Written Answers Nos. 192-204
192. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of consultants or consultancy firms employed by his Department during each of the past five years; the purpose and duration of each of these consultancies or consultancy contracts; the names of the consultants or firms; if he will list architectural consultancies separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1834/14]
View answerThe information requested is set out in the following table . The consultancies shown relate to the current configuration of my Department (i.e. Heritage consultancies are excluded and Community consultancies are included from 2009).
|
Consultant |
Purpose of Consultancy |
2009 Expenditure |
2010 Expenditure |
2011 Expenditure |
2012 Expenditure |
2013 Expenditure |
|
A&L Goodbody Solicitors |
Legal advice on the provision of a premium rate weather service. |
€6,075 |
€14,925 |
€10,374 |
||
|
AECOM |
Cost optimal study for non domestic buildings. |
€17,393 |
€38,834 |
|||
|
AP Env Econ Ltd. |
Report on Greening the Economy |
€35,178 |
||||
|
ARUP Consulting Engineers |
Study in respect of provision of fire detection and alarms systems in dwellings. |
€12,100 |
€17,835 |
|||
|
Barrow Archaeological Services |
Archaeological report on Met Éireann site at Valentia. |
€2,662 |
€1,210 |
|||
|
BRE |
Building Standards Regulations [parts L & E] research. |
€108,527 |
||||
|
BRE |
Study for assessing acceptable construction details to support TGD L Conservation of Fuel and Energy-Dwellings 2010. |
€103,836 |
||||
|
Building Research Establishment Ltd |
Retrofitting code of practice. |
€21,191 |
||||
|
Cawley Nea |
National climate change awareness campaign. |
€463,455 |
€148,873 |
|||
|
Deloitte |
Migration from Novell. |
€28,856 |
||||
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Expert Assistance in the Local Government Shared Services Programme |
€39,299 |
||||
|
Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |
Contribution towards a DJEI consultancy for a Government approved project to measure administrative burdens on business. |
€27,000 |
||||
|
Derek Moynihan |
Provide costings for construction of new building at Valentia site |
€475 |
||||
|
Design Works |
Design consultancy for Register of Electors forms. |
€1,792 |
||||
|
DKM Consultants Ltd |
Construction research reports. |
€99,048 |
€81,319 |
|||
|
DKM Economic Consultants |
Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 |
€39,690 |
||||
|
Dr. Eoin O'Sullivan, Trinity College Dublin |
Overall review of the Homeless Strategy 2008-2013. |
€6,000 |
||||
|
DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald |
Negotiation of the conclusion of lease arrangements for the storage of electronic voting machines. |
€5,566 |
€2,783 |
|||
|
Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Affordability aspects of the provision of water services in Ireland. |
€55,727 |
||||
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Analysis of Property Tax Options - a report to the Interdepartmental Expert Group on Property Tax. |
€60,280 |
||||
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) & University College Cork (UCC) |
Technical support on developing low carbon sector roadmaps for Ireland |
€32,265 |
||||
|
ECU Ltd |
Specialist economic advice in respect of project agreement entered into by Dublin City Council. |
€3,781 |
||||
|
Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Lawrence |
Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) report of the risks from Sellafield to Ireland and Irish interests. |
€884,738 |
€1,395,077 |
€1,526,250 |
||
|
Ernst and Young |
Capital project spot checks and reviews. |
€219,702 |
||||
|
Eunomia Research & Consulting |
International review of waste management policy. |
€116,506 |
€82,087 |
|||
|
Eunomia Research & Consulting |
Strategic environmental assessment. |
€43,284 |
||||
|
Eunomia Research & Consulting |
Opinion on competition aspects of Dublin waste to energy contract. |
€2,178 |
||||
|
Farrell Grant Sparks |
DDDA's options paper on Becbay joint venture. |
€17,407 |
||||
|
Flynn Furney Consultants Ltd |
Environmental Management Services re: review of CEMP at Valentia Site |
€3,167 |
||||
|
Frank Curran Consultants Ltd |
Engineering services for the design, cost and supervision of construction of road for Valentia Site |
€1,476 |
||||
|
Glas Ecology |
Environment Management Plan |
€4,920 |
||||
|
Goodbody Economic Consultants |
Review and assessment of plan and strategies for disbursements under the Dormant Accounts Fund |
€80,632 |
||||
|
Housing & Sustainable Communities Ltd. |
