Written Answers Nos. 952-973
955. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for a Cork main drainage scheme; when he expects the scheme to get underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38367/13]
View answerThere are three contracts included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 for the Cork City Sewerage Scheme. The Carrigrennan Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Contract is included as a scheme to advance through planning during the life of the programme. In November 2012 my Department approved Cork City’s Design Brief for the appointment of a Consultant to prepare a Preliminary Report for the Scheme. I understand that the Council expects to appoint a consultant shortly.
Following a mid-term review of the programme in 2011 two further Cork City Sewerage Scheme contracts were added to the programme on foot of a submission from Cork City Council; Cork City Sewerage Scheme, St. Patrick’s Street Culvert Contract/Scheme and Cork City Sewerage Scheme, Collection Network Contract/Scheme. My Department is awaiting the submission by Cork City Council of Design Briefs for the appointment of Consultants to prepare Preliminary Reports for these Contracts/ Schemes.
960. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the best available figure or estimate of the number of vehicles that are being driven in breach of current car tax legislation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38514/13]
View answerThe Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport carried out an analysis of vehicles that traversed the M50 barrier free toll on four separate days during 2010 and 2011, and identified an evasion rate of 5%. Based on the total vehicle fleet of some 2.4m vehicles, that percentage would equate to 120,000 vehicles.
I have recently introduced changes to the procedures for declaring vehicles of the road which will mean that, from 1 October 2013, the facility to declare that a vehicle was off the road for a period when the vehicle is next being taxed will cease. Owners will have to notify licensing authorities in advance of the vehicle being taken off the road, or alternatively pay arrears when next taxing their vehicle. The introduction of a similar system in the United Kingdom saw evasion rates there reduce from 5% to under 1%. I will be closely monitoring the impact of the new procedures with a view to examining what further action may be necessary to reduce motor tax evasion to the lowest level possible.
962. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the position of the Architects Alliance will be implemented in the context of the architects register review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38576/13]
View answerMr Garret Fennell , Solicitor, who is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Admissions Board established under Section 13 of the Building Control Act 2007, has recently completed his comprehensive independent review of the registration arrangements for architects under the Act . His report on the matter is currently being considered by my Department and I intend to publish it in full at an early date. The report includes a number of recommendations that will be helpful to, and improve the registration process for, members of the Architect’s Alliance of Ireland, the Group of Independent Architects of Ireland and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.
963. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county and project breakdown of funding allocated under his Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013; the amount of funding each county and project received under the programme; the commencement and expected completion date of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38579/13]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 , which is available in the Oireachtas Library, lists the water services schemes and contracts to be progressed under the programme on a river basin district and county and city council level, and the associated estimated cost for each contract.
The timing of the commencement of contracts is a matter for the Water Services Authorities, subject to the requirement for my Department’s approval at key stages in the progression of projects through planning and on to construction. Details on the progression of individual contracts can be obtained from the local authorities concerned.
The length of time to progress a scheme from initial design to completion varies with the scale and complexity of the scheme and the number of contracts involved. My Department’s procedures are designed to ensure that projects are advanced as expeditiously as possible, and in a manner consistent with meeting its responsibilities in relation to management of Exchequer funds.
The information requested is set out in the following table.
Table - Funding provided to each Water Services Authority under the Water Services Investment Programme in the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013.
