Written Answers Nos. 499-512
499. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he plans to hand over the responsibility of the public water supply that serves commercial and farm enterprises; if so, the projected charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43893/14]
View answerThe Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from local authorities to Irish Water on 1 January 2014, and provides for local authorities to act as agents for Irish Water. Local authorities have continued billing, collections and billing/metering query functions in relation to non-domestic customers on behalf of Irish Water. Non-domestic customer data will migrate from local authorities to Irish Water during 2015.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
500. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Irish Water was established with A and B share classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43894/14]
View answer531. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a European Union condition, similar to the effects of the EU energy markets directives, that would require Ireland to liberalise or open up a water services market which would in turn entail the privatisation of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44327/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 531 together.
The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, to be formed and registered under the Companies Acts. Section 5 of the Act provides that the shareholders of Irish Water are Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis Éireann), the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Finance. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of Irish Water provides for the allocation of one Class A share to Bord Gáis Éireann and one Class B share each to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Finance. The Articles of Association provides that the holder of A shares has the right to vote at any general meeting of the company but does not have any entitlement to any participation in the profits or the assets of the company. The Articles of Association provide that the holders of the B shares do not have the right to vote at any general meeting of the company but the B shareholders do receive whatever dividends or distributions as may be determined from time to time, hence providing that the two Ministers have full ownership of the economic value of Irish Water.
Section 46 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 prohibits each of the three shareholders from alienating their shareholding in Irish Water, which in effect places a statutory prohibition on the privatisation of Irish Water.
There is no European legislation requiring Ireland to liberalise the water services market. Article 345 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU clearly establishes a "principle of neutrality" in relation to the rules governing the system of property ownership in the Member States. The European Union cannot, therefore, adopt legal acts affecting the rules governing the system of property ownership, including those affecting the ownership of undertakings providing a public service, such as the provision of water. In a Communication earlier this year, the European Commission confirmed that it will continue to ensure full respect of Treaty rules requiring the European Union to remain neutral in relation to national decisions governing the ownership regime for water undertakings.
501. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing starts in each month since January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43895/14]
View answerMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. Data on housing starts or commencements are included within this range, and are available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15293,en.xls on the “commencement notices” tab. Data for 2014 are being compiled.
502. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a new national spatial strategy is being drafted; if so, the timeframe for such a process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43947/14]
View answerThe 2002 National Spatial Strategy (NSS) was Ireland’s first national strategic spatial planning framework. It aimed to provide the spatial vision and principles to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions through the co-ordinated development of nine gateway cities and towns, and nine hub towns, together with complementary policies to activate the potential for lasting economic development in their hinterlands and wider regions.
While the existing NSS remains in place and having regard to the significantly changed economic circumstances that the country now faces, the Government recently approved the commencement of the preparation of a new National Planning Framework as a successor to the NSS. Arrangements in this regard will now be put in place and this will be a significant area of activity during 2015.
503. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a voluntary organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo, will have their Leader application finalised; the reasons for the delay being experienced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43948/14]
View answerIn line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Local Action Groups (LAGs) are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. The LAG for the area referred to in the Question is Mayo North East LEADER Partnership (MNELP).
I understand that MNELP will be submitting the project file with accompanying claim material to my Department later this week for a review.
504. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details in tabular form by local authority of the amounts of cash that local authorities have on deposit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43984/14]
View answerDeposits held by local authorities comprise cash balances and short term bank investments and can include loans drawn down or money collected by means of development levies for the purpose of capital investment projects which may be multi-annual in duration. The amount held on deposit by each local authority at 31 December 2012, the latest year for which audited information is available, is set out below.
