Written Answers Nos. 218-224
218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if levies collected in advance of the previous metro north proposal will have to be now refunded; the basis for this; and the amounts involved, by local authority. [35152/15]
View answerDevelopment contributions applied by local authorities are levied on the basis of a development contribution scheme approved by the elected members which sets out how contributions are to be applied in respect of developments in their respective functional areas. The level of contribution, and the types of development to which development contributions should apply, is therefore determined at local authority level in accordance with the powers vested in elected members in this connection.
The development contribution levies referred to in the Question relate to two supplementary development contribution schemes adopted by Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in 2007, which were subsequently revised in 2013, under section 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, and which were designed to facilitate a particular public infrastructure project, the Metro North project, which it was proposed would traverse the functional areas of the local authorities concerned. The schemes expire on 31 December 2015 although both local authorities have ceased levying charges in respect of this project.
While the adoption and administration of supplementary development contribution schemes is a matter for the relevant local authority and I have no function in this regard, the two local authorities concerned have advised that they intend to refund levies collected under these schemes when revised proposals, currently being developed, in respect of the Metro North project are finalised. Further enquiries in relation to this matter may be made directly to the local authorities concerned.
219. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is examining the reason only 2,500 of 6,500 properties offered by the National Asset Management Agency for use as social housing were accepted by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35165/15]
View answerSince December 2011, my Department and the Housing Agency have been engaged with NAMA identifying properties that might potentially be suitable for social housing purposes.
Since the process began, up to end of June 2015, a total of 1,386 NAMA residential properties have been delivered for social housing use, comprising of 1,083 completed properties, with a further 303 that have been contracted and where completion work is on-going. A further 624 properties are active transactions whereby terms are agreed, active negotiation is on-going with all parties concerned, or where a detailed appraisal (i.e. determining the most likely delivery mechanism) is being carried out.
To the end of June 2015, NAMA had identified 6,542 residential properties controlled by its debtors and receivers under this initiative as being potentially available for social housing. Of this figure, 2,501 properties have a confirmed demand and are available for social housing.
The remaining 4,041 are no longer available for social housing purposes for a variety of reasons. In the case of 2,476 of the properties identified by NAMA, local authorities considered them unsuitable for social housing because of sustainable planning and housing policy issues or they were located in areas with no social housing demand. A further 1,565 units originally identified as available for social housing were subsequently discovered by NAMA to be unavailable.
Notwithstanding this, there is an ongoing process of reviewing units previously deemed unsuitable by local authorities. In particular, local authorities in high demand areas are continually reviewing the list of available NAMA properties to see if they are suitable to be brought into use as social housing.
220. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if further funding will be allocated for unfinished estates to be completed, particularly in Bundoran in County Donegal and in Bailieborough in County Cavan; and if he will ensure these estates will be included in the next tranche of funding. [35178/15]
View answerBudget 2014 contained a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF), to assist further in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments. The SRF was designed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not likely to be resolved in the normal way through solely developer/owner/funder action because of the presence of specific financial barriers. On 2 May 2014, allocations from the Special Resolution Fund were announced and 86 developments were approved for funding. The following link contains a list of all developments approved for SRF funding
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,37940,en.htm .
There are no plans for a further scheme at this time.
The management and administration of issues relating to unfinished housing developments is a matter for individual local authorities. Each local authority has appointed an Unfinished Housing Development co-ordinator; contact details can be found on the Housing Agency’s website at the following weblink: http://www.housing.ie/our-services/unfinished-housing-developments/local-authority-contacts.aspx.
221. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is concerned that retail gas prices for consumers have not come down in line with wholesale gas prices internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34976/15]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the gas market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is the independent energy regulator. CER's regulation of the gas market is legally underpinned by the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002, as amended. Prices are set competitively by suppliers and the CER carries out its statutory market monitoring functions under S.I. No. 463 of 2011 to ensure the market operates competitively to the benefit of the consumer.
I have no function in this matter.
222. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the application for Killarney Valley South and East Kerry Recreational Park, comprising an all-weather pitch, a micro-track and ancillary facilities (details supplied) as this is a full inclusive sports and leisure complex serving all sectors and age groups of the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34961/15]
View answerI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted.
I expect to announce allocations shortly.
223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the provision of the bus rapid transit line from Swords in County Dublin to Dublin city centre; and how additional passenger demand will be met in advance of the completion of the metro north project. [34995/15]
View answerAs recently announced, the provision of a new Metro North scheme linking Swords and Dublin airport with the city centre has been approved by Government and is included in the new Capital Plan. In that context, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has also been requested to keep the interim public transport requirements of the Swords/Airport corridor over the next 10 years under review with a view to ensuring adequate capacity to meet demand and address constraints along the corridor.
In line with its statutory remit, the NTA is currently finalising preparation of its draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) to cover the period 2015 to 2035. The draft Strategy will provide a framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA for the next two decades and will include consideration of BRT routes and bus priority measures. I understand that the NTA intends to publish the draft Strategy for public consultation shortly.
224. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the proposed western bypass of Ardee in County Louth; if the project is shovel-ready with all the required land now in the ownership of Louth County Council; the reason for the non-inclusion of this road in the recent transport capital programme; the expected cost of the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35022/15]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan in the period to 2022 were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land transport. This report highlighted the importance of maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to enhance the existing network through improving connections to seaports, to poorly served regions, to large-scale employment sites, and addressing critical safety issues.
In framing the capital plan choices had to made given the overall funding envelope available and it was not possible to include a range of projects, including the Ardee bypass.
As regards the current position in relation to the Ardee Bypass including land acquisition, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
