Written Answers Nos. 100-117
100. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the delivery of housing from the National Asset Management Agency special purpose vehicle; and if he will provide a breakdown of where these units have been delivered. [33777/13]
View answer102. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses identified, selected and transferred from the National Asset Management Agency for social housing to date; the additional progress that has been made with the provision of social housing via NAMA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33772/13]
View answer107. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate progress to date in increasing the number of properties transferred from the National Asset Management Agency to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council to increase the stock of social housing provision at the disposal of both of these local authority areas. [33617/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 102 and 107 together.
At the end of Quarter 2 2013, 296 properties have been delivered for social housing from NAMA's portfolio, with contracts signed in respect of a further 101 properties. This brings the overall total number of residential properties completed or committed to social housing under this initiative to date to just under 400 properties. It will continue to be my Department's objective in 2013 to maximise the delivery of social housing using all of the resources available.
NAMA continues to work closely with my Department, the Housing Agency and with local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in relation to the delivery of social housing. To date, NAMA has identified over 4,200 residential properties controlled by its debtors and receivers under this initiative as being available for social housing. Demand has been confirmed by the local authorities for 1,621 of these properties with a further 596 properties currently being evaluated.
The local authorities have confirmed that of the properties identified, 1,242 are considered unsuitable by reference to sustainable planning and housing policy or are located in areas with no demand. A further 812 properties have been sold or privately let by their owners or receivers since they were identified by NAMA.
To date, of the properties identified by NAMA, demand has been confirmed by Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council for 228 units. Of this 55 are completed and operational, all of which are in the Dublin City Council area, 88 are at an advanced stage of negotiations and 85 are being appraised.
To help further streamline delivery, NAMA has also established a special purpose company, National Asset Residential Property Services Ltd (NARPs), for the purpose of acquiring properties from its debtors and receivers where necessary to speed up direct leasing to AHBs. NARPs acquires houses and apartments and makes them available to the AHBs where the AHBs have confirmed demand for, and contracted to lease, the properties. NAMA has advised me that, to date, AHBs have contracted to lease 36 properties through NARPs.
Quarterly updates in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced units are available at www.housing.ie.
101. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the joint north-south study on air quality, if he agrees that in order to avoid fuel poverty alternative energies and fuels must be available at affordable prices before any ban is imposed on bitumen coal. [33797/13]
View answerThe ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel (or ‘smoky coal ban’ ) was first introduced in Dublin in 1990 in response to severe episodes of winter smog that resulted from the widespread use of smoky coal for residential heating with consequential health impacts, often on those in lower socio-economic areas where its use predominated and where air quality was worse. Air quality monitoring carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the ban proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels in Dublin. The ban was subsequently extended in several phases and now applies in 27 cities and towns, including all urban areas with a population greater than 15,000 people.
The burning of solid fuel for residential heating makes a disproportionate contribution to air pollution, which generally occurs within residential communities where it is most used and where exposure, including to vulnerable groups, can be highest. Products offered for sale in breach of the ban may be of inferior quality, creating more pollution in a person's community and in their home. Research indicated that the ban in Dublin resulted in over 350 fewer annual winter mortality deaths. Additional benefits of the ban were identified through the stimulation of a move away from solid fuels, which generally are less efficient and more polluting, to more efficient and less polluting gas and oil. The additional benefits in reduced fuel costs to consumers were estimated at €184 million per year.
Data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicates that the effective cost of fuel for home heating using ‘smoky’ coal in an open fire is around 15 cent per kilowatt hour (c/kWhr) whereas the price for natural gas using a boiler meeting the Building Regulations is half that at around 7.5c/kWhr.
The SEAI data also indicated that while on an energy basis the cost of manufactured smokeless coal is marginally more expensive than ‘smoky’ coal (less than 5%), the more even burn of smokeless coal means that it can be managed so that it lasts longer and may be less expensive in overall terms. There are a wide range of modern smokeless coals and other products available that are cleaner, easy to burn, and which generally provide more energy per bag and more consistent heat over a longer period with both consumer and health and environmental benefits.
The Government has an energy poverty strategy; ‘Warmer Homes – A Strategy for Affordable Energy in Ireland’ which was published by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources towards the end of 2011. The strategy identified the extent and impact of energy poverty, the existing measures in place and the actions required looking forward.
