Robert Troy
Question:294. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason County Longford has received a 17.7% cut in rural development funding. [28636/13]
View answerRural Development Programme Funding
Questions (294)
Written answers
The LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 commenced in February 2009 after a delay of more than two years which reduced the time available to allocate funding to less than five years rather than the original seven. Two main issues have impacted on the revised allocations recently notified to Local Development Companies (LDCs).
The first relates to overall Programme performance. During 2010 and 2011 it became evident that a significant number of LDCs who were contracted to deliver the Programme were not committing funds at the level required, to ensure that all the funding would be allocated by the December 2013 deadline. Similarly it became clear that a number of LDCs were more than capable of allocating additional funding if it was made available.
In this regard, in January 2012 my Department notified all LDCs that the original allocations awarded in 2009 were no longer valid and that the Programme was being opened up on a ‘first-come first served’ basis to all LDCs in order to ensure that all the available funding would be allocated to eligible projects within the timeframe allowed. All LDCs were encouraged to maximise the opportunity this created for them. All LDCs had an equal opportunity to maximise funding in their respective areas, and some companies availed of this more than others.
The second issue relates to the change in co-financing rates. During 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-funding rate from 55% to 85% for the LEADER elements of Ireland’s RDP but only for expenditure incurred in 2012 and 2013. This had the effect of reducing the available funding under the Programme from €427 million to an estimated €370 million.
In January 2013 in light of all the changes to the Programme it became necessary to carry out a comprehensive review of the level of commitments and expenditure across the various measures of the Programme in order to apportion the remaining funds among the LDCs, taking into account the level of commitments already entered into.
Using an estimated final programme allocation of €370 million the total spend to date and outstanding contractual commitments under the Programme were established and deducted from the €370 million. €6 million was provided for the former MFG legacy files, new Gaeltacht projects and associated administration costs. Funding was also provided for projects that were greater than €150,000 in value that had been submitted to my Department for assessment. The original percentage of the Programme which was awarded to each LDC in 2009 was then applied to apportion the remaining funding. Where an LDC would receive less than 80% of its original allocation, an adjustment was made to bring the revised allocation up to 80% of the original.
In the case of Longford Community Resources the revised allocation represents a decrease of 19% from their original allocation. The redistribution of available funding was conducted in as fair and equitable a manner as was possible with many LDCs experiencing similar reductions.
I am committed to the continued monitoring of this situation and my Department will conduct another formal review of commitments and expenditure levels at the end of August 2013. If LDCs are not performing with regard to the Programme commitment levels, allocations will again be revised in the context of maximizing commitments to the end of the Programme by December 2013.
Foreshore Issues
Questions (295, 296)
Joe McHugh
Question:295. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action being taken in respect of removal of materials from the bed of a tidal area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28773/13]
View answerJoe McHugh
Question:296. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action being taken by National Parks and Wildlife in respect of removal of materials from the bed of a tidal area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28775/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together.
An Order under section 6 of the Foreshore Act 1933 is necessary in this case. In January 2013, my Department sought further advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the application of section 6. A reply is awaited.
Foreshore Issues
Questions (297)
Andrew Doyle
Question:297. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if plans are under way in his Department regarding the reform of the Foreshore Act 1933 regarding his role or authority to award foreshore leases for construction in Irish coastal waters up to 12 nautical miles from the coast; if any reforms are under way; if they will require amendments to the Planning Acts; if any reforms will deviate power from him and if so, to whom; if local authorities will be brought into any such decision-making regarding construction in Irish coastal waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28834/13]
View answerWritten answers
In line with the commitments in the Programme for Government and Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, my Department is currently developing a general scheme of a Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill. It is intended that the proposed legislation will align the development consent aspects of the foreshore system with the planning system operated by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála.
Under the proposed arrangements, responsibility for development consent for projects in the foreshore or the wider maritime area which are of a strategic nature, or which require an Environmental Impact Assessment or an Appropriate Assessment, would be transferred to An Bord Pleanála. Local authorities in coastal areas would be responsible for granting development consent in respect of smaller projects adjacent to the shore and for licensing certain activities.
These proposals were the subject of a public consultation process earlier in 2013. 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.
