Written Answers Nos. 926-944
926. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding an application by an organisation (details supplied) to Mayo North East Leader Partnership; if it will be expedited due to the time taken to process the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1472/15]
View answerA claim in respect of this project was received by my Department on 9 January 2015 for assessment. This process is expected to be completed shortly.
928. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding for a homeless service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1500/15]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities, in this instance Dublin City Council. My Department has no function in regard to, nor is it involved in, decisions on operational matters.
930. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will establish the referendum commission for the proposed referendums in 2015; if he will ensure the referendum commission has sufficient time to engage in a thorough information campaign in advance of the referendums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1612/15]
View answerI intend to establish a Referendum Commission, in accordance with section 2 of the Referendum Act 1998, in respect of the proposed referendums to be held in 2015 once the relevant Constitution Amendment Bills have been initiated in the Dáil.
931. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of all consultancy firms engaged by his Department during 2014; if he will also provide details of all the relevant fees paid to those firms during the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1666/15]
View answerThe expenditure by my Department on consultancies during 2014 is set out in the following table:
|
Consultant |
Purpose of Consultancy |
2014 Expenditure |
|
Bid Management Services |
Professional services regarding procurement document. |
€2,583 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Expert Assistance in the Local Government Shared Services Programme. |
€66,036 |
|
Duncan Lawrence Environmental Ltd. |
Analysis of Household Waste Collection Legislation. |
€4,223 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Analysis of affordability impact of domestic water charges. |
€1,929 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Research on the possible socio-economic impact of an incident at Sellafield. |
€79,950 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Technical support for the purposes of advising Government on the proposed 2030 EU Framework for Climate and Energy Policies. |
€13,595 |
|
Glas Ecology |
Environment Management follow up Report (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry). |
€1,599 |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Research into why Travellers leave Traveller-specific accommodation. |
€2,017 |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
Peer review of Met Eireann's Operational and Strategic Review. |
€4,920 |
|
MacCabe Durney Barnes |
Independent Planning Review. |
€94,567 |
|
Marine Institute |
Assist and advise in the management and phased roll-out of the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for Irish waters including an initial assessment of the environmental status of Irish waters; the development of a monitoring programme; and the institution of programmes of measures to maintain and improve good environmental status. |
€633,105 |
|
Mason Hayes & Curran |
Professional advice in relation to Climatological Observers. |
€566 |
|
Mr. Eamon Galligan SC |
Proposed amendment to Section 261A of the P&D Act, 2000 |
€2,433 |
|
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Environmental Policy Integration: Case Studies Research. |
€38,222 |
|
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Sustainable Urban Development. |
€20,303 |
|
Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy |
Independent Review of Draft Ministerial Direction on Westmeath CDP. |
€5,263 |
|
Patricia Thornton Tom Philips Associates |
Independent Review of Draft S31 Directions in Limerick. |
€4,151 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers Limited |
Review of Producer Responsibility Initiatives within Ireland and investigate the possibility of additional initiatives. |
€79,848 |
|
Sweeney Consulting (Scotland) Limited |
Independent expert perspective for National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management. |
€41,781 |
|
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
Operation of the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS). |
€52,014 |
|
University College Cork (UCC) |
Technical support for the purposes of advising Government on the proposed 2030 EU Framework for Climate and Energy Policies. |
€23,678 |
|
University College Cork (UCC)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Review of Environmental Social Policy Literature. |
€4,305 |
|
Total |
€1,177,088 |
The Market Development Programme for Waste Resources involved expenditure of €136,817 in 2014 in respect of work to assist in the development of sustainable markets and outlets for recyclable materials.
932. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if planning permission is needed to adapt a residential house (details supplied) into sheltered accommodation for the homeless or recovering addicts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1702/15]
View answerUnder planning legislation, development - including change of use - require s planning permission unless it is specifically exempted from this requirement. The relevant legislative provisions are contained in sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and in Part II and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended.
The interpretation and application of the provisions in relation to exempted development is a matter for individual planning authorities, or for An Bord Pleanála where a declaration issued by a planning authority in relation to whether a particular development is or is not exempted development has been referred to the Board under section 5 of the Act. I have no function in this matter.
933. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding local community development; his plans to address the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1745/15]
View answerMy Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) superseded the Local Development Social Inclusion and the Community Development Programmes in 2010. LCDP is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281 million over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis until March next, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in April next.
