Written Answers Nos. 239-249
239. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address the serious concerns outlined in correspondence (details supplied); his views that it is fair that hauliers in the Republic of Ireland face significantly higher taxation costs than their Northern Ireland counterparts; his plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25239/15]
View answer242. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will take steps to address the concerns expressed in correspondence (details supplied), in relation to the financial strain that commercial vehicle road tax is placing upon haulage businesses, and in particular as a consequence of the introduction of the lorry road user levy in Northern Ireland, which has compounded these difficulties; if same will be overhauled as a matter of urgency, in the context of the employment that is generated within the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25428/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 242 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 211, 212 and 213 of Wednesday, 17 June 2015, which sets out the position in this matter.
240. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the revenue that would be raised for the Exchequer by reintroducing and doubling the non-principal private residence tax. [25273/15]
View answerThe Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non-Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence. The self-assessed charge was set at €200 per annum. Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect NPPR Charges, and late payment fees due to it and all Charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. Proceeds from the charge are retained by local authorities and contribute to the provision of local services.
Based on data provided by the Local Government Management Agency, I am informed that 388,281 properties are registered by their owners as liable for the NPPR Charge for 2013, the last year of the charge. A doubling of the charge to €400 could therefore potentially be expected to raise in the region of €155 million per annum if the level of properties liable remains unchanged from the 2013 position.
241. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the annual revenue that would be raised from introducing a 3% levy on vacant sites. [25300/15]
View answerThe Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015, which was approved by Government and published earlier this month, is primarily focused on addressing housing supply-related issues with a view to facilitating increased activity in the housing construction sector, particularly in the Dublin area where demand currently outstrips supply. One of the main provisions of the Bill is the introduction of a vacant site levy aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under utilised sites in central urban areas for residential or regeneration development. Under the provisions of the Bill, the levy will be charged on the registered owners of vacant sites at a rate of 3% of the market value of each site, with reduced or zero rates applying in specific circumstances. At this time, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the annual levies that may be raised by planning authorities in the operation of the levy.
243. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department uses any system software for the auto deletion of e-mail messages; if so, his Department's guidelines on the use of such a system; and the length of time e-mails are stored before they are auto deleted. [25179/15]
View answerMy Department does not use a specific software product for the purpose of auto-deleting email. My Department’s staff must manage their email in compliance with their statutory obligations under the Data Protection Acts and the Freedom of Information Act, as well as my Department’s ICT policies.
244. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Galway City Council has submitted proposals regarding Traveller-specific accommodation to the Traveller accommodation unit; the date of receipt of this; and the expected length of time it will take the unit to reply to this submission and conclude on proposals contained therein. [25238/15]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
In relation to traveller accommodation proposals from Galway City Council, a post tender report and documentation was submitted to my Department on 8 May 2015 in relation to the demolition, rebuilding and refurbishment of two houses at Ballinfoyle Park, following extensive fire damage to the houses. The proposal is under consideration in my Department and a decision will issue to the Council shortly. There are no further traveller accommodation proposals from Galway City Council currently with my Department awaiting decision.
245. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the local authority guidelines that are in place in relation to the provision and maintenance of public footpaths; if he will confirm that footpaths are regulated within certain width, depth and height parameters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25325/15]
View answerI have no function in relation to this roads-related issue. The Deputy may wish to raise this matter with the responsible Minister, my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
246. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allow local authorities some autonomy in setting library opening times to facilitate, for instance, Sunday opening hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25341/15]
View answer247. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider allowing the introduction of the open libraries concept, similar to schemes operated in the United Kingdom, whereby library members can access the library via an identity card during defined out-of-hours times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25342/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.
The management of library services, including the deployment of library resources in a local authority area is a matter for the local authority concerned in accordance with the library development programme adopted by the elected members as a reserved function .
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 authority for which he or she is responsible. Accordingly, I have no function in relation to the setting of library opening hours.
Arising from the commitment to the provision of optimum, user-friendly library opening hours in Opportunities for All, A Strategy for Public Libraries 2013-2017 , three pilot Open Libraries were established in Tubbercurry Library, Co. Sligo, and in Banagher Library and Tullamore Library, Co. Offaly in November 2014 – January 2015. Staffing levels and hours remain as previously, while the extended hours in the period 08.00 – 20:00 each day, 7 days a week, are unstaffed.
During the extended hours, services such as borrowing and returning items, using the internet via library PCs or via Wi-Fi using own devices, browsing, printing, photocopying, individual study and community activities and meetings are available to the public on a self-service basis. Users gain access to the library via an automated system by using their membership card and an authorised pin number. Within existing opening times, library staff continue to provide expert and additional services, support users and develop community engagement and programming.
It is a matter for each local authority to consider introducing Open Libraries in any branch if they wish, and following a review of the pilot, I will consider whether, and to what extent, funding support to adapt systems, introduce necessary security arrangements, etc. should be made available to local authorities to extend the Open Libraries concept.
248. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current average cost of constructing a social housing unit by a local authority. [25345/15]
View answer249. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current average cost of constructing a one-bedroom; two-bedroom; and three-bedroom social housing unit by a local authority. [25346/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.
My Department is currently reviewing the unit cost ceilings for the construction of dwellings to be used for social housing. When finalised they will be notified to the local authorities. As a guide, in May 2015 the first phase of construction projects under the Social Housing Strategy was announced. Overall, there were 100 building projects delivering over 1,750 units of accommodation with an estimated cost of €312.6 million, this gives an overall average cost of €178,262 per unit of accommodation. It should be borne in mind that these are pre tender estimated costs, which may fluctuate following tender stage.
