Written Answers Nos. 238-247
238. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Irish Water will be charging customers additional fees for services such as investigating leaks, determining problems with water pressure and correcting meter readings; the regulation and control over these charges that will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/14]
View answerWith 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 CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers.
The proposed approach to charging was outlined by Irish Water in a water charges plan which it has submitted to the CER in line with the provisions of the Act. As part of this plan, Irish Water has made a proposal to apply charges where it provides additional services at the request of customers. The CER recently held a public consultation on the water charges plan and is currently reviewing submissions received on the consultation with a view to making a final determination later this month . Full details of the CER public consultation are available on www.cer.ie.
Local authorities have previously charged non-domestic customers for additional services and the same charges will continue to apply for non-domestic customers until a decision is made by the CER on all aspects of non-domestic charging. A timeline for the establishment of an enduring tariff framework for non-domestic customers is to be outlined by the CER by end 2014.
239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide figures for the amount of motor tax raised in each local authority annually from 1999 to 2013 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35010/14]
View answerThe information requested, which includes online motor tax renewals, is set out in the tables below.
2013
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
16,258,206 |
|
Cavan |
18,015,917 |
|
Clare |
30,557,718 |
|
Cork |
137,147,352 |
|
Donegal |
37,668,079 |
|
Galway |
62,698,165 |
|
Kerry |
38,569,186 |
|
Kildare |
54,216,747 |
|
Kilkenny |
24,722,408 |
|
Laois |
18,653,685 |
|
Leitrim |
8,087,637 |
|
Limerick County |
37,423,414 |
|
Longford |
9,896,912 |
|
Louth |
26,502,371 |
|
Mayo |
33,371,074 |
|
Meath |
47,073,964 |
|
Monaghan |
16,678,826 |
|
Offaly |
18,333,301 |
|
Roscommon |
16,781,591 |
|
Sligo |
16,114,221 |
|
Tipperary North |
20,318,410 |
|
Tipperary South |
23,070,833 |
|
Waterford County |
17,782,712 |
|
Westmeath |
21,879,408 |
|
Wexford |
41,440,563 |
|
Wicklow |
37,035,977 |
|
Dublin City |
284,784,205 |
|
Limerick City |
11,245,894 |
|
Waterford City |
10,762,425 |
|
Total |
1,137,091,201 |
2012
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
14,873,328 |
|
Cavan |
16,281,688 |
|
Clare |
28,515,348 |
|
Cork |
129,206,502 |
|
Donegal |
35,005,868 |
|
Galway |
57,228,969 |
|
Kerry |
35,496,761 |
|
Kildare |
50,120,005 |
|
Kilkenny |
23,192,167 |
|
Laois |
16,998,593 |
|
Leitrim |
7,357,834 |
|
Limerick County |
34,853,870 |
|
Longford |
8,908,545 |
|
Louth |
24,087,574 |
|
Mayo |
30,626,109 |
|
Meath |
43,499,660 |
|
Monaghan |
15,049,525 |
|
Offaly |
16,916,968 |
|
Roscommon |
15,172,202 |
|
Sligo |