Energy Conservation
Questions (298, 303, 317)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:298. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the proposed project in respect of improving energy efficiency performance of local authority homes; and if he will provide a timeline for when the necessary funding will be allocated to his Department. [28838/13]
View answer
Dessie Ellis
Question:303. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of where the €50 million for the energy efficiency investment programme for local authority homes will be spent. [29455/13]
View answerThomas P. Broughan
Question:317. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the local authority areas that have been identified by his Department as likely to receive funding under the most recent capital investment programme announced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which includes a scheme to improve the energy efficiency performance of local authority homes; the amount of potential funding that will be allocated in this regard to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; and when this funding will come on stream for local authorities. [28839/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 298, 303 and 317 together.
On 5 June, I announced a new €50 million three-year energy efficiency investment programme for local authority homes. This is a key part of the Government’s additional €150 million capital investment in the economy over 2013-2014.
This programme will target the 25,000 least energy efficient local authority homes. This will result in warmer homes and lower energy bills for thousands of families and will also create around 1,000 jobs in the sector. I intend to announce capital allocations to local authorities very shortly in order that contracts can be commenced as soon as possible. This programme will operate nationwide and homes in all local authority areas will benefit under this measure. My Department met recently with housing practitioners from all local authorities with the objective of getting work started as quickly as possible. Some €10 million of the €50 million programme is available for spending in 2013.
Electoral Reform
Questions (299, 338)
Andrew Doyle
Question:299. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether the reduction in the number of County Registrars may limit the ability or availability of returning officers for each Dáil constituency for subsequent general elections; the steps he is taking to ensure that the existing number of County Registrars will be in a position to handle the multiple count centres throughout the country for future general elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29059/13]
View answerAndrew Doyle
Question:338. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since six county registrars have been appointed (details supplied) to become Specialist Judges of the Circuit Court for the purposes of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 and that with the reduction in the number of County Registrars from 23 to 17, with the work redistributed following consultation with the serving county registrars, that the number of County Registrars will be severely curtailed and may limit the ability or availability of returning officers for each Dáil constituency for subsequent general elections; the steps he is taking to ensure that the existing number of County Registrars will be in a position to handle the multiple count centres throughout the country for future general elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29058/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 338 together.
Part V of the Electoral Act 1992 sets out the arrangements for returning officers at elections . Section 30(6) of the Act provides that where a vacancy occurs in the post of sheriff or county registrar and where the holder was a returning officer, the nister may appoint a person to act as returning officer for the period of the vacancy.
In the light of the Government decision to nominate six county registrars for appointment by the President as Specialist Judges of the Circuit Court , my Department is giving consideration to appointments that may need to be made to the position of returning officer . I will make the necessary appointments when the relevant county registrar posts become vacant.
Animal Breeding Regulations
Questions (300)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:300. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will sign the Bill controlling the puppy farm sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29177/13]
View answerWritten answers
The provisions of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010 came into force on 1 January 2012.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Questions (301)
Clare Daly
Question:301. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will adopt a precautionary approach and ban GMO-GE crops, including GMO potato trials in Carlow. [29206/13]
View answerWritten answers
The undertaking of field trials of genetically modified crops is subject to the requirements of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2003. An entity wishing to carry out a field trial of a genetically modified organism (GMO) must apply for approval to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as Irish competent authority for the purposes of these Regulations. As Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, I have no function in relation to the GMO licensing process in individual cases.
In July 2012, the EPA granted consent to Teagasc to carry out a field trial with genetically modified (GM) blight resistant potatoes in Carlow over a four year period from 2012 to 2016 inclusive. This field trial was granted subject to conditions and will be subject to ongoing inspections and reporting requirements.
Aside from this GM potato trial, there are currently no GM crops cultivated in Ireland either for field trial or for commercial purposes. The cultivation of GM crops on a commercial basis within the European Union is subject to a community authorisation procedure under the procedures set out under Directive 2001/18/EC on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms and EU Regulation 1829/2003 on GM food and feed. The competent authorities in each Member State all participate in the decision making process. However, when a product is approved, no geographical restrictions apply within the EU and no additional domestic approval is required. The only two crops currently authorised for such cultivation within the EU have characteristics that are not relevant to Irish agriculture and industry.
A proposal by the European Commission to amend the Deliberate Release Directive, which would allow Member States more choice in deciding whether or not to cultivate GMOs in their respective territories has not progressed since the March 2012 Environment Council, due to a blocking minority opposing the measure.
Election Management System
Questions (302)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Question:302. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put formal recruitment structures in place for count staff required at all elections and referenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29254/13]
View answerWritten answers
The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station and count staff in accordance with the relevant provisions of electoral law. I have no proposals to change the current arrangements.