Written Answers Nos. 455-73
455. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average time it is taking to process an appeal in An Bord Pleanála; and if he will differentiate between appeals against larger and smaller developments. [2843/13]
View answerThe average time taken to process an appeal in An Bord Pleanála in 2012 was 23 weeks with 36% of appeals d isposed of within the 18-week statutory objective period . The breakdown sought between larger and smaller developments is not available in my Department.
456. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will maintain the commercial rate levels in town councils to be abolished where the rate levels are lower in those town council areas than the commercial rate levels in contiguous local authority areas where the commercial rates are at higher levels and where both local authority areas are to be amalgamated. [2851/13]
View answerThe Government's Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, indicated that in the context of reorganisation of local governance structures, the proposed new municipal districts will provide an opportunity to achieve a more coherent approach to rates and charges on a county-wide basis having regard to funding requirements and the need to support employment and business competitiveness.
The Action Programme proposes rates harmonisation to cater for differences between Annual Rates on Valuation (ARVs) of towns and counties. My approach to rates harmonisation will seek to ensure, on the one hand, that harmonisation does not lead to significant net loss of revenue in individual counties with consequential implications for services, and on the other hand, that increases in rates do not impact negatively on businesses and employment.
Definitive details, arrangements and procedures in relation to the funding of district level functions and financial relations between district and county levels will be developed in the context of the new local government funding arrangements generally, implementation of the new sub-county system and preparation of the legislation in relation to the reform programme.
457. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has detailed the commercial rate levels in all town councils compared with contiguous local authority rate levels in those constituencies to be amalgamated; and if he will publish those figures. [2852/13]
View answerThe 2012 Annual Rate on Valuation in respect of each local authority area is set out in the following table.
|
Local Authority Name |
ARV 2012 |
|
Carlow County Council |
66.47 |
|
Carlow Town Council |
74.49 |
|
Cavan County Council |
56.85 |
|
Cavan Town Council |
73.02 |
|
Clare County Council |
72.99 |
|
Ennis Town Council |
65.45 |
|
Kilrush Town Council |
61.93 |
|
Cork City Council |
74.05 |
|
Cork County Council |
74.75 |
|
Clonakilty Town Council |
67.65 |
|
Cobh Town Council |
71.53 |
|
Fermoy Town Council |
61.00 |
|
Kinsale Town Council |
65.11 |
|
Macroom Town Council |
65.37 |
|
Mallow Town Council |
57.88 |
|
dleton Town Council |
63.53 |
|
Skibbereen Town Council |
71.00 |
|
Youghal Town Council |
65.31 |
|
Donegal County Council |
69.70 |
|
Buncrana Town Council |
44.29 |
|
Bundoran Town Council |
59.64 |
|
Letterkenny Town Council |
65.21 |
|
Dublin City Council |
61.19 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown C ounty Council |
0.17 0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0.14 4 |
|
Galway City Council |
65.46 |
|
Galway County Council |
66.59 |
|
Ballinasloe Town Council |
52.00 |
|
Kerry County Council |
80.35 |
|
Killarney Town Council |
70.37 |
|
Listowel Town Council |
77.07 |
|
Tralee Town Council |
81.18 |
|
Kildare County Council |
68.95 |
|
Athy Town Council |
56.29 |
|
Naas Town Council |
67.41 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
52.05 |
|
Kilkenny Borough Council |
59.55 |
|
Laois County Council |
64.63 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
62.15 |
|
Limerick County Council |
59.92 |
|
Limerick City Council |
74.93 |
|
Longford County Council |
66.01 |
|
Longford Town Council |
69.01 |
|
Louth County Council |
55.08 |
|
Drogheda Borough Council |
66.49 |
|
Dundalk Town Council |
66.49 |
|
Mayo County Council |
68.76 |
|
Castlebar Town Council |
70.94 |
|
Westport Town Council |
63.55 |
|
Meath County Council |
69.62 |
|
Kells Town Council |
65.35 |
|
Navan Town Council |
64.83 |
|
Trim Town Council |
64.10 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
56.20 |
|
Carrickmacross Town Council |
65.55 |
|
Castleblaney Town Council |
56.00 |
|
Clones Town Council |
59.90 |
|
Monaghan Town Council |
72.00 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
59.53 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
56.77 |
|
Carrick-on-Suir Town Council |
50.99 |
|
Cashel Town Council |
57.56 |
|
Nenagh Town Council |
55.68 |
|
Templemore Town Council |
55.00 |
|
Thurles Town Council |
58.00 |
|
Tipperary Town Council |
52.20 |
|
Offaly County Council |
56.77 |
|
Birr Town Council |
68.28 |
|
Tullamore Town Council |
67.65 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
74.38 |
|
Sligo County Council |
64.43 |
|
Sligo Borough Countil |
