Written Answers Nos. 552-72
552. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been a problem with doors and windows in the new civic offices in Roscommon, if some or all of these windows and doors had to be replaced; and the cost incurred as a result. [41658/15]
View answerUnder section 65 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of office accommodation necessary for the general operation of a local authority is a matter for the authority concerned.
553. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of instances in which the improvements works in lieu of local authority housing scheme (DoEH&LG Circular N7/02) was applied across each of the local authorities in 2014, in tabular form; the aggregate number of instances in which the scheme had been applied, across all local authorities as a bloc, in each year since 2002; if he is satisfied, on the basis of date or other reports supplied to him, that the local authorities apply the terms of the scheme consistently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41660/15]
View answerA total funding allocation for 2015 of €11 million nationally was made to support local authorities in undertaking adaptations and extensions to their social housing stock to meet the needs of tenants with a disability or to address serious overcrowding, and for improvement works in lieu of the provision of local authority housing. Details of the 2015 allocations are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/GeneralNews/MainBody,41581,en.htm. The detailed administration of these schemes is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The number of instances in which the scheme for improvement works in lieu of the provision of local authority housing (IWILs) was applied across each of the local authorities is not routinely collated in my Department. However the expenditure in this area by local authority in 2014 is outlined as follows, covering those two local authorities who utilised the scheme in that year.
Expenditure in this area in all local authorities each year since 2004 is also provided as follows; information covering 2002 and 2003 predates my Department's current financial management system and is therefore not readily available.
The arrangements in respect of the IWILs scheme are the same for all local authorities, but as the detailed administration of these schemes is the responsibility of the authorities themselves, they may apportion funding between the various grant measures in line with local demand and prioritisation.
Expenditure on IWILs 2014
|
Local Authority |
€ |
|
Kerry Co Co |
€17,264 |
|
Mayo Co Co |
€112,500 |
Expenditure on IWILs by year 2004-14
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2004 |
€7,678,721 |
|
2005 |
€6,944,370 |
|
2006 |
€5,083,846 |
|
2007 |
€3,287,383 |
|
2008 |
€2,782,877 |
|
2009 |
€1,856,264 |
|
2010 |
€3,500,567 |
|
2011 |
€1,369,189 |
|
2012 |
€424,083 |
|
2013 |
€216,338 |
|
2014 |
€129,764 |
|
TOTAL |
€33,273,402 |
554. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the review of wind energy guidelines; when the review process commenced; the amount of time given for submissions; the number of submissions received; and when comprehensive new guidelines will be published (details supplied). [41664/15]
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. My Department is advancing work on the Guidelines in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines, 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 are required to have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts. In the interim, the 2006 Guidelines continue to apply.
Under the Act, each planning authority’s development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned.
Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure including energy facilities. Section 9 of the Act further requires that a development plan be consistent with such national plans, policies or strategies as they relate to proper planning and sustainable development.
As the preparation or variation of local authority Development Plans must take account of all relevant and up to date national plans, policies and strategies, my Department advised planning authorities by way of circular letter PL 20/13 dated 20 December 2013 that until the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines has concluded, planning authorities should defer amending their existing Development Plan policies relating to wind energy as part of either the cyclical review or variation processes. They were instead advised to continue to operate their existing Development Plan policies and objectives until the review of the Guidelines was completed.
555. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his view on a matter regarding the Private Residential Tenancies Board (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41674/15]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Due to the quasi-judicial role of the PRTB it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the specifics of any case. The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 is currently before the Oireachtas and will amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to provide, inter alia, for the introduction of a new procedure to enforce a tenant’s obligation under section 86 of the 2004 Act to pay rent pending the determination of a dispute. Furthermore, as part of the Government’s recently announced package of measures in relation to the rental sector, the enforcement of PRTB determination orders will no longer have to be pursued through the Circuit Court but will be dealt with in the District Court. In general, this will provide for the faster hearing of enforcement cases and will save expense. The Bill also includes a provision to prevent a Notice of Termination from being found to be invalid on the basis of a technicality.
The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 has passed all stages in the Dáil, together with Committee Stage in the Seanad. The Bill will return to the Seanad for Report and Final Stages today.
Given the sustained increase in demand for PRTB services, approval was provided for an additional 9 staff and the Board is in the process of recruitment to fill these posts which will bring the number of personnel up to 42. Further resources are to be made available in the context of the implementation of the package of measures in relation to the rental sector, referred to previously.
556. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details, dates, attendees and agendas of all meetings between his Department, the Valuation Office and officials from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in respect of a revision of rate valuations in the local authority area. [41685/15]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. Valuation matters are a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation. The Commissioner is currently conducting a programme of revaluation of all commercial and industrial properties throughout the State on a county by county basis, the purpose of which is to provide for more consistent and up-to-date valuations for rating purposes and to assist in providing a more equitable distribution of valuations across those liable to pay rates. As part of this process a revaluation of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council took place between 2008 and 2010, with an effective date of 1 January 2011. In accordance with the requirement in section 19 of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, a formal consultation between my Department, the Valuation Office and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council took place on 30 May 2008. Officials from my Department, the Valuation Office and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council attended. Records in my Department indicate that the following was the agenda:
1. Correspondence issued by Commissioner
2. Proposed Valuation Order for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
3. Launch of Revaluation Project in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
4. Revisions and Appeals
5. A.O.B.
559. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to put in place a resolution plan for Clonguish Court in Newtownforbes, the only estate in County Longford without a site resolution plan. [41714/15]
View answerThe 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 at: http://www.housing.ie/our-services/unfinished-housing-developments/local-authority-contacts.aspx.
