Tuesday, 1 Dec 2015

Written Answers Nos. 568-88

Register of Electors

Questions (568)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

568. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department is working to ensure that citizens and families experiencing homelessness will be able to vote in the upcoming general election, given that they are not in permanent accommodation because of the housing shortage; the criteria to be followed by those persons currently at temporary addresses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42585/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In order to vote at an election or a referendum a voter must be registered in the appropriate register of electors for that election or referendum. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for the registration of voters where they are ‘ordinarily resident’. Depending on the circumstances, the registration authority may consider it appropriate to register people experiencing homelessness at a particular address where they may be residing temporarily. The determination of ‘ordinary residence’ is a matter for decision by the registration authority in the light of the circumstances of each particular case.

Where people who are already on the register of electors have moved from one constituency to another or to another address within the same constituency and wish to be registered at their new address they can apply for inclusion in the supplement to the register. To do so, they should complete the RFA 3 form that is available for this purpose and send it to the registration authority for the area where they are currently registered. The RFA 3 form is available from any registration authority and is also available to download from www.checktheregister.ie.

While the registration of voters is a matter for the registration authorities, I would expect, in the circumstances, that they take a reasonable and common-sense approach to the inclusion of people experiencing homelessness in the register of electors.

Water Charges Arrears

Questions (569)

Paul Murphy

Question:

569. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he or any body under his Department's remit is instructing approved housing bodies to actively pursue tenants to pay the water charges arrears; and if those same approved housing bodies are informed in any manner that if their tenants fail to pay the water charges their funding will be affected. [42590/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.

The occupier of a dwelling is liable to pay the water charges in respect of the dwelling, and legislation provides that the owner is the occupier unless the contrary is proven. Section 23A of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 places certain obligations on the owner of a dwelling to register with Irish Water. In the event that they do not register, Irish Water has the explicit legal authority to bill the owner of the dwelling in respect of any water charges relating to that dwelling. Irish Water is providing landlords with the opportunity to prove that they are not the occupier by providing the tenant’s name. This will allow Irish Water to contact the tenant to complete the registration and to bill the tenant.

Arrears can be avoided by entering into a payment plan with Irish Water. Various easypay options are available through post offices or other payment providers. The overall net cost for those who register is either €1.15 a week for single adult households or €3 a week for all others. Water supply will be not be reduced under any circumstance.

While approved housing bodies are owners of dwellings, no communication has issued from my Department linking the non-payment by tenants of water charges with funding from my Department to the bodies. Payment from my Department to approved housing bodies is generally in respect of specific housing developments or activities they are performing in relation to the delivery of social housing.

Housing Management Companies

Questions (570)

Jim Daly

Question:

570. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the existing arrangement of stipulating by planning condition the setting up of management companies to maintain residential housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42608/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department advised planning authorities by way of Circular letter PD 1/ 2008 of 26 February 2008 that they should not include the establishment of a management company as a condition of planning permissions for the development of traditional residential housing estates (that is estates of houses with individual private gardens), except in the most exceptional circumstances, for example, to maintain a specific facility in the estate that is for residents’ use only (such as a private playground) or in the case of a development comprising holiday homes.

The circular further advised that the attaching of conditions to planning permissions relating to the establishment of a management company for the purpose of maintaining and managing a development should generally be confined to multi-unit structures (i.e. apartments and/or apartments and duplex houses) for the purpose of maintaining shared exteriors of buildings such as external walls and roofs; shared internal areas such as stairways, lifts and lobbies; as well as for the maintenance of external private shared facilities that are exclusive to the development (e.g. boiler houses, switch rooms, bin storage areas, communal private gardens/private open spaces or playgrounds) where a management company is considered essential having regard to the nature and scale of such facilities.

I am satisfied that this advice is reasonable and proportionate.

Planning Issues

Questions (571, 583)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

571. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a review (details supplied) on planning matters has been completed; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42636/15]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

583. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a consultancy company (details supplied) was appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions of the six selected planning authorities in Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils, and in Cork and Dublin City Councils; if the review has been completed and when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42811/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 583 together.

MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants were appointed in February 2014 to carry out an independent planning review on the performance of planning functions having regard to specific planning issues in respect of six planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils) in accordance with section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

I received the final report from the consultants in July 2015 and I intend to publish the report shortly having fully considered its contents.