68.94 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
0.16 2 |
|
Waterford County Council |
69.92 |
|
Waterford City Council |
66.22 |
|
Dungarvan Town Council |
60.37 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
52.27 |
|
Athlone Town Council |
60.72 |
|
Wexford County Council |
71.52 |
|
Wexford Borough Council |
67.66 |
|
Enniscorthy Town Council |
65.13 |
|
New Ross Town Council |
55.47 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
76.78 |
|
Arklow Town Council |
63.95 |
|
Bray Town Council |
67.66 |
|
Wicklow Town Council |
63.24 |
459. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update in any plans he has to introduce a bin waiver scheme. [2889/13]
View answerThe Government's new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, was published in July 2012. Among the measures included in the policy is the establishment of an interdepartmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low income households. The working group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Finance; and the Tánaiste's Office, submitted its first report to Government on 11 December 2012. Government considered the report and the working group is to continue to examine the design and implementation of measures to address the issue and will provide a further report to Government by 31 March 2013.
460. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the future of financing for the senior alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2890/13]
View answerThe Seniors Alert Scheme provides grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of equipment to enable older persons, without sufficient means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.
Funding for the 2013 Seniors Alert Scheme will be at a similar level to the 2012 allocation. Ongoing funding for my Department’s programmes in future years, beyond 2013 , will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process. Within the resources available, ensuring a continued positive impact across the Community and Voluntary sector will be a key part of my Department’s work in the coming years.
461. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of immediate or extended family members employed by his Department; the names and remuneration in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2898/13]
View answerNo family members or related party members are employed by me or by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.
462. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if those persons whose homes have been affected by Pyrite and who have paid for remediation of their homes already will be permitted to recoup the costs; if so, the way this will be organised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2928/13]
View answer463. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if those who have had positive tests for both core and visual for pyrite on their homes will be sufficient or if further tests will be required; if further tests are required, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2929/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.
The Pyrite Resolution Board which I am currently establishing will, in conjunction with my Department, draw up the terms and conditions for the proposed remediation scheme. The terms of the scheme will set out the relevant eligibility criteria.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is currently finalising I.S. 398 – Reactive Pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. This standard will set out the procedures to be followed in relation to the inspection and testing requirements necessary to facilitate the categorisation of dwellings and determine priorities for remediation work. It will be a matter for the Pyrite Resolution Board to determine if inspections and testing which have already been undertaken are sufficient for it to make a decision based on the terms and conditions of the proposed remediation scheme.
464. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that there are no further fatalities as a result of substandard local authority housing stock; his proposals to ensure that all local authority housing stock receive the required efficiency upgrades; the way he proposes that local authority housing tenants deal with their heating needs when they have so far been left for years waiting for improvement works to be carried out; his proposals for the housing aid for older people scheme to ensure that local authorities receive sufficient funding to deal with their backlog of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2974/13]
View answerLocal authorities, as landlords and owners of their social housing stock, are responsible for the management, maintenance and repair of rented properties, including necessary maintenance and repair works to heating systems.
Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock, including the regeneration of large social housing estates and flat complexes, estate- wide remedial works schemes, a retrofitting measure to improve the energy efficiency of older apartments and houses, and funding for extensions and adaptations to meet the needs of tenants with a disability etc.