As part of the programme of reform of local government, Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) were established in all local authorities. These Committees, comprising public-private socio-economic interests, will have responsibility for local and community development programmes on an area basis. They will develop, co-ordinate and implement a more coherent and integrated approach to local and community development than heretofore, with the aim of reducing duplication and overlap and optimising the use of available resources for the benefit of citizens and communities.
The new SICAP is one of my key priorities and targets a range of groups across communities. In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good practice internationally and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of the services to clients, the Programme is subject to a public procurement process, which is currently under way.
Stage one (Expression of Interest) has been completed. Stage two (Invitation to Tender), got under way on 20th October 2014 and involved the successful applicants from Stage one being invited to apply to one or more Local Community Development Committees, in Local Authority areas, to deliver the programme. Contracts for SICAP will be determined following the outcome of the procurement process. The closing date for receipt of tenders under stage two was noon on 19 December 2014. The tenders received are currently being evaluated and tenderers will be informed of the outcome by mid February.
It should be noted that the procurement process for SICAP was open to Local Development Companies, other not-for-profit community groups, commercial firms and national organisations that can provide the services to be tendered for to deliver the new Programme. In Stage one, joint applications were encouraged and organisations of varying sizes (for example smaller organisations working in consortia with larger organisations) were invited to submit joint applications.
All groups who received LCDP funding in 2014 are being funded through LCDP interim arrangements until 31 March next, pending the outcome of the SICAP competitive process.
934. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process involved for the extension of planning permission for wind farms and wind turbines; if a public notice or site notice needs to be erected; his plans to review the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1747/15]
View answerSections 40 and 41 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provide that the “appropriate period”, or duration, of a planning permission shall normally be 5 years, but may be longer than 5 years where the planning authority, or An Bord Pleanála as the case may be, considers that this is appropriate having regard to the nature and extent of the relevant development and any other material consideration.
Section 42 of the Act provides for the extension, on application and subject to conditions, of the “appropriate period” or duration of a planning permission in cases where
- the development has been substantially completed within the appropriate period and is expected to be completed within a reasonable time, or
- there were considerations of a commercial, economic or technical nature beyond the control of the applicant which substantially militated against either the commencement of development or the carrying out of substantial works within the appropriate period.
As an extension of the duration of an existing planning permission under section 42 of the Act is not a development consent, but rather an administrative decision to extend the duration of an existing development consent, public consultation is not required or provided for in this process. Therefore, the erection of a site notice is not required in this type of instance.
While the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and the associated Regulations, in relation to the development management system are generally kept under review in my Department, I have no plans to amend the provisions relating to the extension of duration of planning permissions.
935. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress of the housing assistance payment in view of its operation in selected local authority areas; when it is envisaged that the scheme will be introduced elsewhere; if it is known which local authority areas are next to receive the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1755/15]
View answerThe implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published on 26 November 2014. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment. HAP will also improve regulation of the rented accommodation being supported and provide certainty for landlords as regards their rental income. Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September 2014 in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council. HAP commenced in Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin and Monaghan County Councils from 1 October. Subsequently, on 18 December, Dublin City Council became part of the statutory HAP pilot, with a specific focus on accommodating homeless households. Dublin City Council is implementing the HAP pilot for homeless households in the Dublin region on behalf of all 4 Dublin local authorities.
There are now 535 households in receipt of HAP across the local authority areas taking part in the statutory pilot scheme.
During the legislation’s passage through the Oireachtas in July 2014 an undertaking was given that a report would be prepared for the relevant Oireachtas Committee, that would include a full review of the statutory pilot phase. Data for this report are being gathered from pilot sites and the report will be submitted to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht shortly, in advance of full roll out of the scheme, which is scheduled to begin on a phased basis later this year. Following the completion of the review, consideration will be given to the sequence of local authorities to commence HAP during the full roll out phase.
936. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of EU directives which remain to be implemented within his Department; the name of these directives; the timeframe for the implementation of these directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1792/15]
View answerI understand the Deputy’s question to relate to EU Directives which remain to be transposed into national law wholly or partly by my Department. There is currently 1 Directive, for which my Department has primary responsibility, which is outstanding for transposition. This is the Directive on Sulphur Content in Marine Fuels, which was due to be transposed by 18 June 2014. The outstanding elements of the Directive are being transposed by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTS). The delay in transposition is due to the complexity of the issues involved and the need for wide and comprehensive consultation with interested parties.
A further 7 Directives falling under my Department’s responsibility are due for transposition between January 2015 and February 2018.
