Tuesday, 22 Sep 2015

Written Answers Nos. 1374-1393

Animal Welfare

Questions (1374, 1375, 1376, 1378)

Clare Daly

Question:

1374. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the decision taken by Clare County Council to remove control of Ennis dog pound from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; if animal welfare considerations were taken fully into account as part of the decision-making process; and if he is satisfied that appropriate due diligence was performed by the council in its evaluation of the tender, submitted by a company (details supplied), that led to the decision to award the contract for running the pound to that company in July 2015. [31036/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

1375. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a company (details supplied) produced a tax clearance certificate for 2014 as part of the tender process for the dog pound in Ennis, County Clare. [31037/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

1376. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a company (details supplied) that was awarded the contract to run Ennis dog pound in July 2015, has any business connection, whether as parent company, subsidiary, or otherwise with any animal research and/or testing companies or facilities. [31038/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

1378. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities comply with their obligations under the Control of Dogs Act and award contracts for dog warden or dog shelter services to the ISPCA or other recognised animal welfares in order that the serious situations (details supplied) do not occur. [31273/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1374 to 1376, inclusive, and 1378 together.

Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities have responsibility for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas, including the management of dog pounds or shelters. In this regard, section 15(2) of the 1986 Act empowers local authorities to enter into arrangements with any person for the provision and maintenance of dog pounds or shelters and for the exercise by any such persons of the functions of the local authority under the Act in respect of the acceptance, detention, disposal and destruction of stray or unwanted dogs.

Accordingly, the procurement of such arrangements by private providers, the evaluation of tenders submitted as part of the procurement process and the management and operation of such pounds or shelters by the successful tenderer are matters solely for the relevant local authority. Moreover, the enforcement of welfare standards regarding all animals, including the welfare of dogs in pounds or shelters, is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, and one in which my Department has no direct role.

Motor Tax Rates

Questions (1377)

Tom Fleming

Question:

1377. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reverse, in the forthcoming budget, the trend of high road tax which is the highest in Europe and drastic depreciation of motor vehicles in view of the fact that this is imposing considerable financial burdens on motorists and businesses and is contributing to the closure of garages and subsequent loss of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31144/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Changes to motor tax rates are generally considered in the context of the national budgetary process and it, therefore, would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter at this time.

Question No. 1378 answered with Question No. 1374.

Departmental Funding

Questions (1379, 1463)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

1379. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will provide details of all the funding Pobal has provided to a company (details supplied) in County Kerry since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31603/15]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

1463. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of all the funding his Department has provided to a company (details supplied) in County Kerry since its inception. [31617/15]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1379 and 1463 together.

My Department manages various schemes and programmes, which encourage and support community engagement and development. The information requested regarding the funding provided directly by my Department and by Pobal, acting on behalf of my Department, to the organisation concerned is outlined in the following tabular statement.

For completeness, I am advised that Pobal have also provided funding to the organisation referred to in the details supplied under the Community Services Programme, on behalf of the Department of Social Protection.

Table 1

Scheme	Year	Expenditure €
Seniors Alert Scheme	2011	6,212
	2012	38,240
	2013	23,359
	2014	8,332
	2015	14,154 (To date)

Table 2

Scheme	Year	Expenditure €
2007-2013 Rural Development programme	2011	52,285
	2012	5,446

Table 3

Scheme	Year	Expenditure €
Local and Community Development Programme	2011	2,000
	2012	1,590
	2013	1,842
	2014	3,120
	2015	400
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) (To date)	2015	40

Housing Adaptation Grant

Questions (1380, 1382, 1467)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1380. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has made any assessment on the impact the unavailability of the housing adaptation grant is having on the health service and the numbers of patients unable to return home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31721/15]

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1382. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions held between his Department and others in relation to people not eligible for assistance with home adaptation and as a result, remaining in the care of the health service resulting in added expenditure to the State (details supplied). [32267/15]

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1467. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will revise the housing adaptation grant means test criteria to take into consideration the financial commitments applicants had prior to their disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31722/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1380, 1382 and 1467 together.

My Department provides funding under the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. At €50.5 million, the funding that I announced for 2015 for these schemes is an increase of some 10% on the funding that was available last year, enabling local authorities to support an increased level of activity.

The suite of grants under this scheme, which is available to private home owners, provides significant social benefit in terms of facilitating the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability - it is expected that some 8,000 households will benefit under the schemes in 2015. The intention is to help those most in need, hence the application of means testing to the schemes.