Fire Service

Questions (572)

Seán Kenny

Question:

572. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to Dublin City Council for the purchase of an additional hydraulic platform and turntable ladder appliance for Dublin Fire Brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42654/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981.

My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and emergency equipment, as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations.

Dublin City Council provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet is one of the key national priorities for the Fire Services Capital Programme. I have recently announced a new national joint - procurement programme to purchase 20 fire appliances, under which Dublin Fire Brigade received an allocation for three new appliances. They subsequently requested and have received approval to substitute the cost of one of these ‘Class B’ appliances to upgrade one existing turntable ladder.

All requests for funding from my Department’s Fire Services Capital Programme will be considered within the constraints of available resources and will have regard to local authorities’ priorities, the value for money offered by proposals and the totality of requests from fire authorities.

Traveller Accommodation

Questions (573)

Finian McGrath

Question:

573. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on Dublin City Council drawing down funds for Traveller accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42721/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes are a matter for individual housing authorities. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The efficient and effective use of funding is a matter for individual local authorities, in this case Dublin City Council.

The 2015 Dublin City Council allocation is €366,299, of which €44,795 has been drawn down to date. However, I understand that a number of claims have very recently been received from the Council and these are currently been processed for recoupment to the Council. My Department will continue to engage with Dublin City Council in relation to the drawdown of funding before year-end.

Fire Service

Questions (574)

Seán Crowe

Question:

574. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that firefighters in County Kildare are not available to cut down trees, but that in neighbouring counties it is part of the job description. [42769/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Fire authorities have specific statutory responsibility to respond to fires and protect property. Additionally, there is statutory provision for fire services to respond to non-fire emergency operations, including response to road traffic accidents, incidents involving hazardous materials, and rescue operations, such as rescues from water, heights or confined spaces.

Other discretionary roles, such as dealing with fallen trees on roads, may be considered by each fire service, with a policy decision to be made on response to these types of occurrences, taking into account the need for the roles and the associated risks. In deciding to undertake a role, services should be conscious of the need to have safe systems of work in place, including appropriate equipment, procedures, training and instructions, as well as the effect any response to these roles may have on the availability of fire services for their core public safety roles.

Local authorities may have arrangements, other than use of fire services, for dealing with occurrences such as fallen trees on roads, and may consider that the additional costs associated with training of fire service personnel and maintenance of skills may not be justified when viewed alongside the frequency of incidents.

Waste Management

Questions (575)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

575. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for waste enforcement in the southern region; how he anticipates enforcement will be carried out; if this will be done by private agencies or by public bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42771/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

A Resource Opportunity, which sets out our national waste management policy, contains a commitment to complete a review of the respective regulatory and enforcement roles of the Environment Protection Agency and local authorities. A Review Group, established for that purpose in 2013 and comprising representatives from local authorities, the regional waste management offices, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Transfrontier Shipment Office, the National Waste Collection Permit Office and An Garda Síochána, identified the existing strengths and weaknesses in this area and made recommendations for the future. The review was also carried out in the context of the examination being undertaken by local government with respect to its existing service delivery models and cost base, and in identifying more efficient ways and means by which services could be delivered.

The Group recommended the establishment of three new regional lead authorities to drive improved performance and greater consistency in waste enforcement. My Department engaged subsequently with Local Authority Chief Executives and Directors of Service, through the Programme Management Office of the Local Government Management Agency and the Public Service Reform and Oversight Group, to develop the work of the 2013 Review and to invite expressions of interest from local authorities who wished to bid for the role.

On 9 October, following an open and highly competitive bidding process, Cork County Council, Dublin City Council and Leitrim & Donegal County Councils (in a combined bid) were selected as the new Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities for the Southern, Eastern and Midlands, and Connacht /Ulster Regions respectively.

Each of these new Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) will have responsibility for co-ordinating waste enforcement actions within regions, setting priorities and common objectives for waste enforcement, ensuring consistent enforcement of waste legislation across the three existing waste management planning regions, while still leaving local authority personnel as first responders on the ground to specific breaches of waste legislation. This is intended to facilitate a transformation from process-driven enforcement, structured around separate implementation of individual regulations, to one that focuses greatest effort on the waste problems and issues that matter most and to take swift, proportionate and effective action.

This structure will also complement the existing regional waste management planning group structure and the co-operative multi-agency approach of the Network for Ireland's Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (NIECE). The establishment of lead regional enforcement authorities will also facilitate more streamlining of the tasks currently undertaken in the waste enforcement area.

