Tuesday, 11 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 529-43

Motor Tax Yield

Questions (529)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

529. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proportion of motor tax returns being kept as part of the central funding pool. [43218/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Income from Motor Tax currently accrues to 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 following tables show the change in Local Government Fund income and expenditure from 2013 to 2014.

Income

€m	2013	*2014
Motor Tax (net)	1,135.5	1,160.0
Exchequer Contribution	0	0
Household Charge	23.1	0
Local Property Tax	0	550.0
Interest	0.2	0.2
Total	1,158.8	1,710.2

*Estimate for 2014

Expenditure

€m	2013	*2014
General Purpose Grants	640.9	282.0
Road and Public Transport Payments	408.0	363.9
Payment to Exchequer	100.0	600.0
Water-Irish Water Subvention /Local Authorities	0	486.5
Other Miscellaneous	58.4	46.5
Total	1,207.3	1,778.9

*Estimate for 2014

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Questions (530)

Brian Stanley

Question:

530. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reassurances he will provide the not-for-profit group water sector that their current Government subventions will not be abolished under EU State aid regulations. [43224/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Government announced on 6 May 2014 its intention to adjust the current subvention of group water schemes so that it is aligned with the free allowance approach for households on public water supplies. This is to ensure households in this sector receive equivalent support, while allowing for any transitional issues, to sustain improvements in quality in the group water sector. There has been an initial formal engagement in relation to the future subvention of the group water sector with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has proposed to continue to treat public group water schemes in the interim regulatory period as non-domestic customers. As such, current tariff arrangements, as applied by local authorities prior to 1 January 2014, will continue to apply for the foreseeable future.

The Government remains committed to continuing to support the sector as an important element of the water industry in Ireland, founded on co-operative community and voluntary engagement, and to invest in the sector to sustain and improve quality standards and performance. Against this background, the future approach to the supervision of the group water sector and funding in relation to both capital and operational subsidies will be determined by my Department in due course, in consultation with the National Federation of Group Water Schemes.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Questions (531)

Brian Stanley

Question:

531. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the energy regulator will have any role in the regulation of not-for-profit group water schemes, that is, schemes that are connected to private water sources as opposed to water sources owned by Irish Water. [43225/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Act also provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish water and the charges to be levied by Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER. Following a public consultation process, the CER announced its decision on water charges on 30 September. Group Water Schemes that are supplied by way of a connection to the public water supply network will have previously been non-domestic customers of the relevant local authority and will therefore now become customers of Irish Water. Under the arrangements determined by the CER, the existing charges for non-domestic customers will remain in place pending a further consultation.

Group Water Schemes that have their own water sources will not be customers of Irish Water and are not subject to regulation by the CER.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Questions (532)

Brian Stanley

Question:

532. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the design, build and operate contracts for 13 group water schemes have collapsed in County Mayo; and in view of this and the fact that there is compelling evidence that DBO contracts do not offer value for money, the reason his Department are still imposing this method of procurement on group water schemes. [43226/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The national strategy agreed some years ago between my Department, the Local Authorities, the then National Rural Water Monitoring Committee and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes for the provision of water treatment facilities in privately sourced group water schemes was based on Design/Build/Operate (DBO) procurement, coupled with the bundling of a number of schemes under a single contract. This was considered the best method of ensuring both value for money in terms of the whole life cost of the investment, and ensuring that quality improvements are sustained. All the bundles of DBO contracts are now substantially complete and my Department has no proposals for any new group water scheme DBO projects under its Rural Water Programme.

Proposals for the resolution of the issue that has arisen in the case of a bundled DBO group water scheme project in Mayo are being followed up on by Mayo County Council, which has responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme in Mayo.

Traveller Accommodation

Questions (533, 535)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

533. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funds that have been allocated for Traveller accommodation from budget 2015 and if he will provide a detailed account of where and the way these funds are expected to be spent. [43243/14]

Dessie Ellis

Question:

535. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will agree to meet with representatives of the Traveller community to discuss funding for Traveller accommodation and set a date for this meeting to happen in 2014. [43245/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 535 together.

