Written Answers Nos 1-30
11. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the annual budget and total number of personnel employed by the Private Residential Tenancies Board in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3440/15]
View answerThe Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established in September 2004 under the Residential Tenancies Act. For the first six years the PRTB was in receipt of Exchequer funding towards operational costs but has operated on a self-financing basis since 2010. The PRTB’s funding is derived primarily from a proportion of the fee income accruing from tenancy registrations, as set down by Ministerial Order. The Board is currently entitled to retain 80% of the registration fee income to fund its activities, with 20% going to fund local authority inspections of rented accommodation under the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2008. It also retains the fees charged for its’ dispute resolution services.
The total number of personnel employed by the PRTB in whole time equivalents for the years in question is as follows:
- 2010 – 65.4
- 2011 – 50.4
- 2012 – 37.4
- 2013 – 34.8
- 2014 – 30.3
The reduction in staffing in recent years needs to be seen in the context of the introduction of online tenancy registration and online dispute application services. In 2012, the PRTB awarded a contract, outsourcing its call -centre activities and processing of paper registrations, allowing the Board to focus on its dispute resolution processes. There are currently 28 people employed on the PRTB account by the outsourced service provider.
Given the sustained increase in demand for PRTB services, approval has been provided for an additional 4 permanent staff and 5 temporary staff and the Board is currently working with the Public Appointments Service to fill these posts. My Department continues to keep the resources available to the PRTB under close review and engages regularly with the Board on this and other matters.
12. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he has taken with regard to convening a meeting of home insurers to tackle the issue of the owners of pyrite remediated homes being refused home insurance; his plans to pursue the establishment of a voluntary agreement between the Government and insurance providers, along the lines of the declined cases agreement which operates in the motor insurance industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3499/15]
View answerWhile I have no function in relation to the regulation or oversight of insurance providers or insurance based products, I am acutely aware of the upset and distress faced by many homeowners who have been affected by pyritic heave and am conscious that their difficulties have been exacerbated by the withdrawal of household insurance cover.
In this regard, I have recently written to Insurance Ireland, as the representative body for insurance providers operating in the Irish market, to encourage their members to re- consider their position on providing homeowners, whose homes have been remediated, with appropriate insurance cover where that is not already the case in the light of the range of measures that are now in place to mitigate against future risk of pyritic damage. I have also written to the Minister for Finance in this matter given his role for policy in respect of insurance.
All works under the pyrite remediation scheme will be completed to the requirements of the relevant standard, I.S. 398-2:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material — Part 2: Methodology for remediation works, and will be carried out by competent builders, overseen by construction professionals in accordance with the requirements of the Pyrite Resolution Board and the Housing Agency. There will also be oversight by construction professionals from within the Housing Agency itself to ensure that the works will be fully compliant with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations, that proper materials are used in the works and that remediated dwellings will be restored to the quality expected by the homeowners. At the end of the works, each homeowner will be provided with certification to confirm that their home has been remediated to the requirements of the relevant standard.
My Department is available to meet with Insurance Ireland to address any concerns their members may have and I will support any proposals put forward that provide the basis for a satisfactory resolution for homeowners on this issue.
13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has held with the local authorities in Dublin and the counties adjacent thereto such as County Kildare to address the issue of homelessness; arising from such discussions, the degree to which his Department and the local authorities are in a position to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3623/15]
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 individual housing authorities.
A range of measures are being taken to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households and mobilise the necessary supports in order to deliver on the Government's target of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. These measures have been identified in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness. Progress in implementing these plans are reported through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The plans and progress reports are available on my Department's website - the relevant link will be included in the Official Report. [http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.]
Implementation of these plans necessitates close liaison with the lead housing authorities in each of the 9 homelessness regions so as to ensure that the appropriate actions are being taken and funding available to address the homelessness needs in these regions. My Department liaises with housing authorities for this purpose on an ongoing basis
14. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress of restoring and renewing the local authority housing stock to ensure maximum availability of accommodation, with particular reference to counties Galway and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3627/15]
View answerIn 2014 my Department provided funding of in excess of €26 million to support local authorities in their work to return over 2,300 vacant social housing units back to productive use. The three local authorities in Counties Galway and Mayo received funding of almost €1.9 million under this programme and returned 182 properties back to productive use. The funding provided by my Department to return these properties to use is capped at €30,000 per social housing unit.