The structures are to be put in place for an initial period of five years with a review as to their effectiveness carried out after Year Two. A key point to note is that no enforcement powers are being taken away or transferred from local authorities to the WERLAs and the current waste enforcement network will be maintained. Consequently, local authorities will continue to receive the same level of enforcement grant subvention as heretofore, with the additional costs of establishing and staffing the three regional enforcement offices being also met by my Department.

The work of the WERLAs will be overseen by a National Steering Committee which will be chaired initially by my Department. The National Committee will determine national waste enforcement priorities for WERLAs and drive consistency at a central level. The Committee will include representatives from a wide range of regulatory authorities. A National Steering Committee Contact Group will also be established to ensure that other stakeholders have a direct channel to the National Committee.

Rural Enterprise Development Zones

Questions (576)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

576. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will extend the deadlines to the 2015 budget for the rural enterprise development zones, issued to local authorities for 2016, so as to allow them to spend the allocations effectively. [42772/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

51 Projects have been awarded funding under the Rural Enterprise Development Zones (REDZ) Pilot initiative to a value of almost €3.8 million.

To date 50 of the 51 project contracts offered for the 2015 REDZ Pilot initiative have been agreed and signed off by the local authorities involved and are due to be completed by year end. In the case of the one remaining outstanding contract, my Department has been advised that it will be returned in the next few days.

I am not considering an extension of time at the moment but will keep the matter under review.

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (577, 578, 579, 580)

Brian Stanley

Question:

577. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units completed by approved housing bodies in 2015 to date. [42791/15]

Brian Stanley

Question:

578. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority houses completed in 2015 to date. [42792/15]

Brian Stanley

Question:

579. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased by local authorities in 2015 to date. [42793/15]

Brian Stanley

Question:

580. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased by approved housing bodies in 2015 to date. [42794/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 577 to 580, inclusive, together.

Information on social housing units constructed and acquired in respect of all local authorities and approved housing bodies is published on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/FileDownLoad,15291,en.xls.

Social and Affordable Housing Applications Data

Questions (581)

Brian Stanley

Question:

581. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new applications approved for social housing in the first six months of 2015. [42798/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The assessment of households for social housing purposes is a matter for individual local authorities in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions and, in particular, the 2011 Social Housing Assessment Regulations.

My Department does not hold details of ongoing changes to individual housing authority social housing waiting lists. The numbers assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing by individual local authorities at any single point in time is subject to ongoing fluctuation due to households being allocated housing and new households applying for housing support. For example, given the decrease in the unemployment rate there may well be people who while still appearing on local authority lists, may have secured employment or whose circumstances may have otherwise changed in the meantime, rendering them no longer eligible for or in need of social housing.

To accurately measure the number of qualified households on the waiting lists in individual local authorities the households must be subject to a comprehensive review. The last such review was carried out in 2013 and the 2013 Summary of Social Housing Needs Assessment results are available on my Department’s website at the following link:

http://www.environ.ie/en/PublicationsDocuments/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.

The Social Housing Strategy 2020 includes a commitment to undertake social housing assessments on an annual basis from 2016 onwards.

Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Questions (582)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

582. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for laying the statutory instrument on the new tenant purchase scheme, which was signed on 17 November 2015, before the Houses of the Oireachtas; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42800/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 were signed on 30 October 2015 and were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 4 November 2015.

Question No. 583 answered with Question No. 571.

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration

Questions (584)

Joan Collins

Question:

584. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his commitment to raise the cap from €220,000 for the mortgage to rent scheme, and if this commitment will come into force in the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42823/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme was launched nationally in June 2012. It is now properly established as part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of the arrears resolution process.

The package of commitments on mortgage arrears announced by Government in May 2015 included a number of amendments to the Mortgage to Rent Scheme which will enable more properties to qualify for the Scheme, and make it more flexible and accessible to borrowers. The principal amendment to the Scheme, which took effect from 1 July, is to increase the valuation thresholds applicable.

The revised property value thresholds are detailed in the following tables.

