Written Answers Nos. 133-139
133. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine the tender documentation issued by Irish Water which will block many Irish companies from tendering (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4514/14]
View answerAs Irish Water is a commercial utility and a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE), formed and registered under the Companies Act, I have no role in relation to the procurement by Irish Water of external resources. This is an operational matter for the company.
However, Irish Water assures me that their tendering processes are fully compliant with public procurement rules.
I understand from the company that the relevant tenders were designed by engineering expertise seconded directly from local authorities with direct knowledge of the local supply base and, in consultation with Irish Water legal, insurance and Health, Safety, Quality and Environment Sections.
The methodology was not designed to exclude smaller companies. The framework contracts did include local authority area panels to allow as many smaller contractors as possible to be included and ensure competition. Irish Water confirms that significant numbers of local smaller contractors have been awarded framework contracts.
134. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of local property tax that has been collected in each local authority area; and the amount each will receive in 2014 from the Local Government Fund. [4515/14]
View answerQuestions relating to the collection of the Local property Tax are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.
I assume that the Question refers to general purpose grants from the Local Government Fund. General purpose grants are my Department’s contribution towards meeting the cost to local authorities of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers.
The amount to be paid to local authorities from the Local Government Fund for general purpose grants in 2014 is €281m; this figure recognises the removal of water related costs from local authorities to Irish Water in 2014. The table below details the proposed general purpose grant allocations from the Local Government Fund to all local authorities in 2014.
|
Local Authority Name |
2014 - € |
|
Carlow County Council |
5,352,469 |
|
Cavan County Council |
8,458,415 |
|
Clare County Council |
2,646,284 |
|
Cork County Council |
2,951,435 |
|
Donegal County Council |
22,720,760 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
5,724,579 |
|
Fingal County Council |
454,714 |
|
Galway County Council |
12,506,381 |
|
Kerry County Council |
11,043,837 |
|
Kildare County Council |
9,686,924 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
9,356,019 |
|
Laois County Council |
7,631,324 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
8,282,319 |
|
Limerick County Council |
6,175,333 |
|
Longford County Council |
8,119,493 |
|
Louth County Council |
8,243,835 |
|
Mayo County Council |
17,492,594 |
|
Meath County Council |
8,799,199 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
10,247,882 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
9,832,046 |
|
Offaly County Council |
6,663,642 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
9,107,439 |
|
Sligo County Council |
8,993,352 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
923,906 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
12,923,064 |
|
Waterford County Council |
12,125,219 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
10,115,479 |
|
Wexford County Council |
11,888,576 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
6,846,310 |
|
Cork City Council |
8,544,374 |
|
Dublin City Council |
2,667,330 |
|
Galway City Council |
1,626,429 |
|
Limerick City Council |
8,449,826 |
|
Waterford City Council |
4,399,212 |
135. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount paid nationally by local authorities to private landlords under the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will list the amounts by each local authority area. [4516/14]
View answerSince the inception of the Rental Accommodation Scheme in 2004, expenditure up to the end of 2013 has totalled €643.2 million. The following table sets out the total annual expenditure from 2004 to 2013.
|
Year |
Annual Expenditure |
|
2004 |
€164,836 |
|
2005 |
€723,281 |
|
2006 |
€6,199,980 |
|
2007 |
€27,384,837 |
|
2008 |
€53,025,430 |
|
2009 |
€83,394,513 |
|
2010 |
€100,076,430 |
|
2011 |
€115,917,365 |
|
2012 |
€125,429,966 |
|
2013 |
€130,886,608 |
|
- |
€643,203,246 |
Recoupment made to local authorities under the RAS covers not only the contracted rents due to private landlords but also payments that are made to Voluntary Housing Bodies, administration costs, deposits on newly acquired accommodation, payments made in respect of additional units supplied under the Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 and up to very recently payments in respect of homeless persons.
My Department does not collect data on the amount directly paid by local authorities to private landlords nor does it have access to the amounts concerned by each local authority area.
136. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in respect of capital building projects under the remit of his Department and the building programmes planned for 2014, if he will outline the impact the new building control regulations 2013, that come into effect on 1 March, will have on the costs of each specific project; if he will list the projects under way; the extra costs that will be incurred on each project due to increased professional fees and increased supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the main capital projects currently underway are as set out below. The Deputy should be aware that the New Building Control Regulations will have no cost implications for these current prisons capital works.
- Cork - new prison;
- Wheatfield - Work & Training Building;
- Limerick - heating upgrade & sewerage upgrade;
- Likely to commence in the coming weeks: Mountjoy Prison - D wing refurbishment.
In regard to the Courts Service I am advised that it does not have any capital building projects currently underway or due to start on site in 2014. Furthermore, they have confirmed that they are fully aware of the requirements of the Building Control Regulations 2013 and therefore there will be no cost implications as they were taken into account in all projects that are currently at planning stage.
137. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will examine if the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service retained the original Iranian identification certificate in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6, who submitted the document in 2006, while their other documents, including the official translation of the identification certificate, have been returned via their legal representatives, but they have not received the original identification certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4374/14]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the normal practice is to return all original documents submitted by persons during their asylum claim to the person concerned or their legal representative. I am advised that this practice was followed in the case referred to by the Deputy.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
138. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Coroners Bill 2007; the date on which it will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4389/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Coroners Bill 2007 is before the Seanad having been restored to the Order Paper on my initiative.
The Bill is being reviewed with a view, among other matters, to making it as cost-effective as possible. It is necessary to consider the impact of relevant legal and medical developments since the Bill's publication in 2007, and to examine the proposed administrative structures for the coronial service to determine whether they remain appropriate and cost effective.
While it would be my wish to be in a position to progress this important Bill, it is not possible for me to indicate with any certainty, at this point, the likely timetable in that regard.
139. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will discuss with the Garda Commissioner suggestions by an eminent District Court judge in Tallaght that there was a total breakdown of social order in Tallaght; if he appreciated the serious concerns of the Tallaght community in respect of the issue; if he will provide assurances that effective action will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4411/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on remarks made by a member of the Judiciary, apparently during the course of court proceedings. Law enforcement policy is, of course, a matter for the Government.
I can assure the Deputy that I share the concerns of people in Tallaght that the most effective strategies to counter and prevent crime are pursued in the area. In this regard I am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner who has assured me that the very significant resources available to the Gardaí are effectively deployed to address policing needs in Tallaght. Local Garda management closely monitor all crime trends and community safety concerns with a particular focus on preventing crimes of violence against persons and property, and there is also a strong emphasis on active engagement with the community to support crime prevention and reduction.
I am further advised that Garda figures for the year 2013 indicate a reduction of 11% in incidents of violent crime as well as a 22% reduction in public order offences in the Tallaght sub-district, in comparison to the year 2012. These reductions are broadly in line with the overall crime trends nationally, which have seen most categories of crime falling, and reflect well of the work of An Garda Síochána.
I am very conscious that these positive indicators, and the excellent work which is taking place between Gardaí and the community in Tallaght, do not detract from the impact of violent crime, wherever it occurs, and I am aware of the serious concerns in the Tallaght area arising from two recent violent deaths. Both incidents are under active Garda investigation and several charges have been brought in respect of one of the incidents. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on those particular cases other that to encourage anyone who has information which might be of assistance to contact the Gardai, either in person or by using the Garda confidential line.