The income limits for the scheme were last amended in 2014 arising from the recommendations of a review group and I have no plans to revise them further.  A priority for the scheme is to spread the benefits as widely as possible and ensure fairness and value for money in their operation. The scheme is therefore more sharply focussed towards households with greatest needs, especially lower income households. The income thresholds considered when providing grant aid under the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability are as follows:

Gross Maximum Household Income p.a.	% of Costs available	Maximum Grant Available
€	%	€
Up to €30,000	95%	€30,000
€30,001 - €35,000	85%	€25,500
€35,001 - €40,000	75%	€22,500
€40,001 - €50,000	50%	€15,000
€50,001 - €60,000	30%	€9,000
Over €60,000		No Grant

At local level, the detailed administration of these Schemes, including the assessment, approval and payment of individual grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

In the administration of the scheme for eligible applicants, cooperative arrangements are operated between local authorities and key hospital contacts to facilitate early notification of those patients awaiting discharge. Local authorities have been requested by my Department to prioritise eligible grant applicants whose discharge from hospital is dependent on the adaptation of their homes.

Water Conservation Grant

Questions (1381)

Finian McGrath

Question:

1381. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine a proposal (details supplied) in relation to the water conservation grant; his views on the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32093/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The legislative basis for the Water Conservation Grant is set out in Section 5 of the Water Services Act 2014 and statutory regulations under the section, inter alia, provide for the general administrative procedures for the scheme. The Department of Social Protection is administering the 2015 Water Conservation Grant on behalf of my Department. I will be reviewing the operation of the 2015 scheme when all payments have been finalised by that Department. Following this review, I will set down the administration arrangements for the 2016 Grant scheme in regulations under the Water Services Act 2014.

Question No. 1382 answered with Question No. 1380.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (1383)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1383. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he will take on the commitment to protect persons with disabilities by implementing a number of the ten points recommended by the Disability Federation of Ireland relevant to his Department, namely increasing the housing adaptation grant by €30 million in order to support persons with disabilities currently living in communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32291/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I am aware of the social benefit accruing from the Housing Adaptation grant schemes in terms of facilitating the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability. For that reason, I increased the funding available for the schemes in 2015. At €50.5 million, the funding I announced is an increase of some 10% on the funding that was available last year, supporting local authorities in delivering an increased level of service. I expect that some 8,000 households will benefit under the schemes in 2015. My Department works with local authorities to ensure a full drawdown of their allocation. Through careful management of my Department’s housing budget in 2014, additional funds were made available to local authorities with high levels of grant activity. I will be applying the same scrutiny to the capital budget for 2015 and, in the event of savings arising these grants will be a priority for supplementary funding.

I am aware that the grant measures are heavily subscribed and local authorities are prioritising applications based on need. My Department encourages local authorities to make every effort to keep the schemes open and to this end, approvals for grant commitments carried forward into 2016 can issue up to the value of 50% of their 2015 allocation.

Building Regulations Application

Questions (1384, 1432)

Brian Walsh

Question:

1384. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the review of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 Statutory Instrument No. 9 of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30452/15]

Michael McCarthy

Question:

1432. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the review of building regulations; the wider consultation his Department undertook with stakeholders in the industry regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31207/15]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1384 and 1432 together.

The review of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 following its first 12 months in operation was announced on 2 April 2015. 171 submissions were received from private individuals, industry stakeholders and local authorities during the public consultation process . All submissions received were reviewed by my Department and a Report on the Consultation Process was published on my Department's website on 31 July 2015 and can be accessed by clicking on the following weblink:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,42398,en.pdf.

Following the review, Minister Kelly and I announced that owners of single dwellings and domestic extensions would be afforded an alternative to the statutory certification requirements introduced under S.I. No. 9 of 2014. The Building Control (Amendment ) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 have since been made to give effect to this alternative arrangement on and from 1 September 2015. An information note for homeowners wishing to avail of the alternative arrangements has been published on my Department’s website and can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,42563,en.pdf.

The impact of statutory certification on new single dwellings and domestic extensions has been a cause of some concern and I am satisfied that the revised approach will rebalance the situation in this regard.

Pyrite Issues

Questions (1385, 1388)

Clare Daly

Question:

1385. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the cost to the taxpayer to remediate the houses already rated damage condition rating 2, and accepted by the Pyrite Resolution Board for remediation as at June 2014, will be in the order of €35 million, and that this cost should be rightfully borne by a company (details supplied) which provided a structural guarantee to all purchasers of the subject houses, but which denied liability in August 2011. [30479/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

1388. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assistance, including access to such records in the possession of his Department and the Pyrite Resolution Board, to those householders who are seeking to legally challenge a company's denial of liability in the case of houses damaged by pyrite heave, and who are basing such a challenge on the Tyrell report of June 2015. [30482/15]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1385 and 1388 together.

