Written Answers Nos. 414-431
414. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is not willing to undertake wall insulation works at an address (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2883/14]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme under the Better Energy Programme. I have no function in relation to individual grant applications. Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for SEAI and a dedicated hotline can be reached at 1800 250 204. In addition, SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members. These queries can be sent to oireachtas@seai.ie and will be dealt with promptly. As a general policy matter I can say that SEAI aims to deliver services to the highest technical standards available at any time. This means that the services offered evolve as technical standards improve. There are currently more than 3,000 homes on a waiting list for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme and SEAI's priority is to deliver services to the fuel poor who have received no services previously. It is not currently anticipated that homes where services have been previously delivered will be revisited by SEAI.
415. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, is continuing to proceed to reallocate staff from its offices in Blackrock, County Dublin, to City West despite the fact that staff at IFI, Blackrock are in dispute regarding the decision to move to City West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2887/14]
View answer416. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, has provided to him a cost-benefit analysis regarding its decision to close its Blackrock office and move its operations to City West, Dublin; and the savings that are anticipated during the next five years for IFI as a result of this move. [2888/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together.
Issues relating to accommodation and staffing are day- to-day operational matters for public bodies, in this instance Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Accommodation and staffing are among the most significant cost components of public sector organisations and it is incumbent on all agencies to achieve economy and efficiency. In this context, the Board of IFI has commenced a strategic rationalisation of its Dublin based accommodation. On its establishment, IFI had accommodation at three locations in Swords, including leasing a headquarters building, and premises in Glasnevin and Blackrock. As part of this rationalisation, and in keeping with Government policy to exit from expensive leases wherever possible, IFI exercised the break clause on the Swords Headquarters when it arose and has already disposed of the Glasnevin premises.
A key part of the accommodation strategy is the rationalisation and amalgamation of all Dublin property, including the Blackrock Office. This rationalisation strategy will generate efficiencies and savings over time in relation to lease rents. In addition, the significantly better energy efficiency of the new Headquarters facility in City West, which will also be consistent with Government commitments as regards reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption, will also generate efficiencies. The rationalisation will also assist in financing the fitting out of the new headquarters and other property rationalisations outside Dublin.
I am advised that the current proposal is to transfer Blackrock staff to the new IFI Headquarters Office in Citywest when it is complete. I am further informed that this rationalisation is being undertaken in conformity with Public Financial Procedures, including capital appraisal, and that IFI has consistently engaged with all staff on these matters and are continuing to do so through the normal Industrial Relations channels.
417. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to merge two State companies, Bord na Móna and Coillte, into one powerful, strategically-placed energy company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2929/14]
View answerOn 19 June 2013, a Government Decision provided for a robust analysis to be carried out to evaluate how to give effect to a beneficial merger of Coillte with Bord na Móna to create a streamlined and refocused commercial State company operating in the bio-energy and forestry sectors, as committed to in the Programme for Government. A Steering Group, comprising representatives from my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and NewERA, has been charged with overseeing the evaluation process in line with the Government Decision. A significant amount of analysis has been undertaken to date and it is expected that the Steering Group will report its findings to the relevant Ministers in the coming weeks.
418. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects to act on the recommendation of the Constitutional Convention to extend voting rights to the Irish diaspora. [2267/14]
View answer419. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects to act on the recommendation of the Constitutional Convention to extend voting rights to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland. [2268/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.
The Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution, which recommends giving citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections, was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 26 November 2013. In accordance with the resolution of the Oireachtas on the calling of the Convention, the Government will provide in the Oireachtas a response to this recommendation within four months and, if accepting the recommendation will indicate a timeframe it envisages for the holding of any related referendum.
420. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assurances that the capacity of Westmeath Community Development to administer LEADER funding will not be diminished should it be consumed by Westmeath County Council; and the way his Department is supporting community initiatives, workers co-ops and the broadening, grounding and deepening of agri-business in the Midlands. [2828/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 162 of 18 December 2013, which addresses this matter.
421. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total Exchequer funding provided in respect of the establishment of Irish Water in each of the years 2012 to 2014, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3103/14]
View answer452. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the areas in which the anticipated €2 billion in savings by Irish Water by 2021 will be achieved. [2713/14]
View answer464. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he anticipates any further funding requirements for Irish Water beyond those which are budgeted for up to April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2725/14]
View answer465. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he anticipates any future funding requirements from his Department for Irish Water beyond April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/14]
View answer493. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total planned capital investment in Irish Water from Exchequer funding in 2014 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2943/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 421, 452, 464, 465 and 493 together.