|
Water Services Authority |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
Total |
|
Carlow |
€7,776,836 |
€11,656,553 |
€7,687,587 |
€517,586 |
€27,638,561 |
|
Cavan |
€1,898,539 |
€2,814,740 |
€2,947,272 |
€1,786,361 |
€9,446,910 |
|
Clare |
€7,573,263 |
€1,793,155 |
€2,745,664 |
€1,148,664 |
€13,260,746 |
|
Cork City |
€3,473,288 |
€6,763,733 |
€5,997,642 |
€497,789 |
€16,732,452 |
|
Cork |
€31,674,430 |
€24,552,783 |
€24,682,508 |
€4,301,229 |
€85,210,949 |
|
Donegal |
€19,162,459 |
€31,469,742 |
€10,683,360 |
€1,832,256 |
€63,147,817 |
|
Dublin City |
€73,912,375 |
€52,551,047 |
€34,647,437 |
€5,377,546 |
€166,488,405 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown |
€40,027,554 |
€10,723,861 |
€5,845,752 |
€0 |
€56,597,166 |
|
Fingal |
€35,635,923 |
€32,616,251 |
€26,038,749 |
€8,690,571 |
€102,981,494 |
|
Galway City |
€5,508,903 |
€2,964,730 |
€2,847,865 |
€709,579 |
€12,031,077 |
|
Galway |
€21,275,734 |
€19,536,600 |
€4,083,765 |
€3,922,786 |
€48,818,884 |
|
Kerry |
€8,810,921 |
€7,870,263 |
€7,151,927 |
€2,906,529 |
€26,739,640 |
|
Kildare |
€11,161,195 |
€21,050,327 |
€32,178,348 |
€12,214,701 |
€76,604,571 |
|
Kilkenny |
€5,733,425 |
€ 2,127,237 |
€3,128,005 |
€994,525 |
€ 11,983,192 |
|
Laois |
€6,359,214 |
€4,699,392 |
€3,091,122 |
€1,075,739 |
€15,225,466 |
|
Leitrim |
€10,564,140 |
€2,075,892 |
€2,007,584 |
€1,067,405 |
€15,715,021 |
|
Limerick City |
€9,744,210 |
€5,574,757 |
€6,759,829 |
€2,178,646 |
€24,257,442 |
|
Limerick |
€1,301,778 |
€2,931,526 |
€4,459,163 |
€3,841,365 |
€12,533,832 |
|
Longford |
€7,740,654 |
€5,545,504 |
€6,036,404 |
€5,157,256 |
€24,479,818 |
|
Louth |
€3,370,352 |
€2,504,452 |
€365,205 |
€220,085 |
€6,460,094 |
|
Mayo |
€7,552,080 |
€4,090,831 |
€5,731,188 |
€5,013,514 |
€22,387,612 |
|
Meath |
€11,994,965 |
€7,101,611 |
€7,551,763 |
€2,645,135 |
€29,293,474 |
|
Monaghan |
€4,570,237 |
€4,674,019 |
€136,745 |
€186,195 |
€9,567,197 |
|
North Tipperary |
€5,851,900 |
€4,157,198 |
€9,166,688 |
€2,533,626 |
€21,709,412 |
|
Offaly |
€8,505,889 |
€15,685,776 |
€4,525,022 |
€2,831,997 |
€31,548,683 |
|
Roscommon |
€6,457,072 |
€5,269,006 |
€4,449,833 |
€921,239 |
€17,097,150 |
|
Sligo |
€2,403,478 |
€3,050,509 |
€1,838,874 |
€104,562 |
€7,397,422 |
|
South Dublin |
€6,972,701 |
€12,081,882 |
€7,031,236 |
€465,827 |
€26,551,646 |
|
South Tipperary |
€6,537,382 |
€3,196,815 |
€3,994,777 |
€1,505,369 |
€15,234,342 |
|
Waterford City |
€2,673,897 |
€7,449,103 |
€4,267,435 |
€680,952 |
€15,071,386 |
|
Waterford |
€4,552,461 |
€2,608,064 |
€7,241,455 |
€1,436,371 |
€15,838,351 |
|
Westmeath |
€7,447,632 |
€5,289,135 |
€2,482,650 |
€285,386 |
€15,504,802 |
|
Wexford |
€10,468,033 |
€10,818,935 |
€10,318,653 |
€1,348,425 |
€32,954,046 |
|
Wicklow |
€7,201,616 |
€12,058,749 |
€4,218,183 |
€970,573 |
€24,449,120 |
964. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has decided to cut funding to local authorities for the provision of housing adaption grants for persons with disabilities or other special needs; if he will provide a breakdown of the funding that has been provided to each local authority for housing adaption in 2010, 2011 and 2012; the amount that has been provided for 2013; if he has carried out any assessment on the impact these cuts will have in each of the local authorities. [38590/13]
View answerI am currently reviewing the operation of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability 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. Capital allocations to local authorities for next year are currently being considered in the context of the Estimates for 2014.
