Written Answers Nos. 763-782
763. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the aggregate known cost, or estimated cost, to public funds of providing the public water supply in each of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34494/13]
View answerThe Annual Finance Statement of each local authority provides an analysis of their current and capital expenditure, including all water services provided by them, in addition to expenditure on the group water sector, private installations and public conveniences. As part of the programme to establish Irish Water, a detailed fact finding exercise is under way which will determine the public water services operational cost base to transfer to Irish Water from 2014.
Based on local authority budgets for 2012 and 2013, the estimated overall operational cost of public water services is some €680 million per annum.
In relation to capital expenditure, overall water services capital expenditure in 2012 is estimated at €394 millin, covering public water services, public waste water services and non-public water services such the group water sector. The Exchequer allocation for 2013 is €326 million, with a further €82 million expected to be invested by local authorities from their own resources.
The level of public funds to be provided to Irish Water for public water supply in 2014 will be determined as part of the budgetary process.
764. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated revenue of Irish Water in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34495/13]
View answerIrish Water’s operational and capital costs in 2015 will be funded through revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, an Exchequer subvention and funding from the National Pensions Reserve Fund. It has been decided, following the previous review of the Memorandum of Understanding by the European Commission, the IMF and the ECB, that water charges will commence with effect from Quarter 4 2014. It is expected, therefore, that Irish Water will issue the first bills to customers in Quarter 1 2015.
Work is under way in developing the cost and funding profile for Irish Water. A key input to this is a fact-finding exercise under way in local authorities to provide data on the current cost base. The level of Exchequer subvention support will be determined as part of the budgetary process.
It will be a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation in due course to satisfy itself in relation to the appropriateness of costs to be incurred by Irish Water in discharging its functions as part of the process of setting the tariffs for the domestic and non-domestic sector. It is envisaged that the Commission will engage in public consultation as part of this process. Pending the outcome of this process it is not possible to provide information on the estimated revenue of Irish Water in 2015.
765. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a register of planning permissions granted and completed since 1963; his views on whether there would be value in compiling such a register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34496/13]
View answerWhile no central or national planning register exists, under Section 7 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, planning authorities are required to keep a register in respect of all land within their functional areas affected by that Act.
This register includes, inter alia,
- particulars of any application made to the planning authority for permission for development, for retention of development or for outline permission for development (including the name and address of the applicant, the date of receipt of the application and brief particulars of the development or retention forming the subject of the application) and;
- the complete decision of the planning authority in respect of any such application, including any conditions imposed, and the date of the decision.
I have no plans at this stage to compile a national register of planning permissions since 1963.
766. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board, to include the chair and board members, and the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department. [34512/13]
View answer851. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the annual saving to the Exchequer if all State agency board fees were reduced by 25% under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35799/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 851 together.
The fees applicable with respect to each Board under the aegis of my Department are set out in the table:
|
Agency/Body |
Post |
Number of board members |
Remuneration |
|
Building Regulations Advisory Body (BRAB) |
Chairperson |
1 |
€8,978 |
|
- |
Member |
24 |
Nil |
|
Dublin Docklands Development Authority |
Chairperson |
1 |
€20,520 |
|
- |
Member |
7 |
€11,970 |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
Chairperson |
1 |
€11,970 |
|
- |
Member |
10 |
€7,695 |
|
Irish Water Safety |
Chairperson |
1 |
€8,978 |
|
- |
Member |
12 |
Nil |
|
Housing & Sustainable Communities Agency |
Chairperson |
1 |
€11,970 |
|
- |
Member |
5 |
€7,695 |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
Chairperson |
1 |
Nil |
|
- |
Member |
10 |
Nil |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
Chairperson |
1 |
€8,978 |
|
- |
Member |
11 |
Nil |
|
Private Residential Tenancies Board / Rent Tribunal |
Chairperson |
1 |
* |
|
- |
Member |
9 |
* |
|
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) |
Chairperson |
1 |
€11,970 |
|
- |
Member |
10 |
€7,695 |
|
Western Development Commission |
Chairperson |
1 |
8,978 |
|
- |
Member |
10 |
5,985 |
|
Pobal |
Chair |
1 |
Nil |
|
- |
Members |
15 |
- |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Chairperson |
1 |
PPC Rate: €175,877 - Non PCC Rate: €167,300 |
|
- |
Deputy Chair |
1 |
PPC Rate: €124,716 |
|
- |
- |
- |
Non PCC Rate: €118,581 |
|
- |
Member |
8 |
PPC Rate: €109,580 |
|
- |
- |
- |
Non PCC Rate: €104,317 |
|
Environmental Protection Agency |
Director General |
1 |
PPC Rate: €153,162 |
|
- |
Non PPC: €145,679 |
||
|
- |
Deputy Director General |
1 |
PPC Rate: €130,881- Non PPC Rate: €125,011 |
|
- |
Directors |
3 |
PPC Rate: €119,381 Non-PPC Rate: €113,511 |
* Those PRTB-Rent Tribunal members of the Board who are entitled to Board fees are paid such fees on an attendance basis only. Details regarding the scale of fees and the amounts paid are published in the annual reports of the PRTB.
