Written Answers Nos. 159-167
159. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a licence application has been received by his Department for an extension to the hare hunting and or beagling season into March 2013. [10806/13]
View answerThe Irish Masters of Beagles Association (IMBA) applied for a licence to my Department to hunt hares outside the dates provided in the Open Seasons Order for hares. Specifically, they applied for a licence to hunt hares from 1 March 2013 until 17 March 2013. My Department refused the application, which is consistent with previous years' requests.
County Limerick Coursing Club, which is a club affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club, applied for a licence to hold a hare coursing meeting from 1 March until 3 March 2013, which is outside the Open Season for hares. This licence was applied for, and granted on a precautionary basis, to be used only if their coursing meeting scheduled for 22 February to 24 February 2013 was postponed (e.g. due to bad weather/unsuitable ground conditions). In that context, no extra days coursing would have taken place. As the original meeting went ahead on the scheduled dates, the licence issued will not now be used.
160. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason his officials have not met local landowners in the Falcarragh-Meenlaragh special protection area in relation to the recent designation of the protection area; if they will meet them before the response deadline of 12 March 2013 recognising that some landowners affected have not received any notification as yet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10853/13]
View answerThe intention to designate the site referred to by the Deputy was widely publicised in July 2011, through direct correspondence with landowners as well as by advertisement in local and national media. Officials of my Department have met with many landowners in this area to discuss the proposed designation. The officials will continue to facilitate requests from any individual, or group of individuals, who wish to discuss the matter with them before the 12th March next, which is the deadline for the submission of scientific reports to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board for those who have opted to make formal (Stage 2) objections to the proposed designation.
161. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10874/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2nd June 2011 and the information requested is being provided from that date onwards.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Honourable Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon chaired a full day seminar on genealogy, on behalf of my Department, in September 2011 and the Honourable Mr. Justice John Quirke chaired the Peatlands Forum, on behalf of the Government, in February/March 2012. Both were serving Judges of the High Court when they undertook those tasks.
With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the position is as follows:-
- the Honourable Mr. Justice Peter Charleton, a serving Judge of the High Court, is Chairman of the National Archives Advisory Council; and
- Judge Paul Kelly, a serving Judge of the District Court, is a member of the Board of the National Museum of Ireland.
In addition, the Honourable Mr. Justice Bryan McMahon, now retired as a Judge of the High Court, currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Abbey Theatre.
162. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources bearing in mind his policy statement on the strategic importance of transmission and other energy infrastructure which states the Government underlines the imperative for early and ongoing engagement and consultation with local communities and all stakeholders before entering planning, his views on whether communities in the North-South interconnector area who are potentially affected by the line should be entitled to the same early and transparent consultation process now afforded to the communities in the grid link and grid west study areas in view of the fact that the North-South interconnector project is the subject of a completely new planning application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10762/13]
View answerThe strategic and economic importance of investment in networks and energy infrastructure was emphasised in the ‘Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure’, published in July 2012. The North-South transmission line is vital infrastructure for the island. The lack of sufficient interconnection between the North and South is preventing the full benefits of the all-island market being realised for consumers.
Meaningful and effective public consultation is a central tenet to all of EirGrid’s infrastructure development projects, including the North South 400kV Interconnection Development.
The North South project was launched five years ago and has involved comprehensive public and stakeholder consultation activities, including the opening of dedicated project offices by EirGrid in Navan and Carrickmacross.
Following the withdrawal of the original planning application for the North South 400kV Interconnection Development in 2010, EirGrid is conducting a comprehensive re-evaluation of the project, which will ensure that the new application follows a project development and consultation roadmap in a manner similar to projects such as Grid Link and Grid West.
As part of its Grid25 national transmission development programme, EirGrid has produced the project development and consultation roadmap as a framework for its larger infrastructure projects, such as the Grid Link and Grid West projects. The roadmap provides a clear and structured process, with public and stakeholder consultation occurring from the earliest stage of project development.
Stage one includes identification of a study area to meet the needs of that particular project; the identification of environmental and other constraints within that study area; and the identification of potential route corridors which seek to avoid those identified constraints to the greatest extent practicable or feasible. Each of these elements is subject to public consultation.
Stage two involves further review of previous options, endorsement of a preferred route corridor, and identification of a potentially feasible indicative line route within that preferred route corridor.
Again, these steps are subject to ongoing public and stakeholder consultation and landowner engagement along the identified indicative line route.
Stages 3 and 4 are primarily concerned with confirmation of the final line route, and associated preparation of technical and environmental assessments, with ongoing engagement with the public and landowners, seeking agreement where possible for the location of structures on landholdings.
The final proposal is then submitted to the appropriate authority – usually An Bord Pleanála - for development consent.
The re-evaluation of the North South 400 kV Interconnection Development has comprised a review of all issues and submissions concerning the previous application, as well as information received and issues arising since June 2010. A Re-evaluation Report will be published shortly.