Under the Energy Efficiency measure my Department provides a grant of up to €15,000 per house, depending on the energy improvement achieved, for necessary works such as attic and wall insulation, the replacement of windows and external doors and the fitting of energy-efficient condensing boilers, with a further grant of up to €3,000 where additional essential works are needed. Since the inception of the scheme in 2009, over 7,760 units have been improved.
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 to their homes in order to meet their accommodation needs. Work is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the housing programme for 2013, including the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. As part of this process, my Department requested local authorities earlier this month to submit details of their capital requirements under the grants schemes. This information is being assessed at present. I intend to announce details of the capital allocations to individual authorities as soon as possible.
465. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans in relation to a statutory instrument (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2981/13]
View answerThe statutory instrument concerned, and any other relevant provisions, will be considered in the context of action to implement the Government policy decisions on local government set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government.
466. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration has been given by him to an application by Sligo County Council seeking funding towards the provision of a new library building in Sligo. [3011/13]
View answerUnder Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority.My Department has provided capital funding towards approved refurbishment and renovation, and new library projects carried out by local authorities, subject to availability of resources. In this regard, in 2008 my Department requested Library Authorities to provide details of priorities for library development within their area.
In its response, Sligo County Council ranked Sligo Central library as its main priority, followed by projects at Ballymote and Grange and the provision of a Mobile library vehicle. Grant aid of €670,000 was approved and drawn down in respect of the Ballymote project with the final payment being made in December, 2010.
An application for funding with respect to Sligo Central library was received by my Department in August 2012 with an estimated cost between €4m and €6m.
Available funding for 2013 is expected to be fully committed to ongoing Library projects.
467. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering any targeted retirement schemes within the local government sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3012/13]
View answerThe Government has decided to introduce a target ed Voluntary Redundancy (VR) Scheme in parts of the Public Service. Details of how such a scheme would operate in particular sectors have not yet been finalised . As outlined in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government: Putting People First, the potential to reach the optimum staffing levels through the use of voluntary exit mechanisms is being examined by my Department in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
468. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the new procedures the Government has introduced for appointments to State boards. [3574/13]
View answerA notice was placed on my Department’s website on 19 July, 2011 seeking expressions of interest, from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of state bodies under the aegis of my Department. The notice is updated regularly as specific vacancies arise.
Vacancies on the boards of other bodies under the Department’s aegis will be notified on the website as they arise. However, expressions of interest can be made at any time and will be kept on file in my Department for consideration as vacancies occur.
All appointments are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering applications due regard is had to Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards.
A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by the nister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by the nister, or appointments are made with the consent of other nisters.as appropriate.
The Boards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and An Bord Pleanala are executive in nature and members are employed on a full time salaried basis. The appointments as Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála and Director General of the EPA are made by Government following competitions held by the Public Appointments Service.
My Department has put in place procedures whereby the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht will be notified of nominations as chair of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department prior to their appointment. Chairs of State Bodies are in general available to appear before the relevant Oireachtas committees.
469. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on upward only rent reviews; if any actions have been taken to date, or are planned on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2855/13]
View answerAs set out in my reply to Question No. 769 of 16 January, the Deputy will recall that following extensive consideration of this matter, the Government announced in December 2011 that it had decided not to proceed with such legislation. There was a substantial concern that any legislative scheme involving interference in the contractual relationships of private parties would find it extremely difficult to survive a Constitutional challenge. In addition, the Government was advised that any model proposed would require the payment of compensation to landlords whose rights were infringed in order to ensure that the proposal would be compatible with the Constitution and with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Government was strongly of the view that payment of compensation to landlords in such circumstances could not be justified in the current economic climate.
Although legislative intervention may not be feasible, NAMA is playing a role in dealing with problems caused by upward only rent reviews applying to NAMA properties. I have been advised that, by the end of 2012, the Agency had granted 212 applications for rent abatement with an aggregate annual value of €13.5 million. A further 56 applications are currently under review. Of the 276 eligible applications received to date only 8 have been refused representing a 97% approval rate by NAMA.
