Written Answers Nos. 119-124
119. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide additional funding, from unspent Leader funding, to North and East Kerry Development Board to enable the board to urgently provide the necessary grant aid and for a proposed facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48534/13]
View answerNorth and East Kerry Leader Partnership are contracted on behalf of my Department in relation to the implementation of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
During 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-funding rate from 55% to 85% in relation to LEADER. This had the effect of reducing the available funding under the Programme from €427 million to an estimated €370 million.
It was therefore necessary to carry out a comprehensive review of the level of commitments and expenditure across the Programme in order to apportion the remaining funds among the Local Development Companies (LDCs), taking into account the level of commitments already entered into. The redistribution of funding was conducted in as fair and equitable a manner as was possible.
I am committed to the continued monitoring of this situation and my Department will review all commitments and expenditure levels later this month to ensure, in so far as is possible, that all available Programme funding is committed by end December 2013. Allocations will again be revised if there is funding available for re-distribution.
120. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the allocation of money for the upgrading and renovation of local authority houses, the amount of funding that will be provided to Cork City and County Councils; when the funding will be distributed to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48537/13]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 293 of 12 November, 2013 which sets out the position on this matter.
121. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for lands (details supplied) in County Meath; when the Local Government Bill 2013 will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48538/13]
View answerThe Government's Action Programme for Effective Local Government sets out Government policy decisions in relation to a range of local government reform measures, including the establishment of a new comprehensive model of municipal governance to strengthen local government within counties and to address weaknesses and anomalies in the current system.
The Local Government Bill 2013 provides the legislative basis for many of the reforms set out in the Action Programme. The Bill provides that the local authority for a county will become the successor authority for all purposes where a town council is dissolved. It would therefore be a matter for Meath County Council in this case, as successor authority, to manage the lands and assets of the former town council. In response to a recent Seanad Adjournment Debate on this matter I undertook to consider any general issue arising, in the context of the Bill.
The Local Government Bill 2013 was published on 17 October 2013 and is currently at Second Stage in the Dáil. It is hoped that the Bill will be enacted during the current session, in good time for the 2014 local elections.
122. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding water meters. [48556/13]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme.
Regional management contractors were appointed by Irish Water following a public tendering process. These contractors have responsibility for appointing sub-contractors and it is expected they will utilise the resources of sub-contractors from a pre-qualified panel created by my Department. The contracts for the metering programme require that a minimum of 25% of the jobs be allocated to people on the live register, small businesses and school leavers/graduates gaining employment. Irish Water has informed my Department that since the start of metering in August, over 50% of people employed have come from the social inclusion target groups.
123. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the recent electronic security breach of a company (details supplied) which exposed the financial details of 43,000 customers, his plans to ensure companies report online security breaches to the data protection officer in a more timely and efficient manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48523/13]
View answerThe position is that the law relating to the protection of personal data, including the requirement to implement appropriate security measures, is contained in the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. This legislation requires that appropriate security measures be taken to guard against unauthorised access to, as well as any unauthorised alteration, disclosure or destruction of, personal data, and allows the Data Protection Commissioner to carry out investigations of security breaches on receipt of a complaint or on his own initiative. In 2011, the Data Protection Commissioner introduced a Code of Practice on Personal Data Security Breaches under section 13(2)(b) of the Data Protection Acts. The Code provides guidance on good practice in dealing with data security breaches, including the reporting of such breaches to the Commissioner's Office.
I am informed by the Data Protection Commissioner that his Office was notified of the data security breach referred to by the Deputy in accordance with the Personal Data Security Breach Code of Practice. Given the seriousness of the breach the Data Protection Commissioner sent in an inspection team to investigate the breach. I understand that the Commissioner has received a preliminary report on the findings of the inspection team. I also understand that the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigations has received a report on the matter and are investigating the issue further.
The European Commission published a Proposal for a General Data Protection Regulation in January 2012. The Proposal includes specific provisions in relation to the notification of personal data breaches to relevant supervisory authorities and individuals who may be affected by them. Negotiations on the Commission's proposals are ongoing at EU level.
124. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons for the delay in providing Garda clearance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [48421/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the vetting application on behalf of the individual referred to by him was processed and returned to the registered organisation concerned on 22 October 2013.
