Tuesday, 7 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 524-546

Outdoor Education Centres

Questions (524)

Seán Kyne

Question:

524. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether outdoor educational training centres operated by the education and training boards could be included in capital funding schemes for the purposes of refurbishment and updating, as they are presently excluded from such capital funding schemes; the reason they are excluded, and if there is recognition of the need to provide assistance arising from their importance to, among other things, the local economies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27724/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Funding for outdoor education centres is approved on the basis that they are self-financing and that their financial activities would be separate from the overall ETB finances. Accordingly, my Department's annual grants are contributory in nature and the allocations go mainly towards the core staffing costs involved in running the centres.

In relation to the provision of general capital funding, I wish to advise the Deputy that in view of the funding constraints on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to provide essential school accommodation, my Department is not in a position to consider applications for funding towards capital projects. However, in an emergency situation, it is open to ETBs to submit applications for funding for minor works on behalf of Outdoor Education Centres and these will be considered in the light of competing demands and available resources.

I have no plans to change the current funding arrangements.

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Questions (525, 535)

Clare Daly

Question:

525. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the measures he proposes to take to compensate home owners who were forced to remediate properties at their own expense, as a result of the inadequacy of the home bond insurance scheme, whereby they remediated their properties as they were unsafe, in advance of the pyrite resolution scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27139/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

535. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has plans to amend the pyrite resolution scheme so that those home owners who had to refurbish their houses at their own expense prior to the initiation of the scheme will be compensated due to the enormous burden of ongoing payments in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27140/15]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 535 together.

The 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 explicitly provides that homeowners cannot seek the recoupment of costs associated with the remediation of a dwelling undertaken outside of the pyrite remediation 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 for 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. In the event that the parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation, the option of seeking redress in the Courts is available.

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Questions (526)

Michael McNamara

Question:

526. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a directive will be given to local authorities to provide sick pay where appropriate for a period in excess of six months to employees paying pay-related social insurance D1 contributions, as this is an existing anomaly in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27204/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My understanding is that this issue arises from the implementation of the revised sick leave arrangements in the Public Service and that it relates to a very limited number of employees who have expended their entitlement to paid sick leave, over a four-year rolling period, but are not entitled to temporary rehabilitation remuneration (TRR) which, in Local Authorities, is only paid for absences of 20 working days or more.

The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme provides discretion to pay TRR where access to sick leave at the full and half rate of pay has been exhausted (e.g. 183 days over 4 years for ordinary illness, 365 days over 4 years for critical illness). 

In accordance with what was agreed at the Labour Relations Commission and as part of a binding recommendation of the Labour Court, the rate of TRR was standardised across all sectors.  However, the decision of when to award TRR remains a decision taken at sectorial level. 

In the Local Government sector, the precursor to TRR was Pension Rate of Pay (PRP) which was awarded for long term absences (i.e. over 4 weeks).  This practice continues in relation to the award of TRR in Local Authorities.

This is an issue throughout the Public Service and I am aware that a review of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme is currently under way within the Department of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The review will include an examination of TRR across the Public Sector.

My Department is examining options for a temporary alleviating measure pending the outcome of the aforementioned review.

Homelessness Strategy

Questions (527)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

527. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the number of families who have not previously been involved with any social services and are now experiencing homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27245/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.

Data on homeless households in emergency accommodation is provided through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). Quarterly reports from lead housing authorities are published on my Department's website as soon as they are available. In addition, lead housing authorities provide monthly reports on homelessness which identify the number of people utilising State-funded emergency accommodation on a regional and county basis. Both the quarterly and monthly reports are available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.

These monthly reports also provide details of the breakdown of the individuals and the numbers of families and dependents that are in emergency accommodation. The monthly reports contain details regarding the number of new families presenting as homeless each month in the Dublin Region only. My Department does not seek information as to whether these families’ details have been cross-referenced with records held by other agencies providing social services.