Energy poverty is a factor of income, energy prices and the thermal efficiency of the home. The most cost-effective means of protecting households from energy poverty is to improve the thermal efficiency of the home. The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme (BEWH), administered by the SEAI, funds energy efficiency improvements in the homes of the elderly and vulnerable, making the homes more comfortable, healthier and more cost effective to run.
103. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the delivery of housing units as part of the Limerick regeneration project. [33781/13]
View answerMy Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration at six locations across the country, including Limerick City. A particular focus of the 2013 programme in Limerick is to deliver, as a priority, a solid and workable implementation strategy which will act as a roadmap for physical, social and economic regeneration in the coming years. Construction contracts, recently completed or due to commence in 2013, will deliver over 170 new housing units within the regeneration areas.
To date some 1,000 households from within the regeneration areas have been relocated on foot of a robust housing acquisition programme over recent years. An overview of the new housing projects which are under construction or will get to construction in 2013, together with those being progressed to construction stage, is set out in the following table:
|
Projects – completed or due to start in 2013 |
No. of Units |
Status |
Cost estimate |
|
Clíona Park |
34 |
Completed February 2013 |
€5.5m |
|
Southill Sheltered Accommodation Scheme |
35 |
Under construction |
€5.8m |
|
Vizes Court Phase 2 |
29 |
Under construction |
€4.3m |
|
Lord Edward Street |
79 |
Expected on-site in Quarter 3, 2013. |
€12.7m |
|
Projects – being progressed through planning and procurement. |
No. of Units |
Status |
Cost estimate |
|
Sheep Street/Athlunkard Street |
10 |
Approval issued |
€1.7m |
|
College Avenue, Clíona Park |
68 |
Approval issued |
€10.7m |
|
Southill Area Centre |
67 |
Approval issued |
€10.5m |
|
Council Depot, Cosgrave Park (Phase 1) |
28 |
Approval issued |
€5m |
|
Council Depot, Cosgrave Park (Phase 2) |
18 |
Approval issued |
€2.8m |
|
Gap Site at Clíona Park |
2 |
Approval issued |
€0.3m |
|
Palm Court |
26 |
Approval issued |
€3.9m |
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which any review of requirements in terms of capacity and transmission in respect of domestic drinking water has been undertaken, with particular reference to the sourcing of future supplies in line with both domestic and industrial requirements and the minimisation of losses through deteriorating transmission systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33653/13]
View answerThe overall strategy of investment in water services is to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public domestic water supplies is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme.
The current Programme, which runs to the end of 2013, provides for the commencement of contracts with a value of over €800 million in relation to water supply infrastructure. This includes contracts to address deficiencies in the quality of supply, to improve the overall capacity of the system and an accelerated programme of mains rehabilitation. The Programme also provides for the advancement of a further range of schemes through planning, for progression to construction in future investment cycles.
The development of the programme followed a comprehensive review of investment requirements initiated in 2009 involving an assessment of needs for water and sewerage services by each water services authority and taking account of reports by the Environmental Protection Agency on drinking water quality and an assessment by Forfás of the requirements of enterprise in Gateways and Hubs, as well as River Basin Management Plans.
In addition, a detailed project appraisal is undertaken during the planning phase of each scheme, which determines issues such as the appropriate source of water, projected future demand and the most cost effective solution to meeting needs. There is, therefore, a strong evidence base, from technical assessments, environmental monitoring and policy studies to underpin the strategic direction of water services capital investment. In order to create efficiencies, improve service delivery and achieve cost savings in the delivery of water services, the Programme for Government provides a series of reforms to be advanced in the water sector, including the establishment of Irish Water. An implementation strategy for the establishment of Irish Water has been finalised and is available on my Department’s website. As part of this strategy, a specific work-stream is considering the matters arising in the proposed transfer of the responsibility for capital programme delivery from the 34 local authorities to Irish Water. This includes the development of the capital investment programme for 2014 to 2015 and the development of a capital transition plan to manage the orderly transition from current arrangements to the new arrangements to be put in place by Irish Water.
108. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with the large number of persons waiting extended periods for adaption grants in order to make their homes suitable to meet their special physical needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33775/13]
View answerOn 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. This year I allocated local authorities the full amount of their contractual commitments and the balance of the available funding was allocated on the basis of each authority’s share of the new applications in hand in January 2013.
