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Wednesday, 17 Sep 2014

Written Answers Nos. 1526-1553

Local Authority Funding

Questions (1529, 1530)

Seamus Kirk

Question:

1529. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding has been approved for remedial works at a location (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33779/14]

View answer

Seamus Kirk

Question:

1530. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding Meath County Council's submission for a comprehensive remedial works scheme for a housing estate (details supplied) in County Meath; if and when approval for same will be given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33780/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1529 and 1530 together.

Given the pressures on available resources, my Department is not in a position to support all proposals received from local authorities, including those referred to, for remedial works schemes.

My Department continues to support a range of social housing developments, including both new provision and improvements to the existing housing stock. This support has included a recent approval by my Department of €49,000 for the area concerned under the scheme for returning vacant properties to productive use.

Leader Programmes Funding

Questions (1531)

Dara Calleary

Question:

1531. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a community group (details supplied) in County Mayo has yet to receive its Leader funding payment; his views that this delay is unacceptable; if he will expedite the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33789/14]

View answer

Written answers

In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Local Action Groups (LAGs) are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with the Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations. The LAG for the area referred to in the question is Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP).

I understand that MNELP have contacted the promoter of the project concerned seeking additional information in relation to the project.

Litter Pollution

Questions (1532)

Joe Costello

Question:

1532. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the north inner city of Dublin as a black spot for littering; his plans to reduce the incidence of littering there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33829/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat litter. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering is a matter for the local authorities.

Local authorities are independent statutory bodies, with democratically elected councils and their own management systems and as such, it is a matter for individual authorities to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter pollution, within the context of national policy and legislation. It is also a matter for each local authority to decide on the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions in relation to litter, taking account of their own local circumstances and priorities. Accordingly, it is a matter for Dublin City Council to manage its own response to littering in the north inner city and elsewhere in its functional area.

To support local authorities, under the 2014 Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme, my Department has made grants available from the Environment Fund to provide funding support to appropriate public education and awareness initiatives in relation to both litter and graffiti. A total of €850,000 is available under the scheme this year.

My Department also announced the provision of a further €2.975 million to local authorities for a dedicated Public Area Enhancement scheme for the busy summer tourist season. This additional, once-off funding was provided to support local authorities’ efforts to prepare and maintain their public areas in an effort to maximise the economic benefits that can flow from increased visitors to their towns, cities and counties.

A total of €171,040 has been allocated to Dublin City Council under these two schemes.

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Yield

Questions (1533)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1533. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of moneys paid for the non-principal private residence tax, by county between 1 June 2014 to 1 September 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33836/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge. The NPPR Charge of €200 per annum, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence.

The table details Non-Principal Private Residence Charge revenue raised on a county basis between 1 June 2014 and 1 September 2014 based on data provided by the Local Government Management Agency. Proceeds from the charge are retained by local authorities and are used for the provision of local services.

County

Carlow

287,800

Cavan

492,390

Clare

770,400

Cork

2,784,990

Donegal

1,072,100

Dublin

9,327,020

Galway

1,876,380

Kerry

1,057,880

Kildare

1,166,380

Kilkenny

303,280

Laois

361,980

Leitrim

348,480

Limerick

845,340

Longford

228,400

Louth

751,540

Mayo

994,520

Meath

1,139,080

Monaghan

177,980

Offaly

407,440

Roscommon

390,280

Sligo

625,980

Tipperary

583,060

Waterford

608,180

Westmeath

537,520

Wexford

849,640

Wicklow

1,382,520

Total

29,370,560

Proposed Legislation

Questions (1534)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1534. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on an amendment (details supplied) to the Planning and Development Act. [33874/14]

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Written answers

Section 152 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires that a planning authority must issue a warning letter following receipt of a complaint made under section 151 alleging that unauthorised development may have been, is being, or may be carried out, unless the development in question is of a trivial or minor nature.