No Exchequer funds were provided to Bord Gáis or Irish Water in 2012 or 2013 in relation to establishment costs. In 2014, Irish Water, which now has statutory responsibility for water services, will receive €240m in equity from the Minister for Finance and €490m from the Local Government Fund but no other funding from the Department’s Vote for establishment or other costs. Irish Water is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014–2016 that will provide for the transition of projects previously included in my Department’s 2010-2013 Water Services Investment Programme.
My Departmental costs and Local Authority costs relating to the Water Sector Reform Programme have been met from the Departmental Vote. These costs amount to €15.7m in the period 2012-2013. The majority of this expenditure related to funding provided to local authorities to meet the costs of the pre-installation survey required as part of the domestic metering programme and the staffing costs of the Water Services Transition Office which was put in place to ensure appropriate arrangements for engagement with the local authority sector during the reform process.
The delivery of water services under a public utility model is expected to bring benefits in terms of access to new sources of revenue to fund greater investment in water services infrastructure and provide more efficient and better quality of service for customers. To date the majority of the costs of water services provision have been met by the Exchequer and local authorities from their own resources and general purpose grants, with some income from the commercial sector. The Irish Water funding model is expected to yield a potential saving of the order of €2 billion to the State. This is based on a comparison between the projected funding under such traditional arrangements to 2021 and the Irish Water funding model and reflects projections in relation to potential customer revenue, likely levels of State support, access to funding on capital markets, and efficiency gains. The Government has not yet decided on the budgetary provision for Irish Water for 2015 and beyond.
422. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the source of the €180 million in set-up costs for Irish Water; if the figure was ever debated by the Houses of the Oireachtas at any level; if so, where; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3104/14]
View answer426. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reveal the names of the consultants that Irish Water used in 2013; and if he will provide a breakdown of the fees each of them received. [2303/14]
View answer432. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the €50 million spent on consultants that neither his Department nor Irish Water have so far provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2458/14]
View answer451. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has had any communications with Irish Water regarding to the non-tendering of contracts for external supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/14]
View answer453. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the communications he has had with Irish Water on consultancy costs; the date on which he was made aware of the €85 million spend on external consultants by Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2714/14]
View answer454. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which he approved the overall budget for Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2715/14]
View answer459. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total spending undertaken by Bord Gáis prior to the formal establishment of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2720/14]
View answer460. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the concerns his Department raised with Irish Water regarding PR and branding spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2721/14]
View answer495. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate when he became aware that the spending of Irish Water was going to reach €86 million with the hiring of consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2956/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos . 422, 426, 432, 451, 453, 454, 459, 460 and 495 together.
The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of the Government’s water sector reform strategy and involves major organisational change, an entirely new funding structure governed by economic regulation, the introduction of domestic water charges based on usage and the roll-out of a national domestic metering programme. The role of my Department is to drive the overall water sector reform process which includes developing the policy and legislation and ensuring delivery of the implementation strategy which was published in December 2012. The role of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) was key to bringing the necessary skills and competencies to the project, allowing the utility to be established within an ambitious timeline at least cost and least risk, by leveraging from its knowledge, systems and skills and matching this with skills within the water sector. It was recognised that in addition external service providers would be required as part of this process.
BGE had responsibility for most of the deliverables under the Government water sector reform implementation strategy. BGE developed a detailed programme initiation document within the framework of this strategy, which outlined all of the tasks required to establish a fully functioning integrated public water utility and provided this to my Department in August 2012. It also provided an associated budget to my Department which outlined the costs involved in each area of activity, totalling €150m plus €30m contingency and reflecting both the use of BGE and external resources. The budget reflected the range of tasks to be undertaken from financial, governance, regulatory business capability, systems, brand management and customer engagement perspectives. It was understood from the engagement with BGE that the majority of the funding under the heading of brand management and customer engagement would be used for customer engagement.
