Written Answers Nos. 1451-1469
1451. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when it is intended to make a decision as to whether there will be one or two local authorities in County Galway in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31371/15]
View answerI established the Galway Local Government Committee under the Local Government Act 1991 on 21 January 2015 and it commenced its work on 10 February 2015 . The Committee, which is independent in the performance of its functions, has been asked to prepare a report making recommendations with respect to whether the boundary of Galway city should be altered or whether Galway City Council and Galway County Council should be unified. In accordance with its terms of reference, the Committee is due to report to me no later than nine months following the commencement of the review and I will give full consideration to all of the details and recommendations in that report when it has been received.
1453. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the amount of moneys spent by the Private Residential Tenancies Board on legal services in 2013, 2014 and to 30 June 2015; if he will provide a breakdown of the legal firms this money was spent on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31417/15]
View answerThe Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) is an independent statutory body established on 1 September 2004 under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 and I have no function in relation to the operational matters of the Board. Consequently, my Department does not collate the information requested. The 2004 Act regulates the landlord / tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and the PRTB is charged with the administration of the Act including, inter alia, the resolution of disputes. As a quasi-judicial body , the PRTB can incur legal costs in a number of areas including the enforcement of registrations and of determination orders made by the Board.
Details of the PRTB’s income and expenditure are published in their Annual Reports and Accounts which are available on the PRTB website at: http://www.prtb.ie/about-prtb/who-we-are/annual-reports.
1454. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of the statutory committees he established on 19 June 2015 to review local government boundaries in a number of areas, the reason the review committee consists of persons who are currently or formerly public officials; the reason there is no voice of the community for the public or representatives of the public on these committees; his views on the current position regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31468/15]
View answer1455. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the statutory committees he established to review local government boundaries, if he is satisfied with the statutory provision governing these committees which exclude community and public involvement in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31469/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1454 and 1455 together.
I announced the establishment of independent statutory committees on 19 June 2015 to review local government boundaries in Athlone, Carlow, Drogheda and Waterford. In each case, the committees have been asked to carry out a review of the boundary between the respective counties and city and county and to make recommendations with respect to those boundaries and any consequential recommendations with respect to the areas of the Municipal , Borough or Metropolitan Districts , as appropriate, that they consider to be necessary in the interests of effective and convenient local government.
The appointment of members to the boundary committees was undertaken in accordance with section 28 of the Local Government Act 1991, subsection (4)(d) of which provides for the disqualification of certain persons from membership, including members of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or of a local authority. Accordingly, I have no discretion in relation to appointing public representatives to the Committees. The appointment of members to the committees in question was based on their range of knowledge, experience and expertise, including in relation to local government matters and public administration generally and I have full confidence in their ability to examine the issues rigorously and to report in an objective and informed manner in accordance with their terms of reference.
In terms of public involvement in the review of boundaries, the various Committees are specifically required by section 33 Local Government Act 1991 to invite and have regard to submissions from the public and they also have a discretionary power to hold an oral hearing.
I am satisfied with the existing provisions governing local authority boundary alterations but I will, nonetheless, keep the relevant code under review having regard to relevant experience in this area.
1456. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if further funding will be made available to Westmeath County Council for housing adaptation grants, both for persons with a disability and for the elderly. [31509/15]
View answerThe total funding allocation of €50.5m nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability that I announced in May 2015 represents an increase of some 10% over the 2014 funding. In the case of Westmeath County Council, its total funding amount of €775,140 for 2015 is an increase of 10% on its 2014 allocation. To date, 30% of the Council’s 2015 allocation has been drawn down from my Department. With regard to opportunities for additional funding, my Department carefully manages the available budget for these supports and in 2014, additional funds were made available to local authorities with high levels of grant activity. The same scrutiny will be applied to the budget for 2015 and, in the event of savings arising, these grants will be a priority for supplementary funding.
