Written Answers Nos. 238-246
238. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a 12 month probationary tenancy will apply for new tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43721/14]
View answerIn order to support housing authorities in the control and management of social housing stock, Part 2 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new court procedure for the repossession of local authority dwellings in the case of a breach of the tenancy agreement, including anti-social behaviour. The Act also strengthens the powers of housing authorities to obtain court orders excluding individuals engaged in anti-social behaviour from their housing stock. Preparatory work is underway in my Department to commence these provisions. When Part 2 of the 2014 Act is in operation, consideration will be given to introducing additional measures to further improve the management and control of social housing by housing authorities, including probationary tenancies for new local authority tenants.
239. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to oblige the owners of dilapidated or defaced properties to repair any vandalism in public view within a short period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43722/14]
View answerUnder the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified measures to be taken in relation to a derelict site, to impose a levy on derelict sites, or to compulsorily acquire any derelict site. The administration of the Derelict Sites legislation at a local level is a matter for the relevant local authority. I am, however, satisfied that the Derelict Sites legislation is sufficiently robust and that local authorities are in a position to determine the most appropriate use of the legislation within their respective functional areas.
The Government has also recently approved the drafting of a new Planning Bill, which will include provision for a vacant sites levy. This measure will enable local authorities, should they wish to do so, to apply a levy on property owners of vacant or underutilised sites in central urban areas with a view to incentivising the use and development of such sites and bringing them into beneficial use.
240. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason many essential services are 1890 premium rate numbers; his views that it is unfair that those on pensions and social welfare are expected to pay premium rates to receive information in relation to essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43517/14]
View answerThe Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) manages and administers the National Numbering Scheme which lists all numbers and codes that are available for use on public telecommunications networks. ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, has established a variety of access codes types, in accordance with international norms, including:
- geographic numbering where charges are incurred by the caller at a local or national rate;
- 1850 numbers which share the costs between the caller and the service provider at a fixed rate when called from a fixed line number; and
- 1890 numbers which share the costs between the caller and the service provider having regard to the duration of the call when called from a fixed line number.
Neither my Department nor ComReg has any statutory authority to compel other services providers to use any particular telephone access code.
I would draw the Deputy's attention however to arrangements in my Department which operates an 1890 lo-call option for users contacting my Department from fixed line numbers and a standard 01-6782000 access code which allows mobile phone users to contact my Department at the standard rate charged by their service provider or within bundled minutes, depending on the package any customer has chosen.
241. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on his work in examining a proposed broadcasting licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43664/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 1087 of 4 November 2014. The position is unchanged.
242. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 691 of 6 November 2014, the precise date, according to records available, when his officials would have been first updated on the pay progression mechanism as part of the update they received with respect to progress with regard to the cost improvement measures in the lead in to their conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43682/14]
View answerAs I indicated in the reply to Question No. 249 of 6 November 2014, the employment terms and conditions for Ervia employees, other than the Chief Executive, are an operational matter for the company and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. In order to assist the Deputy further in her enquiries, my Department will ascertain if the information sought is available on the Department's files and will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.
243. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the energy efficiency of lighting on public roads and motorways and to effect cost savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43497/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including lighting) is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
244. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will publish the low carbon roadmap for the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43558/14]
View answerThe National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development provides for the development of a National Low-Carbon Roadmap to 2050. The National Roadmap will be coordinated by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with substantial input from relevant Departments. The key sectors are electricity generation, the built environment, transport and agriculture.
It is within this context that my Department is currently preparing the transport element for incorporation into the overall National Roadmap. A consultation phase for this element was held earlier in the year. It is intended that a draft National Low-Carbon Roadmap, incorporating all four sectoral elements, will be made available for public consultation. It is clear that any such draft will need to consider the outcome of negotiations on the EU’s 2030 policy framework for climate and energy and all relevant advice available to the key sectors and to Government.
245. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the amalgamation of the Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners into the Port of Cork Company; his plans to promote and develop Bantry Bay Harbour with the aim of maximising Bantry's potential as a tourist hub for west Cork; if he will provide assurances that the port will be developed in line with approved plans (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43616/14]
View answerBantry Bay Harbour transferred to the Port of Cork Company on the 1st of January 2014. The Port of Cork Company have established a subsidiary company, the Bantry Bay Port Company Limited, to manage the harbour. The Port of Cork Company is responsible for the funding and timing of future development work at Bantry Bay Harbour.
Prior to the transfer, the Port of Cork Company conducted a due diligence exercise at Bantry Bay Harbour that identified the urgent remedial works required. Funding was then allocated in respect of urgent remedial works which are due to commence shortly.
In addition, the port submitted a revised proposal to my Department in respect of the inner harbour development project which involved a revision of the phasing of the project referred to by the Deputy. The urgent port related remedial works are the immediate priority and the first phase of development in the inner harbour, which is supported by my Department.
The promotion and development of Bantry Bay as a tourist hub for West Cork is a matter for Fáilte Ireland.
246. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on efforts to establish mutual recognition of driving licences between Ireland and all Canadian states, in particular the state of Alberta; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43658/14]
View answerFollowing the successful introduction of a bilateral agreement on exchange of licences with Ontario, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), as Ireland's national driver licensing authority, is focusing on reaching similar agreements with the other Canadian provinces.
While I would like to see agreements reached with the other provinces as soon as possible, I understand from the RSA that discussions are most advanced with the provinces of Manitoba and with Newfoundland and Labrador. The RSA has advised that work with Alberta is under way, but is not as advanced as in those two cases.
