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Thursday, 27 Mar 2014

Written Answers Nos. 141-149

Local Authority Funding

Questions (141, 142)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

141. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 13 March 2014, the reasons the local government management agency's review of local authority service indicators has been completed to 2011 only; when he expects to have the data for 2012 and 2013; the reasons for the delay in compiling the data; if he is satisfied he has access to sufficient data in order to ascertain the current level of vacant social housing units and formulate appropriate policy regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14611/14]

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Pearse Doherty

Question:

142. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 13 March 2014, if he will provide a breakdown per local authority of the funding allocated by his Department over the past five years specifically for the upgrade of vacant local authority housing stock to prepare same for re-letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14612/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.

Data relating to the local authority housing stock, including information on vacancy rates and the time taken to re-let properties, are compiled by the Local Government Management Agency as part of the annual local authority service indicators. Electronic copies of the reports, including the most recent report for 2012, which was published on 25 March 2014, are available on the Local Government Management Agency’s website www.lgma.ie.

Compilation of the 2013 data is in progress and will be published by the LGMA in due course. To assist in the management of my Department’s social housing retrofitting measure for 2014 local authorities have been requested to provide details of the level of vacant stock at end 2013.

Under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is provided to local authorities for a wide range of measures aimed at improving the social housing stock, including estate-wide remedial works, the regeneration of run-down social housing estates and flat complexes, the energy retrofitting of older houses and apartments and adaptations and extensions to meet the needs of tenants with a disability. Over the course of 2011 and 2012 my Department’s energy retrofitting programme focussed exclusively on the refurbishment of vacant properties with the objective of returning as many of these to productive use in as short a time as possible. Over that period, some €52.5 million was recouped to local authorities and some 4,774 properties were improved. While the recoupments made under the other improvement measures over the past five years would also have included some level of funding in respect of works to vacant properties it is not possible to disaggregate the data in this regard. Details of the amounts of funding recouped to individual authorities in respect of the retrofitting measures for vacant properties in 2011 and 2012 are set out in the following table:

Recoupment to Local Authorities for Retrofitting in 2011/2012

LOCAL AUTHORITY

2011

2012

Carlow County Council

222,579

€136,685

Cavan County Council

621,638

€518,080

Clare County Council

947,201

€455,145

Cork City Council.

1,170,000

€710,727

Cork County Council

1,184,352

€1,198,370

Donegal County Council.

1,098,643

€563,428

Dublin City Council

7,500,000

€3,991,502

Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council

920,066

€658,504

Fingal County Council

926,716

€769,599

South Dublin County Council

1,229,868

€239,426

Galway City Council

225,000

€336,274

Galway County Council

623,847

€615,570

Kerry County Council

1,275,522

€468,204

Kildare County Council

847,262

€458,238

Kilkenny County Council

1,299,110

€218,592

Laois County Council

391,027

€198,943

Leitrim County Council

368,283

€705,365

Limerick City Council

702,223

€1,212,501

Limerick County Council

2,045,043

€206,884

Longford County Council

388,860

€409,128

Louth County Council

873,895

€349,967

Mayo County Council

686,258

€519,410

Meath County Council

737,499

€380,333

Monaghan County Council

315,100

€152,736

Offaly County Council

375,000

€276,527

Roscommon County Council

200,000

€231,671

Sligo County Council

498,889

€339,800

Tipperary NR County Council

1,098,270

€501,864

Tipperary SR County Council

1,089,481

€566,870

Waterford City Council

426,534

€365,904

Waterford County Council

297,575

€392,370

Westmeath County Council

385,316

€209,468

Wexford County Council

1,053,525

€463,231

Wicklow County Council

702,440

€1,028,112

Overall Total

€32,727,022

€19,849,428

On Budget Day 2014 I announced details of a new measure with funding of €15 million which will be invested in bringing vacant and boarded-up local authority houses back into productive use. My Department recently advised local authorities 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, including details of the overall numbers of vacant properties in their social housing stock at end 2013, to my Department by 28 March, 2014. I intend to announce details of the funding allocations as soon as possible afterwards.

Electoral Commission Administration

Questions (143)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

143. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the establishment of an independent electoral commission, as outlined in the programme for Government; when he expects the electoral commission to be up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14621/14]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an Electoral Commission to subsume functions of existing bodies and my Department. It is intended that the necessary policy analysis and preparatory work for the presentation of options in relation to the establishment of an Electoral Commission will be advanced in 2014. This will involve detailed and considered work. Issues for consideration will include international best practice, the Commission's structure and functions, who it reports to, its relationship with other bodies currently involved in electoral administration, and the approach to be followed in relation to the extensive legislation that will be required, as well as practical matters including staffing and funding arrangements.

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Questions (144)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

144. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding guidelines to local authorities regarding house purchase loans (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14622/14]

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Written answers

There are two types of house purchase loan available from local authorities: standard annuity loans targeted at lower income first time buyers and those under the Home Choice Loan scheme which are available to qualifying middle income first time buyers affected by the “credit crunch”. The terms and conditions governing the operation, including eligibility terms, of annuity mortgages and the Home Choice Loan are set out under various Regulations such as the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009, the Housing (Home Choice Loan) Regulations 2009, and most recently in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012. These are available on my Department’s website: www.environ.ie.

