Written Answers Nos. 379-395
379. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the coming on stream of gas supplies from the Corrib gas field; the extent to which such supply will contribute to the national demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20412/13]
View answerCompletion of the Corrib gas field development works by the developer is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. Pending such completion, it is not possible to state a date for when gas from the Corrib gas field will become available.
It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline, which began last year, including the construction of a 5km tunnel, will take in the region of three years. First gas cannot therefore reasonably be anticipated before end 2014. In its first four to five years of production, the Corrib Gas Field Development is expected to provide 60% to 65% of Ireland’s natural gas needs.
380. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which mobile telephone technology and quality of service here compares with the best available throughout Europe and worldwide; if it is possible to encourage the service providers to take any particular initiatives to improve and upgrade the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20413/13]
View answerAn EU Commission comparison of “3G” mobile telephony coverage across the EU states for 2010 ranks Ireland 6th highest for coverage at 99.5% compared to an EU average of 89.9%.
The award of spectrum licences including the imposition and monitoring of associated quality and coverage requirements to provide mobile telephony services, are statutory functions of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) as provided for by the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended.
In late 2012 ComReg concluded a process to allocate access to radio spectrum suitable for use in the provision of the next generation “4G” mobile telephone services. The “4G” technology is the most modern currently available to support mobile phone services, which the successful applicants are expected to commence rolling out later this year. It is a matter for ComReg to impose and monitor compliance by the successful applicants with the terms and conditions of the spectrum allocation process.
381. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which communications technology can be utilised to prevent unwarranted, unwelcomed and uninvited electronic communication resulting in stalking or bullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20415/13]
View answerThe Office of Internet Safety has been established by the Government to take lead responsibility for Internet safety in Ireland particularly as it relates to children. This Office operates under the aegis of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Office also aims at building linkages and cohesion between all Departments and Agencies to ensure that the State provides the best possible protection for the community and promotes Internet safety.
I also understand the Department of Education and Skills have recently set up an anti-bullying working group to address this issue and to make recommendations on how to tackle the challenges associated with cyber bullying.
My Department has developed a website called www.makeITsecure.ie to promote best practice in relation to many issues arising from the use of the Internet. This campaign, which was developed with industry, does provide some information in relation to use of ICT by children.
While my Department does not lead on the specific issue of cyber bullying, it is available to assist in any initiative taken forward by the other Departments and continues to engage across all Departments in issues relating to the use of the Internet and ICT generally.
382. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will identify some of the measures being taken to promote cost reductions for small and medium enterprises particularly in relation to waste costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19762/13]
View answerThe Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, was published in July 2012. The policy has a clear focus on
resource efficiency and on building a sustainable approach to the management of our waste. Among the measures contained in the policy, which will play an
important role in the provision of effective and efficient delivery of waste management services are a reduction in the number of waste management planning
regions from 10 to 3, a significant revision of the regulation of waste collection to ensure the delivery of both improved environmental and service outcomes, and a
review of the delivery of waste enforcement services.
In addition, the policy reflects the waste hierarchy and will focus on waste prevention and the preparation for reuse of goods. Both of these tiers provide
opportunities for businesses to reduce their environmental impact and to reduce their costs. Ireland has a well-established National Waste Prevention Programme
run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and driven by a steering committee comprising a wide range of stakeholders including business representative
bodies. The Green Business Initiative is aimed primarily at the business community, with an emphasis on small and medium sized enterprises. It provides tools and
methodologies to help organisations to make financial savings by examining and improving their resource use to reduce costs and lessen the impact their business
activity has on the environment. The National Waste Prevention Programme’s report for 2011 noted that in addition to sector specific savings, the Green Business
initiative had identified up to €6.1 million of potential savings due to resource efficiency activities among participating businesses.
In terms of reuse, the SMILE Exchange Network is an industrial co-operation programme with more than 500 businesses in the Network. The programme works to
save businesses money and divert waste from landfill by creating a network of businesses that reuse each other’s surplus products, by-products and reusable
items and also share services and logistics.