These establishment costs were initially funded by BGE and subsequently financed by a loan from the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF). No Exchequer funds or voted Department expenditure has been provided to BGE or to Irish Water for establishment costs. As these costs were to be included in the overall funding model for Irish Water, they would also be examined by the Commission for Energy Regulation as an integral element of the independent economic regulation of Irish Water. Against this background, and in advance of the establishment of Irish Water, my Department provided confirmation to BGE that spending being properly incurred on the water services activities would be recoverable in the event that the project was not proceeded with or, subject to meeting certain conditions, be recoverable as part of the funding model to be reviewed by the Commission. This initial commitment was provided by my Department in December 2012 and updated on a number of occasions in advance of the incorporation of Irish Water and the consent to the NPRF lending. My consent, given with consent of the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, for Irish Water to enter into the loan arrangement with the NPRF for metering and establishment costs was provided in July 2013, with an understanding of the overall estimated budget involved. My Department was notified of some €62m in spending over the course of the months immediately prior to the incorporation of Irish Water in July 2013. In compliance with the conditions attached by my Department to the recovery of establishment costs, BGE confirmed that public procurement rules were being observed and provided a report on the outcome of the process in March 2013.
The procurement by Irish Water of external resources was a matter for the company and I had no role in approving individual contracts. However, the company has indicated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht last week that the following major companies were used by the Irish Water Programme to help deliver the required systems and processes in the establishment of Irish Water - IBM, Accenture, Ernst & Young and KPMG. The company also indicated that to date some €50m has been spent on external service providers in establishing Irish Water. Further details of the contracts relating to the establishment of Irish Water are set out in the submission made by the company to the Joint Oireachtas Committee last week and this submission has been published on the company’s website at www.water.ie.
423. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the valuable scrap metal that will be collected during the course of works to install water meters. [2281/14]
View answer427. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a direction has been given to Irish Water to the effect that access should be maintained to households during water meter installation, as its contractors' trucks have obstructed the driveways of elderly residents thereby blocking emergency vehicles from accessing their properties. [2336/14]
View answer442. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department can provide a projected timeline for the installation of water meters to the 300,000 homes that have not been included in the initial roll-out of metering; if it is the intention of Irish Water and his Department that meters will be installed at these homes in the foreseeable future; if two homes sharing a single connection will be treated any differently to an apartment block; the reason this supply cannot be split as part of the meter installation programme; if he will provide an update on the deliberations of the Commission for Energy Regulation in respect of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2590/14]
View answer469. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way residents can independently verify the readings on their water meters in view of the fact that they are covered with plastic covers and all the numbers are not visible; and the scope there is for householders to ascertain whether there are leaks in the system. [2765/14]
View answer481. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current rate of water meter roll-out per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2851/14]
View answer483. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department have been informed about pension rights compliance issues and other wage concerns with subcontractors handling the roll-out of meters on behalf of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2853/14]
View answer484. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the subcontractors involved in the roll-out of water meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2854/14]
View answer485. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the jobs created by the roll-out of water metering have met the criteria as laid out by him in terms of taking people off the live register and upskilling apprentices; the percentages met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2855/14]
View answer486. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total spending on water metering to date; the total budget; if he anticipates any further funding beyond that which has been budgeted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2856/14]
View answer487. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current estimated timeframe for the completion of water metering; the number of homes that will be metered; the number of homes that will receive a flat charge; if there are any interim measures for flat charges on houses that will be metered in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2857/14]
View answer488. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of the number of houses metered to date; the number expected to be metered by the end of 2014, 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2858/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 423, 427, 442, 469, 481 and 483 to 488, inclusive, 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. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme.
The current water meter installation programme commenced in August 2013 and the approved budget for the programme is €539 million (excluding VAT) which includes the supply of materials and the installation work by contractors operating in eight regions. The total spend on the programme at the end of 2013 amounted to approximately €35 million. It is estimated that 1.05 million meters will be installed under the programme; with about 400,000 by the end of this year, over 800,000 by the end of 2015 and the balance in 2016. The current rate of installation is some 27,000 meters a month and approximately 94,000 meters have been installed to date. A breakdown of the installations by region is set out in the following table.
