Written Answers Nos. 250-259
250. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there were no minutes of meetings held between his Department and Bord Gáis Energy on dates (details supplied); the subject of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12519/15]
View answerThe Government decided on 17 April 2012 to establish Irish Water as an independent state owned company within the Bord Gáis Group (now Ervia). This was communicated to Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) by letter, in which in it was indicated that achieving the transition of water services would require a collaborative approach with stakeholders, particularly recognising that Irish Water has significant interdependencies with the local government sector both through Service Level Agreements and through local authorities' other statutory functions. The letter pointed out that an implementation plan for the establishment of Irish Water was being developed by a steering group overseen by my Department and that it would be important that BGE be involved in the finalisation of this plan, so that it had a clear understanding on the milestones that it would have to deliver upon.
It was against this background that a series of meetings were held with BGE representatives in the period April to August 2012. In parallel, the Department was meeting with other stakeholders and was developing the overall implementation plan with the support of PWC. This plan was ultimately approved by Government in October 2012 and published in December 2012. It set out 77 high level milestones required to deliver on the commitments under the Programme for Government and the Troika Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, to establish Irish Water, introduce economic regulation and commence domestic charging based on a national metering programme.
Within this framework, BGE developed a detailed Programme Initiation Document, which is available in the Oireachtas Library, that details the required inputs across all of the areas to set up the utility and deliver on the metering programme within the agreed timescales. This document was provided to the Department in August 2012 and informed the finalisation of the overarching implementation plan. Various meetings were held as this documentation was being developed. Many of these were simply briefing/progress monitoring meetings which did not require minutes as the outcomes were being reflected in the evolving strategy documents. Records were kept, where appropriate, of any decisions or key progress issues. All key decisions were subject to Ministerial or Government approval, as required.
251. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the future of funding for the scheme to support national organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12538/15]
View answerThe funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were subject to an appraisal process. 55 applications were approved for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. A number of previously funded organisations were not approved for funding on this occasion.
Pobal were asked to undertake the management of the scheme and, in that context, put in place a dedicated team to deal with any inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback. Furthermore, an appeals process was put in place, on foot of which Pobal submitted a report, which is currently being considered.
On 18 July 2014, it was announced that bridging funding of €1.4million would be allocated for a twelve month period to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations that were not approved for funding under the new scheme, pending the carrying out of a review of the public funding of national organisations in the health and disability sector. This bridging funding in 2014/2015 will enable organisations to plan for their future, whether with or without State support, such as that provided under the SSNO. Details of the bridging funding provided are set out in the table below.
It should be noted that the review process is well underway and is being advanced in consultation with the Department of Health. The review is designed to rationalise the funding of these organisations to ensure efficiency in the use of public money and avoidance of duplication, while providing appropriate support to organisations working in the sector. The Health Service Executive and Pobal are also participating in the review. All organisations in receipt of bridging funding have been contacted to make submissions as part of the review process. I intend to complete and publish the outcome of the review in the coming months.
|
Bridge Funding Provided – 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 |
- |
|
Arthritis Ireland |
53,882 |
|
Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland Ltd |
41,448 |
|
Asthma Society of Ireland |
41,448 |
|
Breaking Through Limited |
58,028 |
|
Chronic Pain Ireland Limited |
37,304 |
|
Dyslexia Association of Ireland |
62,172 |
|
Genetic and Inherited Disorders Organisation Ltd |
16,580 |
|
GROW in Ireland |
16,580 |
|
Huntington's Disease Association of Ireland Limited |
19,066 |
|
Irish Deaf Society The National Association of the Deaf Limited |
62,172 |
|
Irish Heart Foundation |
41,448 |
|
Irish Mountain Rescue Association |
58,028 |
|
Irish National Council of Attention Deficit Disorder Support (INCADDS) |
33,158 |
|
Irish Stammering Association |
24,868 |
|
Migraine Association of Ireland Ltd |
29,014 |
|
Motor Neuron disease Association |
24,868 |
|
MOVE Ireland |
41,448 |
|
Muintir na Tíre |
70,462 |
|
Muscular Dystrophy Ireland |
37,304 |
|
National Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland Limited |
37,304 |
|
National Association for Youth Drama Ltd |
29,014 |
|
New Communities Partnership (NCP) Ltd |
74,606 |
|
Peter Bradley Foundation Limited |
41,448 |
|
Post Polio Support Group Limited |
24,868 |
|
Safe Ireland |
74,606 |
|
Show Racism The Red Card Limited |
29,014 |
|
Suas Educational Development |
37,304 |
|
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland |
62,172 |
|
The Carers Association Limited |
62,172 |
|
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland |
49,738 |
|
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland |
49,738 |
|
The Union of Voluntary Organisations of People with Disabilities |
45,592 |
252. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of Leader programme funding awarded by county in each of the past seven years and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12561/15]
View answerLEADER funding for the 2007-2013 programming period was not allocated based on county boundaries but to individual Local Action Groups on completion of the Local Development Strategy process. In addition to this, the allocations changed in 2012 when the EU co-financing rate changed due to the financial crisis and this resulted in a decrease in the overall programme allocation.
