Written Answers Nos. 186-210
186. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the programmes he intends running under the dormant accounts programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5585/13]
View answer190. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide funding for urban community centres under the dormant accounts scheme or other programmes in view of the fact that centres in urban areas cannot access schemes such as Leader; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5082/13]
View answer205. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grants or funding available to urban community centres under programmes administered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5081/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 186 and 205 together.
Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 have funding of €314m for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate amenity and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them, including Community Centres. Accordingly, it may be possible to obtain funding under the RDP for the type of community facilities referred to in Questions [5081 and 5082].
For the purposes of implementing Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme (RDP), the following areas are excluded;
- The City Council boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick;
- The Borough Council boundaries of Kilkenny, Sligo and Wexford;
- The Town Council boundaries of Athlone, Ballina, Castlebar, Cavan, Dundalk, Ennis, Killarney, Letterkenny, Mallow, Monaghan, Mullingar, Tralee, Tuam and Tullamore.
There are 35 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations. Contact details for these groups can be found on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.
In regard to Dormant Accounts, the Disbursement Plan of 2009, put in place by the Dormant Accounts Board, will be replaced by a new disbursement scheme to be created in 2013 in accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012. This legislation also provides for the preparation of an action plan following the making of a scheme. Consideration of funding for Dormant Accounts measures, including urban community centres, will fall to be considered in the context of such disbursement schemes and action plans.
187. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be any expenditure under the CLÁR programme in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5583/13]
View answerWith the reduced resources available for my Department’s funding programmes, the CLÁR programme is being wound down and all of the commitments remaining are in relation to Sports Capital projects. The lead Department in relation to these projects is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS). Provision will be maintained to meet existing commitments arising during this year.
189. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make available the report issued on the threat posed by Sellafield; and if not the reason for same. [5413/13]
View answerIn November 2012, I published a summary of the report prepared by an independent team of international experts, commissioned by Ireland, which assessed the probable risks to Ireland from incidents at the Sellafield nuclear site. The experts quantified the likelihood of incidents occurring at Sellafield resulting in the release of radioactive material, and as stated in the public summary, the team found that such an incident at the Sellafield site would give rise to “no observable health effects in Ireland”.
The team recommended that the full report should not be published because to have such a substantial volume of security-sensitive information in the public domain would serve to increase the risks posed by Sellafield to both the UK and Ireland. For that reason, I do not intend to make the full, 1,000 page, report publicly available. However, the full Report is a valuable input to developing Government policies including National Emergency Planning. This public summary document is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.
191. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has held with his EU counterparts regarding climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/13]
View answerI have discussions with my European Union counterparts and the Commissioner for Climate Action on an on-going basis, including bilaterally and at the Council of Ministers when it meets in its environment formation, on matters concerning climate change.
In the second half of 2012, I engaged in an intensive round of bilateral discussions with my counterparts focused on key policy and legislative proposals on which I hope to make significant progress during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, including:
- planned Council Conclusions by June 2013 to lay the groundwork for a European Climate Adaptation Strategy;
- proposed changes to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (to strengthen the price of carbon with the scheme, and to pause certain provisions temporarily in order to facilitate on-going negotiations on a possible international market-based measure to address greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector);
- proposals to confirm ambitious 2020 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets from new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles;
- proposals to review the application, effects and adequacy of the regulation of fluorinated greenhouse gases; and
- a proposal for a Directive to amend existing EU legislation on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.
194. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of Leader projects awaiting his approval; the length of time each project is being assessed by his Department; the names of the sponsors of the projects and the integrated companies that approved them; when a decision will be taken on these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5591/13]
View answerFunding of €314m is available under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. There are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations.
Projects that request funding of €150,000 or more are required to seek final approval from my Department. The assessment of these higher value projects usually involves detailed consultations between my Department and the relevant local development company. It frequently necessitates the provision of further documentation or clarifications. It may also, in some instances, result in modifications to the project proposed to ensure best value for money and compliance with all the necessary regulations, both national and European, governing the activities funded under the programme. My Department currently has 45 projects at various stages of assessment and the Local Development Companies that have projects currently undergoing assessment are listed in the following table.
