Written Answers Nos. 585 to 609
585. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of unfinished estates in County Meath; the number of estates in which works have been carried out by the county council to complete these estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5688/13]
View answerThe National Housing Development Survey 2012 identified a total of 84 unfinished housing developments in the Meath area, of which some 38 were substantially complete. Further details can be found in the survey, which is available on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie.
586. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HomeBond reported a surplus of €25 million following the launch of the HomeBond insurance backed guarantee; and if he will consider measures to appropriate this surplus for pyrite remediation. [5780/13]
View answerHomeBond is a private limited company and its assets are protected in law.
587. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the small business rate relief scheme in operation in Northern Ireland; his views on whether such a scheme could be implemented here to support small and medium businesses in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5787/13]
View answer588. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the small business rate relief scheme in operation in Northern Ireland and the large retail levy it has introduced on a temporary basis; his views on whether such a temporary levy on large out-of-town retail operations could be considered here to reduce commercial rates for small and medium sized businesses in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5788/13]
View answer589. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the small business rate relief scheme in operation in Northern Ireland and the large retail levy it has introduced on a temporary basis; his views on whether such a temporary levy on large out-of-town retail operations could be considered here to finance targeted measures such as main street improvements and reduced parking charges in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5789/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 587 to 589, inclusive, together.
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 levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property, determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function.
I am aware of the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme in Northern Ireland. Within this jurisdiction, the Local Government (Rates) Act 1970 provides for the operation of rates waiver schemes. Under the provisions, a rating authority may make and carry out a scheme providing for a waiver of all or a portion of commercial rates due by ratepayers in respect of a specified class or classes of property. The formulation of such a scheme is a matter reserved for the members of the relevant local authority and is subject to my consent as nister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
I have no plans to introduce a temporary levy on large out of town retail operations. In terms of planning policy, I published new Development Contribution Guidelines on 21 January 2012. The new guidelines build on the experience gained in recent years and also align development contribution policy with the Government’s prioritisation of employment creation, investment and sustainable development. Above all the guidelines are intended to support proper planning and sustainable development while also prioritising job creation and economic investment.
I am acutely aware of the pressures on small and medium sized businesses at the present time. Local authorities have been asked by my Department, by way of a circular letter, to exercise restraint or, where possible, reduce commercial rates and local charges for 2013. Local authorities have responded well to such requests in recent years.
I will continue to keep the approach to rates by local authorities under active review, and am determined that every avenue will be pursued to optimise efficiency and contain costs in the local government sector.
590. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether local authorities should have the ability to adjust commercial rates to support planning policy; if he will detail the legislative changes that would be required to allow for such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5790/13]
View answerLocal 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 levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function.
I am acutely aware of the pressures on small and medium sized businesses at the present time. Local authorities have been asked by my Department, by way of a circular letter, to exercise restraint or, where possible, reduce commercial rates and local charges for 2013. Local authorities have responded well to such requests in recent years.
Development contribution schemes were first introduced in 2000 and, together with Exchequer funding and local authorities’ own resources, have played a significant role in the delivery of infrastructure that has supported development. With the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, I published new Development Contribution Guidelines on 21 January 2012. The new guidelines build on the experience gained in recent years and also align development contribution policy with the Government’s prioritisation of employment creation, investment and sustainable development.
Above all, the guidelines are intended to support proper planning and sustainable development while also prioritising job creation and economic investment. Key features of the new guidance include:
- A requirement that development contribution schemes appropriately promote the development of areas prioritised in core strategies;
- Reduced rates or waivers for certain categories of development;
- A standard methodology for all planning authorities to follow in the preparation of development contribution schemes; and,
- Measures to support new or existing enterprises through, for example, reduced development contribution rates, deferral payments, etc.
The guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 - 2012. This means that planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to the guidelines in performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
I will continue to keep the approach to rates by local authorities under active review, and am determined that every avenue will be pursued to optimise efficiency and contain costs in the local government sector.
591. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has completed the list of unfinished estates which will be exempt from the local property tax. [5796/13]
View answerThe list of unfinished housing estates to be prescribed for purposes of a waiver from the local property tax is currently being prepared.
592. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government noting his response to questions on the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 on 16 January 2013, where he claims that desludging a septic tank more regularly may be all that is required to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency requirements, if he will explain the reduction in polluting strength of effluent that can be acheived by desludging the entry chamber to a septic tank and the way such minimal action can further the attempt to comply with the EU Water Services Directive. [5798/13]
View answer596. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the entire legal costs to date of defending the action of the European Court of Justice decision to impose fines on Ireland for breaching EU legislation since the 2009 ECJ judgment on wastewater; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5842/13]
View answer597. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount Ireland has paid in fines to date following the recent European Court of Justice decision to impose fines on Ireland for breaching EU legislation on wastewater systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5843/13]
View answer614. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which provision has been made to address the issue of groundwater pollution from septic tanks or other sources of any such pollution; the degree to which provision is now in place to meet such requirements in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5971/13]
View answer619. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to any potential EU fines of €12,000 a day for a failure to comply with EU regulations on waste water and septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6063/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 592, 596, 597, 614 and 619 together.
The Water Services Acts 2007 and 20012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012 provide that treatment systems should be de-sludged at intervals that are appropriate to the tank capacity and to the numbers of persons resident in the premises to which the system is connected or as recommended by the system’s manufacturer. The Environmental Protection Agency, in its Code of Practice: Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses, advises that regular de-sludging of a septic tank is required to ensure that the system continues to operate effectively.
On 19 December 2012, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a judgment against Ireland in the Case C-374/11 which imposed a lump sum fine of €2 million and daily fines of €12,000 for failure to comply with the ECJ judgment C-188/08 in which the Court found that Ireland had failed to transpose into domestic legislation the requirements of the Waste Directive regarding the disposal of domestic waste water from septic tanks and other individual treatment systems. The European Commission has yet to write formally to the Irish authorities regarding the fines imposed by the ECJ and so there has been no payment or settlement of these fines yet. It is understood that formal letters will issue from the Commission shortly. My Department is liaising closely with the Commission on these matters.
The EPA, in its report Water Quality in Ireland 2007-2009, has identified on-site waste water treatment systems as one of a number of potential sources of micro-biological contamination of groundwater sources. The EPA recommends that vulnerable groundwater sources may require special protection measures and that the design and location of abstractions wells is essential to protect against organic inputs.
The overall strategy of investment in water services is to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public wastewater infrastructure is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013. The programme provides for the commencement of contracts with a value of over €1 billion in relation to wastewater infrastructure.
The EPA is responsible for carrying out Ireland’s national groundwater monitoring programme which consists of a network of some 350 monitoring points. The network has been designed to be representative of the variations in hydrogeology and anthropogenic pressures across a groundwater body and is subject to ongoing review as circumstances change. Threshold values for mandatory substances under the Priority and Dangerous Substances Directives have been established in the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010 and they apply to all groundwater bodies nationally.
In addition to the above, the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010 contain provisions aimed at protecting ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers. Such measures include a limit on the level of livestock manure which may be applied to land each year, the capacity levels of storage vessels necessary for livestock manure and periods when the land application of certain types of fertiliser is prohibited.
593. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 72 and 718 of 16 January 2013 regarding the proposed pyrite resolution board, if he will confirm that an estate known to have heave-inducing levels of pyrite in the underfloor fill, a house which in the opinion of a chartered engineer, has physical damage associated with proven heave-inducing levels of pyrite, will be remediated if the initial ten-year HomeBond structural guarantee has lapsed. [5799/13]
View answer594. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 718 of 16 January 2013, if he will explain what is meant by Homebond will provide indirect funding for the remediation process by making technical and administrative services available at lower than market cost, in particular what is meant by market cost. [5800/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together.
The Pyrite Resolution Board will, in conjunction with my Department, draw up the terms and conditions for a pyrite remediation scheme, including the eligibility criteria that will be applied. In this context, the Resolution Board will have regard to I.S 398 –– Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1. This standard provides accurate and reliable protocols to determine whether or not a building is or may be affected by reactive pyrite in the sub-floor hardcore material and gives clear guidance on the process and procedures to be followed in order to determine if a dwelling should be remediated.
