Written Answers Nos. 462 - 486
462. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the regeneration plans for the King's Island area of Limerick city have taken into account the scale of the recent flooding in the area, the damage caused to local homes; and if the regeneration plans incorporate adequate flood defences that can withstand such flood risks into the future. [9171/14]
View answerThe Limerick Regeneration Framework Implementation Plan (LRFIP) was drawn up having regard to the existing flood risk for St Mary's Park and King's Island as well as past instances of flooding in Limerick City and King’s Island. The Plan promotes a precautionary approach with regard to the provision of replacement housing and the refurbishment of those houses scheduled for retention and recognises the potential risk due to increases in sea levels and increased severity of flooding. The strategic objectives outlined in the plan for St Mary's Park and King's Island take due account of the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme which is currently being progressed by the OPW.
463. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the changes envisaged in respect of the tyre recycling regime; if proposals are being considered to have a single national contract in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9180/14]
View answerIn June 2012, I initiated a wide-ranging review of the existing Producer Responsibility Initiatives in Ireland. The overall purpose of this review is to assess the nature and level of the challenges which are currently facing the existing Producer Responsibility Agreements as well as the forthcoming challenges expected to arise in the management of various waste streams.
As part of this review, I published a report on Tyres and Waste Tyres in November 2013. The report makes a number of recommendations aimed at improving the current regulatory regime for the treatment of waste tyres, including the establishment of a full PRI scheme and an end to the self-compliance option. The report is available on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie, and was subject to a period of public consultation which expired at the end of January 2014. My Department is currently assessing the submissions received from the various stakeholders as part of the consultation process. It is my intention to establish a Tyres Working Group, similar to the current WEEE Batteries Monitoring Group, which will assist my Department in drafting the new Regulations which are required to underpin the regulatory structures recommended in this report.
464. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when funding will be available to carry out insulation for Dublin City Council's solid concrete wall stock. [9185/14]
View answer465. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when funding will be available to carry out attic insulation for Dublin City Council's solid concrete wall stock. [9186/14]
View answer485. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assistance available for persons in local authority housing to insulate their homes if the local authority does not have the funding to insulate the house for them, as local authority tenants are not eligible for a grant through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 464, 465 and 485 together.
Under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme for 2014, some €30 million is being provided for improving the energy performance of older local authority housing stock. The funding is part of a three year investment programme to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in 25,000 local authority homes.
Earlier this month, I announced an initial allocation of €15 million to complete Phase 1 of the programme, which commenced in June 2013 and is focussed on providing attic/roof insulation and cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties.
In 2013, more than 13,000 homes benefitted under this energy efficiency measure compared to the initial target of 5,000. Once a local authority confirms that all houses requiring attic/roof and cavity wall insulation have been dealt with my Department will allocate funding for Phase 2 works which will include external insulation or dry lining of houses with solid wall or hollow block construction. Local authorities may also seek funding approval for the replacement of single glazed or poorly performing windows and doors under Phase 2 works.
Details of the initial allocations to local authorities for 2014 are set out in the following table:
|
Local Authority |
Initial Allocation 2014 - € |
|
Carlow |
229,027 |
|
Cavan |
259,698 |
|
Clare |
297,632 |
|
Cork City |
910,394 |
|
Cork County |
754,169 |
|
Donegal |
514,912 |
|
Dublin City |
2,624,178 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
493,222 |
|
Fingal |
505,739 |
|
Galway City |
289,223 |
|
Galway County |
301,071 |
|
Kerry |
467,902 |
466. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his Department's response to Westmeath County Council's establishment of minimum setback distances for wind turbines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9187/14]
View answerI wrote to the County Manager, Westmeath County Council on 15 February 2014 giving notice that I am considering issuing a direction pursuant to Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) in relation to the provisions on minimum setback distances for wind turbines and certain other issues incorporated in the Westmeath County Development Plan 2014-2020 as adopted by the elected members on 21 January 2014 . I am arranging to provide a copy of the correspondence to the Deputy.
467. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposed fire station in Kanturk, County Cork, which was announced in 2007; when work will commence on this fire station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9246/14]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
Under the 2007 fire service capital programme, a proposal by Cork County Council to build a new two bay fire station in Kanturk was approved in principle. The Council was subsequently approved to prepare detailed design and tender documents in relation to the project. My Department wrote to the Council in 2008 expressing concern at the site acquisition costs and their implication for the total project cost, requesting that other potential sites in Kanturk be considered.
Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as one of the key national priorities for the fire services capital programme. In that context and in order to deliver cost efficiencies, a programme involving fire authorities aggregating demand and jointly procuring 17 fire appliances is now nearing completion, under which Cork County Fire and Rescue Service received an allocation for two new appliances.
Given the constraints on public finances, further support from my Department’s fire services capital programme to replace Kanturk fire station will have regard to national priorities, the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide, Cork County Council’s priorities, the extent of previous investment in Cork fire service, the value for money offered by proposals and the status of existing facilities having regard to risk categorisation.
468. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the trap that many persons in shared ownership arrangements with local authorities find themselves in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9255/14]
View answerThe Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2013. Details regarding the review are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie.
The period for public submissions has closed and submissions from a variety of interested parties are now under consideration in my Department. I expect to be in a position to formulate future policy approaches and actions, taking account of the consultation process, in the near future.
In 2013, I asked the Housing Agency to conduct a standalone review of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures. While I have received an initial draft of the review from the Agency a number of issues have been identified that need further detailed financial analysis in order to fully assess the impact on local authority finances of possible mitigating measures. This data collection exercise has been initiated and will inform future actions.
Pending full conclusion of this review, my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities setting out some of the options and interim actions that might be explored to alleviate the difficulties of those in shared ownership distress such as allowing use of the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process and room rental for Shared Ownership mortgage holders. It is accepted that these proposals are not a complete solution to the issues that arise for such mortgage holders but are intended as an interim measure pending outcome of the review.
I fully recognise that shared ownership home owners, amongst others, have been affected by issues such as unemployment and possible negative equity. In such cases, borrowers should actively engage with their lenders, whether a commercial financial institution or a local authority, to seek to avail of one of the options available to provide sustainable solutions to distressed mortgages.
The mortgage arrears resolution process, already in place in respect of commercial mortgages, is now being implemented across all local authorities. In cases of acute mortgage distress , homeowners also have the option of seeking to avail of the legal process now also in place to deal with personal insolvency.
On foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears, the Government launched a Mortgage to Rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting those low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. The scheme ensures that the family remains in their home, while ownership is transferred to an approved housing body and the family becomes a tenant of the approved housing body. Eligibility requirements are in line with other forms of social housing support.
The scheme for local authority borrowers in arrears, which was piloted in two local authority areas, Westmeath County Council and Dublin City Council, was implemented nationally in recent weeks. With the support of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Housing Finance Agency, I will be allocating an additional €20m to the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) fund in 2014 to significantly expand the capacity of that process to assist households in mortgage distress.
469. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to protect tenants of voluntary housing bodies who are at threat of displacement or homelessness during required refurbishment work following the discovery of build defects. [9292/14]
View answer470. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems at Gallery Quay apartments in Dublin docklands where Túath Housing-owned apartments have been found to have serious structural issues and his plans to support tenants and the housing body through the refurbishment of these properties. [9293/14]
View answer479. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious defects to residential homes in the docklands. [9371/14]
View answer480. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a commitment to support the voluntary housing association, Túath, in its legal case against developer, designers and insurance companies for the docklands apartments. [9372/14]
View answer481. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allocate funding to Túath Housing, until legal action is complete, in order to ensure that the works required are completed for all the residents. [9373/14]
View answer482. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commission an independent structural, engineering report to be carried out on all commercial and residential units, social, affordable and private, in order to assess the extent of the building defects in the docklands development and other similar developments used for social housing. [9374/14]
View answer483. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assurances to all residents in the docklands that he will support residents where they have difficulties with legal cases against developers, designers and insurance companies. [9375/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 470 and 479 to 483, inclusive, together.
The 60 apartments owned by Túath Housing Association at Gallery Quay were constructed as part of a private development of 300 apartments and commercial units at Gallery Quay over the period 2005 to 2006. In accordance with Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, up to 20% of the dwellings were made available for social housing purposes. As a result some 60 apartments were acquired by Túath Housing Association at a cost of over €15 million and funded under my Department’s Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS). Under the terms of the CLSS Approved Housing Bodies received a grant of up to 100% of the cost of constructing or purchasing accommodation for low-income families. An annual management and maintenance allowance of €543 is also payable in respect of dwellings occupied by persons drawn from the local authority housing waiting lists.