Toolkit for Local Authorities on regeneration |
€12,300 |
||||
|
Indecon |
Regulatory Impact Analysis of proposed regulations for household food waste. |
€24,725 |
||||
|
Indecon |
Feasibility study on a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. |
€42,706 |
||||
|
Irish Concrete Federation Ltd |
Testing of hydraulic efficiency - national annex for septic tanks and wastewater treatment. |
€2,270 |
||||
|
Kiaran O’Malley & Co Ltd |
Professional services & planning advice. |
€10,541 |
||||
|
KW Research & Associates |
NTACC Research into why Travellers leave Traveller-specific accommodation |
€9,921 |
||||
|
M.I. Safety & Training Services |
Method safety statement. |
€350 |
||||
|
M.J. O’Connell & Co. Consulting Engineers |
Examination of final accounts for Water Services Investment Programme schemes. |
€13,378 |
||||
|
Malachy Walsh & Partners |
Environmental and engineering advice, EIS screening report and planning submission for site at Valentia. |
€6,655 |
€17,378 |
€2,153 |
||
|
Mary Murphy & Associates |
National climate change awareness campaign. |
€329,550 |
||||
|
Mazars |
Systems audit of the RDP |
€49,414 |
||||
|
Mazars |
Cohesion Programme Consultancy |
€47,287 |
||||
|
Meath County Council |
National landscape strategy Tara Skryne project. |
€51,185 |
||||
|
Mr Hendrik W van der Kamp |
Independent Evaluation of the Planning Review Report 2012. |
€12,096 |
||||
|
Mr. David Lovegrove |
Advisor to the Dormant Accounts Board. |
€34,542 |
€24,968 |
€11,388 |
€9,689 |
€1,120 |
|
Mr. John Hennessy SC |
Review of the contract for the proposed incinerator at Poolbeg |
€54,540 |
||||
|
Mr. Owen Boyle |
Process auditor fees. |
€17,484 |
||||
|
Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC |
Review of the management by the Department of an application by Wicklow County Council for loan approval in respect of the compulsory purchase of land at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 1. |
€19,680 |
||||
|
Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC |
Review of the compulsory acquisition of land by Wicklow County Council at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 2. |
€49,200 |
||||
|
Munster Archaeology |
Archaeology services associated with development of the Met Éireann facility, Valentia, Island Kerry |
€24,258 |
€23,031 |
|||
|
Murphy Consulting |
Examination of final accounts. |
€21,845 |
||||
|
Murtagh & Partners |
Review of Dublin Region Homelessness Services and Funding 2011 . |
€27,800 |
||||
|
Napier University Ventures Ltd |
Sound insulation research to inform the drafting of Part E (Sound) of the Building Regulations. |
€7,851 |
€1,423 |
|||
|
National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI) |
Retrofitting code of practice. |
€14,145 |
||||
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) |
Surveillance audit on IS EN ISO 2012. |
€2,662 |
€3,993 |
€2,706 |
||
|
O'Herlihy Consultancy |
Preparation and delivery of a training manual and programme for the implementation of the new Part M (Access and Use) of Building Regulations. |
€14,337 |
||||
|
OMD |
National climate change awareness campaign. |
€45,685 |
||||
|
Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy |
Preparation of EIA Guidelines |
€7,200 |
||||
|
Pembroke Communications |
Advise on, and assist tendering process for, Tidy Towns sponsorship. |
€4,560 |
||||
|
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Consultancy services on establishment of National Water Utility. |
€59,290 |
€120,294 |
|||
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
Public consultation process on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and producing a report |
€40,575 |
||||
|
RPS Group |
All Island Used Tyre Survey |
€17,673 |
||||
|
RPS Group |
Review of the Producer Responsibility Model in Ireland |
€211,458 |
||||
|
RPS Group |
National climate change awareness campaign. |
€284,508 |
||||
|
RPS MCOS Ltd |
Provision of expertise concerning Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment techniques for the evaluation and revision of Regional Waste Management Plans. |
€45,223 |
||||
|
Sean O' Riordain & Associates |
Assist in the delivery of a workshop on capacity building for local authority staff in establishing Local Community Development Committees |
€3,257 |
||||
|
Seaver Associates |
Independently chairing NSAI coal stakeholder group. |
€3,267 |
||||
|
SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd |
Report on Energy Transformation Project |
€50,451 |
||||
|
SQW Limited |