Meter installations by region
|
Region |
All |
North West |
West |
South West |
North East |
Dublin City |
Midlands |
County Dublin |
South East |
|
Meter |
93,640 |
7,012 |
6,520 |
7,790 |
12,445 |
13,613 |
22,064 |
15,646 |
8,550 |
A study by Irish Water on the approach to metering further categories of households, including apartments and properties with shared service connections, has been finalised and recently submitted to my Department. The approach in relation to such households will be developed when the study has been considered in more detail. The nature of the works may restrict access to driveways temporarily and will cause some disruption to the public road or footpath outside people's homes and area, which may last for a few days. Irish Water advises that this is unavoidable, but it is endeavouring to keep this disruption to a minimum and to ensure that safe pedestrian access to properties is retained while the work is carried out. There may be instances where access to driveways is blocked overnight to ensure that reinstatement is carried out to the highest level and this is done in accordance with all relevant health and safety requirements, including facilitating access by emergency vehicles. A strong focus has been placed on customer communications during this process and any additional support or advice can be arranged for householders with any disability, mobility or medical concerns by ringing the Irish Water call centre (1890 278 278) in advance of the meter installation. The meter will be installed, where possible, at the stop valve on the public footpath or verge outside a property. The water meters are the property of Irish Water and it is illegal to tamper with a meter. However, it will be possible for a customer to access the meter to verify readings.
Irish Water will aim to reuse existing water meters that are owned by the local authority, where possible. If the meter has the potential to be reused it will be removed and examined to make sure that this is possible. If it is suitable it will be reused within the programme. Where it is not deemed possible to reuse the meter, it will be disposed of in the most sustainable manner possible by the contractor in accordance with the requirements of the contract.
The contractors for the 8 meter regions received, as part of their contract, details of the panel of subcontractors formed by my Department. The contractors may employ from that list, but are under no obligation to do so. The employment of subcontractors is a matter for each regional contractor. Irish Water carries out compliance checks on the contractors. All contractors have also provided information on employees to ensure compliance with the social Inclusion obligations. Data supplied to the Department by Irish Water indicates the following levels of employment created by the metering programme to date.
Employment created by metering programme
|
No of employees on contract |
No of employees from SMES |
No of employees from unemployment register |
No of apprentices/graduates & school leavers |
|
871 |
475 |
156 |
57 |
|
- |
54.5% |
17.9% |
6.5% |
As the metering programme will still be underway when charges are introduced, an appropriate approach to charging customers who are not metered at that stage will be put in place. This will be structured in such a way as to ensure that it represents a reasonable proxy for usage and is fair. The approach to charges for both metered and unmetered properties will be included in a public consultation which will be undertaken by the Commission for Energy Regulation as part of the regulatory process.
424. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 November 2013, if he is now in a position to provide the full details of the service level agreements which have been undertaken between Irish Water and each local authority; the way these agreements will determine funding to be provided to local authorities for the provision of water services in 2014 in each case; the euro amount expected to be required in each case; the dates on which such moneys will be transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2293/14]
View answer462. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the details of the incentive payments section of the service level agreements signed with local authorities; if he will detail those eligible for the payments; the criteria used; if he will indicate who will pay for them; the estimated spending on the payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2723/14]
View answer463. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority staff covered by the service level agreements; the number of staff anticipated to leave the local authority water section during the SLA period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2724/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 424, 462 and 463 together.
The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 transferred statutory responsibility for water services to Irish Water and provided for local authorities to act as agents for Irish Water, with this relationship being expressed through Service Level Agreements. The agreements signed between Irish Water and individual local authorities were based on a generic template. A copy of the generic Service Level Agreement is available on my Department’s website. The agreements signed by each authority and Irish Water were tailored to the individual authority circumstances, reflecting numbers of local authority staff covered and the operational budgets appropriate to the cost of providing water services within each authority area.
The Service Level Agreements are based on achieving efficiencies without the need for incentive payments. They are set in the context of a Framework Agreement for Service Level Agreements agreed at the Irish Water Consultative Group. This agreement outlines that the Service Level Agreement will include a programme to improve the efficiencies in water services operations, including investment in infrastructure and new technologies, training and up-skilling, and reflecting best practice in standard operating procedures and processes. Each Service Level Agreement in place with a Local Authority is supported by an Annual Service Plan which reflects the required programme of transformation for that authority. Funding under each Annual Service Plan is designed to reimburse the local authority for the costs incurred on water services and staffing levels will be reviewed each year as part of the Annual Service Plan.
The Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services 2014 provides an amount of €490m for Irish Water from the Local Government Fund in 2014; the final outturn figure for 2014 is likely to be slightly less than this amount. This amount provided will fund water related expenditures incurred heretofore by local authorities; these expenditures were previously met by local authorities from their own resources and general purpose grants. Within this overall framework, the agreement of budgets with local authorities and the payments for services provided are matters for Irish Water. The Annual Financial Statement of each local authority for 2014 onwards will explicitly detail the cost of services provided to Irish Water and the related payments received in each financial year.
425. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the new legislation pertaining to noise pollution. [2301/14]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to take further steps to address noise pollution, inter alia , through the introduction of fixed payment notices (also known as on-the-spot fines). The development of new noise legislation by my Department is being considered in the context of this commitment. I expect to bring the General Scheme of the Bill to Government for consideration in 2014. However, as indicated in the Government Legislation Programme published on 15 January 2014, it is not possible at this time to indicate when the Bill will be published, having regard to the broad range of legislative priorities to be progressed across my Department’s remit. Currently, a person experiencing noise nuisance may contact his or her local authority, which may initiate proceedings on grounds of noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. This Act also provides for any person, or group of persons, to seek an order in the District Court to have noise giving reasonable cause for annoyance abated. The procedures involved have been simplified to allow action to be taken without legal representation. A public information leaflet, A Guide to the Noise Regulations, outlining the legal avenues available to persons experiencing noise nuisance, is available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie.
Question No. 426 answered with Question No. 422.
428. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department, including payments from ministerial allowances and broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultants employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2360/14]
View answerThe information requested is set out in the following table:
|
Consultant/Author etc. |
Name/Description of Report |
Status |
Amount Spent Since February 2011 |
|
Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Lawrence |
Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) report of the risks from Sellafield to Ireland and Irish interests. |
Executive Summary published November 2012. |
€2,921,327 |
|
AECOM |
Cost optimal study for non domestic buildings |
Published March 2013. |
€56,227 |
|
Building Research Establishment Ltd. |
Retrofitting Code of Practice. |
To be published by NSAI by end February 2014. |
(1)€21,190 |
|
Pyrite Panel |
Report of the Pyrite Panel - Independent report to provide options for the Minister to deal with the pyrite problem. |
Published July 2012. |
€21,470 |
|
Mr. David Lovegrove |
2010 Report of the Dormant Accounts Board. |
Published July 2011. |
€9,184 |
|
Mr. David Lovegrove |
2011 Report of the Dormant Accounts Board. |
Published July 2012. |
€9,689 |
|
Mr. David Lovegrove |
2012 Report of the Dormant Accounts Board. |
Published March 2013. |
€1,120 |
|
Secretariat to the National Economic and Social Council of Ireland |
Analysis on national climate policy. |
Interim report released October 2012; final report released in February 2013. |
Nil |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) & University College Cork (UCC) |
Technical support on developing low carbon sector roadmaps for Ireland. |
No formal document due for publication. The project relates to technical support. |
€107,552 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) & University College Cork (UCC) |
Technical support for the purposes of advising Government on the proposed 2030 EU Framework for Climate and Energy Policies. |
No formal document due for publication. The project relates to technical support. |
€30,496 |
|
AP Env Econ Limited |
Report on Greening the Economy. |
To be submitted to Government in Q1 2014. |
€35,178 |
|
SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd |
Report on Energy Transformation Project. |
Report will be submitted to the NESC Council for discussion in Q1 2014. Expected publication in Q2 2014. |
€50,451 |
|
DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald |
Negotiation of the conclusion of lease arrangements for the storage of electronic voting machines. |
Completed. No document due for publication. The work was principally professional advice. |
€2,783 |
|
Dr. Eoin O'Sullivan, Trinity College Dublin |
Review of the Homeless Strategy 2008-2013. |
Published November 2012. |
€6,000 |
|
DKM Economic Consultants |
Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. |
Published July 2013. |
€39,690 |
|
Indecon |
Feasibility study on a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. |
Published November 2012. |
(2)€42,706 |
|
Version 1 |
Evaluation of ICT Disaster Recovery configuration and capability. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€9,363 |
|
SQW Limited |
Feasibility study to inform the design of a main stage National Evaluation of the Local and Community Development Programme. |
No formal report due for publication. The work was for internal use and technical support for the Department. |
€77,000 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Analysis of Property Tax Options - a report to the Interdepartmental Expert Group on Property Tax. |
Published December 2012. |
€60,280 |
|
Inter-Departmental Group |
Design of a Local Property Tax – Report of the Inter-Departmental Group. |
