Written Answers Nos. 610-28
610. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a schedule for the roll-out of the Housing Assistance Payment in County Kildare by Kildare County Council; his views that this will help alleviate the housing crisis throughout the country, where some persons are waiting eight years or more for the provision of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24973/15]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy’s targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand. The Strategy will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 targets the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units and 32,400 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units, by the end of 2017. In phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, the strategy targets the delivery of 17,000 additional units and 43,000 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) units. In addition, the implementation of the range of actions under the Construction 2020 Strategy will support increased supply in the wider housing market.
Local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas. It is a matter for each local authority to identify the appropriate initiatives to respond to their housing need, including consideration by them of options in respect of new building developments, property acquisition, leasing and the provision of housing supports through the private rental sector.
The implementation of HAP 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 4 Dublin local authorities.
During the legislation’s passage through the Oireachtas in July 2014 an undertaking was given that a progress report would be prepared for the relevant Oireachtas Committee. I can confirm that data from the pilot sites has been gathered and I submitted a report to the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht at the end of April 2015. Based on the findings of that review, the second phase of the HAP statutory pilot has recently commenced with the HAP scheme becoming operational in Donegal County Council on 25 May 2015 and in Offaly County Council on the 15 June 2015. HAP will become operational in Carlow, Clare and Tipperary County Councils and Cork City Council from 29 June 2015. Consideration is currently being given to the sequencing of a further cohort of local authorities to commence HAP on an incremental basis this year. While no implementation date has yet been confirmed, my Department is working with Kildare County Council to make the necessary arrangements for their inclusion in the next phase of the pilot.
611. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 788 of 16 June 2015, whether his reply applies to grade 6 and 7 inspectors in local authorities, who are analogous to the clerical administrative grades, working in the local authorities around the country; and if not, if there is a separate circular dealing with covering grade 6 and 7 inspectors. [24975/15]
View answerIt is my understanding that the Question relates to outdoor working staff. In the case of outdoor workers, currently, the rules as set out in the Public Service Stability Agreement (Haddington Road Agreement), and referred to in the reply to Question No. 788 of 16 June 2015, apply with the exception that overtime is only payable for hours worked in excess of the normal working week and is calculated with reference to a working week of 39 hours regardless of the number of hours normally worked by employees. In the normal course of events prior authorisation must be obtained to work overtime and to be reimbursed for overtime.
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, implementation of rules governing overtime is a matter for each Chief Executive.
612. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding in respect of a community centre (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24982/15]
View answerThere are no measures or programmes currently open within my Department which can provide funding for this organisation.
613. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter regarding the high lead content in a water supply (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25006/15]
View answer614. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason those with high lead content in their water supply have to pay water charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25010/15]
View answer615. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason households earning more than €75,000 per annum do not receive any grant assistance towards the cost of replacing lead water pipes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25011/15]
View answer627. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 811 of 16 June 2015, his views on the discrepancy between his statement that the allowable level for lead was 10 micrograms per litre, with the information on the Health Service Executive website, which states that no level of lead in drinking water is now considered to be completely safe. [25142/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 to 615, inclusive, and 627 together.
With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied complies with the chemical and microbiological parameters set out in the Regulations. The Regulations implement the EU Drinking Water Directive in Ireland. The maximum allowable value for lead is 10 microgrammes per litre, which came into effect on 25 December 2013.
In a joint position paper on lead published by the EPA and HSE in 2013, it is recommended that all lead pipes and plumbing in public and private ownership should be replaced over time. The Water Services Act 2007 provides that the owner of a premises is responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the internal water distribution system. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes from the property boundary to the house and within the house therefore rests with the homeowner. The position paper acknowledges that while, in its Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (2011), the World Health Organisation (WHO) considered that while there is no tolerable threshold dose for lead in drinking water, the WHO also recommended that a guideline value of 10 microgrammes per litre was acceptable.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory authority with responsibility for monitoring Irish Water’s compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations. In the event of non-compliance with the quality standards set out in the Regulations, the water supplier is required to investigate the cause in consultation with the EPA and, if a potential risk to human health exists, with the Health Service Executive (HSE), to ensure that the appropriate remedial actions are taken, including the issue of notifications to consumers affected and, if appropriate, restriction of the supply. A case by case approach will be considered by Irish Water, in line with its statutory responsibilities and in recognition of the statutory responsibilities of the HSE and the EPA. I have no role in the monitoring or supervision of water services and, as the proper procedures are being followed in relation to this matter, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere with the process by meeting with residents of St. Anne’s at this time. A comprehensive reply to a letter received from the chairperson of the residents committee of Saint Anne’s Estate, Raheny was issued by my Department in February 2015 in relation to these matters.
