Wednesday, 12 Mar 2014

Written Answers Nos. 48-55

Local and Community Development Programme Planning

Questions (48)

Brian Stanley

Question:

48. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for local community development programmes; and the way they will impact on existing schemes. [11777/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Local Community Development Committees will be established in all local authority areas in line with the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. Consistent with the plans to enhance the alignment between local government and local development, they will oversee community and local development programmes funded by my Department. They will also be responsible for the development of the community elements of City/County Local Economic and Community Plans, with a view to bringing greater co-ordination to publicly-funded local development programming in their areas. The Committees will involve statutory and not-statutory partners, including local authority elected members, community representatives, state agencies and local development bodies.

EU Directives

Questions (49)

Seán Kyne

Question:

49. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the EU legislation with which Ireland was not in compliance when he entered office in March 2011; the EU legislation with which Ireland has now achieved compliance; and if he will list same and outline the domestic legislation or regulations which have been introduced to meet compliance. [11890/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Attached are details of the EU legislation, for which my Department was responsible and with which Ireland was not in full compliance when I entered office in March 2011. These measures were the subject of 21 infringement cases being taken against Ireland by the European Commission at that time.

During my time in office, I have made it a major Departmental priority to address every infringement, including late transposition of EU Directives, and we are now seeing the results of this concerted action. The number of open infringement cases for which my Department is responsible is now reduced to seven, covering issues related to waste, water and waste water, planning and access to justice. In addition to these open infringement cases, there is only one EU Directive, on waste electrical and electronic equipment, outstanding for transposition from an environmental acquis comprising over 200 major legal acts. Drafting of the WEEE transposing regulations is being finalised, following consultation with key stakeholders, to ensure its transposition as soon as possible and to maintain Ireland’s position among the top Member States in terms of timely transposition of new Directives.

In reducing the number of infringements, my Department has addressed compliance issues through, inter alia, a range of primary and secondary legislation across the broad spectrum of environmental areas such as water services, air quality, waste, energy performance in buildings and planning, as well as targeted measures to provide for consistent and transparent implementation of these legislative provisions. We are also continuing to minimise the risk of new infringements being opened by transposing new Directives within the specified timeframes and by pro-actively engaging with domestic stakeholders to address issues arising before action by the EU Commission becomes necessary.

EU Legislation falling under the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with which Ireland was non-compliant in March 2011

EU Instrument Number and General Reference	Article 258 Letter of Formal Notice	Article 258 Reasoned Opinion	Being Referred to the European Court of Justice	Before the European Court of Justice for a hearing or awaiting judgment	European Court of Justice Decision to be Implemented	Article 260 Letter of Formal Notice	Article 260 Second Letter of Formal Notice	ECJ request for fines	Total
75/442/EEC the waste directive	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2
79/409/EEC on wild birds	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1*
80/68/EEC on groundwater	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	3
91/271/EEC on urban waste water treatment	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
92/43/EEC on habitats	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3*
96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2000/60 Water Framework Directive	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2008/50/EC clean air for Europe CAFE	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2008/56/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2008/98/EC Waste Framework Directive	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2008/99/EC on the protection of the environment through criminal law	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2009/30/EC Fuel Quality	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Articles 43 and 56 of the EU Treaty (Relating to the freedom of establishment & free movement of capital)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
TOTAL NUMBER AT EACH STAGE	8	3	1	0	2	3	3	1	21

*Responsibility for these cases transferred to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht upon its establishment in May 2011.

Local Government Reform

Questions (50)

Eamonn Maloney

Question:

50. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify what is meant by participatory budgeting; the way involvement of community activists and citizens can be facilitated in such a way as to respect the mandate of elected representatives and empower ordinary citizens not necessarily affiliated with lobby groups or NGOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11804/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

As outlined in paragraph 11.9.13 of The Action Programme for Effective Local Government, participatory budgeting is a fiscal decision-making mechanism which involves citizens in the discussion of municipal budgets and/or the allocation of municipal funding. 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. In accordance with the Act, the regulations and guidelines will also make provision for informing/consulting with citizens through a variety of mechanisms, including social media. However, the primary responsibility and accountability for decision-making within the local authority remains with the elected council.

Question No. 51 answered with Question No. 10.