Published December 2012. |
Nil |
|
Barrow Archaeological Services |
Archaeological reports on Met Éireann site at Valentia. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€1,210 |
|
Flynn Furney Consultants Ltd |
Environmental Management Services re: review of CEMP at Valentia Site (Method Statement). |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€3,167 |
|
Glas Ecology |
Environment Management Plan (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry). |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€4,920 |
|
Malachy Walsh & Partners |
EIS Screening Report for site at Valentia. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€6,336 |
|
Munster Archaeology |
Report on archaeological investigation/survey of Met Éireann site at Valentia. |
Ongoing. |
€47,289 |
|
National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI) |
Audit reports for ISO9001:2008 in 2011 and 2012. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€6,699 |
|
ARUP Consulting Engineers |
Study in respect of provision of fire detection and alarm systems in dwellings. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€29,935 |
|
Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy |
Preparation of EIA Guidelines. |
Published March 2013. |
€7,200 |
|
Mr. Hendrik W van der Kamp |
Independent Evaluation of the Planning Review Report 2012. |
Published January 2013. |
€12,096 |
|
Murtagh & Partners |
Review of Dublin Region Homelessness Services and Funding in 2011. |
Published October 2011. |
€27,800 |
|
Mazars |
Systems audit of the RDP. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€49,414 |
|
Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas |
Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas report on how to support the economic development of rural Ireland. |
Expected to be published in early 2014. |
(3)€19,049 |
|
Housing & Sustainable Communities Ltd. |
Toolkit for Local Authorities on regeneration. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€12,300 |
|
KW Research & Associates |
NTACC Research into why Travellers leave Traveller-specific accommodation. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€9,921 |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Business Process Design of the Housing Assistance Payment. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€54,938 |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Review of leasing model. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€1,937 |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Review of CALF assessment process. |
Completed. Not intended for publication. |
€11,675 |
|
Pembroke Communications |
Advise on, and assist tendering process for, Tidy Towns sponsorship. |
No formal report due for publication. |
€4,560 |
|
RPS Group |
All Island Used Tyre Survey. |
Published March 2013. |
(4)€17,673 |
|
RPS Group |
Review of the Producer Responsibility Model in Ireland. |
Ongoing. |
€211,458 |
|
Fehilly Timoney & Company |
Bulky Waste Reuse Best Practice - Feasibility Study. |
Published July 2013. |
€55,289 |
|
Indecon |
Regulatory Impact Analysis of proposed regulations for household food waste. |
Published June 2012. |
€24,725 |
|
Methanogen |
Crop Demo Trials to demonstrate the use of composted and anaerobic digested BMW on crops. |
Report launched in September 2012. |
€181,532 |
|
Poyry Forest Industry Consulting |
Recovered Paper Market in Ireland and Recovered Paper Quality Best Practice Studies. |
Published September 2011. |
€85,003 |
|
Certification Europe Ltd |
Compost Quality Assurance Scheme. |
Launched October 2012. |
€139,142 |
|
RPS |
Provision of expertise concerning Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment techniques for the evaluation and revision of Regional Waste Management Plans. |
Completed. No formal document due for publication. The work is principally advice, guidance documents and technical expertise. |
€45,223 |
|
SKM Enviros |
Irish Recycled Plastic Waste Arisings Study. |
Published September 2011. |
€37,566 |
|
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2011 Report. |
Published April 2012. |
€61,077 |
|
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2012 Report. |
Published April 2013. |
€58,271 |
|
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2013 Report. |
Ongoing. |
€26,007 |
|
White Young Green |
Ambient Air Monitoring in the vicinity of the former steelworks site, Haulbowline, Cork. |
Published. |
€13,005 |
|
White Young Green |
Annual Dust Impact Assessment Report (2011) at the Former Irish Steelworks Site, Haulbowline, Cobh, Co. Cork. |
Published March 2012. |
(5)see footnote |
|
Marine Institute |
Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Initial Assessment. |
The technical report was published on the Department's website in Q2 2013 and the summary report was published in Q4 2013. |
(6)€1,475,006 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
Public consultation process on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and producing a report. |
Published November 2013. |
€9,000 |
|
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Consultancy services on establishment of National Water Utility. |
Irish Water - Phase 1 report and appendices published January 2012 (www.environ.ie). Implementation Strategy published December 2012 (www.environ.ie). |
€179,584 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Affordability aspects of the provision of water services in Ireland. |
Completed; at this time the report is not intended for publication. |
€55,727 |
|
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. |
Published March 2012. |
€19,680 |
|
Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC |
Review of the compulsory acquisition of land by Wicklow County Council at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 2. |
Published April 2013. |
€49,200 |
|
Total |
€6,556,320 |
(1) Contract in conjunction with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The Department's contribution is €21,190 which represents approximately 23% of the total cost.