The warning letter must, among other things, state that it has come to the attention of the planning authority that unauthorised development may have been, is being or may be carried out, and that the person served with the letter may make written observations within 4 weeks. The planning authority must then carry out an investigation and decide whether it is necessary to issue an enforcement notice, and in making this decision it must take into account any submissions received from the person on whom the warning letter was served.

I have no plans to amend the current provisions. In this regard, a complaint alerts the planning authority to the fact that unauthorised development may have been or is being carried out. An enforcement notice in relation to any such unauthorised development will only be issued where this has been established to be the case.

Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Administration

Questions (1535, 1543)

Michael McGrath

Question:

1535. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the charge on a property as a result of non-payment of the non-principal private residence charge lapses entirely in all circumstances after 12 years if the property has not been sold by then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33894/14]

View answer

Michael McGrath

Question:

1543. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the charge over a property in respect of an unpaid non-principal private residence liability falls in all circumstances after 12 years and the person concerned has no further liability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34016/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1535 and 1543 together.

The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. It is a matter for an owner, whether resident in Ireland or elsewhere, to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the Charge and any late payment fees applicable.

Section 7 (1) of the 2009 Act provides that any charge or late payment fee due and unpaid by an owner of residential property shall be a charge on the property to which it relates. Section 7 (2) provides that the said property shall not remain charged with or liable to the payment of such unpaid charge or late payment fee after the expiration of 12 years from the date upon which the amount concerned fell due.

The 2009 Act, as amended, places the Charge under the care and management of the local authorities, and application in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority.

Waste Management Regulations

Questions (1536)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

1536. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the need to regulate household waste collection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33906/14]

View answer

Written answers

Environmental standards in relation to the collection of waste are governed by the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007 and their enforcement is the responsibility of local authorities. A waste collector must also comply with any waste collection bye-laws which are in force within a local authority’s functional area as well as with all other relevant legislation, environmental or otherwise.

The treatment and management of waste material is subject to a registration and permitting system by local authorities or registration and licensing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as appropriate. These systems are governed by the Waste Management (Facility Permit & Registration) Regulations 2007 and the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004. The primary purpose of the registration, permitting and licensing system is to place appropriate controls on waste facilities and activities so as to ensure good and consistent waste management practice and the implementation of high standards of environmental protection.

Enforcement of conditions attaching to waste collection permits, certificates of registration, waste facility permits or waste licences are matters for the relevant local authority or the EPA as appropriate. Under section 60(3) of the 1996 Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority or the EPA of their statutory functions under the Act.

My role as Minister is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework through which the relevant environmental regulatory bodies, such as local authorities and the EPA, operate. In that context, I intend to introduce legislation early next year, to come into effect in July 2015, to significantly reform the regulation of household waste collection, including introducing measures to require collectors to operate the pay by weight system across all 3 bins as a condition of the permit and meet certain minimum standards of customer service (for example, specified frequencies of collection). It will also become a statutory requirement for all collectors to have customer charters in place. I will be setting out in law what the minimum content of these customer charters will be so that standards of service are raised and are consistent.

My remit as Minister does not extend to industrial relations issues such as workers’ rights and conditions or industrial dispute resolution in the waste or any other sector.

Question No. 1537 answered with Question No. 1521.

Control of Dogs

Questions (1538)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

1538. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to update the laws regarding control of dogs in public places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33951/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992 set out a range of requirements for all dog owners and 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.

I have no plans at present to amend current legislation on dog control.

Housing Agency Portfolio

Questions (1539, 1595)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

1539. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of sites currently under the remit of the Housing Agency; the number of these sites that have been fully paid for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33970/14]

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Anthony Lawlor

Question:

1595. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the legal procedures involved in the transfer of all lands purchased by the Housing Agency from local authorities have been completed; if he will provide a list of all lands that are currently outstanding nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34637/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1539 and 1595 together.

I presume the Questions relate to the Land Aggregation Scheme (LAGS).