15,011,690 |
|
Tipperary North |
18,595,704 |
|
Tipperary South |
21,461,331 |
|
Waterford County |
16,610,087 |
|
Westmeath |
20,314,599 |
|
Wexford |
37,380,845 |
|
Wicklow |
34,524,878 |
|
Dublin City |
266,735,071 |
|
Limerick City |
10,575,808 |
|
Waterford City |
10,100,221 |
|
Total |
1,054,701,750 |
2011
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
14,422,438 |
|
Cavan |
15,821,570 |
|
Clare |
27,133,874 |
|
Cork |
121,792,864 |
|
Donegal |
34,309,548 |
|
Galway |
54,819,004 |
|
Kerry |
33,757,629 |
|
Kildare |
47,801,712 |
|
Kilkenny |
22,144,159 |
|
Laois |
16,450,393 |
|
Leitrim |
7,216,679 |
|
Limerick County |
32,824,920 |
|
Longford |
8,532,272 |
|
Louth |
23,312,075 |
|
Mayo |
29,659,214 |
|
Meath |
42,053,829 |
|
Monaghan |
14,766,999 |
|
Offaly |
16,170,729 |
|
Roscommon |
14,666,861 |
|
Sligo |
14,630,045 |
|
Tipperary North |
17,973,899 |
|
Tipperary South |
20,921,696 |
|
Waterford County |
15,838,792 |
|
Westmeath |
19,613,081 |
|
Wexford |
36,183,432 |
|
Wicklow |
33,302,858 |
|
Dublin City |
254,142,718 |
|
Limerick City |
10,595,954 |
|
Waterford City |
9,585,344 |
|
Total |
1,010,444,588 |
2010
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
14,598,550 |
|
Cavan |
15,921,215 |
|
Clare |
28,030,719 |
|
Cork |
123,843,342 |
|
Donegal |
34,028,672 |
|
Galway |
55,758,457 |
|
Kerry |
34,411,084 |
|
Kildare |
48,311,554 |
|
Kilkenny |
22,413,108 |
|
Laois |
16,651,455 |
|
Leitrim |
7,283,486 |
|
Limerick County |
33,014,163 |
|
Longford |
8,476,806 |
|
Louth |
23,504,183 |
|
Mayo |
29,673,957 |
|
Meath |
42,679,208 |
|
Monaghan |
14,650,142 |
|
Offaly |
16,461,130 |
|
Roscommon |
14,891,977 |
|
Sligo |
14,789,789 |
|
Tipperary North |
18,470,893 |
|
Tipperary South |
21,286,613 |
|
Waterford County |
16,319,876 |
|
Westmeath |
19,913,815 |
|
Wexford |
35,844,712 |
|
Wicklow |
33,361,302 |
|
Dublin City |
258,500,430 |
|
Limerick City |
10,919,674 |
|
Waterford City |
9,813,623 |
|
Total |
1,023,823,935 |
2009
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
15,248,995 |
|
Cavan |
16,717,875 |
|
Clare |
28,688,756 |
|
Cork |
126,608,351 |
|
Donegal |
34,674,411 |
|
Galway |
57,698,861 |
|
Kerry |
35,364,554 |
|
Kildare |
49,473,286 |
|
Kilkenny |
23,018,411 |
|
Laois |
17,389,832 |
|
Leitrim |
7,394,211 |
|
Limerick County |
33,998,788 |
|
Longford |
8,933,767 |
|
Louth |
24,773,518 |
|
Mayo |
30,702,936 |
|
Meath |
44,727,868 |
|
Monaghan |
15,160,998 |
|
Offaly |
17,179,331 |
|
Roscommon |
15,536,036 |
|
Sligo |
15,197,906 |
|
Tipperary North |
19,341,371 |
|
Tipperary South |
21,877,100 |
|
Waterford County |
16,742,719 |
|
Westmeath |
20,798,678 |
|
Wexford |
37,109,338 |
|
Wicklow |
34,484,185 |
|
Dublin City |
266,857,202 |
|
Limerick City |
11,683,640 |
|
Waterford City |
10,439,810 |
|
Total |
1,057,822,734 |
2008
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
15,230,918 |
|
Cavan |
16,625,526 |
|
Clare |
28,839,892 |
|
Cork |
127,290,890 |
|
Donegal |
33,417,494 |
|
Galway |
57,208,792 |
|
Kerry |
35,282,961 |
|
Kildare |
49,826,391 |
|
Kilkenny |
23,191,705 |
|
Laois |
17,515,194 |
|
Leitrim |
7,340,865 |
|