In conjunction with the Construction Industry Federation and the Irish Concrete Federation, HomeBond has agreed to set up an entity to operate a remediation scheme under the supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board. HomeBond has offered to provide the entity with technical and administrative services to operate the remediation scheme. The details of the services to be provided will be worked out between the Pyrite Resolution Board and the entity.
598. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of former public servants recruited before 6 April 1995 who receive a public sector pension, including both pensions funded by the Exchequer and through the Local Government Fund, and those pension schemes for which he has responsibility; the age profile of the public servants; if he will provide in tabular form the numbers of public sector pensioners in the following parameters, between €1,000 intervals up to €20,000 and those on more than €20,000. [5890/13]
View answerThe information requested in the question is not readily available in my Department.
In Public Service Pension schemes, the minimum preserved pension age is 60. Accordingly, it would be expected that the majority of persons currently in receipt of pensions from either local authorities or agencies under the aegis of my Department would have been recruited prior to 6 April 1995.
The information regarding pensioner numbers, in the format requested, is not available in my Department. However, as at November 2012, there were 18,800 persons in receipt of pensions from local authorities, of whom over 14,500 had pensions of less than €20,000. There were approximately 260 persons in receipt of pensions from agencies under the aegis of my Department, of whom 115 had pensions of less than €20,000.
The pensions of former employees of my Department are a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
599. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will intervene in respect of the delay in finalising arrangements for major development works at the fire station on Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24; if he appreciates the urgent need for progress on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5905/13]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. Dublin Fire Brigade provides the fire service for the four Dublin local authorities – Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin County Councils.
My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment, within the overall funding available, of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to approved construction projects and the purchase of fire appliances and equipment. The current priority for capital funding is supporting the national fire appliance fleet, in respect of which Dublin Fire Brigade has been approved for two new appliances which are currently in the tender process.
A proposal to extend Tallaght fire station was approved in principle in 2006 under the Fire Services Capital Programme. However, given the current constraints on public finances it has been necessary, in keeping with other reductions, to reduce the fire service capital allocations in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Accordingly, my Department is not in a position at present to fund the significant investment, circa €3 million, to progress the extension of Tallaght Fire Station from the fire services capital programme.
As an alternative, in light of the business case made by Dublin City Council in August 2011, my Department approved in principle grant-aid of €300,000 to supplement funding committed by the Council in respect of necessary and urgent works at the fire station. These necessary upgrading works were completed during 2012 and grant-aid of €300,000 was paid by my Department in respect of this.
600. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the planning regulations regarding wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5941/13]
View answerThe Wind Energy Development Guidelines, June 2006, provide advice to planning authorities on addressing 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 wind energy 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 at the development management stage. 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 notice is erected, 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 their 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.
Applications for wind energy development over 25 turbines and greater than 50 MW may be made to An Bord Pleanála under Section 37A (inserted by Strategic Infrastructure Act) of the 2000 Planning and Development Act, as amended.
In order to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its renewable energy targets and, at the same time, that wind energy does not have negative impacts on local communities, my Department – in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and other stakeholders – is now undertaking a targeted review of certain aspects of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006.
This focused review will examine the manner in which the guidelines address key issues of community concern such as noise proximity, visual amenity and any other potential impacts as considered appropriate together, and will explore ways of building community support for wind energy development.
601. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of holders of shared ownership mortgages who have been issued with the requirements to present a standard financial statements by the various local authorities a consequence of which may be referral to a credit bureau; if such a procedure is in accord with the function of a local authority as defined under the Housing Acts; if it is intended to make alternative provisions for families who may not be in a position to meet the requirements arising from such review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5957/13]
View answerIn advancing loans for house purchase by lower income borrowers, it is of critical importance that local authorities make such funding available on the basis of sound lending criteria. My Department and individual local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that mortgage lending is prudentially based and that the capacity of a borrower to fully service a loan over the full term is realistically assessed and stress-tested. The current credit policy, which includes a requirement that all applications are subject to Irish Credit Bureau credit check, has been in effect since 2009 to ensure consistency and best practice across the sector by providing a clear evidence-based rationale for decisions on loan applications. All applicants are now assessed according to the same criteria and independent scrutiny. Their ability to pay at the time of application, and according to prevailing interest rates, is assessed and a variety of stress scenarios are also applied.
