Written Answers Nos. 146-155
147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the Loc8 postcode system which was developed after ten years, consultants reports, and three years of research costing €1million is not being used for the new postcode system even though it is capable of doing everything that Capita have been asked to devise. [44030/13]
View answerOn 8 October I announced the Government had approved, subject to contract, the launch of a national postcode system in 2015.
Subject to contract, the preferred bidder will design and run the postcode under license for an initial ten year period extendable at the discretion of the Minister for Communications by a further five years.
The new postcode system will provide a unique code to every postal address in Ireland, including individual apartments.
The Government decision followed the conclusion of a public procurement and tender evaluation process which was conducted by my Department. The process identified a consortium headed by Capita as the preferred bidder The bid was appropriately selected on the basis of the criteria developed and used as part of that procurement.
148. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown for the years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 on the expenditure under the refit programme which was used to subsidise wind turbine energy projects; if he will provide a county breakdown of the allocations; the number of projects in each county; together with details of the way the funding is allocated to each project (%); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44046/13]
View answerThe primary support mechanisms for renewable energy, including wind farms, are the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) schemes and the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. These schemes were introduced to incentivise the development of the renewable electricity generation capacity necessary to allow Ireland to meet its target of 40% of electricity demand from renewable generation by 2020. This target must be achieved in order for Ireland to meet its binding obligation of 16% of total energy demand to be from renewable sources by 2020.
The estimates for how much subsidy is funded by way of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy each year since 2010-11 are published in the annual PSO decision by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). While the bulk of subsidies for renewable electricity generation paid under REFIT schemes have been for wind, the CER has initiated a project to generate a report on the annual and cumulative costs to date in relation to REFIT schemes for each technology supported. The following table presents the costs for REFIT since 2010-11:
|
Year |
REFIT |
|
€m |
|
|
2013/14 |
51.1 (projected) |
|
2012/13 |
47.5 |
|
2011/12 |
35.8 |
|
2010/11 |
29.7 |
While a county by county breakdown of allocations under REFIT is not available, the following table sets out the number of REFIT wind energy projects by county:
|
County |
No. of projects |
|
Cavan |
4 |
|
Clare |
3 |
|
Cork |
21 |
|
Donegal |
26 |
|
Dublin |
1 |
|
Galway |
3 |
|
Kerry |
27 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
|
Laois |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
|
Limerick |
13 |
|
Louth |
1 |
|
Mayo |
9 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
|
Tipperary |
22 |
|
Waterford |
4 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
|
Wexford |
12 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
REFIT schemes are designed to provide renewable electricity generators with the certainty required to finance their projects. Based around Power Purchase Agreements between generators and electricity suppliers, REFIT schemes guarantee a minimum floor price for each unit of electricity exported to the grid over a defined period. Costs associated with the REFIT schemes are payable from the PSO fund, which is raised by a levy on all electricity consumers. Allocations from the PSO fund are made by the CER on the basis of a minimum price per kilowatt hour for the amount of electricity exported to the grid by each REFIT project for the duration of a scheme.
149. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will intervene in the level of service that a company is offering to persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44085/13]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 66 of 16 October 2013 on the same matter. The position is unchanged.
150. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an unfinished housing estate (details supplied) in County Tipperary which has been granted waivers and exemptions are liable for property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43943/13]
View answerThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations provide the legislative basis for the household charge. The regulations covering the application of the charge included a number of exemptions and waivers. One of the waivers applied to certain unfinished estates on a categorisation basis. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows:
Category one, where the development was still being actively completed by the developer, or where no serious public safety issues existed;
Category two, where a receiver had been appointed;
Category three, where a receiver had not been appointed and the developer has still in place but effectively inactive; and
Category four, where the development had been effectively abandoned and posed serious problems for residents.
The household charge waiver applied to estates in categories three and four and as the Riveroaks Estate in Riverstown, was deemed to fall into category 3 it qualifies for the waiver.
An exemption from the local property tax applies to developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey 2012. The survey was carried out over the course of summer 2012 by my Department in conjunction with local authorities and the Housing Agency.
The categorisation methodology for the survey was different to that which was used in 2011 and which provided the basis for the waiver from the household charge. The earlier categorisation related largely to the level of on-site activity at the time the 2011 survey was carried out and had less to do with the physical character of a development. The 2012 survey was based purely and objectively on the actual state of completion of a development.
Only developments that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included in the LPT regulations. As the Riveroaks Estate in Riverstown, was considered to satisfy this criterion, it has been exempted from the local property tax for 2013.
151. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the net effect of the commercial rates revaluation on each local authority; if compensation will be given to local authorities who lose income as a result of the revaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43920/13]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property, determined by the Valuation Office, to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. The Commissioner of Valuation, who has sole responsibility for all valuation matters, is conducting a programme of revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties throughout the State on a county by county basis. In a revaluation the entire commercial valuation list for a local authority is brought up-to-date by reference to values at a specific valuation date and the entire list is published on one date (usually 31 December) and comes into effect for rating purposes on 1 January the following year.
The essential purpose of a revaluation is to redistribute the burden of rates more equitably in line with relative changes in valuations across different classes of properties or individual properties within particular classes or uses. Revaluation results in more consistent and up-to-date valuations for rating purposes and provides a more equitable distribution of valuations across those liable to pay rates.
