Written Answers Nos. 198-212
198. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way persons living in rural areas of County Meath will benefit from high speed broadband under the national broadband plan; the areas in County Meath by electoral division that will benefit under this scheme; and the timeframe for the delivery of high speed broadband for each of these areas. [43301/13]
View answer200. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will be in a position to supply high-speed broadband to an area (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if the existing service will be improved in the near future. [43511/13]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos 198 and 200 together.
Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including Counties Meath and Offaly, can be found on ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie.
The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such services, as in the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). Broadband services under the NBS are available since October 2010 from the NBS service provider, “3”, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in the designated NBS Electoral Divisions. The combination of private investment and State interventions means that Ireland has met the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses, including those in Counties Meath and Offaly. This will be achieved by providing; a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment; and a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.
Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained.
My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector to identify where the market is expected to deliver high speed broadband services over the coming years. The results of this mapping exercise will inform the precise areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan.
Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
199. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the financial assistance by way of grants available to elderly persons in private houses to retrofit their homes with a view to conserving energy and in particular with a view to putting in place the appropriate insulation required in order to achieve this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43311/13]
View answerThere are two energy efficiency schemes available to elderly people - the Better Energy Warmer Homes and the Better Energy Homes schemes, both of which are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is a pivotal element of the Affordable Energy Strategy. The energy efficiency measures it delivers are targeted at low-income families that are vulnerable to energy poverty and are living in homes built prior to 2006. The measures are delivered free of charge and the elderly are one of the groups prioritised under the eligibility criteria of the scheme. The programme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. Energy upgrades are also delivered on an area based approach through a separate programme strand.
Energy efficiency measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation. Applicants must demonstrate that they are in receipt of one of the following: Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme; Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and with children under 7 years of age; or Family Income Supplement.
The Better Energy Homes scheme is available to all private homes in Ireland built before 2006 to encourage people to improve the energy performance of their homes, reduce energy costs and thereby improve the comfort levels within their homes. The scheme provides support towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades including solar thermal with the works being undertaken by privately appointed contractors. The scheme remains open for applications.
The level of grants available under the Better Energy Homes scheme are outlined in the following table.
|
Better Energy Homes scheme |
Grant Levels (€) |
|
Roof Insulation |
200 |
|
External wall insulation |
|
|
Apartment (any) OR Mid-terrace House |
1800 |
|
Semi-detached OR End of terrace |
2700 |
|
Detached House |
3600 |
|
Internal Wall Dry-Lining |
|
|
Apartment (any) OR Mid-terrace House |
900 |
|
Semi-detached OR End of Terrace |
1350 |
|
Detached House |
1800 |
|
Cavity Wall Insulation |
250 |
|
High Efficiency Gas or Oil fired Boiler with Heating Controls Upgrade |
560 |
|
Heating Controls Upgrade |
400 |
|
BER After Upgrade Works (Only one BER grant per home) |
50 |
|
Solar Thermal |
800 |
201. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha an bhfuil sé i gceist go mbeidh na postchóid bunaithe ar logainmneacha agus, sa gcás go mbeidh, an é an leagan sa teanga náisiúnta a úsáidfear nó an leagan sa dara teanga oifigiúil; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [43585/13]
View answerD’fhógair mé ar an 8 Deireadh Fómhair, gur cheadaigh an Rialtas, ag brath ar chonradh, go mbunófaí córas náisiúnta postchóid sa bhliain 2015. Ceapfaidh gníomhaireacht postchóid an postchód agus reáchtálfaidh siad é faoi cheadúnas ar feadh deich mbliana ar dtús agus de réir rogha an Aire Cumarsáide ar feadh cúig bliana eile. Cuirfidh an córas nua postchóid cód ar leith ar fáil do gach seoladh poist in Éirinn, árasáin aonair san áireamh. Beidh 7 gcarachtar sa Phostchód san fhormáid A65 B2CD, ina mbeidh na chéad trí charachtar ag tagairt do cheantar ginearálta nó do cheantar poist ina bhfuil an seoladh. Ní bheidh an cód a thagraíonn do cheantar ginearálta bunaithe ar ainm áite agus dá bhrí sin, ní bheidh baint ag teanga leis. I mBaile Átha Cliath beidh an postchód reatha mar na chéad trí charachtar sa chód 7 gcarachtar.
202. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the scientific data collected on eel numbers here since the introduction of a ban in 2009; his views on the conservation plans; his plans to bring to an end the prohibition on eel fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43598/13]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 373 of 24 September 2013 which dealt comprehensively with these matters.
203. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is intended to improve the gender balance on the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland by appointing two women to the existing vacancies on the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, in view of the fact that the current board is made up of six men and one woman and that there is a Government objective to have a gender balance on all State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43641/13]
View answer204. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he intends appointing a water scientist to the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, as the only qualified scientist on the board has stepped down after her first term of office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43642/13]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos. 203 and 204 together.