The EPA has also published Developing a Green Enterprise which is a guide, for business and institutions, on supports available in Ireland for developing resource
efficient practices. This guide provides a brief overview of services and supports available from the four principal agencies active in this area: the Sustainable
Energy Authority of Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
The Producer Responsibility Initiative Model in Ireland is currently being reviewed to ensure, inter alia , that specific waste stream re-use, recovery and recycling
targets are achieved at the most efficient cost to stakeholders, whilst maintaining a high level of environmental compliance and where possible, to give
recommendations for lowering the cost of compliance for business.
The County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA) recently published an analysis of local authority activities entitled “Supporting Enterprise, Local Development
and Economic Growth”. The publication summarises over 2,000 initiatives aimed at supporting local economic development, enterprise, support and economic
growth.
383. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that was raised for the Exchequer from the second home tax in 2012; and the amount estimated to be raised in 2013. [20055/13]
View answerThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 broadened the revenue base of local authorities by introducing a charge on no n-principal private residences. The charge is set at €200 and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Revenues raised by the Charge accrue to the relevant local authority, as opposed to accruing to the Exchequer.
As of 25 April 2013 , the Non Principal Private Residence Charge has raised €71.55m in respect of the 2012 liability date, including late payment fees. I anticipate that the Charge will raise a similar amount in respect of 2013.
384. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support a matter regarding a heating grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 [20100/13]
View answerUnder the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to €10,500 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant-eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.
The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, in this case Dublin City Council.
385. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will state for the financial year of 2012, the number of vehicles that were granted the concession road tax rate for vintage vehicles; if he will provide a breakdown of the years of these vehicles, the classes of these vehicles, the horsepower categories of these vehicles and the total cost to the Exchequer of these concessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20247/13]
View answerThe information requested is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
386. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which carbon reduction targets continue to be met in accordance with international agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20414/13]
View answerAs signalled by the Environmental Protection Agency in the latest national greenhouse gas emission projections published on 25 April 2013, Ireland is on course to confirm compliance with its target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the commitment period 2008-2012.
Pending ratification of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol by the EU and Member States, Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target for the period 2013-2020 is binding under EU law. In this regard, I refer to the reply to Question No. 258 of 14 February 2013. The latest emission projections put the cumulative compliance challenge for the period 2013-2020 at up to 24 Mt CO2e.
387. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious problems in the rental accommodation scheme in the Dublin City Council area, with 50 tenants facing eviction due to landlords selling or looking for vacant possession of the houses-apartments let to Dublin City Council under the rental accommodation scheme and the fact that the council cannot source replacement properties for those tenants and that the tenants in some cases are in houses-apartments beyond the vacate date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/13]
View answerMy Department understands that Dublin City Council currently has a number of landlords who have advised them that they will not be renewing their RAS contracts. Various reasons have been cited by landlords including their selling the property, financial difficulties they have encountered, that they themselves are seeking to move back to the property, or they need to accommodate other family members. The reasons given, while understandable, are presenting significant difficulties for both the sitting tenant and the housing authority.
Dublin City Council has assured my Department of its continued work with both the landlords and the tenants in these cases in an effort to source alternative accommodation as quickly as possible. The Council in seeking replacement accommodation attempts to source a suitable alternative within or close to the area in which the tenant is residing. However the Council reports that progress is slow due to the scarcity of suitable properties available to let in the areas affected, but daily contact is made with local auctioneers in the relevant areas and with the various letting sites – DAFT, My Home and Rent.ie.
388. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council's rental accommodation scheme will have a shortfall of more than €1.5 million, thus potentially adding to the crisis being caused by landlords exiting the scheme. [19748/13]
View answerThere is no shortfall in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) funding for 2013 to Dublin City Council or indeed to any other housing authority.