HomeBond is a private limited company providing structural guarantees for new houses and, since November 2008, the HomeBond Insurance scheme is underwritten by Allianz Insurance. As is the case for any private company, its operations are a matter for its management and Board of Directors. I understand that HomeBond Insurance Services Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. As a private company, I have no role or function in its operations and cannot direct HomeBond to take a particular course of action.

My Department has made its position very clear on the issue of responsibility for providing a resolution of the pyrite problem for affected homeowners and has previously put on record its strong disagreement with the stance adopted by HomeBond in withdrawing, in August 2011, cover for pyrite-related damage. I believe that the parties identified in the Report of the Pyrite Panel

(July 2012) as having a direct or indirect responsibility for the pyrite problem should contribute to the resolution of the problem. It was against this background that my Department engaged in protracted discussions with the key stakeholders , including HomeBond, to try and put in place a framework within which those parties could bring about a resolution of the problem; regrettably, this did not prove possible.

Any legal actions being taken by householders in the context of the structural guarantees/insurances provided by HomeBond are civil matters between the affected parties. My Department has no function in such matters.

However, in the context of the pyrite remediation scheme, an agreement was reached between the Pyrite Resolution Board and HomeBond in June 2014 under which HomeBond has agreed to contribute technical and project management services to the Board to the value of €2 million. Such services include assisting in organising and managing the testing of dwellings and project management of remediation contracts. HomeBond has also agreed to make available to the Pyrite Resolution Board/Housing Agency the results of testing undertaken by it prior to the operation of the scheme.

Approximately 860 applications have been received by the Pyrite Resolution Board of which almost 640 have been approved for inclusion under the pyrite remediation scheme. Ultimately, the overall cost associated with the implementation of the scheme will be determined in accordance with the public procurements, both current and projected, for the engagement of construction professionals and works contractors to undertake the remediation of the affected dwellings.

Pyrite Issues

Questions (1386, 1387)

Clare Daly

Question:

1386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the services already provided and agreed by his Department that will be provided by a company (details supplied) to the Pyrite Resolution Board, in relation to the remediation of houses damaged by pyritic heave; the engineering and geological qualifications of the company's personnel involved; and if these personnel have completed the Engineers Ireland courses, and are included in the Pyrite assessors and Pyrite design professionals panel. [30480/15]

Clare Daly

Question:

1387. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a company's personnel (details supplied) have adjudicated in any audits of building condition assessments submitted to the Pyrite Resolution Board. [30481/15]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1386 and 1387 together.

An agreement was signed in mid-June 2014 between the Pyrite Resolution Board and HomeBond on the voluntary contribution that HomeBond would make to the implementation/administration of the pyrite remediation scheme. The agreement came into immediate effect and is subject to annual review.

The agreement sets out the contribution to the value of €2 million by way of staffing and services in the following areas:

- to provide assistance to the Pyrite Resolution Board;

- to arrange for the provision of sampling, testing and reporting on subfloor materials;

- project management support to the Housing Agency; and

- the provision of a structural warranty for works completed under the pyrite remediation scheme.

All services are being provided under the direction and supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board and/or the Housing Agency. In this context, it should be noted that the HomeBond staff do not make decisions on the eligibility of applicants under the scheme nor have they adjudicated in any audits of Building Condition Assessments provided by applicants under the pyrite remediation scheme. The auditing of Building Condition Assessments is carried out by the Board's decision makers in accordance with the provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013.

I understand that two members of HomeBond have been made available to the Housing Agency and have been assigned as project managers in respect of a number of remediation projects that are currently underway. In this regard, I understand that the Housing Agency is satisfied that all personnel assigned as project managers have the necessary competence and skills to fulfil these roles appropriately.

Question No. 1388 answered with Question No. 1385.

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Questions (1389, 1392)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

1389. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason no funds from the national lottery have been allocated to work on the natural environment; and if his Government will commit to apportioning part of this income to environmental work. [30513/15]

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1392. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make national lottery funding available to the Irish Environmental Network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30539/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1389 and 1392 together.

