Written Answers Nos. 519-532
519. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount Irish Water has been allowed to pay for bonuses, consultancy fees, and for the running of call centres in 2014 and 2015. [41149/14]
View answer543. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of staff employed by Irish Water in its billing department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45389/14]
View answer544. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated maintenance costs of water meters already installed per annum in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45396/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 519, 543 and 544 together.
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. I have no role in the operational matters of Irish Water.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the independent, economic regulator of Irish Water and retains the power to advise the Minister on development and delivery of water services. Irish Water’s operational costs have been carefully examined by the Regulator and demanding requirements have been set. Irish Water must reduce its operating costs by 7% annually to end 2016. Details of the Irish Water’s approved water charges plan, including cost breakdowns to end 2016 submitted by Irish Water to the CER, are available on the CER’s website at www.cer.ie.
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.
520. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to bring forward legislation to ensure that Irish Water cannot be privatised. [41150/14]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, conforming to the conditions contained in the Act and registered under the Companies Acts. Section 4 of the Act provides that Irish Water is registered as a private company limited by shares under the Companies Act. Section 5 of the Act provides that one share in Irish Water shall be issued to Bord Gáis Éireann (now Ervia) with the remaining shares allocated equally between the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Finance. Accordingly, Irish Water is in full State ownership. Subsection 5(6) of Act, as amended by Section 46 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013, prohibits each of the three shareholders from disposing of their shareholding in Irish Water and thus places a statutory prohibition on the privatisation of Irish Water.
The Government is committed to the continued public ownership of water services and proposes to legislate to ensure that if any future Government sought to make any amendment to the ownership of Irish Water, the matter would have to be put to the electorate. These legislative proposals in this regard will be brought forward shortly.
521. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of persons who have not received any communication from Irish Water and have been unsuccessful in their endeavours to make contact with that body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45236/14]
View answerIrish Water is in the process of compiling the relevant data to ensure that customers can be billed accurately and has sent validation packs to approximately 2 million households. To implement the changed charging regime, and to provide those households who have yet to register with an opportunity to respond to the Irish Water customer registration campaign, so that they may avail of the new benefits and to receive accurate bills, it will be important to register by 2 February 2015. Households who have not previously responded can register with Irish Water by phone or online. It is possible to complete validation over the phone, even in the absence of an application pack. The application form is also available to download from the Irish Water website www.water.ie.
Irish Water has established a dedicated phone number, 1890 448 448, to assist with queries and completion of the customer application form. This line is open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week and additional resources have been allocated by the company to answer calls. Irish Water can also be contacted by email. All details are clearly outlined on the company website, www.water.ie.
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.
524. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a water leak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45259/14]
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. I have no role in the operational matters of Irish Water.
I understand that Irish Water has investigated the case in question and has advised the customer of their findings. However, they will undertake to further contact this customer to assess suitability for investigation under the First Fix Scheme.
Under the Domestic Complaint Handling Code of Practice, if a customer remains dissatisfied with the outcome, Irish Water will refer the customer’s complaint to the Commission for Energy Regulation or the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Commission for Energy Regulation may be contacted if the unresolved complaint is that Irish Water did not comply with the terms of a code of practice, in accordance with the Voluntary Dispute Resolution Working Practice between the Commission for Energy Regulation and Irish Water.
525. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the revenue generated annually by motor tax using both emissions and engine size for the years 2008 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45260/14]
View answer526. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government using statistics and data available since 2008 on the number of vehicles in the State, his Department's projections regarding the sustainability of the motor tax base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45263/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 526 together.
The total number of vehicles in the fleet (based on the number of vehicles under current taxation at 31 December for each year up to 2013) and gross receipts from 2008 to date are as follows:
|
- |
Total number of vehicles |
Gross motor tax receipts (€) |
|
2008 |
2,497,568 |
1.058bn |
|
2009 |
2,467,660 |
1.057bn |
|
2010 |
2,416,387 |
1.023bn |
|
2011 |
2,425,156 |
1.010bn |
|
2012 |
2,403,223 |
1.054bn |
|
2013 |
2,482,557 |
1.137bn |
|
2014 (at 31 October) |
2,501,206 * |
995m |
* there are also some 124,000 vehicles currently declared off the road.