(2) This report was co-funded by my Department and the Private Residential Tenancies Board. The cost to my Department of €42,706 represents 50% of the total cost.
(3) This report has been co-funded by my Department, Teagasc and the Western Development Commission. The cost to my Department of €19,049 represents 40% of the overall expenditure.
(4) Survey jointly commissioned and funded by Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland and my Department.
(5) My Department previously provided funding to Cork County Council to support the production of an annual Dust Impact Assessment Report at the former Irish Steel site at Haulbowline Island. Following a Government Decision in June, 2011 the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine assumed the lead role in relation to the remedial works necessary to be undertaken on the site. Accordingly, funding provided to Cork County Council for the annual Dust Impact Assessment Report 2011 and subsequent years is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
(6) This report arises from Ireland’s obligation to implement the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The work primarily consists of a determination of the status of Ireland’s marine waters and the measures necessary to achieve, or maintain, the required status by 2020.
429. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in respect of a stair lift payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2373/14]
View answerUnder the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, grants are available to assist households to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. Three separate schemes are available, the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme.
The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to cover a basic suite of works to address the mobility problems of a member of a household. Qualifying works include the provision of stair lifts, level access showers, access ramps, grab rails and some minor adaptation works to the fabric of the house such as adaptation of downstairs room/closet to provide sanitary facilities etc. The effective maximum grant available is €6,000 and may cover 100% of the cost of works subject to a maximum annual household income threshold of €30,000. The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority, in this case Dublin City Council.
430. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will be seeking funding in order that a major new recruitment drive for Dublin Fire Brigade can take place in 2014. [2436/14]
View answerMy Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each City and County Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements in each Council. It is a matter for City and County Managers, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained. Where a local authority identifies a critical post that it cannot fill by way of re-organisation or re-assignment it may revert to my Department seeking sanction to fill the post. My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services and economic considerations are given precedence.
Dublin City Council recently carried out an assessment of staffing needs for the fire service, and the proposed recruitment procedures were discussed and agreed with trade unions. Some existing fire-fighter vacancies were filled on a cost neutral basis from within the existing staff cohort of the Dublin local authorities. These discussions included a proposal to hold a recruitment process that will be open to external candidates. The necessary sanctions have been granted by my Department and the recruitment is now a matter for Dublin City Council.
431. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an application will be made to the EU solidarity fund to seek financial assistance with the clean-up and repair costs of the damage caused along the Irish coastline by recent storms. [2437/14]
View answer434. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that the management of Kerry County Council has finalised its estimated figures for restoration works to be carried out along the Kerry coastline, if he will confirm that funding will be released from EU solidarity fund or from central funding. [2465/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 434 together.
During the period from 13 December 2014 to 6 January 2014 Ireland was subjected to a series of severe storms, affecting the country roughly once every three days. In addition to the very strong winds, there were periods of extremely heavy rain and a lot of thunderstorm activity. These storms coincided with high spring tides and created severe and damaging conditions in a number of coastal areas.
On 14 January I brought an Interim Report to Government on the storms, compiled by my Department in its capacity as Lead Government Department for the response to severe weather. At the request of Government, my Department is seeking more detailed reports from local authorities, to be provided over the coming 2 weeks, on the anticipated repair and recovery works, including related costings. This will enable Government, through the specific areas of responsibility of relevant Departments and Agencies, to support the local authorities on recovery measures. In the meantime, Government is exploring all possible sources of funding to meet the costs which have arisen from the storm damage, including contact with the EU about a possible application under the Solidarity Funds programme. Any Government decision on an application to the Fund will be made once the full cost of damage has been assessed.
