Written Answers Nos. 131-137
131. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will bring forward legislation to restrict the height of boundary hedges and trees, or any other legislation in this area. [4652/14]
View answer139. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered introducing regulations on tree height and dangerous trees; his plans to provide local authorities with guidelines in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4669/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 139 together.
Planning legislation places no specific restrictions on the height of trees, nor does it make any particular provision for remedy from any other nuisance which may be caused by trees in an urban residential area. Complaints relating to matters such as trees or shrubs overhanging a property are normally addressed, where necessary, under civil law between the parties concerned.
I have no plans to develop legislation or guidelines for local authorities in this regard at present.
132. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the salaries each of the members of the board of Irish Water receives, and the names of the State bodies of which they are board members. [4564/14]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) and that the new company should be formed and registered under the Companies Acts. The Memorandum and Articles of Association, which were adopted by Irish Water on its incorporation in July 2013, provide that the appointment of directors to the Board of Irish Water is the responsibility of the Board of BGÉ with the approval of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Twelve directors have been appointed to the Board of Irish Water by BGÉ and these appointments were approved in advance by me, as Minister, and by my colleague, Minister Pat Rabbitte.
The fee payable to the Chairman of Irish Water is €30,000 per annum and the fee payable to the non-executive Board Members is €15,000 per annum as approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and in line with Board remuneration in the semi-state sector. The company management Board Members are not in receipt of any fee. The Chairman of Irish Water is also the Chairman of Bord Gáis Éireann and of Shannon Airport Authority plc.
133. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address self-builders' concerns regarding amendment SI 9 of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, effective from 1 March 2014, which will oblige self-builders to employ a certified professional to design a house on their behalf and to have building contractors take over the project from start to finish; if he will also address the concern that this will restrict persons in their choice of method of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4586/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 544 and 554 of 28 January 2014 which comprehensively addressed the concerns raised by the Irish Association of Self-builders.
The method of construction used for a building is matter of choice for the owner and the designer. Building Regulations do not favour any one particular method of construction over another. They set a minimum set of performance standards which a finished building must achieve. The required performance standards can typically be achieved using a variety of traditional or innovative approaches thereby optimising the level of choice available to owner and designers. The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 are consistent with this approach will not constrain owners in their choice of a method of construction.
134. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the amount of funding drawn down by Cork County Council out of the allocation of €3.9 million approved by his Department in February 2012 for the network contract on the Bandon main drainage scheme; if he will further confirm that any funding not drawn down is ring-fenced for the completion of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4632/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 545, 552 and 555 of 28 January 2014 which sets out the position in relation to the Bandon Sewerage Scheme.
Cork County Council drew down funding of €1.4m from my Department in respect of this network contract. 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.
The following information was provided under Standing Order 40A
My Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 - 2013 provided for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. The programme included contracts for both a wastewater treatment plant upgrade and network for the Bandon Sewerage Scheme Phase 2.
In February 2012 I approved funding of €3.9m for the network contract on the scheme. Cork County Council awarded the contract in March 2012 and the Contractor commenced work at that time. However, contractual issues subsequently emerged and the Contractor and ihe Council agreed to the termination of the contract by mutual consent.
From 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. The further progression of all water services capital projects, including the one raised by Deputy Daly, is a matter for Irish Water. This includes confirmation that funding will be available to progress schemes.
I understand that príor to 31 December 2013 Cork County Council had appointed a consultant to complete the Contract Documents which will incorporate all of the outstanding works on the network element of the Bandon Sewerage Scheme. Irish Water has confirmed that the completion of the network element of the scheme is a priority.
135. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way his Department's contracts for taxi companies for the transportation of departmental staff are decided and allocated; if there is a public tender process for taxi companies wishing to apply for these contracts; the process for allocating the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4643/14]
View answerMy Department does not have a contract with a particular taxi company but rather has an account with a specific company for the use of Departmental staff for certain business purposes, when absolutely necessary. Standard taxi fares apply for the business journey, which my Department recoup s to the company concerned on a n on-going basis. In addition, from time to time a staff member may recoup the costs of a journey undertaken by taxi without recourse to any specific company where circumstances require it.
In the context of official travel, it is Departmental policy that public transport should be used wherever possible, where it is deemed necessary to travel for business purposes. Staff are only permitted to hire taxis or to use their cars to travel to and from meetings where no suitable public transport (e.g. train or bus) is available, where public transport is available only at equal or greater expense or where the use of public transport would result in the loss of official time which it is necessary to avoid. Staff travelling between Departmental offices, where public transport options are available, may claim the costs of travel on the basis of public transport rates (train/bus) only.
The cost of hiring taxies is part of the overall administrative overhead of my Department. Expenditure is closely monitored and no specific budget for taxi costs is set.
136. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide statistics relating to the control of dogs by local authorities for 2013; the number of dogs seized by each local authority; the number surrendered or collected; the number of these rehomed or reclaimed; the number transferred to animal welfare groups; the number put to sleep, and the number of deaths by natural causes that occurred in each local authority. [4653/14]
View answerEach year my Department publishes statistics on our website in respect of a range of dog control responsibilities of local authorities. This includes the range of statistics that the Deputy has sought. This information is currently available up to 2012 at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/DogControl/. Statistics from each local authority in relation to 2013 are now being collated and verified and will be published as soon as possible.
137. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will request Irish Water to make funding available as a matter of priority to address the mid-Kerry water supply crisis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4657/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 218 of 16 January 2013 which sets out the position in relation to Killorglin.
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.
