Written Answers Nos. 176-183
176. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the authority or legislation under which she or her Department can establish or order an investigation into the activities of universities, including the misappropriation of funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34937/15]
View answerHigher education institutions, including Universities, are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day to day affairs. It is expected that if any issues arise in relation to the misappropriation of funds it is, in the first instance, addressed by the University authorities. As the Deputy is aware Universities are under the designation of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and should any issue arise in any University my Department would liaise with the HEA with regard to addressing the particular matter. The provisions for appointment by the Minister for Education of a Visitor to a University are set out in Sections 19 and 20 of the Universities Act, 1997. It provides that "where the Minister is of the opinion that there are reasonable grounds for contending that the functions of a university are being performed in a manner which prima facie constitutes a breach of the laws, statutes or ordinances applicable to the university, the Minister may, after first advising the governing authority of his or her opinion and considering any explanation given in response, and with the concurrence of the Government, request the Visitor to the University to inquire into any matter giving rise to the Minister's opinion".
177. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in the provision of a replacement primary school for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34949/15]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted a major capital application to my Department to provide for an extension and refurbishment works. Following a site visit in December 2014, my Department's technical staff revisited the schools earlier this year to gather further information. My Department is currently considering the options available to it in addressing the school's accommodation needs and in that context, it is my Department's intention to liaise with the school Patron. Following this contact, my Department will be in further contact with the school.
178. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in the provision of a replacement building for a school (details supplied); when will a contractor be selected for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34950/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the school building project to which he refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. Subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that a Contractor will be selected before late December.
179. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the total number of staff under the remit of her Department that have applied to be transferred to Department or State agency offices located outside the Dublin region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35293/15]
View answerThis Department does not hold records of staff who apply to transfer out to other Departments. We do hold records of staff from other Departments who wish to transfer to this Department. In this regard, applications for transfers to our locations outside of Dublin (i.e. Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar) are facilitated through the Central Applications Facility (CAF) which is managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). Likewise our staff can apply to transfer to another Department/Location via the CAF or to the particular Department directly for non-CAF locations.
180. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has had on new planning guidelines for wind turbines; the scenarios examined for set-back distances between wind turbines and residential homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34812/15]
View answer188. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the new planning guidelines for wind turbines will be published; the scenarios examined for set-back distances between wind turbines and residential homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34813/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 188 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 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. My Department is advancing work on the Guidelines in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
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.
181. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine a submission on a proposal (details supplied) which offers a possible and affordable solution to the distressed mortgage crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34761/15]
View answerEarlier this year and following an assessment of progress to date, the Government introduced a package of measures on tackling mortgage arrears. The aim of these measures is to ensure delivery of the Government’s commitment to addressing the mortgage arrears challenge and in particular to make available a range of options to distressed borrowers and to keep as many people in their homes as possible. Measures announced include:
- Improvements to the operations of the courts both in terms of procedures and powers;
- Improvements to the operation of the Personal Insolvency Service;
- Ensuring that the necessary information is made available to those in mortgage arrears by strengthening the role of MABS and providing expert advice to borrowers;
- The introduction of measures to assist those in rented accommodation that is subject to a repossession order;
- A communications campaign to ensure that those in mortgage arrears are fully aware of their options;
- The strengthening of existing schemes including the Mortgage to Rent Scheme and ensuring that those in need of social housing have their eligibility assessed without delay.
While responsibility for these measures is spread across a number of Departments, the Mortgage to Rent Scheme falls under my remit. Improvements include a broadening of the property value thresholds to ensure that more properties qualify, introducing flexibility in relation to the size of properties that qualify and a changing of the rules with regard to negative equity to enable those with a marginal positive equity to also qualify.
With regard to the rent and purchase option put forward by the Deputy, while my Department is now focusing on the delivery of progress under the new measures in place, there will be a need to review progress on a regular basis. I will ensure that the merits of the proposal offered are considered in the light of any future reviews.
182. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the report he received entitled, Report to the Dublin Region Homeless Executive on Difficulties Accessing Child Protective Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34771/15]
View answerMy 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. The issues raised in the report referred to in the Question regarding the operations of the Dublin Region Central Placement Service are a matter for the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE), who operate the service on behalf of the four Dublin housing authorities. I understand that the report was an internal draft report prepared by Crosscare Information and Advocacy Services (CIAS), who provide homeless services on behalf of the DRHE, in relation to migrants presenting to the service and that the DRHE will continue to engage with them and other stakeholders on this matter.
183. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of non-Irish persons in 2013 and 2014 who accessed homeless accommodation in the greater Dublin area, as recorded by the Pass system. [34772/15]
View answerData 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 these 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. These monthly reports also provide details of the breakdown of the individuals and the numbers of families and dependents that are in emergency accommodation. Both the quarterly and monthly reports are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/. However, details on the number of non-Irish persons who accessed homeless accommodation are not statistically maintained on the PASS system.