Foreign Policy

Questions (52)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

52. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any steps can be taken to ensure that the upcoming census in Burma, which is being part funded by the EU, at the end of March 2014 can be based on a census form that includes options for displaying the wide ethnic diversity in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12287/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The upcoming census in Myanmar/Burma will be conducted between 30 March and 10 April. It will be the first nation-wide population count in more than 30 years and will be key to the nation's future development, including the forthcoming elections. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has provided technical and financial support to the census preparations over the past 18 months, in partnership with the Ministry of Immigration and Population of Myanmar, to ensure that the census is fully in line with international standards, including how to proceed with the issue of ethnicity. UNFPA has stated that it has received assurances from the Myanmar Government that international norms and standards will be upheld in the carrying out of the census. This will include ensuring respondents have the opportunity during data collection to self-identify their ethnicity, either from the list of 135 official ethnicities, or by describing their own ethnicity. This includes those that wish to identify with mixed-ethnicity.

While the reform process in Myanmar/Burma has been moving in the right direction, and key members of the Government of Myanmar/Burma have expressed their commitment to the path of democracy, Ireland together with our EU partners recognise that Myanmar/Burma still faces complex challenges, including in the areas of human rights and democratisation, economic development, peace and reconciliation. The complexities of ethnic conflict cannot be overstated and the difficulties which exist in this regard in Myanmar are manifold. Ireland, together with our international partners, will continue to urge the Government to address this issue.

At the EU level, the Comprehensive Framework for EU policy and support to Myanmar/Burma, was adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council in July 2013. This urged the Government of Myanmar to pursue and implement durable solutions to the underlying causes of the tensions in Rakhine State and said that solutions for longer-term community reintegration should be pursued, including through the census in 2014.

The EU has consistently called on the Government of Myanmar to address the underlying causes of inter-communal violence and to guarantee respect for human rights and the rule of law. The EU has specifically called on the Government of Myanmar to address the status and welfare needs of the Rohingya people and to work to prevent any form of violent extremism. The EU has also urged Myanmar to permit the establishment of a country office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Currently, the EU is providing around €70 million to assist the people of Rakhine state. A large share of this assistance is to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of the region.

The EU-Myanmar Taskforce announced at its first meeting in Myanmar in November 2013 that in the coming years (2014-2020), Myanmar is expected to be one of the leading beneficiaries of EU development co-operation in Asia, and will receive around EUR90 million per annum. Since 2007, over €7 million has been provided by Irish Aid to NGOs and Irish missionaries for both long-term development and emergency and recovery responses in Myanmar. In December 2013, the Tánaiste announced an additional programme of funding worth €500,000. Ireland will continue to monitor developments both bilaterally and multilaterally, including at the Human Rights Council.

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (53)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

53. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times he and officials in his Department have met a company (details supplied) or its representatives since he took office; if he will provide details, in tabular form, of the dates of each meeting; the names of the company representatives involved; the titles of the departmental officials involved; the reason for each meeting; the matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12373/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I met the owner of the named company in New York in February 2012 at an “Invest in Ireland” roundtable discussion hosted by former President Clinton when the Taoiseach and I briefed potential investors over the course of that event. On a separate occasion, in 2011, our Consulate General in New York made a meeting room available to a non-governmental organisation supported by Irish Aid, to facilitate a meeting of the management of that organisation and some of its field workers from Haiti. One of those welcomed by the Consul General was the owner of the named company.

Departmental Reports

Questions (54)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

54. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the reports, reviews and studies commissioned by him or his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department since 9 March 2011; the date on which they were commissioned; the date on which they were completed; the date on which they were published; the cost of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12432/14]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). There are no state agencies under the aegis of my Department. The Department commissions external reports where specialised skills are not available within the Department and particularly where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagement, these experts may prepare reports and other documentation for the Department. In-depth analysis of issues by external experts has informed - and continues to inform - my Department’s policies, allowing for more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets.

The Department also commissions internal reports, reviews and studies on an ongoing basis covering a wide range of topics and issues as required by the work of the Department. Given the broad scope of this activity, the reply has identified only the most significant internal reports. The following tables set out the details of both external and internal reports and reviews commissioned and funded under Vote 28 and Vote 27 since March 2011.

