Written Answers Nos. 141-150
141. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has concerns about the cost of motor tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20683/14]
View answerI have no function in relation to motor insurance. Motor tax on cars registered prior to July 2008 is calculated on the basis of the engine capacity of the car. I have no plans currently to reduce the motor tax rates in respect of this category. It should be noted that the average increase in motor tax for cars taxed on engine capacity was 7.5% in Budgets 2012 and 2013, considerably less than the increases applied to vehicles registered after 1 July 2008, in respect of which motor tax is based on CO2 emissions.
142. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a grant application for personal alarms for older persons will be approved for an organisation (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20795/14]
View answerThe Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. The local community group in question has applied for registration with my Department under the Scheme and once my Department completes its assessment of the application, the organisation will be advised of the outcome.
143. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action being taken to address the now annual issues which Wicklow residents are experiencing with the contamination of Vartry water supply with algae; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20686/14]
View answerI have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the day to day management, maintenance or operation of water supplies. Since 1 January 2014 , Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
144. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious budget shortfall of the Women's Aid facility in Dundalk; if an application for additional funding has been submitted; and if so, when will this be looked at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20693/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 396, 397 and 398 of 8 April 2014 which sets out the position in this matter. The position is unchanged.
145. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the ongoing review of the shared ownership scheme; if his Department is considering a change to the current index linked rental payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20697/14]
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 :http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/PublicConsultations/. In 2013, I asked the Housing Agency to conduct a stand alone 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.
146. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending motor tax regulations dealing with declaring a vehicle off the road to enable a person who presents at a motor tax office on the first working day of the following month after the tax has expired to be permitted to declare the vehicle off the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20721/14]
View answerThe Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013. The primary purpose of the Act is to replace the system whereby a vehicle was declared off the road retrospectively with a system under which the vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. The provision for retrospective declarations had become a means of evasion of motor tax.
The new arrangements have been fully in force since 1 October 2013. These only allow for a future declaration which must be made in the month before tax falls due, i.e. the declaration must be made prospectively. The declaration of non-use can be made at any time during that month, either via the local motor tax office or online, and is free of charge.
I consider the full calendar month currently allowed for the making of a declaration to be sufficient to enable motorists to make a prospective declaration that their vehicle will be off the road. I have no plans to amend the legislation to allow a declaration to be made on the first working day of a month, as this would provide for the re-introduction of retrospective declarations.
147. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason 11 households in the townland of Coronea, Skibbereen, County Cork are not connected to the main sewerage scheme in view of the fact that it is within 400 metres of their homes, and that the treatment plant is in Coronea and they believe sufficient funding is available for this purpose; his views on the likely contamination of private wells in the area by septic tanks; the reason these residents have been excluded; if he will do all in his power to have them connected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20725/14]
View answerI have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the day to day management, maintenance or operation of water supplies or the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Since 1 January 2014 , Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
148. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the derogation from the EU water framework directive will be renewed. [20734/14]
View answerThe Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) provides a comprehensive basis for the protection and improvement of inland surface waters, groundwater and transitional and coastal waters. The Directive requires that Member States take a catchment-based approach to the protection of waters by establishing river basin districts and management plans for these districts. Ireland does not have a derogation from the Directive.
149. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reduce planning appeal fees or changing the definition for dual homes applications where the homes are defined as commercial entities despite it being a domestic arrangement for complementary joint works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20764/14]
View answerWhile planning application fees are kept under regular review in my Department, I have no plans to reduce the fees at this point in time.
150. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide on a county basis all funding approvals issued in 2014 for extensions to sewerage schemes; the amount in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20790/14]
View answerI assume the question relates to the funding approved for group sewerage schemes under my Department’s 2014 Rural Water Programme. The names of the schemes and the amounts approved are outlined in the following table. Details of the type of works proposed would be available from the local authorities, who have responsibility for administering the scheme.
Group Sewerage Schemes Approved Grants under the 2014 Rural Water Programme
|
County |
Group Sewerage Scheme |
Grant amount approved |
|
Carlow |
Craanluskey |
€45,000 |
|
- |
Blackbog Road |
€41,250 |
|
Cavan |
Cavan Road, Stradone |
€234,000 |
|
Clare |
Woodview |
€3,000 |
|
- |
Loughville/Woodlawn |
€71,250 |
|
- |
Carrigaholt (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
- |
Acres, Ballyvaughan |
€60,000 |
|
Cork |
Cloonbane, Doneraile |
€10,500 |
|
- |
Curragh Road, Kanturk |
€8,625 |
|
- |
Freemount Road, Kanturk |
€78,000 |
|
- |
Quarterstown, Mallow |
€7,500 |
|
Kerry |
Tullig, Castleisland |
€187,500 |
|
- |
Killeen Road, Tralee |
€45,000 |
|
- |
Alderwood Road, Tralee (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
- |
High Road, Dingle |
39,000 |
|
Kildare |
Boston Cottages |
€22,500 |
|
- |
Barrogstown & Kilmacreadock (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
Clover Gowran |
€39,000 |
|
- |
Drakelands |
€9,000 |
|
- |
Dungarvan |
€48,750 |
|
- |
Shellumsrath |
€152,000 |
|
Laois |
Derrymoyle |
€10,200 |
|
- |
Crossneen |
€104,000 |
|
County |
Group Sewerage Scheme |
Grant amount approved |
|
Leitrim |
Lisduff |
€142,500 |
|
Ballinagleragh |
€22,500 |
|
|
Drumshambo Corlough |
€91,000 |
|
|
Limerick |
Garrienderk |
€58,500 |
|
Longford |
Legan No. 1 |
€16,500 |
|
Legan No. 2 |
€61,875 |
|
|
Ballinalee |
€71,500 |
|
|
Keenagh No.1 |
€26,000 |
|
|
Louth |
Waterunder |
€26,250 |
|
South End |
€26,250 |
|
|
Meath |
Smithstown |
€39,000 |
|
Monaghan |
lltown, Monaghan |
€150,000 |
|
Rafeeran, Ballinode |
€65,000 |
|
|
Offaly |
Ballydaly, Tullamore (Feasibility Study) |
€10,000 |
|
County |
Group Sewerage Scheme |
Grant amount approved |
|
- |
Arden Lane, Tullamore |
€112,500 |
|
Kincora, Ferbane |
€12,750 |
|
|
Brocca Road, Mucklagh |
€58,500 |
|
|
Waterford |
The Hill, Carrick Beg |
€15,000 |
|
Shanakill, Ring |
€75,000 |
|
|
Westmeath |
Fore |
€94,950 |
|
Ballykeeran Big |
€84,500 |
|
|
Wexford |
Crosstown |
€123,500 |
|
Orchard Lane |
€97,500 |
|
|
Wicklow |
Ballynerrin |
€63,844 |
