Wednesday, 14 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 890 - 907

Property Tax Data

Questions (890)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

890. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the non-principal private residency penalties that were increased a number of months ago and the public assurances of leniency the waivers-reductions that have been awarded to homeowners since; the reduction rate; if this varied by county; the number of cases that are still pending a decision on their appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49636/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence.

Part 12 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 deals with the collection of undischarged liabilities relating to the NPPR charge. The Act provided for a period, from 2 March 2014 to 31 August 2014, during which time no new late penalties were applied to existing liabilities. If payment was not made in full or if settlement terms were not agreed by the end of that period, an additional late payment fee of €120 per liability date applied on 1 September 2014. In addition, the entire NPPR liability is increased by a factor of 50% and frozen.

Under section 77 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, my Department issued guidance to local authorities concerning matters relating to arrears of the NPPR Charge and late payment fees to ensure that a consistent national approach is adopted. The guidelines, which are available at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Administration/FileDownLoad,37899,en.pdf, encourage local authorities to take a proactive approach to ensure that any outstanding NPPR liabilities are discharged in the most equitable, efficient and economically beneficial manner and includes guidance in respect of dealing with hardship cases.

Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect NPPR charges and late payment fees due to it, and all charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. In this regard, application of the legislation in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority. The information requested is, therefore, not available in my Department.

Rent Controls

Questions (891)

Finian McGrath

Question:

891. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding renting; if the National Asset Management Agency is currently in the housing rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49639/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants relating to, inter alia, security of tenure, termination of tenancies, rent and rent reviews. The 2004 Act provides that rents may not be greater than the open market rate and may only be reviewed upward or downward once a year unless there has been a substantial change in the nature of the accommodation that warrants a review. Tenants must be given 28 days’ notice of new rent and can make an application for dispute resolution to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) where they feel the rent increase is in excess of the market rent. These provisions have effect notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in a lease or tenancy agreement.

I am very conscious of the difficulties caused by rising rents. In the third quarter of 2014, rents were 5.6% higher nationally than in the same quarter of 2013, according to the most recent rent index from the PRTB. Rents for houses were 4.3% higher in the third quarter of 2014, while apartment rents were 7.3% higher than in the same quarter of 2013. In Dublin, which is seeing the highest rates of increase nationally, overall rents were higher by 9.5%.

Ultimately, the main cause of rising rents is a lack of supply in the market and the recently published Social Housing Strategy 2020 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. In addition, the implementation of the range of actions under the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy will support increased supply in the wider housing market.

A recent poll for the PRTB found that only 64% of tenants were aware of their rights under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The PRTB is developing a new communications strategy, which will include increasing awareness of existing rights and obligations under the legislation and will be rolled out early this year.

I have no function in relation to the operations of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) in the private rental market. Responsibility for NAMA rests with my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (892)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

892. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding vacant properties (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49642/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas. In this case, it is a matter for Wexford County Council to identify the appropriate initiatives to respond to their housing need. This includes consideration by them of options to acquire available properties, as well as building, leasing and the provision of housing supports through the private rental sector.

The recently published Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform sets out clear, national targets to increase the supply of social housing, while Budget 2015 has provided increased funding to support these targets. My Department will work with Wexford County Council and other local authorities within the context of the increased funding now available, to meet the Social Housing Strategy targets for 2015 and beyond.

Water Services Funding

Questions (893)

Joan Collins

Question:

893. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding historic funding to local authorities for water services; the amount of money that was allocated on an annual basis to local authorities from 2001 to 2013, inclusive; the way this money was sourced; and the way it was it allocated to local authorities. [49667/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Until 1 January 2014, local authorities were responsible for the delivery of public water services and the provision of grant support/subsidies for the group water and sewerage sector and private wells. The operational costs of public water services were met from a combination of non-domestic water charges and funding from own resources, mainly through the block grant provided from the Local Government Fund. In relation to capital expenditure, the bulk of investment in the period 2001-2013 was sourced from Exchequer grants, with the balance met from development levies and borrowings. Income and expenditure of individual local authorities on water services is set out in the annual financial statements.

