Written Answers Nos. 610-625
610. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if group Traveller housing was covered under the previous tenant purchase schemes; if not, the reason that it was not possible for tenants to purchase such housing; his plans to include it in any new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27591/13]
View answerGroup Traveller housing was available for sale to tenants under the 1995 purchase scheme for existing local authority houses that closed for new applications on 31 December 2012. This class of housing was, however, excluded from sale under the 2011 purchase scheme for long-standing tenants because of the need for housing authorities to retain a stock of this type of dwelling into the future and to avoid any restriction that the sale of some houses in a group scheme might impose on the housing authority in allocating other houses in that scheme. A decision on whether particular classes of housing should be excluded from sale under a new scheme for the sale of local authority houses to tenants will be taken at the point when the detailed terms of the scheme are being prescribed in regulations.
611. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil cén méid airgid do thograí atá curtha ar fáil do Chomhar na nOileán Teo agus é briste síos idir tograí do na hoileáin agus Gaeltacht Chonamara; cén méid tograí atá ceadaithe go dáta, leis an mbriseadh síos céanna; cén méid atá íoctha amach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27608/13]
View answerChuir mo Roinn críoch le deanaí le hathbhreithniú iomlán ar chaiteachas faoi ghnéithe Leader den Chlár Forbartha Tuaithe 2007-2013 chun an méid maoinithe a bhí fágtha a dháileadh ar na Cuideachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla go léir atá fostaithe chun an Clár a sholáthar. Mar chuid den phróiseas seo, rinneadh €6 milliún a sholáthar do na ceantair Ghaeltachta a raibh Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, MFG, ag freastal orthu cheana.
Agus an €6 milliún á dháileadh ar na ceantair Ghaeltachta, mar chéad chéim, rinne mo Roinn maoiniú a sholáthar chun freastal ar na ceangaltais a bhí ann cheana maidir leis na comhaid oidhreachta de chuid MFG agus na costais riaracháin a ghabhann leo sna ceantair Ghaeltachta go léir. Ba í an tsuim iomlán a bhí i gceist ná €3.04 milliún. Bhain €1,175,441 den mhéid seo le Comhar na nOileán i.e. €979,534 maidir le comhaid oidhreachta de chuid MFG agus €195,907 maidir lena gcostais riaracháin. Bronnadh suim iomlán de €2,122,427 ar Chomhar na nOileán do na ceantair Ghaeltachta. Chomh maith leis sin, is í an tsuim athbhreithnithe atá bronnta do na ceantair nach ceantair Ghaeltachta iad a ndéanann Comhar na nOileán orthu ná €4,702,745. Is é an maoiniú iomlán don Chlár atá ar fáil do Chomhar na nOileán mar sin ná €6,825,171. Luaite thíos tá íocaíochtaí agus ceangaltais de chuid an Chuideachta Forbartha Áitiúil.
|
- |
Riarachán-Administration |
Íocaíochtaí iomlána do thograí |
Ceangaltais gan íoc |
|
Comhar na nOileán |
€901,696 |
€1,902,511 |
€1,117,154 |
612. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil cén méid airgid a bhí ceadaithe ag MFG do thograí sula ndearnadh é a leachtú, cén méid den airgead sin atá íoctha amach agus é briste síos idir na comhlachtaí ar fad a bhí ag íoc amach airgid don chomhlacht seo; an méid atá fós le híoc; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27609/13]
View answerTháinig deireadh le trádáil ag Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, MFG, ar 7 Meán Fómhair, 2011, mar gheall ar dhócmhainneacht an chomhlachta. Ina dhiaidh sin, d’iarr mo Roinn léiriú spéise i ról MFG sna ceantair sin a thógáil ar láimh ar na Comhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla (CFÁs) eile. Tugadh Toghranna Ceantair Ghaeltachta cóngaracha d’ocht CFÁs faoi chonarthaí leasaithe ag deireadh 2012 ina dhiaidh sin.
