Written Answers Nos. 391-408
391. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the number of homeless persons registered in each county as of 1 May 2014. [24422/14]
View answerA recent survey of lead housing authorities confirmed that 2,478 unique individuals utilised Section 10-funded emergency accommodation nationally during the week of 7 to 13 April 2014. A regional breakdown of this total is provided in the table below; a county breakdown is not available in my Department. Further details are provided in the recently published Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness which is available on my Department's website:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/
Unique individuals that utilised Section 10-funded emergency accommodation during the week of 7 to 13 April 2014
|
Region |
No. of unique individuals |
|
Dublin |
1,551 |
|
Mid-West |
245 |
|
South West |
225 |
|
South East |
142 |
|
West |
137 |
|
Mid East |
79 |
|
Midlands |
41 |
|
North West |
39 |
|
North East |
19 |
|
Total |
2,478 |
392. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the funding provided for the construction of social housing units on a county basis; and the number of social housing units completed in each county each year since 2008. [24423/14]
View answerMy Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including data on the number of social housing units constructed broken down by area and year. The statistics concerned are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls by clicking “L.A. Housing Output and Commenced (1994+)” under the Social Housing Supports contents.
The following table outlines the amount of capital funding provided to local authorities under the social housing construction and acquisitions programme over the six-year period 2008 -2013. In addition to construction projects, local authorities would have acquired properties by way of turnkey projects, properties delivered under Part V agreements and the purchase of completed units. It is not possible to disaggregate the data to indicate the amounts spent solely on construction.
Funding provision under the Local Authority Social Housing Construction/Acquisition Programme 2008 - 2013
|
Local Authority |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Carlow County Council |
11,508,816 |
6,998,420 |
4,220,000 |
1,069,097 |
1,900,711 |
1,046,542 |
|
Cavan County Council |
14,374,871 |
10,699,523 |
3,694,879 |
1,116,877 |
1,360,702 |
1,947,374 |
|
Clare County Council |
18,000,000 |
15,919,414 |
5,620,420 |
1,420,897 |
979,207 |
1,404,067 |
|
Cork County Council |
65,230,833 |
65,000,000 |
42,822,737 |
6,585,702 |
8,389,441 |
3,808,461 |
|
Cork City Council |
71,909,300 |
54,685,899 |
22,257,380 |
1,546,225 |
1,871,352 |
1,051,597 |
|
D.Laoire/Rathdown County Council |
28,957,802 |
19,765,854 |
19,716,708 |
4,611,178 |
12,673,635 |
3,253,979 |
|
Donegal County Council |
30,786,342 |
22,511,401 |
12,490,305 |
5,744,975 |
1,902,596 |
1,453,503 |
|
Dublin City Council |
155,192,333 |
54,122,424 |
53,384,302 |
20,929,685 |
9,861,345 |
17,910,771 |
|
Fingal County Council |
24,877,234 |
19,408,528 |
6,434,304 |
8,355,797 |
4,808,767 |
6,110,592 |
|
Galway County Council |
24,000,000 |
14,202,580 |
6,972,073 |
4,035,823 |
1,939,128 |
2,853,496 |
|
Galway City Council |
27,853,820 |
13,105,900 |
6,614,733 |
1,593,731 |
2,587,123 |
835,238 |
|
Kerry County Council |
29,964,970 |
19,759,277 |
9,700,950 |
2,396,769 |
1,304,258 |
1,356,402 |
|
Kildare County Council |
50,939,859 |
32,512,380 |
15,795,789 |
2,901,449 |
4,114,913 |
3,801,389 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
25,414,208 |
15,447,976 |
10,104,029 |
4,566,591 |
6,090,448 |
1,888,413 |
|
Laois County Council |
20,000,610 |
9,483,834 |
6,466,501 |
2,738,481 |
1,567,167 |
604,893 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
4,481,652 |
2,848,920 |
1,429,056 |
116,308 |
304,954 |
902,126 |
|
Limerick County Council |
14,992,260 |
11,477,955 |
7,003,199 |
1,616,243 |
869,055 |
752,635 |
|
Limerick City Council |
17,989,258 |
18,253,467 |
11,873,208 |
3,586,290 |
1,216,646 |
1,400,028 |
|
Longford County Council |
16,495,900 |
12,852,409 |
3,820,875 |
758,309 |
1,227,029 |
576,033 |
|
Louth County Council |
37,509,847 |
30,692,108 |
13,279,097 |
5,375,852 |
10,203,632 |
1,942,919 |
|
Mayo County Council |
19,968,908 |
13,964,216 |
5,423,522 |
1,101,258 |
804,563 |
295,791 |
|
Meath County Council |
25,074,863 |
20,417,555 |
9,960,630 |
4,962,456 |
2,377,523 |
4,960,841 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
13,484,937 |
14,079,244 |
4,539,127 |
3,256,000 |
1,731,686 |
1,159,804 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
12,260,633 |
6,481,407 |
8,938,683 |
2,176,078 |
956,844 |
618,979 |
|
Offaly County Council |
17,643,490 |
14,516,566 |
13,171,128 |
2,478,979 |
1,708,186 |
797,832 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
8,000,000 |
7,976,049 |
3,255,095 |
847,340 |
1,044,332 |
656,348 |
|
Sligo County Council |
21,686,665 |
13,070,734 |
6,365,034 |
2,750,919 |
2,052,179 |
