Written Answers Nos. 165 - 172
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which contact has been made with the various local authorities with a view to identification of the number of families currently on their housing waiting lists; the action taken or proposed to address the issues of those local authorities particularly affected in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52401/13]
View answerThe results of the 2013 Summary of Housing Needs Assessment will be available later this month. The assessment involved the submission by all housing authorities of details of the social housing assessments carried out in their administrative area as at 7 May, 2013, and the findings will provide details on the number of households on waiting lists at this date. My Department will engage with the Housing Agency and local authorities in terms of carrying out a detailed analysis of the findings so as to address the housing need identified at a local level. The previous summary of social housing assessments was carried out as at 31 March, 2011 and found that there were 98,318 households on local authority waiting lists. The full results of this assessment, including breakdowns by each local authority, are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie and the Housing Agency’s website www.housing.ie.
167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the housing adaptation grant requirements in respect of older persons or persons with specific health needs continue to be met by the various local authorities; the total expenditure in this regard in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52402/13]
View answerMy Department’s involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. These schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. Details of the amounts of Exchequer funding provided to local authorities in respect of the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, together with the level of Local Authority (LA) funds provided over the period 2009 – 2013 (to 30 November) are set in the table.
|
- |
2009 |
- |
2010 |
- |
2011 |
- |
2012 |
- |
2013 |
|
Exch. |
LA |
Exch. |
LA |
Exch. |
LA |
Exch. |
LA |
Exch. |
LA |
|
€67.014m |
€16.753m |
€79.303m |
€19.825m |
€62.808m |
€15.702m |
€53.414m |
€13.353m |
€29.904 m |
€7.476m |
Since 2009, over 52,000 households have benefited under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. The Estimates provision for the schemes in 2014 is €38.6 million. I intend to announce details of the capital allocations to individual local authorities early in 2014.
168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the fixed price plan to which former waiver customers of a waste management company (details supplied) have recently been moved is in keeping with Ireland’s obligations under European law and the polluter pays principle; if his Department will amend the Waste Management Act 1996 to allow for greater regulation of the behaviour of waste management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52430/13]
View answerAs set out in the Government’s policy on waste, A Resource Opportunity, an effective system of household waste collection is critical to the economy and the well-being of society. On 28 November, I published a consultation document on the regulation of household waste collection to guide the development of a new regulatory regime to strengthen and improve the regulation of household waste collection. Our approach to pricing structures is a significant focus in the consultation paper. I want to ensure that waste management companies operate pricing structures that incentivise environmentally sustainable behaviour in terms of waste reduction and segregation. The consultation document is intended to facilitate a dialogue with the public and key stakeholders, including representatives from the waste industry, statutory bodies such as local authorities, the EPA, the National Transfrontier Shipment Office, environmental NGOs and others. Following the 8-week consultation process, which ends on 31 January 2014, I will consider the submissions received and develop proposals for a package of regulatory reform of household waste collection in Ireland. Ultimately, however, charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation.
169. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding funding in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52457/13]
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.
My Department is keeping the funding position under constant review. I expect that there will be a small amount of uncommitted LEADER Programme funding available for re-distribution to LDCs before year end; I will review the options available for distributing these funds and make allocations in the coming weeks.
170. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has requested the continuation of Operation Freeflow this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52448/13]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that 'Operation Open City' replaced 'Operation Freeflow' last year and will commence in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region on 8 December, 2013. The operation is expected to continue until 24 December, 2013. I am further informed that the objective of the operation is to facilitate the effective movement of public transport throughout the region and to minimise disruption to the general public through targeted, high visibility measures and Garda enforcement activity.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on appointing an independent regulator for charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52458/13]
View answer179. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects a charities regulatory authority to be in place; the anticipated powers of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52324/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 179 together.
The Charities Act 2009 provides for an integrated system of mandatory registration and proportionate regulation and supervision of the charities sector in Ireland. The various sections of the Charities Act are subject to implementation through commencement orders. Sections that it was possible to commence in advance of the establishment of the Charities Regulatory Authority, as provided for under the Act, have been commenced. The remainder will be commenced following the establishment of the Authority.
The Deputy will appreciate that the full implementation of the Charities Act, including the establishment of the Authority and Register of Charities, has resource implications that had to be examined in the context of the urgent need to reduce government expenditure. I delayed bringing this legislation into force in order to consider how best to achieve the objectives of the Act in this context. It remains an objective of the Government to strengthen the regulation of the charitable sector in effective and proportionate ways. To advance this, a public and stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the Charities Act 2009, and the establishment of a Register of Charities, was carried out by my Department earlier this year and published in July. At that time the Government also approved my plans to proceed with the establishment of an independent Charities Regulatory Authority under the terms of the 2009 Charities Act. It is envisaged that the new Authority will come into operation in 2014.
172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view the recent events that have unfolded at the Central Remedial Clinic and taking into account that the Government is giving €4 billion to charities each year, with no one accounting for the way it is spent, his proposals to conduct an audit of all payments made to all registered charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52465/13]
View answerThe Charities Act 2009 is intended to increase transparency and accountability across the Charities Sector. The Act provides for new reporting requirements that will apply to charities once the Act is in force. Charities will be required to provide annual reports to the independent regulatory authority that is to be established under the Act. These reports will be made available to the public. In this way, members of the public will have access to greater information about how charities use their resources, including public donations. In July, the Government approved my plans to proceed with the establishment of the new Authority and it is envisaged that it will come into operation in 2014.