I would also mention that the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 provides for the establishment and maintenance of a Commercial Leases Database by the Property Services Regulatory Authority. This Database will assist in providing readily accessible, accurate information in order to determine the market rent payable in respect of comparable commercial properties. Work is underway to ensure that the Database will be operational at an early date.
Finally, I wish to highlight the existence of a rent review arbitration code which was drawn up by a group of experts whose membership was drawn from all stakeholders in the commercial property arena. The code, which can be found on www.justice.ie, provides a mechanism to deal with the resolution of rent review disputes in the commercial property sector.
470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide figures on the number of non-nationals who have come to Ireland since 2008 and have remained here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2271/13]
View answerSection 9 of the Immigration Act, 2004 places an obligation on non-Irish nationals, subject to the following exemptions listed, who have entered the State to present at their local registration office for the purpose of being placed on a register of non-nationals who have permission to reside in the State. It is important to note that EEA nationals, of which many thousands reside in the State, are not required to register.
Based on the figures available from the register of non-nationals, the number of non-EEA nationals granted permission to reside in the State for the first time in the period 2008 to 2012, inclusive, was 130,128. For the purpose of context, the Deputy may wish to note that Census 2011 showed that overall Ireland's non-Irish national population accounts for 12% of the national population or some 544,000 people, the majority being from EU countries.
The categories of non-Irish nationals exempted by law from the requirement to register under section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004 include the following:
(a) a non-national under the age of 16 years;
(b) a non-national who was born in Ireland;
(c) a non-national not resident in the State who has been in the State for a period of not more than 3 months since the date of his or her last arrival in the State:
(d) a non-national seaman not resident in the State whose ship remains at a port in the State and who does not land in the State for discharge.
Furthermore, nationals of European Economic Area States who are the subject of the freedom of movement legislation are not required to register.
471. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community Gardaí assigned to each station in (details supplied) in Dublin for 2013; if he can provide similar figures for 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2368/13]
View answer472. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to each station in Dublin (details supplied); the other resources that are provided to those stations for 2013 and if he will provide similar figures for 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2369/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 472 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter.
I have however been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of each Garda Station in the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 areas, on 31 December 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the following table. The table also shows the number of Community gardaí in those stations as of the end of each year. There are no detailed statistics readily available at this time for 2013.
|
Station |
Area |
Strength |
Civilians |
Reserve |
Community Gardaí 2012 |
Community Gardai 2011 |
|
Kevin St |
8 |
143 |
7 |
11 |
37 |
39 |
|
Kilmainham |
8 |
78 |
2 |
8 |
23 |
20 |
|
Rathmines |
6 |
63 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
|
Terenure |
6 |
98 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
|
Donnybrook |
4 |
119 |
5 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
|
Irishtown |
4 |
50 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
6 |
|
Pearse St |
2 |
310 |
16 |
31 |
24 |
18 |
Additional resources, such as transport equipment etc., are made available to each Garda Station depending on the particular requirements of that station and the areas it covers. Other resources and support services are made available to local Garda Stations from the Divisional and Regional headquarters as and when required.
473. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the 170 new Garda vehicles will be assigned to An Garda Síochána; which districts will receive the vehicles; the number of cars that will be assigned per district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2411/13]
View answerThe deployment of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In that context, I am informed that the Garda vehicles which were purchased towards the end of last year are currently being rolled out.
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the proposed allocation of the new vehicles is as outlined in the following table. A more detailed breakdown is not currently available and the Deputy will appreciate that the vehicles will be deployed in line with Garda operational requirements.
|
District |
Vehicles |
|
Dublin Metropolitan Region |
22 |
|
Eastern Region |
30 |
|
Northern Region |
25 |
|
South Eastern Region |
25 |
|
Southern Region |
31 |
|
Western Region |
30 |
|
National Support Services |
4 |
|
Crime and Security |
4 |
|
Total |
171 |