My Department is also transposing elements of 1 other Directive for which another Government Department has primary responsibility.
Details of the Directives referred to are set out in the following table.
|
Name of EU Directive |
Deadline for Transposition |
Expected Date of Transposition |
Lead Government Department |
|
Directive 2012/33 Amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels |
18 June 2014 |
As soon as possible Remaining elements of this Directive are being transposed by DTTS |
DECLG |
|
Directive 2013/39 Amending Directives 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC as regards priority substances in the field of water policy Text with EEA relevance. |
14 September 2015 |
Within deadline |
DECLG |
|
Council Directive 2014/87/EURATOM Amending Directive 2009/71/Euratom establishing a Community framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations |
15 August 2015 |
Within deadline |
DECLG |
|
Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM Laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom |
6 February 2018 |
Within deadline |
DECLG |
|
Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom Laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption |
28 November 2015 |
Within deadline |
DECLG |
|
Directive 2014/89/EU Establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning |
18 September 2016 |
Within deadline |
DECLG |
|
DIRECTIVE 2013/56/EU Amending Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards the placing on the market of portable batteries and accumulators containing cadmium intended for use in cordless power tools, and of button cells with low mercury content, and repealing Commission Decision 2009/603/EC |
1 July 2015 |
Within deadline |
DECLG |
|
DIRECTIVE 2014/52/EU Amending Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment |
16 May 2017 |
Within deadline |
DECLG |
|
DIRECTIVE 2013/55/EU Amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System |
18 January 2016 |
Within deadline |
Education and Skills |
937. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to increase local authority staffing levels in order to facilitate the delivery of the Government's housing plans announced in 2014; if requests have been received for additional staff from local authorities in 2014 and to date in 2015; if so, the number of same and from what local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1806/15]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published in November 2014, sets out clear, measureable 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 provides for a total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and aims to meet the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, consequently addressing the needs of the 90,000 households currently on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand. Implementing the Strategy will require a considerable and co-ordinated effort from key stakeholders including the Local Authorities. A governance structure has been established including a Local Authority work stream to ensure the actions in the Strategy are overseen and delivered. In order to ensure delivery, I am chairing the Oversight Group which will meet later this month.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for Chief Executives, in the first instance, to ensure that the appropriate service levels are maintained. Local Authorities are currently in the process of assessing their technical and administrative resource requirements to deliver both the Housing Capital Programmes and also the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme.
As announced in the recent Budget, it is proposed that with effect from 2015, the moratorium and the Employment Control Framework for the Public Service will be lifted but recruitment / promotion will be subject to adherence to binding 3 year pay ceilings. Staffing resources must be managed within these overall ceilings. Detailed arrangements in terms of the local authority sector will be worked out between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence. My Department has recently met with some of the largest urban local authorities to agree resource requirements, and has received a number of staffing requests to facilitate the delivery of the Government's housing plans. Details in relation to requests are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
938. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [1813/15]
View answer939. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department since September 2013. [1828/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 939 together.
The number and name of Bills initiated by my Department since September 2013 is set out in the table below. None of these bills was subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas which was provided for in the revisions to Standing Orders adopted by the Dáil on 17 October 2013 and which came into effect on 5 November 2013, primarily given the advanced stage of drafting that had been reached when the Standing Orders were adopted or for reasons of urgency. However, the pre-legislative scrutiny process has been completed in relation to a number of Bills which have not yet been published and I expect that the vast majority of the Bills to be published by my Department under the Government’s Spring/Summer 2015 Legislation Programme will have involved pre-legislative scrutiny.
|
No. of Bill |
Name of Bill |
Date of initiation of Bill |
|
98 of 2013 |
Local Government Bill 2013 |
15/10/2013 |
|
124 of2013 |
European Parliament Elections (Amendment) 2013 Bill |
28/11/2013 |
|
123 of 2013 |
Water Services No. 2 Bill 2013 |
28/11/2013 |
|
128 of 2013 |
Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013 |
10/12/2013 |
|
28 of 2014 |
Electoral (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2014 |
07/04/2014 |
|
39 of 2014 |
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 |
0 7 /05/ 20 14 |
|
52 of 2014 |
Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 |
05/06/2014 |
|
67 of 2014 |
Electoral (Amendment) (No.4) Bill 2014 |
02/07/2014 |
|
86 of 2014 |
Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 |
02/09/2014 |
|
106 of 2014 |
Water Services Bill 2014 |
28/11/2014 |
940. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of secondments from his Department to external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1843/15]
View answer941. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of secondments based in his Department from external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1857/15]
View answer942. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department has a policy regarding secondments from and within his Department to external firms; when the policy was initiated and last updated; the details of the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1871/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 940 to 942, inclusive, together.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 03/2013 sets out the details of a Staff Exchange Scheme between the Civil Service and the Private Sector, along the lines of the Temporary Staff Transfer Scheme provided for previously under Department of Public Service Circular 10/1979. A copy of Circular 03/2013 can be found on the following website - www.circulars.gov.ie.