The Water Charges Policy Direction issued to the Commission for Energy Regulation in July 2014 referred to a number of matters relating to domestic water charges, including where the quality of water services provided by Irish Water to customers is impaired or where services are reduced or restricted. Where a customer is subject to a drinking water restriction notice, affected customers will receive a 100% discount to the water supply portion of their bill for the duration of the restriction. I understand that lead exceedances in the Raheny area have been reported to the EPA arising from samples taken at individual private dwellings. The EPA has indicated to my Department that, in each case, its investigations have concluded that the appropriate actions were taken and advice was given to the householders concerned. However, no water restriction under the Drinking Water Regulations has been issued to residents of the area in question.
Earlier this month I announced a National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water which has been approved by the Government. The Strategy was prepared by my Department and the Department of Health in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA. As part of the Strategy I will be establishing a new grant scheme to assist with the replacement of lead pipes in homes. Funding for the scheme will be finalised in the context of Budget 2016. It is envisaged that the grant scheme will be administered by local authorities and that the available resources will be prioritised to areas of highest risk. It will be important to ensure that the limited financial resources available are targeted where needed most, particularly to householders on lower incomes. Income thresholds will therefore apply.
The terms and conditions of the scheme will be publicised as soon as they are finalised. Householders who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the new scheme 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 plumbing works. 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.
616. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the way moneys received from the national lottery fund in 2013 were spent on each project to which they were directed, including projects that were part-funded and wholly-funded from the fund; if he will indicate, for each such part-funded project, where the balance of funding was sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25026/15]
View answer617. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form, the amount of money that was received by his Department from the national lottery fund in each of the years 2009 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; if he will provide a detailed breakdown indicating the way this money was spent, or otherwise directed, for each of these years; if any moneys are held in reserve arising from funds received over this period or before; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25042/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together.
Responsibility for the allocation of National Lottery funding to Departmental expenditure programmes generally is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The surplus generated by the National Lottery for good causes is transferred annually to the Exchequer and is applied to part-fund the Exchequer allocations to a specified range of expenditure subheads across a number of Departments, including my Department.
The amount transferred to the Exchequer from the National Lottery surplus, together with details of the total Exchequer allocations to the relevant Lottery supported subheads, is published each year by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services (REV) which are available online at http://www.per.gov.ie/estpubexp2013/.
The table below sets out the total national lottery funding (some €107.488m) allocated to my Department in the last six years; no portion of this funding has been kept in reserve.
National Lottery Funding 2009-2014
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
€14,282,000 |
€16,929,534 |
€18,719,885 |
€21,277,795 |
€18,569,626 |
€17,709,605 |
The table below sets out details of the National Lottery funding provided to programmes in my Department in 2013.
Subheads part funded by the National Lottery in 2013
|
PROGRAMS |
FUNDING |
|
A.4. Social housing provision and support (part funded by National Lottery) |
€430,869 |
|
A.7 Private housing adaptation - grants and other supports (part funded by National Lottery) |
€5,548,267 |
|
E.3 Supports for community and voluntary sector (part funded by National Lottery) |
€5,960,262 |
|
E.4 Local and community development programmes (part funded by National Lottery) |
€6,630,228 |
|
Total |
€18,569,626 |
Comprehensive details broken out to individual project level in respect of lottery funding 2009 – 2014 are published on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/CorporateServices/DeptFinance/
618. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of social housing units that were delivered through the provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, in each respective year that the policy was active, and providing details of the units provided and their location. [25055/15]
View answerMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. Data on the number of social housing units, that were delivered through the provisions under Part V, broken down by year and location, are included within this range, and are available on my Department’s website at : http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls on the “Part V Scheme 2002 to date” link under the “Pathways to Home Ownership including Part V” heading. However, details on the type of unit provided is not available.
620. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the number of social housing units it is believed are needed to tackle the local authority waiting list; based on the type of unit, for example, one-bedroom, two-bedroom or three-bedroom. [25057/15]
View answerThe Summary of Social Housing Assessments 2013 identified 89,872 households assessed by local housing authorities as being eligible and in need of some form of social housing support. The 2013 Summary results were analysed by the Housing Agency and on the basis of the certain assumptions and having regard to housing support mechanisms including the roll-out of the Housing Assistance Payment, a requirement was identified for an additional 35,000 properties for social housing.
The Social Housing Strategy’s targeted provision of over 110,000 social housing units to 2020, through the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and meeting the housing needs of some 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme, will address the needs of the 90,000 households on the housing waiting list in full, with flexibility to meet potential future demand.
Local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas. It is a matter for each local authority to identify the appropriate social housing initiatives and supports, as well as the types of units required to meet the social housing need in their respective functional areas and to bring forward specific proposals to meet the housing need in their areas.
On 5 May 2015, I announced funding of €312 million for the first tranche of the local authority direct-build social housing programme under the Strategy. This announcement covers some 100 separate housing projects, providing 1,700 units across all 31 local authorities and details are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm.
Further announcements of new unit delivery under the Capital Assistance Scheme and the broader social housing investment programmes will be made in the coming weeks and months.
621. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the average cost of a social leasing unit. [25058/15]
View answer622. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of all social leasing arrangements at present, and their annual cost, by local authority area. [25059/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together.
Based on delivery to the end of May 2015 under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (previously referred to as the Social Housing Leasing Initiative), the average cost of an active unit is just under €537 per month.
Of the 6,085 units delivered under the scheme to the end of May 2015, 5,772 are active at annual cost of €37m. A breakdown of the units delivered, units currently active and the cost of these units to end May 2015, by local authority, is provided in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Delivered |
Active Units |
Annual Payment € |
|
Carlow County Council |
95 |
93 |
495,340 |
|
Cavan County Council |
12 |
12 |
53,340 |
|
Clare County Council |
146 |
141 |
724,922 |
|
Cork City Council |
144 |
144 |
995,327 |
|
Cork County Council |
789 |
783 |
3,404,587 |
|
Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council |
165 |
155 |
1,559,716 |
|
Donegal County Council |
231 |
225 |
1,111,352 |
|
Dublin City Council |
813 |
727 |
6,121,580 |
|
Fingal County Council |
394 |
382 |
3,068,755 |
|
Galway City Council |
199 |
188 |
1,309,637 |
|
Galway County Council |
56 |
50 |
298,200 |
|
Kerry County Council |
85 |
66 |
346,677 |
|
Kildare County Council |
227 |
223 |
1,429,887 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
79 |
71 |
461,932 |
|
Laois County Council |
172 |
162 |
713,458 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
1 |
1 |
3,252 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
45 |
45 |
270,180 |
|
Longford County Council |
24 |
17 |
74,484 |
|
Louth County Council |
394 |
393 |
2,566,157 |
|
Mayo County Council |
159 |
138 |
746,469 |
|
Meath County Council |
144 |
139 |
875,403 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1 |
1 |
4,512 |
|
Offaly County Council |
214 |
208 |
1,112,119 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
10 |
10 |
34,379 |
|
Sligo County Council |
38 |
38 |
238,020 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
576 |
553 |
4,880,987 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
313 |
291 |
1,525,115 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
138 |
126 |
626,931 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
312 |
282 |
1,424,335 |
|
Wexford County Council |
81 |
80 |
419,052 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
28 |
28 |
290,160 |
|
Overall |
6,085 |
5,772 |
37,186,264 |
623. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of shared ownership mortgages currently in distress; and if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the length of time the mortgages have been in distress. [25061/15]
View answerWhile I can confirm that my Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages and a breakdown of those in arrears, the data does not provide a specific breakdown in respect of shared ownership mortgages. The statistics on local authority mortgage arrears generally are available on my Department’s website at: 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.
624. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of homes repossessed by local authorities; and if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the reason for the repossession. [25062/15]
View answerMy Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics that inform the preparation and evaluation of policy. Data on number of Local Authority mortgage repossessions, broken down by year and location, are included within this range, and are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15295,en.xls on the “Local Authority Mortgage repossession data ” link under the “Housing Loans” heading. The data is further broken down by the category of the repossession, whether forced or voluntary.
625. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is in a position to answer parliamentary questions in respect of operational matters for Irish Water; the extent of questions he can answer in relation to policy and overall issues; the type of issues he cannot deal with by way of parliamentary question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25095/15]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group (now renamed Ervia), which conforms to the conditions set out in the Act and is registered under the Companies Acts. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 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. The utility is accountable to the Environmental Protection Agency in terms of environmental regulation.
Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Questions on operational matters, therefore, should be addressed to the company. 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 dedicated number, 1890 578 578. Irish Water is also available to deal with queries of Oireachtas members at a weekly briefing each Wednesday in Leinster House.
Matters relating to funding provided by my Department to Irish Water, including operational subvention, and other matters where I, as Minister, have policy or legislative responsibility may of course be dealt with by way of Parliamentary Question. As the Deputy will be aware, decisions in relation to the admissibility of individual Parliamentary Questions are a matter for the Ceann Comhairle.
626. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18 qualifies for subsistence or provision of a van for the completion of that person's work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25119/15]
View answerUnder 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, a question relating to provision of subsistence is a matter for the Chief Executive.
628. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made in respect of last year's undertaking to implement proposals in the Wood MacKenzie report on offshore exploration; if it remains his intention to give expression to these changes in the Finance Bill 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24650/15]
View answer632. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has agreed measures with the Department of Finance in respect of the implementation of the Wood MacKenzie report in respect of offshore exploration, as already committed to in principle by Government; if he will report on progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24649/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos 628 and 632 together.
Following on the Dáil Éireann debate on the 9th of July 2013 on the May 2012 Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Wood Mackenzie, a UK based international advisory services company specializing in the energy, metals and mining sectors, were engaged as independent expert advice to advise on the appropriateness of Ireland's oil and gas fiscal terms.
In undertaking their review Wood Mackenzie sought to take account of the need to strike the necessary balance between attracting the high-risk exploration investment needed to prove the potential of the Irish Offshore and maximising the return to the State from Ireland’s natural resources. Wood Mackenzie furnished their Final Report at end May 2014.
The principal recommendations made by Wood Mackenzie were as follows:
- For now Ireland should maintain a concession system with industry rather than the State bearing the risk associated with investing in exploration;
- Going forward a form of production profit tax should continue to apply in Ireland, but for discoveries made under future licences the form of this tax should be revised;
- The tax should be charged on a field-by-field basis with the rate varying according to the profitability of the field and charged on each field’s net profits;
- That the revised tax should include a minimum payment at a rate of 5% which would function like a royalty and would result in the State receiving a share of revenue in every year that a field is selling production;
- That the revised tax rates should be higher than the Profit Resource Rent Tax currently in place, thereby ensuring a higher share for the State from the most profitable fields. This would result in a maximum rate of 55% applying in the case of new licences, compared with a maximum rate of 40% under the current fiscal regime;
- That the corporation tax rate applying to petroleum production should remain at 25%;- That the existing licensing terms (duration of licences, work commitments etc.) remain intact as they appear ‘fit for purpose’ and are comparable to those available in other countries with high exploration risk;
- That the use of production sharing contracts or mandatory state participation in licences would not be appropriate at this juncture in the development of the Irish Offshore.
- That the Government should consider the potential role a National Oil Corporation might play in the development of the Irish Offshore taking into account stakeholder views.
In June 2014 Government approval was received to revise Ireland’s oil and gas fiscal terms along the lines recommended by Wood Mackenzie.
A Steering Group, with representation from the Department of Finance, my Department and the Revenue Commissioners, has been tasked with preparing proposals to give legislative effect to the approach recommended by Wood Mackenzie and is currently progressing same, and that the necessary revisions would be effected by way of the Finance Bill 2015.
