Written Answers Nos. 866-874
866. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current and-or expected position regarding the Kilmacreddock/Ballygoran group sewerage scheme which was submitted for approval to his Department some time ago; if the application was recommended by Kildare County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11175/15]
View answer919. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government whether he has appraised or approved the submission he received from Kildare County Council in respect of the Barrogstown, Kilmacreddock group-small sewerage scheme; if the technical submissions and amendments are acceptable; if he will approve the costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12075/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 866 and 919 together.
I assume the Question relates to the proposed Kilmacreddock/Barrogstown Group Sewerage Scheme.
Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Water Programme, which includes group sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997.
The annual block grant allocations provided by my Department to the local authorities under the programme are based, in the first instance, on the requests for funding received from the authorities at the beginning of each year. The authorities' requests for funding under the 2015 Rural Water Programme are being examined by my Department with a view to informing authorities of their 2015 allocations as soon as possible.
Kildare County Council's request for funding under the Programme, and its submissions relating to Kilmacreddock/Barrogstown group sewerage scheme, form part of this examination.
868. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the next round of Leader funding and community development grants will to be announced; and made available. [11199/15]
View answer884. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the process behind the allocation of funding, per county, under the Leader programme; the criteria to determine the level of funding allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11486/15]
View answer900. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria used in allocating funds under the Leader programme 2014 to 2020; the amount allocated to each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11787/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 868, 884 and 900 together.
Under the EU regulatory framework governing the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, each EU Member State must conduct an open and transparent process to select both the Local Development Strategies and the Local Action Group for each sub-regional area. Accordingly, my Department is conducting a two stage process. The first stage, which is an Expressions of Interest (EOI) stage, was launched on 23 March 2015 and any entity wishing to be considered as a Local Action Group for their area has until 15 May 2015 to submit an EOI. Further details are available on my Department's website on http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/RuralDevelopment/EURuralDevelopment/RuralDevelopmentProgrammeLEADER2014-2020/SelectionProcessforLEADER2014-2020/
Entities successful in the first stage of the process will be invited and supported in Stage Two of the process, which is the design of a Local Development Strategy for their area. I expect that some Local Development Strategies will be operational and funding available by late Autumn 2015.
€220 million of the LEADER Programme allocation of €250 million has been allocated by my Department to the 28 sub-regional areas. €15 million from the remainder of the fund is allocated for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine Artisan Foods Initiative, €5m for the REDZ Initiative and €10 million for cooperation projects.
EU Regulation 1303/2013 which governs the Rural Development Programme states that it is the responsibility of the Member State to “define criteria for the selection of community led local development strategies”. In this context it was decided to determine county allocations in advance of beginning Stage One of the selection process. This will allow any entity that wishes to make an application to deliver the Programme to tailor their strategy for their area accordingly. I believe that this process will support the design and development of more robust and implementable strategies.
In determining the county allocations three objective criteria were used, namely, minimum allocation, population density and a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). Each Sub-Regional area was given a minimum allocation of €3 million to ensure that each county received a viable allocation in line with European Commission guidelines. Cork was allocated €6 million as a minimum in order to ensure a viable allocation to each of the three administrative districts within the county. The fact that the population in Cork, outside the city, is almost twice that of any other county and more than three times many, was also taken into consideration. Nationally, these minimum allocations total €81 million.
A measure of population density (county population divided by km2) was used to distribute one half of the remaining fund (€69.5m). An 'average amount' based on 26 counties was calculated. Each county's population density was then compared to the average population density for the country. For those counties where the density was above or below average the average amount was adjusted upwards (below average) or downwards (above average) based on the percentage deviation from the average to determine an allocation to each county.
The second half of the remaining fund (€69.5m) was allocated to each county using a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). The model was developed by Trutz Haase using information from the 2011 census and the Trutz Haase deprivation index as a measure of deprivation. The underlying variables of the model include consideration of demographic decline, social class deprivation and labour market deprivation. The model also used CSO area classification to measure the urban-rural spectrum. These calculations were weighted towards rural areas and considered areas with low and medium deprivation.
The final allocations for each county determined using the methodology outlined above is set out in Table 1.