I understand that Longford County Council is actively engaged with the relevant parties in an effort to put a site resolution plan in place with respect to the unfinished housing development in question.
560. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government why there has been a substantial under-spend from the national fire directorate's capital programme for 2015 on Longford fire station. [41715/15]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects. Provision was made for the construction of an extension to Longford fire station in 2007 and approval-in-principle was conveyed to Longford County Council to proceed with the preparation of design drawings and a cost plan. The project progressed to tender stage in 2009, and a total of €43,081 was recouped by my Department to Longford County Council in relation to fees incurred.
In 2010, given constraints on public finances and the fact that Longford County Council was also seeking financial support for the construction of a new fire station at Lanesboro, my Department requested that Longford County Council determine its order of priority in relation to both projects. The Council confirmed in July 2010 that the Lanesboro fire station project was the number one priority on their list of capital works. The project to construct a new two-bay fire station at Lanesboro was approved in 2014 and completed this year, with my Department recouping €1,011,179 to Longford County Council for costs incurred on the project.
I have also recently announced a new national joint - procurement programme to purchase twenty fire appliances, under which Longford Fire Service has been allocated one new appliance. Given the ongoing constraints on public finances, further support from my Department’s Fire Services Capital Programme to proceed with an extension to the fire station in Longford Town will have regard to national priorities, the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide, Longford County Council's priorities, the extent of current and previous investment in Longford fire service, the value for money offered by proposals and the status of existing facilities having regard to risk categorisation.
561. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of ghost and vacant housing estates in an area (details supplied) in County Cork, by location and by stage of development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41799/15]
View answerA National Housing Development Survey has been conducted by my Department with assistance from the Housing Agency and local authorities, annually since 2010. The survey assesses the progress of developments categorised as 'unfinished developments'. The results of the survey, the most recent of which refers to 2014, as well as an Annual Progress Report on Actions to Address Unfinished Housing Developments, are published on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/UnfinishedHousingDevelopments/#Progress. The 2015 National Housing Development Survey and the Annual Progress Report are due for completion shortly and I will be publishing the results. I am confident that good progress is continuing to be made in resolving unfinished developments and the reactivation of sites is now evident throughout the country.
562. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for an update on the status of the proposed national salmon life centre in Ballina in County Mayo; when the development will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41177/15]
View answerI understand that proposals, prospective funding and project time lines for a Salmon Life Centre in Ballina are a matter for Mayo County Council.
563. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the targets for electric vehicle usage here for 2020; and how close Ireland is to meeting its targets for overall EV usage including public transport and for private EV usage. [41220/15]
View answer568. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the estimated reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions if Ireland meets its 2020 targets for electric vehicle usage, both including and excluding public transport. [41491/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 568 together.
The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources. Ireland aims to meet its renewable transport target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels, with increasing usage of electric vehicles also making a contribution.
Ireland's third National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to 2020 estimates that approximately 50,000 electric vehicles (EVs) could form part of the transport fleet in 2020. However, the extent to which electric vehicles are adopted in the short-to-medium term will depend on a range of factors including, inter alia, the strength of the economy, the overall numbers of new cars being purchased, the cost of purchasing and running electric vehicles compared to fossil fuel comparators, and the number of different electric vehicle models available to purchase. There are signs that these factors are improving and in 2015, 541 EVs have been supported through the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme which represents over half of the total of 1,076 supported since the programme began in 2011.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, who administers the Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme, estimate that the current fleet size is now 1,100 EVs, which will provide an annual saving of 864 tonnes CO2. 50,000 EVs operating today would deliver annual CO2 savings of 39,000 tonnes compared with the today's new fossil fuel equivalents.
564. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has analysed the financial incentives for consumers switching from vehicles powered by diesel or petrol to vehicles powered by electricity; and if he will provide details of this analysis and its conclusions. [41221/15]
View answerOn the issue of the charging infrastructure, I have no function in this matter. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent regulator. Ahead of the introduction of the Electric Vehicles Scheme in 2011, a cost benefit analysis was undertaken in relation to electric vehicles incentives. Findings included:
- Whilst Electric Vehicles have a significantly lower annual running cost, because of their higher purchase price compared with vehicles powered entirely by fossil fuels, they have a higher nominal life cycle cost;
- Electric Vehicles offer major fuel efficiency gains as well as the opportunity for Ireland to exploit its renewable energy resources. Deployment of Battery EVs (BEVs) and Plug in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs) provides an opportunity to reduce the level of CO2 emissions beyond that currently possible with even the most efficient vehicles powered entirely by fossil fuels. Essentially, by shifting to EVs, the potential to energise vehicles with 100% renewable energy becomes possible.