Details of all allocations to be provided in 2015 under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, including the allocation for Traveller-specific accommodation, will be made available following publication of the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume in December.

It is anticipated that the funds available for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2015 will be mainly allocated to schemes which, in line with local Traveller accommodation programmes, are currently under construction, are already approved and will proceed to construction during 2015 and to schemes that will be newly approved during 2015.

Funding for Traveller accommodation is an issue that is covered on an ongoing basis by the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, which is supported by my Department and operates on a statutory basis under sections 19 and 20 of the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998. The Committee is an important forum through which important matters relating to Traveller accommodation, including funding, can be considered. Its membership includes three national Traveller representative groups and its terms of reference include advising me as Minister in relation to general matters concerning accommodation for Travellers. Notwithstanding the strong participation of representatives of the Traveller community on the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, I remain open to meeting with representatives of all groups and communities where such a meeting is sought.

Travellers Data

Questions (534)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

534. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons from the Traveller community who are homeless at present; and his views on whether a special recognition of the unique position of homeless Travellers is needed. [43244/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Data on homeless households in emergency accommodation is provided through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). Quarterly reports from lead housing authorities are being published on my Department's website as soon as these are available. In addition, lead housing authorities provide monthly reports on homelessness which identify the number of people utilising State-funded emergency accommodation on a regional and county basis. These monthly reports are also available on my Department's website at, http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.

Data on homeless travellers is not recorded on PASS. However, within the overall approach to addressing homelessness, particular attention is paid to homelessness prevention, including in relation to specific vulnerable groups at risk of becoming homeless.

Households that are qualified for social housing support are recorded by housing authorities through social housing assessments. When assessing the housing need of an applicant household for social housing support, each housing authority records, among other information, details on the household’s current tenure. This information is reflected in the statutory summary of Social Housing Assessments which provides details of the number of households qualified for social housing support and on housing authority waiting lists. The latest summary was carried out at 7 May 2013, in accordance with Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and the results are available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.

I have no plans to amend the current arrangements for collecting data.

Question No. 535 answered with Question No. 533.

Water Charges Exemptions

Questions (536, 542)

Tom Fleming

Question:

536. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will exempt from water charges householders who installed water harvesting conservation systems at a substantial capital investment cost (details supplied); if he will review these customers whose water usage due to their initiative, for which no grant has been received and on which they have outlayed large sums of money, is under the 51,000 litre domestic allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43246/14]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

542. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address the issue whereby a couple, both old age pensioners and residing in a nursing home, are expected to pay a tariff to Irish Water for a service they are not benefiting from; if he will rectify this issue as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43281/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 542 together.

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 the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. Section 21 of the 2013 Act requires Irish Water to charge each customer for the provision by it of water services.

The CER has now issued a determination on the water charges plan submitted to it by Irish Water. Full details and associated documentation are available on the CER website at www.cer.ie/document-detail/CER-Water-Charges-Plan-Consultation/979.

I am fully supportive of all technologies which contribute to the conservation of water. Rainwater harvesting has the potential to contribute to reducing the cost of water services for certain uses as well as benefiting the environment. There are no exemptions from water charges for householders using such systems. However, in line with the CER decision on the water charges plan, where a customer's metered water consumption is shown to be less than the assessed consumption used in the assessed charge, a rebate will be given to the customer after a period of six months.

In line with the approved water charges plan, where a domestic property is not permanently occupied, the owner of the premises will be required to pay a minimum charge for water supply and for wastewater per service. There are no exemptions from these charges for householders.

Question No. 537 answered with Question No. 526.