No staff from my Department have participated in such a s cheme and there were no secondments under the scheme from external organisations to my Department in the years 2010 to date.
943. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total raised in each year from 2008 to 2014 from the 2 cent NORA levy on petrol and diesel; the manner in which the money is deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1739/15]
View answerThe National Oil Reserves Agency’s (NORA) financial statements (2008-2013) are publicly available at http://www.nora.ie/financial-statements.130.html NORA is audited annually by the C&AG.
The NORA levy is payable on all disposals of oil, not just on petrol and diesel, with the exception of the specified exemptions. The NORA levy was increased from 1 cent to 2 cent per litre on 1 October 2009. In respect of the period 2008-2014, as per the Financial Statements, the NORA levy income was as follows: 2008 - €81.4m, 2009 - €93.3m, 2010 - €137.7m, 2011- €126.7m, 2012 - €120.2m, 2013 - €120.4m, 2014 (estimated) - €118.4m.
The Agency is responsible for ensuring that Ireland meets its obligations under EU legislation (Directive 2009/119/EC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) Treaty to maintain a minimum of 90 days stocks of strategic emergency oil stocks for use in the event of an oil supply disruption. This is the main purpose of the NORA levy. As of 31 December 2014, NORA’s oil stocks amounted to 1.5 million tonnes, covering its obligations of 90 days oil stocks. Ireland’s strategic oil stocks are held either in Ireland or in another EU Member State with whom Ireland has a bilateral stockholding agreement. Up to 2008, a large portion of stocks were held abroad and a large proportion of stocks were held as stock tickets (contracts to deliver oil in an emergency) rather than as physical oil stocks. At end 2008, 42% of Ireland’s obligation was covered by stock tickets and 53% of stocks were held abroad.
In order to improve resilience and oil security in response to a potential oil supply disruption, the Government set an objective in 2007 that the strategic oil stocks should be rebalanced to maximise Ireland’s wholly owned stocks of oil and the level of stocks on the island subject to increased storage availability and value for money considerations. This is in line with the EU Directive which obliges Member States to ensure stocks are physically available and accessible in an emergency.
Significant progress has been made in recent years by NORA in procuring additional storage specifically in Ireland, building physical stocks (rather than relying on stock tickets), rebalancing stocks in light of changing consumption trends and upgrading stocks in line with EU fuel specifications. NORA has been maximising its storage on the island of Ireland and has refurbished tanks in Dublin, Kerry and Antrim increasing by 350,000 tonnes the amount of strategic oil storage on the island. NORA has also been rebalancing the composition of stocks stored to reflect national consumption trends of petrol, diesel, gasoil, kerosene (heating), aviation fuel and fuel oil. NORA also has to fund the ongoing storage costs of holding these significant volumes of oil.
Of the stocks held by NORA at the end of 2014, approximately 68% were held as stocks on the island of Ireland, 30% as stocks abroad and 2% in Stock Tickets. In managing Ireland’s obligations, NORA is subject to euro dollar exchange rate changes, fluctuations in oil prices and variances in funding costs and interest rates. NORA has succeeded in reducing the Agency’s debt from €444m at the end of 2008 to €111m at the end of 2014. NORA’s work in the period 2008-2014 has substantially improved Ireland’s oil resilience and security of supply improving the availability and accessibility of oil stocks in an emergency.
944. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will support the future of the post office network in 2015 as a matter of priority. [49444/14]
View answerIt is Government policy that An Post should remain a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high-quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community.
Following a review under the auspices of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy, a Post Office Network Business Development Group is being established to explore the potential opportunities for new Government and commercial business for the post office network. On 21 December 2014, I announced the appointment of Mr. Bobby Kerr as the independent Chair of the Group. Mr. Kerr will bring to the Group a depth of knowledge and experience in identifying and developing business opportunities. The Group will engage with both commercial businesses and Government organisations and agencies to assist it in its work.