Type	Higher Threshold Area	Normal Threshold Area
House	€350,000	€250,000
Apartment/Townhouse	€300,000	€190,000

The location of the Higher and Normal Threshold Areas are specified in the following tables:

-	County	County	County	County	County	County	County
Higher Threshold Area	Cork	Dublin	Galway	Kildare	Louth	Meath	Wicklow

-	County	County	County	County	County	County	County
Normal Threshold Area	Carlow	Cavan	Clare	Donegal	Kerry	Kilkenny	Laois
	Leitrim	Limerick	Longford	Mayo	Monaghan	Offaly	Roscommon
	Sligo	Tipperary	Waterford	Westmeath	Wexford

Traveller Accommodation

Questions (585)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

585. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of an ongoing situation (details supplied); the steps he will take to resolve it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42827/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes, designed to meet these needs, rests with individual housing authorities, in this case Donegal County Council. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.

Accordingly, the issues raised in the report in relation to the two families are solely a matter for Donegal County Council. However, I understand that the Council is aware of the situation regarding these families and is working closely with them and Donegal Travellers Project on an ongoing basis with a view to addressing their long-term accommodation needs.

Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas

Questions (586)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

586. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42829/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) identified the need to take a more tailored approach to planning at both a regional and local level and recognised that this approach should not be restricted by current administrative boundaries.

Minister Kelly and I are fully committed to supporting the development of rural Ireland and, in this regard, we are also committed to advancing the implementation of the CEDRA Report recommendations. To facilitate this, I established the CEDRA Interdepartmental Group (IDG), comprising senior representatives of all relevant Government Departments. The IDG is currently working in a co-ordinated way to ensure that each Department’s policy development and implementation fully considers the needs of rural communities. In this context, the focus is on maximising the financial resources already available for rural development and ensuring that these resources are directed in a way that best supports the sustainable economic development of rural areas.

In order to maintain strong links with people in rural Ireland who are involved in or have a strong interest in the economic development of rural areas and communities, both Minister Kelly and I have also established an Expert Advisory Group to monitor progress and provide advice in respect of the implementation of the recommendations in the CEDRA report.

In addition, work is at an advanced stage on the preparation of a Charter for Rural Ireland, which will establish frameworks and practices to support the rejuvenation of the rural economy.

In line with the recommendations of the CEDRA report, I recently announced a Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) pilot scheme and I have made an amount of €3.8 million available to support the implementation of this pilot, which consists of 51 projects. This pilot scheme will complement the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities over the coming period.

The Deputy will also be aware that in line with the objectives of the CEDRA report, I also recently announced an additional €30 million investment package for rural Ireland, which will be rolled out over the coming months. This funding will support the revitalisation of towns and villages with a view to improving the living and working environment in these communities and enhancing their potential to support increased economic activity into the future.

Capital Assistance Scheme Funding

Questions (587)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

587. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an announcement is imminent regarding the allocation of money for the construction of an on-site communal facility at Castleblayney Care Housing Association at Drumilliard in Castleblayney, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42850/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department is providing €2.3 million through the Capital Assistance Scheme for the construction by Castleblayney Care Housing Association of 18 units of accommodation at Drumilliard, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, to cater for persons with disabilities. I understand that this scheme is largely complete and 10 of the 18 units have tenants allocated to them.

A second application has been submitted for the provision of an additional two units of accommodation and a communal facility on the site. A decision on funding for this proposal will be made following the completion of the first scheme, the submission of final account, a post-project review and confirmation from Monaghan County Council that all units provided under the first scheme are fully tenanted.

Emergency Accommodation Provision

Questions (588)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

588. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of all aspects of his planning, including modular housing, to alleviate the number of families in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42881/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

A range of measures are being taken to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households and mobilise the necessary supports in order to deliver on the Government's target of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. These measures have been identified in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness (May 2014). Progress in implementing these measures is reported through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The plan and progress reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.

With regard to modular housing, the Government has approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin. It is intended to have the first 150 units delivered as quickly as possible in the Dublin City Council administrative area, with the City Council acting as the contracting authority. The Council is aiming to secure the delivery of an initial fast-tracked 22 of these units before Christmas, with delivery of the remaining units commencing in late Q1 2016. A further 350 units will then be provided across the four local authorities in the Dublin region through a national procurement framework overseen by the Office for Government Procurement.

This programme of modular housing provision is being implemented to mitigate the issues associated with an increasing volume of homeless families accommodated in inappropriate commercial hotel arrangements. The units will provide emergency accommodation in the first instance, offering a greater level of stability while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. Furthermore, such arrangements will facilitate more co-ordinated needs assessment and support planning for access to all required services, including welfare, health and housing services.