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Tuesday, 12 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 248-265

North-South Interconnector Issues

Questions (248)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

248. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the North-South 400kV interconnection development; his views on the final re-evaluation report published in April 2013 on the project; if he is opposed to placing this new grid project underground; his reason for this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48092/13]

View answer

Written answers

In April 2013 EirGrid completed a comprehensive re-evaluation of the proposed North South 400 kV Interconnector. That re-evaluation found that there remains an urgent strategic need for the project and recommended that the new interconnector would take the form of a single circuit 400kV alternating current overhead line. The re-evaluation process had regard for the Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, published in July 2012. In July 2013 EirGrid published its Preferred Project Solution Report which documents EirGrid’s design process and identifies a preferred line route and the indicative location of the towers. An eight-week public consultation on the report was held from Tuesday, 16 July to Monday 9 September 2013. This was the final formal consultation period prior to the submission of an application for planning approval to An Bord Pleanála. The preferred project solution is a 400kV overhead power line. The report provides detailed information on the line route, including: maps; siting; construction of towers; and an outline of the environmental issues to be addressed in an Environmental Impact Statement.

The Government does not seek to direct EirGrid and ESB Networks or other energy infrastructure developers to particular sites or routes or technologies. These are matters for the developers and for the forward planning process through regional and local development plans and at project level through the development management process.

Work Placement Programme

Questions (249)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

249. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason participants in the Tús community work placement initiative are not eligible for the better energy warmer homes scheme; his views on whether this could act as a disincentive for persons to take up placements with Tús; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48093/13]

View answer

Written answers

The administration of the TÚS community work placement scheme is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. However, I am not aware of any criteria that would impede participants in the TÚS scheme from accessing the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, as long as the eligibility criteria of the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme are met.

The eligibility criteria of the scheme are as follows:

- Owner occupied non-Local Authority homes constructed before 2006, or

- The owner is 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.

If the Deputy is aware of a specific case, my Department would be happy to investigate the matter further.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (250, 251, 252)

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

250. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department for non-audit services to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48109/13]

View answer

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

251. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail in tabular form, for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48134/13]

View answer

Lucinda Creighton

Question:

252. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form, for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department to senior counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48152/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 252, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables, which include payments made from the formation of my Department in June 2007 to date. The Department has a small cohort of permanent staff, some 250 full time equivalents at present. Its remit includes oversight of very complex policy areas and direct procurement of major services where protection of the State's interest must be paramount. This situation necessarily requires my Department to procure specialist external professional advice in legal, financial and technical areas to enable it to discharge its responsibility to deliver quality services and protect the interests of the State and the taxpayer. In obtaining these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and that expenditure is kept to the minimum necessary. My Department complies with relevant EU regulations and Department of Finance guidelines on the procurement of goods and services.

Table 1 : Payments for non-audit services to certain named companies from June 2007 to date:

Company

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Total

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

0

162,270

55,660

15,125

0

98,427

182,505

513,987

KPMG

0

192,148

88,574

157,300

133,100

12,129

0

583,251

Ernst & Young

0

0

0

0

24,805

0

0

24,805

Deloitte & Touche

0

0

0

0

45,920

12,054

0

57,974

Grant Thornton

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Totals

0

354,418

144,234

172,425

203,825

122,610

182,505

1,180,017

Table 2 : Payment to certain named companies from June 2007 to date:

Company

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Total

Arthur Cox

107,449

612,526

29,153

0

175,817

0

0

924,945

Matheson

78,317

33,035

0

0

0

0

0

111,352

A & L Goodbody

9,075

65,120

0

65,038

0

0

0

139,233

McCann Fitzgerald

0

912,231

13,162

0

0

0

0

925,393

William Fry

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Mason Hayes & Curran

47,704

74,453

27,367

0

62,530

46,563

0

258,617

Total

242,545

1,697,365

69,682

65,038

238,347

46,563

0

2,359,540

Table 3 : Payments to Senior Counsels from June 2007 to date:

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Total

88,859

248,452

349,884

221,590

60,830

55,660

0

1,025,275

Combatting Cyber Bullying

Questions (253)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

253. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had any discussions with Internet providers regarding the banning of a website (details supplied) in view of the anniversary of the death of two young girls who were victims of cyberbullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48175/13]

View answer

Written answers

I met with the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) earlier this year to discuss inter alia measures which might be taken to protect children from some of the adverse consequences which can arise from going online, including bullying or harassment. In this context, I should point out that Governments cannot impose an obligation on ISPs, such as that suggested by the Deputy, to filter or block online content. Online media are not subject to a formal regulatory regime akin to that used to ‘regulate’ traditional radio and television broadcast media, either in Ireland or in other jurisdictions. There are a range of reasons for this, not least the rapidly evolving nature of the technologies involved, the sensitivities around ‘regulating’ online media and the multi-jurisdictional nature of the Internet.

Ireland is committed through the Internet Governance Principles contained in the Declaration of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers to the principle of “Multi-stakeholder governance”. In this regard, the development of international Internet related public policies and Internet governance arrangements must allow for full and equal participation of all stakeholders from all countries. My Department continues to be engaged in the discussions on these issues. My Department also monitors international developments with a view to ensuring that domestic policy within its remit reflects best practice and that the regulatory framework is amended as necessary.

The protection of children online is of paramount importance and there are a number of initiatives already in place in this respect, notably through the Department of Education’s resources and support for parents and children as well as the various initiatives carried out by the Office for Internet Safety, established by Government to take lead responsibility for Internet safety in Ireland, particularly as it relates to children. This Office operates under the aegis of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Office also aims at building linkages and cohesion between all Departments and Agencies to ensure that the State provides the best possible protection for the community and promotes Internet safety.

The importance of education in this context cannot be overemphasised. It is essential that children, young people and parents are educated as to the risks that can be found online and that parents and teachers are supported in explaining these issues to children. In this regard, there are a range of tools available online to assist parents in managing internet access. One important initiative in this regard brought forward by my Department is the development of the website called www.makeITsecure.ie which seeks to promote best practice in relation to many issues arising from the use of the Internet. This campaign, which was developed with industry, provides information in relation to the use of ICT by children. The Department has also engaged in a number of EU initiatives on this subject, including Council Conclusions on the protection of children in the digital world in 2011, and continues to play an important role in discussions in the Council of Europe.

While my Department does not have the lead role in relation to the specific issue of cyber-bullying, it works closely with other relevant Government Departments on this issue and the use of the Internet and Information and Communication Technology generally. Earlier this year, the Department of Education and Skills published an action plan on addressing certain cyber issues, including specific measures on cyber-bullying and in September published ‘Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools’. I welcome these initiatives and hope that they will assist in addressing the challenges associated with cyber bullying.

International Agreements

Questions (254)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

254. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken by his Department on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48316/13]

View answer

Written answers

The question of Ireland’s signature and ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and related agreements comprising the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has been examined by Government Departments and Offices, including my own, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Antarctic Treaty System comprises the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (“CCAMLR”), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals 1972 (“CCAS”) and the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection 1991 (“the Protocol”). The Department of Foreign Affairs view is that preparation for signature and ratification by Ireland would impose substantial administrative burdens on several Government Departments.

Though no formal cost benefit analysis has been undertaken on the impact of adherence to the Antarctic Treaty, the associated administrative burden would be substantial with the process not providing any significant practical benefit. While the objectives and achievements of the ATS are of considerable importance and the commitment of the signatories is to be commended, Government Departments, including my own, have to concentrate their diminishing resources on their core business and areas of priority national interest and concern and are not in a position to assume any administrative burden associated with the ATS signature and ratification process and ensuing treaty obligations at the present time.

