Written Answers Nos. 592-610
592. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a response will issue to this Deputy to the interim reply, reference REP 440/PC/15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33424/15]
View answerMy Department has prepared a technical report in connection with the issues raised by the Mica Action Group on the structural problems affecting certain houses in north Donegal which appear to be related to the use of defective blocks in the construction of those homes. This report was prepared following my visit, earlier this year, to a number of the affected homes to view first-hand the damage caused and having regard to copies of test reports, which had been provided by a number of homeowners, made available to my Department in order to provide a more detailed and scientific insight into the problems that have emerged.
In this regard, the technical report is under consideration and I intend to complete my deliberations in this matter shortly. A reply to the correspondence referred to will issue as soon as possible thereafter.
593. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the housing assistance payment scheme targets for Louth County Council for the period 2015 to 2017. [33438/15]
View answer594. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to date of the roll-out of the housing assistance payment scheme in County Louth. [33439/15]
View answer595. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of landlords in the private rented sector who have signed up to the housing assistance payment scheme in County Louth; and if he will provide data by area. [33440/15]
View answer596. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the housing assistance payment scheme in County Louth; if his Department met with Louth County Council since this roll-out in October 2014; the data that has been shared between Louth County Council and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33441/15]
View answer597. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of issues with housing assistance payments in County Louth in view of concerns expressed about difficulties securing accommodation within the rent limits set. [33442/15]
View answer598. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views that many local authorities require additional flexibility to operate the housing assistance payment scheme; if he will provide for flexibility above the previous maximum rent limits, as was negotiated with south Dublin local authorities. [33443/15]
View answer599. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures taken to identify sufficient stocks of suitable, affordable rental accommodation for the housing assistance payment scheme in County Louth in line with his Department's social housing strategy 2020. [33444/15]
View answer600. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the capacity and resources within local authorities to implement the housing assistance payment scheme; the resources and training that were put in place upon the roll-out of this scheme in each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33445/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 593 to 600, inclusive, together.
The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. The HAP scheme removes a barrier to employment, by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment, it improves regulation of the rented accommodation being supported and it provides certainty for landlords as regards their rental income. To be eligible for HAP, a person must first apply for and be approved for social housing support by their local authority.
Under the HAP scheme, eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, payments are made electronically directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant, and the tenancy agreement is between the HAP recipient and the private landlord.
The first phase of the statutory pilot for the HAP scheme commenced in September 2014 and has been introduced incrementally to 13 local authority areas to date-Limerick City and County Council; Waterford City and County Council; Cork, Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin, Monaghan, Donegal, Offaly, Carlow, Clare and Tipperary County Councils; and Cork City Council. Dublin City Council is also implementing the HAP pilot scheme for homeless households in the Dublin region on behalf of all four Dublin local authorities. Consideration is currently being given to the sequencing of a further cohort of local authorities to commence HAP in the coming months.
For the purposes of the statutory pilot, Limerick City and County Council have been acting as the lead authority in respect of the HAP project and are providing a transactional shared service hub for all local authorities operating HAP during the pilot phase.
The Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets a target of 8,400 households to be supported by HAP by end 2015. To date, there are over 4,000 households being supported by HAP across the pilot local authority areas operating the scheme. As the HAP scheme is being rolled out on a phased pilot basis, formal targets for individual local authority area s were not set for 2015. However, projected HAP tenancies have been determined and the relevant local authorities are working to achieve these.
Each Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. My Department works closely with all local authorities and all have been invited to submit staffing sanction requests to facilitate the delivery of the Social Housing Strategy. Each staffing sanction request is examined on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. My Department has sanctioned 36 posts to date to provide for the delivery of HAP across all Local Authorities.
While securing accommodation under HAP can be challenging in areas where there is a shortage of supply, the numbers of households securing accommodation nationally under HAP continues to rise, with an average of 90 new tenancies being registered each week in 2015. The maximum rent limits for different household classes that apply in each local authority where HAP has been commenced are set out in regulations and are currently based on the rent supplement limits as set out by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In prescribing these limits, household size and prevailing rents in the relevant areas are taken into consideration. My Department works closely with DSP and monitors data which it gathers, along with data gathered by HAP pilot authorities, in relation to the rent limits applying.
In this context, I have recognised that South Dublin County Council required additional flexibility in the operation of HAP given the challenging rental market within its administrative area. Regulations were signed in July 2015 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself to provide for an additional 20% flexibility above the previous maximum rent limits in South Dublin, where such flexibility is necessary in order to secure a suitable dwelling for the household concerned. My Department continues to keep this matter under active review in all HAP pilot authority areas, including Louth County Council.