Irish Water Administration

Questions (538)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

538. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the avenues of redress available to persons who experience difficulties when dealing with Irish Water, considering that the body that regulates Irish Water, the Commission for Energy Regulation, is also the body that sets Irish Water charges; and if he will include Irish Water in the list of public bodies which are under the Office of the Ombudsman's remit. [43275/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The approach taken to dispute resolution for customers of Irish Water is consistent with the general approach for commercial State companies and recognises that Irish Water is working in a different regulatory framework than that which obtained prior to 1 January 2014. It was a policy decision of the Government to establish Irish Water as a public utility and this is reflected in Water Services Acts 2013. 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 CER must perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of customers of Irish Water. Section 32 of the Act provides that Irish Water shall submit a code or codes of practice to the CER for approval and the CER may modify any such code. A code of practice made under section 32 can include, inter alia, a provision for customer complaints to Irish Water in relation to provision of water services, the standards for the performance by Irish Water of its functions and any other matter the CER considers necessary and appropriate to secure the interests of customers of Irish Water. In discharging its functions, the CER may consult with Irish Water, the public, or any other person it considers appropriate.  Irish Water also has a statutory obligation to comply with any direction from the CER in relation to the approved codes. Irish Water’s approved codes of practice can be found on its website, at http://www.water.ie/our-customer-commitment/.

Similar to the approach it has taken in the electricity and gas industries, the CER has required Irish Water to submit a Customer Handbook outlining the minimum requirements of customer service standards they will provide to their customers. The Customer Handbook comprises Irish Water’s Customer Charter, Codes of Practice and the Terms and Conditions of supply. Following a public consultation on the document earlier this year, the CER have recently published the approved Irish Water Customer Handbook on their website , at http://www.cer.ie/docs/000956/CER14364%20Irish%20Water%20Customer%20Handbook.pdf .

The CER and Irish Water have also agreed to enter into a voluntary 'Dispute Resolution Agreement' which will set out agreed working arrangements and processes to deal with customer disputes. The Irish Water Code of Practice on Complaint Handling has been updated to reflect this agreement. In addition, the CER will be engaging with both Irish Water and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop complementary complaints processes to ensure customers are directed in an efficient manner to the appropriate organisation with their complaint or query. In this regard, it should be noted that Irish Water is also subject to statutory supervision by the EPA and the Health Service Executive in respect of any environmental and human health aspects of its water services provision.

Water Services Funding

Questions (539)

Joe Costello

Question:

539. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money spent each year for the last 15 years on improving the treated water infrastructure in each county here; the percentage loss in volume of treated water through faculty infrastructure in Dublin in each of the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43276/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Capital expenditure on public water and wastewater schemes has been provided under my Department’s Water Services Investment Programmes, copies of which are in the Oireachtas library. Details of capital expenditure recouped to each local authority from since 2000 in respect of water services is outlined in the following table.

Statistics relating to Unaccounted for Water in each local authority are recorded each year in the annual Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) Service Indicators reports. Service indicator reports from 2004 to 2012 are available on the LGMA website at http://www.lgcsb.ie/en/Publications.

Local Authority	Expenditure on Water Supply recouped to LAs under the WSIPs since 2000
Carlow County Council	€24,123,612
Cavan County Council	€30,755,366
Clare County Council	€52,662,790
Cork City Council	€7,576,790
Cork County Council	€64,559,483
Donegal County Council	€58,433,451
Dublin City Council	€219,120,277
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Council	€26,891,760
Fingal County Council	€127,461,758
Galway City Council	€18,529,894
Galway County Council	€126,509,859
Kerry County Council	€35,940,245
Kildare County Council	€84,522,160
Kilkenny County Council	€16,774,162
Laois County Council	€14,384,368
Leitrim County Council	€30,694,038
Limerick City Council	€30,308,942
Limerick County Council	€20,800,348
Longford County Council	€25,479,535
Louth County Council	€11,678,849
Mayo County Council	€69,062,416
Meath County Council	€70,938,585
Monaghan County Council	€31,244,243
North Tipperary County Council	€36,404,536
Offaly County Council	€22,920,557
Roscommon County Council	€28,687,464
Sligo County Council	€42,926,804
South Dublin County Council	€34,919,443
South Tipperary County Council	€16,145,602
Waterford City Council	€18,672,887
Waterford County Council	€29,879,107
Westmeath County Council	€45,197,118
Wexford County Council	€47,272,341
Wicklow County Council	€44,207,626
Grand Total	€1,565,686,416

