Written Answers Nos. 110-116
110. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the provisions that are made for non-direct labour in the draft building control regulation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47238/13]
View answerGenerally speaking the requirements of the building regulations, which represent the minimum legally enforceable performance standards, apply to a newly constructed building or to an existing building undergoing an extension, a material alteration or a material change of use. The Building Control Act 1990 firmly places the statutory responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the building regulations on the owners, designers and builders of such buildings. Earlier in 2013, I signed the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 into law with a view to ensuring that effective administrative arrangements are in place by which those responsible can demonstrate how their statutory obligations have been fulfilled. These Regulations will usher in a new era of quality and a new culture of compliance in an industry where consumers have in recent times too often found that work on their homes does not comply with the minimum requirements set out in the building regulations.
For relevant building projects commencing on and from 1 March 2014, the regulations will require design drawings and particulars, certified by a registered construction professional as having been designed to comply with the requirements of the building regulations, to be lodged with the local building control authority; inspections during construction to be undertaken by a registered construction professional known as the assigned certifier; and certificates of compliance in respect of the works or building as completed, to be signed by the builder and the assigned certifier.
The owner will be responsible for ensuring that they appoint a competent builder – a register of builders, contractors and tradespersons known as the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) will be established on a voluntary basis for this purpose on or before 1 March 2014 and placed on a statutory footing by 2015 – and that they employ a competent registered professional to undertake the roles of designer and assigned certifier.
In the case of an existing home, the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 will only apply to works involving the addition of an extension which is greater than 40 square metres, or to works to an apartment which would require an application for a Fire Safety Certificate. Minor works or works of a repair and maintenance nature do not come within the scope of these regulations. Accordingly, the new obligations to lodge drawings, to inspect during construction or to sign statutory certificates would not apply, although the relevant requirements of the building regulations must be complied with in all cases.
It may also be worth noting that the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 came into effect on 1 August 2013 and have implications for construction projects in dwellings which involve more than one tradesperson, which involve a particular risk or which extend beyond 30 days or 500 person days. I have no function in relation to this aspect of the matter but it is relevant to a full understanding of the context in which works are undertaken in existing dwellings.
111. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the senior alert scheme following the recent budget announcement that the telephone allowance will be discontinued from January 2014; and the provision that will be made to cater for areas where mobile coverage is limited or non-existent. [47251/13]
View answer122. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has secured additional funding for the seniors community alert scheme for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47383/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 122 together.
The Seniors Alert Scheme provides grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of equipment to enable older persons, with limited 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.
To date my Department has only approved applications for personal monitored alarms connected to a landline. Personal monitored alarms are now available using mobile technology and my Department is currently examining these alternatives systems. It would be a matter for the sponsoring community group to satisfy itself that a system using mobile technology provides reliable coverage in its area. Mobile type devices currently on offer do not provide full mobile phone functionality and therefore are not a replacement for a telephone.
The funding allocated for the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2013 is €2.35 million, and this provision has been maintained in Budget 2014. That level of funding is sufficient to meet current demand levels for this important scheme.
112. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the introduction of local community development committees as set out in the Local Government Bill 2013 is consistent with the draft common provisions regulations of the European Structural and Investment Funds 2014–2020, with particular reference to the decision by him to allocate primary responsibility for co-ordination, oversight and governance of the EU supported Leader programme to these committees. [47265/13]
View answer113. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the proposed local community development committees as set out in the Local Government Bill 2013 are consistent with the main aims and key components of the EU funded community-led local development. [47266/13]
View answer114. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the proposed funding distribution model to be used by local community development committees when distributing EU Common Strategic Framework funds. [47267/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 114, inclusive, together.
The Local Government Bill 2013 provides, inter alia , for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees for the purpose of developing, co-ordinating and implementing a coherent , area-based approach to local and community development within each local authority administrative area. The approach and structure envisaged for these Committees is consistent with the provisions for Community-led Local Development as set out in the draft Common Provisions Regulation for European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020. Given that detailed regulations for the management and control of such funds are not yet published, it would be premature to determine the funding distribution model to be used; however, any distribution model used will be consistent with all EU regulations.
115. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the manner in which the water supply for the Dublin region will be increased in view of recent problems with restrictions having been put in place at night to households in the Dublin region, particularly as the management of water services will be transferred to Irish Water in the near future. [47306/13]
View answer116. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions he has taken to address the recent restrictions on the water supply provided to the Dublin region; if he has requested a report on the matter from the local authorities involved; and if his Department has devised a plan of action to eliminate such restrictions having to be imposed again. [47307/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
Under the allocation of powers and responsibilities set out in the Water Services Acts the operation, maintenance and management of the water supply systems in the Dublin region are a matter for the relevant water services authorities under the general supervision of the Environmental Protection Agency. Matters relating to the operation of the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant are, in the first instance, the responsibility of Dublin City Council.
Following notification by Dublin City Council of the problems at the Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant, my Department has been in constant contact with the Council to see how best the problems can be resolved as expeditiously as possible and to ensure full resumption of water supplies in the Dublin region without undue delay. I have received a number of briefings from the City Manager on the matter and earlier this week I visited the Ballymore Eustace plant to see at first hand the work underway fully to restore supplies. Production at the pIant has stabilised and improved since last Thursday. However, storage levels are still below normal, and the Council has advised that restrictions will remain in place until at least Thursday 7 November.
Funding from my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme has been, and continues to be, invested in improvements to both the water supply network and treatment capacity within the Greater Dublin Area. In recent years new wellfields in north-east Kildare have been brought on-stream and the new water treatment works at Srowland, near Athy, has commenced production. Investment is continuing on the upgrade of the Ballymore Eustace plant and at the Leixlip water treatment plant. Work at both of these plants has brought additional capacity into the system and further additional supplies will be available when work is completed at both locations during 2014. In addition, there is a substantial programme of works in train under the Dublin Region Watermains Rehabilitation Project. Significant water savings have been made and additional savings are anticipated as this work continues.
