Wednesday, 5 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 182 - 187

Water Services Funding

Questions (182)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

182. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the changes in funding provided for water/wastewater in the past few years; the details of the funding provided and source of same in each of past five years for such services and if he will provide the figures for same; if he will provide the source of those funds; if he will indicate which legislative provisions of the 1997 Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act have been removed; where that funding has now been allocated; if he will outline all allocations to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42323/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Prior to 1 January 2014 capital funding for public water services was provided from my Department’s Water Services Investment programme (WSIP) and Rural Water Programme (RWP). The table outlines capital expenditure for 2009– 2013 under each programme.

Year	WSIP - € million	RWP - € million
2009	412	100
2010	407	88
2011	350	79
2012	268	40
2013	241	34

Some €239m is being provided to Irish Water in 2014 in respect of its core capital programme. A capital contribution of €185m was made in August 2014 from Central Fund and a further €54m is expected to be advanced shortly by way of a convertible loan. It is intended that a further €406m will be provided in 2015 and 2016.

Funding for operational expenditure has, in the main, come from the Local Government Fund (LGF). Section 13 of the Local Government Act 1998 repealed Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1997. The Local Government Act 1998 provides for the means whereby financial resources are made available to local authorities and provided for the establishment of the Local Government Fund. The Fund has historically provided local authorities with finance for funding some of their day-to-day activities, including elements of water services costs, through General Purpose Grant allocations; for non-national roads; and funding for certain local government initiatives. As a result of the introduction of Local Property Tax in 2013 and the establishment of Irish Water, the local government funding model has changed considerably in 2014. The funding to be provided to local authorities for the provision of water services on behalf of Irish Water in 2014 is governed by Service Level Agreements between Irish Water and individual authorities.

Irish Water will receive a subvention of some €440m from the Local Government Fund in 2014, which will fund water-related expenditures incurred heretofore by local authorities and which would, historically, have been met by local authorities from their own resources, non-domestic water charge revenues and general purpose grants from the Fund. In this regard, €424.5m has been paid to IW to date in 2014.

Funding will also be provided in 2015 and 2016 from the LGF in the order of €537m per annum.

Motor Tax Rates

Questions (183)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

183. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider making a concession on motor tax for persons whose vehicles have been damaged by contaminated petrol in view of the scale of the problem, the considerable damage to their vehicles and the loss for many victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42381/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The practice of petrol contamination is a matter of serious concern because of the risks to the Exchequer, the threat to legitimate businesses and the damage that can be caused to the vehicles of unsuspecting purchasers of adulterated fuel.

Prosecution of offenders is a matter for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Motorists themselves should take care with regard to their source of petrol and report any suspicions concerning contaminated fuel which may have damaged their engines to Revenue who will investigate such reports and pursue prosecutions against offenders where possible. Motorists are also advised to contact their motor insurance providers.

I have no plans to introduce a concession on motor tax for motorists whose vehicles may have been damaged by the use of contaminated petrol.

Flood Prevention Measures

Questions (184, 192, 193)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

184. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps that will be taken by his Department in the aftermath of the cessation of the Barrow Drainage Board to ensure that the relevant local authorities continue to prioritise spending on maintenance and drainage works on the River Barrow and its tributaries; the way it is intended to co-ordinate such works; if he accepts that co-ordination is essential to avoid the risk of flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42526/14]

Seán Fleming

Question:

192. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to his decision to abolish the Barrow Drainage Board, the arrangements in place to ensure that the funding which is currently ring-fenced through the drainage board for works on the River Barrow will continue to be in place; if the respective local authorities are legally obliged to continue to fund the ongoing work previously carried out by the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42391/14]

Seán Fleming

Question:

193. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the decision to abolish the Barrow Drainage Board, if local authorities have the legal right to enter on lands to carry out drainage works as the Barrow Drainage Board had such powers and the arrangements he is putting in place to ensure the necessary drainage work may be carried out in an unhindered manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42432/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 192 and 193 together.

I signed an order on 21 October 2014 in accordance with section 231 of the Local Government Act 2001 providing for the dissolution of seven joint drainage committees, including the Barrow Drainage Board, with effect from 1 January 2015. From that date, the functions of these committees will become and be functions of and vest in each of the local authorities that form the committee in respect of that part of the drainage district that is within each of their administrative areas. Following the dissolution and transfer, the functions will be performed by the individual local authorities, subject to any alternative joint arrangements that may be made by the authorities concerned. The joint drainage committees are funded from contributions from the local authorities represented on the committee apportioned on an agreed basis and future funding for works will fall to be agreed between the relevant authorities.

Section 231(3) (a) of the 2001 Act obliges the chief executives of the local authorities to which the functions of the joint drainage committees are being transferred to take all steps that may be necessary to prepare for the dissolution and to make such alternative joint arrangements for the carrying out of the functions previously carried out by the drainage committees. In addition, section 231(3)(b) of the 2001 Act imposes a duty on the local authorities concerned to cooperate in relation to these arrangements.

My Department wrote to chief executives on 23 October 2014 enclosing a copy of the dissolution order and reminding them of the requirements under section 231 of the 2001 Act, as outlined above.

Irish Water Administration

Questions (185)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

185. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water, in accordance with PIR35 of the regional development plan for the greater Dublin area 2010-2022, is installing carrier neutral ducting during its infrastructure works; if it is recording and mapping all such ducting; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42306/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

While there is no requirement on Irish Water or any other infrastructure provider to install carrier neutral ducting during its infrastructure works, the Water Services (No. 2) Act requires Irish Water to ensure that their Water Services Strategic Plan is consistent with the Regional Planning Guidelines. Irish Water has confirmed that it is taking the recommendations of the Regional Planning Guidelines into consideration in the drafting of the Water Services Strategic Plan which is currently underway.

All infrastructure works currently underway are mapped using Irish Water’s in-house Water Services GIS system.

Irish Water Administration

Questions (186)

Billy Timmins

Question:

186. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of all assets and liabilities, by type, value and local authority, transferred to Irish Water to date; if this process is now complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42307/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Question No . 585 of 21st October, 2014. The position is unchanged.

Irish Water Staff

Questions (187)

Billy Timmins

Question:

187. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the pay, allowances, conditions and benefit-in-kind of management at Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42308/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. In line with the Code of Practice for the corporate governance of State bodies, the determination of the remuneration of the senior management of commercial State bodies, with the exception of the Chief Executive, is, in the first instance, a matter for the Board of the body.

The Managing Director of Irish Water was appointed by the Board of Bord Gáis Éireann, and his remuneration was approved by my predecessor as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and following consultation with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The gross salary payable to the Managing Director of Irish Water is €200,000 per annum. In accordance with his approved Contract of Employment, the Managing Director of Irish Water is afforded the use of a company car (Honda CRV) on terms determined by the Company.

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. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 578 578.

In this instance, my Department has requested the other information sought in the Question from Irish Water and this will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.