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Thursday, 16 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 205-217

Local Authority Housing

Questions (205)

Finian McGrath

Question:

205. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a scheme in his Department or between Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council whereby a council tenant in the Clondalkin area may exchange their home as part of a move to the Artane area (details supplied). [1933/14]

View answer

Written answers

There is no provision in housing legislation in relation to households that wish to transfer from housing provided by one housing authority to that of another authority. The issue is therefore a matter for the authorities themselves and I am aware that some housing authorities facilitate mutual transfers by agreement on an informal basis.

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Questions (206)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

206. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider a new housing aid scheme for 60-65 year olds who can no longer avail of the housing aid for older people scheme; if he has considered that many persons in this age bracket get work done to their homes while they can still qualify for loans from financial institutions and that having to wait until 66 years of age will mean that those with no savings will not be able to do the work needed; if there is any other form of aid for persons in this age bracket with urgent roof improvement works needed who can not afford to pay for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1947/14]

View answer

Written answers

There has been no change to the maximum grant available under the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability which remains at €30,000 or the Mobility Aids Grant which remains at €6,000. In the case of the Housing Aid for Older People (HAOP), the maximum grant paid under this scheme has been reduced from €10,500 to €8,000. The average grant paid to applicants under this scheme in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was €4,162, €4,106 and €3,995 respectively. In the case of an applicant in receipt of the average grant under the HAOP scheme the own resources contribution would amount to around €200. While the age limit for eligibility has been reduced from 60 to 66 years a lower age limit can apply at the discretion of the local authority in certain cases.

Changes to the grant schemes were made on foot of the report by a review group, established in 2013 by my Department, to examine the terms and conditions governing the suite of grants. The aim of the review was to spread the benefits of the scheme s as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in their operation. I have no proposals to further amend the provisions of the HAOP scheme.

I am increasing the level of funding available for the grant schemes in 2014. Details of the capital allocations will be notified to local authorities later today.

Housing Issues

Questions (207)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

207. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the affordable housing options that would be available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; the schemes that are in place in the locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1949/14]

View answer

Written answers

As Minister, it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases but I can confirm that the Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act s 2000-2013. Details regarding the review are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie.

The period for public submissions closed on 27 September 2013 and submissions from a variety of interested parties are now under consideration. I expect to be in a position to formulate future policy approaches and actions, taking account of the consultation process, in the near future.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (208)

Simon Harris

Question:

208. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of quangos, State agencies or organisations under the remit of his Department that have been merged, reformed or abolished since 2011; the details of each of these measures in tabular form; the cost saving or service delivery improvement which has resulted; how many more he expects to be merged, reformed or abolished and the timeline for same; if he will provide a full list of all agencies and organisations under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1976/14]

View answer

Written answers

The State Agencies under the aegis of my Department are as follows:

An Bord Pleanála

Dublin Docklands Development Authority

Environmental Protection Agency

Housing Finance Agency

Irish Water Safety

Housing & Sustainable Communities Agency

Local Government Management Agency

Private Residential Tenancies Board

Radiological Protection Institute Ireland

Western Development Commission

Pobal is a not-for-profit company with charitable status, which manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the European Union.

My Department’s agency rationalisation programme has seen the number of agencies reduce from 21 to 10. A further reduction to 8 is planned for 2014 with the merger of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the dissolution of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

Action

Status

Merge Local Government Computer Services Board & Local Government Management Services Board

Completed August 2012, new Local Government Management Agency established.

Merge 2 Regeneration Agencies in Limerick into Local Authorities

Completed in July 2012.

Subsume An Chomhairle Leabharlanna into existing public body

Completed November 2012 – subsumed by Local Government Management Agency

Comhar to be integrated into the National Economic and Social Council.

