Written Answers Nos. 272-283
272. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the water charges pertaining to bed and breakfast operators who currently pay a premium to local authorities; if such operators are now expected to pay for the same water supply twice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5299/15]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers 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. Any business connected to a public water supply is liable for charges as a non-domestic customer. If the premises is also used for domestic purposes, such as a bed and breakfast, it is termed a mixed-use customer. Mixed-use customers will be billed separately for their domestic and non-domestic water services and will have a separate account number for each. Mixed-use customers will be charged for the domestic component of their usage based on occupancy. For the domestic component, single adult households will pay a maximum of €160 per year; multi-adult households will pay a maximum of €260 a year. Mixed-use dwellings that register with Irish Water will be eligible for the €100 water conservation grant.
It should be noted that the existing arrangements for all non-domestic customers are remaining in place with no changes for the time being. On this basis, the local authorities will continue to bill for non-domestic water services as agents of Irish Water and the non-domestic component of their consumption will continue to be charged according to the current non-domestic tariff arrangement. In the case of a metered customer, the volume to be charged at the non-domestic rate will continue to be the metered volume in excess of the current local authority domestic allowance. As part of the water pricing policy which provided for non-domestic water charges, local authorities were required to provide mixed-use customers with an allowance in respect of their domestic consumption.
The CER will be reviewing all aspects of non-domestic water tariffs under a series of public consultations and will publish the time-line for this process in the next few months.
273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the effect the present recruitment embargo has had over the past number of years upon the ability of local authorities to deliver their services effectively; if he will highlight the local authorities which have most suffered as a result of staffing shortages; the measures he has proposed to address these high-pressure areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5305/15]
View answerThe moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in March 2009 in response to the financial crisis. My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities, and any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department. 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 each Chief Executive, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained.
During the moratorium, local authorities had to reduce staffing numbers in order to balance their finances. This is reflected in the fact that local authority numbers started to reduce from June 2008. The number employed across all local authorities at the end of June 2008 was 37,243; by end December 2014, this had fallen to 26,735 representing a reduction of 10,508 or 28%.
Since the implementation of the moratorium, and the large staff reductions, local authorities have undertaken work force planning to identify how the remaining staff can be optimally deployed and where there are real vacancies that need to be filled. This process in turn informs the sanctioning process. Local authorities have re-deployed staff and re-allocated work to fill the gaps. Where the gaps can’t be filled, local authorities apply to my Department seeking sanction to recruit.
The Department has carefully operated its delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to facilitate the targeted replacement of staff in key service areas where specific exemptions are available subject to appropriate applications being made. In this regard, over 7,200 local authority staff sanction requests have been approved by my Department since the moratorium was introduced in 2009.
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 three year pay ceilings. Staffing resources must be managed within these overall ceilings. Detailed arrangements in terms of the local authority sector are currently being worked out between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
274. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to re-introduce the scheme whereby older persons could give up their home to a local authority in order to be placed in housing for the elderly; and his plans for similar schemes to free up local authority or private housing while supporting care for older persons. [5318/15]
View answerI understand the scheme referred to was introduced by a local authority to enable older people to downsize from homes that may have become too large for them to more suitable accommodation, thus potentially freeing up homes for larger families. While I have no proposals to introduce a national scheme along these lines, it is open to housing authorities, in the context of implementing the Social Housing Strategy 2020, to explore the potential of such schemes to meet differing housing needs, having regard to local circumstances.
275. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when his Department will publish the updated wind energy guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5333/15]
View answerIn December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed:
- The setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments;
- A mandatory minimum setback of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations: and
- The complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.
A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until February 21 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this period. It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines. Further work is also advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines. The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. In the interim, the 2006 Guidelines continue to apply to existing planning applications. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.
276. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will instruct his officials to carry out the final inspection on the Brownstown community project without delays as this community group has carried out all works as specified by Westmeath County Development and now want to draw down the remaining grant to clear bridging finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/15]
View answerThe pre-payment inspection on this project is now complete and a payment has issued from my Department.
277. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if County Cavan library headquarters will retain its current status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5343/15]
View answer278. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if County Monaghan library headquarters will retain its current status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5344/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together.
The report Managing the Delivery of Effective Library Services contains detailed arrangements for the planning and implementation of new structures in order to establish stronger, more effective and efficient public libraries and deliver better library services to local communities and citizens, in line with Government policy on public sector reform.
The initiative is the outcome of a considered and thorough review of the library service and in-depth consultation with stakeholders, which established the need for scale in the management of a modern library service. The increased capacity resulting from the new structures will increase the scope for developing and enhancing services to the public, providing a broader range of services to the same high standard across the country.
In this context, a central management team with an enhanced management structure will be established for Cavan and Monaghan. The new management structure will be led by one county librarian and will be based in a single library headquarters, the location of which will be a matter for local decision between the respective local authorities. The new management structure will facilitate a more efficient allocation of functions across senior management, will enable greater strategic planning and ensure a better focus on, and delivery of, an increased range of services to the public.
There will be no decrease in the number of library services or library branches. The role of each local authority and their public representatives will be safeguarded and there will be no erosion of either local authority’s responsibilities. The provision of a library service will continue to be a core local authority function and each library service and library branch will continue to be locally branded and identified with the individual local authority. Each local authority will also continue to be responsible for policies, priorities and budgets for their library services to reflect local needs, priorities and resources. The county librarian for the new structures will be responsible to and available to each county council.
279. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements, that he has put in place to meet with the Minister for the Environment in the Northern Ireland Executive, Oireachtas Members from counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in County Armagh to meet in the Armagh-Louth-Monaghan area to discuss the ongoing damage caused by the illegal trade in fuel as requested by a number of Deputies during a Topical Issue debate on 21 January 2015; when this meeting will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5345/15]
View answer288. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of cleaning up each illegal plant; and the cost per annum for the cleaning up of illegal fuel laundering plants. [5428/15]
View answer289. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current arrangements for the cost of clean-ups; the person-body that pays, and to whom they pay for the clean up of fuel laundering plants. [5429/15]
View answer290. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of illegal fuel-sludge dumps that have been uncovered in the past five years per annum and by county. [5430/15]
View answer291. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of human and environmental damage and danger posed by fuel laundering plants and by illegal sludge dumps. [5431/15]
View answer292. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that has been paid to clean-up fuel sludge dumps, per annum and per county. [5432/15]
View answer293. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to change the process of paying for the clean-up of fuel laundering plants and diesel and fuel sludge. [5433/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 288 to 293, inclusive, together.
Enforcement in relation to illegal diesel laundering activities is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners from the point of view of avoiding loss of revenue to the Exchequer. My Department assists local authorities in carrying out their role as competent authorities under waste legislation, which is to take the necessary measures, on behalf of the State, to ensure that any waste generated and left abandoned by diesel launderers is disposed of without endangering human health and without harming the environment.
Approximately 1,200 incidents of diesel laundering waste dumping have been dealt with by local authorities to date and my Department has up to now reimbursed the costs associated with such disposal on a case by case basis. The majority of the clean-up operations have taken place in Louth and Monaghan with 596 and 509 sites, respectively. Similar clean-up operations have also been carried out in Counties Cavan, Donegal, Offaly, Meath and Waterford.
Details of the significant amounts provided by my Department from the Environment Fund since 2008 on a per county basis are set out in the table.