Limerick County |
34,546,950 |
|
Longford |
8,665,255 |
|
Louth |
24,269,320 |
|
Mayo |
30,246,124 |
|
Meath |
44,714,849 |
|
Monaghan |
14,858,958 |
|
Offaly |
17,458,435 |
|
Roscommon |
14,228,772 |
|
Sligo |
14,934,144 |
|
Tipperary North |
19,629,463 |
|
Tipperary South |
21,853,026 |
|
Waterford County |
16,607,673 |
|
Westmeath |
20,483,343 |
|
Wexford |
37,992,230 |
|
Wicklow |
34,118,317 |
|
Dublin City |
270,148,427 |
|
Limerick City |
11,441,591 |
|
Waterford City |
10,637,627 |
|
Total |
1,058,605,132 |
2007
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
13,758,083 |
|
Cavan |
15,113,337 |
|
Clare |
25,949,086 |
|
Cork |
113,903,408 |
|
Donegal |
30,638,967 |
|
Galway |
51,412,349 |
|
Kerry |
31,504,100 |
|
Kildare |
44,620,660 |
|
Kilkenny |
20,838,481 |
|
Laois |
15,518,484 |
|
Leitrim |
6,631,198 |
|
Limerick County |
31,335,748 |
|
Longford |
7,840,362 |
|
Louth |
21,718,232 |
|
Mayo |
27,428,949 |
|
Meath |
40,725,909 |
|
Monaghan |
13,606,353 |
|
Offaly |
15,803,864 |
|
Roscommon |
13,901,043 |
|
Sligo |
13,458,004 |
|
Tipperary North |
17,499,352 |
|
Tipperary South |
20,166,409 |
|
Waterford County |
14,859,811 |
|
Westmeath |
18,376,822 |
|
Wexford |
34,358,971 |
|
Wicklow |
30,933,256 |
|
Dublin City |
245,755,397 |
|
Limerick City |
9,489,833 |
|
Waterford City |
9,584,932 |
|
Total |
956,731,400 |
2006
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
12,351,158 |
|
Cavan |
13,914,811 |
|
Clare |
23,964,318 |
|
Cork |
105,436,373 |
|
Donegal |
28,128,245 |
|
Galway |
47,531,140 |
|
Kerry |
29,415,751 |
|
Kildare |
40,450,848 |
|
Kilkenny |
19,129,301 |
|
Laois |
14,059,257 |
|
Leitrim |
6,140,424 |
|
Limerick County |
28,907,244 |
|
Longford |
7,205,950 |
|
Louth |
20,049,138 |
|
Mayo |
25,294,820 |
|
Meath |
37,124,177 |
|
Monaghan |
12,652,107 |
|
Offaly |
14,568,822 |
|
Roscommon |
12,921,008 |
|
Sligo |
12,586,789 |
|
Tipperary North |
15,823,633 |
|
Tipperary South |
18,652,701 |
|
Waterford County |
13,366,684 |
|
Westmeath |
16,829,960 |
|
Wexford |
31,677,434 |
|
Wicklow |
28,216,430 |
|
Dublin City |
225,362,506 |
|
Limerick City |
8,853,788 |
|
Waterford City |
9,090,396 |
|
Total |
879,705,213 |
2005
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
11,140,985 |
|
Cavan |
12,378,719 |
|
Clare |
22,170,609 |
|
Cork |
96,289,711 |
|
Donegal |
25,489,627 |
|
Galway |
43,233,778 |
|
Kerry |
27,156,906 |
|
Kildare |
36,738,784 |
|
Kilkenny |
17,220,474 |
|
Laois |
12,586,069 |
|
Leitrim |
5,492,945 |
|
Limerick County |
26,329,333 |
|
Longford |
6,553,455 |
|
Louth |
18,180,242 |
|
Mayo |
23,234,788 |
|
Meath |
33,197,249 |
|
Monaghan |
11,447,234 |
|
Offaly |
13,201,292 |
|
Roscommon |
11,739,498 |
|
Sligo |
11,405,725 |
|
Tipperary North |
14,069,437 |
|
Tipperary South |
17,226,039 |
|
Waterford County |
11,898,474 |
|
Westmeath |
15,036,705 |
|
Wexford |
28,196,652 |
|
Wicklow |
25,448,831 |
|
Dublin City |
208,637,062 |
|
Limerick City |
8,137,901 |
|
Waterford City |
8,527,317 |
|
Total |
802,365,841 |
2004
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
10,262,599 |
|
Cavan |
11,687,368 |
|
Clare |
20,635,509 |
|
Cork |