Funding for the scheme is provided by a transfer of monies from the Department of Social Protection’s Vote to the Vote of my Department. Monies are provided on an Exchequer neutral basis to meet the costs of persons transferring from the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Rent Supplement Scheme to the RAS. The amount allocated for 2013 is €150 million, up €15 million from 2012. Dublin City Council has confirmed to my Department that it is continuing to source suitable properties to include in the RAS scheme at the same pace as in 2012.
389. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of landlords in each council area that had availed of tax breaks under the buy to let scheme who are currently leasing to each of the local authorities; the number of those that are facing repossession of properties from their lenders; the steps being put in place to address the potential problem for local authorities if they cannot source replacement properties to house applicants on their housing waiting lists who are in these properties under various local authorities housing schemes. [19749/13]
View answerMy Department does not keep information on schemes under the aegis of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners or have access to information on landlords’ financial positions.
There are currently 3,932 units operational in the Social Housing Leasing Initiative. A breakdown of these by housing authority area is provided in the table below. These include unsold affordable housing units along with units sourced by Approved Housing Bodies and Housing Authorities. Should a property owner decide to break their lease contract with a housing authority or approved housing bodies, which can only occur in limited circumstances under the terms of a long term lease, housing authorities will work with both the owners and the tenants in these cases in an effort to source alternative accommodation as quickly as possible.
A number of delivery mechanisms are available to Housing Authorities to meet the housing need of people they deem in need of housing. Delivery of social housing has been significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as social leasing, but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing, including an on-going engagement with NAMA from which 339 housing units have been completed or contracted to date.
|
Housing Authority |
Operational |
|
Athlone Town Council |
67 |
|
Athy Town Council |
21 |
|
Birr Town Council |
29 |
|
Bray Town Council |
17 |
|
Buncrana Town Council |
38 |
|
Bundoran Town Council |
1 |
|
Carlow County Council |
22 |
|
Carlow Town Council |
14 |
|
Cashel Town Council |
3 |
|
Castlebar Town Council |
20 |
|
Cavan County Council |
8 |
|
Clare County Council |
46 |
|
Clonmel Borough Council |
14 |
|
Cork City Council |
128 |
|
Cork County Council |
615 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
146 |
|
Donegal County Council |
96 |
|
Drogheda Borough Council |
31 |
|
Dublin City Council |
489 |
|
Dundalk Town Council |
182 |
|
Ennis Town Council |
25 |
|
Enniscorthy Town Council |
9 |
|
Fingal County Council |
296 |
|
Galway City Council |
158 |
|
Galway County Council |
19 |
|
Kerry County Council |
15 |
|
Kildare County Council |
106 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
41 |
|
Laois County Council |
144 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
1 |
|
Letterkenny Town Council |
47 |
|
Limerick City Council |
10 |
|
Limerick County Council |
18 |
|
Longford County Council |
19 |
|
Louth County Council |
24 |
|
Mayo County Council |
45 |
|
Meath County Council |
86 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1 |
|
Nenagh Town Council |
31 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
29 |
|
Offaly County Council |
64 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
10 |
|
Sligo Borough Council |
12 |
|
Sligo County Council |
19 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
23 |
|
Sth Dublin County Council |
317 |
|
Templemore Town Council |
70 |
|
Thurles Town Council |
18 |
|
Tipperary Town Council |
2 |
|
Waterford City Council |
46 |
|
Waterford County Council |
67 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
103 |
|
Westport Town Council |
3 |
|
Wexford Borough Council |
8 |
|
Wexford County Council |
55 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
4 |
|
Overall |
3,932 |
390. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the total motor tax payments made by motorists from County Louth in 2012 and any projections for 2013. [19753/13]
View answerGross motor tax receipts for County Louth for 2012 are set out in the table below. In respect of projections for 2013, motor tax income projections are not made on a county by county basis. The 2013 Revised Estimates for Public Services projects a 6% increase in total motor tax receipts for 2013.