Derelict Sites

Questions (528)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

528. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding derelict sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27267/15]

Written answers

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

Section 9 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990 provides that it shall be the duty of every owner and occupier of land, including a statutory body and a State authority, to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land in question does not become, or does not continue to be, a derelict site. Section 10 of the Act further places a specific obligation on local authorities to take all reasonable steps to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.

Local authorities have substantial powers under the Act, including powers to establish a register of derelict sites in their functional areas; requiring owners or occupiers of sites to take specific measures which the authority considers necessary to address the dereliction within specified timeframes; to acquire a site by agreement or compulsorily in certain circumstances; and to impose an annual derelict sites levy at a rate of 3% of the market value of a site on registered sites in urban areas or other areas prescribed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to be an urban area for the purposes of the Act.

The administration and implementation of the Act at a local level is a matter for the respective local authorities. Under section 8(5) of the Act, a copy of the derelict sites register for any local authority can be inspected at the offices of that authority during office hours. This positions members of the public to engage with their local authority in relation to the authority’s proposals for dealing with individual derelict sites.

Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Questions (529)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

529. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 26 of 24 June 2015 if he will announce his plans on rent before the summer recess; his plans for rent certainty in greater detail; when he intends to announce his plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27359/15]

Written answers

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

The most recent data from the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) for Q1 2015 shows that on an annual basis, nationally, rents were 6.9% higher than in Q1 2014. Rents for houses were 6.5% higher, while apartment rents were 7.8% higher than in the same quarter of 2014.

These annual rates of increase were driven mainly by the Dublin market. Overall, in the 12 months to the end of Q1 2015, rents were higher by 9.6% in Dublin (with house rents up by 9% and apartment rents higher by 10.8%). Annual growth in rents for the market outside Dublin was more subdued. In the 12 months to the end of Q1 2015, rents were higher by 5.3% (with house rents up by 5.7% and apartment rents higher by 5.2%).

A shortage of supply is at the heart of rising rents and the Government is addressing this on a number of fronts. Construction 2020: A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector, published last year, is aimed at addressing issues in the property and construction sectors and ensuring that any bottlenecks that might impede the sector in meeting residential and non-residential demand are addressed. Construction 2020 also commits to identifying and implementing further improvements to the planning system to facilitate appropriate development.

Addressing the supply shortfall in housing will take time but in the period since the publication of Construction 2020 some welcome signs of recovery in the sector have become evident. Particularly notable in this regard is the increase in the number of house completions in 2014 to 11,016 units nationally – an increase of 33% on the 2013 figure. The latest figures for new house completions show that 4,566 units were completed to the end of May 2015, up almost 16% on the corresponding figure for 2014.

Social housing is a key priority for the Government, evidenced by the additional €2.2 billion in funding announced for social housing in Budget 2015 and the publication of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 in November 2014. The total targeted provision under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 of 110,000 social housing units includes the delivery of 35,000 new social housing units and 75,000 units through the private rented sector supported mainly through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

There has been a number of relevant publications in recent times with suggestions and options in relation to rent certainty, notably the report produced for the PRTB by DKM Economic Consultants, Rent Stability in the Private Rented Sector and the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) report Ireland’s Rental Sector: Pathways to Secure Occupancy and Affordable Supply. Stakeholders representing landlords and tenants have also been vocal on this topic.

The regulation of rent raises many complex economic and legal issues and I have to be satisfied that any measures proposed are balanced and have the desired effect on the rental market while being fair to landlords and tenants alike. Ultimately, any decision in relation to rent certainty is a matter for Government and it is my intention to bring proposals to Government for consideration as soon as the necessary preparatory work has been completed.

Local Authority Staff Recruitment

Questions (530)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

530. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received a request for approval from Kildare County Council for the appointment of additional staff to work in its housing department; the nature of the application; if he will approve the appointment of the staff as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26931/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The information requested is set out in the following table for all relevant requests in 2015 .