Details of capital expenditure recouped under my Department’s multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme to each local authority since 2001 in respect of water services is outlined in the table below.

Year	Wastewater	Water
2001	€ 376,014,089	€ 76,735,983
2002	€ 350,592,383	€ 82,525,447
2003	€ 285,199,226	€ 87,412,374
2004	€ 229,629,924	€ 82,137,157
2005	€ 208,520,159	€ 89,559,496
2006	€ 239,367,972	€ 95,069,796
2007	€ 254,550,106	€ 111,460,977
2008	€ 239,830,986	€ 150,958,610
2009	€ 255,101,895	€ 156,806,796
2010	€ 283,744,360	€ 122,150,173
2011	€ 220,143,396	€ 129,568,781
2012	€ 150,362,918	€ 115,976,768
2013	€ 124,396,289	€ 108,490,456
Total	€3,217,453,703	€1,408,852,814

Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme has been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, is therefore a matter for the local authorities. The table below sets out the funding recouped by my Department to local authorities. This includes all capital funding provided under the Rural Water Programme and subsidies, provided under the Local Government Fund, towards the operational costs of group water schemes and local authority salary costs.

Rural Water Programme

Year	Capital Exchequer Payments	Subsidies towards Group Water Schemes & local authority salary costs
-	€ Millions	€ Millions
2001	53.456	9.822
2002	57.232	9.748
2003	74.800	9.876
2004	85.946	10.245
2005	119.000	12.136
2006	130.000	12.951
2007	130.000	13.700
2008	105.000	16.001
2009	100.000	18.000
2010	88.000	17.000
2011	79.000	23.000
2012	40.000	24.643
2013	34.000	19.435
Total	1,096.43	196.557

Departmental Schemes

Questions (894)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

894. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current status of the SSNO review that he instigated in July; if all of the charities that were affected by the cut in funding have been contacted as part of this review; the names of those that have yet to be contacted; when the review will be published; if there is a mechanism to continue funding next year in the event of the review not being completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49686/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Ann Phelan)

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. Following a competitive application process, a new scheme commenced on 1 July 2014, which will run for a period of 24 months.

On 18 July 2014, it was announced that bridging funding of €1.4million would be allocated for a twelve month period to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations that were not approved for funding under the new scheme, pending the carrying out of a review of the public funding of national organisations in the health and disability sector. This bridging funding in 2014/2015 is a once-off transitional arrangement and will enable organisations to plan for their future, whether with or without State support, such as that provided under the Scheme to Support National Organisations.

The review process, which the Deputy refers to, is underway and is being advanced in consultation with the Department of Health. The Health Service Executive and Pobal are also participating in the review. All organisations in receipt of bridging funding have been contacted to make submissions as part of the review process. I intend to complete and publish the outcome of the review over the coming months.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (895, 896, 897)

Barry Cowen

Question:

895. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if his Department minute meetings between Department officials and semi-State companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49729/14]

Barry Cowen

Question:

896. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the protocol that exists to take minutes or notes of meetings held within his Department; the protocol that exists to take minutes or notes of meetings held with representatives from semi-State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49730/14]

Barry Cowen

Question:

897. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the protocol that exists to take minutes or notes of meetings held with him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49731/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 895 to 897, inclusive, together.

In most instances, minutes or a note of meetings within my Department, including meetings that I attend, and between Department officials and semi-State companies would be recorded. However, if a meeting was simply a briefing on issues, there may simply be a record of the meeting having taken place with progress on the various issues being pursued through separate working arrangements, for example through the development and exchange of documents. Minutes are kept of meetings of the Management Advisory Committee of my Department and of meetings of that Committee with myself and the Ministers of State.