In relation to the operation of HAP in the administrative area of Louth County Council, the scheme has been piloted there since 1 October 2014. There are currently 500 households being supported by HAP, with an average of 12 HAP tenancies being set-up per week in 2015. While my Department doe s not hold a detailed breakdown , by local authority, of landlords who are receiving payments on behalf of HAP households, I understand that there are some 361 landlords or agents acting on behalf of landlords currently receiving HAP payments in the administrative area of Louth County Council. The total amount paid to landlords by the HAP transactional shared service hub in respect of these tenancies to date in 2015 is €1,496,624.
Finally, my Department has also met on a regular basis with the pilot local authorities, including Louth County Council, to provide briefing in relation to the scheme and to get their feedback on operational matters. This engagement is proving invaluable as the roll out of the scheme progresses. I am pleased at how the HAP scheme is being operated within the administrative area of Louth County Council and I would like to commend the local authority on its engagement with the scheme to date.
601. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position in relation to future and likely policy developments on Internet privacy and data protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32736/15]
View answerInternet governance concerns the development and application of shared principles, procedures and mechanisms that inform and affect how the internet functions and how people use the internet. My Department engages in a variety of fora contributing to the discussion and shaping of internet governance policy, including at the Council of Europe, the European Union and the United Nations. Preserving the human rights of individuals online, including their privacy, remain at the centre of our policy positions in the various different international fora in which we operate. At a European Union level, online privacy is generally dealt with through data protection legislation, including the proposed General Data Protection Regulation.
602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the White Paper on Ireland's future energy policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32943/15]
View answerThe overall objective of the Energy White Paper is to provide a coherent, joined up policy statement aimed at ensuring that Ireland has a modern, sustainable, secure and cost effective integrated energy system which will support the transition to a largely decarbonised society and economy by 2050. The White Paper will be set in the context of broader EU Energy Policy as recently articulated in both the Energy Union Strategy and the EU's "Framework 2030" for coherent climate and energy policies.
I expect to publish the White Paper before the end of the year.
603. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide sufficient high-speed broadband to an area (details supplied) in County Tipperary, given the urgent requirement for this infrastructure for businesses in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33067/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest. Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER and was developed based on the most up to date information available at the time of publication. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services by end 2016.
The areas marked AMBER represent those areas where the State intends to intervene to ensure those areas will have access to high speed broadband services and includes Clonoulty in County Tipperary.
My Department is currently in the process of updating the Map, taking into consideration any new information received or operator announcements made of any new plans. We expect to publish an updated version of the Map before the end of this year.
The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with all addresses passed by 2020.
604. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will support a proposal (details supplied) regarding airplay legislation for the Irish music industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33099/15]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 1554 of 22 September 2015. The position remains unchanged.
605. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide sufficient high-speed broadband to a business (details supplied) in County Tipperary, given the need for this infrastructure in the business premises for adequate customer service; the service currently available in the town (details supplied); his plans for further broadband investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33151/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER and was developed based on the most up to date information available at the time of publication. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services by end 2016 and includes Templemore, County Tipperary.
The areas marked AMBER represent those areas where the State intends to intervene to ensure those areas will have access to high speed broadband services.
My Department is currently in the process of updating the Map, taking into consideration any new information received or operator announcements made of any new plans. We expect to publish an updated version of the Map before the end of this year.
According to publicly available information on eir's website (www.openeir.ie ) some 890 premises in Templemore already have access to high speed broadband. I would encourage members of the public to establish for themselves, through both my Department's map and the information that the commercial operators are providing to the public, whether their individual premises are in an existing or planned Next Generation Access (NGA) area.
Where it is established that a premises is in an area already upgraded and service quality remains an issue, then the person involved should raise this matter with their service provider in the first instance. Should the matter remain unresolved, it should then be brought to the attention of ComReg who will have it investigated. Neither I nor my Department has any role in resolving service quality issues.
The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with all addresses passed by 2020.
606. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the local broadband service around Stradbally in County Laois will be upgraded. [33192/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER and was developed based on the most up to date information available at the time of publication. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services by the end of 2016 and includes Stradbally in County Laois.
The areas marked AMBER represent those areas where the State intends to intervene to ensure those areas will have access to high speed broadband services. My Department's map indicates that 1% of premises in Stradbally will be covered by the NBP intervention, which means that all other premises in Stradbally will have high speed broadband of at least 30mbps by the end of 2016.