County Louth motor tax receipts 2012
|
Receipts |
Amount |
|
Motor tax office receipts |
€14,419,506 |
|
Online receipts |
€9,648,485 |
|
Total |
€24,067,991 |
391. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he plans to extract water from Lough Derg to service the demand in the Dublin-Leinster area; if he will outline in detail his plans including the timeframe; if an environmental impact assessment is required and has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19767/13]
View answerThe Dublin Water Supply (Long-Term Water Source) Scheme is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 , as a scheme to advance through planning. Dublin City Council is the lead authority for this scheme, on behalf of all of the water services authorities in the Greater Dublin Area. The Council has examined a number of options to supplement the existing sources of supply, including abstraction from the River Shannon, abstraction from the Rivers Liffey and Barrow, abstraction from groundwater and desalination. The options examined for taking water from the River Shannon included the possibility of abstraction from Lough Derg, Lough Ree, the Parteen Basin , or a combination of some of these locations.
Dublin City Council has completed a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the project and has prepared a Preliminary Report. I understand that the Council is in the process of appointing consultants to further progress the planning of the scheme, including the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment, which will, in due course, be submitted to An Bord Pleanála for consideration, in conjunction with a planning application.
392. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress there has been on the planned review into Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, particularly in terms of changes to the legislation which may affect shared ownership schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19788/13]
View answerThe Government’s 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. That review is now almost concluded and I have also asked the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to provide me with a standalone analysis of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, will be made in the context of both pieces of work and I expect to make announcements in this regard in the near future.
393. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when Leader funding will be released for 2013 projects in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19797/13]
View answerFollowing a thorough examination of project activity under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) I announced, on 24 April 2013, the lifting of the embargo on project approvals.
The completion of this review has facilitated the immediate issuing of RDP contracts for approximately €42 million worth of projects which have been approved by the Board of the Local Development Companies (LDCs) and have all the necessary requirements in place. The LDCs contracted to deliver the LEADER elements of the RDP, including those groups in Co. Kerry, have been allowed two weeks to notify my Department as to whether all of the projects within this €42 million are ready to proceed. Once this exercise is complete my Department will then be in a position to establish the remaining balance of funding in the RDP and will notify each LDC of their allocation to the end of the Programme.
394. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government following the fact that his Department's funding to Offaly County Council under the housing adaption grants for persons with disabilities has been reduced from €300,000.00 in 2010 to €47,063.00 in 2013, if he will acknowledge that such an allocation is insufficient for all works required to meet the needs of applicants. [19819/13]
View answerThe suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
In January 2013, my Department requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements under the grant schemes for this year. Offaly County Council requested capital funding of €500,000 and an allocation of €500,000 was notified to the Council on 22 February.
In the case of adaptations to the Council’s own housing stock I allocated €47,063 for these works in 2013. The Council have requested additional funding this year in respect of works at two locations. All of the available funding has been allocated at this time and the Council’s request will be considered in the event of any savings arising under this measure over the course of the year.
395. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline any changes and-or amendments his Department will be making in the coming months regarding standards for privately owned septic tanks and the qualifications required from operators who install and or service septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19903/13]
View answerThe Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides that the basic standard to be met by all domestic waste water treatment systems is that they should not create a risk to public health or the environment. Draft standards to augment this requirement were drawn up by my Department in consultation with the EPA and were issued for public consultation in March 2012. 165 submissions were received and were taken into consideration in the Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems) Regulations which I made on 26 June 2012. The regulations set out performance standards, including requirements regarding the maintenance and de-sludging of on-site systems. The relevant legislation is available in the Dáil library. I have no current plans to make amendments to these standards.
Where a domestic wastewater treatment system is found to be a risk to human health or the environment and remediation works are required, the selection of a competent contractor to carry out the works required will be a matter for the householder concerned. Due the wide variety of remediation works which could arise, and the number of trades and professions which could be involved, there are no plans to establish a formal qualification system for contractors involved in such works.