Date of Staffing Request	Title of Post(s)	Number of Post(s)	Type of Contract sought	Outcome
14/01/2015	Clerical Officer	1	Permanent	Approved
14/01/2015	Tenant Liaison Officer	1	Contract	Approved
14/01/2015	Social Worker	2	Permanent	Approved
16/01/2015	BER Assessor - Clerk of Works	1	Contract	Approved
10/03/2015	Clerk of Works Housing Delivery	4	Contract	Approved
10/03/2015	Clerk of Works Housing Maintenance	1	Permanent	Approved
12/05/2015	Homeless Outreach Worker	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Senior Architect	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Senior Executive Officer	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Project Manager Housing	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Administrative Officer	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Staff Officer	2	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Executive Engineer	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Executive Technician	2	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Tenant Sustainability Officer	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Homeless Outreach Worker	1	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Assistant Staff Officer	3	Contract	Approved
08/06/2015	Clerical Officer	3	Contract	Approved

Voluntary Sector Funding

Questions (531)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

531. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will investigate and clarify a matter (details supplied) regarding Muintir na Tíre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26985/15]

Written answers

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

My Department provided funding to Muintir na Tíre under the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) to 30 June 2014. In July 2014 it was announced that bridging funding would be allocated for a twelve month period to 30 June 2015 to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations that were not approved for funding under the new 2014-2016 round of funding under SSNO, including Muintir na Tíre.

It should be noted that payments made under the SSNO and also bridging funding were made under a number of conditions, including the submission of a valid tax clearance certificate, which was produced prior to each payment being made.

On 25 May 2015, I announced that funding would be allocated from 1 July this year to 30 June 2016 to a number of organisations previously in receipt of bridging funding through a Developmental Scheme to Support National Organisations. The organisations in question included Muintir na Tíre.

As the Deputy will appreciate, funding provided by my Department under any scheme is subject to a number of conditions. My Department is currently awaiting the submission of documentation from Muintir na Tíre in order for payment to issue to that organisation.

Local Authority Housing Maintenance

Questions (532)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

532. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to local authorities for the replacement of timber window frames with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) window frames, due to the poor condition of window frames in local authority units across County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27007/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting on the least energy efficient social houses, with funding support from my Department. €57 million has been provided over the period 2013-2014 for improving the energy performance of older local authority housing stock, resulting in improved energy efficiency, comfort levels and Building Energy Ratings in over 30,000 local authority homes to date. In May 2015, I announced a further €20m to continue this programme this year.

Phase 1 of this insulation retrofitting programme commenced in June 2013 and is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties. Phase 2 works will include external insulation or dry lining of houses with solid wall or hollow block construction and the replacement of poorly performing single glazed windows and doors.

Phase 2 of the Programme is commencing on a pilot basis in 2015 in 3 local authorities - Fingal, Westmeath and Limerick - and it will be extended to other local authorities following successful completion of the pilot phase.

Donegal County Council has been allocated € 1,207,231 for the Programme in 2015, a significant increase on the 2014 allocation of €624,054.

European Court of Justice Rulings

Questions (533)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

533. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the costs to the Exchequer arising from the State's obligation to enforce the decision of the European Court of Justice of the European Union on 26 April 2005 in case C 494/01, Commission v. Ireland, in the matter of the waste directive, and the associated programme of measures; his plans to fully transpose the landfill directive to ensure that waste processing and transit licences may only be issued to entities where there is a guarantee of financial security in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27079/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In April 2005 the European Court of Justice ruled, in case C494/01, that Ireland had infringed the Waste Framework Directive under various articles of that directive. The response of the Irish authorities to the case has two main elements - a general response addressing the structural or administrative deficiencies highlighted by the ECJ and, secondly, a response to the site specific cases themselves.

In addition, certain other complaints or issues which had been taken or raised by the European Commission against or with Ireland (such as unregulated end of life vehicles and other illegal sites or orphan sites such as the former Irish Ispat site at Haulbowline, Co. Cork) were subsumed under the case and are therefore part of an enlarged response which is required by Ireland to bring finality to the case.

Remediation of the ECJ494 case sites is a requirement of the resolution of the infringement proceedings. Accordingly, there are several legacy licensed and unlicensed landfill sites that have required remediation since the judgment and some others that have arisen in the interim which must be remediated in the course of the next few years for environmental, reputational and economic reasons.

