Wednesday, 13 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 141-144

Semi-State Bodies Remuneration

Questions (141)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

141. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of people that are on State pensions who have worked in semi-State companies under his Department and are in pension brackets/bands of between €50,000 and €60,000, between €60,000 and €70,000, between €70,000 and €80,000, between €80,000 and €90,000, between €90,000 and €100,000 and more than €100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/13]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Information relating to individual pension details in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day-to-day matter for those organisations. My Department does not have the information sought by the Deputy. I will ask the relevant agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy in the matter.

Telecommunications Services Provision

Questions (142)

Simon Harris

Question:

142. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will make contact with Eircom to raise concerns about the current proposal to drop the price of telephone lines by €4 per month to customers in cities and towns as part of their broadband rural plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7706/13]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Eircom is a private company. I have no legal basis to seek to influence its commercial decisions on pricing. Eircom is the designated provider of universal services in the telecommunications market. In June 2012, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) extended until June 2014, the universal service obligation addressed to Eircom which, among other things, requires that line rental for basic fixed line telephone services is available to end users at a standard price across the country. There are no proposals to amend this obligation. Separately, ComReg published a decision (ref. no., 13/14) on its website last week, which allows Eircom greater flexibility in setting wholesale rates for bundled services offered to its competitors at telephone exchanges where there is already active competition among service providers and/or exchanges where next generation access services are available. The retail price for basic fixed line telephone services is not altered as a consequence of the decision and remains at a standard price across the country in line with Eircom’s universal service obligation. This was an independent decision on bundled service which was reached by ComReg in accordance with its mandate. I had no statutory function in the process.

Unfinished Housing Developments Data

Questions (143)

Robert Troy

Question:

143. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a housing estate (details supplied) in County Westmeath was categorised by his Department as finished when Westmeath County Council clearly outlined in the list they submitted that this estate was in fact unfinished; if he will guarantee that this mistake will be rectified and place the estate on the unfinished housing estate list as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7589/13]

Written answers

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

As part of the process of preparing the 2011 National Housing Development Survey, which was launched by my Department in October 2011, local authorities, including Westmeath County Council, provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories: Category 1, where the development is still being actively completed by the developer, or where no serious public safety issues exist; Category 2, where a receiver has been appointed; Category 3, where a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but effectively inactive; and Category 4, where the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents. This categorisation formed the basis for the list of those unfinished developments eligible for a waiver on the annual household charge. Only households in developments in categories 3 and 4 are eligible for the waiver from payment of the household charge. The list of developments in which households are eligible for the waiver in 2012 is set out under the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012. In Budget 2013, the Government announced the introduction of a local property tax which will replace the annual household charge. It was also decided that a waiver will apply in certain circumstances. A prescribed list of unfinished estates, subject to certain criteria and identified as part of the National Housing Development Survey 2012, in respect of which the property tax for 2013 will be waived in accordance with the Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012, will be prepared. I anticipate that this list will be published shortly.

Pyrite Panel Report Implementation

Questions (144)

Clare Daly

Question:

144. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that it is acceptable to create a category of homes that does not comply with the building regulations for which he is responsible because they contain infill material that is unfit for purpose. [7625/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The independent Pyrite Panel recommended a categorisation system as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works. Recognising the expensive and intrusive nature of pyrite remediation work and the unpredictability of pyritic heave, I consider that the Panel developed a reasonable and pragmatic approach to facilitate the remediation of dwellings exhibiting significant pyritic damage. The recently published standard by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, I.S 398 –– Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1 provides accurate and reliable protocols to determine whether 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 to determine if a dwelling should be remediated.