Written Answers Nos. 1 - 23
11. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has had contact with his British counterpart regarding the higher than normal levels of radiation measured at the Sellafield nuclear plant in January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10964/14]
View answerOn 31 January 2014, elevated levels of radioactivity were detected at one of the many radiation monitors at the Sellafield site. Following the detection, as a precautionary measure, a decision was taken by the Sellafield site management to have only essential workers report for work, while a thorough investigation was completed. Levels of radioactivity subsequently detected were well below that which would call for any further actions to be taken on or off the site. At no stage was there was any risk to the public or to the workforce nor were there any radiological implications for Ireland.
In keeping with agreed protocols, my Department was informed of the elevated detection reading by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change early in the morning of 31 January, with updates received throughout the day. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) was also contacted and kept appraised by its counterparts in the UK Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Sellafield Ltd subsequently confirmed that the elevated radioactivity levels detected by one of their in-air monitors were not attributable to any issue or problem with any of their operations on-site but were caused by naturally occurring background radon.
As this incident was relatively minor and acknowledging the high level of information sharing between our two Departments, I did not consider it necessary to contact my UK counterpart directly on this occasion. However, I was kept informed by my Department on the status and outcome of the incident.
13. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements he will make to deliver both the Leader and the successor LCDP in the Gaeltacht and the islands; the arrangements being made to ensure that delivery of these programmes to Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht will be through the medium of that language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11702/14]
View answerThe LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) will be delivered using a Community led Local Development approach through the design and implementation of the Local Development Strategies. I can assure the Deputy that the process of selection of Local Development Strategies will include the requirement fully to assess and address the development needs of both Gaeltacht and Island communities. Provision of services through the medium of the Irish language will be compliant with the relevant national legislative framework.
The Local and Community Development Programme is the largest social inclusion intervention, of its kind, in the State. The current Programme which operated for four years to the end of 2013, is being implemented by the Local Development Companies on a transitional basis for 2014 pending the implementation of a new Programme in January 2015. Management of current contracts and Programme oversight will transfer to Local Community Development Committees of the local authorities from 1 July 2014.
The Local Community Development Committees are being established in each local authority area over the coming months in line with the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. They will bring together both statutory and non-statutory partners, including the community sector, to bring greater co-ordination to area-based activity in their respective areas. The Committees will have responsibility for community and local development programmes funded by my Department and I am confident that they will bring a strong, strategic focus to their implementation. This implementation will involve local development actors and, therefore, the skills and experience that have been built up will continue to be available and utilised locally. In the case of the LCDP and in accordance with public procurement rules, the Committees will procure the programme locally, which will have regard to service delivery in both the Gaeltacht and Island areas.
14. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in view of the inclusion of funding in the estimates of Galway County Council for the examination of securing a new site for a fire station to serve the south Connemara area, his Department has received an application or notification from Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11891/14]
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, the provision of premises and the making of other such provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through the recoupment, within the overall funding available, of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations.
In 2010, the Galway City and Western Environs Fire Review Group was established to consider the fire cover in Galway City and Western Environs (South Connemara), as well as the West Connemara Area. The Group finalised its review in June 2013 . Having considered three years of fire incident data, potential changes in demographics and potential permutations of fire stations throughout the whole of the Western Environs Area, the Group reported that there is not a conclusive case for an additional fire station in the Area. The Group recommended a series of Community Safety measures further to reduce the incidence of certain categories of fires which feature in the current low fire risk identified in the Area. I understand that it has reported accordingly to both City and County Councils.
Under Section 26 of the Fire Services Act 1981, decision-making on the organisation of fire services and fire stations is a reserved function of fire authorities and I therefore have no function in such decisions, nor has an application for capital funding assistance been received by my Department for a new fire station in South Connemara.
15. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Ireland is not applying to the EU solidarity fund under Article 2 of the regulation which provides that, under exceptional circumstances, even when the quantitative criteria laid down in the first subparagraph, of damage estimated at more than 0.6% of gross national income, are not met, a region could also benefit from assistance from the fund, where that region has been affected by an extraordinary disaster, mainly a natural one, affecting the major part of its population, with serious and lasting repercussions on living conditions and the economic stability of the region. [9310/14]
View answer28. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade consider there to be any prospect that Ireland might be able to access EU solidarity funding under the exceptional circumstances provision, in view of the fact that the country seems to be below the threshold but needs help and has just recently emerged from the bailout in a challenging situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9308/14]
View answer31. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the EU solidarity fund has been explored as a source of moneys to fund repairs to special areas of conservation as the aim of the fund is to complement the efforts of the State and to cover a share of the public expenditure in carrying out essential emergency operations, including immediate securing of preventative infrastructures and measures of immediate protection of the cultural heritage and immediate cleaning up of disaster stricken areas, including natural zones. [9311/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 28 and 31 together.
My Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform had discussions with the European Commission on possible EU funding under the Solidarity and Regional Support schemes. The purpose of the EU Solidarity Fund is to allow Member States to request financial aid in the event of major natural disasters. There is a damage threshold per Member State which is set at 0.6% of GNI. The estimated costs of damage caused by the storms between 13 December 2013 and 6 January 2014 were €69.5 million. The estimated costs for subsequent damage caused by severe weather from 27 January to 17 February 2014 are currently being collated but indications are that they will not exceed the costs of the damage for the 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 period. These total estimated damage costs are well below the non-negotiable GNI threshold of 0.6% (€770 million in the case of Ireland) of the Solidarity Fund.
The possibility of a regional application has also been considered. Article 2 of the Council Regulation for the EU Solidarity Fund provides for such applications under exceptional circumstances. This is subject to a series of impact criteria, including one relating to more than 50% of population of a region being directly affected by a natural disaster. Taking Munster as an example for regional designation purposes, with a population of 1.254 million it would have to be demonstrated that at least 627,000 persons were directly affected. Therefore, the situations which have occurred do not appear to meet these criteria and no application for EU funding is being made.
16. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to develop a comprehensive housing policy for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11908/14]
View answerThe Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement clearly outlines that the priority for Government is to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. Government is responding to these needs through a variety of mechanisms and more flexible funding models. To maximise the social housing gain from constrained resources, the social housing leasing initiative and the Rental Accommodation Scheme each play their part and I am fully committed to capturing social housing gain from private developments. Alongside expanding the role of the Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in terms of acquisitions and construction, other mechanisms will include options to purchase within the leasing model and build to lease.
In July 2012, I announced details of a three-year funding programme of €100 million to deliver some 800 new units of voluntary and local authority owned social housing. In 2014, funding for housing, at over €587m, is effectively maintained at 2013 levels. This includes a €50 million capital stimulus to support construction and related programmes, primarily in the housing area, including €30 million to recommence a State house building programme; €10 million for an unfinished housing estate resolution project; and €10 million for housing adaptation grants. I expect the final output across all social housing programmes for 2014 to be in the region of 5,000 new housing units. With the benefit of the additional capital for new housing construction, I expect the new social housing construction programme for 2014 - 2015 to deliver close to 700 new social and voluntary homes. A special investment of €15 million for the retrofitting of boarded-up local authority houses is intended to bring 400 homes back into productive use.
The Homelessness Oversight Group, which I established in 2013 to review progress on our Homelessness Policy Statement, has submitted its first report to me, and this is available on my Department's website. The report considered the supply and access to housing units throughout the country, and the Government has approved the establishment of a Homelessness Policy Implementation Team and an implementation unit, tasked with delivery of its recommendations.
I remain committed to continuing to develop and research innovative and sustainable approaches to the provision of social housing.
17. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the key recommendations made in the report on citizenship engagement with local authorities; when the expected framework for public participation will be put in place; the person who will provide the guidance to local authorities on drafting citizens’ charters; the way these might operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11805/14]
View answerThe report of The Working Group on Citizen Engagement proposes a mechanism to enable the community and voluntary, and environmental, sectors to take an active formal role in the policy making and oversight activities of a local authority. The working group’s report was published on 28 February 2014 and is available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie.
The framework for public participation in the Local Government Reform Act 2014 sets out the general principles for formal engagement by local authorities with the community. It will be underpinned by regulations and guidelines from my Department. My Department will now engage with stakeholders, including the Association of County and City Councils and the County and City Managers Association, on the preparation of the regulations and guidelines taking account of the Working Group’s report, including the proposal to establish a Public Participation Network in each local authority area. The regulations will be made as soon as possible, following these consultations.
The participation of citizens and communities in local government, and their right to influence decisions that affect them, are at the centre of democracy. I am satisfied that the new Local Government Reform Act 2014 will facilitate local authorities in building more effective and inclusive relationships with all sections of society and that consultation and participation will be at the heart of our local government system.
18. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the national co-ordination group on severe weather in view of the experience of recent storm damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11882/14]
View answerMost emergency situations are responded to and managed at local level by the relevant Principal Response Agencies - An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive Area and the relevant local authority. Local authorities are designated as the ‘lead agency’ for coordination purposes at local level. Where a situation merits, national level support can be brought to bear and a ‘lead Government Department’ will lead the coordination of the national level response. The purpose of this is to bring “whole of Government” support to bear in assisting the local response if required, to manage the national level issues and to ensure that information is provided to the public. The procedures and triggers for coordination at national level are set out in “Guidelines for Coordinating a National Level Emergency/ Crisis Response“ , published by the Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence, in 2011. This document also sets out the designated lead Government Department for 41 risk scenarios identified for Ireland.