Full details of the programme of measures which Ireland has agreed to deliver to ensure full compliance with the judgment, including the costs incurred to December 2014 by the State, are set out in a detailed document available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Waste/FileDownLoad,30458,en.pdf.

Wind Energy Guidelines

Questions (534, 538)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

534. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the revised planning guidelines for wind development will be published; the reason for the excessive delay; if he will commit to the publication of the revised guidelines before the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27121/15]

Finian McGrath

Question:

538. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a timeframe for issuing planning guidelines in respect of wind farms; the current stage of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27232/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 538 together.

In December 2013, my Department published proposed "draft" revisions to the noise, setbacks and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments; a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations; and the complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.

A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until February 21 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.

It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines. Further work is also advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines.

The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.

Question No. 535 answered with Question No. 525.

Voluntary Sector Funding

Questions (536)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

536. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to providing a long-term funding solution to the organisations currently funded under the scheme to support national organisations, organisations that have to deal with uncertain futures and difficulties in planning long-term campaigns and service provision, in particular the Irish Stammering Association, which as a national organisation only receives €25,000 funding annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27226/15]

Written answers

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

The 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 totalling approximately €8 million 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 that occasion.

On 18 July 2014, it was announced that bridging funding of €1.4 million would be allocated for a twelve month period to thirty-two 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.

On 25 May 2015, I announced that funding will be provided from 1 July this year to 30 June 2016 following a review in relation to the impact of the cessation of their current funding on 30 June 2015. This funding is being provided to thirty of the thirty-two organisations previously in receipt of bridging funding, including all health and disability organisations. This further support will be based on current levels of funding to the organisations in question and is being provided through a Developmental Scheme to Support National Organisations (DSSNO). The funding, totalling €1.32 million, to be provided to each organisation is set out in the following table, and each organisation is allocated the same amount of funding over the 12 months from 1 July 2015 under DSSNO as provided in the 12 months to 30 June 2015 under bridging funding. This includes the Irish Stammering Association who will receive funding of €24,868.

It is envisaged that the new Scheme to Support National Organisations will be advertised in early 2016 and groups funded under the 2014-2016 Scheme to Support National Organisations and the recently announced Developmental Scheme to Support National Organisations will be required to apply for funding under the single SSNO Scheme and meet the criteria required for funding.

Funding allocated under Developmental Scheme to Support National Organisations 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016	Amount
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
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
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

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Data

Questions (537)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

537. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the operation of the mortgage to rent scheme to date, including plans to expand the scheme; the number of home owners in mortgage arrears who have availed of the scheme, by county; and the number who he estimates could qualify for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27229/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Government has committed to taking decisive action to address the mortgage arrears challenge; to ensure that a full range of options is available to distressed borrowers; and to keep as many people in their homes as possible. The Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme is now properly established as part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of the arrears resolution process.

My Department has been involved in ongoing discussions with Approved Housing Bodies, Financial Institutions and the Housing Agency regarding the operation and progress on the AHB Mortgage to Rent Scheme since its inception. These discussions form part of an ongoing process of engagement with relevant stakeholders to remove any obstacles that may arise in the implementation of the scheme. To try to deal with some of the issues that have arisen and which can delay the process, a protocol between all stakeholders was agreed and came into operation in June 2014. Under this process, the borrower is involved from the outset and is requested to give their consent to the sharing of their full information at the start of the process. This ensures that there is no ambiguity for borrowers in the mortgage to rent process.

In addition, the package of commitments on mortgage arrears announced by Government recently includes a number of amendments to the AHB Mortgage to Rent Scheme, which will enable more properties to qualify for the scheme and make it more flexible and accessible to borrowers. The principal amendment to the scheme is to increase the valuation thresholds applicable which should enable more properties to qualify. These amendments apply across the country regardless of the location of the property and took effect from 1 July.

