Written Answers Nos. 495-510
495. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the amount spent on removing chewing gum-sticky substances from streets and footpaths in each local authority area in the past five years; the amount spent here as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45823/14]
View answerThe Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 provide the statutory framework to combat litter problems . Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering, including that of gum litter, is in the first instance a matter for local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter pollution locally, within the legislation provided, including the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean - up actions in relation to litter, taking account of its own local circumstances and priorities. In 2013, nationally, local authorities expended a total in excess of €82 million on street cleaning activities; however, my Department does not collect the more detailed information sought.
In the period 2010 – 2014 inclusive, my Department provided a total of in excess of €8.26 million in funding for the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System, litter related grants to local authorities, An Taisce (National Spring Clean) and Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL). A breakdown of the payments is set out in the table below. A county breakdown of allocations under the Litter Awareness Grants for the period in question is available on my Department’s website, at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Waste/LitterPollution/LocalAuthorityGrantScheme
Department’s Expenditure on Litter 2010 - 2014
|
~ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
Programme |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Litter Awareness Grants |
990,724 |
985,218 |
900,000 |
876,296 |
841,700 |
|
Tourist Season Grant |
496,940 |
494,540 |
500,000 |
- |
- |
|
National Spring Clean |
260,000 |
249,312 |
225,000 |
225,000 |
175,000 |
|
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS) |
64,226 |
68,822 |
57,180 |
55,142 |
52,014 |
|
IBAL |
70,000 |
70,000 |
50,000 |
50,000 |
40,000 |
|
Protecting Upland and Rural Environments |
85,949 |
84,359 |
99,635 |
92,995 |
100,000 |
|
Total |
1,967,839 |
1,952,251 |
1,831,815 |
1,299,433 |
1,208,714 |
496. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the water charge exemption clause, Article 9 of the water framework directive in 2000 which absolves Ireland from charging for domestic water has not been made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45839/14]
View answer545. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason his Department did not seek to utilise the provisions made in Article 9.4 of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the community action in the field of water policy and which allows for member states to exempt domestic households from water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46221/14]
View answer550. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the EU water framework directive, in particular section 9.4 of same; if this exempts Ireland from a water charges regime; if so, the reason he is proceeding with charging; if not where within the directive or any subsequent directive section 9.4 was changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46237/14]
View answer552. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the EU water framework directive 2003, Article 9.4, which permits the continued exemption from water charges of the domestic sector here regarding the Water Services Act 2013. [46251/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 496, 545, 550 and 552 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 81 on today’s order paper, which sets out the position in relation to this matter.
497. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that all proposed offshore wind energy developments were granted under the operation of outdated foreshore planning legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40364/14]
View answerTo date, 2 leases have been granted under the Foreshore Acts 1933 - 2014 in respect of offshore wind developments. The leases in question were granted on 11 January 2002 and 15 November 2005 for the Arklow Wind Park and for the Codling Wind Park (known as Codling I), respectively. Both lease applications were considered and granted in accordance with the regulatory and legislative framework applicable at the time. It should be noted that the Foreshore Acts have been revised on a number of occasions, including to take account of the requirements of EU environmental law.
498. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the proposed tax on vacant sites; the person he has engaged for the consultation process on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41761/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 121 on today’s Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.
499. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details on envisaged temporary solutions to assist persons in need of housing support while the new housing strategy is being rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40957/14]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020 , approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units will address the needs of the 90,000 on the housing waiting list in full , with flexibility to meet potential future demand. The strategy provides a clear governance structure, which as Minister I will personally oversee, to ensure delivery. Action 1 of the Strategy requires the agreement of targets for delivery of social housing next year and in subsequent years. These specific targets will be agreed through the governance structure, in collaboration with local authorities and with input from the approved housing body sector.
For 2015, I expect that some 7,400 new social housing units will be provided under the range of existing initiatives, with a further 8,400 households assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The specific funding to be provided next year across all the various housing programmes will shortly be published in the 2015 Revised Estimates Volume.
Pending the finalisation of allocations for 2015, local authorities are continuing to work on projects announced in 2014. These include a local authority housing construction programme valued at €68 million nationally and delivering 449 new units of accommodation, and over €46 million allocated to Approved Housing Bodies to provide 416 units of accommodation nationally, for people with special housing needs. Local authorities are currently undertaking a programme of targeted acquisitions, which will see in the region of 240 units of accommodation being acquired to accommodate people on the social housing waiting list, with particular emphasis on providing accommodation for homeless persons, people with special needs and other priority cases as identified by the housing authorities.
My Department has also made available an investment of €30 million in 2014, through funding allocated under the stimulus package for the construction sector and allocations to refurbish vacant properties, which will result in some 1,960 vacant local authority owned units being returned to productive use.
500. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the privatisation of Dublin City Council's waste contract; if he is satisfied with the manner in which this occurred; if he is satisfied that customers of private companies are protected from quasi-monopolistic practices and poor services in view of the fact that the council is no longer a direct service supplier in the waste market. [45879/14]
View answer547. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding waste collection services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46225/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 547 together.