Table 1 details the initial allocations for each Local Action Group for the 2007-2013 programme period, while Table 2 sets out the 2013 revised allocations. Table 3 details the expenditure by group to March 2015.
Table 1: Original LAG Allocations
|
LAG |
Original Programme Allocation |
|
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd. |
€9,057,810 |
|
Ballyhoura Development Ltd. |
€11,673,519 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd |
€8,878,177 |
|
Cavan-Monaghan LEADER |
€12,035,118 |
|
Cill Dara Ar Aghaidh Teo |
€12,282,448 |
|
Clare Local Development Company Ltd. |
€14,028,529 |
|
Co Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
€11,523,729 |
|
Co Wicklow Community Partnership |
€11,135,560 |
|
Co. Sligo LEADER Partnership Company Ltd |
€10,888,673 |
|
Comhar na nOileáin Teoranta |
€4,642,415 |
|
Donegal Local Development Company Ltd. |
€12,831,901 |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership Co. |
€7,766,780 |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd. |
€9,668,965 |
|
Galway Rural Development Company |
€15,257,985 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership |
€8,286,143 |
|
IRD Duhallow Ltd. |
€10,315,943 |
|
Laois Community and Enterprise Dev |
€10,993,608 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Co Ltd |
€10,845,497 |
|
Longford Community Resources Ltd |
€8,714,110 |
|
Louth LEADER Partnership |
€8,839,815 |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. |
€10,751,894 |
|
Meath Community Rural and Social Dev. |
€12,748,771 |
|
North East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teo |
€10,558,882 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
€9,708,008 |
|
Offaly Integrated Local Dev Co. Ltd. |
€11,520,489 |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Company |
€12,838,021 |
|
South and East Cork Area Dev Ltd. |
€10,641,494 |
|
South Kerry Development Ltd. |
€12,370,667 |
|
South Tipperary Local Development Co Ltd |
€11,106,187 |
|
South West Mayo Development Company Ltd |
€12,150,007 |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
€10,558,519 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
€14,601,149 |
|
West Limerick Resources Ltd |
€9,997,751 |
|
Westmeath Community Development Ltd |
€10,987,060 |
|
Wexford Local Development |
€12,515,565 |
|
Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta |
€17,278,809 |
|
Overall Total |
€399,999,998 |
Table 2: Revised LAG allocations
|
LAG |
December 2013 Revised Allocation |
|
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Limited |
7,563,093 |
|
Ballyhoura Development Limited |
18,832,677 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership |
7,619,278 |
|
Cavan Partnership Ltd. & County Monaghan |
10,235,403 |
|
Clare Local Development Company Limited |
16,175,841 |
|
Comhar na nOileáin Teoranta |
7,218,571 |
|
County Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Limited |
13,587,910 |
|
County Sligo LEADER Partnership Company |
9,791,787 |
|
Donegal Local Development Company Limited |
12,693,035 |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership |
6,488,129 |
|
FORUM Connemara |
7,925,982 |
|
Galway Rural Development Company Limited |
12,512,676 |
|
I.R.D. Duhallow |
12,852,160 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership |
7,410,663 |
|
Kildare (Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta) |
10,642,073 |
|
Laois Community & Enterprise Development |
9,564,731 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Company |
10,332,659 |
|
Longford Community Resources Limited |
7,198,679 |
|
Louth LEADER Partnership |
7,265,162 |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company |
9,663,562 |
|
Meath Partnership |
15,139,043 |
|
Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta |
3,371,751 |
|
North & East Kerry LEADER Partnership |
9,267,641 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Company |
12,917,884 |
|
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company |
10,856,445 |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development |
11,230,957 |
|
South East Cork Area Development Limited |
10,600,928 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership Limited |
10,341,450 |
|
South Tipperary Local Development Company |
12,515,649 |
|
South West Mayo Development Company |
10,820,318 |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Limited |