|
County Council |
€ |
|
Carlow |
16,753,850 |
|
Cavan |
17,802,888 |
|
Clare |
23,720,953 |
|
Cork |
119,930,578 |
|
Donegal |
24,189,817 |
|
Fingal |
119,091,308 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
155,366,717 |
|
Galway |
32,479,677 |
|
Kerry |
56,016,651 |
|
Kildare |
85,856,630 |
|
Kilkenny |
21,189,407 |
|
Laois |
5,458,056 |
|
Leitrim |
10,252,855 |
|
Limerick |
19,099,906 |
|
Longford |
13,961,636 |
|
Louth |
7,910,782 |
|
Mayo |
162,788 |
|
Meath |
64,531,671 |
|
Monaghan |
7,706 |
|
North Tipperary |
30,129,522 |
|
Offaly |
210,958 |
|
Roscommon |
10,201,682 |
|
Sligo |
3,231,015 |
|
South Dublin |
31,579,686 |
|
South Tipperary |
39,436,563 |
|
Waterford |
6,540,209 |
|
Westmeath |
9,456,957 |
|
Wexford |
17,905,951 |
|
Wicklow |
39,435,558 |
|
City Council |
€ |
|
Cork |
42,546,004 |
|
Dublin |
115,299,581 |
|
Galway |
9,962,122 |
|
Limerick |
24,280,283 |
|
Waterford |
104,126 |
|
Town & Borough Council |
€ |
|
Clonmel |
17,809,286 |
|
Drogheda |
8,147,741 |
|
Kilkenny |
557,685 |
|
Sligo |
234,993 |
|
Wexford |
4,358,463 |
|
Arklow |
7,995,473 |
|
Athlone |
3,726,786 |
|
Athy |
1,814,778 |
|
Ballina |
3,133,842 |
|
Ballinasloe |
22,548,342 |
|
Birr |
2,728,061 |
|
Bray |
21,809,032 |
|
Buncrana |
708,386 |
|
Bundoran |
4,551,498 |
|
Carlow |
9,964,514 |
|
Carrick-on-Suir |
2,969,469 |
|
Carrickmacross |
2,526,160 |
|
Cashel |
4,714,283 |
|
Castlebar |
5,553,427 |
|
Castleblayney |
154,898 |
|
Cavan |
4,338,303 |
|
Clonakility |
5,838,221 |
|
Clones |
223,864 |
|
Cobh |
283,641 |
|
Dundalk |
14,227,245 |
|
Dungarvan |
100 |
|
Ennis |
2,345,812 |
|
Enniscorthy |
3,068,980 |
|
Fermoy |
392,040 |
|
Kells |
280,159 |
|
Killarney |
11,499,261 |
|
Kilrush |
2,325,235 |
|
Kinsale |
1,317,169 |
|
Letterkenny |
777,457 |
|
Listowel |
2,332,196 |
|
Longford |
3,040,346 |
|
Macroom |
3,896,409 |
|
Mallow |
6,017,530 |
|
Midleton |
10,275,607 |
|
Monaghan |
1,793,351 |
|
Naas |
10,183,724 |
|
Navan |
6,782,004 |
|
Nenagh |
2,651,049 |
|
New Ross |
881,715 |
|
Skibbereen |
3,250,610 |
|
Templemore |
2,048,443 |
|
Thurles |
13,356,600 |
|
Tipperary |
3,017,338 |
|
Tralee |
12,363,960 |
|
Trim |
50,854 |
|
Tullamore |
2,141,967 |
|
Westport |
2,733,513 |
|
Wicklow |
2,956,407 |
|
Youghal |
878,782 |
506. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding water charges in larger households (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44063/14]
View answer507. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a penalty fee will be charged for late payment of water charge bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44064/14]
View answer520. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44234/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 506, 507 and 520 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 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 Act defines the customer as the occupier of the premises in respect of which the water services are provided.
The 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. On 30 September 2014, the CER issued a determination on the plan and full details and associated documentation are available on the CER website at the following link:
www.cer.ie/document-detail/CER-Water-Charges-Plan-Consultation/979.
A range of flexible payment options will be available to Irish Water’s customers. Furthermore, Irish Water has acknowledged in its water charges plan that in some circumstances it may be appropriate to extend payment terms for some customers.
Consideration is currently being given to elements of the water changing regime, including measures to ensure water charges are modest and affordable and to bring the necessary certainty and clarity to the charging arrangements.