It should be noted that this report was based on 6,000 EVs being grant aided between 2011 and 2012 and over 200,000 EVs forming part of the national fleet by 2020.
565. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the necessary legislation will be drafted and enacted to permit An Post branches to provide banking services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41228/15]
View answerAn Post has the largest retail network in the country and was fully computerised some years ago. As a result, the post office network can fill a vital role in the nationwide provision of over-the-counter services to the public, state services and other financial and commercial transactions. An Post currently carry out a range of transaction services on behalf of the AIB and the Ulster Bank across the post office network. With regard to the provision of banking services, one of the areas highlighted in the Initial Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group was seeking out opportunities in the financial services areas, including basic banking for the unbanked.
In advance of receiving the Final Report of the Group, which I expect to receive presently, it would be premature to speculate on future developments until I have had the opportunity to consider in detail the findings of the Group. The need for legislation will be considered in that context.
566. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of money spent on the investigations into the dumping at the Bord na Móna bog at Ballydesmond, County Cork; the next steps in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41428/15]
View answerBord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matters raised by the Deputy are operational matters for the company and are not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function. However, I have asked the company to revert directly to the Deputy on this matter.
567. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of issuing of draft licences for fishing on the Shannon Estuary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41472/15]
View answerSalmon stocks are managed in Ireland on an individual River basis, due to the fact that each river has a genetically unique stock. Rivers are only open to harvest fisheries where there is an exploitable surplus above the individual River's conservation limit. The conservation limit is the minimum number of spawning adults required to maintain a healthy population. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that, in the case of estuaries where there is a mix of individual river stocks each river contributing to the estuary must be above its own conservation limit before harvest fishing is permitted. This is because it is not possible to disaggregate fish in a mixed stock area and the imperative to protect vulnerable individual stocks from indiscriminate fishing and avoid exploitation of those stocks within the mix that are below their conservation limit.
Within the Shannon Catchment two of six rivers are open to angling and of these one is open to commercial fishing for 2015. The River Mulkear is open to angling on a catch and release basis, and the River Feale open to angling and commercial fishing as it has a sustainable surplus. There is also a catch and release stretch for angling allowed on the lower Shannon under a by-law, between O’Brien's Bridge and Thomond Bridge for recreational angling.
As the River Shannon is below its conservation limit, the Estuary is closed to commercial exploitation of salmon.
569. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that access to the electrical distribution network maps is restored and access to the transmission network maps is still available via EirGrid; his views that this mapping service is necessary for energy generators, developers, planners, and so on, and that it plays a vital role in developing alternative energy sources and contributes to meeting the requirements under the Kyoto Protocol; if he will direct ESB Networks to make these maps available to everyone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41580/15]
View answerMy Department has passed this query to ESB Networks and have requested them to contact the Deputy directly.
570. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the concerns expressed last year by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications with regard to EU Commission COM(2014)111, if he will outline the steps he has taken to date to restrict the purchase and importation into the European Union of blood minerals which are used to fund armed groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41593/15]
View answerThe draft regulation on setting up a Union system for supply chain due diligence self-certification of responsible importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict affected and high-risk areas (COM (2014) 111 final), published by the European Commission in March 2014, outlines a voluntary process through which importers of the listed minerals or their ores into the EU can self-certify that they do not contribute to financing armed conflict. Importers who opt in will have to conduct due diligence in accordance with the recognised Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) five step framework for risk based due diligence. The EU proposal is also global in scope, unlike the US Dodd Frank Act which focuses only on the African Great Lakes Region.
Ireland supports the objectives of the regulation, to break the link between minerals extraction and trading and financing of armed conflict and to create a market for responsibly traded minerals from conflict regions. Ireland is engaging fully in the discussions at the Council Working Party, where the Member States are working to secure an agreed position which best serves the objectives of the proposed regulation, prior to entering negotiations with the European Parliament.
Alongside the work on the draft regulation, my officials are also participating in a European Commission expert group in consultation with the European External Action Service and the OECD, to prepare a handbook for companies on non-binding guidelines, explaining how best to apply the criteria for the identification of conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
571. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding the State expended on research into hydraulic fracturing, which is environmentally damaging and commercially non-viable; the results of the research in regard to the effects on human health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41700/15]
View answerWhile the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is coordinating the Joint Research Programme into the potential environmental impacts of Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction (UGEE), the research programme is being co-funded by the EPA, my own Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The key questions that this Joint Research Programme, which is to be carried out over a minimum period of two years, needs to answer are:
- Can unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects and operations be carried out in the island of Ireland whilst also protecting the environment and human health? and
- What is ‘best environmental practice’ in relation to such projects and operations?
There has been considerable effort invested by the organisations managing the Joint Research Programme and the consortium engaged to carry out the research. There has been good progress made to-date. The final report will be made publically available on the EPA website once the research has been concluded. Further details on the research programme is currently available on a dedicated website www.ugeeresearch.ie.
The costs of the first phase of the Joint Research Programme were estimated at just over €1m. The three commissioning bodies committed approximately €1.25m in funding to the research project. While my own Department has committed €0.5m to the project, these funds have not been paid out as yet.