Section 41(1) of the National Lotteries Act 2013 enables National Lottery monies paid into the Central Fund to be allocated for the purposes of the natural environment, as well as potentially for a range of other stated purposes. Lottery funding is a limited resource utilised across a range of Government Departments and Agencies. National Lottery funding channelled through my Department’s Vote currently supports a wide range of other worthy causes, including community groups and voluntary organisations. National Lottery funding is also distributed by other Departments to groups working in areas such as disability, health and sport.

It is important to note that, should National Lottery funding be re-allocated to the natural environment, corresponding reductions would be required in other areas which are currently in receipt of such funding, within my own Department and also potentially within other beneficiary Departments. Accordingly, re-allocation of funding to support the natural environment at the expense of one or more of these other sectors can only be undertaken following careful consideration. However, I intend to keep this matter under review as the budgetary situation improves in the years ahead.

In taking this view, I am conscious that the natural environment, uniquely amongst the broad range of areas funded by my Department, also receives funding from the Environment Fund, which was established under the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001. The Environment Fund comprises of the revenues from the environmental levy on the supply of plastic bags, collected by the Revenue Commissioners, and the environmental levy on the landfilling of waste, collected by local authorities.

The Environment Fund is used for activities or initiatives in a range of areas such as, inter alia, schemes to prevent/reduce waste and waste recovery activities; research & development into waste management; support of education and training and promotion of awareness of the need to protect the environment, including national and regional campaigns; and initiatives undertaken by community groups and others for protection of the environment.

From 2011 to 2014, in excess of €255 million was disbursed to the environment sector from the Environment Fund. This is in addition to some €146 million provided to the environment sector by way of Exchequer Voted expenditure by my Department. In 2015, I made Fund allocations totalling €825,000 to the Irish Environmental Network and the Environmental Pillar. The total allocations from the Fund in 2015 amount to in excess of €44 million.

Housing Provision

Questions (1390)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

1390. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number and names of all operating voluntary housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30515/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Section 6(6) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 makes provision to grant approved housing body (AHB) status to housing associations. AHBs consist mainly of voluntary or co-operative organisations limited by guarantee and registered under the Companies Acts; societies registered under the Industrial & Provident Societies Acts; and/or Trusts incorporated under the Charities Acts. At present, there are 536 bodies with AHB status. Details regarding the name s and address es of all bodies currently approved under section 6 (6) of the Act are available on my Department’s website at:

http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SocialHousingSupport/VoluntaryCo-operativeHousing/ .

Seniors Alert Scheme

Questions (1391)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1391. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the investment, to date, in senior alert schemes in County Louth, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30528/15]

Written answers

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

My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme, which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding the investment, to date, in the Seniors Alert Scheme in County Louth is outlined in the following table and is also available on my Department's website at:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/SeniorsAlert/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,26536,en.xls

The information requested in relation to investment made in the Seniors Alert Scheme on a location basis in Co. Louth is not available.

Year	Expenditure €
2011	63,323
2012	62,858
2013	53,831
2014	36,713
2015	18,426 (to 31 August 2015)

Question No. 1392 answered with Question No. 1389.

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Questions (1393, 1405, 1418, 1427, 1429)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1393. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the previously announced new tenant purchase scheme will be unveiled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30567/15]

Tom Fleming

Question:

1405. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will urgently introduce the new tenant purchase scheme, as due to recent local authority rent reviews and subsequent increases, many tenants wish to avail of opportunities to purchase a house at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30887/15]

Michael McGrath

Question:

1418. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a new tenant purchase scheme will become operational; the way the discount on the market value of the property will be calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31062/15]

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1427. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 528 of 6 May 2015, if he will report on progress on the tenant purchase scheme for 2015. [31127/15]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1429. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put in place a scheme whereby local authority tenants will be able to apply to their local authorities to purchase their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31185/15]

Written answers

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1393, 1405, 1418, 1427 and 1429 together.

Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides for a new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines, similar to the schemes currently operating for local authority apartments and certain new local authority houses.

The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 includes a commitment to make the Regulations necessary for the scheme’s introduction, setting out the full details involved. The new scheme will commence at the earliest possible date following the making of the Regulations which are at an advanced stage of consideration and are expected to be finalised very shortly.

The scheme will operate along the lines of the incremental purchase model schemes currently operating, which involve discounts for purchasers linked to household income. The discount will be applied to the purchase price of the house to be determined by the local authority in accordance with the method to be prescribed in Regulations. It is intended to relate the purchase price of the house to its market value with replacement costs also being taken into account.

Full details of the scheme, including the income related discounts available to tenant purchasers, will be set out in the Regulations.