906,040 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
20,999,933 |
10,724,523 |
5,541,249 |
725,829 |
780,778 |
598,592 |
|
Sth Dublin County Council |
32,387,306 |
35,473,732 |
18,069,760 |
6,292,681 |
6,461,093 |
10,295,596 |
|
Waterford County Council |
12,499,999 |
9,658,054 |
3,832,007 |
564,485 |
3,683,959 |
669,850 |
|
Waterford City Council |
20,788,244 |
15,144,773 |
5,507,854 |
1,394,419 |
3,303,585 |
904,103 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
15,827,034 |
14,123,900 |
6,022,684 |
2,249,432 |
2,916,450 |
531,658 |
|
Wexford County Council |
34,018,521 |
23,610,753 |
10,379,914 |
3,333,130 |
2,947,720 |
1,049,837 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
32,426,977 |
21,335,402 |
11,624,095 |
4,800,000 |
8,741,271 |
3,442,935 |
|
- |
977,547,424 |
670,325,176 |
376,331,327 |
117,999,285 |
114,682,278 |
81,788,664 |
393. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he is taking to provide certainty to those who will not have their water meters installed by the time water charges come into effect; if persons in this situation will be subject to water charges before the water meter is installed; if this is the case, the action he will take to ensure that persons in that situation are charged fairly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24449/14]
View answer394. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way in which water charges will be implemented in relation to apartment dwellers; the way the metering system will be implemented to ensure that apartment dwellers are only subject to the relevant charge for their usage; the way he will provide apartment dwellers with the certainty that they will be charged fairly through the metering system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24490/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together.
With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the water charges plan to be prepared by Irish Water is subject to the approval of the CER. The CER has recently completed a public consultation on the approach to the design of domestic water tariffs for both metered and unmetered properties. Further consultations are planned for June in relation to other aspects of the water charges plan to be submitted to the CER by Irish Water. Full details of the CER’s public consultation plans are available on its website (www.cer.ie). The CER will be announcing the approved water charges in August 2014.
I have indicated that I intend to use my powers under the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 to issue a policy direction to the CER in relation to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges, including the calculation of assessed charges; a draft of the proposed direction has been published and is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterSectorReform/. Households that are connected to the public water supply, but do not have a water meter installed, will be charged on an assessed basis, primarily based on occupancy. There will also be provision for a rebate, when a customer moves from an assessed charge to a metered charge and usage is deemed above a reasonable threshold by comparison to the subsequent metered usage.
Irish Water has recently commissioned a study on possible approaches to metering properties that are not part of the current metering programme, including apartments and properties with shared service connections. This report was recently submitted to my Department and the recommendations of the report are being considered. In particular, my Department is exploring with Irish Water the potential to include a new phase of metering of some 48,000 apartments, which the report suggests can be easily metered as part of a separate procurement.
395. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government notwithstanding the recent comments by a senior representative of An Bord Pleanála promoting the concept of high density duplex accommodation as a means of resolving the housing crisis, if cognisance is being taken of the abject failure of such policies in the course of the past 15 years both from a social and economic perspective; if urgent reappraisal of the housing situation will be organised with a view to providing good quality affordable housing as required in various locations throughout the country in order to meet the housing needs now presenting, such accommodation to be of a quality conducive to good social and economic criteria thereby addressing the social and economic needs of future generations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24491/14]
View answerOn 14 May 2014, the Government published Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Strategy. Construction 2020 acknowledged that while across Ireland effective planning has been at the heart of rejuvenation of cities and towns and the creation of investment and job opportunities, there is also a legacy from some poor past decision making, reflecting an absence of good planning and strategic thinking which has served Ireland and its citizens badly.
