commissioners.

I have published the report of the independent Pyrite Panel which recommends that consideration be given to providing an exemption from the proposed property tax, for a set period, for dwellings where damage from pyritic heave has been proved by testing. While the Government will have regard to this recommendation as appropriate in the context of the proposed property tax legislation, no decisions have been made as yet on the details of the Local Property tax, including the exemptions which may apply.

Housing Adaptation Grants Expenditure

Questions (749)

Robert Dowds

Question:

749. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider setting aside a specific budget for the housing adaptation grant scheme, as funding for accessible living environments has been prioritised in the National Carers' Strategy, but programmes in most local authorities are either on hold or are moving very slowly because of a lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48678/12]

Written answers

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

My Department remains committed to providing financial assistance to older people and people with a disability who wish to carry out essential repairs, extensions/adaptations or improvement works to their homes in order to meet their accommodation needs. A suite of grants is available under my Department’s Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability that includes three separate grant measures; the Mobility Aids Grant scheme with grants of up to €6,000, the Housing Aid for Older People scheme with grants of up to €10,500 and the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability with grants of up to €30,000, depending on household income. The schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from local authority resources.

Exchequer allocations for 2012 totalling some €54.2 million were notified to local authorities in February 2012 in respect of these schemes which are administered by the local authorities. At the end of October 2012, some €38.9m (72%) of this funding had been recouped to the local authorities. 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.

The capital allocations to local authorities, including allocations under the grant scheme, will be determined in the light of the overall budgetary provision for the housing programme in 2013. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the priority of individual applications and the scope of the works to be funded under the relevant scheme.

In relation to accessible living environments, since 1 January 2001 all dwellings are required to comply with the standards set out in Part M of the Building Regulations. The Regulations require, inter alia, that adequate provision is made for people with a disability to safely and independently access and use a building, its facilities and environs. Any further necessary works to adapt a house or an apartment to meet the specific needs of a member of the household may be carried out with assistance being provided under the grant schemes in appropriate cases.

Local Government Reform

Questions (750)

Barry Cowen

Question:

750. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if under Putting People First there will be in increase in the number of elected councillors in each of the existing Dublin Local Authorities; what that increase will be; and the expected cost and the justification for this decision. [48684/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The proposals in relation to local government arrangements within counties contained in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government will give rise to a review of local electoral areas and associated membership in Dublin. This will be a matter for examination by an independent statutory boundary committee in accordance with relevant criteria to be set out in terms of reference. It is my intention that the Committee will be established shortly.

Local Government Reform

Questions (751)

Barry Cowen

Question:

751. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated national cost of councillors under Putting People First including salaries, expenses and so on; the total estimated cost broken down by local authority; the current total costs per annum of County and Town Councillors; the estimated savings under Putting People First compared to current costs per annum; the total number of councillors per local authority under Putting People First; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48685/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, indicated that it would be reasonable to project a target for overall savings in the range €15 to €20 million per annum relative to 2010 expenditure figures as potentially achievable from changes in sub-county governance when the new arrangements have bedded down.

In relation to payments to councillors, it is estimated that the current total cost per annum for county and town councillors amounts to some €30.7m per annum. This includes representational payments, the annual expenses allowance, training, and telephone allowances, together with allowances for chairing County Development Boards and Strategic Policy Committees. At existing rates, estimated savings under the Action Programme compared to current costs per annum would be likely to be approximately €3.7m from mid-2014 onwards arising from the reduction from the current total of 1,627 local authority members to not more than 950 as indicated in the Action Programme. Estimates of likely savings arising from changes are not available in respect of individual authorities.

The future number of councillors per local authority was not specified in the Action Programme. More detailed information in that regard will emerge in the context of the review of local electoral areas by an independent statutory boundary committee. It is my intention that the Committee will be established shortly.

Question No. 752 answered with Question No. 739.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (753)

Seán Fleming

Question:

753. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the fix your street review group was established; the person who is chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48719/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The FixYourStreet Review Group was established in September 2011 and was chaired by my Department (Mr Donal Enright, Principal Officer). The Review Group included representatives from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, South Dublin County Council and the Local Government Management Agency.

The Review Group met once, subsequently finalised the drafting of its report by way of written procedure, and reported to me in December 2011. It concluded, inter alia, that it is important that the rollout of the FixYourStreet initiative is beneficial to all local authorities; that it should avoid significant fiscal or staffing cost being incurred by local authorities in its operation and that it should be integrated with local business processes. The Group also recommended that where re-engineering of processes is required that this should be done with the intention of driving down overall administrative costs and optimising the customer service function.

I am advised that six local authorities, South Dublin, Fingal, Galway and Kildare County Councils together with Dublin and Waterford City Councils have gone live on the FixYourStreet website. I am also advised that another 21 local authorities will go live shortly.

The FixYourStreet website assists residents in reporting problems with street lighting, drainage, graffiti, waste collection and road and path maintenance in their neighbourhoods, with a guarantee that the authority will respond within two working days. It incorporates interactive mapping, allowing users to locate on an online map the precise location of the problem or issue being reported.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (754)

Seán Fleming

Question:

754. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the local government audit service of the Comptroller and Auditor General critical review group was established; the person who is chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48720/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Local Government Audit Service and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General Critical Review Group was established in June 2012. The Group was independently chaired by Mr. Pat McLoughlin (Chief Executive, Irish Payments Services Organisation, and former chairperson of the Local Government Efficiency Review Group). It included representatives from my Department, the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance, the audit services in question and a former County Manager.