My Department is currently in the process of updating the Map, taking into consideration any new information received or operator announcements made of any new plans. We expect to publish an updated version of the Map before the end of this year.
According to publicly available information on eir's website (www.openeir.ie) the company expects to have the necessary work to enable the provision of high-speed broadband services in Stradbally completed this autumn.
I would encourage members of the public to consult both my Department's map and the information being provided by the commercial operators on their respective websites to establish the precise situation regarding their individual premises.
The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with all addresses passed by 2020.
607. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the provision of broadband services at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33271/15]
View answerThe National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest.
Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and AMBER and was developed based on the most up to date information available at the time of publication. The areas marked BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services by the end of 2016.
The areas marked AMBER represent those areas where the State intends to intervene to ensure those areas will have access to high speed broadband services. According to this map 98% of premises in the townland of Brownsbarn will be covered by commercial investment by the end of 2016 with the remaining 2% of premises being included in the proposed NBP intervention.
My Department is currently in the process of updating the Map, taking into consideration any new information received or operator announcements made of any new plans. We expect to publish an updated version of the Map before the end of this year.
I would encourage all members of the public to consult my Department's map as well as the publicly available information being provided on their websites by the various commercial operators in order to establish the precise status of their individual premises.
The NBP proposed Intervention Strategy document, which was published on 15 July last, sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention - what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention including the type of network envisaged, the minimum speeds being demanded, the length of the contract for services, and whether the network should be public or privately owned.
The Government is determined to ensure that the network is built out as quickly as possible and engagement with industry stakeholders has indicated that this could be achieved within 3-5 years of the contract award.
In this context, the NBP proposes that through the combination of commercial investment and State intervention, 85% of addresses in Ireland will have access to high speed services by 2018 with all addresses passed by 2020.
608. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the strategic partnership between the Digital Hub Development Agency and Knightsbridge Student Housing Limited will complete the construction of student accommodation at the Digital Hub campus; the number of units that will be provided; when they are expected to be tenanted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33314/15]
View answerI have been informed by the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) that Knightsbridge Student Housing Ltd (KSH) will deliver the student housing development at Bonham Street during the summer of 2016. The development, which will provide 471 student beds, is expected to be ready for occupation by students in September 2016, in time for the beginning of the academic year 2016–2017. Matters relating to the construction of the student accommodation are for the developer and not one in which I have a function.
Under the terms of the strategic partnership agreement between KSH and DHDA, KSH refurbished an adjacent DHDA-owned building, the Grainstore, for use by the DHDA as enterprise office accommodation to expand its Digital Hub cluster. I formally opened the Grainstore building on 16 September and this brings to nine the number of office buildings in use at The Digital Hub.
609. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the legislative and policy provisions that grant responsibility for local tourism development and promotion to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32940/15]
View answerLegislation with regard to the functions of Local Authorities is, in the first instance, a matter for my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.
I understand there is no specific legislative provision in local government law that gives responsibility to local authorities for local tourism development. However, section 66 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides Local Authorities with a general power to engage in such activities or do such things as are necessary to promote the interest of the local community, including measures or activities which promote, inter alia, the enterprise and economic development of the local authority concerned.
The 2014 Act also provides that each local authority must make a Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) to provide a strategic framework for the promotion of economic development and local and community development in its functional area. In this context, the promotion of economic development includes promoting the interest of the community with respect to, inter alia, tourism. Significant progress has been made by all Local Authorities in recent months in developing the LECPs with a view to their adoption by the end of 2015. It is understood that the majority of areas are currently engaged in public consultation processes and developing objectives underpinned by clear measurable actions to ensure successful delivery of the plans.
At policy level, the Government’s Tourism Policy Statement “People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025” which was launched last March, sets out key policy objectives under a range of headings, including a central role in tourism for Local Authorities and communities.
I have recently appointed a Tourism Leadership Group, to put in place a Tourism Action Plan that will set out the actions required in the period to 2018 in order that the overall objectives in "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025". can be achieved. Amongst the issues being considered by the Group is how to consolidate and enhance the role of Local Authorities in the area of tourism.
I intend to publish the Tourism Action Plan in the first quarter of 2016.
610. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be made available for works (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33293/15]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
I understand that Kerry County Council is in the process of assessing what actions are required in the area. While preliminary contact has been made with my Department, Kerry County Council has not put forward proposals for consideration as yet. While all available funding for this year has now been allocated, my Department will consider any funding request received in the context of the overall end of year position this year and the outlook for next year.