Is é an t-aon cheantar Gaeltachta atá fágtha nach bhfuil clúdaithe faoi láthair ná ceantar Mhaigh Eo Thuaidh. Faoi láthair tá an Roinn ag déanamh measúnaithe ar léirithe spéise atá curtha faoina bráid le déanaí ag soláthraithe seirbhíse eile ina thaobh seo, agus tá cinneadh beagnach déanta ina thaobh anois. Faoin am a ndearnadh MFG a leachtú bhí maoiniú glan de €4.5 milliún dáilte ar thograí agus suim de €1.99 milliún íoctha amach, ag fágáil fuílleach de €2.5 milliún do thograí oidhreachta.
Le déanaí chuir mo Roinn críoch le hathbhreithniú iomlán ar chaiteachas faoi ghnéithe LEADER den Chlár um Fhorbairt Tuaithe 2007-2013 chun an méid maoinithe a bhí fágtha a dháileadh ar na CFÁs go léir atá fostaithe chun an Clár a sholáthar. Mar chuid den phróiseas seo, rinneadh €6 milliún a sholáthar do na ceantair Ghaeltachta a raibh Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta ag freastal orthu cheana. Mar chéad chéim, rinne mo Roinn maoiniú de €3.04 milliún a sholáthar chun freastal ar na comhaid oidhreachta de chuid MFG agus a gcostais riaracháin. Sa tábla thíos tá na sonraí maidir leis na leithdháiltí nua agus na híocaíochtaí déanta ag na Comhlachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla ag 9 Aibreán, 2013.
|
Comhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil |
Leithdháileadh iomlán don Ghaeltacht |
Íoctha do thograí Gaeltachta |
|
Comhar na nOileán Teo |
2,122,427 |
0 |
|
Donegal Local Development Company Limited |
1,332,153 |
0 |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company |
925,548 |
0 |
|
Meath Partnership |
245,952 |
0 |
|
North & East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teo |
483,183 |
0 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership |
196,009 |
17,300 |
|
South West Mayo Development Company |
341,111 |
133,336 |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership |
107,920 |
0 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership |
245,697 |
14,745 |
|
|
€6,000,000 |
€165,380 |
613. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will he examine the attached submission (details supplied) regarding the effect on independent architects that the new registration regime coming into practice will have following the date for the banning of many independent firms with decades of experience in architecture from certifying their own building works without a fair independent registration system first being in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27610/13]
View answer640. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of independent architectural firms that may be endangered following the date for the banning of many independent firms with decades of experience in architecture from certifying their own building works without a fair independent registration system first being in place. [27901/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 640 together.
Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 provides for the registration of persons entitled to use the title of Architect in order to protect consumers against individuals passing themselves off as architects. Since the commencement of the Act any person not being so registered who uses the title architect (either alone or in combination with any other words or letters, or name, title or description) may be guilty of an offence which, on summary conviction, may result in a fine not exceeding €5,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or both.
With effect from 1 March 2014 the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 will require, among other things, that design drawings demonstrating compliance with the requirements of the second schedule to the building regulations be lodged with the local building control authority prior to commencement of works and that a registered professional be assigned to inspect the implementation of the design during construction so that he/she is in a position to certify the completed building for compliance with the requirements of the second schedule to the building regulations. The statutory certificates of completion underpinning the procedures outlined must be signed by a registered professional i.e. a person who is included on the statutory registers of architects or building surveyors maintained in accordance with parts 3 and 5 respectively of the Building Control Act 2007 or on the register of chartered engineers established under the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act 1969.
Architects, building surveyors and chartered engineers are the construction professions typically involved in the design of construction works in Ireland and reference to these professions in regulation is entirely appropriate. It is open to persons, including members of the Architect’s Alliance of Ireland, the Group of Independent Architects of Ireland and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, who possess the requisite experience and competence in the design of buildings , to seek inclusion on either of the statutory registers of architects or building surveyors as established under Part 3 and Part 5 respectively of the Building Control Act 2007. Inclusion on either register will enable a person to sign statutory certificates of compliance as provided for under the new regulations when they come into effect on and from 1 March 2014.
I have recently asked Mr. Garrett Fennell, solicitor, who is currently serving as the chairperson of the admissions board relevant to the register of architects, to carry out an independent review of the experience to date in relation to the operation of the register with a view to identifying any further improvements that can be made at this point. The terms of reference for the review specifically address the matter of how the registration of practically trained architects can be further encouraged and I look forward to any recommendations and views the review report may offer in this regard in the coming months.
614. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Noise Nuisance Bill; if he will ensure the speedy progression of this Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27614/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to take further steps to address noise pollution, inter alia, through the introduction of fixed payment notices (also known as on-the-spot fines) and provision for mediation procedures between neighbours. The development of new noise legislation by my Department will be considered in the context of this commitment: however, as indicated in the Government legislation programme published on 16 April 2013, it is not possible at this time to indicate when the legislation will be published, having regard to other priorities in the area concerned and the broader range of legislative priorities to be progressed across my Department’s remit.
Currently, a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact their local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation. A public information leaflet, A Guide to the Noise Regulations, outlining the legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie.
615. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which north and east Kerry Development Partnership officially took responsibility for the administration of LEADER funding in the Dingle Gaeltacht area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27621/13]
View answerNorth and East Kerry Development Partnership officially took responsibility for the administration of Leader funding in the Dingle Gaeltacht area on 24 October 2012. My Department continues to provide support and advice to the local action groups in Gaeltacht areas as part of the process to bring all eligible legacy Meitheal Forbartha no Gaeltachta, MFG, projects to final drawdown of approved Leader funding.
My Department recently completed a full review of expenditure under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 in order to apportion the remaining funding among all the LDCs contracted to deliver the programme. As part of this exercise €6 million was provided for the Gaeltacht areas formally served by MFG.
When apportioning the €6 million among the Gaeltacht areas, as a first step, my Department provided funding to cater for the former MFG legacy files and associated administration costs. This amounted to €3.04 million in total. Of this €265,390 related to North and East Kerry Development Partnership, NEKD, i.e. €221,158 in MFG legacy files and €44,232 in associated administration costs. NEKD was awarded a total Gaeltacht allocation of €483,183. In addition, NEKD was awarded a further €2,087,208 for their area which they may also spend in the Gaeltacht areas if they so wish.
616. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form, of all the different categories, types and levels of fees charged by each local authority here on a graveyard by graveyard basis in each year from 2008 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27634/13]
View answerWhile my Department has responsibility for rules and regulations regarding burial grounds, this responsibility does not extend to the fees charged by local authorities. These costs are a matter for each local authority in respect of the cemeteries and burial grounds they provide. My Department does not hold information on the various fees charged on graveyards provided by local authorities.
617. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if persons with private wells will be liable for water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27646/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the domestic water metering programme and for the collection of water charges from households. The water metering programme will cover households connected to a public water supply. Households with private wells will not be metered under the programme and will not be subject to water charges.
621. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total allocation made under the CLÁR programme each year since 2005; the amount of each yearly allocation that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27654/13]
View answerIn the years 2005-2013 to date, some €102 million has been expended under the CLÁR programme. Provision of €0.3 million was made available for 2013 to meet existing commitments. The attached table details the allocation made each year from 2005 to 2013 and the actual expenditure for each of those years.
|
Year |
Allocation (€000) |
Expenditure (€000) |
|
2005 |
13,700 |
13,460 |
|
2006 |
23,950 |
23,010 |
|
2007 |
18,683 |
21,329 |
|
2008 |
21,183 |
24,178 |
|
2009 |
16,860 |
13,598 |
|
2010 |
8,000 |
5,721 |
|
2011 |
500 |
348 |
|
2012 |
300 |
91 |
|
2013 |
300 |
16 |
Note: Additional funding was made available in 2007 and 2008 to meet demand.
622. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total allocation made under the RAPID programme each year since 2005; the amount of each yearly allocation that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27655/13]
View answerThe RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within designated RAPID areas nationally.
My Department administers the RAPID Leverage Schemes, which are designed to support small scale projects identified locally by Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded by the relevant agencies and support projects that focus on estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities and the provision of playgroups.
I have provided funding for 2013 of €2 million for RAPID, which will be used to meet the Department’s existing contractual commitments on RAPID projects throughout the country, mainly Sports Capital top-ups and CCTV systems, jointly funded with the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Justice and Equality respectively. Details of payments for the RAPID leverage schemes under the remit of my Department are detailed in the following table; it is a matter for individual Departments to report on the provision of funding and progress on delivery with regard to projects under their responsibility in the different RAPID areas.