Completed January 2012

Merge the Affordable Housing Partnership, National Building Agency and Centre for Housing Research into a new body

Completed August 2012 - Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency established

Discontinue the Dormant Accounts Board

Completed December 2012

Merge Environmental Protection Agency and Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland

In July 2013, the Minister approved an Action Plan prepared by an independently chaired Merger Working Group (MWG) that sets out the actions necessary to complete the merger by June 2014. Implementation of the Action Plan continues and is on schedule to achieve merger in the summer of 2014

Dissolve the Dublin Docklands Development Authority

the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2014 when published will facilitate the transfer of functions to Dublin City Council

The administrative functions of the Rent Tribunal have transferred to the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bórd Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer, in part, of water services functions from 34 water services authorities to Irish Water, which became the national water services authority from 1 January 2014.

The dissolution of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna resulted in savings in terms of annual operating costs of the order of €1m and an annual saving on rent for the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency of €120,000, due to the transfer of the properties of An Chomhairle to the Housing Agency. In addition, the NBA headquarters was sold in March 2012 for €2.84 million.

Agency staff numbers have fallen to 703 as of end of Q3 2013, the latest date for which figures are available, as compared to a peak of 951 at the end of 2008 – a reduction of 248 (26%).

Rural Development Programme Projects

Questions (209)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

209. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the amount that will be provided out of the rural development programme for Leader-type actions for the years 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1992/14]

View answer

Written answers

Preparations for Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) have begun and public consultation on the Programme will commence shortly with a view to the programme commencing in 2015. Expenditure under the current 2007-2013 Programme will continue in 2014.

Within the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 a separate financial allocation will be allocated for LEADER activity. This allocation will comprise of some €153 million EU funding which will be co-financed by Exchequer funding. The Exchequer allocation is subject to discussion between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, following which I will announce the overall value of the LEADER elements of the Programme.

Homeless Accommodation Funding

Questions (210)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

210. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide details on the organisations being funded by his Department to deal with homelessness in Dublin city and county; the amounts paid to each organisation over the past five years; the salary each chief executive of those organisations funded by the taxpayer received; if he will provide a breakdown between salary and other costs; the role his Department plays in the governance of these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2006/14]

View answer

Written answers

The regulation of charities is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality and my Department has no function in that regard or in regard to the terms and conditions of individual staff members.

With regard to homelessness services, my Department does not fund any service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Housing authorities will also provide funding from their own resources. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

The Section 10 funding provided by my Department to the housing authorities in the Dublin Region for the years 2009 to 2013 is set out in the following table.

Funding Provided under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

€38,967,542

€40,521,375

€35,732,525

€32,398,290

€31,322,223

The bulk of this funding goes towards the costs incurred in the provision of homeless services by voluntary sector service providers such as Focus Ireland, Crosscare, Dublin Simon Community, Peter McVerry Trust, DePaul Trust, Salvation Army, etc. Service level agreements are in place between the housing authority and service provider for any homeless service funded by the Dublin local authorities.

Labour Activation Measures

Questions (211)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

211. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when his Department will introduce a scheme to allow jobseekers gain work experience with local authorities by helping cleansing departments and other departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2015/14]

View answer

Written answers

Issues concerning labour activation measures, including JobBridge and the Local Authority Labour Activation Scheme (Gateway), are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.  As labour activation placements in local authorities do not form part of the Employment Control Framework for local government, sanction by my Department for schemes of this nature is not required.

Severe Weather Events Response

Questions (212)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to provide funding for the reinstatement of graveyards following recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2064/14]

View answer

Written answers

My Department is lead Government Department for the emergency response to severe weather events and I presented a preliminary report to Government on 14 January setting out the meteorological background to the series of storms, the preparedness measures adopted by local authorities and relevant Government Departments and Agencies to the weather alerts from Met Éireann, their actual response, and an indication of the costs of the damage.  I am requesting all affected local authorities to provide more detailed reports, including related costings, by 14 February 2014 to enable Government, through the relevant Departments and Agencies, to support the authorities on recovery measures which fall within their areas of responsibility.  The Government will explore all possible sources of funding, including at European Union level, in order to assist recovery efforts. When all the above information has been collated, Government will then be in a position to make a decision on Government assistance for the recovery programme and the specific works to be comprehended.

Leader Programmes Expenditure

Questions (213)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount available under the 2007-2013 programme for spending on Leader projects, the amount spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2068/14]

View answer

Written answers

The current value of the Axes 3 and 4 elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is €370 million. In addition, there is €5 million allocated to the Axis 1 Agri-food measure. Of this up to a maximum of 20% can be spent on administration with the remaining monies for projects and animation.