Water Meters

Questions (898, 899, 900)

Barry Cowen

Question:

898. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the reason his Department proceeded with plans for water metering when advised against taking this course of action by Bord Gáis Éireann; if his Department received further advice on the use of water meters; from whom his Department received this advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49732/14]

Barry Cowen

Question:

899. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if his Department will publish the minutes of all meetings between Bord Gáis Éireann and officials from his Department with regard to the decision to introduce water metering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49733/14]

Barry Cowen

Question:

900. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if an investigation will take place to establish the reason minutes were not taken at meetings between him and senior representatives from Bord Gáis Éireann when the issue of water meters was being discussed; if this is accepted practice in his Department; if it was agreed not to take minutes at these meetings; the action that will be as a result of this revelation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49734/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 898 to 900, inclusive, together.

The programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage. The Government decided that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. While Bord Gáís Éireann (BGE) had suggested at an early meeting with my Department that water charges were not dependent on metering and other forms of charging could be considered, BGE were informed that the Government’s policy involved the installation of meters to facilitate a fair and equitable system of charges and to promote the conservation of water resources. T he decision to install water meters was a decision taken by the Government, and not one taken in consultation with BGE, and it is recorded in the papers prepared for Government on these matters. Therefore the question of publication of minutes of meetings with BGE on the decision on metering does not arise.

Following the Government decisions to establish Irish Water as a subsidiary of BGE and for Irish Water to implement the domestic metering programme, there were regular meetings between my Department and Irish Water and indeed other stakeholders. As part of this process there were also regular “checkpoint meetings” between the Department and BGE. In most cases, minutes or a note of a meeting would be recorded. However, if a meeting was simply a briefing on issues there may simply be a record of the meeting having taken place with progress on the various issues being pursued through separate working arrangements, for example through the development and exchange of documents and recording in programme management tracking records. In light of this, I do not believe there is any requirement for an investigation into a situation where minutes were not kept for a meeting.

Local Authority Housing

Questions (901, 902, 903)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

901. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide the number of persons in County Meath who have made applications for local authority housing since 2010. [49752/14]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

902. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide the percentage of persons who have come off the housing list in County Meath in the past four years due to meeting their need through resources of their own from the overall County Meath housing list. [49753/14]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

903. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide the number of local authority units that have been allocated to first time tenants in County Meath in the past five years. [49754/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 901 to 903, inclusive, together.

The assessment of households for social housing support, and the allocation of such support, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations.

The assessment, allocation and provision of social housing support in County Meath is, in the first instance, a matter for Meath County Council. The numbers of households on social housing waiting lists are subject to on-going fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support.  My Department does not hold day to day information on the number of applications made to each local authority, the numbers allocated housing support and the numbers on housing lists.

There are statutory Summaries of Social Housing Assessments carried out at regular intervals. The most recent summaries were carried out in March 2011 and May 2013. In 2011, there were 3,255 households on the Meath local authority waiting list and this had reduced to 2,502 in 2013. The full results of the 2011 and 2013 summary of assessments are available on my Departments’ website at the links below. The 2013 results are not directly comparable to previous results as the 2013 summary employed different methodologies and was the first to be carried out under the 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations.

The Social Housing Strategy 2020 includes a commitment to increase the regularity of the Housing Needs Assessment by undertaking it on annual basis, from 2016 onwards.

2011: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,27864,en.pdf.

2013: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.

Question No. 904 answered with Question No. 874.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (905)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

905. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within, funded by or established by his Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1013/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department’s agency modernisation/rationalisation programme has seen a significant reduction in the number of agencies, with further reductions planned for 2015 with the dissolution of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. Details regarding the number of agencies under the aegis of my Department which have been merged or abolished and the associated savings are contained in the Report on the Implementation of the Agency Rationalisation Programme published by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, available at http://per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Agency-rationalisation.pdf.

The most significant savings arising in the Department’s group of agencies flow from the reduction in staff numbers, which have fallen to 687 by Q3 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, as compared to a peak of 951 at the end of 2008 – a reduction of 261 (28%).

Decentralisation Programme Data

Questions (906)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

906. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the agencies or sections from his Department that were decentralised during the period 1997 to 2011, inclusive; the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department in that period. [1028/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The headquarters of my Department is located in the Custom House, Dublin and decentralised offices are located in Wexford and Ballina. My Department also has a number of staff based in other regional locations due to the nature of their work, for example, those who work in the various inspectorates and in the local government audit service. Met Éireann’s headquarters is located in Dublin but this Division of the Department also has offices in various weather stations across the country.