90,491,973 |
|
Donegal |
23,612,696 |
|
Galway |
39,911,671 |
|
Kerry |
25,570,773 |
|
Kildare |
34,144,586 |
|
Kilkenny |
16,221,147 |
|
Laois |
11,588,257 |
|
Leitrim |
5,146,476 |
|
Limerick County |
24,486,950 |
|
Longford |
6,189,067 |
|
Louth |
17,045,414 |
|
Mayo |
21,809,716 |
|
Meath |
29,937,471 |
|
Monaghan |
10,910,982 |
|
Offaly |
12,189,602 |
|
Roscommon |
10,802,690 |
|
Sligo |
10,836,115 |
|
Tipperary North |
13,291,936 |
|
Tipperary South |
16,194,509 |
|
Waterford County |
10,954,988 |
|
Westmeath |
14,078,637 |
|
Wexford |
25,914,371 |
|
Wicklow |
23,482,443 |
|
Dublin City |
194,400,944 |
|
Limerick City |
7,451,848 |
|
Waterford City |
8,006,104 |
|
Total |
747,256,842 |
2003
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
9,345,888 |
|
Cavan |
10,600,718 |
|
Clare |
18,716,409 |
|
Cork |
83,067,336 |
|
Donegal |
21,051,266 |
|
Galway |
35,705,755 |
|
Kerry |
23,273,297 |
|
Kildare |
30,382621 |
|
Kilkenny |
14,646,049 |
|
Laois |
10,348,733 |
|
Leitrim |
4,643,053 |
|
Limerick County |
22,638,540 |
|
Longford |
5,627,836 |
|
Louth |
15,530,491 |
|
Mayo |
19,526,319 |
|
Meath |
26,440,071 |
|
Monaghan |
10,037,030 |
|
Offaly |
10,934,434 |
|
Roscommon |
9,830,968 |
|
Sligo |
9,958,597 |
|
Tipperary North |
12,066,700 |
|
Tipperary South |
14,570,278 |
|
Waterford County |
9,559,515 |
|
Westmeath |
12,559,842 |
|
Wexford |
23,053,199 |
|
Wicklow |
20,878,356 |
|
Dublin City |
181,327,011 |
|
Limerick City |
6,640,381 |
|
Waterford City |
7,379,148 |
|
Total |
680,339,841 |
2002
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
7,821,914 |
|
Cavan |
9,007,117 |
|
Clare |
15,924,423 |
|
Cork |
70,869,720 |
|
Donegal |
17,640,250 |
|
Galway |
29,923,305 |
|
Kerry |
20,199,329 |
|
Kildare |
25,371,880 |
|
Kilkenny |
12,780,453 |
|
Laois |
8,815,511 |
|
Leitrim |
3,936,776 |
|
Limerick County |
19,469,440 |
|
Longford |
4,831,824 |
|
Louth |
13,323,409 |
|
Mayo |
17,206,781 |
|
Meath |
22,026,244 |
|
Monaghan |
8,669,695 |
|
Offaly |
9,090,217 |
|
Roscommon |
8,548,934 |
|
Sligo |
8,649,309 |
|
Tipperary North |
10,376,455 |
|
Tipperary South |
12,581,444 |
|
Waterford County |
8,234,846 |
|
Westmeath |
10,846,193 |
|
Wexford |
19,719,625 |
|
Wicklow |
17,726,030 |
|
Dublin City |
155,578,148 |
|
Limerick City |
5,753,784 |
|
Waterford City |
6,392,707 |
|
Total |
581,315,763 |
2001
|
County/City |
(€) |
|
Carlow |
7,327,429 |
|
Cavan |
8,441,268 |
|
Clare |
14,949,263 |
|
Cork |
66,615,353 |
|
Donegal |
16,758,458 |
|
Galway |
27,939,084 |
|
Kerry |
18,444,917 |
|
Kildare |
23,776,139 |
|
Kilkenny |
11,785,671 |
|
Laois |
8,325,529 |
|
Leitrim |
3,606,377 |
|
Limerick County |
18,106,832 |
|
Longford |
4,471,013 |
|
Louth |
12,579,611 |
|
Mayo |
15,978,729 |
|
Meath |
20,003,983 |
|
Monaghan |
8,443,192 |
|
Offaly |
8,568,807 |
|
Roscommon |
7,946,582 |
|
Sligo |
7,978,987 |
|
Tipperary North |
9,505,389 |
|
Tipperary South |
11,750,302 |
|
Westmeath |
10,086,883 |
|
Wexford |
18,226,605 |
|
Wicklow |
16,398,782 |
|
Dublin City |
148,896,412 |
|
Limerick City |
5,717,389 |
|
Waterford City |
6,078,599 |
|
Total |
546,232,504 |
2000
|
County/City |