With the installation of domestic water meters, it becomes possible to identify domestic properties with leaks. If Irish Water suspects that there is a leak at a domestic property it will inform the property owner/occupier accordingly. The occupier will also be able to check this as it will usually manifest itself as a high meter read or a continuous flow of water through the meter. If the leak is on the public side of the infrastructure it is the responsibility of Irish Water to locate and fix the leak. If the leak is on the private side of the supply pipe it is the responsibility of the customer to locate and fix the leak, as set out in the Water Services Act 2007; however, the Government has agreed to provide additional funding to Irish Water for their capital investment to include a free first fix scheme. Irish Water has made a proposal to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) regarding a ‘first fix’ policy and it is understood that the CER intend to hold a public consultation in advance of a decision and implementation of the scheme in Quarter 1 2015. The CER has decided that where a customer leak has been identified under the ‘first fix’ policy, the customer’s charges will be capped at the assessed level until the leak is fixed by Irish Water.
508. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff that are drawing down retirement pensions from the public sector or Civil Service and that have been brought back on contract work or temporary contracts to work in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44115/14]
View answerRetired public and civil servants are engaged from time to time by my Department in areas where specific expertise is required for a short fixed period and these people provide a level of knowledge, experience and background compatible with such temporary and periodic requirements.
The abatement principle, which ensures that the fee or salary paid plus pension does not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would receive if he/she had continued service in their former post, applies to payments where appropriate.
The information requested in respect of persons on public service pensions who have been engaged to work in my Department in 2014 to date is set out in the table below.
|
Role |
No |
|
Internal Audit Committee Member |
2 |
|
Chair Management Board Meetings of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management |
1 |
|
Service Indicators Independent Assessment Panel |
1 |
|
Parliamentary Drafting Expertise for Department's Legislative Programme (temporary contract) |
1 |
|
Independent Review of Draft Directions under section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in relation to Westmeath |
1 |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
2 |
|
Department Internal Interview Board |
1 |
My Department occasionally avails of the services of a number of retired public and civil servants for limited adjudication purposes.
In addition to the above, a number of retired public and civil servants carry out work for my Department from time to time on a pro bono basis.
510. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the performance-related targets for Irish Water staff relate to collection of revenue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44167/14]
View answerSince 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 oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 578 578.
The employment terms and conditions for Irish Water staff are a matter for the company and I understand that the particular pay model is something which was inherited from the parent company Ervia and therefore was not directly put in place by Irish Water. Like other commercial semi-state bodies, pay models are negotiated between management and unions and are then subject to a ballot as necessary. This occurred in Ervia’s case and the pay model was implemented in 2011.
Ervia has in place a competitive market based pay model, which offers market based pay ranges for all employees. Under the pay model salaries, below that of the Managing Director, are calculated by reference to the relevant median market rate. An amount is then deducted which is referred to as a Performance Related Award (PRA) which is an element of pay at risk. The remaining amount is the base salary.
As such, Irish Water does not pay increments or any form of automatic pay award; the PRA element of pay is only earned subject to performance. Every individual in Irish Water has a clear set of objectives set for the year and performance pay awards would be based on a structured performance review that requires company performance, business unit performance and individual performance metrics to have been met.
Irish Water has indicated to my Department that revenue outturn would have most immediate consequence for staff whose performance objectives are directly related to revenue collection, therefore impacting their individual performance review. Irish Water revenue collection performance would also be a factor in determining annual business performance in Irish Water and within the Ervia Group, thereby affecting the metrics associated with company and business unit performance which would impact on an individual’s performance review.
I have been advised by the Chairman of Ervia that the Board has decided that the PRA element of the Irish Water Pay Model should not apply for 2013 and 2014. In addition, the Board has decided that the Pay Model should be subject to an independent review and this is already underway.
511. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the provisional local property tax allocation to each local authority for 2015; if he will further provide in tabular form the allocations of general purpose grants from the local Government fund to each local authority, including town and borough councils, for 2014; the net increase/decrease in funding allocated to each local authority for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44175/14]
View answerLocal Property Tax (LPT) was introduced to provide an alternative, stable and sustainable funding base for the local authority sector, providing greater levels of connection between local revenue raising and associated expenditure decisions. Given that local authorities vary significantly from one another in terms of size, population, public service demands, infrastructure and income sources, the Government has decided that no local authority will receive less allocation from LPT in 2015 than they received from the Local Government Fund in 2014 , prior to any decision taken locally to reduce LPT rates. 80% of LPT will be retained locally to fund vital public services in 2015. The remaining 20% will be re-distributed to provide top-up funding to certain local authority areas that have lower property tax bases due to the variance in property values across the State.