Since the scheme began in June 2012 to end June 2015, 104 AHB mortgage to rent transactions have negotiations completed. In total, 2,922 cases have been put forward for the scheme by lending institutions, of which 2,107 cases were deemed ineligible or terminated during the process. Agreement on the sale could not be agreed on a further 45 cases. Some reasons for transactions not progressing include ineligible applications, including the borrower not meeting the criteria of the scheme, the borrower declining the scheme, the lender withdrawing the offer of the scheme, the local authority not having a need for the property or the over concentration of social housing in the area. At the end of June 2015, 111 cases were with the lenders who are seeking the consent of borrowers to share information and for the carrying out of an independent valuation. The remaining 555 cases are actively being progressed. The following table sets out the completed cases by local authority.

Local Authority	MTR Transactions Completed (June 2015)
Carlow County Council	4
Cavan County Council	2
Clare County Council	2
Cork City Council	4
Cork County Council	3
Dublin City Council	17
Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council	1
Fingal County Council	7
Galway County Council	1
Kerry County Council	1
Kildare County Council	7
Kilkenny County Council	3
Laois County Council	2
Leitrim County Council	1
Limerick City and County Council	4
Louth County Council	10
Meath County Council	8
Offaly County Council	2
South Dublin County Council	7
Tipperary County Council	3
Waterford City & County Council	8
Westmeath County Council	2
Wexford County Council	1
Wicklow County Council	4
Grand Total	104

Question No. 538 answered with Question No. 534.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (539)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

539. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will meet the Irish Housing Network as requested by this Deputy in an e-mail on 22 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27246/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Question No. 608 of 30 June 2015. Correspondence dated 5 July 2015, has now been received on behalf of the Irish Housing Network, the contents of which will be considered.

Arts Funding

Questions (540)

Joe Costello

Question:

540. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the strategic development zone in the North Lotts and Grand Canal Harbour will qualify for the 1% for art scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27262/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The provision of art works associated with capital projects funded through my Department’s capital programmes is a matter primarily for the relevant local authority. Details in relation to the scheme are available on the Publications page of my Department's website at www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/PublicArt/. The allocation for the provision of art works under the Artistic Embellishment Scheme should be calculated on the basis of the overall construction cost of an individual project. A Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) itself is not a "project" in the context of the Scheme. Therefore, it would be a matter for the relevant local authority to consider whether there is a project within the SDZ area that might meet the requirements of the scheme.

Local Authority Funding

Questions (541)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

541. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the basis for the allocation to each local authority of €4.84 million for register of electors costs in 2014; if it is allocated on a per capita basis, or in relation to vouched staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27288/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The total budget across all local authorities under the heading of 'Franchise' for 2014 was €10.1 million.  This was divided into three elements - the Register of Electors (€4.8 million), Local Elections (€2.7million) and Service Support Costs (€2.6million).  This expenditure is met from the local authority's own resources. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process, having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority.

National Spatial Strategy

Questions (542)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

542. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider developing a new national spatial strategy with specific regard to the need for a more balanced regional development between the north-west region and the rest of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27306/15]

Written answers

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

The Government recently approved the commencement of the preparation of a new National Planning Framework to act as a new long-term national planning and regional development framework as a successor to the 2002 National Spatial Strategy which was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework. I intend that the new National Planning Framework will be developed to ensure the optimal development of the country as a whole while maximising Ireland's economic recovery and ongoing growth at national, regional and local level, thus further contributing to sustainable national recovery through an inclusive and participative approach with all relevant national, regional and local interests and acting as the strategic context for:

1) planning in Ireland at national level, in relation to relevant Government policies and investment concerning national and regional development with particular emphasis on economic development and investment in housing, water services, transport, communications, energy, health and education infrastructure;

2) development, by the three new regional assemblies, of their new regional spatial and economic strategies for their areas including the Northern and Western Regional Assembly area; and

3) planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála discharging their statutory planning functions.

Arrangements are currently being put in place to advance the Government’s decision in this regard. I will make a further statement in the near future on broader arrangements in relation to the preparation of the Framework.