External Reports commissioned under Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade)

Date of Commission	Experts/Consultants	Matter Reported On	Cost (€)	Date of publication
06.05.2011	Peter McEvoy	Evaluation of a number of Organisations funded by the Emigrant Support Programme(ESP)	13,075	July 2013
06.09.2012	Mike Williams	Evaluation of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation	12,247	July 2013
16.11.2012	PA Consulting Group	Evaluating the value of the economic relationship between the United Kingdom and Ireland.	73,083	July 2013
11.07.2013	Wright Consultancy Ltd	Gender Equality Audit	14,000	Not published

Internal Reports/Reviews Commissioned under Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade)

Date of Commission	Lead Division/Unit within Department	Matter Reported On/Reviewed	Cost (€)	Date/expected date of Publication
8th October 2013	Strategy and Performance Division	Review of Foreign Policy and External Relations	n/a	2nd Quarter 2014
November 2012	Consular Division	Review of Honorary Consul Network	n/a	3rd Quarter 2014
17th January 2013	Trade and Promotion Division	Review of Government Trade Tourism and Investment Strategy	626 – printing costs	24th February 2014
3rd July 2013	Europe Division	EU Presidency 2013: DFAT Lessons Learned Report	n/a	23rd December 2013. Not yet published
July 2013	Corporate Services Division	Inter-Departmental Report and Review of Administrative Planning of Ireland’s 2013 Presidency of the European Union.	n/a	December 2013. Not published.
n/a	Trade and Promotion Division	Ireland’s Economic Diplomacy in Action - 2013	330 – printing costs	2nd February 2014
01/10/2012	Evaluation and Audit Unit	A Value-for-Money and Policy Review of Ireland’s Bilateral Diplomatic Missions in European Union Member States	n/a	15th December 2013

External Reports commissioned under Vote 27 (International Cooperation)

Date of Commission	Experts/Consultants	Matter Reported On	Cost (€)	Date of Publication
28.04.2011	Kevin Moore	Support to the Governments of Zambia and South Africa to develop Special Economic Zones for the promotion of inward investment and employment	13,581	Not Applicable – see footnote*
28.04.11	Paul Sheane	Support to the Governments of Zambia and South Africa to develop Special Economic Zones for the promotion of inward investment and employment	9,965	*
05.05.2011	Stefanie Meredith	Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships in developing countries	10,100	*
05.05.2011	Samia Saad	Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships in developing countries	9,198	*
05.05.2011	Paud Murphy	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work)	9,064	*
05.05.2011	80:20	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work)	9,870	*
05.05.2011	Eilis Murray	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community & youth work)	6,068	*
05.05.2011	ISOS	Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community & youth work)	42,247	*
01.06.2011	Bernard McLoughlin	Review of the Irish Aid Centre, Dublin	6,143	*
01.06.2011	Cathal Higgins	Preparation of a report on the programme of education sector budget support towards school infrastructural development in Karamoja region and skills development in the oil sector (Uganda)	5,000	*
12.09.2011	Humanitarian Policy Ltd	Review of Security Policy & Practice among Irish Aid Humanitarian Partners	33,930	*
12.08.2011	Mike Williams	Review of Humanitarian Programme Plan for Irish Aid	18,742	*
09.01.2012	Cathy Roche	Review of the Our World Awards 2005-2011	6,300	*
18.05.2012	Everywhere Consulting	Feasibility Study on the Establishment of a Humanitarian Hub at Shannon Airport	74,983	*
01.06.2012	Fintan Farrelly	Review of the Irish Aid Strategic Environmental Partnership Programme	6,301	*
01.11.2012	John Paton	Africa Strategy Scoping Exercise	9,900	*
01.11.2012	Mike Williams	Review of Misean Cara	20,695	*
01.03.2013	Bronagh Hinds & Karen McMinn Consultants	Report on the implementation of Ireland's National Action Plan on UNSCR (United Nations Security Council Resolution) 1325 on Women, Peace & Security	20,811	June 2013
01.02.2013	Mary Jennings	Review of HRD (Human Rights and Democratisation) Scheme Irish Aid Palestine	15,500	*
01.04.2013	ASTEC Global Consultancy Ltd	Review of Irish Aid Financial Policies and Procedures	33,000	*
05.04.13	Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors	External Validation of Risk-Based Audit Planning Exercise	13,890	*
01.04.13	Una Murray	External support for a Review of Irish Aid support to Mama Cash and Intern-Parliamentary Union	37,500	*
07.07.13	Gareth Williams Backstop Consulting	Governance, Financial & Programme Review of Camara Education	23,142	*
05.07.13	John Geraghty Geraghty Consulting	Review of University College Cork's Programme of Technical Support Internships for Food Security	7,500	*
01.07.13	Natural Research Institute	Review of Irish Aid Support to Fair and Ethical Trade Initiatives	14,583	*

*Reports commissioned by the Department in relation to Irish Aid matters are generally for internal management usage and not for publication. However, many are published on the Irishaid.ie website or, in appropriate cases, can be made available on request.