( £IR ) |
|
Carlow |
5,153,821 |
|
Cavan |
6,065,633 |
|
Clare |
10,524,432 |
|
Cork |
48,197,282 |
|
Donegal |
11,941,878 |
|
Galway |
19,461,193 |
|
Kerry |
13,270,012 |
|
Kildare |
16,397,875 |
|
Kilkenny |
8,544,918 |
|
Laois |
5,863,515 |
|
Leitrim |
2,518,519 |
|
Limerick County |
13,236,458 |
|
Longford |
3,218,108 |
|
Louth |
9,122,311 |
|
Mayo |
11,279,792 |
|
Meath |
14,009,878 |
|
Monaghan |
6,085,095 |
|
Offaly |
6,060,578 |
|
Roscommon |
5,719,221 |
|
Sligo |
5,667,347 |
|
Tipperary North |
6,764,399 |
|
Tipperary South |
8,485,421 |
|
Waterford County |
5,303,608 |
|
Westmeath |
7,083,594 |
|
Wexford |
13,136,676 |
|
Wicklow |
11,695,638 |
|
Dublin City |
107,373,752 |
|
Limerick City |
4,078,945 |
|
Waterford City |
4,438,725 |
|
Total |
390,698,622 |
1999
|
County/City |
( £IR ) |
|
Carlow |
4,802,979 |
|
Cavan |
5,838,800 |
|
Clare |
10,243,413 |
|
Cork |
46,372,490 |
|
Donegal |
11,652,582 |
|
Galway |
18,559,009 |
|
Kerry |
12,823,193 |
|
Kildare |
15,715,744 |
|
Kilkenny |
8,242,198 |
|
Laois |
5,756,522 |
|
Leitrim |
2,485,384 |
|
Limerick County |
12,699,628 |
|
Longford |
3,185,350 |
|
Louth |
9,043,616 |
|
Mayo |
10,809,027 |
|
Meath |
13,331,649 |
|
Monaghan |
6,053,328 |
|
Offaly |
5,888,126 |
|
Roscommon |
5,509,380 |
|
Sligo |
5,663,958 |
|
Tipperary North |
6,639,220 |
|
Tipperary South |
8,257,520 |
|
Waterford County |
5,097,478 |
|
Westmeath |
6,887,360 |
|
Wexford |
12,281,767 |
|
Wicklow |
11,016,891 |
|
Dublin City |
104,031,904 |
|
Limerick City |
3,993,817 |
|
Waterford City |
4,238,212 |
|
Total |
377,120,542 |
240. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the request of Monaghan County Council (details supplied) will be given detailed consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35018/14]
View answerThe issues raised by Monaghan County Council have been noted by my Department and will be kept in mind when decisions relating to the 2015 Rural Water Programme block grant allocations are being made.
241. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the plan to take drinking water from the River Shannon to Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35021/14]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of 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 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.
242. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has complied fully with the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and the ministerial guidelines and circulars issued by his Department in respect of the appointment of the chairpersons of the strategic policy committees of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35033/14]
View answer248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has fully complied with the provisions of the Local Government Reform Act, 2014 and the ministerial guidelines and circulars issued by his Department in respect of the appointment of the chairpersons of the strategic policy committees of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35112/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 248 together.