In total, the Housing Agency has 49 unencumbered sites in its ownership, 36 of which were transferred through the LAGS. The Housing Agency also holds 13 other unencumbered sites, which were previously held by the National Building Agency.

The LAGS was introduced in 2010 as part of revised arrangements for the funding of land for social housing purposes. A condition of the scheme requires the transfer of lands included in the scheme to the Housing Agency.

An estimated total loan value of €162m was approved for inclusion in the Scheme in respect of 73 sites in nineteen local authority areas. The figure of €162m includes €111m in respect of 47 sites, where loans which were fully redeemed by local authorities with funding recouped from my Department, under the original terms of the Scheme. The remaining €51m relates to 26 sites and is in the form of annuity loans with the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), for which local authorities are making repayments to the HFA and recouping these payments from my Department on condition that the site is fully transferred to the Housing Agency.

Currently 43, of the 73 LAGS sites have been fully transferred to the Housing Agency. Of these 43 sites, 36 were dealt with under the first iteration of the Scheme and have had their associated loans redeemed in full. Of the 30 sites still to be transferred, 14 are in the final stages of transfer, and discussions are on-going between the Housing Agency and the relevant Local Authorities regarding the transfer of the remaining 16 sites. Details of the 30 sites still to be transferred are set out in the following table.

Local Authorities were notified of the discontinuance of the Land Aggregation Scheme in 2013. The focus of the Scheme has now shifted to the management and utilisation of the lands included in the Scheme. The Housing Agency is developing a strategy for the utilisation of transferred lands, which will involve consultation with the relevant local authority and other appropriate parties. The development of this strategy is being progressed in the context of the new Social Housing Strategy, which my Department is preparing under the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy.

LAGS Sites to be Transferred to the Housing Agency

-

LOCAL AUTHORITY

SITE

1

Kildare Co Co

Devoy Barracks, Naas

2

Kildare Co Co

Brallistown

3

Kildare Co Co

Nurney

4

Kildare Co Co

Clane

5

Laois Co Co

Derry Road, Durrow

6

Cork Co Co

Cloughmacsimon, Bandon

7

Laois Co Co

Bride Street Ballinakill

8

Sligo Co Co

Ballinode, Sligo

9

Offaly Co Co

Kilcormac (Kyleboher)

10

Galway City Co

Ballymoneen Road

11

Sligo Co Co

Lisnalurg

12

Cork Co Co

St Joseph’s Road, Mallow

13

Wexford Co Co

Campile, Ballykerogue

14

Carlow Co Co

Paupish, Carlow

15

Carlow Co Co

Tullow Road

16

Cork Co Co

The Slip, Bantry

17

Meath Co Co

Townspark, Kells

18

Kildare Co Co

Craddockstown, Naas

19

Laois Co Co

Abbeyleix Road Portlaoise

20

Cork Co Co

Agharinagh, Dripsey

21

Cork Co Co

Land at Stagpark, Mitchelstown

22

Cork Co Co

The Miles, Clonakilty, Co Cork

23

Cork Co Co

Townsend St, Skibbereen, Cork

24

Cork Co Co

Respond, Duntahane Road, Fermoy

25

Cork Co Co

Respond, Land Barrack Road, Youghal

26

Cork Co Co

Bawnlahan, Union Hall, Cork

27

Wexford Co Co

Castlemoyle, New Ross

28

Offaly Co Co

Collins Lane, Tullamore

29

Carlow Co Co

Royal Oak Rd, Bagenalstown

30

Louth Co Co

Mount Avenue, Dundalk

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Applications

Questions (1540)

Michael McGrath

Question:

1540. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 16 July 2014, the position regarding an individual mortgage to rent case in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33980/14]

View answer

Written answers

There has been no change in the position regarding the mortgage to rent case referred to.