A small capital reserve was set aside to deal with any acute or particular difficulty which might arise in the operation of the schemes over the course of the year. Following requests from 13 local authorities for supplementary funding, I subsequently approved additional allocations totalling €1.2 million. I am continuing to keep the level of funding available under active review.
My Department is currently reviewing the operation of the grant schemes in consultation with the local authorities and groups representing older people and people with disabilities with the objective of targeting those in most need and ensuring that the maximum numbers of households can benefit from these schemes. I intend to announce revised terms and conditions for the grant schemes later this year.
110. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate when an announcement will be made on the resolution of the appalling problems faced by householders at the Priory Hall estate in Donaghmede, Dublin 13. [33618/13]
View answerThe resolution process in respect of the problems associated with the development at Priory Hall, which I understand is ongoing, arose in the context of legal proceedings which were adjourned to afford relevant parties the opportunity to work together, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Finnegan (retired President of the High Court), to identify a way forward in relation to the complex problems at Priory Hall. Neither I nor my Department is a party to those proceedings. Given that the matter is before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further other than to continue to urge all concerned to afford Mr. Justice Finnegan the opportunity to complete the task which he is undertaking.
111. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the expected number of inspections of wastewater treatment systems in 2013 and 2014; the expected failure rate and estimated amount of money to be spent on remedial grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33771/13]
View answerThe Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 assigns responsibility to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. The National Inspection Plan 2013: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems was adopted and published by the EPA in February 2013. The Plan provides for a minimum of 1,000 inspections to be carried out by the water services authorities (the 34 county and city councils) in the 12 month period commencing in July 2013. Details of the minimum number of inspections for each council area are included in the Plan. The EPA has indicated that it will review the Plan in 2014.
It is not possible at this time to estimate what the failure rate for inspections might be or how much will be spent on remedial grants. However, based on the number of inspections to be carried out and the grant amounts that I have provided for in the Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, I am satisfied that there is adequate provision in my Department’s Vote for this purpose.
112. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is intended to introduce legislation to reduce the liability on the State for the reimbursement of dormant accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33734/13]
View answerThe Dormant Accounts Act 2001 together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003, the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012 provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies, An Post and insurance companies) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings. The legislation requires the institutions/undertakings to take steps to identify and contact the owners of dormant accounts and unclaimed life assurance policies.
The main purpose of the legislation is to reunite account holders or policyholders with their funds in credit institutions and insurance undertakings and in this regard, such institutions and undertakings are required to take steps to identify and contact the owners of dormant accounts and unclaimed life assurance policies. The fund consists of a reserve account from which reclaims and various expenses are paid and an investment and disbursement account from which investments and disbursements are made.
The transfer of monies to the Dormant Accounts Fund takes place on the basis that the beneficial owners of the monies have a guaranteed right to reclaim their property at any time in the future. The Dormant Accounts fund derives, in the main, from private bank and building society accounts and must be handled and invested prudently having regard to the constitutionally guaranteed right to private property and the confidential nature of the relationship the credit institutions enjoy with their customers. I have no plans at present to amend this legislation.
113. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the need for specific emergency housing for victims of domestic abuse and plans to work with advocacy groups like Women's Aid and Safe Ireland to determine what is needed. [33785/13]
View answerResponsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic abuse rests with the Minister for Health and is delivered through the Health Service Executive. In addition Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which was established in June 2007 as an executive office of the Department of Justice and Equality, works to ensure the delivery of a coordinated response to issues of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence across Government. Actions to ensure effectiveness and consistency in housing responses for victims of domestic violence are set out in Action 10 of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2010-2014. My Department is developing the necessary guidance to implement this action.
My Department’s responsibility is in respect of homelessness which in some cases involves the provision of current funding, under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, towards the operational costs of refuges for the victims of domestic abuse. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. My Department has no function in regard to, nor is it involved in, decisions on operational matters.
Persons who are forced to leave their homes due to domestic violence may, however, be placed in accommodation arranged by local authorities without having to be entered on the waiting list. In the longer term, victims of domestic violence may qualify under Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 for entry on a waiting list for social housing support if, in addition to meeting the normal eligibility criteria, the housing authority considers that their current accommodation is unsuitable, having regard to particular household circumstances or on exceptional medical or compassionate grounds.