Broadband Services Provision

Questions (255)

Finian McGrath

Question:

255. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to ongoing problems with service and slow speeds under the national broadband scheme; if plans are in place to improve this service in areas of County Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48337/13]

View answer

Written answers

The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme in September 2007. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (trading as “3”), the NBS mobile wireless service currently offers minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3Mbps and 1.4Mbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 18:1. The NBS satellite service, which is utilised in a small number of cases for technical reasons associated with the location of the premises, offers minimum download and upload speeds of 3.6Mbps and 384 kbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 48:1.

My Department has well-established monitoring arrangements in place to ensure that the NBS delivers the minimum specified service or better to all users. The NBS contract guarantees service levels and imposes a service credit regime on “3”, with significant financial consequences in the event that minimum specification service levels are not met. The NBS contract also provides that where NBS customers do not receive the minimum guaranteed service, as set out in the terms and conditions of their contract, they are entitled to service rebates. My officials operate a dedicated NBS mailbox, which NBS customers, who have fully utilised 3's established complaints process and consider that their complaint has not been resolved, can contact by email at nationalbroadbandscheme@dcenr.gov.ie. My Department will then liaise with “3” personnel at its Head Office in Dublin to remedy any service performance issues. While my Department has previously dealt with a small number of individual complaints from NBS customers in the area referred to by the Deputy there is no evidence to suggest widespread poor quality performance in the area. Last November, a member of the Department's technical staff visited a number of premises within the area referred to by the Deputy. The broadband speeds recorded in each of the premises at the time of the visit were within the contracted specifications of NBS service.

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 County Galway. 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. The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such 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 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.

Departmental Funding

Questions (256)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

256. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will provide funding for a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47644/13]

View answer

Written answers

There are 35 Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development the LDCs are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations. I understand from the LDC in question, North and East Kerry Development (NEKD ), that the board of NEKD approved two projects for this promoter totalling in excess of €20,000 in late 2012 and early 2013.

Electromagnetic Fields Studies

Questions (257)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

257. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider engaging the Radiological Institute of Ireland to undertake a study of radioactive emissions from pylons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48266/13]

View answer

Written answers

My Department took over policy matters relating to non-ionising radiation in 2007. However , the powers of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) have not yet been extended to include non-ionising radiation with in their remit; this matter is under consideration in the context of the proposed merger of the RPII with the Environmental Protection Agency, scheduled for 2014. The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This Report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields , is available for download on my Department’s website (www.environ.ie). The Report examined a wide range of issues in relation to the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields, including those produced from electricity pylons. The Expert Group reported that the majority scientific opinion was that no adverse short - or long-term effects have been demonstrated from exposure to electromagnetic fields at levels below the limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

With regard to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) fields of non-ionising radiation emitted by electricity power lines, the Report concluded that there is limited scientific evidence of adverse health effects. The Expert Group recommended that precautionary measures be used, where appropriate, and that Ireland continue to adopt and enforce the international guidelines developed by the ICNIRP and endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union. A substantial volume of research on this issue is being carried out internationally by regulatory bodies with responsibilities for monitoring the health effects of electromagnetic fields. The findings of this research are being monitored by the WHO’s EMF Project; it is expected that a report will issue in 2014. My Department will continue to monitor this and other scientific evidence as it is made available, and will consider any policy implications in this context.

Housing Statistics

Questions (258)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

258. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new houses commenced in County Meath in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the number of these that are social houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48360/13]

View answer

Written answers

My Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy, and those data are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. Data on the number of new house commencements are included in this range. These commencements relate to private housing starts. While my Department funds the provision of social housing units, specific data on commencement notices in respect of these units are not collated by my Department.

Rental Accommodation Scheme Property Numbers

Questions (259, 291, 292)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

259. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form for 2013, the amounts paid by each local authority under the rental accommodation scheme; the number of houses in respect of which this expenditure applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48393/13]

View answer

Derek Nolan

Question:

291. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form and by local authority, a breakdown of the number of units that are being provided to persons through the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48363/13]

View answer

Derek Nolan

Question:

292. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the amount each local authority spends on the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48364/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 259, 291 and 292 together.