Certain local authorities, with stronger property bases, will receive additional income in 2015 from LPT compared to their 2014 General Purpose Grant. The Government has decided that these local authorities will use this surplus funding in two ways, with a portion available for their own discretionary purposes and the remainder, if any, to fund some services in the Housing and Roads areas for which they currently receive Central Government funding. The portion that will be retained for discretionary purposes by these authorities will be an amount equal to 20% of the total expected LPT income in their respective areas (before any decision to vary rates) or, in the case where that surplus will be less than 20%, the full amount. It will be a matter for the individual local authorities to decide how to spend that discretionary funding.
Effective from 1 July 2014, local authorities may vary the rate of LPT in their administrative area for the following year by up to 15% of the basic rate of the tax. The power to vary LPT rates has been given to local authorities to further increase their autonomy. Elected members are already responsible for finalising the annual budget of the local authority – it is a reserved function for them – and the power to vary LPT rates will enable them to directly influence the level of LPT income they have to meet their expenditure requirements in the future.
The decision to vary must be taken by resolution of the Council and must be notified to the Revenue Commissioners by 30 September each year in order to apply for the following year. For 2015, 14 local authorities availed of the opportunity to reduce the basic rate of LPT by the levels set out in the table below. The other 17 local authorities did not vary the LPT rate for 2015.
In the event that a local authority decides to increase LPT rates, they will retain 100% of the additional LPT collected. Where a local authority decides to reduce LPT rates, the full cost of that reduction will be reflected in a reduced LPT allocation to that local authority.
I have advised local authorities of their individual provisional LPT allocations for 2015.
The amount allocated to local authorities from the Local Government Fund for general purpose grants in 2014 is €282 m; this figure recognises the removal of water related costs from local authorities to Irish Water in 2014. The table below details the general purpose grant allocations from the Local Government Fund to local authorities in 2014 (the allocations to County Councils are “county at large” allocations in respect of the County Council and any Town Councils within the county).
|
Local Authority |
LPT expected to be collected in 2015 (100%) |
Original 2015 LPT Allocation ( 80% plus any equalisation funding before any local variation of base rate) |
Impact of local variation by elected members o n LPT 2015 |
GPG Allocation 2014 |
Increase / Decrease for 2015 LPT (post local variation) compared to GPG 2014 |
||
|
Local Adjustment Factor Variation Percentage applied by elected members |
Loss/Gain from original 2015 LPT allocation (post local variation) |
Revised 2015 LPT allocation (post local variation) |
|||||
|
Carlow County |
4,074,408 |
5,352,469 |
|
|
5,352,469 |
5,352,469 |
0 |
|
Cavan County |
4,523,734 |
8,458,415 |
|
|
8,458,415 |
8,458,415 |
0 |
|
Clare County |
10,406,002 |
8,324,802 |
-15% |
-1,560,900 |
6,763,902 |
2,646,284 |
4,117,618 |
|
Cork City |
11,447,269 |
9,157,816 |
-10% |
-1,144,727 |
8,013,089 |
8,544,374 |
-531,285 |
|
Cork County |
41,831,749 |
33,465,400 |
-10% |
-4,183,175 |
29,282,225 |
2,951,435 |
26,330,790 |
|
Donegal County |
11,028,098 |
22,720,760 |
|
|
22,720,760 |
22,720,760 |
0 |
|
Dublin City |
82,659,298 |
66,127,439 |
-15% |
-12,398,895 |