To date €182 million has been spent on projects and €11 million on animation expenses. €51 million has been spent on administration which leaves €131 million in total remaining to be spent under the under the Programme.

Capital Assistance Scheme Funding

Questions (214, 215)

Brendan Smith

Question:

214. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of all capital assistance grants allocated for housing to Cavan County Council for 2010 to 2014, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2074/14]

View answer

Brendan Smith

Question:

215. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of all capital assistance grants allocated for housing to Monaghan County Council for 2010 to 2014, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2075/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.

Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding of up to 100% of the approved cost is available for the provision of accommodation to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need including older people, people with an intellectual, physical or mental health disability, the homeless, returning emigrants and victims of domestic violence. My Department’s involvement with the CAS relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The detailed administration of the schemes, and the certification that projects comply with the terms and conditions of the funding schemes, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

Work is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the Social Housing Investment Programme for 2014, including the CAS measure. I intend to announce details of the allocations to individual local authorities shortly.

The information requested in relation to the funding provided under CAS to both Cavan and Monaghan County Councils for the period 2010 to 2013 is set out in the following table:

Local Authority

2010

2011

2012

2013

Cavan County Council

€ 1,284,593

€ 14,378

€ 664,288

€ 348,563

Monaghan County Council

€ 415,175

€ 86,636

€ 1,125,300

€ 1,191,568

Question No. 216 answered with Question No. 202.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (217)

John Deasy

Question:

217. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of each allocation from his Department’s expenditure budget to registered charities in each of the past three years. [2100/14]

View answer

Written answers

Information requested is set out in the following table. Pobal, a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status, manages a significant proportion of this funding on behalf of the Department under both the Local Community and Development Programme (LCDP) and Dormant Accounts.

In addition, my Department provides funding directly to a number of other organisations under the LCDP and the seniors alert scheme, a number of which have charitable status. My Department also recoups to local authorities costs associated with the provision of accommodation and related services by voluntary housing bodies, some of which also may have charitable status.

Beneficiary of DECLG Funding (Body with Charitable Status)

*Note bodies may benefit from multiple funding lines

2011

2012

2013

Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service

16,040

-

-

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland

25,000

50,000

47,100

Active Retirement Network Ireland

71,737

80,000

75,360

34,000

32,000

30,100

Age Action Ireland

43,088

50,000

47,100

Akina Dada wa Africa - The African Women's Network Ireland)

18,088

-

-

Alzheimer Society of Ireland

73,676

58,882

70,650

An Taisce

241,800

278,200

199,153

Arthritis Ireland

64,239

65,000

61,230

Aspire

25,000

34,052

47,100

-

-

22,500

Avondhu / Blackwater Partnership Ltd.

300,369

308,747

324,233

Ballyhoura Development Ltd.

476,211

592,481

476,895

Barnardos

50,477

60,000

56,520

Boardmatch Ireland

85,530

70,000

66,500

Breaking Through

59,913

68,049

65,940

Brí - The Acquired Brain Injury Advocacy Association

69,239

75,000

70,650

Business in the Community Ireland

52,132

50,000

47,100

Care Alliance Ireland

54,239

45,000

42,390

Caring for Carers Ireland Ltd

69,239

75,000

70,650

Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd

331,455

302,716

326,147

Carlow Volunteer Centre

106,290

106.290

100.976

Carmichael Centre for Vol Groups

58,890

70,000

65,940

Cavan-Monaghan LEADER

416,772

411,682

436,099

Centre for Independent Living

25,000

50,000

47,100

Cheshire Ireland

31,739

-

-

Children in Hospital Ireland

95,390

100,000

94,200

20,000

20,000

18,800

Childrens Rights Alliance

113,478

100,000

94,200

Chronic Pain Ireland

36,151

45,000

42,390

Cill Dara Ar Aghaidh Teo

491,479

490,068

521,171

426,317

602,793

501,688

Clare Local Development Company Ltd.

