Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 194-202

Local Authority Housing Issues

Questions (194)

Brian Stanley

Question:

194. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it was not until 2009 that those applying for rent supplement had to be on a local authority waiting list, prior to this the applicant brought in a SW3A form and it was signed automatically, the implication of this is that those persons who had their SW3A signed before 2009 assumed they were on the housing lists but unfortunately it has come to light that this is not the case therefore increasing numbers are making applications for housing having believed they were on the list for years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23257/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan)

To qualify for social housing support a household must meet the eligibility and need criteria set down in the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. This includes households who were on the social housing list prior to the introduction of the Regulations in 2011.

The issue of qualification for rent supplement is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. When a household qualifies for rent supplement it does not automatically qualify for social housing support.

Local Authority Housing Issues

Questions (195)

Brian Stanley

Question:

195. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities are allowed to put the local property tax onto rents of local authority tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23258/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan)

Housing rents are set in accordance with a rent scheme adopted by each local authority. The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of housing authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions.

The current arrangements for determining local authority rents will be substantially replaced on the coming into force over the next year of provisions of Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. That section predates the Local Property Tax legislation and does not make provision for the new tax to be taken into account in the determination of rents.

Tenant Purchase Scheme Review

Questions (196)

Brian Stanley

Question:

196. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the review taking place of the tenant purchase scheme; when will it be brought to conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23260/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan)

While the 1995 tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses closed for new applications on 31 December 2012, two incremental purchase schemes remain in operation, one for newly-built local authority houses and the other for local authority apartments.

It is intended to advance the necessary legislative proposals as soon as practicable to underpin an incremental purchase scheme for existing local authority houses. Such a scheme will involve discounts for tenants linked to household income and a discount-related charge on the property that will dwindle away over a period unless the house is resold or the purchaser fails to comply with conditions of the sale. The precise terms of the new scheme will be set out in regulations when the necessary legislation is enacted.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Questions (197)

Clare Daly

Question:

197. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 140 and 176 of 28 February 2013, if he will explain his statement that Fingal County Council did not apply to upgrade the second phase of the sewerage pipeline upgrade for Rush in view of an application (details supplied) of 4 February 2013 [23266/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Portrane/Donabate/Rush/Lusk Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP) 2010 – 2013, with some elements to advance to construction and others to advance through planning during the lifetime of the Programme.

Fingal County Council made a submission to my Department in February 2013 relating to the priority assigned in the WSIP to the Rush element of the scheme. The reply to Question No. 176 of 28 February 2013 stated that this request from the Council is under consideration in my Department. A decision will issue to the Council before the end of this month.

Property Repossessions

Questions (198)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if her Department will assist a person (details supplied) in County Kerry on the way they will regain a property that was repossessed by a financial institute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23282/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan)

I have no function in relation to the matter in question.

Register of Electors Issues

Questions (199)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

199. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the changes he anticipates regarding pending changes to the additions made to postal voters register supplement lists to be contained in the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2013; the changes that will be made comparable to the current position regarding postal voters; if he has discussions with officials in his Department in relation to these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23283/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Government legislation programme for the summer session includes an Electoral (Amendment) Bill which will provide for amendments to the Electoral Act 1992 in relation to the date for applications for inclusion in the supplement to the postal and special voters lists in advance of elections and referendums. The Bill is in preparation and the detail will be published when the text is approved by Government.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (200)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his Department has identified the impact of the cost-cutting requirements imposed on the services arising from the Memorandum of Understanding which he inherited from his predecessors; the way this is affecting the capacity to provide continued service throughout the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23286/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

It is a matter for each 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. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget and authorising borrowing, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. Engagement between my Department and the local government sector on financial matters is well established and is ongoing across a number of channels, including through the County and City Managers’ Association and its finance subcommittee. While expenditure in the sector is significantly reduced on 2010 levels, this reflects the difficult budgetary situation in the period and is not specifically attributable to the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (201)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

201. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown on a yearly basis of the legal and travel costs his Department has incurred as a result of litigation in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the General Court in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from the years 2005 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23312/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The requested information is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Referendum Expenditure

Questions (202)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

202. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures that will be contained in the Electoral (Amendment) (Referendum Spending and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to be brought forward later this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23335/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Government Legislation Programme includes an Electoral (Amendment) (Referendum Spending and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to provide for the disclosure of expenditure and donations at a referendum campaign and for the extension of the spending limit period that applies at Presidential, Dáil, European Parliament and local elections. This Bill will be progressed later this year and publication is expected in 2014.