Terence Flanagan
Question:143. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans regarding rent controls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27669/14]
View answerPrivate Rented Accommodation Costs
Questions (143, 158)
Terence Flanagan
Question:158. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a rent cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27801/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 158 together.
The private rented sector is an increasingly important element of the housing market, with the proportion of households in the sector almost doubling in the period 2006-2011. I am conscious of the difficulties caused by rising rents and the problem of sourcing suitable accommodation, especially in Dublin and other urban centres. The most recent data from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) Rent Index shows the extent of rising rents, particularly in Dublin and the major cities. In Dublin, rents for houses increased by 6. 7 % annually, and for apartments the figure was 10.3%.
The fundamental reason behind the rise in rents is a lack of supply. Increasing both public and private housing supply is a critical issue and just last month the Government published Construction 2020 - A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector. This publication is a blueprint for a properly functioning and sustainable construction sector. It provides for a strategic approach to the provision of housing based on real and measured demand and addresses the full range of relevant issues including the planning process, financing, access to mortgage finance and the construction workforce. As part of the Construction Strategy, the Government is committed to publishing a social housing strategy by the end of the third quarter 2014 which will set out a vision for social housing and identify ways to increase social housing supply over the next 5 years. Over half a billion euro in funding is being made available through my Department across a range of housing programmes in 2014 and it is expected that over 6,000 units will be provided for social housing this year.
Resolution of the housing supply situation is the key element in restoring stability to the market but I recognise that the provision of additional units of housing takes time. Consequently, I recently asked the PRTB to conduct a study to explore options to address the difficulties being experienced in segments of the private rented sector due to rising rents and to report back to me with policy recommendations before the end of June. My goal is to achieve stability and sustainability in the market for the benefit of tenants, landlords and society as a whole.
Irish Water Administration
Questions (144)
Martin Heydon
Question:144. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the development of protocols regarding the taking in charge of water services infrastructure in residential estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27671/14]
View answerWritten answers
Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, sets out the process by which local authorities can take in charge housing estates. When taking an estate in charge under the terms of this provision, a planning authority must take in charge any roads, open spaces, car parks, sewers, water mains, or drains within the attendant grounds of the development. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of responsibility for the provision of public water services from local authorities to Irish Water. In addition, it provides a mechanism whereby water services infrastructure may be transferred by Ministerial Order to Irish Water. Contrary to certain misunderstandings that may exist, there is no specific legal impediment to the taking in charge of water services infrastructure by local authorities.
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, it was stated that legislative amendments to further clarify the existing provisions on the taking in charge of housing estates would be made in 2014. My Department is currently considering, in consultation with Irish Water, what amendments to section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 will be required in this regard.
My Department, in consultation with Irish Water and the local authorities, is currently working on developing a protocol in relation to the taking in charge of estates. This protocol will be finalised shortly, following which further advice will be issued to local authorities in relation to this matter.
Irish Water Remit
Questions (145, 146)
Brendan Griffin
Question:145. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a specific grant for homeowners who wish to replace the dangerous lead piping in their homes with safer modern alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27688/14]
View answerBrendan Griffin
Question:146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide Irish Water with a grant to replace dangerous lead piping from the point of metering to the house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27689/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.
The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre. There is no requirement to replace lead pipes as part of the metering programme. However, Irish Water will be identifying the location of any lead service connections during the installation programme.
The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system and shall ensure that it is kept in good order and repair, so as to prevent a risk to human health or the environment and that the water meets prescribed quality standards. Irish Water is responsible for replacing lead distribution mains and lead service pipes up to the stopcock. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes from the main stopcock to the house, and within the house, rests with the homeowner. The introduction of a grants scheme for any purpose must be managed within current budgetary constraints and, insofar as the funds administered by my Department are concerned, there are currently no plans to introduce a scheme for the replacement of lead piping within a household’s internal distribution system.
Irish Water Administration
Questions (147, 148)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:147. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm or deny that over half a million persons will have no out-of-hours services to deal with water and sewerage urgencies despite the fact that he is putting a charge on persons for such services from October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27696/14]
View answer
Denis Naughten
Question:148. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps which are being taken by Irish Water to establish an out-of-hours service in counties Leitrim and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27700/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
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. This includes the provision of an out-of-hours service to deal with water and sewerage emergencies and contingencies. Irish Water is now responsible for customer operational calls, and deals with emergencies as they arise in any local authority area. Irish Water is working to develop consistent arrangements across the 31 local authorities with which it has service level agreements. I understand from Irish Water that twenty five local authorities have specific out-of-hours service arrangements, but arrangements are more informal in remaining authorities for dealing with out of hours matters. Irish Water is working with these authorities (Galway County, Laois, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wicklow and Leitrim) to put in place appropriate cover as it moves towards a national consistent service.
Any queries or issues in relation to water supply can be reported directly to Irish Water at all times. Members of the public can contact Irish Water by phone on 1890 278 278 (this service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or by email to customerservice@water.ie. Full contact details for Irish Water are available on its website at www.water.ie. 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 an email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
Question No. 149 answered with Question No. 136.