Wednesday, 14 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 198 - 207

Energy Conservation

Questions (198)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

198. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of cuts in local government funding, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that voluntary initiatives show that savings of at least 20%, or €23 million per year, could be made in the energy costs of local authorities, which are estimated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland at €115 million per year; his views that such savings should be made urgently in major cost areas such as waste water treatment, public lighting, local authority buildings and transport efficiencies, by requiring all local authorities to participate in targeted energy efficiency programmes to make these cuts that do not hurt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50317/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The European Communities (Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services) Regulations 2009 transposed Directive 2006/32/EC into Irish Law. Part 4 of the Regulations outlines a number of obligations relevant to individual public bodies (including local authorities) in relation to improving their performance with regard to energy efficiency. In this context, Ireland’s National Energy Efficiency Action Plan in 2009 included a commitment that the public sector would aim to achieve a 33% improvement in its energy efficiency performance by 2020.

Directive 2006/32/EC and a number of related Directives have recently be en recast by the European Commission in the form of the new Energy Efficiency Directive which has recently been adopted . While responsibility for transposition of the new Directive into Irish Law will be a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources it is expected that the public sector commitment to achieve a 33% improvement in its energy efficiency performance by 2020 will stand.

All public bodies, including local authorities, are responsible for devising and implementing their own plans as necessary to meet their shared obligations towards achieving the 2020 target. A network of local energy agencies is available to advise and assist local authorities in relation to meeting energy efficiency requirements.

Regeneration Projects Funding

Questions (199)

Brendan Smith

Question:

199. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the decision to cease funding for a project (details supplied); if he will ensure that urgent consideration will be given to the provision of the necessary funding to enable this project continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50530/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Clones Regeneration Partnership sought funding to support the employment of a co-ordinator to undertake a programme of development work in preparation for the opening of the Ulster Canal. It is hoped that the opening of the canal will make a major contribution to the economic regeneration of Clones and surrounding areas.

The formal approval given to Clones Regeneration Partnership in June 2009 outlined that funds would be made available to the end of 2012 from the Rural Development Fund, subject to the availability of resources. The support received to date amounts to €93,400 in respect of 2010 and 2011, with a further €85,000 approved for 2012. Accordingly, there was no commitment given beyond the current year in respect of this project.

The purpose of the Rural Development Fund is to finance research, evaluation and pilot actions, so as to provide information and advice for policy makers on important rural development issues; it is not, therefore, intended to be a source of long-term funding.

In response to a request for an extension of the funding to Clones Regeneration Partnership, to support the employment of a project co-ordinator to the end of 2014, I arranged for a review of the funding to be carried out. However, given the overall constraints on available financial resources, there is no scope to accommodate the extension request.

Public Sector Reform Review

Questions (200)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

200. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of bodies that have been abolished or amalgamated by his Department out of the list of bodies listed in the public service reform document of 17 November 2011; the savings or cost of this in 2012; the projected savings or cost of this programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50538/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The information requested in the question is as follows:

Body	Action	Status
Local Government Management Service Board	Merge Local Government Management Service Board & Local Government Computer Services Board into Local Government Management Agency	Completed - August 2012.
Local Government Computer Services Board
Limerick Northside Regeneration Agency	Merge Limerick Northside and Limerick Southside Regeneration Agency into Limerick Local Authorities	Completed - July 2012.
Limerick Southside Regeneration Agency
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna (Library Council)	To be subsumed into an existing public body – (The LGMA)	Completed – November 2012
Comhar (Sustainable Development Council)	To be integrated into the National Economic & Social Council (NESC)	Completed - January 2012.
Interim Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	This agency incorporates the functions of the Affordable Homes Partnership, National Building Agency and Centre for Housing Research	Completed – August 2012.
Dormant Accounts Board	Discontinue Dormant Accounts Board	Board to be dissolved in December 2012.

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012, is a key enabler in my Department’s agency rationalisation programme, under which 21 agencies will be reduced to 10. The Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board have merged with the establishment of the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) in August 2012. The LGMA also takes on the residual functions from An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, which has been dissolved as of 1 November 2012. The Limerick Regeneration Agencies were dissolved on 31 July and their functions taken over by the Office for Regeneration which has been established in Limerick City. The Regeneration Office has been set up with administrative support from Limerick City Council and reports directly to the new City/County Manager. The abolition of the two regeneration agencies, when combined with the merger of the two Limerick local authorities, resulted in three county manager level posts being replaced by one - the new Limerick City and County manager. The Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA) was established in August 2012. It rationalises the functions of the National Building Agency (NBA), the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) and the Centre for Housing Research (CHR). The AHP and the CHR have been closed down and the NBA ceased operating in June 2011. Comhar (Sustainable Development Council) was discontinued at the end of 2011 and its sustainable development role has been integrated into the work of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The Dormant Accounts Board will be dissolved by the end of 2012 when the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act, 2012 is commenced.

