Written Answers Nos. 696 - 720
696. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a panel of small and medium-sized enterprises sub-contractors is asked to tender for the provision of domestic water metering services before regional main contractors have been appointed; and if he will clarify the reason many SME sub-contractors are being precluded from tendering due to the stringent tendering criteria. [1832/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the domestic water metering programme and for the collection of water charges from households.
The procurement process for the sub-contractor panel has been developed by my Department, in consultation with Bord Gáis Éireann, to ensure that SMEs have an opportunity to compete for contracts. The tender criteria have been developed to ensure that sub-contractors have the capacity to carry out the scale of work involved to the necessary high standard. The approach being taken for the sub-contractor panel is consistent with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on facilitating SME participation in public procurement (that Department’s Circular 10/10 refers).
The list of the pre-qualified sub-contractors will be provided to the regional main contractors (RMCs) who will be invited to tender for the RMC contracts. It is expected that the successful RMCs will be utilising the resources of the pre-qualified sub-contractors for the purpose of delivering the meter installation works.
As the procurement process is currently underway it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.
715. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 126 of 27 September 2012 and 371 of 26 June 2012 the position regarding ownership of lands (details supplied) in County Galway with a view to granting a sublease to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1859/13]
View answerMy Department is continuing to engage with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to clarify the position in relation to ownership of the lands in question. It will not be possible to provide advice to the council on the next steps in the matter until this process is satisfactorily concluded.
716. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the steps taken to grant planning permission for a wind farm development (details supplied) in County Galway; if the general public were given an opportunity to engage in consultation on the issue; the kind of environmental impact audits that were undertaken; if there is a procedure in place to allow the public to make comments in relation to the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1896/13]
View answerThe processing of individual planning applications is a matter for individual planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in the case of developments that fall to be dealt with under the strategic consent process. I have no function in relation to the specific matter in question.
However, in relation to wind energy development generally, the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which were published by my Department on 29 June 2006, provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for such developments. This mapping of suitable locations is carried out through the development plan process which makes extensive statutory provision for public consultation. Planning legislation provides for extensive public notification of proposed development. For example, article 17 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 – 2010 requires an applicant to erect a site notice in order to lodge a valid application for planning permission. Article 19 of the Regulations requires that this notice must be placed in a conspicuous position on or near the main entrance from a public road to the land or structure concerned, so as to be easily visible and legible by persons using the public road. Alternatively, if the land or structure does not adjoin a public road, the site notice should be placed so as to be easily visible and legible by persons outside the land or structure. The site notice must contain the date on which the site notice is erected and state that the planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the planning authority and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing, on payment of the prescribed fee, within the five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application. The applicant must erect the site notice no sooner than two weeks before making the application for permission in order to facilitate third party inspection of the application. Where it appears to a planning authority that any notice does not comply with these requirements they may require the applicant to give further notice and evidence in relation to compliance with such a requirement.
Article 18 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2006 also provides that a notice be published in a newspaper approved for this purpose. Each planning authority must decide which newspapers should be included on its approved list of newspapers in order to ensure that the newspapers used for the purpose of such notices have a sufficiently large circulation in its functional area.
In addition the planning authority must, under section 34(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, have regard to any observations or submissions received concerning the proposed development in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Furthermore, any person who makes a submission to the planning authority may appeal the decision of the planning authority to An Bord Pleanála. The board in some instances, at its own discretion, holds oral hearings in relation to cases being considered by it, further adding to the opportunities to participate in the decision-making process.
717. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were fully funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1904/13]
View answer726. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were partially funded by his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2035/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 717 and 726 together.
Each year my Department makes a large volume of payments to a wide range of organisations, including non-statutory bodies, as well as individuals. The information requested, relating to an extensive number of payments, is not readily available in my Department. If the Deputy wishes to put down a more specific question in the area of funding from my Department, or to communicate separately with me in this regard, I will endeavour to provide the information sought.
718. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role he envisages for Homebond in relation to the pyrite resolution board, noting that in 2011 HomeBond walked away from its responsibilities to householders and if he will confirm the amount which HomeBond has agreed to provide for the remediation works. [1964/13]
View answerHomeBond, in conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Concrete Federation, has agreed in principle to establish an entity for the purposes of operating a remediation scheme in respect of those homes affected by pyrite and where the homeowner has no other form of redress. This is a positive development which I welcome. The entity thus created will also be in a position to engage with the financial institutions in regard to the initial funding of the process which will ultimately be supported by the imposition of the levy to which the Government has committed. This approach is in line with the recommendations of the independent pyrite panel.
I am also proceeding with the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board, recommended by the independent panel, which will have full oversight of the operation of the remediation scheme to ensure that the public interest and the particular interest of the affected homeowners is well served.
HomeBond has also agreed to provide indirect funding for the remediation process by making technical and administrative services available at lower than market cost.
719. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his officials submitted a substantial number of amendments to a draft of the new NSAI standard for condition survey and testing of underfloor fill in houses damaged by pyrite induced heave, which they had participated in preparing and signed off on and the reason these amendments were submitted. [1965/13]
View answerIn line with the normal practice for the development of standards in which my Department is involved, comments and proposed changes to draft I.S. 398 – Reactive Pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol, were submitted to the National Standards Authority of Ireland during the public enquiry period. The comments were a mixture of editorial and technical, the purpose of which was to improve the consistency and understanding of the standard.
720. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if following testing for pyrite under the resolution process, houses are placed in the amber category with a potential for swelling, if there will be a time limit on the commitment to remediate damage which may occur. [1966/13]
View answerThe pyrite panel recommended that only dwellings where there is significant damage, which is confirmed by testing to be pyrite related, should be remediated. It further recommended that dwellings categorised as amber, where there is reactive pyrite in the hardcore but no associated damage, should be monitored and only remediated if they exhibit damage consistent with pyritic heave.
I.S. 398 – Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1 Testing and categorisation protocol, being developed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), will facilitate the categorisation of dwellings.
The risk of future pyritic heave is difficult to predict due the multifaceted nature of the pyrite problem and this is alluded to in the report of the independent pyrite panel. The scope and terms of the proposed remediation scheme have not yet been developed and the inclusion of time lines for the remediation of dwellings categorised as amber may be considered as part of that process.
