Written Answers Nos. 500-513
500. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of households housed through the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the Long-term Leasing Scheme on 1 April in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2014. [6807/15]
View answerSince the first transfers commenced in late 2005, up to the end of December 2014, local authorities have transferred a total of 51,757 households from Rent Supplement (RS) to RAS and other social housing supports. Of these, 30,511 were housed directly under RAS and a further 21,246 were accommodated under other social housing options.
The cumulative numbers transferred on 1 April of the years 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2014 are set out in the following table:
|
At 1st April |
RAS Transfers |
Rent Supplement to Social Housing |
Total transfers to RAS & social housing |
|
2008 |
6,468 |
6,048 |
12,516 |
|
2011 |
18,719 |
14,295 |
33,014 |
|
2013 |
26,122 |
18,181 |
44,303 |
|
2014 |
28,940 |
19,954 |
48,894 |
Since the commencement of the leasing initiative in early 2009 up to the end of December 2014, 5,622 units have become operational.
The cumulative numbers operational on 1st April of the years 2011, 2013 and 2014 are set out in the following table:
|
At 1st April |
Units operational |
|
2011 |
1,607 |
|
2013 |
3,932 |
|
2014 |
4,858 |
501. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the total social housing output; the total private housing output; and the total number of social houses, sold to tenants for the two periods of 2000 to 2010; and 2011 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6809/15]
View answerMy Department publishes a wide range of housing and planning statistics, including data on social and private housing output and sales to local authority tenants, broken down by year. Data relating to private and social housing output are available on my Department's website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15293,en.xls, by clicking “the House Completions 1970 to date” tab.
Data relating to sale of units can be found here: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls, by clicking “Sale of local authority houses 1994 to date ” tab.
502. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the requirement that 25% of employed sub-contractors, under the regional water meter installation contracts, should come from the live register has been complied with; the percentage to date; if the contracts remain valid if this figure has not been attained; its implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6928/15]
View answerIrish Water is responsible for all aspects of the domestic metering programme.
I understand that there are approximately 1,300 direct jobs sustained through the metering programme and approximately 84% of these jobs have been obtained by those in one of three 'social inclusion' categories (unemployed 21%; employees of SMEs 53%; graduates/school leavers/apprentices 10%), exceeding the Government's overall target of 25%.
The employment figures do not include indirect employment created in the supply chain.
503. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that in cases where recently built single houses with individual sewerage systems have failed inspections as a result of deficient installations and where the owners do not have the funds necessary to rectify the problems, even with the aid of the existing grant, that the responsibility then lies with the local authorities and the State, in the context of the public health and environmental issues which arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6943/15]
View answerLocal authorities carry out inspections of septic tanks and similar systems for a variety of reasons, including water quality issues at drinking water sources or within designated shellfish or bathing water catchments and arising from reports of pollution from members of the public. Separately, inspections are carried out based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Inspection Plan 2013: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems, which uses a risk-based methodology such as densities of individual treatment systems across the numerous hydrological and geological settings in Ireland and the locations of sensitive groundwater or surface water receptors. Selection of treatment systems for inspection under the EPA's plan is carried out by the local authorities using an IT system (which utilises WebGIS information) developed by the EPA.
Local authorities have all appropriate powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement under the Water Services Act 2007 and under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts 1977 and 1990 to protect water quality, public health and the environment from risks posed by failing on-site waste water treatment systems. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate course of action when dealing with pollution incidents and related risks to public health and the environment.
Section 70 of the Water Services Act 2007 places a duty of care on the owner of a premises to ensure that their waste water treatment systems are kept so as not to cause, or be likely to cause, a risk to human health or the environment, including waters, the atmosphere, land, soil, plants or animals, or create a nuisance through odours. The duty of care provisions have been augmented by the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 and associated regulations. Any person whose treatment system fails an inspection or, in the absence of an inspection, considers that their treatment system constitutes, or may constitute, a risk to human health or the environment is responsible for having any necessary remediation works carried out without delay.
The Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grants scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the EPA's National Inspection Plan and the subsequent issue of an Advisory Notice by the local authority, to require repair or upgrading. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department's website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,33607,en.pdf
There are no plans to extend or to vary the terms and conditions of the grant scheme.
Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria included in the above regulations but wish to remediate or upgrade their on-site treatment systems may qualify for relief under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) Scheme introduced under Section 5 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2013. The HRI scheme covers main residence repairs, renovations and improvements, including the repair or replacement of septic tanks. The scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners and full details are published on Revenue's website at: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/reliefs/hri/hri-general-faqs.html
504. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the names of wind farms here which are not operating to their maximum productivity due to limited spacing between turbines. [6957/15]
View answerThe information requested is not compiled by my Department as it has no statutory role or remit in relation to this matter.
505. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria used by his Department and local authorities to determine where wind farms and turbines should be situated to maximise productivity. [6958/15]
View answerProposals for the location of individual wind energy developments to maximise productivity are a matter for the relevant developer taking into account several criteria including connectivity to the national grid.
When considering individual planning applications for such developments and the appropriateness of their location, planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanála where relevant, will have regard to local area and county development plans, local authority renewable energy strategies, the Wind Energy Development Guidelines issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and such matters including existing residential development, existing wind energy developments, the local landscape and the natural and built heritage.