It is the case that the rate of refusal of applications has increased since the credit policy was introduced. However, it is also clear that the loans issued under that credit policy are more likely to be fully performing. I am satisfied that the current arrangements are fair and adequately meet the needs of prospective homeowners and local authorities.
602. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of voluntary housing organisations, the companies of which were in abeyance or struck off in the past ten years, the capital for which was provided for in its entirety through the capital allowance scheme; if in such cases the housing stock concerned reverted to the local authority as provided for under the scheme; if any specific action under the provisions of company law followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5958/13]
View answerA total of 704 housing associations were approved by my Department under Section 6 of the Housing (scellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 for the provision and management of housing. In 2012 my Department identified 86 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) that neither produced housing stock nor applied for funding. These companies were no longer registered with the Companies Registration Office and their approved status with my Department was rescinded. These bodies had neither received any funding from my Department nor had they acquired any housing stock.
My Department is now proceeding to examine the status of more than 100 additional bodies that also appear to be inactive and I expect to de-list further bodies in 2013 in order to present a more accurate picture of the size of the sector operating in Ireland.
The Government’s Housing Policy Statement, published in June 2011, identifies AHBs as key partner s in the delivery of social housing. This recognises both the constrained funding levels available for local authority construction programmes and the capacity and track record of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector.
AHBs are uniquely placed to help drive the achievement of the housing supply responses set out in the policy statement. However, the move from capital funded programmes of construction and acquisition by approved housing bodies to more revenue funded options present s challenges for them. As such, I am developing an enabling regulatory framework for the sector that will provide support and assurance both to the sector itself and to its external partners as it takes on the expanded role envisaged for it in the policy statement.
The development of a regulatory framework will take time. In the meantime, I am engaging with the sector on the development of a voluntary code which, I would hope, most approved housing bodies will sign up to over time. A public consultation process on the code took place in the latter part of 2012 and I intend to publish a final version of the code in the coming months.
603. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has quantified the local authority housing requirements in each local authority area by reference to the number of the housing applicants recorded by each authority; if he intends to take any specific steps to address this issue in the short and medium term thereby alleviating some of the cost of rent support currently incurred annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5959/13]
View answer607. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which it is expected to increase local authority housing stock in line with the local authority housing waiting lists in the next three years excluding any provisions in respect of voluntary housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5963/13]
View answer608. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units likely to be constructed for or provided directly by local authorities or voluntary housing agencies in the course of the next four years; the extent to which this is intended to address the needs as defined by the current numbers on the waiting lists of the respective local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5964/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 603, 607 and 608 together.
In terms of the delivery of social housing, the Government’s Housing Policy Statement, published in May 2012, clearly identifies that the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs – the housing support needs of those unable to provide for their accommodation from their own resources.
The social housing capital budget has been reduced by 78% since 2008, down from €1.535 billion to some €332.7 million last year. The bulk of the reduction has been applied to the main local authority capital programme which has come down from €1.029 billion in 2008 to a total of €115 million in 2012. Clearly, the financial parameters in which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to very large capital funded construction programmes by local authorities. Accordingly, the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing.
Delivery of social housing will be facilitated primarily through more flexible funding models. The social housing leasing initiative and, in particular, the Rental Accommodation Scheme will each play their part as long term social housing supports. The Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease, and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition.
A three year programme of new local authority construction starts, covering the 2012- 14 period, is in train. While there will be limited funding for this initiative, the intention will be to maximise the outputs that can be achieved from what will be a targeted programme.
Given the current volatility of the market and different challenges to the channels of supply, it is difficult to estimate the likely output of new units for social housing this year. However, it is provisionally estimated that in excess of 5,000 units will be provided for social housing in 2013. This will include:
- 350 units for people with special housing needs;
- 150 units specifically for people leaving institutional care;
- an additional 400 permanent homes delivered through capital expenditure under the Social Housing Investment Programme;
- 300 transfers under the Mortgage to Rent Scheme;
- some 4,000 units will be delivered under social leasing, including property transfers from NAMA, the Rental Accommodation Scheme and mortgage to lease.
