Written Answers Nos. 238-248
238. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the application of water charges for third level students living away from home; his plans for an initiative on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38595/14]
View answer247. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if registered charities operating sheltered accommodation are exempt from water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38697/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 247 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 shall 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 Act defines a customer as the occupier of the premises in receipt of water services. As such, third level students who have moved away from home to an alternative primary residence and residents living in sheltered accommodation will be liable for water charges.
The proposed approach to charging was outlined by Irish Water in a water charges plan which it submitted to the CER in line with the provisions of the Act. The CER recently held a public consultation on this plan which covered a range of issues relating to water charges. Last week, the CER issued a determination on the water charges plan. Full details and associated documentation are available on the CER website ( www.cer.ie ).
In making its determination on the water charges plan, the CER had to take account of the decisions made by the Government on the funding model for Irish Water and a direction made under Section 42 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 in July 2014. This policy direction addressed a number of matters relating to domestic water charges including the provision of a free allowance of 30,000 litres of water supplied and waste water treated per annum for a primary residence on a public supply and a free allowance to cover the normal usage of water services by every child in their primary residence based on the same qualifying conditions as for child benefit, while customers with specific medical conditions which require increased water consumption will have their charges capped.
In its determination, the CER has decided that all customers will have their total water charges capped at the unmetered “assessed charge” for 9 months. The cap will apply from the start date of the next billing period after installation of the meter or 1 October 2014, whichever is the later.
In addition to the above, the Government has agreed to put in place further affordability measures to assist pensioners, persons with disabilities, and carers who receive the Household Benefits Package. The conditions and administrative approach to this additional measure are being developed by the Department of Social Protection.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
239. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water will publish a medium to long-term plan to improve water quality, capacity and infrastructure around the country; and if a timeframe will be given for such improvements. [38608/14]
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 plan outlines a number of priorities to be delivered including improving water quality, tackling leakage, improving capacity and investing for economic development.
In addition to this, Section 33 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 requires Irish Water to prepare a Water Services Strategic Plan (WSSP). The WSSP is intended to outline the strategic direction for Irish Water over the short, medium and long-term time frames up to 2040. The WSSP will be a strategic framework which will identify and prioritise the key objectives required to ensure the public water system can meet the challenges of the future. This framework will also allow future capital investment plans to be developed by Irish Water and approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation in its role as economic regulator. I issued a direction to Irish Water under Section 33(3) of the Water Services (No.2) Act, 2013 which sets out matters to be taken into account in developing the water services strategic plan and “ensuring a safe and reliable water supply” is among the themes to be addressed in the plan in accordance with the direction.
Development of the draft strategic plan involves public consultation and consultation with statutory consultees including my Department, the County and City Management Association, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Commission for Energy Regulation, local and regional authorities and with environmental authorities. A further round of public consultation on the draft plan will be held before year end with a view to its submission to me, as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, for approval in early 2015.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
240. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the first fix free policy from Irish Water and their statements that it will not be available before 2015; in view of this, his views that this is encouraging water wastage (details supplied); and if he will take action to ensure that leaks which emerge now are fixed. [38609/14]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and that the water charges plan prepared by Irish Water is subject to the approval of the CER. The CER announced its decision on the water charges plan on 30 September.
Under the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for repair and maintenance of the internal water distribution system from the main stopcock to the house and within the house rests with the homeowner. However, the Government has agreed to provide additional funding to Irish Water for their capital investment to include a free first fix scheme. In announcing its decision on the Irish Water water charges plan, the CER determined that customer charges are capped at the relevant unmetered charge for an initial period of nine months after their water meter is installed. This will ensure that those with meters installed, and an identified leak external to the dwelling, will not be penalised pending the carrying out of the first fix.
Irish Water has submitted a draft first fix policy to the CER for approval. It is understood that the CER intend to hold a public consultation in advance of a decision and implementation of this scheme in January 2015.
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.
241. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason figures have been put in the public domain, that the expected yearly consumption per adult will be 52,000 litres, yet Irish Water is using a figure of 60,000 litres. [38610/14]
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 submitted to the CER in line with the provisions of the Act. The CER recently held a public consultation on this plan which covered a range of issues relating to water charges and included the proposed approach to the assessed charge . Last week, t he CER issued a determination on the water charges plan and details and associated documentation are available on the CER website ( www.cer.ie).
Irish Water has carried out a project to understand water consumption patterns in Ireland, and the Water Consumption Research Project (WCRP) is available on the CER website. The figures in the WCRP, based on actual metered data and follow-on surveys with over 3000 houses, confirms that consumption for a household is 66,000 litres per year for the first occupant and an average 21,000 litres increase for each additional occupant. Data on consumption patterns will be provided by Irish Water to the CER on a regular basis.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
242. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will engage with the Irish Insurance Federation and direct it to insure dwellings which have pyrite. [38615/14]
View answerThe Irish Insurance Federation, now known as Insurance Ireland, is a representative body for insurance providers operating in the Irish market. As is the case with any private organisation, its operations are matters for its management and board of directors and I have no powers to direct them to take a particular course of action.