It is not possible to give a specific breakdown by county of the number of units tenanted at any given time under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). Numbers in RAS constantly vary as contracts end, tenants move on to other properties, landlords withdraw from the scheme, new tenancies are allocated or vacancies in contracted units are filled. Figures in relation to RAS units are generally provided as the number of household transfers from Rent Supplement to RAS and other forms of social housing support.

Since the Scheme commenced in late 2005, 46,704 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement (RS) to RAS and other social housing options up to the end of Sept ember 2013. The following table sets out the position on transfers by local authority since commencement of the scheme:

Transfers from Rent Supplement to RAS & other forms of Social Housing. 2005 to end September 2013

Local Authority

Private & Unsold affordable units

Voluntary housing

Social housing

Total all transferred .

Carlow Co. Cl.

551

104

266

921

Cavan Co. Cl.

467

109

419

995

Clare Co. Cl.

451

101

311

863

Cork City Cl.

950

297

1105

2352

Cork County Cl.

1010

488

1576

3074

Donegal Co. Cl.

434

339

1627

2400

Dublin City Cl.

2087

778

846

3711

Dublin South Co. Cl.

1665

185

1376

3226

Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown Co. Cl.

589

127

754

1470

Fingal Co. Cl.

1071

331

1093

2495

Galway City Cl.

684

256

396

1336

Galway Co. Cl.

520

189

351

1060

Kerry Co. Cl.

992

111

714

1817

Kildare Co. Cl.

517

125

664

1306

Kilkenny Co. Cl.

543

390

408

1341

Laois Co. Cl.

227

118

198

543

Leitrim Co. Cl.

109

26

118

253

Limerick City Cl.

803

108

201

1112

Limerick Co. Cl.

302

274

331

907

Longford Co. Cl.

400

0

112

512

Louth Co. Cl.

244

95

888

1227

Mayo Co. Cl.

807

441

425

1673

Meath Co. Cl.

325

137

392

854

Monaghan Co. Cl.

227

135

198

560

Nth Tipperary Co. Cl.

541

71

344

956

Offaly Co. Cl.

295

48

318

661

Roscommon Co.Cl.

496

93

429

1018

Sligo Co. Cl.

480

177

213

870

Sth Tipperary Co. Cl.

764

105

536

1405

Waterford City Cl.

500

344

401

1245

Waterford Co. Cl.

365

42

313

720

Westmeath Co. Cl.

566

17

205

788

Wexford Co. Cl.

772

111

1102

1985

Wicklow Co. Cl.

554

34

460

1048

Totals

20985

6306

19090

46704

Funding for RAS is provided by a transfer of monies from the Department of Social Protection’s Vote to the Vote of my Department. Monies are provided on an Exchequer neutral basis to meet the costs of persons transferring from the Supplementary Welfare Allowance RS Scheme to RAS.

Since the commencement of RAS, expenditure up to the end of September 2013 has amounted to €607.78 million. During the period January to the end of September 2013 expenditure has totalled €95.47 million out of an allocation of €150 million for the year. Annual expenditure to date across all authorities since the scheme began is set out in the following table.

RAS Expenditure 2004 – Sept 2013

Year

2004

€164,836

2005

€723,281

2006

€6,199,980

2007

€27,384,837

2008

€53,025,430

2009

€83,394,513

2010

€100,076,430

2011

€115,917,365

2012

€125,429,966

End Sept 2013

€95,470,893

Total

€607,787,531

Water Supply

Questions (260)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

260. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied) regarding a drinking water supply issue in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47718/13]

View answer

Written answers

A reply has issued to the correspondence in question. The position is that the West Donegal Regional Water Supply Scheme, of which Rathmullen is one element, is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013 as a scheme to advance through planning during the lifetime of the Programme. Donegal County Council has submitted proposals to my Department for a large number of “advance works” on the scheme, including works to improve the water supply in Rathmullen, in advance of submitting the full Preliminary Report for the overall scheme to my Department for approval. The “advance works” proposals are under examination and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Departmental Funding

Questions (261)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

261. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of any funding allocated to climate finance in 2013; if he will specify the amount allocated to supporting adaptation and the amount supporting mitigation in developing countries; the amount that has been paid or will be paid into which multilateral funds; and the amount that has been or will be paid through other means. [47746/13]

View answer

Written answers

Effectively, while my Department is not directly providing climate finance in 2013, Ireland is on track to maintain or surpass 2012 levels of climate finance (€33m). This funding is for adaptation and mitigation in Least Developed Countries and is provided under Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget supplemented by grant contributions from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The full details of Ireland’s climate finance contributions for 2013 will not be finalised until after year-end.