|
Year |
Louth County Council |
Monaghan County Council |
Offaly County Council |
Cavan County Council |
Donegal County Council |
Total |
|
2008 |
€448,460 |
€109,615 |
€558,075 |
|||
|
2009 |
€314,678 |
€45,632 |
€360,310 |
|||
|
2010 |
€246,211 |
€28,414 |
€29,270 |
€303,895 |
||
|
2011 |
€939,315 |
€89,588 |
€1,028,903 |
|||
|
2012 |
€1,452,267 |
€347,350 |
€23,458 |
€1,823,075 |
||
|
2013 |
€693,048 |
€150,946 |
€40,753 |
€884,747 |
||
|
2014 |
€ 706,159 |
€ 601,244 |
€1,307,403 |
|||
|
Total |
€ 4,800,138 |
€ 1,372,789 |
€29,270 |
€23,458 |
€40,753 |
€ 6,266,408 |
There is strong and active co-operation on this and other waste management issues between the relevant enforcement authorities on both sides of the Border, involving An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other enforcement agencies. My own Department, as part of on-going cooperation on repatriation of illegally deposited waste in Northern Ireland, has held discussions with the Northern Ireland authorities on the need to develop a mechanism for dealing with waste from cross-border diesel washings which would be factored into the overall discussions on waste repatriation. These discussions are on-going.
As indicated previously, I have written to my counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive, Minister Mark Durkan, to highlight again the problems being faced by border counties exposed to the consequences of environmental crime and I have signalled to him that this is an issue that I will be raising at the next meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in May. The Council meets in the Environment Sector in order to make decisions on common policies and approaches in a cross-border context in areas such as environmental protection, pollution, water quality management and waste management and this is, I believe, the most appropriate forum to address this serious issue from a waste and water quality perspective.
The illegal deposition of waste material arising from diesel laundering activities presents the local authorities with major difficulties as the task of cleaning up the material needs to be dealt with to avoid threats to the environment. The laundering process requires the use of chemicals such as sulphuric acid and bleaching agents and results in a waste by-product, a tar-like chemical compound or sludge, with significant potential for environmental pollution, particularly in relation to watercourses.
I believe that a complete solution to this problem must necessarily involve effective and co-ordinated enforcement of the law from both a revenue and waste management perspective. In that context, my Department continues to liaise with representatives of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the local authorities concerned and the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement to seek to identify more effective enforcement solutions and these engagements will continue.
282. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority mortgages currently in existence; the total value of local authority mortgages outstanding; the number that are in arrears for more than 90 days; the total amount of arrears on local authority mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5388/15]
View answer283. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions that are being taken to assist persons who are in arrears to a local authority and the actions to be put in place to achieve a sustainable solution to their arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5389/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together.
My Department issued revised guidelines to local authorities for dealing with mortgage arrears within the local authority sector in June 2014. Dealing with Mortgage Arrears – A Guide for Local Authorities is available on my Department’s website by clicking on the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,30943,en.pdf .
On foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears, my Department launched a Mortgage to Rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting those low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future.
It is fully recognised that people with mortgages borrowed from local authorities have been affected by issues such as unemployment and possible negative equity over the last number of years. The scale of the mortgage arrears problem amongst Local Authority borrowers necessitated introduction of a Local Authority Mortgage to Rent scheme in February 2014 in line with the MTR Scheme introduced nationally in June 2012.
The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) scheme, which was rolled out nationally in February 2014, allows local authorities to offer the mortgage to rent scheme to local authority mortgage holders with unsustainable mortgages. This enables families to stay in their home and their established community. Surrendering the ownership equity in a home is a very difficult decision for a family; however, the mortgage to rent option does provide families with stability and continuity, after an often long period of financial turmoil. Ownership of the home transfers to the local authority and the family pays a differential rent.
LAMTR is just one of a range of short term and long term solutions available to local authority mortgage holders in arrears. The Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process, already in place in respect of commercial mortgages, is now being implemented across all local authorities. In cases of acute mortgage distress, homeowners also have the option of seeking to avail of the legal process now also in place to deal with personal insolvency. The most important step any family in arrears can take is to engage early with the Arrears Support Unit of the local authority. Solutions are available and advice should be sought as early as possible.
My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages with a breakdown of those in arrears for more than 90 days. The most recent statistics in respect of Q2 2014 are displayed on my Department’s website –http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15295,en.xls - by clicking “Mortgage Data/Arrears in Local Authorities” under the Housing Loans contents.
