Written Answers Nos. 230-236
230. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of water leakage that is unaccounted for and-or customer leakage in county Wicklow and east county Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48490/14]
View answerThe most recent published figures for unaccounted for water for each of the local authority administrative areas are set out in the report Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2012, which was published by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on 24 March 2014. A copy of the report is available on the LGMA website at http://www.lgcsb.ie/sites/default/files/service_indicators_2012_report_for_website_0.pdf.
Irish Water has an overall remit to promote water conservation in relation to public water services and I understand that a comprehensive water conservation programme will be undertaken by the company and will cover the full spectrum of measures including customer awareness and education campaigns about water conservation.
231. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason a person (details supplied) in county Donegal was not considered for a separate bedroom under priority 3 of the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48500/14]
View answerMy Department provides capital allocations to each Local Authority under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The schemes are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the local authority.
The detailed administration of these schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
232. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consideration his Department has provided to converting a building (details supplied) in Dublin 1 into accommodation for the homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48534/14]
View answerOn 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/.
Bringing vacant local authority housing back into productive use as quickly as possible is one of the critical actions in the implementation plan and steps are being taken across the country to bring over 1,800 such units into use before year end.
Other suitable vacant residential properties in State ownership are also being considered to be brought into productive use as quickly as possible and my Department has been engaging with key State property stakeholders including OPW, the Department of Defence, the HSE and the Irish Prison Service as well as Dublin City Council and the Housing Agency for this purpose. The objective is to maximise the number of housing units available across the country so as to address the housing need of homeless households; the focus initially is on units in the Dublin region.
In the Action Plan to Address Homelessness which I launched last week, all Dublin housing authorities are considering properties in their area including those listed on the intra-State Property Asset Register with a view to utilising all potential properties for housing purposes on an emergency basis. Housing authorities across the country have access to this Register, currently being populated with property data, where details of all State properties including vacant properties are identified and these authorities may consider such properties for housing purposes.
233. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the revenue that is raised from the plastic bag levy annually since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48551/14]
View answerReceipts from the plastic bag levy for each year are published in the Environment Fund Annual Accounts. The 2013 Annual Accounts will be published on my Department’s website in due course after they have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Annual Accounts for the Environment Fund up to and including 2012 are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Waste/EnvironmentFund/.
234. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the revenue that is raised on business water rates annually since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48557/14]
View answerThe commercial water revenue collection totals for 2011 and 2012 are €190,984,225 and €180,684,153, respectively. The information relates to the amount of commercial water charges collected, including arrears, as reported by local authorities in Appendix 7 of their individual audited financial statements. The latest audited information that is available relates to the financial year 2012.
235. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions his Department has taken to allow for the implementation of the Istanbul Convention; if his Department has any engagement with the Department of Justice and Equality on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48572/14]
View answerIt is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality to consider the issues with regard to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, as well as Ireland's signature to, and ratification of, this Convention, as appropriate. My Department continues to liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality on this issue.
236. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48591/14]
View answerThe implementation of individual social housing works contracts is a matter for local authorities. In that regard, local authorities comply with circular DPE108/001/2014 of 16 April 2014, which sets out measures to assist small and medium sized enterprises in relation to public procurement. This circular is available from the Office of Public Procurement at www.procurement.ie.