11,486,013 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership |
13,481,280 |
|
West Limerick Resources |
9,091,221 |
|
Westmeath Community Development |
9,015,451 |
|
Wexford Local Development |
11,919,814 |
|
Wicklow Partnership |
9,128,172 |
|
Total |
376,758,090 |
Table 3: Spend to date per LAG
|
LAG |
Projects paid at 18 March 2015 |
Animation claimed at 1 March 2015 |
Administration claimed at 1 March 2015 |
Total Amount Paid |
|
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd. |
€5,273,323 |
€392,644 |
€1,410,825 |
€7,076,792 |
|
Ballyhoura Development Ltd. |
€14,303,843 |
€511,560 |
€2,736,185 |
€17,551,588 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership Ltd |
€5,609,446 |
€273,344 |
€1,500,684 |
€7,383,474 |
|
Cavan-Monaghan LEADER |
€7,769,506 |
€215,224 |
€2,072,654 |
€10,057,384 |
|
Cill Dara Ar Aghaidh Teo |
€7,207,618 |
€459,949 |
€2,160,014 |
€9,827,580 |
|
Clare Local Development Company Ltd. |
€11,689,455 |
€555,093 |
€2,379,612 |
€14,624,160 |
|
Co Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
€8,966,369 |
€477,126 |
€1,966,183 |
€11,409,678 |
|
Co Wicklow Community Partnership |
€6,356,859 |
€286,845 |
€1,659,999 |
€8,303,703 |
|
Co. Sligo LEADER Partnership Company Ltd |
€7,322,644 |
€462,258 |
€1,351,523 |
€9,136,424 |
|
Comhar na nOileáin Teoranta |
€5,210,632 |
€289,232 |
€1,110,714 |
€6,610,578 |
|
Donegal Local Development Company Ltd. |
€9,539,906 |
€467,921 |
€2,408,598 |
€12,416,424 |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership Co. |
€2,763,509 |
€144,454 |
€1,133,858 |
€4,041,821 |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd. |
€4,575,623 |
€32,507 |
€1,493,000 |
€6,101,130 |
|
Galway Rural Development Company |
€9,048,078 |
€253,487 |
€2,378,132 |
€11,679,696 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership |
€5,791,797 |
€190,640 |
€1,313,146 |
€7,295,583 |
|
IRD Duhallow Ltd. |
€9,542,727 |
€412,637 |
€1,873,899 |
€11,829,263 |
|
Laois Community and Enterprise Dev |
€7,136,531 |
€63,611 |
€1,725,642 |
€8,925,784 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Co Ltd |
€7,538,160 |
€259,389 |
€1,884,153 |
€9,681,702 |
|
Longford Community Resources Ltd |
€4,972,197 |
€206,171 |
€1,303,384 |
€6,481,752 |
|
Louth LEADER Partnership |
€5,356,904 |
€183,953 |
€1,491,914 |
€7,032,771 |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. |
€3,501,000 |
€178,757 |
€1,618,187 |
€5,297,943 |
|
Meath Community Rural and Social Dev. |
€7,625,916 |
€458,468 |
€2,275,763 |
€10,360,147 |
|
North East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teo |
€6,560,640 |
€235,553 |
€1,885,686 |
€8,681,878 |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
€10,059,989 |
€130,701 |
€1,913,437 |
€12,104,127 |
|
Offaly Integrated Local Dev Co. Ltd. |
€8,141,627 |
€528,304 |
€1,571,414 |
€10,241,345 |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Company |
€7,962,644 |
€616,972 |
€2,004,477 |
€10,584,093 |
|
South and East Cork Area Dev Ltd. |
€7,482,255 |
€544,211 |
€1,663,990 |
€9,690,456 |
|
South Kerry Development Ltd. |
€7,721,071 |
€259,328 |
€2,062,632 |
€10,043,031 |
|
South Tipperary Local Development Co Ltd |
€9,582,785 |
€124,825 |
€1,907,490 |
€11,615,100 |
|
South West Mayo Development Company Ltd |
€7,690,485 |
€633,435 |
€1,857,831 |
€10,181,751 |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
€8,558,224 |
€175,586 |
€2,200,209 |
€10,934,019 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
€10,054,789 |
€578,746 |
€2,463,705 |
€13,097,240 |
|
West Limerick Resources Ltd |
€6,777,912 |
€223,193 |
€1,853,359 |
€8,854,463 |
|
Westmeath Community Development Ltd |
€6,162,618 |
€526,763 |
€1,507,555 |
€8,196,936 |
|
Wexford Local Development |
€9,231,497 |
€371,698 |
€1,771,209 |
€11,374,405 |
|
Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta * |
€1,968,043 |
€119,619 |
€1,284,089 |
€3,371,751 |
|
Overall Total |
€265,056,619 |
€11,844,204 |
€65,195,151 |
€342,095,975 |
* Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) went into liquidation in 2012.
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his attention has been drawn to the housing needs of Army overholders at the Curragh, County Kildare; the number accommodated through the local authority over the past ten years; the extent to which it might be expected to meet these needs in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12587/15]
