Thursday, 5 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 250-259

Road Projects

Questions (250)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

250. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with respect to the Newlands Cross flyover works currently under way in South Dublin County Council, if he will identify the planning enforcement authority; the process by which third parties may make planning enforcement complaints if they believe the planning permission and subsequent amendments to the plan made by An Bord Pleanála have been breached; and if such complaints are not upheld, if third parties have recourse to an appeals process or an independent body beyond those directly involved in the project. [9688/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

It is a matter for the relevant road authority, or the National Roads Authority, as the case may be, to carry out road projects in accordance with the approval received for such projects from An Bord Pleanála under 51 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended.

I have no role in relation to this matter, which comes under the policy remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Litter Pollution

Questions (251)

Alan Farrell

Question:

251. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to Dublin City Council's protocol for the erection of temporary posters to advertise public meetings which stipulate that the name and picture may only take up a maximum 25% of the poster, if the enforcement of such requirements is in contravention of the relevant legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9693/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department is informed by Dublin City Council that their protocol in relation to postering is operated strictly in accordance with the terms of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 as amended.

Under the relevant provisions of the Act the City Council as owners of the structures in a public place, e.g. lampstandards, have a right to determine the manner in which these posters may be erected. I have no role in relation to this matter.

Motor Tax Exemptions

Questions (252)

Michael Ring

Question:

252. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can receive a refund of motor taxation paid in view of the circumstances of this particular case. [9698/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In accordance with the provisions of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992, refunds of motor tax are available in certain limited circumstances, such as where a vehicle has been scrapped, is being permanently exported or has been stolen and not recovered. The Regulations do not provide for a refund where a vehicle has been taken into a garage for repair.

Building Regulations

Questions (253)

John McGuinness

Question:

253. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to relax some of the building regulations relative to once-off houses in particular; his views that the associated costs relative to once-off houses are excessive and are part of the reason for the slow uptake in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9701/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply given in the Topical Issues Debate on this matter on 25 February 2015 which sets out the up-to-date position.

Fire Service

Questions (254)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

254. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to undertaking a risk assessment in relation to the Keeping Communities Safe document and the impact these changes will have on the safety of firefighters and other persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9707/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Keeping Communities Safe (KCS), was published as national policy in February 2013, and is intended to keep fire safety and fire services in Ireland in line with international best practice. KCS sets down national norms and standards against which local authorities can benchmark their fire services. KCS underpins current good practice in relation to both fire-fighter and public safety, with a view to achieving consistent, quality and effective services.

If a fire service intends to introduce any significant change which could impact on employee safety, under Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work legislation, they are required as employers to carry out risk assessments of changes to work activities.

Managing worker safety is integrated into activity of all kinds in fire services, from the standards and processes used in recruitment, the initial training given, the kind of special appliances and equipment used, the personal protective equipment, the on-going training, the instructions, supervision and reviews carried out. Maintenance, as well as auditing and inspection of activity, are also key factors in ensuring that fire services comply consistently with statutory duties.

Guidance on relevant aspects of risk assessment for fire services has been issued by my Department to fire authorities to assist them in meeting the legislative requirement. The Fire Services Ancillary Safety Statement, issued in 2007, provided guidance on preparing risk assessments, and meeting the legislative requirement for normal workplaces. The National Incident Command System set out guidance for incident commanders on use of Dynamic Risk Assessment (DRA) at fire service operations. Standard Operational Guidance (SOG), which forms the basis for preparing for specified operational incident types, was issued to fire services in a number of tranches between 2010 to 2012. Each of the 47 SOGs issued contained a risk assessment summary, related to the topic of the specific SOG. More recently, the 2014 guidance, Managing Safety in Fire Services, was issued to align safety, health and welfare in fire services with general local government safety management systems.

All of these documents are available for downloading on my Department’s website: - http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Community/FireandEmergencyServices/.

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Questions (255)

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

255. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the set-income threshold for access to social housing support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9719/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 introduced a new standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing in every housing authority. The aim of the new system is to move closer to a transparent, consistent and fairer approach to eligibility for social housing. The Regulations include maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.

The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of income needed to provide for a household’s basic need plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced by this Government prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.

Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all housing authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge. Most payments received from the Department of Social Protection are assessable. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and housing authorities also have discretion to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once off.

I am satisfied that the current income limits generally provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. However, the limits will be considered in the context of the review of social housing assessment procedures currently being undertaken by my Department, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda outlined in the Social Housing Strategy 2020.

Seniors Alert Scheme

Questions (256)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

256. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if day-to-day responsibility for the seniors alert scheme has or is to be transferred to Pobal; the reason for this move; the extra cost of administration that this will entail; if the various groups around the country that administer this scheme locally were consulted; the reason for the national tendering for panels of suppliers rather than the existing arrangements; if new groups are being accepted into the scheme at present; and if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9745/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

My Department undertook to consider new approaches to the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2014 and arising from this, it was decided that the scheme be managed by Pobal, given that organisation’s significant experience delivering programmes on behalf of Government.

Pobal’s management and administrative services for the Scheme included an invitation to tender for the supply and installation of personal monitored alarms, which was publicly advertised on eTenders on 20 October 2014. The tender process, which is being led by Pobal, is almost complete. Following on from this, a panel of regional suppliers will be contracted to provide the equipment within specific regional areas. As the market for the equipment is well established, it was neither necessary nor appropriate to engage in consultations with the market on the matter prior to the tender process.

The Scheme is in the transitional period and the operational hand-over between my Department and Pobal will proceed mid 2015. In the meantime, Community and Voluntary Groups wishing to participate and draw down grant support under the Seniors Alert Scheme can apply to my Department and are required to meet the registration criteria before they can operate the Scheme.

It is important to note that my Department will retain responsibility for the strategic policy direction of the Scheme. It will also have an oversight role in relation to Pobal’s delivery of the Scheme, and will ensure that the valuable community support for elderly persons provided by the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups across the country will be maintained.

The fee payable to Pobal for administering the scheme will be €211,000 per annum. The new arrangements will allow my Department to concentrate on developing and improving the Scheme and to deploy staff currently engaged in administering the scheme to other business activities. It is anticipated that the resource efficiencies gained through the procurement and centralised financial management of service suppliers will allow more people to benefit from the scheme and will allow for consideration of funding additional items such as smoke detectors and/or carbon monoxide alarms under the Scheme.

This new approach will also reduce the administrative burden for the many hundreds of community and voluntary groups registered under the Scheme, who provide an excellent service for the elderly. It will enable the groups to concentrate on the main purpose of the Scheme, namely to support and interact with the elderly in the local community. This will enhance the outcome for both beneficiaries and community groups.

Pyrite Issues

Questions (257)

Dara Calleary

Question:

257. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to visit property owners in north Mayo who have been affected by pyrite; the supports that have been offered to similar owners in County Donegal; if he will extend these supports to the home owners in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9805/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

While I fully appreciate and acknowledge the extremely difficult and distressing situations that householders have to deal with when faced with the consequences of poor workmanship or the use of defective materials, in general, building defects are matters for resolution between contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the supplier and/or their respective insurers. In the event that the parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation the option of seeking redress in the Courts can be considered. In this context, I believe that the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials should face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate actions to provide remedies for the affected homeowners.

In March of last year, my Department met with a number of private homeowners from County Mayo whose homes are affected by structural problems. The problems appear to concern approximately 15 private houses and the period of construction for the houses involved was 1997 to 2002. My Department was also made aware of problems associated with the cracking of concrete blocks in approximately three local authority estates in County Mayo involving some 17 dwellings.

Similar to the position in County Mayo, my Department met with a number of private homeowners from County Donegal in December last. At that meeting, my Department requested copies of test reports from accredited laboratories, that may have been commissioned from homeowners, on the affected concrete blocks in order to provide a robust and scientific insight into the problems that have emerged in north Donegal. I understand that arrangements are now underway to forward copies of such reports to my Department which will be considered in due course.

Library Services

Questions (258, 259)

Brendan Smith

Question:

258. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm there will be no change to the status of the County Cavan library headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9816/15]

Brendan Smith

Question:

259. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of the County Monaghan library headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9817/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 277 and 278 of 5th February, 2015. The position is unchanged.