An application for provisional approval in this case was received by my Department on 9 June 2014 and was granted the following day. In order to progress this case to full funding approval, a further submission is required confirming all costs and agreements are in place or in train. This submission is awaited by my Department and is subject to the consent of the borrower to share their information with the Housing Agency. This must be secured by the lender under the mortgage to rent protocol. Once this has been received an independent valuation will be arranged, the property will then be offered to the Approved Housing Body (AHB) panel and an interested AHB will negotiate with the lender to purchase the property.

Irish Water Establishment

Questions (1541)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1541. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects to sign a statutory instrument for the transfer of liabilities from local authorities to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33995/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the provision of public water services.

Section 12 of the Act provides for the transfer of property from a local authority to Irish Water. Section 13 of the Act provides that any rights or liabilities relating to the property transferred to Irish Water under section 12 shall also stand transferred to Irish Water. Section 14 of the Act provides for the transfer of other liabilities from a water services authority to Irish Water by way of Ministerial Order.

To date, two Orders have been made under section 14 - the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order 2014, which was signed on 20 February 2014, and the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 (Transfer of Other Liabilities) Order (No. 2) 2014, which was signed on 24 April 2014. The Orders, which are available in the Oireachtas library, provided for the transfer of a total of 970 contracts from the local authorities to Irish Water.

Work is underway to prepare for the transfer of water services property and liabilities from the local authorities to Irish Water and it is expected that further Orders will be made in this regard in the coming months.

Departmental Functions

Questions (1542)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1542. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of administrative arrangements, as opposed to contracts for service his Department is a party to; if he will provide in tabular form the party or parties to the administrative arrangement; the duration of these administrative arrangements; the cost recovery value of these administrative arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34002/14]

View answer

Written answers

An arrangement of the kind concerned is in place between the Rent Tribunal and the Private Residential Tenancies Board, as set out in the following table. The Rent Tribunal was established under the Housing (Private Rented Dwellings) (Amendment) Act 1983, for the purpose of determining the terms of the tenancies (including the rent) of dwellings formally controlled under the Rent Restrictions Acts. The merger of the Rent Tribunal and the PRTB was announced in 2009 on foot of a Government decision on the rationalisation of state agencies.

The merger of these two bodies has been in place on an administrative basis since 1 October 2009; administrative support services to the Rent Tribunal are provided by the PRTB and the Chairperson of the PRTB is the Chairperson of the Rent Tribunal. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) ( No. 2 ) Bill 2012, which is currently before the Oireachtas, will give legislative effect to the merger and provides for the dissolution of the Rent Tribunal.

The operational costs of the Rent Tribunal since 1 October 2009 have been borne by the Private Residential Tenancies Board.

In addition, while not considered an administrative arrangement within the scope of the question, my Department engages the services of Pobal for the provision of services across a number of programmes, including the Local and Community Development Programme, Dormant Accounts Measures and the Scheme to Support National Organisations. Some €2.6m was provided for this purpose in 2013.

Name of Party to the Administrative Arrangement

Duration of Administrative Arrangement

Cost recovery value of the Administrative Arrangement

Rent Tribunal & Private Residential Tenancies Board

Since 2009

The operational costs of the Rent Tribunal since 1 October 2009 have been borne by the PRTB.

Question No. 1543 answered with Question No. 1535.

Local Government Fund

Questions (1544, 1605)

Brian Stanley

Question:

1544. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if allocations to local authorities from the Local Government Fund will remain the same as in 2014 for 2015. [34030/14]

View answer

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

1605. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when all local authorities will be informed of their allocations for 2015 which they will receive from the Department under the Local Government Fund. [34752/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1544 and 1605 together.

Local Property Tax was introduced to provide an alternative, stable and sustainable funding base for the local authority sector, providing greater levels of connection between local revenue raising and associated expenditure decisions. Given that local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources, the Government has decided that no local authority will receive a lesser allocation from LPT in 2015 than they received from the Local Government Fund in 2014. 80% of LPT will be retained locally to fund vital public services in 2015. The remaining 20% will be re-distributed to provide additional funding to certain local authorities that have lower property tax bases due to the variance in property values across the State.

