Written Answers Nos 470-488
470. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current status of the Tubbercurry-Strandhill-Grange bundled sewerage schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2789/14]
View answerThe Grange/Strandhill/Tubbercurry Sewerage Scheme (Wastewater Treatment Plants Upgrades) was included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a contract to start at an estimated cost of €10.8 million.
My Department approved the Design Review Report for this Scheme in August 2013. However, the scheme had not progressed to the next stage prior to the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure to Irish Water on 1 January 2014. Irish Water is currently preparing its Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 and this will provide for the transition of projects which were included in my Department’s 2010 - 2013 Water Services Investment Programme.
471. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Cloghran drainage scheme, north County Dublin; when this scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2796/14]
View answer473. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an assurance that the setting up of Irish Water will not jeopardise or delay the Cloghran drainage scheme, north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2798/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 473 together.
The Cloghran Drainage Scheme was not included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 , so details of how Fingal County Council was progressing the scheme are not available in my Department.
Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. It is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 that will provide for the transition of projects included in the 2010 - 2013 Water Services Investment Programme.
472. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the Seamount reservoir project, Malahide, north County Dublin; when this scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2797/14]
View answer474. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an assurance that the setting up of Irish Water will not jeopardise or delay the Seamount reservoir project, Malahide, north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2799/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 474 together.
The Malahide Water Supply (Reservoir) Scheme was approved to proceed under the Serviced Land Initiative Sub-Programme of my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. However, I understand that Fingal County Council had not progressed the scheme, in accordance with the conditions of its approval, prior to 31 December 2013.
Irish Water is now responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. It is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 that will provide for the transition of projects included in the 2010 - 2013 Water Services Investment Programme.
475. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress being made regarding a tenant deposit protection scheme; if various models of such a scheme are being considered; if an insurance-based model rather than a deposit retention model has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2821/14]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2011 contains a commitment to establish a tenancy deposit protection scheme. On foot of this commitment I asked the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) to commission research on such a scheme and to report back to me with recommendations in that regard. The subsequent report assessed a number of different options for delivery of a deposit protection scheme ranging from one where all elements are delivered by the PRTB to one where all elements are outsourced to a private operator. Each option was considered in terms of both insurance and custodial type schemes.
I have considered all of the options presented in the report in order to determine how to offer the greatest protection to tenants at least cost to the Exchequer. I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly on the establishment of a tenancy deposit scheme with a view to introducing provisions for such a scheme in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 at Committee stage. The Bill is currently in the Seanad having completed Second stage in September 2013.
477. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the budgetary allocation for the housing adaption grant for persons with a disability for 2009 up to 2014, inclusive, broken down in tabular form by local authority. [2833/14]
View answer478. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the budgetary allocation for the housing aid for older persons grant for 2009 up to 2014, inclusive, broken down in tabular form by local authority. [2834/14]
View answer479. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the budgetary allocation for mobility aid grants for 2009 up to 2014, inclusive, broken down in tabular form by local authority. [2835/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 477 to 479, inclusive, together.
Details of the allocations to local authorities in respect the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability over the period 2009 to 2014 are set out in the table below. There are three distinct measures under this scheme, the Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability, the Housing Aid for Older People and the Mobility Aids Grants. It is a matter for the Local Authority to apportion the overall allocation between the three measures. The schemes are funded by 80% recoupments available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Local Authority |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
Exchequer Allocation |
|
Carlow |
€1,494,500 |
€1,494,500 |
€1,079,211 |
€1,179,211 |
€634,081 |
€658,359 |
|
Cavan |
€1,130,000 |
€1,500,000 |
€1,500,000 |
€1,050,000 |
€880,847 |
€914,395 |
|
Clare |
€1,651,667 |
€2,500,000 |
€2,500,000 |
€1,100,552 |
€1,237,486 |
€1,291,810 |
|
Cork |
€1,930,000 |
€6,490,067 |
€5,000,291 |
€6,629,387 |
€3,814,922 |
€3,925,585 |
|
Donegal |
€3,679,333 |
€3,680,000 |
€2,477,239 |
€815,517 |
€778,088 |
€780,000 |
|
D’Laogh/Rathdown |
€1,808,000 |
€1,708,000 |
€926,872 |
€888,482 |
€740,471 |
€844,147 |
|
Fingal |
€1,967,000 |
€2,100,000 |