Table 1: LEADER Allocations 2014-2020
|
County |
Programme Allocation |
|
Rural Dublin |
€6,370,438.43 |
|
Kildare |
€5,261,600.01 |
|
Meath |
€6,903,123.57 |
|
Wicklow |
€6,336,549.00 |
|
Carlow |
€6,416,803.43 |
|
Kilkenny |
€7,791,572.91 |
|
Wexford |
€9,840,140.56 |
|
Tipperary |
€10,103,443.28 |
|
County Waterford |
€7,522,796.18 |
|
County Cork |
€13,938,823.22 |
|
Kerry |
€10,219,868.29 |
|
Clare |
€8,920,224.65 |
|
County Limerick |
€9,276,593.96 |
|
County Galway |
€12,195,883.61 |
|
Mayo |
€11,121,431.88 |
|
Roscommon |
€8,852,659.22 |
|
Louth |
€6,101,862.01 |
|
Leitrim |
€5,998,474.74 |
|
Sligo |
€7,655,647.81 |
|
Cavan |
€8,522,285.84 |
|
Donegal |
€12,913,877.86 |
|
Monaghan |
€7,592,719.51 |
|
Laois |
€7,124,586.86 |
|
Longford |
€7,597,623.07 |
|
Offaly |
€8,036,763.90 |
|
Westmeath |
€7,384,206.22 |
|
Total |
€220,000,000.00 |
869. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will intervene in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Cork on humanitarian grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11218/15]
View answerMy Department provides funding to local authorities for various social housing supports, including for adaptations and extensions to the social housing stock to meet the needs of local authority tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding. Funding provided by my Department meets 90% of the cost of the works, with each local authority providing the remaining 10%.
My Department is currently liaising with all local authorities in relation to requirements for 2015. The administration of this funding locally is a matter for each local authority, including decisions in relation to the projects to be implemented and the prioritisation of projects.
870. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the problem of seagulls creating serious noise pollution for Dublin city residents and in view of similar recent difficulties being experienced at the Department of Health, Hawkins House, Dublin 2 and in the context of this bird species being diverted away from Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island, his plans to deal with the problem; the measures that urban dwellers affected by the problem can take; if any official/section within his Department could liaise with affected residents to assist with the problem which seems to be having a very negative impact on the quality of life of some residents particularly those at location (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11239/15]
View answerSection 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act 1992 provides local authorities with powers to require measures to be taken to prevent or limit noise. The Environment Section of Dublin City Council is the appropriate contact point for reporting a noise nuisance in this regard. However, these powers are aimed at mitigating noise of human origin emanating from any premises, processes or works and would not necessarily be suited for addressing nature derived noise from birds or other wildlife.
My Department has been informed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that all wild birds, including seagulls, are protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 and the European Communities Birds Directive. There is a facility under the legislation for a person to obtain a permit from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to take certain actions including the scaring, capturing or killing of birds where they are causing serious damage to buildings and other structures, food, agricultural crops, forestry plantations, other fauna, etc. However, noise disturbance levels would generally not constitute a valid reason for the issuing of any such permit.
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has further advised that the easy availability of a food source or the brightness of artificial light may be contributing factors to the bird behaviours in question.
871. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on local authorities withholding housing grants and other such payments on the grounds that the household charge and-or local property tax was not paid on the property by the owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11250/15]
View answerMy Department makes funding allocations to local authorities for the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The detailed administration of these schemes, including the apportionment of funding between the various grant schemes and the assessment, approval and payment of grants to individual applicants under the various grant measures, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
Applicants are required to include with their grant application proof that they are compliant with the local property tax.
872. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who was awarded a housing assistance payment by Cork County Council, can obtain payment for the period between application and award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11289/15]
View answerThe implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published on 26 November 2014. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment. HAP will also improve regulation of the rented accommodation being supported and provide certainty for landlords as regards their rental income.
Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September 2014 in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council. HAP commenced in Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin and Monaghan County Councils from 1 October 2014. Subsequently, on 18 December 2014, Dublin City Council became part of the statutory HAP pilot, with a specific focus on accommodating homeless households. Dublin City Council is implementing the HAP pilot for homeless households in the Dublin region on behalf of all four Dublin local authorities, including Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
There are now more than 1,200 households being supported by HAP across the local authority areas taking part in the statutory pilot scheme. The first phase of the pilot has allowed for significant learning that will be applied to the next phase of the pilot.
While I cannot comment on individual cases, I can confirm that all valid and complete HAP applications are processed in a timely and efficient manner by the shared services HAP transaction centre operated by Limerick City and County Council. Subject to certain conditions, a payment to a landlord, net of the tenant contribution for the relevant period, can now be backdated to the date of receipt of a valid and complete HAP application by a local authority. If an applicant wishes to make an inquiry regarding an application they should contact their local authority directly.
874. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reasons, under section 12 of the Water Services Act 2014, Uisce Éireann/Irish Water was excluded from having to pay commercial rates to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11340/15]
View answerThere were three key elements to the Government's decision in November 2014 on water charges – making the charges more affordable, providing more certainty in relation to the charges and the introduction of a simpler charging structure.
In making the charges more affordable the Government carefully examined Irish Water's operational expenditure. In that context, Irish Water's allowed revenue which was approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation continues to apply, save for the impact of a changed approach to commercial rates for water services infrastructure. Such rates were considered by the Regulator to be an 'uncontrollable' or pass through cost for Irish Water. By introducing an exemption from rates for any land or infrastructure used for the provision of public water services, this pass through cost will no longer form part of Irish Water's operational expenditure.
Local authorities will not suffer any loss of revenue as my Department will pay equivalent amounts to each authority from the Local Government Fund to replace the anticipated income from rates. The total budgeted amount for such payments in 2015 is €59m.
