Written Answers Nos. 222 - 230
222. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the repayment schedule for the National Pensions Reserve Fund loan used to finance the roll-out of water meters. [3039/15]
View answerThe first phase of the metering programme, covering over a million properties is expected by Irish Water to cost €539m excluding VAT.
In July 2013, Irish Water and the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission (NPRF) entered into a two year €250m bridging loan facility, which benefits from a State Guarantee. The NPRF agreed to an increase in the amount of this facility by €50m to €300m late last year. The provision of the loan allowed Irish Water to progress its establishment, award the meter installation and equipment contracts and to commence and accelerate phase one of the metering programme which began in July 2013 and is expected to be completed in 2016. This facility was part drawn at the end of 2013 and was fully drawn down during 2014. As a bridging loan, the loan facility with the NPRF is short term, and will be repayable in a single bullet payment in September 2015 (being two years from the first drawdown). The refinancing of this borrowing is being considered by Irish Water as part of its wider funding strategy. Under the terms of the facility, interest and commitment fees on the loan are rolled-up and added to the amount repayable by Irish Water at the end of the loan's term. These rolled up amounts are expected by Irish Water to be approx. €14m by September 2015.
As the loan facility was entered into prior to the introduction of the Water Service (No. 2) Act 2013 and the water regulatory regime, the facility was guaranteed by the Minister for Finance in accordance with Section 13 of the Water Services Act 2013. A fee is payable quarterly by Irish Water to the Minister for Finance under the terms of the guarantee provided by the Minister. The guarantee fee is expected to amount to €10.4m over the life of the loan.
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.
223. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the new Leader programme will become operational; the total funding that will be allocated to the Cavan Monaghan Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3041/15]
View answerMy Department is currently working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the European Commission to finalise the text of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) with a view to commencing the LEADER Local Development Strategy (LDS) selection process in the early part of 2015. The overall budget for the LEADER element of the RDP is €250m.
In this context and coupled with the need to ensure sufficient budgetary resources to Local Action Groups (LAGS) to facilitate full and effective implementation of LEADER LDS Ireland will apportion the overall programme complement of €250 million on the basis of 28 sub-regional administrative areas using evidence based open and transparent criteria. These 28 areas consist largely of areas defined by the county boundaries including both Cavan and Monaghan. There are two exceptions due to population size: Dublin, where the rural areas of the whole of Dublin County will make up one sub-regional area for LEADER purposes, and Cork, where three sub-regional areas will be required for LEADER purposes.
The LEADER LDS selection process will be open and transparent and will consist of two separate stages providing the opportunity for all interested LAGs to participate. Stage one, a call for Expressions of Interest to design and implement LEADER Local Development Strategies for the 2014-2020 programme period, will commence shortly. This stage will be open to any entity that can show broad local and community participation and that has a coherent vision for the development of their area. Interested groups will also be asked to outline the preparatory resources they may require in order to support the design and development of their LDS.
While the Government's preferred outcome is one LDS for each area, there will be no limit on the number of LAGs that can express an interest from within a sub-regional area. The EOIs will be evaluated and entities selected to develop prospective LDSs by an independent Evaluation Committee, comprising an independent chair, my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine along with external rural and local development expertise. In addition, my Department is developing operational procedures and systems in order to ensure full compliance with EU and National rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the level of work to be done in advance of the programme becoming operational I expect that the programme will be in a position to start accepting funding applications by mid-2015.
224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to provide a new library in Virginia, County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the estimated costs; when this project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3042/15]
View answerThe provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. It is a matter for each library authority, as a reserved function, to prepare a library development plan and the most recent such plan for County Cavan makes provision for the submission of a revised application to my Department for funding for a full-time library for Virginia, subject to significant improvement in the Council’s funding and staffing situation. No such application has been received.
225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to provide a new library in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the estimated costs; when this project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3043/15]
View answerUnder Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of premises and facilities for the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. My Department has not received any correspondence from Cavan County Council in relation to a library for Ballyjamesduff.
226. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to provide a new fire station in Virginia, County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the estimated costs; when this project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3044/15]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
A proposal by Cavan County Council to build a new fire station at Virginia was received by my Department in 2000 and approval-in-principle was granted to proceed to the planning stages. The Council submitted costings and design plans during 2000 for consideration by my Department; as new fire station projects at Dowra and Bailieborough were progressing at the time, along with proposals for a new station at Cootehill, the Council was informed that the proposals for Virginia fire station would remain under consideration. Thereafter, there were a number of exchanges of correspondence between the Council and my Department. Most recently, in a letter in January 2013, the Council again requested my Department to consider the proposal, which involves a total project cost of €864,000.
In further considering the proposal, my Department must have regard to national priorities for funding in this area and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide. The priorities of Cavan County Council, the extent of current and previous investment in Cavan Fire Service and the status of existing facilities having regard to area risk categorisation, will also fall to be considered.
227. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the proposal to provide a new fire station in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the estimated costs; when this project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3045/15]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
Correspondence has been received in my Department from Cavan County Council in relation to proposals for works at Ballyjamesduff Fire Station and these are currently under consideration.
The proposals for works at Ballyjamesduff can only be considered in the context of national priorities for funding in this area and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide. The priorities of Cavan County Council, the extent of current and previous investment in Cavan Fire Service, the value for money offered by proposals and the status of existing facilities having regard to area risk categorisation, will also fall to be considered.
228. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of uncommitted funds in the Dormant Accounts Fund, taking into account the need for a statutory reserve; if any part of these funds will be used to assist with the funding of boxing and other sports facilities and activities in inner city and RAPID areas in view of the need for these facilities and the effect extra sports activities have on reducing anti-social behaviour and the success of Irish boxers on the world stage as elite athletes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3047/15]
View answerThe Dormant Accounts Act 2001, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings.
The legislation introduced a scheme for the disbursement of funds that are unlikely to be reclaimed but only for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist:
- the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
- the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged or
- persons with a disability.
In relation to the Deputy's query regarding the funding of projects in inner city and RAPID areas, the Dormant Accounts Action Plan for 2014 will provide diverse supports for disadvantaged communities, including measures to promote youth employment, employability and entrepreneurship, training for carers and support for people with disabilities.
The net value of uncommitted funds is currently around €114 million. This does not include a Reserve Fund, currently standing at some €65.8 million. Further data in relation to the Dormant Accounts Fund are available on my Department's website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/DormantAccounts/.
229. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding. [3055/15]
View answer230. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding. [3056/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.
Over the period 1999 to date, over €755 million has been provided by my Department to Ballymun Regeneration Ltd (BRL) in respect of the physical, social and economic regeneration of Ballymun.
The physical regeneration of Ballymun is now approaching practical completion. The final housing project at the Emerald housing site is due to be completed later this year. My Department is committed to support certain social and economic interventions in Ballymun over the medium term. However, with the wind-down of BRL, responsibility for on-going improvements in Ballymun is a matter for Dublin City Council. The issue of any Exchequer funding for any proposals for the provision of road infrastructure in the area would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