View answerI understand that the term over-holder is used to describe former members of the Defence Forces and their families who have refused to leave military married quarters within 21 days of retiring or resigning from military service. Where such persons leave military quarters and are in need of housing, it is open to them to apply to their local authority for social housing support and be assessed in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in the Housing Acts and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011. Decisions on the qualification of households for social housing support is a matter for the housing authority concerned, and I am precluded by law from becoming involved in individual cases. My Department does not hold information on the number of such over-holders accommodated by local authorities.
The broader issue of former members of the Defence Forces and their families remaining in married military quarters on the camp after resigning or retiring from military service is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Defence.
254. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount allocated in 2014 to each local authority under the housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability; the amount that will be allocated to each county in 2015; when the 2015 scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12598/15]
View answerFunding provided by my Department to local authorities for the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/, by selecting 'Social and Affordable Housing', 'Housing Adaptation Grants by Area 2008 to date'.
Exchequer funding of over €37 million was provided by my Department to local authorities in 2014 for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Combined with an additional 20% contribution by individual local authorities, there was an overall spend last year of €46.3 million in this area. I am pleased to confirm that the 2015 amount will increase by some 10% to give a combined spend of €50.5 million and the individual allocations will be made to local authorities shortly.
255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow redress for homeowners who have already completed the overdue and necessary remedial works to their dwelling as a result of pyrite, under the pyrite remediation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12623/15]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework within which the pyrite remediation scheme must operate. It is not a compensation scheme and section 14(8) of the Act specifically states that homeowners cannot seek the recoupment of costs associated with the remediation of a dwelling undertaken prior to the commencement of the scheme. I have no plans to amend the legislation in this regard.
The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” for affected homeowners who have no other practical option to obtain redress. Inclusion in the scheme is predicated, inter alia, on the dwelling being subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave, and where this can be verified having regard to I.S. 398 -1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and Categorisation, as published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, prior to works commencing. This is in line with how similar Government schemes operate or have operated in the past, where prior approval is a key eligibility requirement f or inclusion in a scheme.
In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the supplier and/or their respective insurers, and in the event that the parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation, the option of seeking redress in the Courts is available.
256. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of items of legislation that were submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by his Department since 2011; his plans to allow pre-legislative scrutiny for any upcoming pieces of legislation from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12409/15]
View answerTo date there have been no Bills initiated in my Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas, which was introduced with effect from November, 2013.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications will be meeting with my Department in April to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny in relation to the Minerals Development Bill.