€1,657,892 |
€1,657,892 |
€1,460,348 |
€1,561,049 |
|
Galway |
€1,520,933 |
€1,900,000 |
€1,900,000 |
€1,900,000 |
€1,438,098 |
€1,519,824 |
|
Kerry |
€2,757,667 |
€3,249,000 |
€2,767,218 |
€2,606,292 |
€1,358,026 |
€1,431,022 |
|
Kildare |
€2,001,667 |
€3,000,000 |
€2,850,836 |
€1,620,000 |
€1,739,898 |
€1,819,830 |
|
Kilkenny |
€828,667 |
€1,494,000 |
€1,494,000 |
€1,494,000 |
€1,190,906 |
€1,234,891 |
|
Laois |
€1,589,850 |
€1,464,000 |
€916,874 |
€867,862 |
€384,826 |
€418,656 |
|
Leitrim |
€1,312,667 |
€1,310,000 |
€790,929 |
€555,044 |
€229,861 |
€246,032 |
|
Limerick |
€1,217,867 |
€1,547,000 |
€1,375,380 |
€1,378,764 |
€1,269,913 |
€1,330,679 |
|
Longford |
€969,467 |
€1,000,000 |
€1,000,000 |
€994,860 |
€577,400 |
€595,574 |
|
Louth |
€2,079,000 |
€2,156,500 |
€1,076,573 |
€949,012 |
€963,068 |
€1,016,769 |
|
Mayo |
€2,722,333 |
€2,976,000 |
€2,175,646 |
€2,060,173 |
€2,160,404 |
€2,227,225 |
|
Meath |
€800,000 |
€1,171,277 |
€1,171,277 |
€857,766 |
€499,545 |
€572,776 |
|
Monaghan |
€1,664,000 |
€1,664,000 |
€1,055,266 |
€1,200,000 |
€711,729 |
€739,703 |
|
North Tipp |
€1,481,333 |
€1,341,000 |
€1,285,745 |
€960,000 |
€497,939 |
€531,864 |
|
Offaly |
€1,552,117 |
€1,800,000 |
€1,647,450 |
€700,000 |
€551,663 |
€586,105 |
|
Roscommon |
€1,789,833 |
€2,200,000 |
€2,050,232 |
€783,401 |
€616,597 |
€649,019 |
|
Sligo (Borough and County) |
€1,593,200 |
€1,475,000 |
€1,132,614 |
€1,106,822 |
€343,280 |
€375,351 |
|
South Dublin |
€3,650,667 |
€3,800,000 |
€2,465,658 |
€1,782,647 |
€1,229,012 |
€1,333,635 |
|
South Tipperary |
€1,716,333 |
€2,500,000 |
€2,500,000 |
€2,489,371 |
€1,057,262 |
€1,099,782 |
|
Waterford |
€1,362,000 |
€1,362,000 |
€990,659 |
€795,813 |
€378,996 |
€410,847 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,316,000 |
€1,483,970 |
€914,631 |
€790,524 |
€522,701 |
€561,000 |
|
Wexford |
€2,360,333 |
€2,621,500 |
€2,082,723 |
€2,153,418 |
€1,070,672 |
€1,138,712 |
|
Wicklow |
€1,433,000 |
€1,949,850 |
€919,408 |
€763,835 |
€543,301 |
€603,039 |
|
Cork City |
€2,166,333 |
€2,166,333 |
€2,166,333 |
€1,399,793 |
€1,491,600 |
€1,552,805 |
|
Dublin City |
€10,797,667 |
€11,300,000 |
€9,088,969 |
€7,614,654 |
€4,410,309 |
€4,656,977 |
|
Galway City |
€981,333 |
€981,333 |
€819,706 |
€872,682 |
€417,504 |
€448,222 |
|
Limerick City |
€1,110,000 |
€1,220,000 |
€1,220,000 |
€1,520,000 |
€931,256 |
€958,560 |
|
Waterford City |
€580,000 |
€698,000 |
€632,248 |
€662,225 |
€353,930 |
€376,099 |
480. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons behind retaining local property tax proceeds to fund Irish Water rather than allowing local authorities retain 80% of locally raised funds; the total sum held back by the Government; where that sum will be spent; if unused, will the remaining funds be distributed on the original basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2850/14]
View answer494. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount from the Local Government Fund planned to be invested in Irish Water service level agreements in 2014 and subsequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2944/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 494 together.
The local government funding model is changing considerably in 2014. Under the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing this year, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year; this revenue will be allocated to local authorities from the Fund, as General Purpose Grants. In addition, the establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector has a considerable impact on local authority financing.
The Government has indicated an intention to move to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. The establishment of Irish Water presents local government with significant organisational and financial challenges in 2014. Service provision responsibilities are moving from the local authorities to Irish Water, infrastructure is being transferred, financing arrangements have altered and local authorities are operating on behalf of Irish Water under Service Level Agreements. These changes must be managed.
In this context, it has been necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the Local Property Tax to be retained in each local authority until 2015. This approach allowed maximum flexibility in allocating Local Property Tax in 2014 in the form of General Purpose Grants, with a priority to support those local authorities with weaker funding bases. In allocating general purpose funding for 2014 I have sought to ensure, in combination with the funding being made available through Irish Water, that these elements of support for local authorities would be maintained around 2013 levels. It will be a matter for each local authority to determine how best to use General Purpose Grant revenue in line with local priorities and circumstances.
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.
I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and therefore a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision-making concerning service provision - in particular, the inclusion of the local variation mechanism from 2015 will further increase the autonomy of local authorities; and a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.
482. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to set up a specific parliamentary question office within Irish Water; the timeline for its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2852/14]
View answerAs Irish Water is a commercial utility and a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, formed and registered under the Companies Act, I and my Department will not necessarily have access to details of, or direct accountability for, expenditure and other organisational matters in relation to the company.
In this context, and to support and assist public representatives in their role, my Department has requested Irish Water, on behalf of myself and Minister O’Dowd, to take early action to ensure that public representatives are regularly briefed on matters pertaining to the organisation and operation of the utility. Irish Water is currently considering how best to support and respond to the Parliamentary and public representation needs of elected representatives at national and local level.
