Written Answers Nos. 185-192
186. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on recent events at an estate (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46688/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No 126 of 3 December 2014, which sets out the position in this matter.
187. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the policy in relation to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland scheme which includes the removal of solid fuel cookers Stanley No. 8, installing small stoves no back boilers, fitting solar panels and replacing windows and doors where necessary; and if a council tenant has a choice to have them installed in their home. [46690/14]
View answerThe scheme referred to is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, which also sets its terms and conditions. The implementation of improvements to social housing units under this or any other scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority. Accordingly, my Department has no function in this matter.
188. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the scheduling of the promised 75,000 housing assistant payments and rent supplement tenancies announced in November 2014; the estimated cost; and if there has there been a regulatory impact assessment carried out on the impact of this decision on the levels of rents generally. [46701/14]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform, 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 Strategy commits to meet the housing needs of some 75,000 households through local authority provision via the private rented sector, utilising the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAP) and accommodation sourced under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). It is intended that the strategy will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 will target the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units and the accommodation of 32, 4 00 additional households through HAP and RAS in the period to the end of 2017. In phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, the strategy targets the delivery of 17,000 additional units and the accommodation of some 43,000 additional households through HAP and RAS. The table details the breakdown by scheme of additional households expected to be accommodated through HAP and RAS in the period 2015 to 2020.
|
Delivery |
2015 |
2016-2017 |
2018-2020 |
|
- |
Units |
Units |
Units |
|
HAP |
8,400 |
20,000 |
41,040 |
|
RAS |
2,000 |
2,000 |
2,000 |
|
Period Total |
10,400 |
22,000 |
43,040 |
|
Cumulative Total |
10,400 |
32,400 |
75,400 |
A Regulatory impact Assessment (RIA) was carried out in relation to the legislative proposals for the Housing Assistance Payment and accompanied the submission of the General Scheme of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 to the Government for approval on 17 December 2013. The main part of the RIA, however, had already been brought to the Government on 18 July 2013, and consisted of an Economic Assessment of the proposed scheme. The purpose of that assessment was to consider the potential cost implications for the Exchequer of the proposed transfer of responsibility for rent supplement recipients with an established long-term housing need from DSP to local authorities.
189. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the announcement of social housing strategy 2020 if he will provide a breakdown of the promised 35,000 new social housing units in respect of the method of procurement; and the scheduling of same. [46702/14]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform, approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear and 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. In committing to provide 35,000 new social housing units, at a projected cost of €3.8 billion, the strategy marks a fresh start for social housing in Ireland. It is estimated that this level of investment will create or sustain some 29,000 construction industry jobs. Importantly, the Strategy restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing through a resumption of direct building on a significant scale, primarily by local authorities and approved housing bodies. Over the 6 years of the strategy, I anticipate that the 35,000 units will be delivered as follows: 22,273 units to be built and acquired utilising both current and capital monies; 11,000 units to be leased; and 2,300 units to be supplied through the refurbishment and bringing back in to use of vacant local authority stock.
The strategy will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 targets the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units and 32, 4 00 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units, by the end of 2017. In phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, the strategy targets the delivery of 17,000 additional units and 43,000 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units.
In the initial phase, increased Exchequer funding is necessary to underpin delivery . The Government has already committed this initial funding, through the €2.2 billion announced as part of Budget 2015. The provision of this funding will allow time for the work to be carried out to move towards more off-balance sheet funding, through the extension to the NAMA Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a large scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) and the establishment of a ‘Strategic Housing Fund’.
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, which is currently being put in place, in collaboration with local authorities and with input from the approved housing body sector.
190. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide further details on a steering committee to review and assess the recently commissioned study on international developments in non-ionising radiation and electromagnetic fields research; when this steering committee will be established; if he will indicate where its members will come from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46726/14]
View answerMy Department recently commissioned a study on international developments in non-ionising radiation (NIR) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) research since publication in 2007 of a report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields. The study, which is also examining how the issue of NIR/EMF is dealt with in other jurisdictions, is expected to be completed in January 2015. Officials from various Departments, together with national and international experts , are currently overseeing the study and will put forward recommendations based on the study’s research and findings. The results of this study will be used by a Steering Committee, to be convened and chaired by my Department, to consider and make specific proposals relating to the future management of these matters including, inter alia, any consequent legislative amendments and provisions. The study and recommendations of the Steering Committee will be submitted to me in due course and I intend to bring these to Government for consideration. Following publication, interested parties will then be provided with an opportunity to make submissions for consideration, alongside the Steering Committee recommendations, to help inform future policy making in this area.
Matters relating to the composition, terms of reference, and mandate of the Steering Committee are yet to be finalised.
191. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 10 and 13 of 23 October 2014 which indicate that of the indigenous wave energy developers, three are attempting to develop point absorber wave energy converter devices, three are working on attenuator devices, two on overtopping devices, four on oscillating water column devices and two on power take off, if a more rational use of the State's resources with a view to developing an Irish wave energy industry providing jobs for Irish workers, would be to purchase the useful intellectual property inherent in the various technologies, employ whatever proven expertise exists in these companies and direct the ESB to lead a development programme targeting the deployment of Irish wave energy conversion megawatt size devices offshore Ireland within ten years. [46598/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, wave and tidal energy is still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally. While promising experimental devices have been developed, much research, development and demonstration is required to bring wave energy technology to commercial viability. As I outlined in response to the Parliamentary Questions on this matter on 23 October, policy action across a range of areas is required to support developers in bringing ocean energy devices from prototype to full scale commerciality. This action is now being taken in the context of the implementation of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan which was published earlier this year.
The Ocean Energy Development Unit of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was specifically established to take forward the development of this important sector. A key part of its activity is the administration of the Prototype Development Fund, which provides grant aid for the development of prototype ocean energy devices. In line with the approach taken internationally, the emphasis is on industry led projects as the best way of supporting innovation.
ESB is developing the Westwave project to develop the first wave energy array in Ireland by 2018. Through Westwave the ESB is procuring a number of wave energy device designs which offer different solutions to the challenge of harnessing wave energy. In deploying these devices at the Westwave test site off Co. Clare, the project aims to make a significant contribution to the international development of wave energy technology.
192. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of rural hackney licenses that have been issued; the way the system is performing and if there has been any problems with the operation of the new licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46340/14]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