Certain local authorities, with stronger property bases, will receive additional income in 2015 from LPT compared to their 2014 General Purpose Grant. The Government has decided that these local authorities will use this surplus funding in two ways, with a portion available for their own discretionary purposes and the remainder, if any, to fund some services in the Housing and Roads areas for which they currently receive Central Government funding. The portion that will be retained for discretionary purposes by these authorities will be an amount equal to 20% of the total expected LPT income in their respective areas (before any decision to vary rates) or, in the case where that surplus will be less than 20%, the full amount. It will be a matter for the individual local authorities to decide how to spend that discretionary funding.

Local authority elected members have been given the power to decide whether or not to increase or decrease LPT rates by up to 15% for 2015 and must inform the Revenue Commissioners of their intentions by the end of September. In the event that a local authority decides to increase LPT rates, they will retain 100% of the additional LPT collected. Where a local authority decides to reduce LPT rates, the full cost of that reduction will be reflected in a reduced LPT allocation to that local authority.

I have advised local authorities of their individual provisional LPT allocations for 2015. This information has been provided at this early stage in the budget process for 2015 in order to ensure that local authorities have sufficient detail available to inform their decision-making in respect of LPT rate variation for 2015, which must be completed and notified to the Revenue Commissioners by 30 September 2014.

Grant Payments

Questions (1545)

Robert Dowds

Question:

1545. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will instruct local authorities to accept applications for the household adaptation grant scheme from individuals who are in arrears on the local property tax, conditional upon an agreed timeline for repayment of the arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34035/14]

View answer

Written answers

It is a requirement under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability that applicants are registered for the payment of the Local Property Tax. Where an applicant is in arrears and there is an agreed timeline for repayment, applications can be accepted by the local authority. The detailed administration of the schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the local authority.

Question No. 1546 answered with Question No. 1518.

Local Authority Staff Recruitment

Questions (1547)

Finian McGrath

Question:

1547. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there are no new apprentices in Dublin City Council; if this is in breach of the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34048/14]

View answer

Written answers

The moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for Chief Executives, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained.

My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests, public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence.

My Department works closely with Dublin City Council in relation to overall staffing requirements and has not, to date, received a request from Dublin City Council for apprenticeship positions.

Question No. 1548 answered with Question No. 1454.

Departmental Funding

Questions (1549)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

1549. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the payments of public moneys that were made to An Taisce in 2013; the purpose of these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34069/14]

View answer

Written answers

My Department provided €0.737 million to An Taisce in 2013 in respect of a range of environmental activities and public awareness initiatives which it has undertaken, including the National Spring Clean initiative; the Green Schools initiative; the Clean Coast and Blue Flag Awards; contribution to the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) National Litter League; and implementation of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations.

Question No. 1550 answered with Question No. 1505.
Question No. 1551 answered with Question No. 1524.
Question No. 1552 answered with Question No. 1484.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Questions (1553)

Tom Fleming

Question:

1553. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the progress of the proposed sewerage scheme extension to Castleisland sewerage scheme at Tullig and College Road, Castleisland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34126/14]

View answer

Written answers

My Department approved a grant of €187,500 under the 2014 Rural Water Programme towards a proposed group sewerage scheme at Tullig, Castleisland, in April 2014. Approval to the reallocation of this grant to another measure of the Rural Water Programme issued to Kerry County Council earlier this month following receipt of correspondence from the Council indicating that work would not commence on the scheme in 2014 and requesting that the funding be reallocated.

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of public water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has recently published its Proposed Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 and this is available on the Irish Water website, www.water.ie.

The further progression of all water services capital projects including the Castleisland Sewerage Scheme, which might involve College Road, is now a matter for Irish Water to consider. 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.

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