Water Services Provision

Questions (540)

Robert Troy

Question:

540. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will instruct Irish Water to provide the necessary funding to complete phase 2 of the water mains upgrade of the Green Road, Mullingar, County Westmeath and also ensure that residents will not be charged for water until such upgrade takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43277/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has published its Capital Investment Plan 2014-2016 and this is available online at http://www.water.ie/news/proposed-capital-investme/Proposed-Capital-Investment-Plan-2014-2016.pdf.

The further progression of all water services capital projects, including water conservation in Westmeath, is now a matter for Irish Water to consider. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via an email to [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 578 578.

Security of the Elderly

Questions (541)

Michael Creed

Question:

541. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by his Department to involve Pobal in the operation of the senior alert scheme; the consultations that have taken place with local community and voluntary groups involved in the care of the elderly regarding this change of practice; the way this new approach will enable local voluntary groups to ensure more regular engagement with the elderly; the implications for the existing approximately 150,000 social alarms in operation and the responsibility for maintenance of these items; if his attention has been drawn to the significantly higher monitoring charges levied in other neighbouring jurisdictions and the consequences of a successful tender exiting the Irish market; if, in view of all of these issues, he will engage in the process of extensive consultation with the voluntary groups involved before Pobal is enabled to proceed with these significant changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43279/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department. The maximum grant per beneficiary for equipment is as follows:

- Monitored personal alarms (with pendant) - €250

- Additional pendant/Re-installation - €50.

The annual monitoring costs (generally between €60-€80 per annum) are borne by the beneficiary.

My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and from this it was recommended that the scheme be managed by Pobal with effect from 1 January 2015, given that organisation's significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal will provide management and administrative services for the Seniors Alert Scheme. This will include a national tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. A panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas.

Monitoring has always been the responsibility of the beneficiary and this is not changing. There are no implications for existing installations in respect of the Pobal tender competition, however, under the new arrangements, Pobal are also providing a facility for beneficiaries to choose from a panel of monitoring companies or to continue with their current monitoring company. In this regard Pobal will also set up a panel of pre-qualified telecare service providers, who provide monitoring services and this was publicly advertised on eTenders on 6 November 2014.

This new approach will reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme and it will enable the groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the Scheme, namely to interact with the elderly in the local community.

Question No. 542 answered with Question No. 536.

Water Charges Introduction

Questions (543)

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

543. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position on standing charges in water schemes, public and group water schemes; if the standing charges will cease under Irish Water; the current position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43303/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to charge for water services. The Act also provides that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) will be responsible for the economic regulation of Irish water and the charges to be levied by Irish Water will be subject to the approval of the CER. The Act provides specific mechanisms for the issue of Ministerial policy directions to the CER. A direction was issued to the CER under Section 42 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 in July 2014 in relation to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges, including that for social and environmental reasons, there should be no standing charge for domestic customers. A copy of the direction is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,38403,en.pdf.

Group Water Schemes that are supplied by way of a connection to the public water supply network will have previously been non-domestic customers of the relevant local authority and will therefore now become customers of Irish Water. Under the arrangements determined by the CER, the existing charges for non-domestic customers will remain in place pending a further consultation. My Department understands that there may be some Group Schemes where local arrangements may have applied; the future arrangements in relation to these schemes will be resolved as soon as possible. There are other Group Water Schemes that have their own water sources - these will not be customers of Irish Water and will continue to operate as before.