145,760

146,755

220,751

Clare Volunteer Centre

47,410

59,340

56.373

Co. Kilkenny LEADER Partnership

382,389

434,498

401,681

Co. Wicklow Community Partnership

309,741

303,128

367,902

Co. Sligo LEADER Partnership Company Ltd

234,810

358,262

203,206

Co. Wicklow Community Partnership

105,634

98,246

109,188

Coastwatch

9,844

1,000

-

193,486

228,107

359,615

Comhar na nOileán Teoranta

91,954

87,206

76,314

COPE

9,047

-

-

Cork Volunteer Centre

86,170

97,720

92,834

County Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd.

77,447

74,314

84,174

County Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd.

112,177

94,808

167,080

34,000

32,000

30,100

Disability Federation of Ireland

45,588

55,000

51,810

119,834

128,912

149,788

Donegal Local Development Co. Ltd.

414,785

460,534

621,127

Donegal Volunteer Centre

114,800

114,800

106,190

Dublin South City Volunteer Centre

154,150

154,150

142,589

DunLaoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre

83,353

87,850

83,458

Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI)

69,239

75,000

70,650

Fingal LEADER Partnership Co.

198,033

189,127

139,656

Fingal Volunteer Centre

104,370

104,370

99,152

First Step Limited

59,610

59,610

-

36,125

-

5,000

Focus Ireland

68,430

68,430

65,009

Foróige (NFTE)

20,000

40,000

37,680

-

90,989

116,126

Forum Connemara Ltd

205,484

234,813

276,128

Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC)

104,264

100,000

94,200

Galway Rural Development Company

292,189

470,284

509,938

Galway Volunteer Centre

105,070

105,070

99,817

Genetic and Rare Disorders Organisation

10,000

18,407

18,840

GROW in Ireland

10,000

20,000

18,840

Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland Ltd

20,032

23,000

21,666

IASE (Irish Association for Supported Employment)

94,827

90,000

84,780

INCADDS Irish National Council of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Support Groups

38,088

40,000

37,680

Inclusion Ireland

38,088

40,000

37,680

Inishowen Development Partnership

260,583

223,246

267,565

357,220

336,620

532,977

IRD Duhallow Ltd.

26,862

29,612

26,912

Irish Autism Action

90,390

90,000

84,780

Irish Blue Cross

8,090

10,000

15,000

Irish Charities Tax Research

32,500

-

-

499,029

458,500

514,200

34,000

32,000

30,100

Irish Council for Social Housing

30,588

25,000

23,550

Irish Countrywomen's Association

36,176

-

-

Irish Deaf Society

73,676

75,000

70,650

Irish Heart Foundation

25,000

50,000

47,100

Irish Motor Neurone Disease Assoc (IMNDA)

15,000

30,000

28,260

Irish Mountain Rescue

60,596

70,000

65,940

20,000

78,000

123,500

Irish Rural Link

69,962

-

-

Irish Stammering Association

33,088

30,000

28,260

Irish Water Safety

507,000

512,000

512,000

ISPCA

10,000

20,000

25,000

Kerry Volunteer Centre

96,760

96,760

91,922

89,118

81,028

97,231

Laois Community & Enterprise Development Co. Ltd.

248,674

307,000

210,268

285,450

398,805

312,345

Leitrim Integrated Development Co Ltd

2,145

1,352

2,146

Limerick Housing Services

29,006

23,000

25,000

Limerick Volunteer Centre

130,446

123,344

110,667

Longford Community Resources Ltd

205,154

267,816

309,875

Longford Volunteer Centre

32,410

59,340

44,620

297,696

265,454

240,637

Louth LEADER Partnership

42,325

42,573

44,668

Louth Volunteer Centre

100,530

100,530

95,504

Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co.

256,137

324,767

254,918

Mayo Volunteer Centre

84,081

93,177

88,521

Meath Community Rural and Social Dev.

