Tuesday, 8 Oct 2013

Written Answers Nos. 387-405

Irish Water Establishment

Questions (387)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

387. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if projects that have been approved in County Wicklow under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013 but have yet to commence will be included in the Irish Water capital investment plan for 2014-2015, currently being drafted; if an agreement has been put in place between his Department and Irish Water to ensure the projects in County Wicklow under the existing programme are complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41913/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Irish Water will be responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure from 1 January 2014, and is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014-2015. I expect that this Plan will include taking account of the transition of projects that are included in the current Water Services Investment Plan.

Security of the Elderly

Questions (388)

Micheál Martin

Question:

388. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been spent on the senior alert scheme from January 2013 to date; if he expects the full allocation of €2.45 million to be used this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41917/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of equipment to enable older persons, without sufficient means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

The funding allocated to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2013 is €2.35m. Expenditure to date on the Scheme is approximately €1.9m (80%). I expect the full allocation to be spent by year-end.

Planning Issues

Questions (389)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

389. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will conduct an investigation into the procedures followed by An Bord Pleanála in regard to the N86 road improvement scheme; if his attention has been drawn to irregularities at the oral hearings; if he is concerned about this and whether he believes the decision making process in this case was tainted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41936/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I have no function in relation to the matter raised. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2010, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Planning Issues

Questions (390)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

390. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will direct local authorities not to accept objections to one-off rural planning applications from persons who do not have a connection to the area in question, using the same criteria that apply to deciding a prospective dweller's eligibility to build in a rural area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41937/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Planning legislation provides that any person or body, on payment of the appropriate fee, may make a submission or observation in writing to a planning authority in relation to a planning application within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. I have no plans to amend the legislation in this regard.

Wastewater Treatment Issues

Questions (391, 392)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

391. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason raw sewage is being released into the River Bride in Tallow, County Waterford; the person responsible for this; the actions that will be taken to end this practice immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41940/13]

Sandra McLellan

Question:

392. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the commencement and completion dates for the waste water treatment plant in Tallow, Co Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41968/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 392 together.

The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Waterford. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of over €75 million in Waterford County during the period of the Programme.

The Waterford Grouped Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme is included in the Programme as a Scheme to Start construction during the life of the Programme. The Scheme provides for the construction of new or upgraded wastewater treatment and collection systems in Ardmore, Ballyduff/Kilmeaden, Cappoquin, Dunmore East, Kilmacthomas, Stradbally and Tallow. Waterford County Council is advancing the scheme on the basis of separate contracts for the collection systems and a single Design Build and Operate (DBO) Contract for the Wastewater Treatment Plants in the towns and villages.

Insofar, as the collection networks at the various locations are concerned, the upgrading works to the Ardmore, Ballyduff/Kilmeaden, Cappoquin, Kilmacthomas and Stradbally sewerage collections systems are substantially completed under the current Water Services Investment Programme (2010-2013). The Upgrading of Tallow Sewerage Collection network was carried out between September 2007 and February 2008 and was, therefore, substantially completed during the life of the 2007 – 2009 Water Services Programme. The upgrading of the Dunmore East Collection System Contact has recently commenced.

Wastewater arising in Tallow received primary treatment prior to the upgrading of the sewerage collection system there. The majority of the wastewater in the village receives primary treatment in a septic tank located at the north of the village and treated wastewater is discharged to the River Bride. Woodview Housing Estate has a separate septic tank and wastewater from this is passed through a reed bed system before discharging to the River Bride. The upgrading of the collection network that was carried out in 2007/2008 did not alter these treatment processes. Therefore, the wastewater arising in Tallow still receives primary wastewater treatment prior to discharge to the River Bride.

It is proposed to install a new secondary wastewater treatment plant in Tallow under the Design Build and Operate (DBO) Wastewater Treatment Plant Contract for the Waterford Grouped Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme project. This secondary wastewater treatment plant will replace the current primary treatment systems for Tallow.

I understand that Waterford County Council has tendered for the DBO Contract for the seven towns and villages and it is currently assessing the tenders received.

Question No. 393 answered with Question No. 381.

Wind Energy Guidelines

Questions (394, 397)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

394. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the review of the planning guidelines for wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42049/13]

Regina Doherty

Question:

397. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the form public consultation will take during the review into planning guidelines for wind turbines, currently underway; the way he will ensure that it will involve all interested parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42096/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 397 together.

My Department is currently undertaking a targeted review of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006 focusing on noise, proximity and shadow flicker. As part of this process the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has commissioned a study to examine the significance of noise related to onshore wind farms.