Under Section 8 of the Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Act 2006 the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, having obtained the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, can make an order directing a rating authority to limit the overall amount of income it could raise through rates in the year following a revaluation to the total amount of rates liable to be paid to it in the previous year, plus buoyancy (arising from valuations determined in the year of a revaluation of newly constructed property), adjusted for inflation as measured by the CPI.
Rate limitation orders have been made in each of the local authorities to have undergone a revaluation to date, namely, South Dublin, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils.
152. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43951/13]
View answerThe Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 provides for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Clare. Consideration was given, as part of the review of the Programme in 2011, to any newly emerging priority contracts and schemes submitted by local authorities for addition to the Programme, in line with the original priorities set out for the Programme for this cycle of investment. The Programme now includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of almost €42 million in County Clare during the period of the Programme.
The Programme prioritises projects that target environmental compliance issues and support economic and employment growth. A key input to the development of the Programme was the assessment of needs prepared by local authorities, including Clare County Council, in response to my Department’s request to authorities in 2009 to review and prioritise their proposals for new capital works in their areas. These were subsequently appraised in my Department in the context of the funds available and key criteria that complemented those used by the authorities. Inevitably, through this process, certain projects that had been proposed had to give way to others that were more strategically important at that time.
The Carrigaholt Sewerage Scheme was not amongst the priority contracts and schemes selected for inclusion in the current Programme. While Clare County Council submitted a proposal to have the Carrigaholt Sewerage Scheme included in the current programme, as part of the review process in 2011, there had been no change in circumstances since 2009 such as to alter the priority attached to the scheme. Consequently it was not possible to include the Carrigaholt Sewerage Scheme in the current Programme.
However, Clare County Council may consider submitting a proposal in respect of group sewerage scheme grants when submissions are requested for 2014.
153. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify the issue of the types and costs of the various Irish nationality certificates awarded; if the costs vary depending on whether the client is an EU citizen, other than EU national, an asylum grantee and so on; if cost to client in each case can be outlined; if cost in all cases is fully borne by the applicant and specifically say why cost to an EU citizen married to an Irish citizen is regarded as expensive considering that the administrative cost of such an application and the background examination into it would be less than other cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43913/13]
View answerThe Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011, sets out the prescribed fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation. An application fee of €175 is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a fee is payable by applicants on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The standard certification fee is €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain circumstances when the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of refugees and stateless persons the certification fee is nil.
The standard fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for a certificate of naturalisation. Every application, including those made on the basis of marriage to an Irish citizen, must be assessed to establish if the statutory requirements are met. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. There is no reduction in the fee payable in the case of an EU national or the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen.
As the Deputy will be aware I have introduced formal citizenship ceremonies at no extra cost to applicants. These have been universally well received by participants as the ceremonies provide a sense of dignity and occasion that serves to underscore the importance to both the State and the applicant of the granting of Irish citizenship.
154. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline for his introduction of an updated child sex offenders Bill; if he will ensure this legislation provides that convicted sex offenders are not able to reside within a certain radius of schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43916/13]
View answerIt would appear that the Deputy's question relates to updating of the Sex Offenders Act 2001.
The Sex Offenders Act 2001 introduced a range of measures to monitor convicted sex offenders, including notification arrangements ("Sex Offenders' Register"), sex offender orders and post-release supervision.
Measures to enhance the operation of the 2001 Act are included in the General Scheme of a wide-ranging Sexual Offences Bill, which I expect to bring to Government for approval within a matter of weeks. It is my intention to publish the General Scheme, in advance of drafting by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, once my proposals have been considered by the Cabinet. It is not appropriate to comment in any detail on the contents of my legislative proposals until they have been considered by the Government.
I should emphasise that the priority has been and will continue to be minimising risk to the public. However, we have to be conscious of rights established under our Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. That includes the right of the public to protection from harm and the rights of persons who have completed their sentences and pose no future threat to society. These require that restrictive measures pursue a legitimate aim, are proportionate and balance the competing rights at issue.
Also, it should be noted that existing legislation makes provision for prohibitions on sex offenders in particular circumstances. Under section 16 of the 2001 Act, if the activities of a convicted sex offender give rise to concerns, the Gardaí can apply to the court for an order prohibiting him or her from doing one or more things specified in the order. That could include prohibiting a convicted sex offender from being at a particular location.
155. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide information on any Garda operations to prevent the growing problem of bicycle theft in Dublin; if he will engage with senior Gardaí to initiate a special operation similar to Project Cycle Ops in London; and if he will provide statistics on bicycle theft in Dublin for the past three years. [43917/13]
View answerAn Garda Síochána is proactive in encouraging the public to protect their property, including bicycles, and a range of measures are in place to prevent and tackle the theft of bicycles.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda initiatives in this area include a crime prevention information leaflet on bicycle security, which is available on the Garda website, www.garda.ie. The leaflet emphasises the importance of bicycle owners keeping a record of the bicycle frame identification number, colour and any other unique features. Furthermore, in July 2012, An Garda Síochána created a link from the Garda website to YouTube to promote a video on bicycle security which had been developed as a joint initiative by An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council. I am also informed that An Garda Síochána is currently rolling out a pilot scheme in a number of Garda locations which allows members of the public to view on-line photographs of recovered property, including bicycles, on the Garda page of the social media site, Flickr.
I have requested a further report from the Garda authorities in relation to the particular issues raised by the Deputy about bicycle theft in Dublin and with respect to the UK initiative referred to. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as that report is to hand.
With regard to the statistics requested by the Deputy, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.
I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy.