The policy in my Department is to work with the Local Development Companies to ensure that the projects submitted are fully compliant and can be approved rather than to refuse approval for funding; it can therefore take some time to come to a final conclusion. My Department will continue to work with the relevant LAGs to make a full assessment of the eligibility of these projects and will inform the LAGs once all queries have been addressed satisfactorily.
|
LAG |
Date Received |
Grant aid requested |
|
Ballyhoura Development Ltd |
10/10/12 |
€500,000.00 |
|
Ballyhoura Development Ltd |
20/07/12 |
€500,000.00 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd |
26/06/12 |
€480,000.00 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd |
10/09/12 |
€254,643.75 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd |
10/09/12 |
€298,000.00 |
|
Cavan Monaghan LEADER |
17/09/12 |
€500,000.00 |
|
Cavan Monaghan LEADER |
17/09/12 |
€327,050.25 |
|
Cavan Monaghan LEADER |
17/09/12 |
€265,680.00 |
|
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta |
22/01/13 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta |
09/11/12 |
€500,000.00 |
|
Clare Local Development |
18/01/13 |
€230,000.00 |
|
Clare Local Development |
18/01/13 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Donegal Local Development Co Ltd |
21/12/12 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership Co |
30/10/12 |
€493,385.02 |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership Co |
21/12/12 |
€494,938.81 |
|
Forum Connemara |
23/08/12 |
€431,887.50 |
|
Galway Rural Development |
25/01/13 |
€239,949.46 |
|
Galway Rural Development |
25/01/13 |
€156,914.04 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
12/11/12 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
05/11/12 |
€428,868.75 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
04/12/12 |
€300,000.00 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16/01/13 |
€268,125.00 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16/01/13 |
€497,212.87 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16/01/13 |
€255,384.18 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16/01/13 |
€225,000.00 |
|
Leitrim Development Company |
30/11/12 |
€333,935.25 |
|
Leitrim Development Company |
30/11/12 |
€178,216.68 |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership |
03/10/12 |
€194,725.50 |
|
Meath Partnership |
21/12/12 |
€246,940.38 |
|
North & East Kerry Development |
27/07/10 |
€193,360.00 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
18/10/10 |
€250,000.00 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
18/01/13 |
€199,993.63 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
16/07/12 |
€407,675.25 |
|
South and East Cork Area Development |
28/11/12 |
€500,000.00 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership |
10/08/12 |
€295,396.27 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership |
21/12/12 |
€500,000.00 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership |
25/01/13 |
€168,392.50 |
|
South West Mayo Development |
21/12/12 |
€500,000.00 |
|
South West Mayo Development |
21/12/12 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Waterford Leader Partnership |
10/12/12 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Waterford Leader Partnership |
05/11/12 |
€200,000.00 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership |
25/10/12 |
€200,000.00 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership |
21/11/12 |
€199,290.00 |
|
West Limerick Resources |
21/12/12 |
€196,313.77 |
|
Wicklow Partnership |
08/08/12 |
€303,000.00 |
195. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 720 of 16 January 2013, in relation to possible time limits on remediation of houses experiencing damage by heave inducing pyrites and that such a time limit is of immediate concern to thousands of families living in estates known to have heave-inducing levels of pyrite in the underfloor fill and whose houses are damaged but not yet sufficiently damaged to trigger remediation under the proposed traffic light categories and that his response states that houses in the Amber category may be considered, if he will outline the circumstances whereby these houses would not be remediated. [5566/13]
View answerIn its report the independent Pyrite Panel recommended that only dwellings with significant damage due to pyritic heave (confirmed by testing) should be remediated. The report set out the basis for this recommendation. It also recommended that dwellings which have no significant damage but have reactive pyrite in the hardcore (confirmed by testing) should be monitored and only remediated if they display significant damage due to pyritic heave.
