Skip to main content
Normal View

Thursday, 10 Oct 2013

Written Answers Nos. 145-152

Wastewater Treatment Issues

Questions (145)

Finian McGrath

Question:

145. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Clonshaugh waste disposal proposal and the environmental concerns of local residents. [42908/13]

View answer

Written answers

Proposals for the North Dublin Wastewater Treatment Plant/Orbital Sewer project, which was part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS), are included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013 as a scheme to advance through planning.

It is a matter for Fingal County Council to advance the further planning of the project. To date, the Council has engaged in a number of statutory and non-statutory consultation processes as planning for the project developed. The project will require planning permission and will be the subject of an Environmental Impact Assessment; it may also require a Foreshore licence all of which have a statutory public consultation element. These consultation processes provide an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the proposed project and to highlight any areas of concern.

Local Government Reform

Questions (146)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that persons voted in favour of retaining Seanad Éireann whether he will consider giving the persons the right to have a say in whether town councils should be abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42926/13]

View answer

Written answers

I refer to the reply to Question No. 937 of 18 September 2013. The Action Programme for Effective Local Government sets out Government decisions for a range of local government reform measures, including the establishment of modern sub-county structures that will provide a robust mechanism for connection between local government and communities, with enhanced democratic accountability and operational efficiency. There are no proposals in relation to the matter referred to in the question.

Nitrates Usage

Questions (147)

Denis Naughten

Question:

147. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will extend the dates for the spreading of slurry and farmyard manure in view of the significant grass cover on land, exceptional ground conditions and the fact that 20% of farms have a fodder deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42933/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Nitrates Directive and Ireland's National Nitrates Action Programme are given legal effect by the consolidated European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010. The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers.

Good agricultural practice involves the land spreading of organic fertilisers as early as practicable in the growing season in order to maximise the uptake of nutrients by crops and to minimise pollution risks to water courses and groundwaters. In accordance with the requirements of the Nitrates Directive, the Regulations include provisions regarding periods when the land application of certain types of fertilisers is prohibited. In addition, the Regulations prohibit such application at any time of the year when the ground is frozen, waterlogged or heavy rain is forecast.

On 22 May 2013 my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and I announced measures to alleviate the crisis in fodder availability caused by poor Spring weather conditions. These included a two week extension of the spreading season for chemical fertilisers from the 15 September to the 30 September to address the potential fodder shortage during the coming winter.

In view of these measures and of the prolonged period of favourable weather that has prevailed this summer, no extension to the spreading periods for organic fertilisers is proposed.

Housing Adaptation Grants Funding

Questions (148)

Robert Troy

Question:

148. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make more funding available to Westmeath County Council for the distribution of the housing adaptation grant for the elderly and persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42969/13]

View answer

Written answers

On 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. Through active management of my Department’s overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all local authorities on 19 July bringing the overall funding for these grants to €45.607 million. In the case of Westmeath County Council the initial allocation for the grant schemes in 2013 amounted to €435,723. I approved two subsequent supplementary allocations in April and July, bringing the Council’s overall allocation to €653,376.

My Department is closely monitoring expenditure across all measures under the housing programmes. I will consider allocating further funds to the grants measure in the event of any savings arising elsewhere.

Motor Tax Exemptions

Questions (149)

Martin Heydon

Question:

149. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to detail his plans to allow a further extension to the new motor tax regime to allow exemptions for cars off the road and to allow for some cases where the deadline was missed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42973/13]

View answer

Written answers

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 371 and 396 of 8 October, which set out the position in this matter.

Motor Tax Exemptions

Questions (150)

Martin Heydon

Question:

150. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider allowing an exception to the new motor tax regime and exemptions for cars off the road in cases where older cars have been off the road for a significant period, for example, in excess of ten years and are being renovated for vintage purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42974/13]

View answer

Written answers

I have no plans to provide for exemptions from the requirement to make a declaration of non-use of a motor vehicle in advance for particular categories of vehicle.

Electoral Reform

Questions (151)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

151. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he is taking to increase voting turnouts; if he has considered the model of compulsory voting as implemented in Australia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42975/13]

View answer

Written answers

Whenever an election or referendum takes place, my Department places advertisements in the national papers advising eligible voters who are not registered to vote to take the opportunity to apply for inclusion in the supplement to the register of electors so that they can take part in that election or referendum.

In the case of referendums specifically, the role of any Referendum Commission established for that referendum includes the promotion of public awareness of the referendum and the encouragement of the electorate to vote at the poll. My Department also undertakes an annual poster campaign to encourage voters to ensure that they are registered to vote.

In addition, a number of measures are in place to facilitate greater voter participation. They include the facility to include photographs and party emblems on ballot papers, the display of a large print copy of ballot papers in polling buildings and companion voting for persons with literacy difficulties. Provision was also made to enable registered voters who change address to apply for entry in the supplementary register. Information leaflets on the electoral process are available from my Department and are on my Department’s website.

While I will continue to keep under review any further measures to improve voter participation, I have no proposals to introduce compulsory voting.

Register of Electors Administration

Questions (152)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

152. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider using personal public service number information when compiling the register of electors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42976/13]

View answer

Written answers

In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority – city and county councils. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. This is done on an ongoing basis in accordance with the electoral acts. There is no provision for linking the electoral register to PPS numbers.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an Electoral Commission to subsume functions of existing bodies and my Department, including positions in respect of the electoral register. Matters associated with the registration process, including linking the register to PPS numbers, would be appropriate for consideration by the Electoral Commission.

Top
Share