The Review Group, including a sub-group, met on four occasions to date. Arising from the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, new governance and accountability arrangements are being put in place in local government. In this context, the Government decided that the Local Government Audit Service and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General should not be merged. However, cooperation and other measures to underpin enhanced audit arrangements will be pursued in accordance with the Government’s Action Programme.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (755)

Seán Fleming

Question:

755. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the local government, the Private Residential Tenancies Board and the Property Services Regulatory Authority critical review group was established; the person who is chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48721/12]

Written answers

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

A working group to examine the proposed merger of the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) and the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) was established in July 2012, and chaired by my Department (Mr. Cian Ó Lionáin, Principal Officer) with representation from my Department, the Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the two bodies in question.

The group commenced activity with the circulation of detailed briefing papers on the two bodies. On 10 September 2012, the group met to consider those papers and all issues pertaining to the proposed merger. A draft report was subsequently prepared and was the subject of further correspondence until, on 16 October 2012, my Department submitted a final report on behalf of the working group to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The report recommended against a merger of the PRTB and the PSRA on the basis that a merger would be likely to give rise to additional costs and to have a significant negative impact on the delivery of both bodies’ core activities. Notwithstanding this, my Department will continue to engage with the PRTB and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to achieve further efficiencies in the operation of the Board.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (756)

Seán Fleming

Question:

756. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the Environmental Protection Agency and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland critical review group was established; the person who is chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48722/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) critical review group was convened in May 2012 under the chairmanship of my Department (Mr. John McCarthy, Assistant Secretary) , building on a process of prior consideration of the potential for a merger between the two organisations. The membership of the group comprises representatives of my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, together with the Director General of the EPA and the Chief Executive of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. My Department supported the work of the group, which met on two occasions and carried out other elements of its work electronically.

On 31 October 2012, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, published an update on the Government’s overall agency rationalisation programme, in which the merger of the EPA and the RPII was included in a list of mergers to be undertaken in 2013, although it was noted that this merger may require a longer timeframe. My Department will now be working closely with the EPA, the RPII and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to develop a programme for the merger process, taking particular account of the priority which must attach to the work of my Department and both agencies in supporting Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2013.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (757)

Seán Fleming

Question:

757. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the steering group to oversee independent review by consultants of part five of the Planning and Development Acts was established; the person who is chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48723/12]

Written answers

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

A steering group to oversee the review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts was established in June 2012 with membership from my Department, the local authority sector and the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency.

The group is chaired by my Department (Mr. Cian Ó Lionáin, Principal Officer) and has met on 3 occasions to date. While the review process is on-going I expect to receive a finalised report shortly, and any future changes to the legislation governing Part V will be informed by this review.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (758)

Seán Fleming

Question:

758. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when inter-departmental committee on the implementation of green tenders - an action plan on green public procurement was established; the person who is chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48724/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

A group has been established to oversee implementation of Green Tenders: An Action Plan on Green Public Procurement which was published earlier in 2012. The Group is co-chaired at Principal Officer level by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department. The first meeting of the Group was held on 18 July 2012. A further meeting of the Group is due to take place in December 2012.

The Group also includes representation from the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Defence; Education and Skills; Health; Justice and Equality; and Transport, Tourism and Sport; the Health Service Executive; the Office of Public Works; and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are also represented on the Group.

A Sub-group of the Implementation Group is currently examining a range of issues, including the development of more detailed sectoral plans as required by Green Tenders. This and other issues will be considered by the Implementation Group as part of its ongoing work in overseeing implementation of the Plan. Green Tenders also provides for the publication of annual reports which will outline progress under the various actions contained in the Action Plan.

Departmental Bodies Establishment

Questions (759)

Seán Fleming

Question:

759. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the steering group to oversee independent assessment being undertaken by consultants on the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme was established; the person who is chairperson of this group; the membership of same; the number of meetings that have been held; the number of reports and conclusions issued; the action taken or to be taken as a result of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48725/12]

Written answers

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

On foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government 2011 to introduce a tenancy deposit protection scheme I asked the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to commission research on such a scheme and to report back to me with recommendations.

A steering group to oversee this research was established in May 2012 with representation from my Department, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency and the PRTB. The Group is chaired by Mr. David Silke of the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, and it has met on 2 occasions to date. I understand that a draft final report has been submitted to the steering group and that I will receive a finalised report and recommendations shortly. I will consider the scope for actions arising from the report in the context of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012.

Questions Nos. 760 and 761 answered with Question No. 730.

Public Sector Staff Issues

Questions (762)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

762. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sectors of the public sector that are currently employed on a roster basis and if there are any plans to remove employees from the rostering system. [49073/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

A roster system is in use in the local authority sector and in Met Éireann, a division of my Department. There are no plans at present to change those systems, which are necessary for business reasons.

There are no employees employed on a roster basis in the State agencies under the aegis of my Department.