As lead Government Department for severe weather, my Department convened and chaired a National Coordination Group on Severe Weather during the recent events on the basis of the Guidelines referred to above. In accordance with standing procedures, all aspects of these latest severe weather events, including response and coordination at national levels, will be reviewed and any lessons identified will be incorporated into future operating procedures.
19. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has established a list of housing estates where public lighting arrears have built up to such an extent that the power supply is in danger of being turned off; if he considers such estates to warrant inclusion in the list of Category 4 estates requiring immediate intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11899/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 3 on today’s order paper.
I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. My Department launched the Public Safety Initiative (PSI) in March 2011, which provided funding to address immediate public safety issues. The types of works that have been approved to date under the PSI include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. Under the PSI, my Department has made allocations totalling €4.5m to local authorities from the funding made available. To date, €3.26m has been drawn down.
Funding is provided only in instances where a developer has abandoned the development. However, in circumstances where the developer is merely inactive, the responsibility for the maintenance and resolution of issues surrounding the development are matters which need to be addressed between the developer and the relevant stakeholders, and my Department has no remit in this regard.
Budget 2014 contains a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF), to assist further in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments. The SRF has been proposed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not likely to be resolved in the normal way through solely developer/owner/funder action because of the presence of specific financial barriers. It is envisaged that the SRF should be particularly targeted to address the remaining unfinished developments where residents are living and, in particular, any developments that local authorities identified, for the purposes of the Local Property Tax waiver, as in a seriously problematic condition.
My Department is currently evaluating SRF proposals from local authorities. I expect that the SRF will enable very substantial progress to be made in resolving as many of the remaining unfinished developments as possible.
20. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government noting the €10 million of taxpayers' money committed to the pyrite remediation scheme, if he will remediate between 200 and 250 damaged houses; the position regarding the additional funding required; and if he will levy HomeBond which walked away from its supposed structural guarantee and the accounts of which show a surplus of €25 million. [11849/14]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Board commenced accepting applications from eligible home owners for inclusion in the pyrite remediation scheme on 26 February 2014. The Board is committed to moving as quickly as possible to the works phase of the remediation process and I understand that it is their intention that this phase will commence in the second half of the year.
The initial phase of the remediation programme will deal with approximately 1,000 dwellings which, it is estimated, are in need of repair. In October 2013 the Government approved initial funding of €10 million for the implementation of the scheme in 2014 and 2015. Further funding will be provided over the next two years following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and me and in the context of a further capital stimulus package. It is not possible at this point to look beyond the figure of 1,000 dwellings which may be in need of repair but there are a number of positive indications, including the number of expressions of interest registered with the Pyrite Resolution Board, which suggests that this figure is credible and the number of dwellings requiring remediation may not be as great as initially anticipated. The post-2015 funding requirement will be dealt with at that stage having regard to developments over the interim period.
HomeBond is a private company whose operations are governed by company law and which has the same protections in law as are afforded to any other private company; neither I nor my Department have any legal basis under which a levy could be imposed on the funds held by HomeBond. However, the Pyrite Resolution Board is in discussions with HomeBond with a view to finalising an agreement, shortly, whereby HomeBond will make a non-financial contribution to the remediation process. This will involve making staff available to assist in the provision of certain services to the Board, including testing, project management and other services as agreed; all services will be provided at no cost and will be carried out under the direction and supervision of the Board and/or the Housing Agency.
21. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any impediment contained within legislation governing the establishment and operation of Irish Water to the taking in charge of housing estates by local authorities; if he will confirm that the permission of Irish Water has been required since 1 January 2014 in order for an estate to be taken in charge; the way it is proposed to manage this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11897/14]
View answer25. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to councils being delayed from taking estates in charge because Irish Water is not signing off on installing water metering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11886/14]
View answer40. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, in respect of existing cases where local authorities currently manage the critical water infrastructure of an unfinished estate that has not been taken in charge but who do so to ensure basic water and sanitation provision, if there has been an impediment to this arrangement since Irish Water took control of all water assets on 1 January 2014; if he will outline the way this may be overcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11895/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 25 and 40 together.
My attention has not been drawn to any issue with regard to delays in taking in charge due to the water metering programme. As stated in Circular Letter PL 21/13 issued by my Department to planning authorities on 30 December 2013 in the light of the transfer of certain statutory water services functions from local authorities to Irish Water with effect from 1 January 2014, legislative amendments to existing provisions on the taking in charge of housing estates will be made in 2014. As also advised in this circular letter, pending further legislation and guidelines in 2014, planning authorities should firstly consult with Irish Water on any proposal to take in charge housing estates where the water services infrastructure would ultimately be transferred to Irish Water under section 12 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013. Unfinished housing estates which may have defective infrastructure which is not performing and where possible health threats arise are currently considered on a case by case basis.
22. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reduce the number of voids in local authority housing stock across the country; if he will provide details by local authority of the number of such voids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11708/14]
View answerIn 2014, funding of over €587 million is being made available across a range of housing programmes. This includes a €50 million capital stimulus to support construction and related programmes, of which some €15 million will be used to support a new social housing construction programme and €15 million for a targeted measure aimed at returning vacant and boarded-up local authority houses to productive use.
Returning vacant stock to use in as short a time as possible remains a key priority under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme. My Department has recently written to local authorities advising that funding of up to €30,000 per dwelling will be provided for a suite of retrofitting works to bring vacant properties back to a high standard. Funding will be allocated on the basis of equitable and evidence based criteria which reflect the merit and cost effectiveness of proposals and the degree of local housing need. Local authorities are required to submit proposals to my Department by 28 March, 2014. I intend to announce details of the funding allocations as soon as possible afterwards.
The Eighth Annual Report on Service Indicators, published by the Local Government Management Agency in April 2013, which details service indicators in local authorities in 2011, provides a range of information in relation to social housing stock including information in relation to vacant dwellings. Copies of the report are available from the Local Government Management Agency and may be downloaded from their website (www.lgmsb.ie).
23. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide full details of the rental accommodation scheme tenancies and all tenancies under various leasing arrangements across each local authority, including the details of moneys paid to private landlords each year over the last three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11917/14]
View answerThe Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) commenced in late 2005 and to the end of December 2013 some 47,911 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options. My Department does not hold information on the number of households in RAS at any given time. Numbers in RAS constantly vary as contracts end, tenants move on to other properties, landlords withdraw from the scheme, new tenancies are allocated or vacancies in contracted units are filled. I will circulate a table, with the official record, setting out the transfers completed by local authority from 2011 to 2013.
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 Approved 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 hold 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. Expenditure on RAS in the past three years was €115.9 million in 2011, €125.4 million in 2012 and €130.8 million in 2013.
|
Year |
Annual Expenditure |
|
2011 |
€115,917,365 |
|
2012 |
€125,429,966 |
|
2013 |
€130,886,608 |
4,736 social housing units have been delivered under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative to the end of February 2014. Expenditure to the end of February on this initiative has been some €66.9m. This expenditure includes the cost of recouping the interest on 1,985 unsold affordable units to local authorities and leasing costs on 497 units in the ownership of approved housing bodies or the NAMA SPV. The remaining 2,256 units have been acquired under lease or rental arrangements from private property owners. The current cost of the private property owner units is an average of €6,472 per unit per annum.
Table
Transfers to RAS & Social Housing 2011 - 2013
|
Local Authority (Housing) |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Carlow Co. Cl. |
128 |
164 |
93 |
|
Cavan Co. Cl. |
162 |
242 |
121 |
|
Clare Co. Cl. |
102 |
91 |
109 |
|
Cork City Cl. |
359 |
231 |
206 |
|
Cork Co. Cl. |
429 |
364 |
324 |
|
Donegal Co. Cl. |
277 |
212 |
219 |
|
Dublin City Cl. |
251 |
317 |
308 |
|
Dublin South Co. Cl. |
365 |
392 |
362 |
|
Dun/Rathdown Co.Cl. |
154 |
126 |
191 |
|
Fingal Co. Cl. |
548 |
408 |
343 |
|
Galway City Cl. |
168 |
72 |
47 |
|
Galway Co. Cl. |
113 |
144 |
139 |
|
Kerry Co. Cl. |
212 |
214 |
239 |
|
Kildare Co. Cl. |
202 |
119 |
88 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Cl. |
159 |
195 |
174 |
|
Laois Co. Cl. |
75 |
66 |
34 |
|
Leitrim Co. Cl. |
75 |
6 |
15 |
|
Limerick City Cl. |
175 |
140 |
117 |
|
Limerick Co. Cl. |
149 |
102 |
59 |
|
Longford Co. Cl. |
42 |
8 |
16 |
|
Louth Co. Cl. |
156 |
29 |
22 |
|
Mayo Co. Cl. |
224 |
175 |
217 |
|
Meath Co. Cl. |
168 |
124 |
101 |
|
Monaghan Co. Cl. |
59 |
39 |
32 |
|
Nth Tipperary Co. Cl. |
173 |
152 |
129 |
|
Offaly Co. Cl. |
86 |
92 |
53 |
|
Roscommon Co.Cl. |
144 |
134 |
117 |
|
Sligo Co. Cl. |
128 |
110 |
42 |
|
Sth Tipperary Co. Cl. |
199 |
196 |
137 |
|
Waterford City Cl. |
250 |
142 |
99 |
|
Waterford Co. Cl. |
99 |
93 |
69 |
|
Westmeath Co. Cl. |
71 |
90 |
123 |
|
Wexford Co. Cl. |
274 |
275 |
255 |
|
Wicklow Co. Cl. |
161 |
187 |
101 |