Section 3.5 of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines provides a guide to the analysis of suitable areas for wind energy by the planning authority, when preparing their development plans and local authority renewable energy strategies.
My Department is currently conducting a targeted review of the 2006 Guidelines focusing on noise, setback and shadow flicker. Following an extensive public consultation, it is intended that revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible.
506. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to increase 2015 funding for local authority housing grants for the disabled and for housing aid for older people. [6965/15]
View answerLast year, exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. I am pleased to be in a position to increase that funding by some 10% in 2015 to €40.4 million; individual allocations to local authorities will be made shortly.
Through careful management of my Department's housing budget in 2014, additional funds were made available to local authorities with high levels of grant activity under this scheme. The same scrutiny will be applied to the capital budget for 2015 and, in the event of savings arising, opportunities will be examined to reallocate funds accordingly.
507. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7000/15]
View answerMotor tax rates for commercial vehicles are based on the unladen weight of the vehicle, and are set at national, rather than at county level. The weight bandings and the current corresponding rates are provided for in paragraph 5 of Part I of the Schedule to the Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 (as amended by section 4 of the Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Act 2013).
508. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of an application for funding submitted by Kilkenny County Council to his Department on 21 November 2014; and if Irish Water / his Department will approve the funding for this project. [7036/15]
View answerI assume the Question relates to a proposed group sewerage scheme at Shellumsrath, County Kilkenny. Responsibility for the administration of my Department's Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided for group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997.
Following previous submissions relating to Shellumsrath, Kilkenny County Council included the scheme in its request, received last month, for funding under the 2015 Rural Water Programme. The request gives the costs of the scheme as €1,020,625 and shows the grant due under the Rural Water Programme as €344,500. The maximum grants available for group sewerage schemes are €6,500 per house or 75% of the scheme costs, whichever is the lesser. I expect to be in a position to announce, in the coming weeks, details of funding to be allocated, by way of block grant allocations, to local authorities under the 2015 Rural Water Programme.
The County Council has specified that the costs of €1,020,625 include €577,625 for a proposed public sewer at Callan Road. However, since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The further progression of all public water services capital projects is, therefore, a matter for Irish Water to consider.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
509. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, under Section 42, Subsection 2 of the Water Services Act 2007 (details supplied), any building includes a private dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7041/15]
View answerSection 2 of the Water Services Act 20 07 provides that “premises” includes “any building, vessel, vehicle, structure or land (whether or not there are structures on the land and whether or not the land is covered with water), and any plant or related accessories, on or under the land, or any hereditament of tenure, together with any out-buildings and curtilage ”. Accordingly the definition of premises would include dwellings and other types of buildings.
510. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the policy for persons who have taken out a county council loan towards a housing mortgage and who have difficulty completing repayments due to changed economic circumstances. [7065/15]
View answerMy 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 the introduction of a Local Authority Mortgage to Rent scheme in February 2014 in line with the MTR Scheme in relation to mortgages from private institutions 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.
511. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of private waste collectors contracted to local authorities operating waiver schemes for low-income households and pensioners; if he will provide details of those local authorities; the way customers, who were eligible for waivers when local authorities operated waste collection services, can now afford to pay private waste collectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7117/15]
View answer512. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities have the power to ensure private waste collectors contracted to local authorities have waivers in place for low-income households and pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7118/15]
View answer513. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a waiver scheme was recognised by the State with no loss accruing to the local authority, such as with the free travel pass, free electricity and so on; if waivers will be offered to relevant customers of a private collector. [7119/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 511 to 513, inclusive, together.
During the period in which local authorities were directly involved in the collection of household waste, a minority of individual councils offered different levels of discount to selected households, based on different qualification criteria.
As local authorities exited the waste collection market, some required the private operators which took on the Councils’ customers to provide a level of discount for existing waiver customers only, and even then for a limited time. The vast majority of contractual commitments for private operators to provide a waiver have now expired. In that context, the number of households in receipt of waiver discounts is likely to decline over time, especially as some householders were able to take advantage of special reduced offers elsewhere which actually undercut the waiver price. However, selected private operators still offer some level of discount to former waiver customers on a voluntary basis. However, this information is commercially sensitive to each operator and is not available to my Department.
In addition, a very limited number of local authorities make financial contributions towards the cost of, or pay for, the collection of waste from certain households. Again, the qualification criteria and level of support differ from area to area. Such expenditure means that these local authorities divert funding from other areas to support these waiver provisions.
Among the measures included in the Government’s waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, which was published in July 2012, was the establishment of an interdepartmental working group to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low- income households.
The working group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Finance; and the Tánaiste's Office, submitted its second report to Government in July 2013. Government considered the report and, given the complexity of the issues involved, including the fact that the vast majority of households have moved away from local authority collection and have engaged private waste collectors on whom it would be difficult to impose any obligation to provide a waiver system, mandated the working group to continue to examine the issue, with a view to submitting a third report to Government in due course.
Given that the vast majority of local authorities no longer collect waste and that the market is now serviced by a diverse range of private operators, where the fees charged and services offered vary across the country, it is becoming increasingly apparent that introducing a national waiver scheme in the context of an open market for waste collection is highly complex.