Construction 2020 contains 75 Actions in total and my Department, together with the Housing Agency, will be involved in the delivery of over 30 of these Actions. These include the publication of a Policy Statement on Planning, and the progression of new planning legislation to implement the recommendations of the Mahon Tribunal and to establish an Independent Planning Regulator, as well as providing the necessary legal framework for planning related actions in Construction 2020. The Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which deals with affordable housing, will be completed shortly and any legislative changes required as a consequence of this Review will be incorporated into the new Planning Bill.
As regards the issue of housing densities, Construction 2020 provides that, where appropriate and in line with sustainable development into the future, flexibility around overall densities will be considered as part of a “kick start” initiative for prime development areas where extensive infrastructure development has taken place. Under Action 8 of Construction 2020, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014. To assist in the development of the Social Housing Strategy, the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014; Further information is available at the following weblink: http://www.housing.ie/News/Current-News/Invitation-for-Submissions-Preparation-of-a-Social.aspx.
396. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the local government authority pounds that rehome dog breeds legislated under the Control of Dogs Act 1998 regulations, and which do not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24510/14]
View answerThe rehoming of dogs from local authority pounds is a matter for individual local authorities. My Department has no role in such operational matters and does not collect information in this regard.
397. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a private group water scheme (details supplied) in County Waterford will be taken over by Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24512/14]
View answerThe Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. Under the legislation, Irish Water now has the powers previously held by local authorities in relation to the takeover of Group Water Schemes and this means that Irish Water may acquire by agreement a waterworks or waste water works, but subject generally to not fewer than two thirds of those entitled to dispose of it (typically the members of a group water scheme) giving their consent.
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 in the event that the Deputy wishes to enquire directly with Irish Water regarding the scheme referred to.
398. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Clare County Council has been unable to locate a planning file (details supplied) relating to the Westpark estate development in Spanish Point, County Clare; that this development is the subject of a complaint to the Commission of the European Communities regarding failure to comply with community law regarding sewer leaks from an alleged unauthorised wastewater treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24568/14]
View answerI have not been made aware of any issue in relation to a planning file but I am aware that the development in question is part of pre-infringement proceeding in relation to waste water discharges initiated against Ireland by the European Commission in March 2013. My Department issued a formal reply to the European Commission on 21 June 2013 and a response from the Commission is awaited.
399. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government since its creation the number of housing units the National Asset Management Agency made available to Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council respectively for use as social housing; if he will provide a breakdown housing type namely house or apartment and number of rooms; the number of units that each council has accepted from NAMA; the number it has declined; the number it is currently in negotiations over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24577/14]
View answer400. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government since its creation, the number of housing units the National Asset Management Agency has made available to each local authority for use as social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24578/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together.
Information in relation to the delivery of NAMA sourced units, including a full breakdown by county of units delivered by quarter, is available on the Housing Agency’ s website: www.housing.ie/NAMA. My Department, the Housing Agency and NAMA continue to work together with housing authorities and approved housing bodies in identifying suitable NAMA housing units and bringing them into social housing use. By the end of Q1 2014, 4,653 units have been identified by NAMA as being potentially suitable for social housing and of these some 1,849 units are available and have been confirmed by local authorities as being suitable for social housing. Completed housing unit transfers stand at 518 , with a further 166 units contracted and with completion work on-going. This brings the overall total delivery of social housing from NAMA- sourced units to 684 units (completed or contracted) since the process began. My Department does not keep a breakdown of NAMA sourced units by dwelling type on a local authority basis. From a national perspective, the position is that of these 684 units, 471 are apartments and the remaining 213 units are houses.
