Written Answers Nos. 575-591
575. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the funds which have been made available from his Department for public libraries in each of the past five years; if he will list the libraries that are currently on the waiting list for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26778/13]
View answerUnder the Local Government Act, 2001, each Local Authority is deemed to be a library authority and it is a matter for each local authority to prioritise its actions in terms of delivering library facilities including premises in its catchment area.
Under Section 78 of the Act, a library authority may take such measures, engage in such activities or do such things in accordance with law, including the incurring of expenditure, for the provision of library services as it considers necessary or desirable. A library authority may, in particular, arrange for the provision of premises and facilities, including mobile facilities, for the library service, as it considers appropriate.
My Department has provided capital funding towards approved refurbishment and renovation, and new library projects carried out by local authorities, subject to availability of resources. In addition, my Department subsidises the rental of approved library facilities in locations where ownership of the premises is not feasible. The funding provided by my Department for 2008 to 2012 inclusive is as follows:
|
- |
Capital |
Current |
|
2008 |
€15,273,906 |
€1,688,188 |
|
2009 |
€8,420,836 |
€1,590,721 |
|
2010 |
€7,300,000 |
€1,532,125 |
|
2011 |
€6,292,727 |
€1,288,888 |
|
2012 |
€5,000,000 |
€1,300,000 |
All funding under the current Library Capital Programme is fully committed to existing approved library projects at varying stages of completion.
576. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the amounts allocated to each local authority for Traveller specific accommodation in each of the past four years; if he will provide figures for the money that was actually spent in each case; if moneys not spent were rolled over into the next financial year; if this is counted as part of the annual allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26780/13]
View answer577. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider expanding the Traveller accommodation scheme to cover traditional housing in the event that more members of the Travelling community opt for such accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26781/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 577 together.
In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes, designed to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers, rests with individual housing authorities. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate legislative and funding arrangements in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation.
My Department provides 100% capital funding to housing authorities for Traveller-specific accommodation. This funding stream is designed to meet the specific distinct accommodation needs of the Traveller community, such as halting sites and group housing schemes. In recent years, a portion of the overall capital allocation was held in reserve by my Department for the purposes of recouping to housing authorities the purchase cost of houses which were required to meet the accommodation needs of Traveller families with specific categories of need.
In accordance with the Housing Needs Assessments carried out by local authorities, the accommodation needs of Travellers can be provided for by way of standard social housing, Traveller-specific group housing or residential caravan parks and halting sites. The majority of Traveller families are accommodated in standard housing provided by local authorities or in private rented accommodation with Rent Supplement support. In submitting proposals under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) for the construction and acquisition of social housing , it is a matter for each local authority to determine the particular housing need to be met in each case. Given that the standard housing needs of all categories of persons, including Travellers, are already catered for under SHIP, I do not propose to expand the Traveller Accommodation Programmes to include standard housing provision.
In keeping with the conditions which apply to capital budgets in general, unspent allocations in respect of Traveller accommodation may not be rolled over into the next financial year. The capital allocations in respect of Traveller-specific accommodation over the period 2009-2012 and the amounts recouped are set out in the following table:
|
County Council |
Allocation 2009 |
Allocation 2010 |
Allocation 2011 |
Allocation 2012 |
Recouped 2009 |
Recouped 2010 |
Recouped 2011 |
Recouped 2012 |
|
Carlow |
400,000 |
420,000 |
50,000 |
0 |
194,602 |
91,116 |
26,146 |
305,156 |
|
Cavan |
20,000 |
30,000 |
10,000 |
0 |
18,842 |
0 |
6,356 |
0 |
|
Clare |
2,350,000 |
1,900,000 |
500,000 |
300,000 |
2,710,533 |
544,603 |
481,387 |
183,281 |
|
Cork |
650,000 |
930,000 |
425,000 |
300,000 |
72,308 |
500,559 |
10,132 |
171,103 |
|
Donegal |
100,000 |
70,000 |
25,000 |
300,000 |
110,492 |
24,782 |
61,669 |
233,500 |
|
South Dublin |
5,224,500 |