There are a number of other Bills currently in preparation in the Department which will be brought to the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course. Where feasible these Bills, in accordance with pre- legislative scrutiny requirements, will also be sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications for consideration.
257. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Questions Nos.185 and 186 of 25 February 2015, when Ervia will respond directly to this Deputy on the questions asked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12518/15]
View answerAs I indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 185 and 186 of 20 February last, these are operational matters for Ervia and not an area in which I have any role or function.
I understand that the company has written to the Deputy in recent days to arrange a meeting in order to provide a comprehensive briefing on the pay model and exactly how it is applied in the company.
258. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an assessment of the cost savings and other benefits, to date, arising from the installation of energy-efficient public lighting as a pilot project in Crossmolina, County Mayo, in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12521/15]
View answerImproving energy efficiency in the public sector offers a key opportunity to reduce both public expenditure and harmful emissions, while improving value for money and public service delivery. This is why a target of improving public sector energy efficiency by 33% by 2020 has been set as part of Ireland's National Energy Efficiency Action Plan.
Public lighting is one of the larger areas of energy use in the public sector. The implementation of energy efficient public lighting projects is led primarily by Local Authorities. The project to which the Deputy refers was developed by Mayo County Council with support from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) through the Better Energy Programme. I am advised by the SEAI that very positive progress has being made by Mayo County Council on this project, which I understand has broken new ground in the approach to the technical solutions being applied and in public engagement. Furthermore, it tested new approaches to financing through using the Energy Service Company (ESCo) model. The project is expected to provide very useful lessons for other Local Authorities, among which there is considerable interest in realising the potential for greater energy efficiency, and financial savings, in public lighting. Should the Deputy wish to find out more, I recommend she contacts Mayo County Council directly. My officials can supply the relevant contact details.
I would also like to advise the Deputy that the SEAI's annual report on energy use in the public sector has been finalised and will be published shortly. A Public Sector Energy Efficiency Action Plan is also in preparation with a view to completion by the middle of this year. The purpose of the Action Plan is to set out the actions each sector within the public service can take to build upon the progress made to date towards the 2020 target.
259. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has quantified the potential loss to Irish businesses from cross-border cyber attacks; if he has considered taking action to address this potential serious risk to businesses, should they become a victim of cyber attacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12638/15]
View answerAs with other countries, Ireland's information society increasingly relies upon the Internet and Internet based services to conduct everyday business. The State, critical infrastructure, businesses and citizens depend upon the reliable functioning of information and communication technologies and of the Internet. Any significant disruption to these systems, regardless of the cause, poses a threat to the functioning of the State and the economy, and can have profound effects on the daily life of citizens and on the operation of business. Any threat to the resilience and security of these systems and services therefore requires a robust and coherent response, both nationally and at an EU level.
Cyber attacks can be very diverse in character, origin and seriousness, meaning that preparing for and responding to these threats is far from simple. In 2011, the Government approved the establishment of a Computer Security and Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE) in my Department and this team has since been working across Government to secure government systems and information. Cyber security experts in my Department participate in regular national, EU and international emergency response exercises, as well as providing expert advise to Government Departments and industry stakeholders on individual cyber attacks. In 2012, my Department, in partnership with industry sponsors, re-launched the “Make-IT-Secure” campaign that aims to inform small and medium sized businesses and the general public on steps they can take to improve their own cyber security.
My Department is presently in the final stages of preparing a new national cyber security strategy. This strategy will include further development of awareness raising measures, highlighting in particular the responsibilities of businesses around securing their networks, devices and information and providing support to them in this by means of information, training and voluntary codes of practice.
My Department also co-operates and engages intensively with EU and international stakeholders on cyber security matters. An EU Network and Information Security Directive is currently being finalised in Brussels and will contain obligations for specific sectors of business considered vital to the economies and societies of Member States. Such obligations will involve taking appropriate steps to manage security risks, to report serious cyber incidents and to comply with specific security requirements. When finalised, my Department will prepare legislation to transpose this Directive into national law at the earliest opportunity.