The Boards of An Bord Pleanála and the Environmental Protection Agency are executive in nature, and Board members are full-time, salaried positions.
Reference to remuneration for chairs and members of Boards is to the level of fee to which they are entitled. Where public servants are appointed to Boards, no fees are payable.
From 1 May 2009, fees were reduced by 10% in line with the Government decision to revise the fees for non-executive Chairpersons and members of Boards of State Bodies. From 1 January 2010, fees were further reduced in line with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009.
In 2012, my Department contacted State Agencies under its aegis, requesting that Board members be offered the option to waive fees on a discretionary basis.
Details in relation to the expenses of Board members are also available within the respective annual reports. Information regarding potential cost savings which could arise, if the fees to which Board members are entitled were reduced by 25%, is not available in my Department.
767. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual salary of all non-commercial State-sponsored bodies' chief executive officers under the aegis of his Department. [34528/13]
View answerThe table details the salary (from 1 July 2013) for CEOs and equivalents in agencies under the aegis of my Department.
|
Agency |
- |
PPC |
Non PPC |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Chair |
€175,877 |
€167,300 |
|
Dublin Docklands Development Authority |
Chief Executive |
*see below |
|
|
An Bord Pleanála |
Chair |
€175,877 |
€167,300 |
|
Dublin Docklands Development Authority |
Chief Executive |
*see below |
|
|
Environmental Protection Agency |
Director General |
€153,162 |
€145,679 |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
Chief Executive |
€108,352 |
€103,034 |
|
Irish Water Safety |
Chief Executive |
€67,434 to 83,510 |
€64,178 to €79,552 |
|
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency |
Chief Executive |
€117,603 |
€111,822 |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
Chief Executive |
€143,535 |
€136,496 |
|
Private Residential Tenancies Board |
Director |
€79,401 to €97,194 |
€75,647 to €92,550 |
|
Radiological Protection Institute Ireland |
Chief Executive |
€136,276 |
€129,563 |
|
Western Development Commission |
Chief Executive |
€79,401 |
N/A |
* The operations of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) will be wound up by the end of 2013. In the interim, the Chief Executive position is filled by a secondment arrangement with Dublin City Council at no extra cost to the State.
768. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accounting; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34544/13]
View answer770. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 20% reduction in all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accounting; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34576/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 768 and 770 together.
The information requested is being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
769. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of all third level courses, training programmes and courses and accompanying cost for the 2012-13 academic year, 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013, provided for employees of his Department. [34560/13]
View answerMy Department’s expenditure on third level courses, training programmes and courses for the period 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013 is as follows:
|
Costs |
2012/2013 - € |
|
Department of Environment, Community & Local Government (excluding Met Éireann) |
213,629 |
|
Met Éireann |
64,811 |
A total of 44 applications were approved under the Payment and Refund of Fees Scheme in my Department from 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013 at a cost of €133,704. The range of courses and their associated cost is outlined in the following tables:
|
No |
Payment and Refund of Fees Scheme – DECLG excluding Met Éireann 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013 |
€ |
|
1 |
MSc in Project and Programme Mgt. |
6,500 |
|
1 |
Diploma in Computer Studies |
2,995 |
|
1 |
BSc Information Technology |
1,695 |
|
2 |
MSc in Computer Science (NL) Cloud Computer Stream |
3,000 |
|
1 |
Masters Diploma Desktop Publishing |
1,495 |
|
1 |
Master of Science in Mgt. for Sustainable Development |
5,655 |
|
1 |
Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Environmental Economics |
1,042 |
|
1 |
MSc in Economic Policy Studies |
9,669 |
|
1 |
Msc in Policy Analysis |
5,000 |
|
1 |
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Law |
2,000 |
|
1 |
Barrister at Law Degree |
5,075 |
|
1 |
Administrative Law |
520 |
|
3 |
PhD in Governance |
30,489 |
|
1 |
Professional certificate in Governance |
1,900 |
|
1 |
MA in Public Management |
5,000 |
|
3 |
BA in Public Management |
7,120 |
|
1 |
Diploma in Civil Service and State Agencies |
990 |
|
3 |
Cert. in Civil Service & State Agencies |
2707 |
|
1 |
Diploma in Financial Management |
2,750 |
|
1 |
Cert. in Tax policy making |
865 |
|
1 |