3,610,000 |
600,000 |
250,000 |
5,004,727 |
1,749,905 |
258,852 |
140,123 |
|
Fingal |
4,200,000 |
5,000,000 |
700,000 |
150,000 |
2,335,136 |
2,860,494 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire / Rathdown |
1,000,000 |
750,000 |
750,000 |
313,150 |
404,627 |
65,263 |
330,349 |
155,051 |
|
Galway |
805,500 |
600,000 |
100,000 |
500,000 |
634,516 |
185,830 |
292,947 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
1,080,000 |
100,000 |
400,000 |
23,249 |
177,543 |
372,021 |
600,578 |
17,067 |
|
Kildare |
500,000 |
1,100,000 |
200,000 |
30,000 |
220,000 |
0 |
0 |
30,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
500,000 |
1,200,000 |
450,000 |
60,000 |
0 |
698,431 |
501,263 |
640 |
|
Laois |
50,000 |
220,000 |
200,000 |
530,000 |
45,000 |
0 |
3,810 |
218,481 |
|
Leitrim |
200,000 |
180,000 |
80,000 |
0 |
101,230 |
86,723 |
14,234 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
650,000 |
100,000 |
200,000 |
134,400 |
341,977 |
0 |
81,600 |
98,400 |
|
Longford |
800,000 |
750,000 |
0 |
120,768 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Louth |
750,000 |
515,000 |
235,000 |
150,000 |
24,997 |
331,874 |
504,109 |
239,508 |
|
Mayo |
750,000 |
500,000 |
30,000 |
136,850 |
334,390 |
645,218 |
38,503 |
3,810 |
|
Meath |
3,000,000 |
2,800,000 |
1,500,000 |
78,133 |
300,747 |
2,771,429 |
1,796,295 |
63,560 |
|
Monaghan |
400,000 |
0 |
0 |
714,957 |
691,044 |
197,925 |
0 |
|
|
North Tipperary |
425,000 |
1,550,000 |
500,000 |
139,508 |
365,080 |
659,924 |
174,323 |
46,947 |
|
Offaly |
95,000 |
110,000 |
400,000 |
0 |
499,914 |
107,248 |
406,902 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
500,000 |
900,000 |
495,000 |
373,587 |
85,640 |
809,255 |
269,689 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
900,000 |
500,000 |
500,000 |
18,090 |
265,397 |
513,481 |
624,885 |
17,225 |
|
South Tipperary |
500,000 |
500,000 |
250,000 |
27,641 |
1,017,386 |
59,617 |
445,623 |
190,000 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
97,303 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Westmeath |
150,000 |
75,000 |
150,000 |
46,452 |
17,745 |
210,000 |
174,718 |
48,655 |
|
Wexford |
200,000 |
300,000 |
100,000 |
285,000 |
73,335 |
385,119 |
111,422 |
172,552 |
|
Wicklow |
600,000 |
300,000 |
600,000 |
550,000 |
338,159 |
0 |
459,904 |
605,837 |
|
City Council |
||||||||
|
Cork |
100,000 |
40,000 |
62,000 |
5,000 |
44,500 |
40,500 |
70,500 |
|
|
Dublin |
3,000,000 |
1,450,000 |
1,350,000 |
50,000 |
1,441,543 |
389,146 |
433,099 |
287,402 |
|
Galway |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
550,000 |
360,000 |
764,310 |
707,431 |
135,328 |
391,250 |
|
Limerick |
400,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,150,000 |
250,000 |
149,214 |
353,681 |
329,341 |
50,106 |
|
Waterford |
700,000 |
1,500,000 |
500,000 |
252,240 |
614,557 |
250,000 |
503,019 |
259,846 |
|
TOTAL |
32,000,000 |
30,000,000 |
13,000,000 |
5,670,300 |
19,601,975 |
16,108,693 |
9,314,910 |
4,000,000 |
578. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the capital allocation for housing to a local authority (details supplied) in County Wicklow in 2013. [26792/13]
View answerCapital allocations to local authorities under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme are made on a county-at-large basis. On 1 March 2013, I announced a capital allocation to Wicklow County Council of €4,105,762. A breakdown of allocation across six principal measures is set out in the following table:
|
Measure |
Allocation |
|
Social Housing Construction and Acquisition |
€2,441,512 |
|
Capital Assistance Scheme |
€710,730 |
|
Traveller Accommodation |
€108,300 |
|
Grants for Older People and People with a Disability |
€453,694 |
|
Extensions and Adaptations etc. |
€80,994 |
|
Energy Efficiency |
€310,532 |
|
Total |
€4,105,762 |
579. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the headings or schemes under which headings a local authority drew down funding from his Department for a particular site (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the amount of funding drawn down under each heading and the specific date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26793/13]
View answerUnder my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is provided to local authorities for the construction or acquisition of dwellings to meet social housing need. On 8 November 2012, my Department recouped €380,725 to Wicklow County Council in respect of the acquisition of two properties at the location in question.
580. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 17 April 2013, the current position of the application by a club (details supplied) in County Mayo; when the approval funds will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26798/13]
View answer599. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a project (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and receive funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27395/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 599 together.
Mayo North East Leader Partnership is the Local Action Group (MNELP) contracted by my Department to deliver both the Rural Development Programme (RDP) and the Local Community Development Programme to the North Mayo area.