In this context, the overall re-evaluation process, including the publication of preliminary findings in 2011 and related public and stakeholder consultation, effectively constitute stages one and two of EirGrid’s Project Development and Consultation Roadmap.
I understand from EirGrid has assured me that it is satisfied that the re-evaluation process is consistent with the framework, particularly as it will continue to be subject to public and stakeholder consultation and input.
In addition, the latter stages of route identification, environmental assessment, and preparation of a new application for development consent will also occur in accordance with the framework of the roadmap.
The project will enter stage three of the EirGrid project roadmap within the next few months. The objective of this stage will be to confirm the preferred project solution.
The goals of this phase of consultation will be to:-
- Engage with landowners on the preferred project solution;
- Conduct environmental studies and surveys;
- Consult with members of the public and other stakeholders on matters to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement;
- Consult with members of the public and other stakeholders on the Re-evaluation Report and the preferred project solution;
- Provide members of the public, landowners and other stakeholders with information on the project and the progression towards a planning application.
As part of the public consultation and engagement activities a further round of consultation will be held. In particular, landowners will be encouraged to participate in this consultation.
Completion of the North South project will further consolidate the all-island electricity market established in 2007, providing for the seamless transfer of electricity across the island, delivering greater competition, reducing the need for further investment in thermal generation and ensuring the availability of low cost generation to the market.
163. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce post codes across the State. [10817/13]
View answerThe Government is committed to introducing postcodes across the State. The procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System began in 2011 with the publication of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire on www.etenders.gov.ie. That process is still ongoing, and it is expected to conclude in the first half of 2013.
The final decision to proceed with implementation of a national postcode will be one for Government and will be based on appropriate financial, technical and operational considerations.
164. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10876/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that no members or former members of the Judiciary have either acted as Chairperson or been a member of the Board of any State Body under the aegis of my Department or carried out a function in any other capacity as outlined by the Deputy.
165. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when regulations were last updated regarding ventilation in domestic buildings; and if he will bring forward new guidelines regarding same. [10754/13]
View answerThe legal requirement in relation to ventilation in domestic buildings is set out in Part F of the Building Regulations 1997-2012, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document F (TGD F) outlines how the requirement can be achieved in practice. Building Regulations typically apply to new building and, in specific circumstances, to existing buildings undergoing an extension or a significant alteration or change of use. A full review of Part F, and the accompanying TGD F, was most recently completed in 2009.
Minimum standards for rental accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, made under section 18 of the Housing (miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. These Regulations were further amended by the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, which specify a number of requirements in relation to a range of matters including sanitary facilities, refuse facilities, heating, lighting and ventilation. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Regulations.
Both the Building Regulations and the Housing Regulations are kept under review in my Department and there are no proposals for changes in relation to ventilation requirements under consideration by the Department at present.
166. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in respect of the low income subsidy granted to some holders of local authority shared-ownership loans, his attention has been drawn to the fact that the subsidy is assessed by local authorities at a single point in the calendar year, that as a result the benefit is often not available to persons who would otherwise qualify for long periods of time, causing significant financial difficulties; the way he proposes to address this anomaly; if he will provide details of all circulars issued from his Department on the administration of shared-ownership loans in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10761/13]
View answerUnder the Affordable Housing Scheme a mortgage subsidy is payable to qualifying households based on income bands. A similar subsidy applies under the Shared Ownership Scheme towards the rent payment for that portion of the equity not yet purchased. The level of subsidy ranges between €2,550 for incomes up to €13,000 and €1,050 for incomes up to €28,000 and its application is a matter for the individual housing authorities.
Local authority mortgage holders – including those who purchased under shared ownership – also benefit from extremely keenly priced interest rates which generally run at around 0.5% lower than the best rates available in the market.
The review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts announced in the context of the standing down of affordable housing schemes as part of the Government’s housing policy statement will include an examination of the operational aspects of the shared ownership scheme. That review is currently advanced and I expect the consultants’ report that informs the review will be published shortly. Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, will be made in the context of this review.
167. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to transfer responsibilities for roads and pathways in local authority areas of responsibilty to the National Roads Authority. [10800/13]
View answerResponsibility in relation to the National Roads Authority and legislation relating to roads rests primarily with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The Action Programme for Effective Local Government: Putting People First, which I published in October 2012, sets out Government decisions on a range of measures in relation to local government. It envisages that local government will be the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level – leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services, and representing citizens and local communities effectively and accountably. Consistent with this principle, the Action Programme gives a clear commitment that, in future, the functions of government at local level will be performed through the local government system to the greatest possible extent. It also provides for delegation of greater responsibility to local level in relation to a number of functions, including greater discretion in relation to the funding of roads. Proposals for delegation of greater responsibility to local authorities in accordance with the Action Programme will be the subject of further engagement with relevant Departments, as necessary.