Chartered Tax Consultant |
1,695 |
|
1 |
ACCA (Professional Accountant) |
656 |
|
1 |
Masters of Business |
3,325 |
|
1 |
Bachelor of Business (hons) |
1,940 |
|
1 |
Business Management Higher Diploma |
2,500 |
|
1 |
Master of Arts Leadership & Strategy |
5,000 |
|
1 |
General Language Course (German) |
1,000 |
|
1 |
Pre-Degree Computing Programme Fetac |
1,695 |
|
1 |
MSc Applied Social Research |
5,880 |
|
1 |
BA in Community Involvement |
1,200 |
|
1 |
BA Personal & Professional Development |
1,750 |
|
1 |
BA Degree (Hons) in Humanities |
1,650 |
|
1 |
Diploma sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach |
1,030 |
|
1 |
Cert in Professional Irish |
745 |
|
Total |
126,534 |
|
No |
Payment and Refund of Fees Scheme – Met Éireann 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013 |
€ |
|
1 |
Diploma in Human Resource Practice |
800 |
|
1 |
MSc Meteorology |
3,370 |
|
1 |
B Eng Engineering |
3,000 |
|
Total |
7,170 |
Training courses arranged from 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013 and their associated cost are outlined in the tables below:
|
Course Detail – DECLG excluding Met Éireann |
€ |
|
HR Line Management (APO & Equivalents) |
17,513 |
|
Language Courses |
10,007 |
|
Public Procurement |
2,027 |
|
Technology Courses includes Excel, Word and Outlook Microsoft. |
7,465 |
|
FOI/Ombudsman Course |
900 |
|
Financial Management |
1,913 |
|
Staff Development* |
39,758 |
|
Health & Safety |
1,375 |
|
IT Training Specialist |
6,137 |
|
Total |
87,095 |
|
Course Detail – Met Éireann |
€ |
|
Financial Management |
3,330 |
|
Project Management |
1,870 |
|
Language Course |
1,320 |
|
Health and Safety Training |
3,424 |
|
Staff Development* |
24,918 |
|
Public Procurement/Tendering |
2,700 |
|
IT Training |
5,567 |
|
Met Eireann Specialist Training |
14,512 |
|
Total |
57,641 |
*Staff development includes training in leadership, governance and change management.
771. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 1%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in travel and expenses for his Department. [34592/13]
View answerMy Department’s travel and subsistence allocation for 2013, including Met Éireann, is €1,525,000. The saving that would be associated with a 1%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in the travel and subsistence allocation is set out in the table.
|
Reductions |
Amounts |
|
1% |
€15,250 |
|
5% |
€76,250 |
|
7% |
€106,750 |
|
10% |
€152,500 |
|
12% |
€183,000 |
|
15% |
€228,750 |
|
17% |
€259,250 |
|
20% |
€305,000 |
Because of exceptional costs associated with Ireland’s role in hosting the EU Presidency, an additional travel and subsistence allocation of €830,000 was set aside specifically for this particular purpose in 2013. This allocation is not included in the calculations set out in the table.
772. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in training and development for his Department. [34608/13]
View answerMy Department's learning and development allocation for 2013 is €316,000 and the allocation for learning and development in Met Éireann for 2013 is €70,000. This is in respect of 779 WTE staff at 1 January 2013. The savings that would be associated with a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in the learning and development allocations are set out in the table:
|
Department |
Met Éireann |
Department |
Met Éireann |
|
Reductions |
Amounts |
Reductions |
Amounts |
|
5% |
€15,800 |
5% |
€3,500 |
|
7% |
€22,120 |
7% |
€4,900 |
|
10% |
€31,600 |
10% |
€7,000 |
|
12% |
€37,920 |
12% |
€8,400 |
|
15% |
€47,400 |
15% |
€10,500 |
|
17% |
€53,720 |
17% |
€11,900 |
|
20% |
€63,200 |
20% |
€14,000 |
773. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer if all his special advisers' pay was capped at the first point of the principal officer grade; if he will provide a list of all salaries, post-implementation of the Haddington Road agreement paid to his special advisers. [34624/13]
View answerThe salaries of Special Advisers appointed in my Department, following application of pay adjustments in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measure in the Public Interest Act, 2013 and the Haddington Road Agreement, are set out as follows.
|
Minister |
Special Adviser |
Salary |
|
Minister Hogan |
Sean McKeown |
87,258 |
|
- |
Claire Langton |
81,676 |
|
Minister of State O’Sullivan |
Aidan Culhane |
81,676 |
|
- |
Paul Daly |
78,670 |
If salaries of all Special Advisers were capped at the first point of the Principal Officer scale, the gross annual savings would amount to €26,692 per annum.
774. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details, broken down by electoral area, of the number of empty local authority housing units in Waterford county and Waterford city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34663/13]
View answerMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy and those data are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie.
Data on the number of vacant local authority housing units are not included in this range; they are however published in the Local Authority Service Indicator Reports which can be found online at www.lgcsb.ie.
775. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to EU Directive 2011/70/EURATOM (Nuclear Waste), if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this legislation will allow for the importation of nuclear waste into the Republic of Ireland by private operators, the role of government being diminished to that of independent licensing authority; his views on whether the RPII, whose responsibility it is to advise Government on the Directive, is impartial , in view of it's links to a person (details supplied), the Irish representative to the Scientific and Technical Committee of Euratom, the Committee responsible for the Directive, and an ex-CEO of the RPII, who is a self-professed member of the the pro-nuclear lobby group BENE; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that past expert advice from within the nuclear industry has shown that nuclear waste cannot be isolated in the geological environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34667/13]
View answerCouncil Directive 2011/70/EURATOM of 19 July 2011, establishing a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, requires Member States to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 23 August 2013.
My Department is currently developing the necessary Regulations to ensure that Ireland meets its obligations to transpose this Directive.
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is required to ensure that Irish people and the environment are adequately protected from the harmful effects of ionising radiation. Insofar as the issue of the storage of radioactive substances is concerned, the Institute is explicitly required under section 7(d) of the Radiological Protection Act 1991 to advise the Government on radiological safety matters “including in relation to the transport, use, and storage of radioactive substances, wheresoever located”. I have every confidence that the Institute will continue to provide Government with appropriate expert advice in that regard.
776. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline, in tabular form, the commitments in the programme for Government within his remit; if the commitment has been met or is in the process of being met; the estimated time for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34679/13]
View answerIn accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, my Department has published a Statement of Strategy 2011-2014, which is available on the Department’s website – www.environ.ie.
A full list of Programme for Government commitments for which my Department has lead responsibility is included as an Appendix to the Statement of Strategy. The Strategy is fully aligned with the Government for National Recovery Programme 2011 - 2016 and the commitments contained in the EU-IMF Programme of Financial Support. By its nature, the Statement is a high level document setting out how the Department plans, during the three year period to 2014, to implement the Government’s high level policy objectives and Programme for Government commitments, and progress its longer term policy goals, as set out in the relevant National Strategies. The Department reported on progress in implementing its Strategy, including Programme for Government commitments, in its 2011 and 2012 Annual Reports (also available on www.environ.ie).
In addition, an integrated annual progress report, under the Public Sector (Croke Park) Agreement 2010-2014 for my Department and its agencies, is available on my Department’s website for both 2011 and 2012 and they report progress on certain Programme for Government commitments. My Department also contributes to central reporting on specific Programme for Government commitments, as reflected in the Programme for Government: Annual Report 2012, Year 1: Stability and Programme for Government: Annual Report 2013, Year 2: Rebuilding, which are both available on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach.
777. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will detail, in tabular form, the names of all external public relations, communications consultants and organisations used by organisations or agencies within the remit of his Department since 9 March 2011; the details of the services supplied by each; the expenditure on each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34695/13]
View answerDay-to-day operations in agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for management in each agency. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department. A detailed breakdown of expenditure by each agency is contained in their respective annual reports, the latest versions of which are available in the Library of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
778. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the up-to-date position on the report on bonds, insurances and other methods of collateral used by the construction industry in relation to estates that have not been taken in charge by the local authority; if legislation will be necessary to ensure that local authorities will be able to draw down such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34707/13]
View answerConditions attached to planning permissions for residential development must require the giving of sufficient security prior to commencement of development. The form of the bond, the amount and the terms attached are matters for the planning authority concerned and the arrangement entered into must enable the planning authority, without cost to itself, to complete the necessary services (including roads, footpaths, water mains, sewers, lighting and open space) to a satisfactory standard in the event of default by the developer.
My Department recently provided updated guidance to local authorities in relation to bonds. This included, inter alia, guidance on:
- purpose of securities;
- types of securities;
- requirements for securities;
- default events;
- securities in phased developments;
- assessment of security mechanisms;
- computation of bonds; and,
- release of bonds.
This guidance is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.
Information on bonds held by local authorities may be obtained from the authority concerned.
779. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to an application from Meath County Council for increased funding for its housing adaptation grants scheme; when it will receive a response to its application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34720/13]
View answerAn application for additional funding in respect of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability has been received from Meath County Council. I am keeping the funding of the housing adaptation schemes under active review and expect to contact all local authorities in regard to their allocation by the end of this month.
782. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of illegal dumping in the State in 2012. [34840/13]
View answer816. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of illegal dumping here in 2012. [35275/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 782 and 816 together.
Enforcement action in relation to illegal dumping is a matter for the relevant local authority concerned and also the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE), which supervises the environmental protection activities of local authorities. The cost of illegal dumping for 2012 is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs and also involves costs for other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána.
My Department, however, provides funding to support waste enforcement activity. In 2012, provision of €10,360,278 was made to support the work of a network of local authority enforcement officers, while €2,100,000 was provided to support the work of the OEE.