Following a consultative process which included a public enquiry period, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) published two Irish Standards, I .S. 398 – Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1 and Part 2 , on 29 January 2013. Part 1 - testing and categorisation protocol sets out the process to be followed to determine whether or not a building is or may be affected by reactive pyrite in the hardcore material. This will facilitate the categorisation of dwellings and provide clarity for the homeowner in determining the appropriate course of action to be taken, remediation or monitoring.
The scope and terms of the proposed remediation scheme will be developed by the Pyrite Resolution Board in conjunction with my Department. The recommendation in the pyrite report that only dwellings categorised as red should be remediated will inform this work; it is not proposed that dwellings categorised as amber should be remediated.
197. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale for seeking to change tenant purchase schemes in order that discounts are based on earnings rather than the length of time a social housing tenant has been renting their home. [5553/13]
View answerThe Incremental Purchase model is a discount scheme based on household income that enables the State to share in the profits from resale during the 20 to 30 year period for which the house is subject to an incremental purchase charge. In contrast to the 1995 scheme, the discounts provided under the incremental purchase principles are based on household income rather than length of tenancy, thereby allowing low-income households to move into home ownership earlier than otherwise might have been possible. The scheme is structured to make it attractive for households to put down long-term roots in the community and to commit to an area, thereby contributing to more sustainable and integrated communities.
200. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the Priory Hall, Dublin, resolution process to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5068/13]
View answerMy Department understands that the resolution process, which is seeking to identify a way forward in relation to the complex problems at Priory Hall, remains ongoing between the relevant parties under the chairmanship of Justice Finnegan. The resolution process arose in the context of the adjournment of an appeal brought by Dublin City Council against an order by the High Court to pay the costs associated with providing alternative accommodation for the residents of Priory Hall.
Given that the matter remains before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further other than to continue to urge all concerned to afford Justice Finnegan the opportunity to complete the task which he is undertaking.
201. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the new measures contained in the recently launched development contribution guidelines; his plans for implementation of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5569/13]
View answerI published new Development Contribution Guidelines on 21 January 2012. 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 in support of development. The new guidelines build on the experience gained in implementing contribution schemes and also align development contribution policy with the Government’s prioritisation of employment creation, investment and sustainable development.
Key features of the new guidance include:
- a requirement that development contribution schemes appropriately promote the development of areas prioritised in core strategies;
- an emphasis on 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 have been 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 them in performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
202. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the direct funding provided for the development of volunteering by his Department for each year from 2009 including the estimated provision for 2013; the plans he has to support volunteering here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5584/13]
View answerMy Department provides funding for volunteering initiatives, including funding to support a network of twenty two Volunteer Centres nationally. 1% of funding under the Local and Community Development Programme is for volunteering activities. This funding is paid directly to Volunteer Centres which operate in LCDP areas.
As well as funding the local Volunteer Centres, my Department also funds Volunteer Ireland which was founded in 2011 following the amalgamation of Volunteer Centres Ireland and Volunteer Ireland. Volunteer Ireland facilitates and promotes the services offered by the local Volunteer Centres. Its role is also to develop best practice within and across the Volunteer Centres and it co-ordinates a national programme of volunteer management training that is delivered locally via the Volunteer Centres. My Department also supports other volunteering initiatives, for example through Boardmatch, Chambers Ireland, Focus Ireland, and Young Social Innovators.
My primary concern has been, and will continue to be, the protection of front line services delivering vital programmes and initiatives, especially those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities. Ensuring a continued positive impact across the Community and Voluntary sector, including encouraging and supporting, the spirit of volunteerism, will remain a key part of my Department’s work in the coming years. The following table shows the direct funding provided for volunteering initiatives from 2009 to 2012 and the 2013 allocation.