While there is no reference in the Regulations to a lower income limit threshold for mortgage applicants, the associated credit policy provides a procedure for calculating the maximum amount of mortgage repayments permissible as a percentage of the household income. Local authorities are advised to examine each application on its own merits in determining whether an applicant is eligible for a house purchase loan. House purchase loans are not, as a general rule, available to those in receipt of unemployment/social welfare benefits. However, where there is a primary income of a permanent waged/salaried nature, and where the secondary income is from the Department of Social Protection, then long term social welfare payments can be considered, provided the long term nature of the payment is confirmed by the Department of Social Protection or other relevant Government Department. Independent confirmation is required in such circumstances.

Family Income Supplement is not considered to be a long term social welfare payment for the purposes of calculating household income in the context of assessing house purchase loan applications. It is a weekly tax-free payment available to employees with children to provide extra financial support to people on low pay. Loan applicants on low incomes are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and can be referred to the Local Authority Credit Committee for a decision.

Local Authority Funding

Questions (145, 146)

Clare Daly

Question:

145. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a letter to Sligo County Council dated 18 December 2013 his Department indicated that an amount of €1 million had been set aside in the local government fund for Sligo County Council and that the funding would be provided to the council in 2014 on the basis of an agreed long-term financial plan between the council and his Department which would detail the council's proposals for dealing with the accumulated deficit and on condition of ongoing review of the implementation of the agreed plan by way of quarterly review meetings between the council and his Department; the other councils, if any, that have received additional funding in 2014 conditional on submitting long-term financial plans and conditional on quarterly review meetings with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14679/14]

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Clare Daly

Question:

146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a letter to Sligo County Council dated 18 December 2013 his Department indicated that an amount of €1 million had been set aside in the local government fund for Sligo County Council and that the funding would be provided to the council in 2014 conditional on the council submitting a long-term draft financial plan for dealing with the council’s accumulated deficit that was agreeable to his Department; and further conditional on the draft plan being agreed by the end of February 2014 with ongoing review of the implementation of the agreed plan by way of quarterly review meetings between the council and his Department; if the draft plan was submitted by the council as requested by 24 January 2014; if the draft plan was agreed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14680/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.

Local authorities’ cost and income bases vary significantly from one another. General purpose grants are structured to bring about equalisation over time; that is a position of balance where the financial needs of local authorities are met by their resources, and they are able to provide an appropriate level of service to their customers. In determining these grants, a number of factors are taken into account including the overall funding available for this purpose, the estimated cost to each authority of providing a reasonable level of services to their customers, the income each authority generates from local sources and the necessity to provide each authority with a baseline allocation that supports its financial stability.

€1m of the general purpose grant allocation to Sligo County Council for 2014 is conditional on a realistic and achievable plan which charts a path to long-term financial sustainability being agreed between my Department and the Council in the first quarter of 2014. A similar approach was not adopted in relation to any other local authority for 2014, reflecting the particular challenge to be addressed in the case of the finances of the Sligo local authorities.

While it is a matter for individual local authorities to manage their own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner, my Department is in regular and ongoing consultation with Sligo County Council in relation to their financial position and the finalisation of a long term financial plan, a process which is ongoing.

Animal Breeding Regulations

Questions (147)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

147. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the reported increase in the numbers of persons hospitalised for dog bites; the steps he is taking to ensure the public safety under the Control of Dogs Act 1998 regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14681/14]

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Written answers

The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 set out a range of requirements for all dog owners irrespective of breed and, in particular, the requirement to accompany and keep effectual control of their dogs. The penalty for non-conformance with these requirements is a fine of up to €2,500 or imprisonment for a term of up to three months, or both. Furthermore, the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 (as amended) set out further requirements that owners of specific breeds of dogs have to follow, namely that their dogs must be muzzled, leashed and led by a competent person over 16 years of age when in public.

The statutory responsibility for the enforcement of the relevant legislation rests with the local authorities whose dog control staff work on enforcement on an ongoing basis. I am concerned about any incidents involving dogs causing harm to people. Ultimately the key to tackling this issue is responsible dog ownership. Dog owners must recognise the issues involved and their responsibilities in ensuring that their dogs are controlled at all times and do not cause harm to people or other animals.

Legislative Process

Questions (148)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

148. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to review existing employment legislation to ensure that it is favourable to persons with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14523/14]

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Written answers

Ireland has comprehensive legal protection against discrimination on the ground of disability. Persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disabilities, are protected from discrimination and afforded reasonable accommodation in the field of employment, under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011.

While the Employment Equality Acts place no specific obligation on an employer to recruit, promote, or retain a person who is not fully competent and available to undertake the duties of the position, the employer before coming to such a conclusion must consider whether the person would be capable of the duties with the provision of reasonably appropriate measures. Such measures must then be taken unless they would impose a disproportionate burden on the employer. This is known as 'reasonable accommodation' in respect of the person's disability. In enforcing their right to non-discrimination, persons with disabilities and their carers may seek advice from the Equality Authority. Additionally, if they feel they have been discriminated against contrary to law, they may make a complaint to the Equality Tribunal. While I have no plans to bring forward amending legislation at present, my Department keeps employment equality legislation under ongoing review.

Parliamentary Questions Costs

Questions (149)

Clare Daly

Question:

149. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 30 January 2014, the reason there is a difficulty in gaining the information requested in view of the fact that all the fees in the rates tables on both systems go back to the early 1990s. [14462/14]

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Written answers

In my reply to the question raised by the Deputy on 30 January 2014 I advised that the collation of the information sought for the period since 1987 would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. I undertook to forward the requested information for the period from 1 July 2004 to date which I did in early February. I wish to advise the Deputy that my position in this regard remains unchanged.

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