In addition to the bodies listed above, the operations of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) will be wound up by the end of 2013. The transitional period will allow the Authority to progress elements of on-going work and to make the necessary preparations for the migration to new arrangements, to be decided by the Government.

At the end of September 2012, the total staff number employed by State agencies under my Department’s aegis was 736.57 whole time equivalents (WTE), a reduction of 214.43 WTE ( 23 %) as compared to 951 at end 2008. The payroll savings associated with these staff reductions are estimated to be of the order of € 12.4m. The LGMA is financed by way of a levy on local authorities which reduced from €13.9m in 2008 to €11.37m in 2012, a reduction of €2.53m (18.2%). I expect that there will be a further reduction in 2013 in comparison to 2012.

The new library unit in the LGMA, to replace An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, will operate with five staff while An Chomhairle had an original staff complement of eighteen. In order to optimise the savings from the dissolution of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna it’s Dublin city-centre headquarter buildings have been transferred to the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency resulting in an annual saving of €150,000 in rental fees for the HSCA. The NBA headquarters was sold in March 2012 for €2.84 million.

The agency rationalisation/efficiency agenda will be kept under review, taking account of the Public Service Reform Plan, insofar as other agencies under my Department’s aegis are concerned.

Insurance Industry

Questions (201)

Jack Wall

Question:

201. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his view regarding a submission (details supplied); if there is any mechanism available to the persons through the planning regulations that can permit the persons protect their interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50562/12]

Written answers

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

HomeBond is a private limited company providing structural guarantees for new houses and, since November 2008, the HomeBond Insurance Scheme is underwritten by Allianz Insurance. As in the case of any private company its operations , including how it deals with inspections or claims, are a matter for its management and Board of Directors. My Department understands that HomeBond Insurance Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

I appreciate that t he circumstances referred to in the Question are difficult and distressing. However, as these concern a private contract between an individual house purchaser and a series of third parties including HomeBond , and the enforcement of contracts is a civil matter, I have no remit in regard to the matters raised.

Local Enterprise Offices Remit

Questions (202)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

202. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the County and City Enterprise Boards Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50567/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The drafting of a County and City Enterprise Boards Bill, dealing with the dissolution of County and City Enterprise Boards and facilitating the creation of Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities, will be a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.  I do not anticipate that the Bill will make any provision in relation to Local Development Companies.

The range of reforms set out in Putting People First, to which the Question also refers, will draw on the capacity of both the local development and the local government sectors. While these reforms will be challenging for all sectors, they are targeted at greater efficiency and effectiveness of services for citizens and communities.

In the past, significant funding has been provided to local development bodies to deliver programmes on behalf of the State and Putting People First envisages a continuation of the local development model. However, the delivery of local and community development activities will have an increased focus on front-line services with greater efficiencies in the administration of programmes.

Departmental Staff Promotions

Questions (203)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

203. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of promotions made in his Department to principal officer higher scale, principal officer standard scale, assistant principal officer higher scale, assistant principal officer standard scale, higher executive officer scale, executive office scale and staff officer scale; the total for all of his Department; if he will provide a breakdown for for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50975/12]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The number of promotions made in my Department in the period 2009/2012 to the specified grades are set out in the following table:

Promoted Grade	2009	2010	2011	2012
Principal Officer	0	1	0	2
Assistant Principal Officer	0	0	0	2

No promotions have been made to the grade of Higher Executive Officer, Executive Officer or Staff Officer since 2009. In addition, three Assistant Principal Officers and three Higher Executive Officers have been awarded allowances for the performance of duties at a higher grade in 2012. It was only in limited and exceptional circumstances and with the prior approval and sanction from the Department of Finance and now the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, that this small number of internal promotions and allowances were awarded. These were necessary to deal with priority business areas taking account of staff departures due to retirement and in preparation for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU in early 2013. Assignments to Higher Scales are made in accordance with relevant Department of Finance/Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars and are not considered to be promotions. The following table gives the number of higher scale assignments made in the relevant grades from 2009 to date.