476,951

469,240

562,172

Meath Volunteer Centre

110,670

110,670

102,370

Medical Research Charities Group

18,088

-

-

55,656

-

-

Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (LIQUITATED)

374,897

-

-

Migraine Association of Ireland

35,588

35,000

32,970

MOVE Ireland

43,088

50,000

47,100

Muintir na Tire

104,120

85,000

80,070

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland

50,477

60,000

56,520

Muscular Dystrophy Ireland

22,500

45,000

42,390

National Association for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Irl

22,500

31,538

42,390

National Association for Youth Drama

17,500

35,000

32,970

20,000

20,000

18,800

38,088

40,000

37,680

National Association of Building Co-Operatives (NABCO)

123,547

70,000

40,000

National Collective of Community-based Womens Networks

38,088

40,000

37,680

National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disability

18,088

-

-

National Traveller Womens' Forum

38,088

40,000

37,680

National Women's Council of Ireland

20,000

20,000

18,800

20,000

20,000

18,800

National Youth Council of Ireland

25,000

50,000

47,100

Neurological Alliance of Ireland

54,913

60,000

56,520

New Communities Partnership

83,565

90,000

84,780

North East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teo

346,959

462,468

264,597

North Tipperary LEADER Partnership

302,744

380,000

433,962

Offaly Integrated Local Development Company Ltd.

357,791

332,511

393,153

One Family

85,723

95,000

89,490

OPEN

113,478

100,000

94,200

Open Heart House

22,500

45,000

42,390

631,635

631,635

-

Philanthropy Ireland

72,000

-

-

Pobal - Dormant Accounts

1,655,112

1,653,247

590,881

Pobal - Admin (Dormant Accounts)

850,000

750,000

645,000

Pobal - Admin (LCDP)

1,900,000

1,900,000

1,900,000

Pobal - LCDP

51,839,086

43,433,395

39,490,284

Post Polio Support Group

33,088

30,000

28,260

150,000

200,000

200,000

Protestant Aid

15,000

15,000

14,400

Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI)

81,176

90,000

84,780

227,978

196,221

242,083

Roscommon Integrated Development Co.

394,272

439,285

439,764

Rural Resettlement Ireland

20,081

10,000

-

Safe Home

13,420

5,000

3,930

Show Racism the Red Card

17,500

35,000

32,970

25,500

-

-

Simon

112,915

90,000

84,780

Sligo Volunteer Centre

96,150

97,720

92,834

Social Justice Ireland (CORI)

80,000

78,000

73,500

47,000

44,000

41,400

1,350,000

1,500,000

1,500,000

Society of St Vincent de Paul

12,750

-

-

South and East Cork Area Dev Ltd.

313,295

362,809

323,977

South Dublin County Volunteer Centre

155,534

155,534

143,869

437,094

485,339

421,976

South Kerry Development Ltd.

358,735

385,199

398,735

181,165

178,428

182,354

South Tipperary Development Co. Ltd.

243,060

361,218

437,629

South Tipperary Volunteer Centre

117,770

117,770

108,873

308,058

266,708

278,787

South West Mayo Development Co. Ltd.

380,608

478,548

476,781

Special Olympics Ireland Ltd

36,176

-

-

Suas

40,588

45,000

42,390

SWAN

160,815

169,227

69,150

Teagasc

-

-

19,049

The Asthma Society of Ireland

25,000

50,000

47,100

34,000

32,000

30,100

The Carers Association

37,500

75,000

70,650

The Irish Traveller Movement

102,216

100,000

94,200

The National Network of Women's Refuges and Support Services (NNRWSS)

36,176

-

-

80,000

78,000

73,500

The Wheel

97,779

102,000

94,200

Threshold

337,250

313,000

377,276

Unmarried and Separated Fathers of Ireland

18,088

-

-

Volunteer Centres Ireland

214,315

-

-

Volunteer Ireland (formerly Volunteering Ireland)

228,522

445,120

418,939

Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd.

356,650

442,487

484,271

722,106

690,358

704,062

West Cork Development Partnership Ltd

505,553

516,725

523,173

West Limerick Resources Ltd

344,655

400,027

312,484

325,231

385,924

367,637

Westmeath Community Development Ltd

107,860

107,860

102,467

Wexford Local Development

265,483

307,770

415,356

Wicklow Volunteer Centre

111,410

115,910

110,115

Young Social Innovators

270,000

243,000

230,850

TOTAL

81,936,858

74,621,214

68,833,072

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