Final details regarding the level of funding which can be allocated to these projects during the year will be determined as part of the Estimates process. Local authorities will not be notified of specific allocations until after the Revised Estimates Volume is published.
My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authorities’ waiting lists. This figure continuously fluctuates as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support.
Detailed information on the latest statutory assessment of housing need carried out in March 2011, including a breakdown by housing authority, is available on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie, or on the Housing Agency’s website at www.housing.ie.
604. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his Department has accessed information from the Department of Social Protection to accurately identify the number of housing applicants on local authority waiting lists who continue to be forced to rely on rent support in lieu of local authority housing; the extent to which rent support costs have been identified in full with a view to initiating a public housing campaign on a graduated basis thereby replacing some of the annual rent support costs by way of capital expenditure on housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5960/13]
View answerAccording to the most recent figures made available from the Department of Social Protection, at the end of 2012 there were nearly 88,000 recipients of rent supplement, of whom 53,000 have been in receipt for longer than 18 months. The cost of rent supplement to that Department in 2012 was over €400m. The ongoing management and financing of the rent supplement scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
The most recent Housing Needs Assessment carried out in March 2011 showed that up to 41,112 households on social housing waiting lists were in receipt of rent supplement payments. In accordance with relevant legislative provisions, housing authorities have been directed to provide a full summary of social housing assessments carried out in their administrative areas at the end of April 2013, including details of numbers on rent supplement. This information will be available later in the year.
In terms of the delivery of social housing, the Government’s Housing Policy Statement, published in May 2012, clearly identifies that the main focus in terms of supports provided by Government will be on meeting the most acute needs – the housing support needs of those unable to provide for their accommodation from their own resources. The social housing capital budget has been reduced by 78% since 2008, down from €1.535 billion to some €332.7 million last year. Clearly, the financial parameters in which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to very large capital funded construction programmes by local authorities. Delivery of social housing will be facilitated primarily through more flexible funding models. The social housing leasing initiative and, in particular, the Rental Accommodation Scheme will each play their part as long term social housing supports.
605. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of the structure of part-time and whole-time fire services throughout the country; if any particular weaknesses exist that might affect the ability of the services to respond in particular emergency situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5961/13]
View answerThe provision of fire services in a local authority area is a statutory function of individual fire authorities. Under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981, a fire authority is required to make provision for the delivery of fire services in its functional area, including the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each county and city manager is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible. In addition, it is a reserved function of fire authorities to adopt fire and emergency operations plans indicating the provision made in respect of organisation, appliances, equipment, fire stations, training and operational procedures for the provision of a comprehensive fire service to the community. My Department supports fire authorities through setting of general policy, training support and issue of guidance on operational and other related matters, and the provision of capital funding.
My Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management has developed a policy document, Keeping Communities Safe (KCS), which sets the future direction of fire services in Ireland. Inter alia, it sets out future service delivery structures and a system of national processes and standards for fire service delivery in Ireland based on a risk management approach to fire safety, which combines the important elements of fire prevention, protection and response. The draft KCS document is available on my Department’s web site at www.environ.ie, and I intend to publish it as national policy in the very near future.
606. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which cost-cutting requirements are affecting the quality and capacity of fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5962/13]
View answerMy Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment, within the overall funding available, of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and specialist emergency and communications equipment as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations.
In keeping with other reductions, it has been necessary to reduce the fire service capital allocation in recent years. However, Ireland has an excellent, well maintained infrastructure of fire stations and appliances, and other equipment, and a service delivered by highly trained fire fighters and officers. The number of front-line fire fighters has been protected from the general staffing embargo in public services under the delegated sanction available to my Department.
609. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which traditional services provided by local authorities are likely to continue in the context of local government reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5965/13]
View answerThe Action Programme for Effective Local Government, which sets out Government decisions on local government reform, has affirmed, in paragraph 4.3.1, that, with the exception of functions relating to water supply that will be assumed by Irish Water and certain functions relating to river basin management planning that will be transferred from local authorities to the EPA, the functions that have hitherto been performed by local authorities will continue to be exercised by them.