Between 2009, when budgetary increases in motor tax took effect, and 2011, there was a year on year decline in motor tax receipts. Receipts increased in 2012 and 2013 due to further motor tax increases in those years. While there were no increases in motor tax in 2014, there is expected to be a further increase in motor tax receipts due to the change in procedure for declaring vehicles off the road, which is also a factor in the recent increases in vehicle numbers, along with increases in the fleet size resulting from economic buoyancy. Receipts are expected to be in the order of €1.16bn by year-end.
There has been a change in composition of the private vehicle fleet, with a gradual switchover from vehicles taxed based on engine capacity to vehicles taxed based on carbon emissions, which carry a lower average tax. Total receipts from private vehicles for 2008 to the end of October 2014 are set out below. The proportion of the total receipts from engine capacity vehicles is gradually reducing; apart from 2013, arising from a combination of budget increases and the changes to the procedures for declaring vehicles off the road, the overall trend is for a decline.
|
Receipts |
2008 (€m) |
2009 (€m) |
2010 (€m) |
2011 (€m) |
2012 (€m) |
2013 (€m) |
2014 (to 31 October (€m) |
|
Private (engine capacity) |
853.0 |
835.4 |
784.8 |
752.8 |
751.7 |
760.2
|
641.4 |
|
Private (CO 2) |
10.2 |
36.9 |
58.4 |
78.5 |
121.5 |
168.5
|
177.9 |
|
Total Private Cars |
863.2 |
872.3 |
843.2 |
831.3 |
873.2 |
928.7
|
819.3 |
The number of CO2 vehicles as a proportion of the overall private vehicle fleet has been increasing by about 5% year on year and, at the end of October 2014, comprised almost 34% of the total. Most of the replacement fleet is now in the 2 lowest emissions tax bands which carry relatively low tax rates – 95% of all cars now purchased are in the A and B bands. It could be expected that this trend may continue in the future; however, it could also be expected that the numbers of vehicles in the fleet should increase in the future as economic growth indicators continue to improve. Motor tax receipts and rates are kept under regular review.
527. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the recent amendments made by Kildare County Council to its county development plan with specific regard to the matter of the location of electricity pylons; if he will support the initiative taken by Kildare County Council in this regard; if he will review the position of his Department on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45267/14]
View answerOn 12 November 2014, I issued a notice of intent to issue a Direction, together with a draft Direction, to Kildare County Council relating to Variation No. 3 to the Kildare County Development Plan 2011-2017, as adopted by the elected members on 20 October 2014. I formed the provisional opinion to issue such notice on the basis that the Planning Authority had ignored or not taken account of a submission made by my Department on my behalf in September 2014 in respect of the proposed material alterations to Variation No. 3 to the Development Plan and that the Plan (as varied) is not in compliance with the requirements of section 13 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).
The draft Direction outlined, inter alia, that the decision of the elected members to alter the policy in regard to the energy and communications objectives do not provide for proper planning and sustainable development as they would be contrary to national policy as set out by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in relation to Transmission and Energy Infrastructure.
The public consultation obligations under Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) provide that the Chief Executive must publish notice of the draft direction no later than 2 weeks after receipt of the notice of intent. I expect to receive the Chief Executive’s report on this public consultation, including on any views of the elected members, no later than 4 weeks after the public consultation process is completed, for my further consideration.
528. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the situation, in 2015, as regards Irish Water and local authority rates; if this is a change from the 2014 situation and if so the financial implications this will have for each local authority. [45270/14]
View answer533. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the amount of rates paid to each local authority by Irish Water in 2014; and the expected income from this source in 2015. [45332/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 533 together.