My Department decentralised part of its business activity to Wexford in 2010, while the Ballina office was established in the late 1980s. On foot of a reconfiguration of Government Departments, the Community Division of the former Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs transferred to my Department in 2011. This Division was based in leased buildings in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, on a temporary basis, as an advance office for the decentralisation of that former Department to Charlestown, Co. Mayo.

Following a review of the Decentralisation Programme conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2012, the Government decided to consolidate my Department’s business operations in the West at its offices in Ballina and this process was completed in late 2014. In addition, Pobal, a body under the aegis of my Department since 2011, has a decentralised office located in Clifden under the 2003 Decentralisation Programme.

The information sought in relation to the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised staff travelling to the Department’s headquarters during the period 1997 to 2011 is not readily available. Its compilation would require the examination of each claim and would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.

In the context of official travel, it is Departmental policy that public transport should be used wherever possible and that the number of staff absent on official business should be kept to an absolute minimum. Staff are only permitted to hire taxis or use their cars for official purposes where no suitable public transport (bus/train) is available, where public transport is available only at equal or greater expense or where the use of public transport would result in the loss of official time which it is necessary to avoid. Staff travelling between Departmental offices, where public transport options are available, may claim the costs of travel on the basis of public transport rates only.

My Department minimises the amount of travel to attend internal and external meetings in different locations through the extensive use of the video conferencing facilities available in meeting rooms in its Custom House, Ballina and Wexford offices and through the use of internal desk to desk video conferencing which facilitates document sharing and collaboration.

Water Charges Administration

Questions (907)

Clare Daly

Question:

907. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water will deal with complaints and queries of persons who have not registered; if the first fix proposal will apply to residents who have not registered. [1064/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and that the CER must perform its functions in a manner that best serves the interests of customers of Irish Water. It is not specified that this only relates to customers who have registered with the company.

Section 32 of the Act provides that Irish Water must submit a code or codes of practice to the CER for approval and the CER may modify any such code. A code of practice made under section 32 can include, inter alia, a provision for customer complaints to Irish Water in relation to provision of water services, the standards for the performance by Irish Water of its functions and any other matter the CER considers necessary and appropriate to secure the interests of customers of Irish Water. In discharging its functions, the CER may consult with Irish Water, the public, or any other person it considers appropriate. Irish Water also has a statutory obligation to comply with any direction from the CER in relation to the approved codes. Irish Water’s approved codes of practice can be found on its website, at:

http://www.water.ie/our-customer-commitment/.

Similar to the approach it has taken in the electricity and gas industries, the CER has required Irish Water to submit a Customer Handbook outlining the minimum requirements of customer service standards they will provide to their customers. The Customer Handbook comprises Irish Water’s Customer Charter, Codes of Practice and the Terms and Conditions of supply. Following a public consultation on the document in 2014, the CER have recently published the approved Irish Water Customer Handbook on their website, at

http://www.cer.ie/docs/000956/CER14364%20Irish%20Water%20Customer%20Handbook.pdf.

Irish Water has established a customer support call centre which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This call centre is the initial point of contact for members of the public in contacting Irish Water. It is designed for reporting of any faults in water services and assisting customers with any queries and complaints related to water services. Members of the public who are not customers of Irish Water, but who may have an issue in relation to public water infrastructure, are also able to use this service for relevant matters.

Furthermore, the Water Services Act 2014 , which was enacted on 28 December 2014, includes a provision that the CER will provide a dispute resolution service for registered customers of Irish Water. This will be similar to the service operated by the Commission for the gas and electricity markets.

Under the Water Services Act 2007, responsibility for repair and maintenance of the internal water distribution system from the main stopcock to the house and within the house rests with the homeowner. However, the Government has agreed to provide additional funding to Irish Water for their capital investment to include a free first fix scheme. Irish Water has submitted a draft first fix policy to the Commission for Energy Regulation for approval. The CER intend to hold a public consultation in relation to this scheme in Quarter 1 2015.

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 [e-mail] or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.