Local Authority Housing Provision

Questions (543)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

543. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applications for funding for housing submitted to his Department this year by Galway City Council; the decisions made to date on these applications; if these applications were granted or refused; if refused, on what grounds; when decisions on the remainder of the applications will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27343/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Earlier this year, my Department received proposals from all local authorities for their planned delivery of new social housing over the next 3 years and on 5 May 2015 I announced a major social housing construction programme involving €312m of investment, comprising some 100 projects and 1,700 housing units. In the case of Galway City Council, this included Phase 1 of a new build project at Ballymoneen Road. Full details, including the individual projects, the funding allocated and the number of units to be delivered across all local authorities, are available on my Department’s website at the following link www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm. This was the first such announcement under the Social Housing Strategy and the projects approved were those deemed most suitable to go ahead at this time. Local authorities are continuing to submit and refine proposals in respect of their social housing construction plans and further announcements will be made as these are evaluated.

Local authorities also submitted a list of ten prioritised proposals each from sponsoring Approved Housing Bodies under the Capital Assistance Scheme at end-April. The assessment of these proposals is now being finalised and an announcement on approved projects will be made shortly.

In addition, six applications of varying scale have been submitted this year under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative by Galway City Council and Approved Housing Bodies operating within the council's area. These proposals have either been approved or are currently being assessed.

I announced targets for the delivery of social housing for all local authorities out to 2017 on 1 April last, along with provisional funding allocations. Galway City Council has been set a target of 518 social housing units, supported by €28.3m of investment. This funding is being invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes by the local authorities to accommodate people on the housing waiting lists. 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 to acquire available properties, new building developments, leasing and the provision of housing supports through the private rental sector.

Traveller Accommodation

Questions (544)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

544. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of applications for funding for Traveller specific accommodation submitted to his Department this year by Galway City Council; the decisions made to date on these applications; if these applications were granted or refused; if refused, on what grounds; when decisions on the remainder of the applications will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27344/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In 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 2014, local authorities adopted the fourth round of Traveller Accommodation Programmes in 2014, with the five-year rolling accommodation programmes running from 2014 to 2018. These programmes provide a roadmap for local authority investment priorities over the period. They also form the basis for the allocation of funding from my Department for traveller accommodation, on foot of proposals received from local authorities and subject to approval from my Department.

2015 capital allocations in respect of Traveller specific accommodation have issued to local authorities. The bulk of the funding was allocated in respect of schemes already under construction, new schemes approved to commence construction in 2015 and to meet final balances on completed schemes. The balance of funding is towards projects that will be newly approved during 2015. As Galway City Council had no schemes either under construction or approved to commence construction in 2015, and had no final balances due, they did not receive an allocation this year.

In March 2015, as part of the allocation process, Galway City Council submitted a list of indicative proposals that they hope to progress in the coming years, in line with their Traveller Accommodation Programme 2014 to 2018. Detailed proposals, when received, will be examined by my Department. Subsequent to the 2015 allocation process, on 8 May 2015, Galway City Council submitted a post-tender report and documentation to my Department in relation to the demolition, rebuilding and refurbishment of two houses at Ballinfoyle Park, following extensive fire damage to the houses. My Department is in communication with the Council in relation to this proposal.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (545)

Jim Daly

Question:

545. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on correspondence (details supplied) submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27396/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case, including enforcement matters and Part V agreements, with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.

Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority, which has substantial enforcement powers under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

Irish Water Remit

Questions (546)

Jim Daly

Question:

546. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Irish Water will not take in charge treatment plants in housing estates which have been recommended for taking in charge by the local authority, and have been signed off by local authority engineers as being fully compliant with the planning permission issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27415/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Paudie Coffey)

Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out the process by which a planning authority can take a development in charge and determine whether or not the development is in compliance with the conditions of the relevant planning permission. In advance of taking an estate in charge, it may be necessary for a planning authority to utilise its enforcement powers to require a developer to comply with planning conditions. When an estate has been taken in charge by the planning authority, the water services infrastructure will subsequently be transferred to Irish Water. In this regard, the planning authorities will consult with Irish Water on the takeover of water services infrastructure.