The Inland Fisheries Act 2010 established Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), outlined its functions and set out in some detail the provisions for appointing a person to the Board of IFI.
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources appoints members as follows:
3, including the Chairperson, on his own nomination.
1 nominated by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.
1 nominated by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
3 following advice from the Joint Oireachtas Committee of the names of the person(s) it proposes the Minister should appoint.
The Act also provides that one Board member is appointed following election by the staff of IFI and that the Chief Executive Officer shall be an ex-officio member of the Board.
In addition, since taking office, this Government has introduced a process to seek Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies on State Boards and this information has been used to inform decisions for appointments to State Boards. Such invitations are designed to extend the range of suitable persons from which a Minister might make appointments, not to constrain that range.
The majority of members of the Board of IFI were appointed during the term of the previous Government and there are no current vacancies on the Board of IFI.
Recent appointments were made in accordance with the Act and the widened opportunity for participation that this Government has introduced. All future appointments will also be made in this manner. In considering applications, due regard is also had to the Government’s commitment regarding gender balance on state boards.
205. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Ireland is in breach of Article 7 of the Aarhus Convention and Principle 10 of the 1992 UN Rio Declaration on Environment and Development with regard to the consultation of the local community and public at large on the wind exportation projects in the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43656/13]
View answerThe Aarhus Convention was ratified by Ireland in June 2012 and entered into force on 18 September 2012. Th e three pillars of the Convention are access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Ireland has adopted the necessary legislation to implement the requirements of the Convention and ensure full compliance with it.
Last July, I announced that I am putting in place a renewable energy export policy and development framework over the next year or so, which will be underpinned by a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directive. The process will offer the opportunity for all stakeholders, including local communities and the general public, to input into the framework. The initial phase of a the public consultation will commence in the next few weeks. In addition, I am putting in place a dedicated section on my Department's website to provide updates on the project on an ongoing basis.
206. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the construction of a new main drainage scheme at Bandon, County Cork, including commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43282/13]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. It includes 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.
207. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of developers' bonds that are sitting in banks accounts; the amount of interest these bonds have created in view of the fact that many have been invested for more than ten years; and, as these bonds are retained to ensure estates and developments are completed, the reason this has not happened. [43441/13]
View answer240. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of planning development bonds sitting in banks accounts in each county; the value of these bonds on a county basis; the amount of interest these bonds have created with many being invested for more than ten years; the reason all of this money was not used to date to complete unfinished estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43446/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 240 together.
My Department does not collect information on each and every planning security held in respect of all housing developments in the country, as this is a matter for the individual local authorities. General guidance has been issued to all planning authorities on matters such as recommended types of securities, requirements for securities, default events, standard templates for wording of bonds, recommended levels of funding to be provided by securities and arrangements for their ultimate release when a development is complete. This guidance is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie .
Each local authority has a co-ordinator in place for action on unfinished housing developments, and they are working with my Department and all relevant stakeholders in progressing the Government’s Action Programme on such developments. I will be publishing a report on progress achieved under this programme later this year.
Information on bonds held by local authorities may be obtained from the authority concerned.
208. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of recently announced changes to rental assistance and the transferring of both the assessment and payments to local authorities, if he will outline the new local housing allowance restrictions and guidelines; if these changes will impact on all claimants immediately; if there will be any additional support given to those who are hardest hit through a discretionary payments fund or through his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43526/13]
View answer209. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of recently announced changes to rental assistance and the transferring of both the assessment and payments to local authorities, if there will be changes planned for direct payments of local rental allowance to landlords; if direct payments to landlords will be allowed in the social rented sector; the way housing costs will be calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43527/13]
View answer237. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the new housing assistance payment will work and its role in the overall provision of housing. [43428/13]
View answer238. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the areas in which the new housing assistance payment will be piloted and the dates on which these programmes will commence. [43429/13]
View answer239. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the new housing assistance payment scheme will be making use of multiple year leases; if he foresees any problems in sourcing properties which will accept these terms; and the steps he will take to counteract same. [43430/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 209 and 237 to 239, inclusive, together.
In March 2012, the Government approved in principle the transfer of responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with an established housing need from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to local authorities using a new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
On 18 July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of HAP including the provision of funding to the local authorities to cover the costs of accommodating HAP claimants. It was also agreed that the Department of Social Protection would provide for the implementation of the mandatory direct deduction of rental contributions from the welfare payments of HAP recipients and local authority tenants. My Department and the Department of Social Protection continue to work closely on the legal, policy and operational issues involved in developing and introducing HAP.
My Department is also working closely with the County and City Managers Association (CCMA) in overseeing plans for the implementation of HAP, but more specifically at this stage in relation to the test phase, which is planned for 2014 (subject to the enactment of the relevant legislation). A Project Implementation Team is in place and will be responsible for detailed planning and implementation during the testing and roll-out phases. The CCMA has identified Limerick as the lead authority to drive implementation in the local government sector, the other authorities currently nominated for the test phase are: South Dublin County Council; Louth County Council; Kilkenny County Council; Waterford City Council; Cork County Council; and Monaghan County Council.
