Written Answers Nos. 140 - 145
140. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide on an authority basis the amount of money transferred to local authorities by the Private Residential Tenancies Board in 2013 for the carrying out of inspections of rental accommodation; and the amount of money that was used by local authorities in that time. [50894/13]
View answer141. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by each local authority of the number of private rental properties inspected in 2011, 2012, and to date in 2103, respectively, including the number that failed to meet minimum standards or had serious breaches of standards. [50895/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together.
My Department collates a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy and this information, including details of the funding provided to local authorities for inspections of rental accommodation carried out, is published on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. Data on local authorities’ minimum standards inspection activity, including data on non-compliance, are also published up to 2012. Local authorities are currently compiling their 2013 inspection data which will be available for publication in 2014. Payments to local authorities for inspections carried out in 2013 will be made in 2014 on receipt of these data.
142. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problem of car-dealers erecting large numbers of advertising posters in residential areas offering cash for cars; if his attention has been drawn to the considerable resources which local authorities have to devote to the removal of such posters and the difficulty in prosecuting those responsible as the mobile phone numbers are untraceable; and if he will review the penalties for this practice in order to ensure that they act as a more effective deterrent. [50896/13]
View answerThe Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat litter problems. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering is a matter for the relevant local authority. Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act (Prohibition of articles and advertisements on and defacement of certain structures, etc.) applies in regard to the display of advertisements on perimeter railings or street lamps. This Section states that:
“Where any structure or other land, door, gate, window, tree, pole or post is in or is visible from a public place, a person who is not the owner, occupier or person in charge thereof shall not—
(a) exhibit or cause to be exhibited thereon any article or advertisement, or
(b) carry out or cause to be carried out any defacement thereof by writing or other marks,
unless the person is authorised in advance to do so in writing by such owner, occupier or person in charge or by or under any enactment.”
Any breach of the above section is liable to a €150 on-the-spot fine in the first instance and considerably more punitive measures on prosecution by the relevant local authority. I am satisfied that there are appropriate deterrents in place to deal with this issue.
143. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Limerick City Council has submitted a request for funding to demolish houses at Garryglass Avenue and Rathbane Road, Limerick; if he intends to respond favourably; if he will confirm when Limerick City Council may expect a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50903/13]
View answerIn response to a request from my Department in 2012 for proposals for the construction of new social housing units to meet urgent housing need, Limerick City Council submitted a proposal for the demolition of a number of vacant housing units at Sycamore Drive and Elm Place, Rathbane and the construction of 9 replacement units on the cleared site. On 25 November, my Department approved a budget cost of €1.486 million for this project. It is now a matter for Limerick City Council to progress the project, subject to the requirements set out in the letter of approval. There are no proposals with my Department in respect of the demolition of houses at Garryglass Avenue.
144. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to build a sewerage treatment plant in Kilcummin, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50921/13]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 121 of 14 November 2013, which sets out the position in this matter.
145. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role and powers he intends to prescribe to Irish Water in the planning process; if he intends to provide Irish Water with similar powers to those of the National Roads Authority in terms of the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50944/13]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary under the Companies Acts within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. The Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013 is currently in preparation, and will provide for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the water services authorities to Irish Water. Irish Water will be given the necessary powers to carry out their functions in this Bill which will be published shortly. This will include a requirement in preparing water services strategic plans to have regard to proper planning and sustainable development. No functions of local authorities as planning authorities will be transferred to Irish Water.
