Written Answers Nos. 162-169
162. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person is allowed change their name and address on the Register of Electors from English to Irish with a local authority (details supplied) in view of the fact that Article 8.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann states the Irish language as the national language is the first official language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20635/13]
View answerThe preparation and publication of the register of electors is a matter for each registration authority in accordance with electoral law. The opportunity to change registration details on the register of electors arises in November of each year when registration authorities publish a draft of the register which will come into force for the period of twelve months from the following 15 February. Any person wishing to correct their details on the register may do so by completing form RFA 1, which is available from registration authorities or to download from www.checktheregister.ie.
163. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether current legislation governing derelict sites is too restrictive when it comes to the rights of residents and communities to attempt to have property owners repair or maintain buildings which are clearly becoming derelict. [20642/13]
View answer164. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the Chapelizod Old Village Association is fighting an uphill struggle to get the village recognised for the Tidy Towns competition for prize-winning as a result of the dereliction on the main street, comprising local authority and private owned buildings which are detracting from the judges' ability to award prizes. [20643/13]
View answer165. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to amend the legislation to facilitate serious groups and individuals to challenge property owners to maintain their properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20644/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusive, together.
Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified measures to be taken in relation to a derelict site, to impose a levy on derelict sites, or to compulsorily acquire any derelict site. I expect local authorities to use their statutory powers as they consider appropriate.
The National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments identified the Derelict Sites Act as a potential legal instrument that could be used by local authorities as part of a range of measures to deal with the problems generated by, for example, unfinished housing developments.
While I have no plans to amend the Derelict Sites Act at this time, I will keep the need for further legislative reforms to assist local authorities in addressing the issues of dereliction, including unfinished or unoccupied estates, under review.
I would also point out that local authorities have powers under other legislation to deal with derelict sites or structures, for example under the Sanitary Services Act 1963.
166. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding he has provided for County Wicklow through the rural water programme block grant allocation for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20649/13]
View answerResponsibility 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 Wicklow County Council under the 2013 Rural Water Programme.
|
- |
Group Water Schemes |
Small Public Schemes |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€144,000 |
€455,475 |
Funding will also be available to Wicklow County Council 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.
167. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that revenue collected from the local property tax is allocated in each local authority to the provision of adequate local services such as street lighting and waste collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20671/13]
View answerUnder section 157 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year. Questions concerning the use of Local Property Tax revenue raised in 2013 should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
The Government has recently indicated an intention to move, from 2014, to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. The remaining 20% of the Tax collected nationally will be re-distributed on an equalised basis to local authorities within the context of the annual allocations of General Purpose Grants.
I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including, a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and therefore a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision making concerning service provision - in particular, the inclusion of the local variation mechanism from 2015 will further increase the autonomy of local authorities; and, a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.
Given the emphasis I have placed on the exercise of local autonomy in financial decision making which Local Property Tax revenues will support, I do not intend to be prescriptive as to the use of the Tax. I expect that all local authorities will exercise their autonomy in a prudent manner and with a view to maximising the benefit of the revenue raised by the Tax.
168. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a cost benefit analysis was performed on the policy of local government and local development alignment before formally adopting it as a policy; if he will provide same if it was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/13]
View answerThe issue of enhanced alignment between local government and local development was examined by a steering group that I established for that purpose. The group comprised individuals with extensive experience across the spectrum of the local and community development sector, from policy and planning to implementation and delivery at a local level. A copy of the steering group’s report is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/AlignmentofLocalGovtLocalDev/ .
The Alignment process is, at its essence, about improving the co-ordination of the many publicly-funded programmes and structures that deliver local development services. It is not the replacement of one system with another solely because one is more cost effective than the other; it is the bringing together of relevant local actors in strategic collaboration and partnership, focusing on intended outcomes including, developing a more integrated approach to publicly-funded programmes, achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness, improved matching of resources to priorities, improved systems for impact measurement and assessment, greater cross-government sharing of data and identification of best practice, setting programme administration costs at sustainable level s and the use of shared services where appropriate.
169. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the intended consultation and consultation to date with staff that was conducted prior to and during the development of the local government/local development alignment policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20675/13]
View answerDuring the course of its work, the Local Government/Local Development Alignment Steering Group received and considered submissions from many local development companies and other stakeholder groups.
Implementation of the Steering Group ’s recommendations is now being overseen by the Alignment Working Group, which comprises representatives of the City/County Managers Association, the Irish Local Development Network and Pobal. The Irish Local Development Network has three places on the Working Group and it is a matter for that body to select its nominees to fill these positions. It is also the responsibility of the representatives from each sector to consult with their nominating bodies, staff and other relevant stakeholders, as necessary, as part of this process.
I would also like to draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that I met representatives of ILDN on 2 occasions personally in recent months to clarify policy issues.
