Written Answers Nos. 245 - 252
245. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a decision will be finalised regarding a foreshore licence application in view of the urgency of the particular case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48743/14]
View answerLegal complexities have arisen in this case which require advice from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Subject to this, my Department will continue to work to complete its consideration of the matter as soon as possible.
247. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that under section 134 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by section 49 of the Local Government Act 2014, in an election year, the local authority corporate plan must be prepared and brought before the council for consideration within six months of the annual general meeting; if it is the responsibility and the duty of the policy group and of the chief executive to take all such steps as are necessary to ensure that the corporate plan is submitted to the elected council for approval within the specified period; when the corporate plan is not submitted within the specified period in accordance with section 134 (2) of the Act, is the cathaoirleach of a council obliged to convene a special meeting within 14 days of the expiration of the specified period; if the cathaoirleach and the chief executive are obliged to make a joint submission to the elected council at the said special meeting outlining the steps that will be taken to ensure its completion; when it is proposed to submit the corporate plan to the elected council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48750/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 195 of 11 December 2014 which sets out the position in this matter.
Where a corporate plan is not submitted within the specified period in accordance with section 134(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 2001, the Cathaoirleach is required by section 134(4)(b) to convene a special meeting within 14 days of the expiration of such period at which the steps and time for completion and submission of the plan are to be outlined.
248. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason schools are being charged a €1,650 connection fee with Irish Water for their school extensions. [48753/14]
View answerSince 2001, national water pricing policy has required local authorities to recover the costs of providing water services from all non-domestic users of these services, including schools. This policy provided for charges based on actual metered consumption and is consistent with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive.
The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer of responsibility for the provision of public water services from the local authorities to Irish Water. Irish Water assumed responsibility for the billing of non-domestic customers with effect from 1 January 2014. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall charge each customer for the provision of 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 CER intends to hold a public consultation on a new connection charging policy for customers of Irish Water. Pending the outcome of this consultation, Irish Water will continue to levy connection charges on customers requiring such services at rates equivalent to the water and wastewater related development levies which the local authorities applied as at 31 December 2013.
If the Deputy has particular queries about the levy charged in relation to a particular school, 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.
250. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a full cost-benefit analysis of the new Eircode postcode system has been undertaken; if so, if he will publish it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48488/14]
View answerA National Postcode Project Cost Benefit Analysis was prepared initially in 2006 and updated in 2010 just prior to the commencement of the procurement process. These documents are published on the Department’s website www.dcenr.gov.ie. The Department is putting in place a framework under which costs and benefits associated with the project will continue to be systematically assessed as part of implementation.
251. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [48569/14]
View answerMy Department has no direct role in the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. I understand that the Minister for Justice and Equality has written to a number of Departments on this issue; my Department was not amongst those Departments who were contacted.
252. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures that have been taken in the past year to deal with cyberbullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48606/14]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 25 of 11 December 2014. The position is unchanged.
