Written Answers Nos. 626 - 646
626. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has any plans to increase the number of emergency vehicles in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27700/13]
View answer627. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to upgrade equipment for emergency vehicles nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27718/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together.
The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and emergency equipment as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations. Dublin City Council provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.
Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority, given the current constraints on public finances. In order to deliver cost efficiencies in line with recommendations of the Local Authority Efficiency Review Group, and following the development of an agreed national fire appliance specification, a programme is currently underway which involves fire authorities aggregating demand and inviting tenders for 17 new fire appliances, two of which have been allocated to Dublin Fire Brigade.
Further support from my Department’s fire services capital programme for any fire appliances, equipment or fire station projects will be considered within the constraints of available resources and will have regard to local authorities’ priorities, the value for money offered by proposals and the totality of requests from fire authorities.
628. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount his Department has spent on tackling dereliction of buildings, especially improving shop fronts over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27719/13]
View answerUnder 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 and have no function in relation to tackling derelict sites.
631. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No.182 of 30 May 2013, if he will answer the question posed in relation to local property tax. [27755/13]
View answerThe position in this matter is as outlined in the response to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 30 May 2013.
632. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review and increase the LEADER allocation to South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd., in view of the fact that the allocation for the South Kerry Gaeltacht is inadequate and unjustified in view of the fact that Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teo ceased operations in September 2011 and their legacy files exceeded this allocation amount; if he will take into consideration the large number of applications currently with SKDP for funding from these Gaeltacht areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27777/13]
View answerMy 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 formerly served by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (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 only €115,831 related to South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP) i.e. €96,526 in MFG legacy files and €19,305 in associated administration costs. SKDP confirmed to my Department on the 18 April 2013 that this was the accurate figure for the SKDP MFG legacy files, and this was used as a basis for awarding the allocation. SKDP was awarded a total Gaeltacht allocation of €196,009. In addition, SKDP was awarded a further €2,082,157 for their area which they may also spend in the South Kerry Gaeltacht if they so wish.
633. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of 999 calls for the Fire Brigade service that were put through to Dublin control from County Laois in the first quarter of 2013. [27778/13]
View answerMy Department does not collect this information. It is a matter for the individual fire authorities concerned.
634. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a provision in the legislation that set up Irish Water for a statutory requirement for water pressure in homes; if there is a requirement to keep lime at a certain level in areas that currently have high levels of lime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27779/13]
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 metering programme for households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme. There are no legal provisions in relation to water pressure levels.
The quality of water is very much dependent on local geological conditions and the source of the water supply. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations, 2007, all suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied is wholesome and clean. Water suppliers are required to comply with the chemical and microbiological paramaters set out in the Regulations. Hard water is not included as a parameter in the quality standards specified in the Regulations, as it does not pose as a threat to human health, nor indeed are the substances associated with hard water, such as lime, calcium and magnesium.
635. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the proposed alignment of local community development structures and local government. [27794/13]
View answerFollowing the publication of Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government, progress is being made across a number of fronts regarding the implementation of the Alignment recommendations. A working group has been established to assist and advise on the implementation of the recommendations and has had five meetings to date. The working group comprises representatives of the City and County Managers Association, the Irish Local Development Network and Pobal, and is chaired and supported in its work by my Department.
At present, the Alignment Working Group is focussing on the practical arrangements necessary to give effect to the new local structures, including the establishment of Socio-Economic Committees in each local authority administrative area. Frontrunner Socio-Economic Committees will initially be established in up to 10 local authority areas, with Socio-Economic Committees established across the remaining local authority areas towards end 2013.
My Department is also engaged with other Government Departments and agencies involved with local and community development programmes with a view to bringing greater coherence to programme implementation nationally and locally.
Other areas of the alignment recommendations will be implemented with the co-operation of the Alignment Working Group and other key stakeholders over the period to 2014.
636. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been brought to his attention that Sligo County Council's unaudited annual financial statement for the year ended 31 December 2012 was to be considered by councillors at the May monthly meeting of the council on the 13 May 2013; if it has been brought to his attention that consideration of the financial statement had to be deferred because councillors were advised that officials from his Department had sought changes in the financial statement; if it is customary for officials of his Department to scrutinise and insist on changes in local authority annual financial statements in advance of the statements being considered by the respective councils; the changes his Department sought in the financial statement and the reason/s for the changes; the statutory authority, if any, his Department has to seek such changes in advance of the financial statement being considered by the elected council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27809/13]
View answerLocal authorities are required to prepare their annual financial statements in the prescribed format in accordance with the Local Authority Accounting in Ireland Code of Practice and Accounting Regulations, issued by my Department in December 2009 under section 107 of the Local Government Act 2001. This publication is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie
I can confirm that Sligo County Council sought clarification from my Department regarding the appropriate application of the Code of Practice to the preparation of its 2012 annual financial statement.
637. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been brought to his attention that the Sligo County Manager stated at the February monthly meeting that Sligo County Council had not been charging the full cost of services provided by the county council to the borough council each year and that he indicated that the county council has been subsidising the borough council to the tune of approximately €700,000 a year; if it has further been brought to his attention that there is no record of such an annual subsidy in the Books of Estimates presented to councillors by the county manager each year and and that any decision relating to the provision of such a subsidy is a reserved function of the elected members of Sligo County Council and that the elected members never approved such an annual subsidy; if it has further been brought to his attention that the local government auditor was not provided with any information relating to the annual subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27810/13]
View answerSection 100 of the Local Government Act 2001 sets out that where a county council provides a service or carries out a function in or in relation to a rating town or borough council, it shall levy a charge known as a County Charge on that town or borough council for providing such a service.
In determining a County Charge, the county council is required to prepare a statement of estimated costs expected to arise during the forthcoming financial year in relation to the provision of those services. The County Charge is provided for in the local authority budget and the elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, including adopting the annual budget.
639. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he proposes in relation to the tens of thousands of housing units built since 1992 which do not comply with Fire Safety Building Regulations. [27882/13]
View answerSince 1 June 1992, all new, extended or materially altered buildings must be built in compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations. The requirements of the Building Regulations are set out in 12 parts (classified as parts A to M) addressing the legally enforceable minimum performance standards which a completed building must achieve. My Department publishes a Technical Guidance Document (TGD) to accompany each part of the regulations outlining how the legal requirement may be achieved in practice. Part B/TGD B addresses the requirements in relation to Fire Safety. Primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Implementation of enforcement measures is a matter for the local building control authority. Local authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement as Building Control Authorities under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2007, and as Fire Authorities, Planning Authorities and Housing Authorities under other Acts relevant to the built environment. I am aware that local authorities have used such powers on a number of occasions where circumstances have given rise to concern and I expect local authorities to continue to use all of the powers currently available to them to address serious building defects.
Neither I nor my Department have any function in relation to assessing, checking or testing compliance, or otherwise, of specific works or developments under the Building Control Acts or the Fire Safety Acts.
My Department is currently engaged in a review of Part B /TGD B. The question of the appropriate future regulatory requirements for all buildings, including housing units, will be addressed as part of this review. Any proposals for change will be subject to a comprehensive public consultation process and a rigorous Regulatory Impact Assessment in due course prior to their being signed into law.
641. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering taking measures to prohibit those who do not qualify for tax clearance certificates from the Revenue Commissioners from taking their seats as elected members of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27930/13]
View answerThe Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government provides for the development of a uniform code of ethics by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, across the public service. In the case of local government, the aim is to deliver, and to be seen to deliver, better governance locally. Elements identified in the Action Programme include the need for better training for councillors, the reinforcement of standards for councillors, disclosure (e.g. of representations on planning) and public availability of relevant matters (e.g. voting records and contracts).
The question of whether prohibiting councillors, without tax clearance from the Revenue Commissioners, from taking their seats as elected representatives has not been identified in the Action Programme as a necessary improvement to the ethics code but can be considered in the context of the development of the uniform ethics code for the public service.
642. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to enhance the group sewerage scheme grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27966/13]
View answerResponsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997.