Under Section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, a local authority is required to collect, or arrange for the collection of waste within its functional area . Almost all local authorities have now exited the waste collection market.
Collection of waste by a private operator is subject to compliance with applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, primarily the Waste Management Act 1996 and conditions attached to each waste collector’s collection permit issued under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007. Waste collection in individual local authority areas may also be subject to local bye-laws , and enforcement of waste legislation, a waste collection permit condition or waste bye-law is a matter for the relevant local authority.
As Minister, I am specifically precluded under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the Agency or a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it. My role as Minister in terms of waste management is to provide the legislative and policy framework under which waste management enforcement authorities work.
In this regard, as part of the introduction of a radical and comprehensive new regulatory framework to reform the regulation of the collection of household waste in 2015, I intend to introduce measures to require collectors to have a customer charter in place and to meet certain minimum standards of customer service , such as specified frequencies of collection . I will be setting out in law what the minimum content of these customer charters will be , so that standards of service are raised and are consistent. It will also become a statutory requirement for all collectors to operate the “pay-by-weight” system as a condition of their permit.
The regulation of weighing mechanisms used to determine weight-based waste collection charges is the responsibility of the National Standards Authority of Ireland and queries in this regard should be directed to that body.
501. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the funding that has been advanced to the Integration Centre Ireland from 2005 to date in 2014; and if they will make a statement on this request. [45909/14]
View answer551. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the funding that has been advanced in respect of an organisation (details supplied) from 2005 to 2014, specifically if any European funding has been channelled through his Department to this body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46241/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 551 together.
The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services.
My Department has not provided funding to the Integration Centre during the period in question. However, the organisation was approved under the Scheme to Support National Organisations for a sum of €86,482 from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. I have recently been made aware that the organisation is in the process of closing and this funding allocation has been formally withdrawn prior to any drawdown.
502. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the surveys being conducted as part of the pyrite remediation process in the identification of other structural defects and breaches of building regulations or standards, separate to pyrite; the remedy open to homeowners to have those problems addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45953/14]
View answerThe pyrite remediation scheme applies to dwellings which are affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave in the counties of Kildare, Meath, Offaly and the administrative areas of Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council. The scheme is one of “last resort” and to be included in the scheme applicants must be able to demonstrate to the Pyrite Resolution Board that they have no practicable options other than under the scheme to secure the remediation of their dwelling.
There are a number of stages involved in the application process under the pyrite remediation scheme . However, once a dwelling is included in the scheme, the Housing Agency will undertake the procurement of professional services and the establishment of remediation contracts. This will include the appointment of design professionals to survey, test, design, inspect and certify the remediation of dwellings in accordance with I.S. 398-2: 2013: Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 2: Methodology for remediation works . The purpose of the design professional’s survey is to determine and record the damage caused by pyritic heave in the affected dwelling. This allows the design professional to prepare a Remedial Works Plan specific to each dwelling. Under the Remedial Works Plans, the reinstatement of the building elements will normally be on a “like for like” basis relative to a standard that existed prior to the occurrence of damage caused by pyritic heave, having regard to good building practice.
It should be noted that the survey is a not full condition survey of the affected dwelling and will therefore not address any other defects, damage or substandard work, if such exists. Any such work that is observed during the survey, not attributable to pyritic heave, is outside the scope of the scheme and will not form part of the Remedial Works Plan. Any defect, damage or substandard work not attributable to pyritic heave that is of concern to a scheme participant should be investigated by his or her own building professional.
503. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that regulations are in place to deal with developers who have consistently breached fire safety regulations in the construction of dwellings in different locations, requiring evacuation in some instances and costly remediation works which have not been completed, and yet are being granted permission to develop new schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45954/14]
View answerLocal authorities have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Building Control Acts, the Fire Services Acts and the Planning and Development Acts, all of which are relevant to safety in the built environment, and use such powers where concerns in relation to developments arise. Neither I, nor my Department, has any direct role in relation to the granting of permission for new developments or in relation to any oversight or enforcement activity under the various Acts outlined. The relevant statutory powers are vested in local authorities who are independent in the exercise of their statutory functions and I cannot intervene in any individual case. In general, however, I expect local authorities to continue to use all of the powers currently available to them to address issues of compliance with regulatory requirements, including in relation to fire safety, where they arise and to respond appropriately to any concerns which are brought to their attention.
The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which came into operation on 1 March 2014, greatly strengthen the arrangements in place for the control of building activity. In particular the regulations empower competence and professionalism in design and construction and require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certificates of design and construction, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspection during construction and validation and registration of statutory certificates. I am satisfied that this key reform of the regulatory framework represents a reasonable and appropriate response to the many building failures that occurred in the past decade and will lead to improved quality within the construction sector.
504. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the bonus system which has been introduced in Irish Water; the measures he will take to remove the bonus culture from Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45955/14]
View answerThe pay model applicable to Irish Water is a matter for the Board of the company. I understand that the pay model is not a new model put in place by Irish Water but was inherited from the parent company Ervia. My Department sought clarification on the Ervia pay model and I understand that it is a competitive market based model comprising two key elements – a market based pay range for all employees and a Performance Related Award (PRA) which is at risk. The total of these two elements add up to the external market pay level for any given job. Performance pay under this system is based on a structured performance review and requires company performance, business unit performance and individual performance metrics to have been met. The Chairman of Ervia has indicated to me that the company has decided that the Performance Related Awards will not apply in Irish Water for 2013 and 2014. Furthermore, an independent review of the pay model for Irish Water is being undertaken with a view to making a recommendation to the new unitary Eriva Board on the appropriate pay model for Irish Water.
505. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the considerations he and his Department have given to the issue of defective blocks in County Donegal; the way affected householders might be able to proceed in engaging with his Department on this issue; the financial supports there are for persons who find themselves in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45956/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 86 on today’s Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.
506. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will permit the Pyrite Resolution Board to consider the emerging situation in County Donegal with respect to defective blocks; if not, his plans to address this problem in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45957/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 129 on today’s Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.
507. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the change in Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 relating to bed-sits, the number of residents who are living in bed-sits who do not conform with the new regulations; his plans to address this while ensuring that the homelessness crisis is not further exacerbated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45958/14]
View answerRegulations 6, 7 and 8 of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008 came into effect for all residential rented accommodation on 1 February 2013. The purpose of Regulation 6 is to ensure that each rental property has exclusive access to its own sanitary facilities and that those facilities are contained within the dwelling unit. Regulation 7 relates to effective heating which can be independently managed by the tenant, while Regulation 8 provides for sole access to adequate facilities for the hygienic storage, preparation and cooking of food. The 2008 Regulations came into effect generally on 1 February 2009 but allowed a four year phasing-in period to facilitate any improvement works that needed to be carried out in respect of Regulations 6, 7 and 8. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their properties comply with the regulations and responsibility for their enforcement rests with the local authorities, funded from part of the proceeds of tenancy registration fees collected by the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). Since 2005, over 149,000 inspections have been carried out by local authorities on properties in the sector.
Census 2011 indicated that there were approximately 4,500 bed-sits across the country – the majority of which are found in Dublin – accounting for 1% of households in the private rented sector. A recent report from Dublin City Council found that the majority of dwellings selected for inspection (which were pre-1963 multi-unit buildings and more likely to be in this category of accommodation) were non-compliant with the regulations on initial inspection.
These inspections were part of an intensified inspection programme funded by my Department that commenced in 2012 and is due to run until March 2015 . It specifically targeted concentrations of rented properties which were deemed to be at risk of non-compliance with the legislation. Up to October 2014 , 66% of the non-compliant properties had been brought into compliance. Enforcement action continues against the remainder, including legal action in certain cases.
On 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness was published in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at,
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.
The plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households within the next three years and mobilise the necessary supports.
Finally, Budget 2015 made provision for the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) scheme to be extended to include landlords who are subject to income tax. It will apply to repairs, renovations or improvements to rental properties carried out on or after 15 October 2014.
508. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current number of water meters installed; the rate per month; the estimated date of completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45959/14]
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 including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. This includes responsibility for the domestic metering programme. The first phase of the domestic metering programme began in August 2013 and will be completed by mid 2016. Approximately 33,000 meters are installed, on average, every month. To date, over 500,000 meters have been installed. By the end of 2016, 1.1 million homes will be metered, representing over 80% of all domestic customers and will include 48,000 apartments that can be easily metered.
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.
509. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county breakdown of social housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45960/14]
View answerThe latest summary of social housing assessments carried out as at 7 May 2013 provides data on the number of households on local authority waiting lists at that date across a range of categories broken down by authority, including the composition of qualified households and the length of time on waiting lists. The 2013 results are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting list numbers, which are subject to on-going fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support. However, the 2013 results cannot be directly compared to previous results given that this latest summary employed different methodologies and was the first to be carried out under the 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 which I launched last week contains a number of actions to reform the delivery and management of social housing. One such reform will be to carry out social housing assessments on an annual basis .
510. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for local authority library service amalgamations and shared services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45961/14]
View answerCircular Letter LLS 1/2014, dated 22 October 2014, issued by my Department to each local authority Chief Executive, together with the policy document Managing the Delivery of Effective Library Services , identify the structures and national workforce plan intended to enhance the quality of the library service and improvements to the delivery of these services to the public. Copies of the Circular Letter and Managing the Delivery of Effective Library Services have been placed in the Oireachtas library. The role of the elected members in approving the policies, priorities and budgets for the library service for their authorities, as outlined in legislation, continues unchanged, and the new management and delivery structures will support an enhanced service level. The local library service branding will not be impacted in the case of those authorities where new management structures will be introduced.
Local authorities designated as shared service structures in the report are required to adhere to the implementation model as outlined, in order to achieve consistency of management capacity and service delivery across all authorities. The timeframe for substantial completion of implementation of the new service is 30 June 2015.