On foot of correspondence received in 2011 regarding a possible governance issue at Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company, a comprehensive investigation into the issues outlined was instigated. This proved to be a very complex investigation and, on foot of its initial findings and in the context of my Department’s responsibility to ensure that RDP funding is delivered in an efficient and effective way, a decision was made to suspend project approvals by the Partnership on 7 March 2012. However, the issuing of payments to eligible approved applications is progressing as normal.
The Final Report has been provided to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Managing Authority for the RDP. The Managing Authority has subsequently reported the findings to the European Commission and the external accreditation auditors (Deloitte). The Report has been considered in my own Department and an Action Plan has been agreed with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My Department has also agreed a series of actions to be taken by Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company which are at an advanced stage of implementation.
I notified MNELP on 24 April 2013 of my intention to restore their contract under the Programme subject to certain arrangements being put in place and my Department is currently working on the practical details. I understand that these are almost in place and following this the projects in question can be assessed by the company.
581. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received the report from the Boundary Commission on the Local Elections; if so, when he intends to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26803/13]
View answer588. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the report on the review of local government electoral boundaries will be published. [26927/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 588 together.
I published the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report 2013 on 30 May 2013. I have accepted in full the recommendations in the Report and I will be making the necessary local electoral area orders to give effect to these in due course. The local electoral areas specified in these orders, and the number of members to be elected for each electoral area, will apply at the 2014 local elections.
582. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the provisions that will be made for householders who have registered and qualify for a septic tank grant should it be necessary to upgrade their system prior to inspection by the respective County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26892/13]
View answer606. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will be providing the grant assistance announced in 2012 for the protection of waters against pollution caused by septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27521/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 606 together.
In December 2012 I announced my intention to introduce a grant scheme to provide financial assistance to households whose septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems are deemed to require remediation following an inspection under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. Provision for the scheme is being made from my Department’s Vote in 2013. The grant scheme will only apply to owners of treatment systems which are the subject of an Advisory Notice issued by a water services authority following an inspection carried out under the 2012 Act. Full details of the scheme will be set out in regulations which I will make shortly.
584. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the circumstances in which a residential property will be classified as uninhabitable and the owner not liable for the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26901/13]
View answer585. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the circumstances in which a residential property will be classified as unsuitable for use as a dwelling and the owner not liable for the non-principal private residence charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26902/13]
View answer586. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria that is applied when establishing whether or not two residential properties with shared services operating as one household are one unit or not for the purpose of the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26907/13]
View answer587. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria applied when establishing whether or not two residential properties with shared services operating as one household are one unit or not for the purpose of the non-principal private residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26909/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 to 587, inclusive, together.
The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, and the Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provide the legislative basis for the Non Principal Private Residence Charge and the Household Charge, respectively. The Charges operate on a self-assessment basis. The 2009 and 2011 Acts place the Charges under the care and management of the local authorities, and application in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. Interpretation of the legislation may be a matter for legal advice in individual cases and ultimately may be a matter for the Courts.
The definitions of ‘residential property’ used in the 2009 and 2011 Acts are very similar. Under the 2009 and 2011 Acts “residential property” is defined as a “…building that is situated in the State and that is occupied, or suitable for occupation, as a separate dwelling , whether or not the occupier shares, or would be entitled to share… any accommodation, amenity or facility with any other person …” The definitions provided by the 2009 and 2011 Acts make specific reference to the status of a residential property as a ‘separate dwelling’, which suggests that individual liable properties must have their own independent access and facilities. The definitions also make it clear that the sharing of a common area or areas does not necessarily exclude a property from liability for either Charge. Certain types of dwelling may share common areas, such as apartments and flats, but remain liable.
There are a number of indicators as to what makes a property suitable for occupation for the purposes of determining liability to either Charge. The indicators include the structure of the property, whether or not it has a roof, whether or not it is so affected by dampness as to render it unsuitable for habitation, and whether or not it has sanitary facilities, including a water closet and water supply. A property that is not suitable for occupation should not be regarded as a residential property within the meaning of either the 2009 or the 2011 Acts and would not therefore be liable for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge or the Household Charge. The Household Charge has been replaced by the Local Property Tax in 2013. 2013 is also the final year of the operation of the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge.
589. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is intended that Irish Water will have jurisdiction over local and group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26919/13]
View answerUnder the Water Sector Reform Programme the primary focus of Irish Water will be on the delivery of services to customers on the public water and wastewater networks. My Department will remain responsible for the overall policy, and funding where appropriate, of the non-public sector, including the group water sector.
In order to facilitate the establishment of a new public water utility to take over responsibility for the delivery of water services, a number of work-streams have been set up under the Water Sector Reform Programme to assist with the transition of services to Irish Water. One such work-stream is dealing specifically with issues relating to the Group Water Sector. The objectives of this work-stream are to ensure that there is clarity of roles and responsibility for the group water sector and other components of the Rural Water Programme and to develop a medium term strategy for the sector.
