Written Answers Nos. 146-156
146. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update with regard to the detailed site investigation under way at a location (details supplied) in County Kildare; when he expects the detailed design of the full remediation works programme to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19556/13]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency is currently managing the site concerned, including works such as leachate and odour management. My Department continues to provide funding to support this work from the Environment Fund.
I understand that contracts were signed on 27 February, 2013 for the provision of site management services and for the development of an options report for the future remediation of the site. This report will be vital to ensuring that the best technical, environmental and most cost-effective solution for the site is chosen. It is anticipated that the report will be completed in May and this will then inform the approach to remediation.
147. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a sewage scheme (details supplied) in County Cork; when he expects the project works to commence; the expected timetable for its completion; if he will confirm that funding will be provided by his Department to complete the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19637/13]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €230 million in the county during the period of the Programme. The Castletownbere Sewerage Scheme is included in the Programme as a scheme to advance through planning during the life of the Programme. My Department is awaiting the submission by Cork County Council of a revised Preliminary Report for the scheme.
148. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the funding, both the amount and source, provided to Inishboffin from his Department in 2012. [19671/13]
View answerIn 2012 the Community Division of my Department provided funding for Inishbofin under the Local and Community Development Programme (€116,907.00) and the Rural Development Programme (€23,422.73). The funding was channelled through Comhar na nOileán, the Local Development Company with responsibility for Programme delivery on the offshore islands.
149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding that will be provided by his Department under the rural water programme to Cavan County Council for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19679/13]
View answer150. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding that will be provided by his Department under the rural water programme to Monaghan County Council for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together.
Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for the water services authorities.
The following table sets out the total capital block grant allocations notified in March 2013 to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council under the 2013 Rural Water Programme.
|
- |
Group Water Schemes |
Small Public Schemes |
|
Cavan County Council |
€500,000 |
€82,500 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€150,000 |
€18,750 |
Funding will also be available to both authorities for drawdown from the Local Government Fund for subsidies towards the operational costs of group water schemes. Such funding is provided on a demand led basis rather than by way of block grant allocations.
151. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, as part of the Valuation Bill, he will consider instructing local authorities to ring-fence the moneys received from pay parking and use these funds to provide a rebate to ratepayers in order to ease the financial burden on businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19686/13]
View answerThe Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, it is up to every 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, including moneys received from paid parking. I have no plans at present to issue instructions with regard to income derived from parking fees.
152. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list the estates in County Cavan that were exempt from payment of the household charge; if any of these estates are now liable for payment of the property tax; the reason for such exemptions being removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19688/13]
View answerAn exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey 2012. The Survey was carried out over the course of summer 2012 by my Department in conjunction with local authorities and the Housing Agency. The categorisation methodology for the survey was different to that which was used in 2011 and which provided the basis for the waiver from the household charge. That earlier categorisation related largely to the level of on-site activity at the time the 2011 survey was carried out and had less to do with the physical character of a development. The 2012 survey was based purely and objectively on the actual state of completion of a development. Only developments that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included. For purposes of preparing the final list of developments to which the exemption from the local property tax would apply local authorities were asked by my Department to confirm or update the then existing list as appropriate.
The list of estates exempted from payment of the household charge, as well as the list of estates which are entitled to a waiver from the local property tax, are both available on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie.
153. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of fees paid to experts in an inquest (details supplied) listing the names of the experts, their qualifications and the amount being paid to them to date; the amount that is expected to be paid to them in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19557/13]
View answerUnder the Coroners Act, 1962, a Coroner is a statutory officer exercising quasi-judicial functions in relation to which he/she is independent and neither I nor my Department has any role in the conduct of any inquest, including the calling of any witnesses. I understand that the Coroner, Dr. Ciarán MacLoughlin, called a number of expert witnesses to assist the inquest in the case referred to by the Deputy. The Local Authority, in consultation with the coroner, is responsible for paying fees and expenses relating to inquests. A breakdown of the fees is not yet available, but I will arrange to have details forwarded to the Deputy in due course.
154. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the number of civil and public servants under the remit of his Department who earn more than €500,000, between €400,000 and €500,000, €300,000 and €400,000, €250,000 and €300,000, €200,000 and €250,000, €150,000 and €200,000, €100,000 and €150,000, €80,000 and €100,000, €60,000 and €80,000, €40,000 and €60,000, €30,000 and €40,000 and less than €30,000. [19501/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in respect of staff of my Department and agencies under its aegis is set out in the following table. The figures are based on annual gross salary and do not include allowances or overtime. The salary bands include staff employed on both a full-time and a work-sharing basis.
|
Salary Bands |
Number of persons |
|
over €500,000 |
0 |
|
€200,001 - €500,000 |
0 |
|
€150,001 - €200,000 |
9 |
|
€100,001 - €150,000 |
116 |
|
€80,001 - €100,000 |
212 |
|
€60,001 - €80,000 |
538 |
|
€40,001 - €60,000 |
3406 |
|
€30,001 - €40,000 |
1896 |
|
less than €30,000 |
1418 |
The figures above represent staff of my Department, agencies staffed by my Department and agencies that are responsible for their own recruitment such as the Legal Aid Board, Property Registration Authority, Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, Irish Prison Service, Irish Human Rights Commission, Courts Service and the National Disability Authority. Information on the salary band breakdown for An Garda Síochána is not to hand and will be forwarded to the Deputy separately.
155. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when a draft of the mental capacity Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19537/13]
View answerDrafting of the Bill is currently being finalised so that it can shortly be submitted to Government to approve its publication in this session. The Bill will implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a Bill that is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It will offer a statutory framework to support people with impaired capacity to make decisions, to retain autonomy over their decisions to the greatest extent possible and to exercise their basic rights. The revised title of the Bill - Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill reflects this approach.
156. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the steps he and his Department have taken towards ratifying the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; if he will outline the remaining legislative work that is required by his Department before it is ratified by Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19539/13]
View answerAt my Department one of the key requirements is the enactment of capacity legislation. Drafting of the Bill is being finalised with a view to meeting the commitment in the Government Legislation Programme which indicates that the Bill is expected to be published in the current session. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a Bill that is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Work is being completed to properly align the provisions of the Bill with the principles contained in the UN Convention on supporting people with impaired capacity in making decisions and exercising their basic rights. I envisage that the revised title of the Bill, The Assisted Decision - Making (Capacity) Bill, will reflect this approach.
The ongoing implementation of our National Disability Strategy in many respects comprehends many of the provisions of the Convention. In addition, the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Convention chaired by my Department monitors the remaining legislative and administrative actions required to enable ratification. The committee has identified as part of its work programme, issues to be considered by various Government Departments including my Department. At the Committee's request, the National Disability Authority, the lead statutory agency for the sector, is in the process of assisting it to assess the remaining requirements for ratification so as to ensure conclusively that all such issues will be addressed.
It is the Government's intention to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are being met. As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland does not become party to treaties until it is first in a position to comply with the obligations imposed by the treaty in question, including by amending domestic law as necessary.
