Written Answers Nos. 107-110
107. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the sections and subsections of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, that are commenced; that remain to be commenced; and in each case, the reason they are not so commenced. [35844/15]
View answerThe Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 was commenced with effect from 1 September 2015, with the exception of section 34.
Section 34 amends section 96 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to provide, amongst other things, that Part V obligations on the provision of social and affordable housing may be fulfilled by developers through rental accommodation availability agreements. Section 34 is linked to Chapter 4 of Part II of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which has not yet commenced.
In the interim, section 33 of the 2015 Act provides that Part V obligations may be fulfilled by developers through leasing arrangements.
108. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to provide additional funding to South Dublin County Council to allow it to continue to take effective action in respect of litter and graffiti; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35870/15]
View answerI am very aware of the problems posed to local communities by litter and graffiti. The role of my Department is to provide the legislative framework to address the issue. Under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution, including the defacement of structures by writing or other marks, lie with local authorities. The Act provides significant powers to local authorities to deal with litter and the defacement of structures by writing or other marks. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions to deal with graffiti, taking account of local circumstances and competing priorities.
In order to support local authority efforts to tackle littering and graffiti, my Department also provides grant funding under the Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Scheme whereby local authorities are invited to submit proposed eligible projects for their functional areas. It is open to local community groups to approach their local authority for assistance with funding for anti-littering and anti-graffiti projects aimed at encouraging long-term behavioural change by individuals who engage in this unsocial behaviour. Under the scheme, each local authority decides which local projects to fund based on its own circumstances and priorities. In 2015, I made a total of €690,000 available to fund suitable projects under this scheme with South Dublin County Council receiving an allocation of €28,000. Given the many competing demands on limited resources, I have no proposals to increase funding through my Department in this area at this time.
It may be of interest to the Deputy to note that that the Department of Justice and Equality also has a role in the control of graffiti through the Criminal Damage Act 1991, which provides for the offences of damaging or defacing property.
109. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of water charges paid by schools, by county, for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35886/15]
View answerI have no function in this matter and the information requested is not available in my Department. With 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 Commission for Energy Regulation (CER ). On this basis, the local authorities are continuing to bill and provide services to non-domestic water customers, including schools, as agents of Irish Water.
110. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when his Department will provide funding to Galway County Council for the tenant purchase scheme; the amount of funding that will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35936/15]
View answerThe necessary Regulations for the new scheme for the tenant purchase of existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines are at an advanced stage and are expected to be finalised and signed by end October. Once operational, sales under the new Scheme will generate funds for the local authority to invest in new social housing supports or the refurbishment of existing housing.