A detailed business process design exercise for HAP involving input from all the relevant key stakeholders has been finalised. The Implementation Team will now, in conjunction with my Department, develop a plan for testing the scheme in the selected authorities in 2014 (subject to the required legislation being in place), with full roll out of the scheme to follow once the test phase is complete. Consideration, where possible, will be given to what aspects of the scheme can be assessed under existing mechanisms prior to enactment of the required legislation.
HAP is being designed so as to bring all of the social housing services provided by the State together under the local authority system, with local authorities being responsible for all households with an established housing need and ensuring significant efficiencies in the provision of rental assistance. HAP will provide a new framework for the provision of rental assistance, and will in as much as it can, facilitate the removal of existing barriers to employment in the rent supplement scheme, by allowing HAP recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment.
Local authorities will not enter into leases with the landlord in HAP. Under the new scheme applicants will source their own accommodation within the private rented market (as currently happens with rent supplement) and the length of the tenancy, as with the tenancy agreement, will be a matter between the HAP recipient and the private landlord. The local authority will pay the new assistance payment on the tenant’s behalf directly to the landlord. The tenant will pay a rental contribution to the local authority based on the differential rent scheme for the relevant local authority.
During the test phase, it is envisaged that the authorities will initially focus on new applicants before moving on a progressive basis to those already in receipt of Rent Supplement. It is also intended that the test phase will prioritise, as much as possible, the transfer of long-term unemployed rent supplement recipients to HAP. This is a reasonable approach to implementation, which will allow any issues that arise to be dealt with in a graduated way and give local authorities sufficient time to scale up the operation of HAP within their housing directorates.
210. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address the points raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding off road declarations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43561/13]
View answerThe primary purpose of the Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 is to replace the system whereby a vehicle is only declared off the road when the owner next goes to tax it with a system where the vehicle has to be declared off the road in advance. This is aimed at closing an evasion loophole, costing taxpayers approximately €55m per annum, which was facilitated through the use of retrospective declarations.
The Act provided for a three month transition period from the commencement of the Act to allow motorists to bring their motor tax status up to date and to make both a prospective and retrospective off-road declaration. At the end of the transition period, the Act provides that only a prospective declaration may be made. The Act commenced on 1 July 2013, with the transition period running to 30 September 2013.
I am satisfied that there was extensive public notice of the Act’s coming into force and widespread awareness of the new arrangements from before the start of the transition period, including via bodies representing the interests of owners of vintage and veteran vehicles. Advertisements giving notice of the proposed changes were run in national and local newspapers in the first week in July and again in the second week in September. Local radio ads were run over the course of a week in July and both national and local radio ads were again run over the course of a week in mid-September. The changes have also been highlighted in a number of media articles over the course of that period.
211. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 478 of 01 October 2013, if he will clearly state whether he will make provisions for local authorities to use their discretion when dealing with applicants who are separated and for cost and legal reasons are still named as a joint property owner; and if he will allow local authorities to consider cases such as these for social housing. [42987/13]
View answerThe provisions of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 set out the procedures for the assessment of applicants for social housing support. Decisions on the eligibility of specific persons for social housing support are a matter solely for the housing authority concerned.
Regulation 22(1) of the 2011 Regulations provides that a household with alternative accommodation that would meet its housing need is ineligible for social housing support. Paragraph (2) of the Regulation clarifies that paragraph (1) does not operate to exclude from eligibility for social housing support an applicant who owns accommodation that is occupied by his or her spouse, from whom he or she is formally separated or divorced. Under the enactment, a deed of separation is sufficient to set aside this ineligibility ground and it is not necessary to await judicial separation or divorce to get a decision on social housing support in these cases. This provision is reasonable in most cases.
I acknowledge, however, that situations relating to household members who have separated may exceptionally arise that may not easily be dealt with under the current Regulations. As stated in the reply to Question No. 478 of 1 October, 2013 , my Department is keeping the social housing assessment provisions under review as part of the overall programme for social housing reform and in particular where legislation is currently being considered in respect of underpinning the proposed Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme. The review process will, amongst other things, 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.
212. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses in County Carlow that have been transferred by the National Asset Management Agency to local authorities for the purpose of alleviating social housing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42990/13]
View answerOf the 137 housing units identified to date by NAMA for social housing use in County Carlow, demand has been confirmed by Carlow County Council for 82 units.
Some 55 of these units have been completed or contracted for social housing use.
My Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA continue to work together with housing authorities and approved housing bodies towards identifying and bringing units into social housing use. It continues to be my Department's objective to maximise the delivery of social housing using all of the resources available for this purpose.