My Department issued guidance on Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) under cover of Circular LG 07/2014 of 29 May 2014 which states that the "spread of SPC chairs must, in accordance with the guidelines, reflect the political representational spread on the full council ". Paragraph 6.2 of the these guidelines that accompany the circular require that the following principles should be applied –
- "SPC councillor membership should reflect the proportionality and the distribution of elected representation on the full council. It is also important that the SPC membership should, as far as it is practical, be representative of each of the municipal districts in the local authority. The Local Government (Reorganisation) Act 1985 (section 27) was designed to allow for a basic element of proportionality in appointments to committees etc. However, many local authorities operate (as they are entitled under the Act) their own local and more finely developed arrangements to ensure fair play for all concerned. It is, however, impossible to legislate fully for such good will and practice. Therefore, it is all the more important with the SPCs that all local authorities adopt and implement (and be clearly seen by the public to do so) an approach which ensures that the various political and other interests represented on the full council are treated fairly, and equitably represented in the SPC system ", and
- "The allocation of SPC chairs should also reflect equitably the spread of elected representation on the council, including, as far as it is practical, be representative of each of the municipal districts in the local authority. The points made above as to good will and fair play are equally relevant here. However, where agreement in this regard is not possible, the group of SPC chairs to be appointed should technically be treated for appointment purposes as if it constituted a separate committee, to ensure an equitable spread of representation as SPC chairs ".
The guidance which accompanied Circular LG 07/201 was issued under –
- Section 133(10) of the Local Government Act 2001, as inserted by section 48 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, in relation to Corporate Policy Groups (CPGs), and
- Section 54(2) of the Local Government Act 2001 in relation to Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs), which empower the Minister to "issue general policy guidelines to local authorities" in relation to these matters.
Ensuring compliance with general policy guidelines issued under sections 54(2) and 133(10) of the Act, as required by the Local Government Act 2001, is a matter for individual local authorities.
243. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that householders can read the reading on their water meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35045/14]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the company the necessary powers to allow it to undertake the metering programme.
Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that the water meters in use by Irish Water comply with the Measuring Instruments Directive. In common with meters for other utility services, the meters remain the property of Irish Water. However, as the meter boxes are not sealed, it is possible for a customer to access the meter to verify readings if necessary. Furthermore, to assist the homeowner in the identification of any leaks, the water meters have a 'constant flow' alarm which alerts Irish Water who will in turn alert the affected homeowner. Householders with a meter installed will be provided with a reading of their meter as part of their bill and any unusual usage patterns can be discussed with Irish Water if the householder is concerned.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
244. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with noise in housing estates (details supplied) in Dublin. [35046/14]
View answerSection 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise. The Environment Section of the relevant City or County Council is the appropriate contact point for reporting a noise nuisance in this regard. However, these powers are aimed at mitigating noise of human origin emanating from any premises, processes or works and would not necessarily be suited for addressing nature derived noise from birds or other wildlife.
I am informed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that all wild birds, including seagulls, are protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 and the European Communities Birds Directive. However, there is a facility under the legislation for a person to obtain a permit from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to take certain actions including the scaring, capturing or killing of birds where they are causing serious damage to buildings and other structures, food, agricultural crops, forestry plantations, other fauna, etc. However, the culling of such wild birds because of noise disturbance levels would generally not constitute a valid reason for the issue of any such permit.
245. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set out the position on the housing schemes in operation; his plans for any new schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35054/14]
View answerUnder my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, funding is provided to housing authorities in respect of a range of measures which include the construction and acquisition of houses and apartments by local authorities and approved housing bodies, the regeneration of large social housing estates and flat complexes, estate-wide remedial works, energy efficiency and retrofitting works, returning vacant properties to productive use, Traveller-specific accommodation and housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability. Further details in relation to these measures are available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.
Plans in relation to the future delivery of social housing are now being considered in the context of the new Social Housing Strategy, which it is intended will be considered by Government in the coming weeks. The Strategy will contain clear, measureable actions to increase the supply of social housing, based on innovative solutions that will harness new funding streams, in order to continue to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society.
246. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if planning permission is needed for an aviation fuel pipeline from Dublin Port to Dublin Airport; his views regarding the proposed pipeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35056/14]
View answerDevelopment of the kind referred to in the Question would require planning permission under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The consideration of such an application would involve consideration of the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU, and the Habitats Directive 1992/48/EEC, as transposed in the Planning Act. A consultation with the public and relevant statutory bodies would also be part of the application process.
Decisions on planning applications are made by planning authorities or An Bord Pleanála as appropriate and I have no role in relation to the matter.
247. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the redevelopment of Priory Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35104/14]
View answerIn August 2014, my Department conveyed approval to Dublin City Council to proceed with the refurbishment works on the first two phases of the overall Priory Hall remediation project and to advance the planning of subsequent phases of this project.