While I have no regulatory function in the area of insurance or insurance-based products, it is my intention to raise this issue with the appropriate statutory bodies and Government Departments involved in the regulation and oversight of insurance and I will be fully supportive of any proposals that may be put forward to bring a satisfactory conclusion to the difficulties being faced by homeowners with pyrite damage even when remediation works have been carried out.
The pyrite remediation scheme, which was published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to the recommendations set out in the Report of the independent Pyrite Panel. The scheme is one of “last resort” and applies to dwellings with significant pyritic damage. The scheme is fundamentally a works scheme aimed at remediating pyrite damaged homes to Irish Standard 398-2:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material — Part 2: Methodology for remediation works, published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland in January 2013, in order to ensure the restoration of quality to homes that affected homeowners expect and are entitled too.
All works under the scheme will be completed to the required standard by competent builders and overseen by construction professionals in accordance with the requirements of the Board and the Housing Agency. At the end of the works, homeowners will be provided with certification to confirm that their home has been remediated to I.S. 398:2013 – Part 2. Given that the contaminated hardcore will be removed and replaced with compliant material, and all damage remediated, I am confident that any risk to the structural integrity of such remediated homes caused by pyritic heave will be eliminated, thereby removing any impediment towards the future insurance of these homes.
In this context, I would call on all insurance providers to re-consider their policies in these matters and provide the insurance cover that affected homeowners require in order to ensure that their homes are protected against future unforeseen risk.
243. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received correspondence from Comhdáil Oileán na hÉireann regarding the alignment process and the offshore islands; his views on their proposal that an island based organisation deliver the SICAP and Leader programmes on all the inhabited offshore islands from 2015 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38625/14]
View answerI have received, and am considering, the correspondence from Comhdáil Oileán na hÉireann, which advocates for a single island-based body to deliver the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the new LEADER programme on the offshore islands.
Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) have been established in all local authority areas to oversee and manage a range of local development programmes, including SICAP and LEADER. While each LCDC will plan and manage the delivery of programme activity within its respective local authority area, it would be possible for a single representative organisation to implement programme actions across a number of different LCDC areas where this can be agreed locally within the administrative requirements of the various programmes.
Under the LEADER Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, local development strategy areas have been designated to coincide largely with local authority boundaries. While a separate strategy is not envisaged, distinct and separate provision will be made for the islands within the respective county-based strategies in accordance with identified priorities and need. Moreover, where it can be agreed locally between local authorities, local development companies and other key local stakeholders, it is envisaged that the existing companies, such as Comhar na n-Oileán, would continue to implement LEADER within their current sub-county areas, albeit under separate county-based local development strategies.
The situation with SICAP is somewhat different as it is subject to a public procurement process, which is currently underway. Similar to LEADER, programme delivery across a number of sub-county areas by a single body is possible, with programme funding allocated on the basis of identified need in those areas. Until such time as the outcome of the procurement process is known and contracts are awarded, however, I am unable to confirm the exact delivery arrangements for any area, including the islands.
244. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the plan to have a directly elected mayor for Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38664/14]
View answerThe Local Government Reform Act 2014 provided for a wide-ranging programme of reform to local government structures, functions and governance, including a process for the holding of a plebiscite on the possible introduction of an office of directly elected mayor for a Dublin metropolitan authority. This procedure was based on achievement of political consensus across the four Dublin local authorities (Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council), involving the adoption of a resolution by a majority of each Dublin council for the holding of a plebiscite in relation to proposals set out in the resolution. In the event, that statutory requirement for the holding of a plebiscite was not met.
Subsequently, my predecessor, in a meeting with the Mayors of the four Dublin authorities on 7 July, invited them to consider and revert with proposals that would address not only the concept of a directly elected mayor but also the wider governance of the metropolitan area including cost and functional implications. Any subsequent process arising from this would be contingent on political consensus across the four local authorities.
Furthermore, as the process under the 2014 Act provided only for a possible plebiscite in conjunction with the 2014 local elections, fresh legislation would be required to provide for any further proposal in this matter, which would have to be viewed in the context of priorities generally, including the heavy programme of important legislation arising over the next 18 months or so.
245. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make funding available to the local authorities to fit carbon monoxide alarms in local authority owned homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38671/14]
View answerUnder Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. In that context, in their capacity as owners of their social rented properties, decisions in relation to the installation of fittings and equipment, including carbon monoxide alarms, are a matter for individual housing authorities.
246. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of one bedroom properties available for letting by South Dublin County Council; the number of one bedroom properties that have been let by the council over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38686/14]
View answerMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. Data on the local authority housing stock are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls by clicking “L.A rented units by area 2003 + ” under the Social Housing Supports contents. The stock figures are broken down by house type and local authority area; however, the number of bedrooms is not included in the data collected by my Department.
248. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the allowance that will be awarded to persons with health conditions which require water; and the criteria that will be used by Irish Water to award those allowances. [38718/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 527 and 528 of 7 October 2014 which sets out the position in the matter.