The effective management of vacant and boarded up social housing units is a key aspect of achieving best practice and value for money in housing management, to assist local authorities in making best use of their existing stock. For 2015, I will provide support to local authorities to target a further 1,000 such units and the aim over the lifetime of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 is to return 2,300 units to productive use. I have also outlined in the Strategy that my Department will link future funding to the measured performance of local authorities on their ability to return vacant units to use and to put in place on-going maintenance programmes.
15. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received any assessment from Irish Water regarding the presence of asbestos pipes in the water infrastructure; and his views on whether asbestos water pipes pose a health threat to those being provided with water through them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3647/15]
View answerSince 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. I have not received any assessment from Irish Water specifically in relation to the presence of asbestos pipes in the water infrastructure.
Asbestos cement piping formerly used in local authority water mains was required to meet certain specifications including bitumen lining and coating. The main health risk associated with asbestos products relates to inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. The potential exposure to such risk led to the decline in the use of asbestos materials generally. With the availability of more robust materials, asbestos cement piping is no longer used in Ireland for new public water mains or sewer pipes.
The World Health Organisation's position on asbestos in drinking water is that there is no consistent evidence that ingested asbestos is hazardous to health and that there is no need to establish a health-based guideline value for asbestos in drinking water.
16. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the rental housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3653/15]
View answerThe private rented sector is an important element of the housing market, with the proportion of households in the sector almost doubling in the period 2006-2011. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants including in relation to rent, security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 is currently before the Oireachtas and will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, inter alia, for:
- the inclusion of the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector within the remit of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004;
- the introduction of a new fast-track procedure to deal with non-payment of rent;
- the introduction of a tenancy deposit protection scheme.
The Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil, together with Second Stage in the Seanad. Legislative provisions for the deposit protection scheme, together with other amendments, are currently being drafted and it is my intention to introduce these amendments at Committee Stage of the Bill in the Seanad in the first quarter of 2015.
The Government published the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014. The strategy provides the basis for a concerted and coordinated approach to social housing provision and contains an action plan with detailed objectives and timelines. It includes a commitment to developing a national policy on the private rented sector aimed at increasing investment in and supporting the supply of, good quality, secure and affordable accommodation in the sector.
The PRTB published two major reports on the sector in 2014 and these reports, together with a forthcoming National Economic and Social Council (NESC) report on the future development of the private rented sector, will be important inputs to the process of developing the national policy.
17. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has had with Irish Water regarding the progress that is being made on lifting boil water notices and drinking water restriction notices from water supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3536/15]
View answerUnder the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations. The procedures to be followed and the roles of water suppliers, the EPA and the HSE where there is non-compliance with the parametric values set out in the Schedules to the Regulations, are clearly laid out in the Regulations. Neither I nor my Department have any role in monitoring or supervising the delivery of water services.
The EPA’s Drinking Water Report 2013 highlights the current situation where 23,297 people are required to boil their water before drinking. Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has stated that it has prioritised the elimination of boil water notices and has accelerated investing to accomplish this. Irish Water has published its Proposed Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 and this is available on the Irish Water website ; the relevant weblink will be circulated with the official Report. ( http://www.water.ie/news/proposed-capital-investme/Proposed-Capital-Investment-Plan-2014-2016.pdf )
The plan outlines a number of priorities to be delivered including improving water quality, tackling leakage, improving capacity and investing for economic development and it identifies where Irish Water considers investment in infrastructure is necessary for the effective performance of its functions. This includes compliance with Water Framework Directive requirements, improving sewage treatment and collection infrastructure in accordance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, responding to judgments of the European Court of Justice and achieving environmental and public health objectives arising from various regulations and EPA reports dealing with water quality.
In the case of County Roscommon specifically, I understand that in 2014 and 2015, Irish Water will spend almost €20 million on 6 new plants in the county, which will remove over 17,000 people from boil water notices by next April. In addition, I understand that a further major scheme for north-east Roscommon is at tender and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016, providing a modern high quality supply for 6,000 people currently on boil water notices.
18. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress of the planning review of the performance of planning functions reopened by his Department in July 2013; when it is likely to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3611/15]
View answerMacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions in six selected planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. I expect to receive the final report from the consultants shortly and I subsequently intend to publish it having considered its contents.
19. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will meet with the staff in Cherry Orchard equine centre and see the vital work they do in the Ballyfermot community (details supplied). [3438/15]
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 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in April 2015.
In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good practice internationally and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, SICAP is subject to a public procurement process, which is currently underway. 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. Contracts for SICAP will be determined following the outcome of the procurement process.
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.
Consistent with the transitional arrangements to extend the LCDP until the roll out of SICAP in April 2015 and to ensure business continuity, interim LCDP funding will be provided to the Cherry Orchard Equine, Education and Training Centre up to end March 2015, pending the outcome of the SICAP competitive process. As Stage two of the process (Invitation to Tender) is currently underway, I am not in a position to meet with the group concerned at this time.
My Department appreciates the importance of the work of the Cherry Orchard Equine, Education and Training Centre. The issues involved are broader than just those relating to SICAP. However, it is my Department’s intention to examine the position with regard to a number of groups, including the Cherry Orchard Equine, Education and Training Centre, in the near future, and will be in contact with the group at that stage.
20. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on the progress of the transfer of training and community programmes from local community development programmes to the social inclusion and community activation programme; the timeframe for communication with projects on whether or not they were successful in the new tendering process; and if he will report on any transitional funding that may be made available. [3431/15]
View answerMy Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (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 €281m over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis until March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in April 2015. All groups who received LCDP funding in 2014 are being funded through LCDP interim arrangements until 31 March 2015, pending the outcome of the SICAP competitive process.
In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good practice internationally and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, SICAP is subject to a public procurement process, which is currently underway. Stage one (Expression of Interest) has been completed. Stage two (Invitation to Tender), commenced on 20 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. The closing date for receipt of tenders under stage two was noon on 19 December 2014. The tenders received are currently being evaluated and it is intended that tenderers will be informed of the outcome by mid February.
21. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the proposed vacant site levy will ensure that developers are not sitting on zoned land and to bring those sites into use for housing, commercial or social purposes. [3606/15]
View answerThe proposed vacant site levy will enable local authorities, should they wish to do so, to apply a levy on vacant sites in urban centres within their functional areas with a view to incentivising and stimulating the development of such sites. The proposals for the levy are as set out in the General Scheme for the Planning and Development No. 1 Bill which I published in November 2014.
Under this scheme it is envisaged that the levy will be applied at a rate not exceeding 3% of the market valuation of a site in the first year, increasing incrementally by 1% in subsequent years up to a maximum levy not exceeding 6% of the market valuation of the site in question in any individual year. It is further proposed that the individual local authorities who decide to introduce this measure will be responsible for collecting the levy within their functional areas.
To be entitled to apply the levy, local authorities will in the first instance be required to provide for the development of vacant sites in specific locations within urban areas as an objective in their local development plans – thereby being an integral part of the local development planning process.
The measure should be supplemented by the application of reduced development contributions on such sites when granted planning permission having regard to the likelihood that the development of such sites will be able to avail of existing infrastructure rather than be reliant on further investment in new infrastructure.
In essence, the levy will entail a carrot and stick approach i.e. incentivising developers to develop vacant underutilised sites while also applying lower development contribution levies on the development of such sites, and only penalising those who opt not to bring forward proposals to develop such sites.
22. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households currently occupying accommodation rented directly from Dublin City Council in Dublin Central; the number of households occupying accommodation rented from an approved housing body or housing association; the number of units of local authority housing known to be vacant or unoccupied because it is in disrepair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3534/15]
View answerMy Department publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics on our website and the total number of local authority units occupied can be found at the following link, under the area titled ‘LA rented units by area 2003+’ within the Social Housing Supports contents: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls .
However, this information does not cover households currently renting directly from an Approved Housing Body or Housing Association in particular parts of the Dublin City area as that data is not available in my Department.
