Written Answers Nos. 163-169
163. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will reassure Dáil Éireann as to the security of the e-mail systems in his Department subsequent to recent reports of US intelligence agencies accessing e-mail and other digital content; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32537/13]
View answerMy Department employs a multi layered approach to email security. The Department's email servers are held in secure premises. External emails are processed and scanned initially by Government Networks firewalls and subsequently by the Department's own firewalls. Both Government Networks and my Department have realtime email anti-virus and anti-spam systems in place. Emails between my Department and other Government Departments' email servers remain within the Government's private network. In addition, the following security measures are applied:
-DCENR uses encryption for email communications with some organisations, as appropriate.
-All DCENR mobile email devices use encryption to secure the emails in transit.
-Emails on all mobile devices that are lost or stolen can be wiped remotely.
164. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that provision of capital funds has been made for the construction of a public library (details supplied) in County Waterford; if he will confirm that there is adequate co-ordination and liaison between both Departments; if he will outline what this co-ordination entails so that the project is delivered and constructed as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32335/13]
View answerFunding of €556,000.00 in respect of Carrickphierish Community Library was provided to Waterford City Council, in 2010, from my Department’s Social and Community Facilities Scheme in recognition of the innovative nature of the development. Under Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. This project is not included in the current Library Capital Programme and all funding available to me under this Programme is fully committed to existing approved library projects at varying stages of completion.
165. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposed new sewerage schemes for areas (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32373/13]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Kerry. The Ardfert, Ballylongford, Fenit and Tarbert Sewer age Schemes are included in the Programme with the treatment plants amongst the list of contracts in the county to start in the period 2010 – 2013 and further elements of the schemes to advance through planning during the same period.
Kerry County Council has sought tenders for the Ballylongford and Tarbert wastewater treatment plants as one contract and is currently assessing the tenders received. When this assessment is completed the Council will advise my Department and seek confirmation that funding is available to allow work commence. I approved funding for a section of advance pipelines in Tarbert in July 2012 and this contract has recently been completed. I understand that Kerry County Council will shortly seek tenders for the Ardfert Sewerage Scheme Wastewater Treatment Plant Contract.
The Preliminary Report for the Fenit Sewerage Scheme is being assessed by my Department. The Council was requested to provide additional information to enable my Department to complete its assessment. The Council has submitted the required information and my Department is now finalising its assessment. A decision will be conveyed to the Council as soon as possible.
166. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason approved Leader funding is being withheld for the development of a sports ground (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32392/13]
View answerThe project referred to in the Question was submitted to and was approved by my Department in 2012. Approval was conditional on the appropriate leasing arrangements being put in place and a requirement that the facility be available to the wider community. A claim for payment was submitted on 15 April 2013 and was subsequently selected for inspection as part of the normal risk assessment process that is required under the EU regulatory framework governing the Rural Development Programme. An inspection was carried out on 24 April 2013 and a report was issued to the Local Development Company (LDC), in this case Clare Local Development Company on 16 May 2013. The report indicated that a number of issues had been discovered which rendered the project ineligible under the Programme.
The LDC was advised that an appeal could be submitted; information to address the identified issues was subsequently submitted and the project was re-examined in light of this. A revised report, which concluded that the initial finding of ineligibility remained unchanged, was issued to the LDC on 4 June 2013 .
In line with the appeals procedure in place the LDC lodged a request for a further review to the Regional Inspector on 19 June 2013. Department procedures allow for a 2 month period to conduct this review which is currently on-going . The LDC will be notified of the outcome of the review as soon as possible.
167. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in the context of the establishment of Irish Water, liabilities incurred by local authorities in the provision of public water supplied to communities will be transferred to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32428/13]
View answerThe Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy, which is published on my Department’s website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. A key objective is to rationalise the cost of the current service delivery and ensure more efficient operation of water services by moving from 34 water services authorities to a single body; following enactment of comprehensive legislation later this year, Irish Water will, therefore, become the water services authority from 1 January 2014, responsible for the supply of public water and waste water services. Functions, such as the bulk provision of water to private group water schemes from public water supplies, will become the responsibility of Irish Water from that date. Irish Water will be working through service level agreements with local authorities to deliver on a range of their functions. Work being progressed at present is examining the necessary processes for the transfer of assets and financial liabilities associated with these assets taking into account, inter alia, the impacts on local government finances.
168. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to a previous Parliamentary Question, if he will confirm the information that has been requested from Kildare Leader partnership in respect of the Geraldine Hall project. [32430/13]
View answerAs outlined previously in Question No. 419 of the 25 June 2013 , the project referred to in the question is a high value project and is currently under assessment by my Department. Further information has been requested and received from Kildare Leader Partnership regarding a particular issue of concern. The project will now proceed to the final stage of the approvals process. I expect a decision will issue to the LDC shortly.
169. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the funding provided by his Department to agencies dealing with the issue of homelessness in County Louth in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the amount that has been allocated for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32443/13]
View answerStatutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities and the purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Details of the funding provided by my Department, under Section 10, for the years 2008 – 2012 in County Louth, are set out in the table. Funding is provided from my Department at 90% of costs incurred, with the housing authorities providing 10% of costs from their own resources.
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
- |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Louth County Council |
10,000 |
903,499 |
900,308 |
|
Drogheda Borough Council |
254,932 |
2,402 |
0 |
|
Dundalk Town Council |
670,941 |
2,457 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
935,873 |
908,358 |
900,308 |
A Protocol for the Delegation of Section 10 Homeless funding has been agreed between my Department and Louth County Council, as lead authority for the North East region. This arrangement provides for the delegation of €879,963 for homeless accommodation and related services to the North East region involving Louth, Cavan and Monaghan County Councils for 2013.
In addition, details of the funding provided by my Department to organisations tackling the issue of homelessness, under the Scheme to Support National Organisations, for the years 2010 - 2013 are set out in the table.
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
- |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Simon Communities of Ireland |
171,936 |
112,914 |
90,000 |
84,780 |
My Department also provides funding to organisations under the Local and Community Development Programme with the objective of tackling poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government, its agencies, and people in disadvantaged communities. It is a key tool of Government in providing supports for the ‘harder to reach’ in the most disadvantaged areas and communities. Details of the funding provided by the Louth Leader Partnership in respect of the issue of homelessness in the County Louth area for the years 2010 - 2013 are set out in the table.
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
- |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Drogheda Homeless Aid - funding provided towards PR material |
- |
€3,500 |
- |