As outlined to the Dáil on 19 November, I intend to bring forward legislative proposals to give effect to the new package of measures for water charges and Irish Water financing which will include provision for the exemption from commercial rates of fixed networks for the production, transport or distribution of drinking water to the public and assets for treatment and disposal of sewage from the public. The amount of commercial rates budgeted for by Irish Water in 2015 and 2016, and included in operational costs reviewed by the Commission for Energy Regulation, is €59 million. The amounts paid in 2014 are outlined in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
€'000 |
|
Carlow County Council |
52 |
|
Cavan County Council |
24 |
|
Clare County Council |
219 |
|
Cork City Council |
850 |
|
Cork County Council |
1,535 |
|
Donegal County Council |
415 |
|
Dublin City Council |
13,820 |
|
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown |
3,420 |
|
Fingal County Council |
6,573 |
|
Galway City Council |
30 |
|
Galway County Council |
50 |
|
Kerry County Council |
589 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2,210 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
169 |
|
Laois County Council |
142 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
nil |
|
Limerick County Council |
762 |
|
Longford County Council |
95 |
|
Louth County Council |
581 |
|
Mayo County Council |
198 |
|
Meath County Council |
261 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
96 |
|
Offaly County Council |
15 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
nil |
|
Sligo County Council |
136 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
8,518 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
760 |
|
Waterford County Council |
4,485 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
69 |
|
Wexford County Council |
130 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
2,521 |
|
Total Amount paid in Water rates by Irish Water |
48,725 |
529. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been any update on an area's (details supplied) maintenance works. [45279/14]
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. Water services maintenance works are a matter for Irish Water and I have no role in the matter.
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.
530. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of water charges that will be levied on third level students for the academic year, which is of nine months duration; if landlords will be obliged to pay part of the annual water charge; and if this is the case, the proportion of the annual bill landlords will be liable for. [45296/14]
View answer531. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if third level students who are in receipt of the maintenance grant will be entitled to relief in relation to water charges; and if so, the amount of same. [45297/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together.
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.
The occupier of a property is liable to pay the water charges bill and legislation provides that the owner is the occupier unless the contrary is proven. Irish Water is providing landlords with the opportunity to prove that they are not the occupier by providing the tenant’s name. This will allow Irish Water to contact the tenant to complete the registration and to bill the tenant. The tenant will have to register with Irish Water to avail of the water conservation grant or to avail of lower charges than the default annual capped charge (€260), where they are single adult occupants or his/her metered usage is less than the maximum charge.
Draft legislation which I will be bringing forward will place certain obligations on landlords where the tenant has not paid water charges. In the case of tenants in private rented accommodation, the legislation will seek to insert into all tenancy agreements/leases a deemed obligation on the tenant to discharge their liability for water charges. On the changeover of a tenancy, the registration of a new tenant with Irish Water would be conditional on all water charge arrears being discharged and, in the event of the former tenant not discharging those arrears, the landlord would be entitled to withhold the amount concerned from the tenant’s deposit and would be required to remit the amount involved to Irish Water.
Capped annual charges are set at €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households, including those households comprising of third level students. All eligible households will receive a water conservation grant of €100 per year. The overall package of measures being put in place is designed to make the water charging regime more affordable and to provide clarity and certainty to households.
In terms of payment, all households, including third level students, will be able to avail of a range of easy pay options, including direct debits, electronic funds transfer, payment by cash at any retail outlet with a paypoint or payzone sign or a post office where a bill can be paid in full or part payments of a minimum of €5 can be made. Metered usage can lead to lower charges than the relevant capped charge; the Children’s allowance remains at 21,000 litres per annum and will apply to all persons resident in the dwelling aged under 18 (irrespective of whether the child qualifies for Child Benefit), meaning children will continue to go free.
532. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of any moneys that his Department has provided to Associated Charities Trust (details supplied) since 1990. [45324/14]
View answerMy Department does not have any record of providing direct funding to Associated Charities Trust.
However, as an association dealing with housing issues, the organisation has received funding of a total of approximately €1.17 million from Limerick City Council since 1990 under my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme, towards the provision of 22 housing units. Under this Scheme, funding is provided by my Department to local authorities who, in turn, provide funding to Approved Housing Bodies for the provision of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need.