In December 2012, I announced an increase in the grant for group sewerage schemes to €6,500 per house or 75% of the cost of the scheme, whichever is the lesser. The previous rate of grant available was €2,031.58 per house or 75% of the cost, whichever was the lesser.
I propose, in the first instance, to carry out a number of pilot schemes based on the increased grant level. My Department asked local authorities to include in their requests for funding under the 2013 Rural Water Programme proposals for group sewerage schemes which might be viable based on the increased grant.
Following an examination of the proposals received, with particular regard to the environmental justification provided, I approved grant assistance last March towards a number of pilot schemes.
Progress on the selected pilot schemes will be kept under review with a view to deciding how best to proceed with the grant scheme.
643. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures currently being taken or that are being planned to ensure that local authorities have the knowledge and skill to address the needs of the changing retails environment in cities and towns here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28011/13]
View answerThe Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Retail Planning and accompanying Retail Design Manual which I published on 1 May 2012 are aimed at:
- ensuring that the planning system plays a key role in supporting competitiveness in the retail sector;
- advancing choice for the consumer while promoting and supporting the vitality and viability of city and town centres; and,
- contributing to a high standard of urban design and encouraging a greater use of sustainable transport.
My objective is to provide a clear framework for the continued development of the retail sector in a way that provides certainty for retailers and communities by strengthening national planning policy requirements for all planning authorities driving city and town centres as focal points for retailing, ensuring good vitality of the places retailing activity takes place and ultimately in ensuring competitiveness, nationally, regionally and locally.
644. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the public consultation regarding the proposed new Foreshore Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28081/13]
View answerMy Department published a consultation paper entitled A New Planning and Consent Architecture for Development in the Marine Area in January 2013. Submissions were invited for a period of four weeks during February. Over 200 submissions were received from a broad range of stakeholders including public authorities, companies, environmental NGOs, trade and industry representative bodies, and the public generally.
The majority of the submissions which addressed the subject matter of the consultation exercise were broadly supportive of the thrust of the Department’s proposals. Having regard to the outcome of the public consultation, my Department is developing the general scheme of the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill.
645. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person participating in the JobBridge scheme has their payment included in the calculation for means within the differential rent scheme means tested; if the rules are consistently applied by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28100/13]
View answerThe making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department.
It is a matter for local authorities, when assessing individual households, to consider whether rents payable are in accordance with the authority’s rent scheme. Therefore, decisions on whether or not to disregard either a proportion of income or particular sources of income for the purposes of calculating rents are matters for each individual local authority to consider in accordance with their own rent scheme.
The current arrangements for determining local authority rents will be substantially replaced on the coming into force of Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. On enactment of the Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013, currently before the House, I will introduce regulations to give effect to that Section.
While it is not the intention to introduce a national standardised differential rent scheme, the regulations to be made will more clearly set out the matters that may be included in a local rents scheme, including the level, type and sources of household income that may be assessed for rent purposes. It is intended that the additional allowance in excess of the reference rate of payments made by the Department of Social Protection for schemes such as the national internship scheme (JobBridge) will be disregarded for the purposes of determining reckonable household income.
646. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the social housing waiting list in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25866/13]
View answerThe Government’s housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this, it is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing conditions and explore the full range of solutions to address housing needs.
My Department does not hold information on the numbers of households on local authorities’ waiting lists. These figures continuously fluctuate as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. The allocation of dwellings to qualified households is a matter for the relevant local authority having regard to its allocation scheme.
The Department directed all housing authorities to carry out a summary of social housing assessments as at 7 May, 2013 in their areas, including detail relating to the number of households who are on the housing waiting list. A report on the results will published in the autumn.
The financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. The Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing. In July 2012 I announced details of a three-year funding programme of €100 million to deliver some 800 new units of voluntary and local authority owned social housing. I am monitoring expenditure under my Department’s housing programme for 2013, together with the level of contractual commitments extending into 2014, with a view to a decision later this year on approving some limited new construction and house purchases over the period to end 2014.
Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government’s objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). My Department and the Housing Agency are engaged with NAMA to ensure delivery of housing units for social purposes.