1457. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the proposal from Tabor Lodge Addiction and Housing Services re development of 31 homeless units on a 2.5 acre site at Fellowship House, Spur Hill, Togher, County Cork; if he is aware it was granted planning permission by Cork County Council (details supplied) for the development; if he is aware that finances were granted; the date on which it will receive permission from his Department to go to tender; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31515/15]
View answer1458. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when approval will be granted to tender for the construction of housing units for homeless persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31563/15]
View answer1509. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he plans to allow an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork to proceed to tender for a housing project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32102/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1457, 1458 and 1509 together.
A review of revised proposals and drawings provided to my Department in respect of this building development will be concluded shortly and I expect that a response will be provided to the local authority within the next fortnight.
1459. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of vacant local authority houses in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31600/15]
View answer1460. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of vacant local authority houses in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31601/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1459 and 1460 together.
Statistics on local authority housing stock, including the number of vacant social housing units for each local authority, are published by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are contained in the ‘Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2013’ which is available at the following web link: http://www.lgma.ie/en/service-indicators-local-authorities-2013.
1461. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the legislation or a regulation in place preventing a person from receiving grant assistance under the housing aid for older people scheme when the person was previously awarded a maximum grant for different works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31610/15]
View answerThere is no legal bar to the payment of a Housing Aid for Older People Grant where a grant has been paid previously under the scheme . However , it would not be expected that the need for payment of a second grant would ordinarily occur if the initial grant-aided works are properly executed and appropriate to the needs of the applicant. The payment of a second grant may be appropriate where an applicant’s needs have changed substantially over time and this will be a matter for the local authority to determine in implementing the scheme. The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to € 8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. Grant eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning, painting, etc.
1462. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if local authorities have the authority to turn off water supply to business premises in a specific circumstance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31614/15]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. It should be noted that the existing arrangements for all non-domestic customers are remaining in place with no changes for the time being in line with the Water Charges Plan approved by the CER . On this basis, the local authorities are continuing to bill and provide services to non-domestic water customers as agents of Irish Water.
1464. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will amend the guidelines issued to local authorities regarding grant availability for the upgrading of heating systems under the housing aid for older people scheme, given that the template application form which is issued to all local authorities states that no grant is available under this scheme for upgrading an existing central heating system; his views that the grants available from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland cover only a small proportion of the cost of such works and as such are not viable for many households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31623/15]
View answerThe Housing Aid for Older People Scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out. The grant eligible works include the provision of heating where the household has no current heating system, as well as structural repairs and improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, the provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, cleaning and painting. The upgrading of an existing central heating system is not grant aided under the scheme. As such grants are available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, I do not propose to extend the scope of such support under the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme , given the need under the Scheme to target the most vulnerable applicants who are living in poor housing conditions and enable them to remain living independently in their homes for longer and, in some cases, return to their homes following periods of hospitalisation.
1465. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funds available to complete a safety assessment of the remaining houses in the fire-stricken Millfield Estate, Newbridge, County Kildare; and if he will provide grant aid for remedial work that may be deemed necessary in order that householders may be secure and safe in their homes. [31670/15]
View answerI understand that Kildare County Council is liaising with the Millfield Hawthorns Representative Group on an ongoing basis in an effort to be of support and assistance to residents at this difficult time. Part B of the Building Regulations sets out the statutory standards of fire safety that apply when a new building is constructed in order to ensure the safety of persons in and about the building. Compliance with the building regulations is first and foremost the responsibility of the owners, designers and builders of the building concerned.
My colleague Minister Alan Kelly, has announced that, in the interests of supporting owners and residents living in developments where concerns regarding non-compliance with fire safety requirements arise, a review is to be undertaken by an independent fire safety expert to develop a framework for general application in such situations.