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 Estimated |
|
€3,636 |
€3,430 |
€3,139 |
€3,094 |
€2,945 |
206. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the information he has regarding the unaccounted for water in private estates built during the period 1992 to 2012 receiving treated water from public water mains and the measures that have been taken to charge the developers of these estates for this wasted resource. [5563/13]
View answerThe most recent published figures for unaccounted for water for each of the local authority administrative areas are set out in the report Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2010. The report was published by the Local Government Management Services Board and a copy is available in the Oireachtas Library. The information in respect of unaccounted for water does not differentiate between the types of properties supplied from public water mains.
My Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010–2013 places a high priority on water conservation. Funding is particularly targeted at areas where the level of unaccounted for water is unacceptably high.
Since the national water conservation programme was implemented in 2003, over €247 million has been specifically invested in water conservation measures by my Department. In addition, local authorities fund active leakage control, detection and repair from their own operational budgets. Most of the effort to date has been focused on putting in place the water management systems to allow for active leakage control and better planning of mains rehabilitation. Most local authorities have now prepared watermains rehabilitation strategies, which set out the priority mains for replacement and repair, and provide the platform for accelerated investment in this area over the coming years. The primary objective of this programme of work is to reduce water loss and leakage in the distribution networks to an economic level and to address high levels of unaccounted for water. Over time, this investment coupled with ongoing active leakage control should lead to marked reductions in unaccounted for water and improve service to customers.
The proposed water metering programme will complement the continuing programme of investment in water mains rehabilitation and replacement. The installation of water meters will encourage households to conserve water, reduce consumption and ensure that customer side leaks can be identified and fixed. Metering will, therefore, achieve significant reductions in the volumes of water that are required to be produced and treated and will lead to savings in the operational costs of delivering water services and in deferred capital expenditure.
207. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in the devolution of functions from central to local government; the contact and responses, if any, he has had with other Departments; and the timeframe for devolution. [5409/13]
View answerThe Action Programme for Effective Local Government, which was published on 16 October 2012, sets out Government decisions for a range of measures in relation to local government structures, functions, funding, governance and operational matters. The Programme provides for additional local government functions with particular regard to three key areas:
- the operation of the local micro-enterprise support service through Local Enterprise Offices;
- local authority oversight and planning of local and community development programmes; and
- an enhanced and clearer role in economic development.
These decisions represent the most significant enhancement of the role of local government in many decades. In addition, a number of functions that are potentially suitable for devolution were identified by relevant Departments. Initial proposals in this regard are detailed in the Action Programme, including:
- responsibility for tourist information offices;
- involvement in the delivery of local and rural transport;
- responsibility relating to local sports partnerships;
- responsibility for managing property on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife Service;
- responsibility in relation to transport and other infrastructure on offshore islands;
- administration of community development programmes.
All Government Departments were consulted in the preparation of these proposals, and engagement with Departments will continue as is necessary.
Legislation to provide for the additional local government functions will be brought forward with a view to enactment in advance of the next local government elections in 2014.
208. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of flexibility he has in the application of the EU Nitrate Directive; the discussions that have taken place with relevant stakeholders; and the plans he has in place for the forthcoming year. [5415/13]
View answerThe Nitrates Directive makes it mandatory in all Member States to put in place a Nitrates Action Programme. The Directive and Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme are given legal effect by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010. The Action Programme contains measures which are mandatory under the Nitrates Directive. 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.
The objective of these measures is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers.
A review of the Nitrates Action Programme will be carried out this year. I will work closely with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in conducting this review, which will be informed by expert views and developments in environmental and agricultural research. In addition, the review will be subject to full public consultation in which all interested stakeholders can participate. I intend initiating the public consultation in the second quarter of 2013.
209. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the situation that many councils across the country are reliant on parking charges to run basic services which results in high parking charges which are one of the main contributors to the difficulties that are being experienced by retailers in town centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5481/13]
View answerLocal authority expenditure is funded from a variety of sources including specific State grants, commercial rates, housing rents, fees and charges for goods and services and general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. I have allocated a total of €640m in general purpose grants to local authorities from the Local Government Fund for 2013. I am confident that this level of allocation, together with income from local sources, is sufficient to meet the cost of providing a reasonable level of local authority services.
It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.