	2009	2010	2011	2012
Principal Officer (Higher Scale)	3	2	1	1
Assistant Principal Officer (Higher Scale)	2	2	0	0
Higher Executive Officer (Higher Scale)	1	1	0	0
Executive Officer (Higher Scale)	2	1	0	0

There is no Higher Scale for the grade of Staff Officer.

Crime Prevention

Questions (204, 205)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

204. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps the Gardaí are taking in an area (details supplied) to reduce crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50225/12]

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

205. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of arrests that have been made in an area (details supplied) in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50226/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is in the Ashbourne Garda District. I am further informed that the area is subject to regular patrols by local uniformed and plain clothes personnel, augmented by the Regular Unit and the Detective Unit, together with the Divisional Traffic Unit and the Regional Support Unit as required.

Local Garda management closely monitors such patrols, and other operational strategies in place, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the communities in these areas to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources to provide the best possible Garda service to the public. While the situation is being kept under review, Garda management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service is being delivered to the communities in the areas concerned and that the current structures in place deliver an effective and efficient policing service.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner has put Operation Fiacla in place in order to address incidents of burglary, aggravated burglaries and related offences throughout the country. Operation Fiacla is intelligence driven and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda Region to target suspect offenders. I am informed that as of 19 October, 2493 persons have been arrested and 1404 persons have been charged with burglary offences under Operation Fiacla.

An Garda Síochána also places great emphasis on the importance of community partnerships in preventing and detecting crime, and maintaining a safe environment for everyone. An Garda Síochána continues to invest time and energy in these partnerships and relationships to the benefit of all.

In this regard, during September the Garda Commissioner launched the second national public awareness week this year under the 'Garda Supporting Safer Communities Campaign’. This important campaign highlights a range of key issues, in particular burglary prevention. The primary objective of this Garda Community Safety Campaign is to engage with, and raise awareness within communities of initiatives aimed at preventing crime, reducing the fear of crime and promoting community safety.

I am further informed that the number of persons arrested and in custody in Ashbourne Garda station was 573 in 2010, 497 in 2011 and 450 in 2012, up to 8 November. These figures may include arrests made in areas other than Ashbourne, inclusive of the Garda Sub-Districts of Duleek, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin and Laytown, and brought to Ashbourne Garda Station for custody purposes.

Prisoner Data

Questions (206)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

206. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children under 18 years in St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin, on 8 November 2012; the date in which these children will be moved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50448/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can advise the Deputy that on 8th November, 2012 there were 32 seventeen year old prisoners in custody in St Patrick's Institution, 11 of which were held on remand.

As you will be aware the Government committed, in the Programme for Government to remove 16 and 17 year old offenders completely from the adult prison system. In this context, the practice of sending 16 year old boys to St Patrick's ceased on 1st May, 2012. From that date, all newly remanded or sentenced 16 year olds have been detained in the children detention facilities in Oberstown. The Government also sanctioned the provision of the necessary funding for a new detention facility at Oberstown. This is due for completion in mid-2014. These matters were all dealt with by me in cooperation with my colleague Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

In the interim, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has agreed to examine the feasibility of accommodating some categories of 17 year old boys in Oberstown on a phased basis earlier than mid 2014, if possible. Arrangements are also being made for a number of care staff from the Children Detention Schools to work on placement in St Patrick's Institution alongside Prison Staff. It is intended that this will take place in the near future.

Garda Station Closures

Questions (207)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

207. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the Garda Representative Association and the Irish Farmers Association regarding the closure of Garda stations; and if he has brought these concerns to the Garda Commissioner. [50449/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Any proposals for the closure of Garda stations must be contained in the annual policing plan prepared by the Garda Commissioner and submitted to the Minister for Justice and Equality. While the policing plan for 2013 has not yet been finalised, it will be laid before the House in due course. Until then it would be premature to speculate on what it might contain.

Everyone is aware of the arguments that have been made for the retention of all Garda stations, but I believe that most people would accept that, whatever debate there might be about the precise number needed, it would not be sensible to keep open every single Garda station we inherited on the foundation of the State. What matters is not simply a bricks-and-mortar presence in every locality, but rather the delivery of the most effective policing service possible to the public in that area.

It is therefore entirely sensible that the Commissioner should examine the potential for enhancing how policing services are delivered to communities across the country, including in particular how best to deploy Gardaí on operational duties so that they make the greatest possible contribution to the policing service. That examination must necessarily involve an assessment of such factors as the level and type of activity in Garda stations, the rate and types of crime in the areas concerned, and the scope for redeploying Gardaí from station work on to patrols or other operational duties.

On the publication of the policing plan for 2013 there will be an opportunity for Deputies to debate these issues in greater detail.