I met with the CEO and technical personnel from Túath last Wednesday and was advised of the design and construction issues which are giving rise to problems in Túath-owned properties at Gallery Quay. It appears that the external fabric of the building, which consists of a rendered concrete slab with internally skimmed plasterboard on a proprietary steel dry-wall frame, is subject to water ingress. As a result, during wet and windy conditions, water appears to leak through the outer skin and run down the face of the external wall. Seals around windows and doors also appear to permit water ingress. This, in turn, is giving rise to dampness, condensation and mould growth. The problems became more apparent during the recent wet and stormy weather. Not all apartments are subject to water ingress but I understand that up to 12 units are severely affected.
I understand Túath’s building surveyors are currently carrying out a detailed apartment-by-apartment condition survey of all their units at Gallery Quay and are drawing up a schedule of works to address all latent and inherent defects as soon as possible. I understand the joinery suppliers are also proposing to carry out an on-site inspection and to advise of water ingress around doors and windows. My Department will await the submission of this report and, having considered it, will be happy to engage with Túath in advancing the optimum solution for remedying the situation.
My Department is liaising closely with Túath and Dublin City Council to ascertain the cause of the water ingress and in advancing practical and sustainable refurbishment works to resolve the problem. My Department’s Architectural Inspector along with colleagues from the City Council accepted an invitation from Túath to attend an on-site meeting last Friday with the relevant insurers and to assess the nature and extent of the problem. It will take some time to fully and comprehensively evaluate the cause of the water ingress and to develop and implement appropriate remediation measures. In the interim, Túath are carrying out palliative repairs to the building fabric in order to deal with the immediate problems caused by water ingress and to prevent further damage to homes in the event of a storm.
At this stage, it would appear that the problems affecting the Túath apartments at Gallery Quay are site-specific and are primarily due to design and workmanship issues. My Department will continue to work closely with Túath and Dublin City Council to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place to effect the necessary remedial works and that appropriate accommodation is provided for those families who may have to vacate their homes while the refurbishment works are on-going.
471. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to initiate a higher standard of inspection of prospective and existing social leasing units to ensure that any build defects are detected and future losses are avoided. [9294/14]
View answerIt is already a condition of the social housing leasing scheme that in order for properties to be accepted onto the scheme they must be in compliance with all relevant planning and building regulations. In addition, properties must meet standards set out for rented properties in Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2009. Local authorities are tasked with ensuring that properties comply with the relevant statutory standards by appropriate means, including inspections where required.
472. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options open to a planning authority in relation to the renewing or amending of a local area plan that is about to expire; and the statutory basis for these options. [9318/14]
View answerUnder sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the making, amending or revoking of a local area plan is a reserved function of the elected members of the planning authority.
Furthermore, under section 19 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, a planning authority must commence a review of a local area plan 6 years after the making of the previous local area plan. However, a planning authority may, not more than 5 years after the making of a local area plan, by resolution defer commencing the review process for a further period not exceeding 5 years, extending the lifetime of a local area plan for a stated period, where the members have:
- notified the manager of their decision and the reasons; and
- sought and obtained the Manager’s opinion that the local area plan remains consistent with the objectives and core strategy of the relevant development plan, and the objectives of the local area plan have not been substantially secured.
473. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water will pay for leaks on pipes where a group water scheme is connected to the Irish Water system. [9328/14]
View answerThe Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Act also provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish water and the charges to be levied by Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER.
The CER has already undertaken public consultations on the development of the economic regulatory framework for water services and will be undertaking further consultations during 2014. Water charges will not commence until 1 October 2014 and the first bills will be issued by Irish Water to households from January 2015.
Group Water Schemes that are supplied by way of a connection to the public water supply network will now become customers of Irish Water, having previously been customers of the relevant local authority. Private Group Water Schemes that own their own water sources will not be customers of Irish Water and will continue to operate as before.
My Department will remain responsible for the overall policy and funding, where appropriate, of the non-public water sector, including the group water sector. The funding currently provided under the Rural Water Programme includes a measure for Group Water Schemes Network Upgrades and Water Conservation.
Over the past decade, substantial improvements have been made in the group water sector, reflected in improved infrastructure and management and leading to greater compliance with drinking water standards. This has been accomplished through a partnership approach between my Department, the local authorities and the group water sector itself, with the important involvement of the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. This co-operative approach will be maintained as the reform of water services provision is progressed.
474. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Irish Water no longer intends to use DBOs for new water treatment plants. [9329/14]
View answerI have no responsibility for, or role in relation to the provision or operation of water services infrastructure. From 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for such matters.
However, I understand that Irish Water will utilise a wide range of contract models to deliver its programme of investments. These will be based on best industry practice and achieving value for money and will include the Design Build Operate (DBO) model where appropriate.
475. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 12 February 2014, the way in which a self-builder who is not a principal or director of a company may sign the section concerned as it clearly states it must be signed by a principal or director of a building company; and if he will consider removing or amending this section to avoid this confusion. [9335/14]
View answer492. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the building control amendment regulations, which are due to be enacted in March 2014, if he will consider amending SI 9, which currently states that a certificate of compliance on completion must be signed by a principal or director of a building company, to state that it is to be signed by the builder or home owner, thus making it legal for the home owner to sign the certificate, a circumstance which does not exist at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9476/14]
View answer499. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria for inclusion on the register of approved builders for the purposes of the new building regulations; if the register has been compiled; if he will consider granting a derogation to those who have embarked upon the planning process before the introduction of the new regulations; if he will confirm that the new regulations make it impossible to self build unless one is on the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9622/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 475, 492 and 499 together.
The new Building Control Amendment Regulations which come into operation on 1 March 2014 will greatly strengthen the arrangements currently in place for the control of building activity by requiring greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspections during construction and validation and registration of certificates. The new regulations are necessary following the widespread instances of failure by owners, designers and builders to comply with their statutory obligations under the Building Control Act 1990 to design and construct buildings in accordance with the building regulations. These obligations apply to all sectors of the housing market, including the self-build sector. The Building Control Act and any regulations thereunder, including S.I. No. 9 of 2014, place no restrictions on whom an owner may assign as a builder.
The necessity to limit a signatory of the certificate of compliance on completion to a Principal or Director arises in the context of a company only. Where a self-builder is acting on his or her own behalf, there are no agents or intermediaries involved, and the potential for confusion over legal responsibility does not therefore arise.
In a self-build situation the legal responsibilities of both the owner and the builder will rest with the self-builder. An owner who intends to self-build will, therefore, prior to commencement, notify the building control authority that they are the builder and also sign and lodge the new form of undertaking by the builder. By signing this undertaking they declare that: they will undertake to construct the dwelling in accordance with the design as certified; any persons employed or engaged to undertake any part of the works will be competent; they will cooperate with the inspection plan prepared by the Assigned Certifier; and that they will take all reasonable steps to ensure they will certify the works, in conjunction with the assigned certifier, on completion.
Details of the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) are currently available on the relevant website, www.ciri.ie, established by the Construction Industry Federation. The register is a voluntary one at present but the Government is committed to placing it on a statutory footing in 2015.
The new regulatory requirements were the subject of an extensive public consultation undertaken in April/May 2012 which resulted in S.I. No. 80 of 2013 being made in March 2013 to come into effect on 1 March 2014. While S.I. No. 9 of 2014 revokes and replaces S.I. No 80 of 2013 in order primarily to allow for the rewording of the statutory certificates in the interests of insurability, there were no change of key principles or requirements involved and the implementation date remains as 1 March 2014.
I am satisfied that the necessary arrangements for implementation are in place and the question of deferral does not therefore arise.
477. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 385 of 30 April 2013 in respect of the financial year of 2013, the number of vehicles that were granted the concession road tax rate for vintage vehicles; if he will give a breakdown of the ages of these vehicles; the classes of these vehicles; the horsepower categories of these vehicles; and total cost to the Exchequer of these concessions; if he will provide the additional figures for the number of each of these vehicles that were declared to be off road for a period during 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9340/14]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
478. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of vehicles that were declared to be going off road for a period during 2013 by the year of manufacture for each year since 1983; the classes of these vehicles; the horsepower categories of these vehicles; the total cost to the Exchequer of these declarations; the way in which this compares to the same figures in 2012 for those who made declarations that the vehicles had been off the road; if he will indicate the possible loss or increase in revenue as a result of the new regulations regarding vehicles being off road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9341/14]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
484. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a grant is available for a new heating system in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9386/14]
View answerUnder the terms of the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which is administered by the local authorities, 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:
(i) Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability (HAG ) which assists people with a disability to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out in order to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. Grants for up to €30,000 are available for works including the provision of access ramps, stair lifts, accessible toilet and shower facilities, wheelchair access and extensions,
(ii) the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme (MAG) 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,
(iii) the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme (HAOP) provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting etc.
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.
486. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current status of the Emerald housing project, Ballymun. [9452/14]
View answerTh e-tender report for the proposal by Cluid Housing Association to remediate and complete the units at the Emerald housing project, as submitted to Dublin City Council, is under active consideration in my Department at present with a view to an early decision.