Information in relation to the allocations over the period 2010 to date is set out in the following table:
|
County/City Council |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Carlow |
€1,868,125 |
€1,974,014 |
€1,474,014 |
€792,601 |
|
Cavan |
€1,875,000 |
€1,875,000 |
€1,312,500 |
€1,101,059 |
|
Clare |
€3,125,000 |
€3,581,250 |
€1,375,690 |
€1,546,858 |
|
Cork |
€8,112,584 |
€6,928,524 |
€8,286,734 |
€4,768,653 |
|
Donegal |
€4,600,000 |
€1,066,549 |
€1,019,396 |
€972,610 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
€2,135,000 |
€1,011,964 |
€1,110,603 |
€925,589 |
|
Fingal |
€2,625,000 |
€2,278,391 |
€2,072,365 |
€1,825,435 |
|
Galway |
€2,375,000 |
€2,683,750 |
€2,375,000 |
€1,797,623 |
|
Kerry |
€4,061,250 |
€4,509,023 |
€3,257,865 |
€1,697,533 |
|
Kildare |
€3,750,000 |
€3,565,285 |
€2,025,000 |
€2,174,873 |
|
Kilkenny |
€1,867,500 |
€2,633,914 |
€1,867,500 |
€1,488,633 |
|
Laois |
€1,830,000 |
€1,171,093 |
€1,084,828 |
€481,033 |
|
Leitrim |
€1,637,500 |
€671,866 |
€693,805 |
€287,326 |
|
Limerick |
€1,933,750 |
€2,134,811 |
€1,723,455 |
€1,587,391 |
|
Longford |
€1,250,000 |
€1,250,000 |
€1,243,575 |
€721,750 |
|
Louth |
€2,695,625 |
€1,242,968 |
€1,186,265 |
€1,203,835 |
|
Mayo |
€3,720,000 |
€2,843,000 |
€2,575,216 |
€2,700,505 |
|
Meath |
€1,464,096 |
€1,483,803 |
€1,072,208 |
€624,431 |
|
Monaghan |
€2,080,000 |
€1,562,500 |
€1,500,000 |
€889,661 |
|
North Tipperary |
€1,676,250 |
€1,641,511 |
€1,200,000 |
€622,424 |
|
Offaly |
€2,250,000 |
€1,757,500 |
€875,000 |
€689,579 |
|
Roscommon |
€2,750,000 |
€1,888,750 |
€979,251 |
€770,746 |
|
Sligo |
€1,843,750 |
€1,485,768 |
€1,383,528 |
*€429,100 |
|
South Dublin |
€4,750,000 |
€1,582,073 |
€2,228,309 |
€1,536,265 |
|
South Tipperary |
€3,125,000 |
€3,500,000 |
€3,111,714 |
€1,321,578 |
|
Waterford |
€1,702,500 |
€1,500,294 |
€994,766 |
€473,745 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,854,963 |
€1,330,789 |
€988,155 |
€653,376 |
|
Wexford |
€3,276,875 |
€2,774,524 |
€2,691,773 |
€1,338,340 |
|
Wicklow |
€2,437,313 |
€1,186,760 |
€954,794 |
€679,126 |
|
Cork City |
€2,707,916 |
€2,737,916 |
€1,749,741 |
€1,864,500 |
|
Dublin City |
€14,125,000 |
€8,689,330 |
€9,518,318 |
€5,512,886 |
|
Galway City |
€1,226,666 |
€1,043,588 |
€1,090,853 |
€521,880 |
|
Limerick City |
€1,525,000 |
€2,048,750 |
€1,900,000 |
€1,164,070 |
|
Waterford City |
€872,500 |
€875,403 |
€827,781 |
€442,413 |
|
Totals |
€99,131,173 |
€78,512,672 |
€67,752,014 |
€45,180,337 |
*includes Sligo Borough
965. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce a Statutory Instrument similar to SI 341 of 2012 to have a course in educational institutes (details supplied) recognised as a prescribed course and bodies under the Building Control Act for the Architects Register Admission Examination administered by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38594/13]
View answerSection 14 of the Building Control Act 2007 provides among other things for the prescription of educational bodies or qualifications whose graduates may be recognised, subject to certain other requirements being fulfilled, as eligible for inclusion on the register of architects as established under the Act. An application for prescription is currently under consideration by my Department in respect of an M. Arch qualification jointly provided by University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology. The matter is currently receiving attention and will be dealt with expeditiously.
967. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the main outcomes in the Inter-Departmental Group Report on Local Property Tax Design of a local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38635/13]
View answerThe local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014 the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local authorities from the Fund. In addition, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector will have a considerable impact on local authority financing.
The Government has indicated an intention to move, from 2014, to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. The remaining 20% of the Tax collected nationally will be re-distributed on an equalised basis to local authorities within the context of the annual allocations of General Purpose Grants. The approach used to allocate the 20% of Local Property Tax revenue available for equalisation will depend on factors such as overall yield and yields at individual local authority level. The priority will be to support those local authorities with weaker funding bases.
The Government decided that the relevant Departments would consider the balance of taxation and spending measures necessary to support the intention to move to 80% local retention of the Local Property Tax. A working group comprising a number of Departments, including my own, is examining the issues involved, and relevant decisions in respect of local government funding in 2014 will be taken in the context of Budget 2014.
I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and therefore a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision-making concerning service provision - in particular, the inclusion of the local variation mechanism from 2015 will further increase the autonomy of local authorities; and a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.
Placing the local government sector on a more sustainable financial footing is an important objective of the changes to the funding of the local authorities. I am satisfied that the changes which are currently underway will deliver a model of funding which is sustainable in the broadest sense into the long-term.
968. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the full year saving to the Exchequer if all city and county managers' pay were reduced by 15%. [38647/13]
View answerThe information requested is outlined in the following table:
City/County Manager Salary Level (effective from 1 July 2013)
|
Local Authority |
Salary |
Number at Level |
Combined Salary by Level |
(15% Reduction) |
Combined (15% Reduction) |
|
Dublin City Council |
€175,721 |
1 |
€175,721 |
€149,363 |
€26,358 |
|
Cork County Council |
|||||
|
Fingal County Council |
|||||
|
South Dublin County Council |
€150,977 |
3 |
€452,931 |
€384,991 |
€67,940 |
|
Cork City Council |
|||||
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
|||||
|
Kildare County Council |
|||||
|
Meath County Council |
|||||
|
Limerick City and County Council |
€142,966 |
5 |
€714,830 |
€607,606 |
€107,225 |
|
Clare County Council |
|||||
|
Donegal County Council |
|||||
|
Galway County Council |
|||||
|
Kerry County Council |
|||||
|
Kilkenny County Council |
|||||
|
Louth County Council |
|||||
|
Mayo County Council |
|||||
|
South Tipperary County Council |
|||||
|
Westmeath County Council |
|||||
|
Wexford County Council |
|||||
|
Wicklow County Council |
€133,072 |
11 |
€1,463,792 |
€1,244,223 |
€219,569 |
|
Galway City Council |
|||||
|
Waterford City Council |
|||||
|
Carlow County Council |
|||||
|
Cavan County Council |
|||||
|
Laois County Council |
|||||
|
Leitrim County Council |
|||||
|
Longford County Council |
|||||
|
Monaghan County Council |
|||||
|
Offaly County Council |
|||||
|
Roscommon County Council |
|||||
|
Sligo County Council |
|||||
|
North Tipperary County Council |
|||||
|
Waterford County Council |
€123,910 |
13 |
€1,610,830 |
€1,369,206 |
€241,625 |
|
TOTAL |
|
33 |
€4,418,104 |
€3,755,388 |
€662,716 |
969. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department is preparing a review of the implementation of the Shellfish Waters Directive 2006/113/EC to send to the European Commission as is required on a periodical basis under the directive; and if he intends to add to the list of designated shellfish waters to which the shellfish waters regulations (SI No. 268 of 2006) would apply. [38740/13]
View answerDirective 2006/113/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality required of shellfish waters is a codified version of Directives 79/923/EEC and 91/692/EEC. In accordance with the provisions of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EEC), it is due to be repealed in December 2013 when designated shellfish waters will become protected areas within the meaning of the Water Framework Directive.
Reporting obligations under the Shellfish Waters Directive have been subsumed into the reporting framework for the Water Framework Directive. An interim report describing progress in the implementation of measures in the first-cycle river basin management plans was submitted to the European Commission in February 2013 in accordance with Article 15 of the Water Framework Directive.
The European Communities (Quality of Shellfish Waters) Regulations 2006 designated 14 shellfish water areas but these were amended twice in 2009 when a further 50 shellfish waters were designated . Pollution Reduction Programmes are in place for all 64 designated waters and these were reviewed and updated in 2012.
There are no plans to add to the list of designated shellfish waters at this time.
970. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form for the years 2007 to 2013, the amount of funding provided by his Department for the purpose of funding the transition of persons transferring from Health Service Executive supported accommodation to mainstream social housing. [38741/13]
View answerThe provision of housing within communities for people with specific categories of need is funded for the most part under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). Expenditure on CAS over the period 2007 to 2012 and the provision for 2013 is set out in the table below. However, it is not possible to disaggregate the expenditure figures to provide information in relation to any specific category of tenant such as people transferring from HSE supported accommodation.
Funding provided under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) 2007-2013
|
Year |
Funding |
|
2007 |
€113,765,517 |
|
2008 |
€156,290,000 |
|
2009 |
€158,512,741 |
|
2010 |
€113,647,625 |
|
2011 |
€38,441,598 |
|
2012 |
€58,0440,354 |
|
2013 |
€55,000,000 (Provision) |
In relation to the transitioning of people with disabilities from institutional care to mainstream housing within communities, this specific programme is set out in the Government's National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 – 2016. The Strategy forms part of a coherent framework, in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change and the Report of the HSE Working Group on Congregated Settings, to support people with disabilities within communities with maximum independence and choice.
The programme provides for the transitioning of up to 4,000 people with physical, intellectual and mental health disabilities from institutional care to community based living over the period 2013 to 2019. In 2013, funding of €1 million is available within my Department to provide new homes in the community for up to 100 people with disabilities. The Housing Agency is managing the sourcing and delivery of the units under this programme.