Property Taxation Yield

Questions (262)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

262. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 24 October 2013, the significant organisational and financial challenges facing local government that are referred to in his reply and the reason they were not foreseen. [47761/13]

View answer

Written answers

The local government funding model will change considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014 the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local authorities from the Fund. In addition, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector will have a considerable impact on local authority financing.

The Government has indicated an intention to move to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. The establishment of Irish Water presents local government with significant organisational and financial challenges in 2014. Service provision responsibilities will shift from the local authorities to Irish Water, infrastructure will be transferred, financing arrangements will alter and local authorities will operate on behalf of Irish Water under Service Level Agreements. These changes must be managed. In this context, it has been necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the Local Property Tax to be retained in each local authority until 2015. This approach allows maximum flexibility in allocating Local Property Tax in 2014 with the priority to support those local authorities with weaker funding bases.

I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and therefore a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision-making concerning service provision - in particular, the inclusion of the local variation mechanism from 2015 will further increase the autonomy of local authorities; and a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.

Local Government Fund

Questions (263, 264, 265)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

263. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the next round of allocations from the local government fund will be announced. [47762/13]

View answer

Pearse Doherty

Question:

264. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown for the past three years of allocations from the local government fund to each local authority. [47763/13]

View answer

Pearse Doherty

Question:

265. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage and amount of the local government fund that is derived from motor tax. [47764/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together.

I assume that the Question s refer to general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. General purpose grants are my Department’s contribution towards meeting the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers. 2014 general purpose grant allocations will be announced in due course.

The estimated income to the Local Government Fund in 2013, as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2013 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, is €1,119 million. This includes estimated Motor Tax Receipts of €1,109 million, which contribute 99% of the fund’s income in 2013. The balance of the fund income is made up of interest earned from LGF monies invested with the National Treasury Management Agency and Household Charge receipts paid in 2013 in respect of 2012.

The following table details the general purpose grant allocations from the Local Government Fund to all local authorities for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Local Authority Name

