Written Answers Nos. 472-496
473. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding a proposed interpretative centre project (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will confirm that this proposed project remains a Department priority; the anticipated timeframe for the delivery of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8133/14]
View answerThe matter is not one for which my Department has responsibility, nor has any voted allocation ever been provided to my Department or its Agencies in respect of same. I am advised that the proposed project is being led by Ballina Town Council and enquiries as regards to its prioritisation and the anticipated timeframe for any delivery should be addressed directly to the Council. I also understand that there have been discussions led by the Town Council and involving the Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland on the broad objectives of the proposals.
474. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the review of wind farm guidelines; when he envisages a report being ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8136/14]
View answerThe Minister of State for Housing and Planning announced the commencement of a public consultation process on proposed revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in relation to noise, proximity and shadow flicker on 11 December 2013. Information is available on the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's website. This public consultation process is ongoing and written submissions are invited up to February 21 2014, with a view to finalising the guidelines by mid–2014. The revised guidelines will apply to all wind farm development in Ireland.
477. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to promote fuel-efficient cars and-or fuel-saving systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8234/14]
View answerThe Renewable Energy Directive states that the principal ways in which energy consumption in the transport sector can be reduced include transport planning, support for public transport, increasing the share of electric cars in production, and also producing cars which are more energy efficient. In April 2011, I opened the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme to incentivise and support, through grants of up to €5,000, the early deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. These grants are in addition to the VRT reliefs of up to €5,000 which apply to electric vehicles. This support scheme will remain open for this year.
479. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will clarify if all branches of the Civil Service within his Department are applying departmental policy that staff progress on incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8679/14]
View answerI can confirm that all staff in my Department progress on their incremental salary scale on the basis of a single point. All increments are awarded in line with guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
480. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources as far as he is aware if any official bodies under the aegis of his Department subscribes to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by a company (details supplied); if so, the cost of this service; if the data will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8693/14]
View answerThe information the Deputy has sought regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
481. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide financial assistance to allow a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to modify their house to meet their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7544/14]
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 Kilkenny City Council.
482. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the extraction of gravel from rivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7819/14]
View answerSection 32(1)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides that, subject to the other provisions of the Act, permission is required under Part III of the Act in respect of any development of land, not being exempted development. Section 3(1) of the Act defines development to mean, except where the context otherwise requires, the carrying out of any works on, in, over or under land or the making of any material change in the use of any structures or other land. Works involving the extraction of gravel from rivers, accordingly, require planning permission. Furthermore, the extraction of stone, gravel, sand or clay in the case of fluvial dredging (other than maintenance dredging), where the length of river involved would be greater than 500 metres, requires an applicant for consent to furnish an environmental impact statement to the planning authority or An Bord Pleanála, as the case may be.
However, section 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, set out various exemptions from the requirement to obtain permission, subject, in many cases, to specific conditions. Class 3, Schedule 2, Part 3 of the 2001 Planning Regulations provides that minor works relating to the construction or maintenance of any gully, drain, pond, trough, pit or widening or deepening of watercourses, the removal of obstructions from watercourses and the making or repairing of embankments in connection with any of the foregoing works is exempted development. Development is generally not exempted from the requirement to obtain planning permission if it could require an environmental impact assessment, and, since the commencement of amendments to section 4 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 on 21 September 2011, development is also not exempted from planning if it could require appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive.
The Regulations are kept under review and I will consider whether any further amendments or clarifications of existing provisions are required in this area.
483. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason he has revised the focus of the housing aid for the elderly grant to exclude replacement doors and windows; his views on whether this exclusion will render many essential repairs ineffectual; if he will reverse his decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7830/14]
View answerLast month, some changes to the terms and conditions of the schemes were notified to local authorities. These changes were made on foot of the recommendations of a review group, established in 2013 by my Department, to examine the terms and conditions governing the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Membership of the group included the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA), the Housing Practitioner Network, Local Authority personnel and my Department. Consultations were held with organisations working with older people and people with a disability. The aim of the review was to target the grants at those in greatest need, spreading the benefits as widely as possible and to ensure fairness and value for money in the operation of the schemes.
In the case of the Housing Aid for Older People (HAOP), there has been no change with regard to the range of grant-eligible works under this scheme. Grant assistance for the replacement of sub-standard windows and doors is still available. It is a matter for the local authority to determine the scope and extent of the works to be carried out. While the maximum grant available under this scheme has been reduced from €10,500 to €8,000, it is worth noting that the average grant paid to applicants under this scheme in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was €4,162, €4,106 and €3,995, respectively.
484. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of jobs created by the programme to install water metering; the number of companies contracted to install water meters and the number of these from the Republic of Ireland; and if he will provide a list of these companies. [7912/14]
View answerThe 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.
Four regional main contractors covering eight meter regions were appointed by Irish Water following a public tendering process. These contractors have responsibility for appointing sub-contractors who are responsible for recruiting suitably qualified staff to carry out the work. The contractors 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.
