Written Answers Nos. 107-111
107. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons subject to penalties for non-payment of the household charge; the total value of these penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53328/13]
View answerThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provided the legislative basis for the Household Charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date has been liable to pay the Household Charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. It has been a matter for an owner of a residential property to determine liability and pay the Charge. The Local Government Management Agency has been administering the Household Charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils.
I understand from data provided by the Agency that as of 3 December 2013 the total number of registrations for the Household Charge is 1, 304,934. Payments have been registered in respect of 1,280,482 liable properties and waivers have been registered in respect of a further 2 4,452 liable properties. The number of estimated liable properties for the Household Charge is 1,620,814, and therefore the compliance rate stands in excess of 80.5 %.
I am advised by the Agency that approximately € 9.3m has been collected by the local government sector in the form of Household Charge late payment penalties in respect of approximately 355,000 properties. Due to owners of multiple properties, some of which may be compliant and some of which may be non-compliant, it is not possible at this time to specify the number of owners who have paid Household Charge late payment penalties.
Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 outstanding Household Charge liabilities were, on 1 July 2013, increased to €200 and became a Local Property Tax liability collectable by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Queries concerning the collection of Local Property tax liabilities which are former Household Charge arrears should be addressed, in the first instance, to the Revenue Commissioners.
108. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans in relation to dormant accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53161/13]
View answerUnder the Dormant Accounts legislation, balances on dormant accounts with banks, building societies and An Post and the net encashment value of certain life assurance policies are paid into the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. The primary purpose of the legislation is to re-unite the original account holders with their moneys, including all interest due. In addition, the legislation provides that disbursements from the fund may be made for charitable purposes or for purposes of community benefit.
The Disbursement Plan of 2009, put in place by the Dormant Accounts Board, will be replaced shortly by a new disbursement scheme in accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012. The 2012 Act also provides for the preparation of an action plan, to give effect to the disbursement scheme. Allocations for disbursement will continue to focus on programmes or projects to assist the personal and social development of persons who are economically disadvantaged, the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability and will have regard to the policies and priorities of the Government in so far as they relate to the types of assistance being proposed, the amount of moneys available or likely to be available and ensuring that the moneys are expended in a cost effective manner.
In 2013, I allocated €6.385m for Dormant Accounts Measures, which includes €2.835m to be used to support labour force activation measures in local authorities. The corresponding provision for 2014 is €5.456m, which will allow for the continuation of funding to support the labour force activation measures and the implementation of a modest action plan. Further data in relation to Dormant Accounts Funding is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.
109. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the requirement by the Private Residential Tenancies Board for landlords to re-register tenants at a cost of €90; the reason for the charge; his views on the possibility of amending the legislation to ensure landlords adhering to the law are not being punished by virtue of this recurring charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53238/13]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets out the fees to be charged by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) for the registration of a tenancy and provides that the PRTB may adjust the fees charged, having regard to changes in the value of money.The registration fee for a tenancy is currently set at €90. Part 4 of the Act provides for security of tenure on the basis of four-year cycles whereby tenancies are deemed terminated at the end of each four year period and a new tenancy then comes into being, assuming the dwelling continues to be let to the same person. The first cycle of these tenancies is known as ‘ Part 4 tenancy’ and each subsequent one is called a ‘further Part 4 tenancy’ in the Act.
Where a tenancy lasts in excess of 4 years, it becomes a ‘further Part 4 tenancy’ and must be re-registered on payment of the €90 registration fee. For the first six months of each tenancy the landlord, subject to conditions of notice, is free to terminate without giving a reason.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 is currently before the Seanad and makes a number of amendment s to the current fee structure. The Bill provides for the abolition of the fee for re-registering a tenancy after 4 years, as long as the re-registration is done within the specified timeframes. It is hoped that this amendment will encourage long term, stable tenancies in the rented sector.
110. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to require developers to ensure that information submitted in planning applications is factually accurate; if he intends to make it a criminal offence for developers to include misleading or false information in planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53264/13]
View answerMuch of the information provided by a planning applicant on a planning application form and, where relevant, in response to a further information request, is checked by the planning authority in the course of its consideration of the application.
The giving of false information by a developer could lead to a permission granted being deemed invalid by the courts. I have no current plans to amend the Planning Act or Regulations in this regard.
111. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to delays in the development of a group home for women with physical and sensory disabilities at Drummond Otra, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, which is to be developed by Respond Housing Association; if he will ensure these delays are minimised; if his Department will release additional funding towards this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53283/13]
View answerMy Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) provides funding to approved housing bodies of up to 100% of the approved costs of accommodation for people with specific categories of housing need, including people with a disability. My Department’s involvement with the CAS relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the scheme, the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme and the processing of applications for funding are the responsibility of the relevant local authority, in this case Monaghan County Council.
In April 2013, my Department approved funding of €900,000 under the CAS for the provision of a group home for people with physical and sensory disabilities at Convent Lands, Carrickmacross. On 2 December 2013, Monaghan County Council submitted a tender report for the project showing a substantial increase in construction cost compared to the initial cost plan prepared by the council and requesting approval for an all-in cost of €1.378 million. Considering that the cost has increased by over 50%, it will be necessary to carry out a value-for-money appraisal of this project before a decision on funding can be made.