Feasibility study to inform the design of a main stage national evaluation of the Local and Community Development Programme. |
€33,001 |
€77,000 |
|||
|
Start Computing Ltd |
Intranet site enhancement. |
€4,253 |
||||
|
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
Operation of the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS) |
€64,226 |
€68,822 |
€57,180 |
€55,142 |
|
|
TRL Limited |
Technical expertise to assist the Department in managing the European Commission's proposals for 2020 CO2 emission targets for cars and vans during the Irish Presidency |
€42,435 |
||||
|
Weaver & Associates |
Research into the barriers to provision of Traveller Accommodation |
€6,136 |
||||
|
White Young Green |
Ambient Air Monitoring in the vicinity of the former steelworks site, Haulbowline, Cork. |
€13,010 |
€13,005 |
|||
|
White Young Green |
Environmental and geotechnical assessment at former Irish Ispat site at Haulbowline, Cork. |
€107,833 |
||||
|
Williamson Consulting |
Evaluation of alcohol related harm project |
€8,942 |
€13,358 |
|||
|
Zenith Land Surveys |
Land survey at Valentia. |
€2,420 |
||||
|
Total |
€1,990,506 |
€1,734,220 |
€1,804,627 |
€2,253,346 |
€539,849 |
My Department has not engaged architectural consultants during the period in question. The Office of Public Works provides all required architectural services as regards property occupied by my Department. Finally, the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources, launched in 2009, involved expenditure of €2.7 million in the years concerned in respect of work by a number of firms to assist in the development of sustainable markets and outlets for recyclable materials.
193. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of any damage to social housing or during the recent severe weather spell that he has been notified of and the cost to repair any damage. [1836/14]
View answerUnder section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority social housing stock, including the carrying out of responsive repairs to tenanted properties, is a matter for individual authorities. No reports relating to storm damage to the housing stock have so far been received in my Department.
194. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will detail, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; his internal Department policy regarding employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1865/14]
View answerNo external public relations firms have been engaged by my Department since March 2011. Policy in relation to procurement is set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
195. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sums collected from dormant accounts in each of the following years, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1900/14]
View answer196. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sums reimbursed to account holders from dormant accounts in each of the following years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1901/14]
View answer197. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sums disbursed from dormant accounts in each of the following years, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1902/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.
Under 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 reunite the original account holders with their moneys, including all interest due. In addition, the legislation also provides that disbursements from the fund may be made for charitable purposes or for purposes of community benefit.
Since its establishment in April 2003 to the end of November 2013, the transfers to the Dormant Accounts Fund have totalled some €724.99m, which includes interest earned of approximately €40.23m. Funds reclaimed in that period by account holders amounted to around €271m. €278m of disbursements have been approved, with €251m already spent on projects designed to benefit the community over the same period. The current balance of uncommitted funds is €115.33m. Further data in relation to Dormant Accounts funding are available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.
The details requested are set out in the table.
Dormant Accounts Expenditure from 2008 to 2013*
|
Year |
Inflows of expenditure |
Reclaimed by account holders |
Disbursed by NTMA |
|
2008 |
€33,033,687 |
€19,500,791 |
€73,050,705 |
|
2009 |
€41,384,437 |
€19,051,956 |
€37,644,335 |
|
2010 |
€39,284,684 |
€20,302,633 |
€20,267,035 |
|
2011 |
€43,079,787 |
€24,345,430 |
€8,403,338 |
|
2012 |
€43,354,219 |
€22,022,290 |
€4,159,969 |
* The data for 2013 has not been finalised by the NTMA.
198. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of householders in receipt of a domestic waste waiver in each local authority area in the years 2008 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1903/14]
View answerMy Department does not collect the information sought. However, some local authorities, as part of the implementation of their respective regional waste management plans, have implemented measures in this regard; queries concerning any such measures are a matter for the relevant local authorities in the first instance. The preparation and adoption of waste management plans, and the regulation and enforcement of waste collection, are the statutory responsibility of the local authority or authorities concerned, and under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996 I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.
199. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received the report of the working group on citizen engagement; if so, when he plans to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1904/14]
View answerThe Working Group on citizen engagement with local government, under the Chairmanship of Fr. Sean Healy, was established on 26 September 2013 to make recommendations on more extensive and diverse input by citizens into the decision-making process and to allow for facilitation of input by citizens into decision making at the local government level. The working group was given a short time-frame in which to produce its report, which I received towards the end of December 2013.
I am considering the report in the context of the Local Government reform programme and I intend that it will be published on my Department’s website at an early date.
200. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of inspections carried out on private rented accommodation in each local authority area in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1905/14]
View answer201. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions his Department is taking to address the low level of inspections carried out on private rented accommodation by some local authorities, for example, one local authority has only carried out 593 inspections over an eight year period from 2005 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1906/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos 200 and 201 together.
Minimum standards for rented accommodation are prescribed in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008, as amended, made under section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with these regulations.
Details of the number of inspections carried out in 2013 are not yet available. The information is being sought from the local authorities and will be published in the private rented housing section of my Department’s website at www.environ.ie as soon as it has been compiled.
Responsibility for enforcing the regulations rests with the relevant local authority, supported by a dedicated stream of funding allocated by my Department from the monies set aside from the registration fees income received under section 137 of the Residential Tenancies Act. Every City and County Council conducted inspections in 2012 (the last year for which statistics have been compiled) and this has been the case for the past 7 years.
In 2012, over 19,000 inspections were carried out by local authorities and, since 2005, local authorities have carried out almost 130,000 inspections on private rented properties representing almost 50% of the properties currently registered for private rented accommodation. My Department keeps the standards under review and engages on a regular basis with representatives of the local authorities on their implementation and enforcement.
202. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the report of the water services affordability group has been completed; if so, when he plans to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1907/14]
View answer216. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if additional free water allowances will be given in cases (details supplied), when water charges are introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2081/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 216 together.
The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. An inter-departmental working group has been established to advise the Government on the appropriate method for addressing water poverty and water affordability issues which may arise with the introduction of domestic water charges. The group will examine the issues arising for those with specific medical conditions, which require high water usage, in the course of its work.
The group comprises my Department and the Departments of the Taoiseach, Social Protection, Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance. The group will submit a final report for consideration by Government when it has completed its examination of the issues involved. This will allow for decisions on the proposed approach to be taken in advance of proposed public consultation by the Commission for Energy Regulation on the approach to the design of domestic water tariffs during 2014.
203. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of the report commissioned by his Department and undertaken by the ESRI on the affordability in the provision of water services in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1908/14]
View answerIn January 2013, the Economic and Social Research Institute was commissioned by my Department to undertake a study of water affordability and the provision of water services in Ireland. The report was finalised in March 2013 and cost €51,798.
An inter-departmental working group was established in October 2013 to advise the Government on the appropriate method for addressing water poverty and water affordability issues which may arise with the introduction of domestic water charges. The Economic and Social Research Institute has carried out additional analysis to support the work of this Group at a cost of €5,857.26.
204. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there is no provision in the Water Services Bill No. 2, as proposed by the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in its report on water provision in June 201, whereby Irish Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation would be obliged to consult, co-operate with and take account of the views of a statutory consumer-focused body on water issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1909/14]
View answerThe Water Services Acts 2013 provide that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish Water. In particular, the CER will be responsible for approving the water charges plans prepared by Irish Water, and for approving codes of practice to be prepared by Irish Water. The codes of practice will cover matters such as the standard of performance, by Irish Water, of its functions; the provision of information by Irish Water to its customers; and the making of complaints by its customers.
In discharging its functions, the CER may consult with Irish Water, the public, or any other person it considers appropriate. The Commission has already undertaken public consultations on the development of the economic regulatory framework for water services and will be undertaking further consultations during 2014.