2011

2012

2013

Carlow County Council

10,128,725

8,532,829

8,560,762

Cavan County Council

16,549,414

14,200,854

14,123,740

Clare County Council

12,736,073

10,176,044

10,072,651

Cork County Council

42,689,885

33,495,626

32,048,612

Donegal County Council

36,345,399

30,945,838

30,840,363

Fingal County Council

31,522,005

20,455,071

19,619,590

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

26,267,018

25,780,316

24,772,291

Galway County Council

32,835,625

28,105,841

27,400,744

Kerry County Council

23,238,216

19,005,401

18,374,432

Kildare County Council

23,924,053

20,127,482

20,634,229

Kilkenny County Council

17,527,581

15,113,016

15,105,892

Laois County Council

15,143,352

13,189,788

13,070,064

Leitrim County Council

13,479,217

11,809,261

11,952,743

Limerick County Council

21,355,645

17,683,768

17,668,930

Longford County Council

12,849,645

11,252,795

11,488,728

Louth County Council

10,914,165

9,130,490

9,044,372

Mayo County Council

32,135,562

27,800,750

27,650,043

Meath County Council

25,553,557

21,684,996

21,251,612

Monaghan County Council

13,648,138

11,902,168

11,968,784

Tipperary North County Council

16,373,536

14,267,841

14,504,742

Offaly County Council

14,139,586

12,164,815

12,095,491

Roscommon County Council

18,490,254

15,967,965

15,828,208

Sligo County Council

15,314,229

13,553,783

13,584,307

South Dublin County Council

21,709,971

16,963,904

16,285,348

Tipperary South County Council

20,211,960

17,472,862

17,302,006

Waterford County Council

20,583,798

17,888,261

18,176,169

Westmeath County Council

18,494,866

16,016,846

16,055,537

Wexford County Council

19,259,881

16,229,752

15,912,433

Wicklow County Council

17,502,198

14,625,057

14,357,641

Cork City Council

22,940,522

17,265,785

16,612,544

Dublin City Council

78,722,867

54,805,761

52,613,531

Galway City Council

7,534,888

5,990,156

5,750,549

Limerick City Council

9,638,920

7,968,166

8,264,861

Waterford City Council

6,713,415

5,223,860

5,415,345

Clonmel Borough Council

2,785,896

2,353,114

2,235,458

Drogheda Borough Council

3,966,978

3,208,084

3,047,680

Kilkenny Borough Council

1,560,328

1,266,584

1,203,255

Sligo Borough Council

2,580,497

2,105,833

2,000,541

Wexford Borough Council

1,948,097

1,773,200

1,684,540

Arklow Town Council

1,455,760

1,264,178

1,200,969

Athlone Town Council

1,587,448

1,296,281

1,231,467

Athy Town Council

690,500

571,629

543,047

Ballina Town Council

1,445,712

1,273,025

1,209,373

Ballinasloe Town Council

793,526

679,194

645,234

Birr Town Council

704,969

621,693

590,609

Bray Town Council

3,831,912

3,303,940

3,138,743

Buncrana Town Council

804,777

701,776

666,687

Bundoran Town Council

493,613

425,621

404,340

Carlow Town Council

1,530,546

1,332,619

1,265,988

Carrickmacross Town Council

535,346

466,229

442,918

Carrick-on-Suir Town Council

1,047,814

905,503

860,228

Cashel Town Council

593,045

516,446

490,624

Castlebar Town Council

851,964

730,023

693,522

Castleblayney Town Council

419,775

361,631

343,549

Cavan Town Council

718,591

654,077

621,373

Clonakilty Town Council

521,171

474,381

450,662

Clones Town Council

524,434

464,307

441,092

Cobh Town Council

1,046,319

952,382

904,763

Dundalk Town Council

4,403,659

3,589,814

3,410,323

Dungarvan Town Council

852,052

708,731

673,294

Ennis Town Council

2,043,399

1,710,714

1,625,178

Enniscorthy Town Council

1,016,035

924,817

878,576

Fermoy Town Council

726,081

660,894

627,850

Kells Town Council

421,572

361,427

343,356

Killarney Town Council

1,603,506

1,317,649

1,251,767

Kilrush Town Council

559,419

485,747

461,460

Kinsale Town Council

344,812

313,856

298,163

Letterkenny Town Council

966,369

796,266

756,453

Listowel Town Council

665,706

562,011

533,911

Longford Town Council

1,012,428

873,855

830,162

Macroom Town Council

525,612

478,423

454,502

Mallow Town Council

951,776

866,327

823,011

Midleton Town Council

486,711

443,015

420,864

Monaghan Town Council

976,889

828,489

787,065

Naas Town Council

1,336,377

1,123,654

1,067,472

Navan Town Council

483,948

392,283

472,669

Nenagh Town Council

957,471

847,980

805,581

New Ross Town Council

857,575

780,583

741,554

Skibbereen Town Council

370,292

337,047

320,195

Templemore Town Council

576,386

505,123

479,867

Thurles Town Council

865,088

729,707

693,222

Tipperary Town Council

745,880

630,993

599,444

Tralee Town Council

2,694,458

2,188,225

2,078,813

Trim Town Council

491,118

426,006

404,706

Tullamore Town Council

1,089,931

924,856

878,613

Westport Town Council

705,501

611,929

581,332

Wicklow Town Council

1,391,457

1,202,037

1,141,936

Youghal Town Council

965,305

878,642

834,709

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