My Department does not keep a breakdown by number of bedrooms for all NAMA sourced units; however, the breakdown for those units in the Social Housing Leasing Initiative is 14% 1-bed, 46% 2-bed and 40% 3bed+. A breakdown by local authority of the units identified by NAMA and demand confirmed is provided in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Identified |
Demand Confirmed &Available |
Complete/ Contracted |
|
Carlow Co. Co. |
137 |
82 |
55 |
|
Cavan Co. Co. |
49 |
17 |
|
|
Clare Co. Co. |
169 |
19 |
7 |
|
Cork City |
419 |
97 |
53 |
|
Cork Co. Co. |
471 |
148 |
55 |
|
Donegal Co. Co. |
118 |
68 |
|
|
Louth County Council |
27 |
27 |
27 |
|
Dublin City Council |
753 |
247 |
163 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Co. |
305 |
114 |
77 |
|
Fingal Co. Co. |
203 |
56 |
44 |
|
Galway City |
152 |
152 |
60 |
|
Galway Co. Co. |
98 |
40 |
|
|
Kerry Co. Co. |
114 |
54 |
15 |
|
Kildare Co. Co. |
243 |
85 |
64 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Co. |
167 |
87 |
5 |
|
Laois Co. Co. |
98 |
6 |
|
|
Leitrim Co. Co. |
35 |
|
|
|
Limerick City and County Co. |
128 |
71 |
9 |
|
Longford Co. Co. |
31 |
11 |
|
|
Mayo Co. Co. |
66 |
58 |
|
|
Meath Co. Co. |
215 |
37 |
|
|
Monaghan Co. Co. |
42 |
42 |
|
|
Tipperary Co. Co. |
47 |
13 |
|
|
Offaly Co. Co. |
79 |
58 |
|
|
Roscommon Co. Co. |
91 |
|
|
|
Sligo Co. Co. |
46 |
16 |
|
|
South Dublin Co. Co. |
60 |
42 |
40 |
|
Waterford City and County Co. |
72 |
46 |
|
|
Westmeath Co. Co. |
64 |
47 |
8 |
|
Wexford Co. Co. |
118 |
102 |
2 |
|
Wicklow Co. Co. |
36 |
7 |
|
|
Grand Total |
4,653 |
1,849 |
684 |
401. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list in tabular form all legislation and specific sections therein that refer to powers delegated to the Minister of State with special responsibility for housing and planning; if he will detail the title of the civil servants who are responsible for reporting directly to said Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24607/14]
View answerThe Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, was assigned responsibility in 2012 for the implementation of the Government’s Housing Policy Statement - Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities and a range of associated housing and planning functions - including functions in relation to the foreshore. Parts 1 and 2 of the Schedule to the Environment, Community and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2012 outline the powers (other than the power to prosecute an offence) and duties of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under specific primary and secondary legislation which were delegated to Minister of State O’Sullivan.
The Housing (Amendment) Act 2013 amended section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The functions of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in regard to the Housing (Amendment) Act 2013 were delegated to Minister of State O’Sullivan under the Environment, Community and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2013.
The Statutory Instruments referred to above are available on my Department’s website at - http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/General/#d.en.23929 and on www.irishstatutebook.ie. A number of staff in senior management positions in the Housing, and Water & Planning Divisions of my Department work closely with Minister of State O’Sullivan while reporting through the normal Civil Service reporting structure up to Secretary General level. My Department’s current Organisation Chart is available on www.environ.ie - http://www.environ.ie/en/AboutUs/OrganisationalStructure/FileDownLoad,1166,en.pdf.
SCHEDULE
PART 1
Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2011, other than Chapter 1 of Part VI of the Planning and Development Act 2000
Housing Act 1966 (No. 21 of 1966), other than Part V and the Third Schedule
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979 (No. 27 of 1979)
Section 75 of the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1980 (No. 10 of 1980)
Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) Act 1982 (No. 6 of 1982)
Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) (Amendment) Act 1983 (No. 22 of 1983), other than section 2
Housing Act 1988 (No. 28 of 1988)
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 (No. 18 of 1992)
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 (No. 21 of 1997)
Urban Renewal Act 1998 (No. 27 of 1998), other than sections 14 and 17
Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 (No. 33 of 1998)
Town Renewal Act 2000 (No. 18 of 2000)
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 (No. 9 of 2002)
Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (No. 27 of 2004), other than sections 153, 154, 155 and 180
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (No. 22 of 2009)
Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2011
PART 2
Housing (Floor Area Compliance Certificate Inspection) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 128 of 2004 )
European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 435 of 2004 )
Limerick Northside Regeneration Agency (Establishment) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 275 of 2007 ), other than articles 6 and 11
Limerick Southside Regeneration Agency (Establishment) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 276 of 2007 ), other than articles 6 and 11
402. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list in tabular form all legislation and specific sections therein that refer to powers delegated to the Minister for State with special responsibility for the NewEra project; if he will detail the title of the civil servants who are responsible for reporting directly to said Minister of State and that they are responsible for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24614/14]
View answerMinister for State O’Dowd has special responsibility for the New Era project. He is a Minister of State at my Department and at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources where his office is based. No statutory powers have been delegated to Minister for State O’Dowd in my Department. Work carried out by Minister of State O’Dowd for my Department is done on a non-legislative basis. New Era currently operates on a non-statutory basis as part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).
403. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the services being provided by HomeBond to the pyrite board. [24689/14]
View answerDiscussions have been on-going for some time between the Pyrite Resolution Board and HomeBond on services to be provided by HomeBond in connection with the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. The discussions have recently concluded and my Department understands that an agreement has now been reached under which HomeBond has agreed to contribute technical and project management services to the value of €2million, and such services will include assisting in the auditing of Building Condition Assessments, organising and managing the testing of dwellings and project management of remediation contracts. HomeBond has also agreed to make available to the Pyrite Resolution Board Housing Agency the results of testing undertaken by it prior to the operation of the scheme.
All services will be provided under the direction and supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board and/or the Housing Agency and in this context it should be noted that HomeBond staff will not be making decisions on the eligibility of applicants under the scheme. In addition, while working on the pyrite remediation process, staff from HomeBond will not be acting as agents of the Pyrite Resolution Board/Housing Agency to whom they will be answerable.
404. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the number of building condition assessments reporting damage condition rating 2; and if this is less than, in line with, or greater than the estimates made of the numbers of houses potentially requiring remedial works in the estates concerned by the pyrite board. [24690/14]
View answerIt is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Pyrite Resolution Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. To date the Pyrite Resolution Board has received approximately 500 applications, almost all of which are accompanied by Building Condition Assessments with a Damage Condition Rating of 2.
The level of applications under the scheme is broadly in line with the expectations of my Department and the Pyrite Resolution Board. It was anticipated that volumes would be high initially and would then level off and continue at a steadier rate; this has been the experience under the scheme and applications are now averaging 10 per week. This would suggest that the total number is likely to be within the figure of some 1,000 derived from the figures of the report of the independent Pyrite Panel and substantially less than some of the speculative figures which have been publicly quoted.
405. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be a cut-off date for qualification for the gratuity payments for defeated and retired county councillors; and if he will maintain the scheme in its present form for the duration of the council term 2014 to 2019. [24706/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question Nos. 365 and 398 of 9 July 2013 which sets out the conditions for gratuity payments to councillors who cease to be a member of a local authority. Once a gratuity becomes payable under the scheme, there is no cut-off date for qualification for the gratuity, or for the ex-councillor to seek payment. I have no plans at present to change the provisions of the Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Regulations 2002 to 2006.
406. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of land in land banks here; and his plans for same in the coming years. [24708/14]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to the amount of land zoned for housing. The Housing Land Availability Survey (HLAS) is an annual survey undertaken by my Department seeking information from local authorities to inform the publication of the amount of zoned residential land in their areas that is currently serviced. In 2013, my Department reviewed the HLAS approach taking account of the advent of www.myplan.ie and the need to reduce and rationalise the data gathering requirements placed on local authorities. A new internet based approach called the Residential Land Availability Survey (RLAS) is currently being finalised in conjunction with local authorities which will produce robust datasets mapped to individual land parcels across all local authorities. I expect that the final RLAS will be available by Autumn 2014 and the RLAS survey will be undertaken annually thereafter.
However, it is provisionally estimated that there is currently in excess of 25,000 hectares of undeveloped residentially zoned land nationally which equates to a capacity for over 500,000 new homes (based on a national average of 20 units per hectare). This capacity is considered to be sufficient to meet the housing requirements nationally for in excess of the next ten years. In line with the commitments under the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, a Housing Supply Co-ordination Task Force for Dublin has been established with an immediate focus on addressing supply-related issues.
407. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence the legislative provisions in respect of his Department that has been passed by the Oireachtas since 2011 but have not come into effect to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24147/14]
View answerThere are no legislative provisions under my ministerial area of responsibility that have been passed by the Oireachtas since 2011 but have not come into effect to date.
408. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the establishment figure for each of the nine Permanent Defence Forces units and the Permanent Defence Forces cadre staff for each of the five Reserve Defence Forces units (details supplied) based at Custume Barracks Athlone on 30 November 2012. [24520/14]
View answerIt was not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. My Department is currently seeking to compile an accurate reply and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.