53,728,544 |
2,667,330 |
51,061,214 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
53,472,548 |
42,778,039 |
-15% |
-8,020,882 |
34,757,156 |
5,724,579 |
29,032,577 |
|
Fingal |
39,074,750 |
31,259,800 |
-15% |
-5,861,213 |
25,398,588 |
454,714 |
24,943,874 |
|
Galway City |
8,386,376 |
6,709,100 |
|
|
6,709,100 |
1,626,429 |
5,082,671 |
|
Galway County |
14,967,018 |
12,506,381 |
|
|
12,506,381 |
12,506,381 |
0 |
|
Kerry County |
14,573,983 |
11,659,186 |
|
|
11,659,186 |
11,043,837 |
615,349 |
|
Kildare County |
22,182,458 |
17,745,967 |
-7.5 % |
-1,663,684 |
16,082,282 |
9,686,924 |
6,395,358 |
|
Kilkenny County |
7,691,662 |
9,356,019 |
|
|
9,356,019 |
9,356,019 |
0 |
|
Laois County |
5,028,291 |
7,631,324 |
|
|
7,631,324 |
7,631,324 |
0 |
|
Leitrim County |
2,190,502 |
8,282,319 |
|
|
8,282,319 |
8,282,319 |
0 |
|
Limerick City & County |
16,196,116 |
14,625,159 |
-3% |
-485,883 |
14,139,276 |
14,625,159 |
-485,883 |
|
Longford County |
2,175,789 |
8,119,493 |
-3% |
-65,274 |
8,054,219 |
8,119,493 |
-65,274 |
|
Louth County |
9,700,789 |
8,243,835 |
-1.5 % |
-145,512 |
8,098,323 |
8,243,835 |
-145,512 |
|
Mayo County |
10,710,265 |
17,492,594 |
-3% |
-321,308 |
17,171,286 |
17,492,594 |
-321,308 |
|
Meath County |
17,957,980 |
14,366,384 |
|
|
14,366,384 |
8,799,199 |
5,567,185 |
|
Monaghan County |
3,918,800 |
10,247,882 |
|
|
10,247,882 |
10,247,882 |
0 |
|
Offaly County |
5,056,460 |
6,663,642 |
|
|
6,663,642 |
6,663,642 |
0 |
|
Roscommon County |
4,091,954 |
9,107,439 |
|
|
9,107,439 |
9,107,439 |
0 |
|
Sligo County |
5,433,553 |
9,993,352 |
|
|
9,993,352 |
9,993,352 |
0 |
|
South Dublin |
32,653,416 |
26,122,733 |
-15% |
-4,898,012 |
21,224,721 |
923,906 |
20,300,815 |
|
Tipperary County |
12,244,808 |
22,755,110 |
|
|
23,320,110 |
22,755,110 |
565,000 |
|
Waterford City & County |
9,592,646 |
16,524,431 |
|
|
16,524,431 |
16,524,431 |
0 |
|
Westmeath County |
6,580,433 |
10,115,479 |
-3% |
-197,413 |
9,918,066 |
10,115,479 |
-197,413 |
|
Wexford County |
12,535,499 |
11,888,576 |
|
|
11,888,576 |
11,888,576 |
0 |
|
Wicklow County |
17,613,345 |
14,090,676 |
-15% |
-2,642,002 |
11,448,674 |
6,846,310 |
4,602,364 |
|
Total |
500,000,000 |
501,892,019 |
|
-43,588,880 |
458,868,139 |
282,000,000 |
176,303,139 |
512. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide funding to local authorities for the purchase of private dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44177/14]
View answerThe funding that is provided by my Department to local authorities for social housing supports the development of new social housing units and also the purchase of units that may be privately owned. A similar approach applies to funding sanctioned by local authorities to approved housing bodies, which can be for either new build or the acquisition of existing housing units.
There are some instances where funding for social housing developments is linked to job stimulus programmes and, in those cases, it is a requirement that funding is used for new housing developments. However, in general, it is a matter for each local authority, as the housing authority for its area, to identify the social housing need and to respond as required. Where acquisitions are undertaken for social housing purposes, I expect local authorities to do so in a way that is sensitive to issues such as tenure mix and impact on the local housing market.
Budget 2015 has seen the provision of capital funding for social housing provision increased by €180 million. This will see an acceleration of local authority direct build and acquisition of properties. The targets for housing units to be delivered through this increased funding is 946 units delivered by local authorities and 440 through approved housing bodies.