The indicative timetable for the publication of the draft guidelines is Quarter 4 2013. The draft guidelines will – like all other new or revised guidelines – go out for extensive public consultation for a period of 6 weeks to 2 months, to allow for publication of the final guidelines in 2014. The public will be notified about the consultation period through media notices and a copy of the draft guidelines will be made available on my Department’s website. All interested parties are welcome to make written submissions during this consultation period. Once the consultation period is closed, the submissions received on the draft guidelines will be considered and taken into account in the final form of the guidelines.

Motor Tax Yield

Questions (395)

Joe McHugh

Question:

395. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will declare the total motor tax take on a category of vehicles (details supplied); the rationale that determines the rate at which this tax is set; if he will review this item in view of the on-road to off-road usage ratio that typically applies in respect of utilisation of these vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42059/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Quad bikes are taxed at the private rate of motor tax if the vehicle is being used for private, domestic or pleasure purposes, which includes road usage by farmers. If the vehicle is being used to haul another vehicle or trailer, it then becomes taxable at the general haulage tractor rate, currently €333 per annum. If the quad bike is not used in a public place, motor tax is not payable.

As quad bikes form part of larger categories of vehicles, depending on their usage as outlined above, I cannot give a breakdown of the motor tax take in respect of them.

Question No. 396 answered with Question No. 371.

Question No. 397 answered with Question No. 394.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Questions (398)

Jim Daly

Question:

398. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the construction of the main drainage scheme will resume and be completed at a location (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42117/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. It included contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €230 million in the county during the period of the Programme.

Contracts for both a wastewater treatment plant upgrade and network for the Bandon Sewerage Scheme Phase 2 are included as contracts to start during the life of the Programme. My Department is awaiting the submission of a Preliminary Report for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Scheme/Contract.

In relation to the Bandon Sewerage Scheme Phase 2 Network Contract Cork County Council has appointed a consultant to complete the Contract Documents which will incorporate all of the outstanding works on the scheme.

Planning Issues

Questions (399)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

399. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of ongoing cases of unauthorised development presently being handled by each planning authority in the State; the way this information is being tracked; the number of such unauthorised developments that are commercial in nature as opposed to individual-residential in nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42119/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Data on planning enforcement collected by my Department each year are published in Tables 22 to 26 of the Annual Planning Statistics, which are available on my Department’s website: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/PlanningStatistics/

The last publication covers 2011; the 2012 Statistics will be published very shortly. The data collected are not broken down by reference to commercial and individual/residential developments.

Question No. 400 answered with Question No. 370.

Question No. 401 answered with Question No. 383.

Question No. 402 answered with Question No. 370.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Questions (403)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

403. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department received an application from Limerick County Council to extend the Patrickswell sewerage scheme which his Department has approved for investment under the current water services programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42321/13]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Work is continuing on the Patrickswell Sewerage Scheme – Networks Contract which is being funded under my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 201 3.

In August 2013 , Limerick County Council submitted a proposal for an extension to the contract in the Ballyanrahan / Ballybronogue area at an estimated cost of some €0.57 million. This proposal is being examined in my Department and a decision on it will be made as quickly as possible.

Wind Energy Guidelines

Questions (404)

Willie Penrose

Question:

404. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will amend the planning regulations to ensure that wind development companies which were seeking to install industrial style wind turbines across the midlands and elsewhere will have to put in place a significant index-linked bond to cover the costs of removing and decommissioning these turbines at the end of their life span; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42331/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to Section 7.19 of my Department’s Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006 on ‘Decommissioning and Reinstatement ’.

Conditions requiring the lodgement of financial bonds have been used in the past to try to ensure that decommissioning will take place in a responsible manner. However, the use of long-term bonds to secure satisfactory reinstatement of the site upon cessation of the project puts an unreasonable burden on developers , given the long time span involved in wind energy developments , and is difficult to enforce. The recycling value of the turbine components, particularly copper and steel, should more than adequately cover the financial costs of the decommissioning. Accordingly, the use of a long-term bond is not recommended.

I do not propose to revisit this issue during the current targeted review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines , which is focusing on noise, proximity and shadow flicker.

Environmental Impact Statements

Questions (405)

Willie Penrose

Question:

405. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that his Department's draft guidelines on EIA assessment 2012 are finalised and that the requirement on planning authorities to carry out an independent assessment of the EISs prepared by developers, as required by Article 3 of the EIA Amendment Regulations 2012, is fully communicated to local authorities and is observed fully at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42334/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department issued the final version of the Guidelines for Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála on carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment in March 2013. A copy of the new guidelines was forwarded to planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála at this time. The guidelines are also available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/PlanningDevelopment/Planning/PlanningGuidance/

Under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to any ministerial guidelines in the performance of their functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000.