I understand that the review will:
1. Have regard to the typical risk profile faced by residents, their visitors and fire service personnel in and about apartment developments and housing estates;
2. Take account of normal hazards and relevant safety management arrangements as well as typical passive and active safety features;
3. Outline general advice and guidance which can be used by owners/residents and their professional advisers, to ensure that an adequate level of safety is in place for persons in and about their development. This may include making provision for -
a. appropriate or enhanced fire detection and alarm measures;
b. checking that appropriate escape routes from the premises are available, designed in accordance with current standards;
c. ensuring evacuation plans are rehearsed in each premises in the event of a fire incident.
4. Include a case study based on the Millfield Hawthorns estate at Newbridge, Co. Kildare;
5. Conclude at an early date, with a report to the Minister on or before 30th January 2016.
The review will be overseen by a Steering Group convened by Kildare County Council in conjunction with my Department. Mr. Martin Riordan, formerly Manager of Cork County Council, has agreed to chair the Steering Group and I understand that its first meeting has been arranged to take place this week.
In relation to the question of grant aid to homeowners in Millfield Estate for remedial works to their homes, the position is that no such scheme of grant aid currently exists or is under consideration by my Department.
1466. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water will require home owners to undertake expensive upgrades to their water pipes where lead connections have been uncovered; if he can make an undertaking that such upgrades will not become mandatory for home owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31681/15]
View answer1477. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the introduction of grants to assist householders who have a high lead content in their water supply to replace water pipes-plumbing systems; when such grants will be made available; if they will be based on level of lead in water; if the grants will be based on income or means tested against family income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31888/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1466 and 1477 together.
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 to ensure that water intended for human consumption meets required quality standards. Responsibility for replacing lead pipes or fittings within the property boundaries, including within the house itself, therefore rests with the homeowner. 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 in private ownership should be replaced over time. The joint position paper also recommends that persons in premises with lead piping should, in the meantime, flush the supply at the kitchen tap first thing in the morning, before using. The full document is available to download from the HSE’s website at:
http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/hl/water/drinkingwater/lead/HSE_EPA_JointPositionPaperLeadinDrinkingWater.pdf.
On 9 June 2015, I announced a Government-approved National Strategy to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. The Strategy was prepared by my Department and the Department of Health in consultation with Irish Water, the HSE and the EPA, in order to map the scale of the problem and identify measures to mitigate any risks to human health posed by lead in drinking water. As part of the Strategy , I will be establishing a new grants scheme to assist low income households to replace lead pipes in their homes. Funding for the scheme will be finalised in the context of Budget 2016 and it is envisaged that the scheme will be administered by the local authorities . Income thresholds and other eligibility criteria will apply and the terms and conditions of the new scheme will be publicised as soon as they are finalised.
1468. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to meet with a delegation of Donegal county councillors on the issue of the impact of defective mica blocks on homes and families in the county as they have requested. [31813/15]
View answerI fully appreciate and acknowledge the extremely difficult and distressing situations that certain homeowners in Donegal are facing on account of damage to the structural integrity of their homes. It was against this background that I met with a number of the affected homeowners earlier this year; my Department also met with a number of the affected homeowners in early December 2014.
At my Department’s request, copies of test reports on the affected concrete blocks, which had previously been commissioned by a number of homeowners, were made available to my Department in order to provide a more detailed and scientific insight into the problems that have emerged in Donegal. A technical report has been prepared for my consideration and I intend to complete my consideration of this matter shortly. In this context, I have no plans to meet with any other parties at this point in time.
In general, building defects are matters for resolution between the relevant contracting parties, i.e. the homeowner, the builder, the materials supplier and/or their respective insurers and I firmly believe that the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials should face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate actions to provide remedies for the affected homeowners.
In the event that the contracting parties cannot reach a settlement by negotiation, the option of seeking redress in the Courts can be considered. In this context, my Department understands that legal proceedings have been instigated in a number of cases relating to this problem.
1469. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which planning guidelines in respect of wind farms are under review; if the review has been completed; when he expects the findings to become applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31817/15]
View answerIn 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 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 21 February 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.