Internal Reports/Reviews Commissioned under Vote 27 (International Co-operation)

Date of Commission	Lead Division/Unit within Department	Matter Reported On/Reviewed	Cost (€)	Date of publication
19/10/2012	Evaluation and Audit Unit	Interim Report on Misappropriation of Funds in the Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda.	n/a	15th November 2012
19/10/2012	Evaluation and Audit Unit	Final report by Evaluation and audit unit to the Secretary General on Misappropriation of Funds in the Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda	n/a	4th March 2014
10/01/2013	Evaluation and Audit	Assessment of Internal Control and Risk Management Systems in Key Partner Countries Synthesis Report	n/a	4th March 2014
	Irish Aid	Irish Aid Annual Monitoring Report on Gender Equality 2012	n/a	12th November 2013
	Irish Aid	Reducing Hunger, Strengthening Resilience: Irish Aid Annual Report 2012	n/a	12th September 2013
	Irish Aid	Hunger Nutrition and Climate Justice Conference Report 2013 (Published 7/6/13)	n/a	7th June 2013
	Irish Aid	One World One Future: Ireland's Policy for International Development (Published 2/5/13)	n/a	2nd May 2013
	Irish Aid	Evaluation of the Irish Aid Ethiopia Country Strategy Programme (2008-2012)	n/a	13th May 2013
	Irish Aid	Summary Report of the Public Sector Governance Reform Evaluation	n/a	24th May 2013
	Irish Aid	Evaluation of the Irish Aid Lesotho CSP (2008-2012) Executive Summary)	n/a	13th February 2013
	Irish Aid	Irish Aid South Africa Country Strategy Programme (2008-2012) Evaluation Executive Summary	n/a	29th January 2013
	Irish Aid	Irish Aid Vietnam Country Strategy Paper 2011-2015	n/a	30th November 2012
	Irish Aid	Irish Aid Mozambique Country Strategy Paper 2012-2016	n/a	23rd November 2012
	Irish Aid	Irish Aid Multi-Annual Programme Scheme (MAPS) II Evaluation Synthesis Report	n/a	30th April 2012
	Irish Aid	Gender Equality: One Decade into the 21st Century. Ireland’s support to Women’s Empowerment in the Developing World.	n/a	21st November 2011
	Irish Aid	Africa Strategy Ireland and Africa: Our Partnership with a Changing Continent	n/a	13th September 2011
	Irish Aid	Irish Aid Annual Report 2010	n/a	6th September 2011
	Irish Aid	Irish Aid Timor Leste Programme Overview 2010-2013	n/a	18th July 2011

House Prices

Questions (55)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which his Department is aware of increasing indications of inflation in the housing sector; the remedial action being considered, if any, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12389/14]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

My Department is of course aware of price developments in the housing market. When assessing the recent pick-up in house prices it is important to remember that residential property prices fell by just over 50% from peak-to-trough and residential property prices nationally are still 47% lower than at their highest level in September 2007. Indeed, while much of the attention of late has focused on the Dublin market, prices in the capital are currently 50% lower than at their peak in early 2007. It is against this background that the recent appreciation in house prices must be assessed.

 It should also be noted that the previous housing bubble was accompanied by a dramatic increase in mortgage lending. The same cannot be said of the recent increase in house prices, with indications that a large percentage of transactions are taking the form of cash purchases. Figures from the Irish Banking Federation show the value of mortgage lending for house purchase in 2013 stood at just €2.4 billion, or just 8% of the value of mortgage lending in 2006.

As I outlined in my Budget Day speech, I am conscious that there are some supply limitations in certain urban areas. In light of this, I introduced several measures to help increase the supply of suitable residential housing stock as part of Budget 2014. These included, subject to State Aid approval, the extension of the Living City Initiative, to include Cork, Galway, Kilkenny and Dublin and the broadening of eligibility criteria to include all buildings built prior to 1915.

 More generally, as outlined in the Medium-Term Economic Strategy, the Government will continue to work on addressing remaining challenges in the property and construction sectors. This will include developing an overall strategic approach to housing supply, identifying and implementing further improvements in the planning process to facilitate appropriate development, and seeking to improve financing options for development and mortgage provision.

Finally, I would point out that it is NAMA's expectation, at this juncture, that its funding will contribute about 4,500 houses and apartments in terms of new supply in the Dublin market in the period to 2016. This is a significant output in the context of current house completion levels in Dublin. In 2012 just over 1,200 new houses and apartments were completed in Dublin. In addition, NAMA is overseeing its debtors and receivers who manage the rental of close to 10,000 residential properties nationally mainly apartments in Dublin. NAMA is also overseeing the sale of houses in Dublin by NAMA debtors and receivers and has made over 1,200 properties available to local authorities to meet demand for social housing in Dublin.