Expenditure for RAPID leverage schemes
|
Year |
Allocation €000 |
Outturn €000 |
|
2005 |
8,833 |
5,509 |
|
2006 |
9,166 |
5,807 |
|
2007 |
7,000 |
6,873 |
|
2008 |
9,288 |
9,578 |
|
2009 |
7,490 |
10,406 |
|
2010 |
5,667 |
6,067 |
|
2011 |
2,458 |
2,269 |
|
2012 |
4,150* |
3,077 |
|
2013 |
2,050 |
----- |
*This allocation includes an amount of €1.62 million which my Department provided to Local Authorities towards the salary costs of RAPID co-ordinators in 2012.
623. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the spending limits per candidate that applied at the last local authority elections; the details of the items that were counted as spend; the spending limits that will apply to the 2014 local authority elections; the details of any changes he is proposing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27656/13]
View answerThe spending limits per candidate that applied at the local elections held in 2009 are set out in Section 12A of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999. For the 34 county and city councils a sliding scale with four separate spending limits, based on the population within each individual electoral area, applied. A spending limit of €7,500 applied in respect of candidates seeking election to each of the 80 borough and town councils. Details of these spending limits are set out in the following table:
|
Electoral Area |
Candidate Spending Limit |
|
county or city council electoral area with a population in excess of 32,500 |
€15,000 |
|
county or city council electoral area with a population of between 22,501 and 32,500 |
€13,000 |
|
county or city council electoral area with a population of between 12,001 and 22,500 |
€11,500 |
|
county or city council electoral area with a population of 12,000 or less |
€9,750 |
|
borough or town council |
€7,500 |
Where a candidate contested elections simultaneously for both a county council and a borough or town council, the candidate could spend up to the spending limit for the county council electoral area, plus one quarter of the limit for the borough or town council. This provision is contained in section 12A(1)(b) of the 1999 Act. Section 6 of the 1999 Act defines election expenses as all expenditure for electoral purposes incurred in connection with an election during the specified election period. A list of these expenses is set out in the Schedule to the Act under the following headings: (a) Advertising, (b) Publicity, (c) Election posters, (d) Other election material, (e) Office and Stationery, (f) Transport and travel, (g) Market research, and, (h) Campaign workers. Any necessary amendments to these provisions, particularly in connection with the position of borough and town councils, will be made in good time before the local elections to be held in 2014.
624. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when installing water meters if he will confirm that the meters will be installed on the footpaths outside homes and that where there are no paths the meters will be installed on the road; and if the costs of these installations will be covered by the householder through the payment of the domestic water rates. [27694/13]
View answer625. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the allowance of free water to each household once meters and domestic water rates have been introduced; and the way the quota will be agreed. [27695/13]
View answer638. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the volume of water in litres per person per day that will be provided free of charge under his proposals to charge for potable water. [27880/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 624, 625 and 638 together.
The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Government has also decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the metering programme. In common with meters for other utility services, the meters will be the property of Irish Water which will also be responsible for repair and maintenance of the meters.
The installation of water meters in households connected to public water supplies will commence later this year. The nature of the work will involve minor excavation and reinstatement works and will provide much needed employment in the construction sector. In keeping with international practice regarding water metering, the meters will be installed at the boundary of the property, most typically in the footpath or verge at the front of a house. It is not envisaged that meters will be installed on the carriage-way of roads. Households will not be charged an upfront free for the installation of the meters.
The Government has also decided to assign responsibility for the economic regulation of the water sector, including the setting of charges, to the Commission for Energy Regulation. The primary role of the regulator will be to protect the interests of customers and to ensure a consistent and appropriate level of service is provided to them. An appropriate approach to charging customers will be put in place and a public consultation will take place as part of the regulatory process.
Affordability issues will be addressed by my Department and the Department of Social Protection, in consultation with the Regulator, Irish Water and other stakeholders, in the context of developing a water pricing framework. The agreed approach to affordability issues will then be reflected in the charging structure established by the Regulator. No decision has yet been taken on the level of or the approach to the free allowance.