My Department is keeping the social housing assessment provisions under review and will consider what wider discretion might be given to housing authorities by way of Regulations to address the individually difficult and complex cases which may present to them.
Under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding is available to Approved Housing Bodies for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need including victims of domestic violence. My Department’s involvement with the CAS relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the scheme, including the appraisal of proposals, the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding scheme and the processing of applications for funding, are the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. Approvals are largely based on the prioritisation afforded to individual proposals by the local authority in question.
115. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Taoiseach in view of the latest tourism figures which show an increase in the number of visitors here, if he will provide details of the impact of these increases on the numbers of tourists arriving through Cork Airport and those using the Cork-Roscoff ferry link; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34200/13]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office publishes a range of information on tourism and transport. With respect to the information requested by the Deputy the latest information which can be provided is for April 2013. The following table shows the total number of trips through Cork Airport and on the Cork to Roscoff ferry route, for the period January to April for each of the last 4 years.
In line with international standards for statistics on tourism and travel a trip is defined as a journey (usually including the return) from one place to another, for any purpose (i.e. both tourism and non tourism). The number of trips is calculated as the average of the number of outward and inward journeys. The Central Statistics Office receives passenger number figures from the airport authorities and ferry companies. It should be noted that the figures include passengers of all residencies, both Irish and non-Irish, as it is not possible from the sources in question to separately identify Irish/ non-Irish residents.
Table : Number of trips via Cork Airport and Cork-Roscoff ferry
|
- |
Cork Airport |
Cork Airport |
Cork-Roscoff Ferry |
Cork-Roscoff Ferry |
|
- |
Number of Trips |
Annual change (trips) |
Number of trips |
Annual change (trips) |
|
January- April 2010 |
298,815 |
- |
6,105 |
- |
|
January- April 2011 |
303,843 |
5,029 |
4,870 |
-1,235 |
|
January- April 2012 |
311,298 |
7,455 |
5,321 |
451 |
|
January- April 2013 |
309,033 |
-2,265 |
5,375 |
54 |
116. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of net job losses in the economy for each year from 2006 to 2013. [34710/13]
View answerThe Central Statistics Offices compiles information on jobs created and destroyed and, by deduction, jobs lost by linking P35L returns from the Revenue Commissioners with the CSO Business Register. The information relates to all employing enterprises from key sectors of the business economy as classified by the standard European classification of economic activity NACE Rev.2 B-N excluding activities of holding companies. The data is only available for the years 2006 - 2010.
Job creation for an enterprise in a given reference year is measured as the positive difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in the reference year compared with the previous year. Job creation in the business economy as a whole is the sum of all enterprise job creation.
Job destruction for a given reference year is measured as the negative difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in the reference year compared with the previous year. Job destruction in the business economy as a whole is the sum of all enterprise job destruction. It should be noted that when interpreting figures, job destruction for a particular year means that these jobs were identified in the previous year but not in reference year, but some of these jobs may have disappeared sometime during the previous year.
An estimate of net job losses can be derived by subtracting total jobs destroyed from jobs created.
Table 1 - Net job losses for the Business Economy, 2006 - 2010
|
Total Business Economy (excluding activities of holding companies) |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
000's |
000's |
000's |
000's |
000's |
|
|
Jobs as measured by employment records (Number) |
1,972 |
2,119 |
1,987 |
1,646 |
1,540 |
|
Job creation (Number) |
354 |
375 |
218 |
169 |
184 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
198 |
228 |
350 |
512 |
291 |
|
Net Job losses (Number) |
-155 |
-147 |
132 |
343 |
107 |
117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of the average weekly income in the south of Ireland in comparison with Northern Ireland and Britain for the most recent five years for which information is available. [34727/13]
View answerStatistics on income are compiled from the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC). The latest results are for 2011. Comparable results are available using Eurostat definitions of income and equivalence scale (which differ from the definitions used nationally) across the EU including the United Kingdom. Results are not available separately for Northern Ireland. The results for the most recent five years for which the information is available are shown as follows:
Average weekly individual* income by country and year, SILC 2007-2011
|
Year |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
|
Average weekly individual income |
Republic of Ireland |
€498.05 |
€513.78 |
€491.28 |
€454.81 |
€438.60 |
|
UK |
€475.72 |
€437.04 |
€371.62 |
€393.20 |
€398.39 |
*Individual income=equivalised income