Data supplied to the Department by Irish Water indicates that there were 1,060 people employed by the subcontractors at the end of January 2014. The social inclusion commitment that forms part of the contracts for the metering programme requires that a minimum of 25% of the jobs be allocated to people on the live register, small businesses and school leavers/graduates gaining employment. Irish Water is in the process of verifying the social inclusion targets for end January but has informed my Department that based on previous verifications it is confident that it has exceeded the social inclusion targets.
485. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider allocating a minimum of 20% of positions in polling stations and count centres to unemployed persons and ensure it is part of the returning officer's role to do so; if he will ensure that returning officers put in place a more transparent recruitment system which gives unemployed persons an equal opportunity to access these positions; if he will further ensure that such a system is widely publicised so that unemployed persons are made aware of how to register their interest in these positions; and if he will ensure that recruitment processes positively encourage and welcome applications from unemployed persons. [8164/14]
View answer517. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will work with the Department of Social Protection to provide greater opportunities for unemployed persons to avail of work in polling stations and count centres across the State in the forthcoming elections. [8163/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 517 together.
The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local returning officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums, including the selection, appointment and training of polling station and count staff in accordance with the relevant provisions of electoral law.
Where two or more elections have the same polling day, as is the case for the forthcoming European Parliament and local elections to take place on 23 May 2014, regulations governing the taking of the polls may be made under section 165 of the Electoral Act 1992 to modify, as required, electoral legislation to enable the polls to be taken together. As in the case of the European Parliament and local elections held in 2009, regulations to be made under section 165 of the Electoral Act 1992 in advance of the 2014 elections will provide that arrangements in relation to polling stations, including the selection of polling staff, will be a matter for the local returning officer responsible for the European Parliament elections.
My Department routinely issues guidance to Returning Officers in advance of each election and referendum. The guidance issued for the European Parliament and local elections being held on 23 May 2014 emphasises that the smooth conduct of polls is dependent on maintaining a cadre of sufficiently skilled and experienced people. Having regard to that overall objective, returning officers are advised to employ competent and efficient persons as polling staff and asked to give consideration, where possible, to employing suitable persons who are unemployed, particularly for the position of polling clerk where the responsibilities of the post can be fulfilled under the guidance of the Presiding Officer.
486. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will provide details of the amounts the Exchequer will provide to co-finance the next round of Leader-funded projects in accordance with the recently announced rural development programme for 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8189/14]
View answerIreland has received an allocation from the EU of € 2.1 billion for the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP). The EU Regulations provide for a 5% minimum allocation for LEADER. The Government has decided to increase this to 7% and I welcome this. Therefore €153 million in EU funding will be available for LEADER and this will be co-financed by Exchequer funding. Preparations in respect of the design, content and implementation of the 2014 – 2020 RDP are currently under way and a number of stakeholder meetings and public consultations have already taken place. Those interested in contributing to the process can do so by making a written submission to rdp.@environ.ie.
The Exchequer co-financing element is currently subject to discussions between my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and following conclusion of these discussions, I will announce the overall value of the LEADER elements of the Programme.
487. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the pyrite remediation scheme and a date for when he expects the scheme to open up to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7517/14]
View answerIn accordance with Section 13 of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 I have recently approved the draft pyrite remediation scheme and directed the Board to make the scheme which has now been done. The scheme has been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the terms of the Act. I understand that the Board will begin accepting applications later this month.
488. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the sewage treatment plant at Killimy Road, Emo, County Laois, which is not functioning properly, will be allocated funding for an upgrade. [7518/14]
View answerI have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure. Upgrade works to the sewage treatment plant at Killimy Road, Emo, Co. Laois were not included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013.
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. From 1 January 2014, the further progression of all water services capital projects is a matter for Irish Water.
My Department has asked Irish Water to put in place specific arrangements to address the queries which public representatives may have in relation to matters pertaining to the operation of water services under the new utility. I understand that Irish Water will be in contact with Oireachtas members during the course of this week to outline the arrangements for addressing such queries in a timely manner.
489. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a company (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment of its Leader grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/14]
View answerIn line with the 'bottom-up' approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. The LAG for the area referred to in the question is Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP).
I understand that the group in question submitted a claim to MNELP for payment in respect of the project in question some time ago. I also understand that there have been some delays in relation to the processing of the claim. I have been assured, however, that MNELP is now actively engaged in carrying out the necessary verification checks required under EU Regulations and Programme Operating Rules and is working closely with my Department in that regard.
Both MNELP and my Department are in regular contact with the group in relation to this matter and I expect it will be brought to a conclusion shortly.
490. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or career break, broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one year to two years, two to three years, four to five years and five years plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7627/14]
View answerThe information requested in relation to staff on career break is set out in the following table.
|
Duration |
No of Staff |
|
0 - 6 months |
4 |
|
6 - 12 months |
1 |
|
1 - 2 years |
3 |
|
2 - 3 years |
0 |
|
3 - 4 years |
1 |
|
4 - 5 years |
11 |
|
5 years+ |
3 |
491. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline, in tabular form, the total number of uncertified sick leave days taken by employees in his Department and the average uncertified sick leave days per employee taken; the total certified sick leave days taken by employees; the average certified sick leave days per employee; the total sick leave days taken by employees; and the average total sick leave days and median overall sick leave days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7643/14]
View answerThe information requested is set out in the following table.
|
Sick Days |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
No of uncertified sick days taken by employees |
878.11 |
891.86 |
702.46 |
492.53 |
|
Average uncertified sick days taken per employee |
0.78 |
0.80 |
0.75 |
0.60 |
|
No of certified sick days taken by employees |
8,353.21 |
7,574.49 |
6,655.82 |
5,163.26 |
|
Average certified sick days taken per employee |
7.38 |
6.79 |
7.07 |
6.34 |
|
Total sick days taken by employees |
9,231.32 |
8,466.35 |
7,358.28 |
5,655.79 |
|
Average Total sick days taken per employee |
8.15 |
7.58 |
7.82 |
6.94 |
|
Median Sick Days |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
It should be noted that staffing levels were reduced in my Department in May 2011 following the transfer of functions of the Heritage Division out of my Department to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the transfer of the Community Division into my Department.
492. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps proposed to implement the terms of section 48 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014; if he will clarify whether, in the case of a council that does not have municipal districts, it is intended that the corporate policy group will include at least one member from each local electoral area and, if so, the mechanism to achieve this in view of the fact that section 133(1)(c) of the Local Government Act 2001, as inserted by section 48 of the 2014 Act, refers only to municipal districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7692/14]
View answerI intend that section 48 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 will come into effect on the establishment day provided for in section 8 and the transfer date provided for in section 24(1) of the 2014 Act. It is anticipated that the establishment day and transfer date will be 1 June 2014.
The main purpose of municipal districts is to provide a more coherent and comprehensive system of sub-county governance in place of town councils. In that context the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland suggested at the Working Group for Engagement with Local Authority Representative Associations that each municipal district should be represented on the Corporate Policy Group (CPG). The relevant provision in the 2014 Act was framed following engagement with the local authority representative associations regarding this proposal, which related only to representation on the CPG from the municipal districts and, accordingly, this requirement does not apply in relation to electoral areas in local authorities where the municipal district will not apply.
493. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for farmhouses in respect of water metering; if existing meters and allowances will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7762/14]
View answerThe 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 (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services.
Currently, any farm connected to a public water supply is liable for charges as a non-domestic customer, with an allowance provided for domestic use. Following the introduction of domestic water charges, farms connected to public water supplies will be charged by Irish Water for both non-domestic and domestic use, subject to the free allowance to be provided to households in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.
494. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the Department of Social Protection can deduct payments for an award made against a social welfare recipient under the Residential Tenancies Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7765/14]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the tenant-landlord relationship in the private rented residential sector. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants in this sector. The Act does not make provision for the Department of Social Protection to deduct payments for an award made against a social welfare recipient.
Under the Act, enforcement of PRTB orders is a discretionary power and the Board exercises this power taking account of the circumstances pertaining to each case. In many cases the best option, and one which the PRTB facilitates, is for the parties to agree a schedule of payments. However, while there is no legal obligation on the PRTB to enforce, this does not in any way preclude parties from pursuing enforcement independently through the courts including the seeking of a garnishee order.
495. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of known vacant apartment units in the city of Dublin, either finished units or partly finished units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7776/14]
View answer506. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will consult with all local authorities across the country to ascertain all vacant local authority dwellings in the country, and if he will provide same in tabular form. [7929/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 506 together.
The Eighth Annual Report on Service Indicators, published by the Local Government Management Services Board in 2013, which details service indicators in local authorities in 2011, provides a range of information in relation to the social housing stock in each local authority. Specific information is provided with regard to vacant housing units and on the average number of weeks taken by each local authority, from the date of vacation of a unit to the date when all necessary repairs are carried out, to re-let a unit. Copies of the report are available from the Local Government Management Agency and may be downloaded from their website (www.lgmsb.ie).
Information on the numbers of privately owned housing units in Dublin city which are currently vacant is not available in my Department.
496. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the introduction of a system whereby hauliers can pay their road tax in monthly instalments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7791/14]
View answerI have no plans to change the available options for payment of motor tax, which can currently be paid on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. Any changes to the incremental basis of payment of motor tax would require a surcharge, similar to that currently applying to half-yearly and quarterly discs, to be applied to monthly discs to compensate for the increased cost of administration associated with the processing and issuing of additional discs. In addition, the introduction of a monthly disc would have a negative impact on the flow of income to the Local Government Fund and consequently on grant allocations to local authorities from the Fund, or alternatively would require a compensatory adjustment elsewhere in motor tax or other taxation.