General statistics on local authority housing stock, including units that may be empty, are published annually by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are in respect of 2013 and are available at the following link: http://www.lgma.ie/en/service-indicators-local-authorities-2013 . As part of a planned programme supported by my Department in 2014, Dublin City Council returned 467 vacant social housing units back to productive use and will be continuing to address this into 2015, through funding made available under Budget 2015.
23. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role and membership of the building regulations advisory body; the number of meetings held by this body since March 2011; and the number of these meetings which discussed the regulations which became the BC(A)R 2014. [3604/15]
View answerSection 14 of the Building Control Act 1990 provides for the establishment of a Building Regulations Advisory Body to advise on matters relating to the Building Regulations and to provide advisory services for or on behalf of the Minister. The Body has no executive function. Currently there is no Building Regulations Advisory Body in place. The last such Body was appointed in June 2007 for a period of 5 years. Prior to the completion of its term of service in June 2012 the then Minister extended its term of service until 1 October 2012. The membership comprised of nominated representatives of key Construction Industry stakeholders (both private and public sectors) and full membership details can be found on my Departments website at the following link http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/BuildingStandards/BRAB/ :-
The Body held eight plenary meetings (excluding working groups meetings) during the period between March 2011 and 1 October 2012. Three of those meetings included brief updates from the Department on progress relating to the drafting of new building control regulations which was being overseen by a High Level Group established to review the arrangements in place for the control of building activity. Building Control Regulations set down administrative procedures for the control of building activity and are distinct and complementary to the statutory performance standards set down in Building Regulations with which the Building Regulations Advisory Body is predominantly concerned. Detailed consideration of the new regulatory framework took place at three further meetings of the Body and members were also invited to an industry briefing on the draft Building Control Amendment Regulations released for public consultation in April 2012. The Body had also produced its own report on enforcement which was adopted at its meeting of 22 June 2011 and which was forwarded to the then Minister for consideration at that time in conjunction with the report of the High Level Group.
24. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the private housing sector with particular reference to the ability of first-time buyers or those in need of a home excluding investors; if they will be facilitated in their efforts to acquire a family home at a reasonable cost; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties this group of persons face in view of their inability to compete with the investment sector over the past 12 months; if he will propose any initiatives in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3624/15]
View answerThe Government is acutely aware of the difficulties facing people in accessing housing and is undertaking a range of actions to address the matter.
My Department’s Housing Land Availability Survey (HLAS) estimates that there is in excess of 25,000 hectares of undeveloped residentially zoned land nationally, which equates to a capacity for over 500,000 new homes (based on a national average of 20 units per hectare). This capacity is considered to be sufficient to meet the housing requirements nationally for in excess of the next ten years.
The challenge is to translate this potential supply line into actual construction on the ground to meet the demand of home seekers. Most of the difficulties currently being encountered can be addressed by increasing the supply of properties available to buy, to rent, and to be provided by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
The Government recognises that a whole of Government approach, working in close cooperation with key stakeholders, is the only way to tackle the challenge of increasing the supply of housing. The implementation of the Construction Strategy 2020 forms the basis for a properly functioning and sustainable construction sector. It provides for a strategic approach to the provision of housing based on real and measured demand and addresses the full range of relevant issues including the planning process, financing, access to mortgage finance, and developing the construction workforce. Construction 2020, and two Planning Bills currently being drafted, aim to remove blockages from the system in order to support increased supply, reducing the pressure on house price growth and helping homebuyers to acquire a family home in their community of choice at reasonable cost.
Measures to increase supply will also impact positively on the private rental sector. Historically, the private rental sector has been characterised by small scale landlords. Attracting large scale investment in professionally managed residential property, for example using Real Estate Investment Trusts and other options for long-term investment, has an important role to play in helping to deliver a more professional and higher quality sector.
Social housing is also a key priority for Government, as evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for social housing in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014. The Strategy builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and 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.
The total targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand. This will help to ease pressure on the private sector.
In 2015, I expect that some 7,400 new social housing units will be provided-3,000 units through the leasing initiative; 1,000 vacant local authority units will be returned to use through a programme of refurbishment; a further 1,400 units to be built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies through the Social Housing Investment Programme and the Capital Assistance Scheme; and a further 2,000 new Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units will be delivered. In addition, 8,400 households will be assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
I will be continuing to assign the highest priority to the implementation of both Construction 2020 and the Social Housing Strategy.
25. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps taken on the issue of homeless since his meetings in December 2014 following the death of a person (details supplied). [3649/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 4 on today's Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.
26. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the details of the review of An Bord Pleanála. [3435/15]
View answerI will be announcing the commencement of the organisational review of An Bord Pleanála in the near future. The terms of reference for the review and the composition of the review group are currently being finalised.
27. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the annual planning statistics produced by his Department, the reason the number of planning decisions taken nationally where the decision differs from the recommendation of the planner officer jumped from an average of just 400 per year between 2003 and 2007 to an average of 5,600 per year between 2010 and 2012 with particularly high differences recorded in counties Cork, Donegal, Kildare, Meath and Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3609/15]
View answerThe figures presented in the Annual Planning Statistics document are based on information submitted by all planning authorities to my Department. While my Department strives to ensure that the statistics presented are correct, the accuracy of the figures is dependent on the accuracy of the data submitted by each planning authority. Investigation of the situation regarding the data in respect of the counties concerned has revealed that there was a data entry error. The erroneous dataset will be removed from the web site and the amended data will be uploaded online as soon as possible.
28. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on amending the Water Services Act 2014 to include exemptions for households affected by the presence of hard water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3434/15]
View answerThe Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water can collect charges from each customer in receipt of water 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.
Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied is wholesome and clean. Water which is wholesome and clean is defined as water which is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which in numbers or concentrations constitute a potential danger to human health, and which meets the quality standards specified in the Schedule to the Regulations. Hard water is not included in the Schedule mentioned above as it does not pose as a threat to human health, nor indeed are the substances associated with hard water, such as lime, calcium and magnesium.
The Water Charges Policy Direction issued to the CER in July 2014 referred to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges including where the quality of water services provided by Irish Water to customers is impaired or where services are reduced or restricted. Where a customer is subject to a drinking water restriction notice, affected customers will receive a 100% discount to the water supply portion of their bill for the duration of the restriction. Accordingly, the current legislation allows for discounts on charges for impaired services and no amendments to the Water Services Act 2014 are necessary. However, as neither hard water nor the substances associated with it require the restriction of a supply, discounts would not apply in such cases .
29. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the objectives agreed at the homelessness conference which took place in his Department in December 2014; the progress on each of the agreed points to emerge from that conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3612/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 4 on today's Order Paper which sets out the position in this matter.
30. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce new legislation to tackle domestic waste; and if that will include a levy on bottles, cans and plastic bottles. [3608/15]
View answerAs part of the introduction of a radical and comprehensive new regulatory framework to reform the regulation of the collection of household waste in 2015, I intend to introduce measures to require collectors to have a customer charter in place and to meet certain minimum standards of customer service, such as specified frequencies of collection. I will be setting out in law what the minimum content of these customer charters will be, so that standards of service are raised and are consistent.
It will also become a statutory requirement for all collectors to operate the “pay-by-weight” system as a condition of their permit. The requirement for households, other than those already on a pay-by-weight system, to pay on a by-weight basis will not apply until 2016 so as to provide an appropriate lead-in time.
A levy on drinks containers will not be part of the new framework. In June 2012, as part of a commitment in the Programme for Government to examine the introduction of a levy on such packaging in conjunction with a waste reduction programme, my Department initiated a root and branch review of all aspects of the Producer Responsibility Initiative model in Ireland. My Department also completed a consultation process with stakeholders on this issue.
Following completion of the consultation process and the receipt of the review report, it was decided, after careful consideration, not to proceed with the introduction of a packaging levy. The primary reason for this decision was that the introduction of a packaging levy would be likely to generate a number of regulatory costs to business and the public sector with few identifiable benefits, given our very successful packaging recovery and recycling performance to date in Ireland.
In addition, the review report does not recommend the introduction of a levy as to establish such a scheme would be inappropriate, in view of the successful operation of the existing packaging scheme operated through Repak, as well as the high administrative costs of introducing such a system.
The report is available on my Department’s website and can be accessed at: http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,34038,en.pdf.
