Written Answers Nos. 660-673
660. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of restoring Leader funding to the level that was originally allocated under the 2007 to 2013 rural development programme. [46328/15]
View answerThe original allocation for the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was just short of €400 million. The LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. The cost of restoring funding to the 2007-2013 levels, therefore, would be an additional €150 million.
While the allocation for the LEADER elements of the 2014-2020 programming period is less than the value allocated for 2007 – 2013 programming period, I am confident that within the confines of the fiscal environment we have experienced in the recent past, the Government has allocated the maximum amount possible to support the LEADER elements of the 2014-2020 programme. This funding, coupled with the Government’s drive to increase coordination at a local level and the commitment to the delivery of the recommendations in the report of the Commission on the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA), will ensure that the impact of the available funding will be maximised to support the sustainable development of our rural communities.
661. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of commercial ratepayers who did not pay the charges due in 2014 and the combined amount of these unpaid charges by local authority. [46332/15]
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. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. Rates income data are published by local authorities in their Annual Financial Statements. The latest year for which audited local authority Annual Financial Statement data are available is 2013. These figures are published as a matter of course on local authority websites.
The information requested is not available in my Department.
662. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce commercial rate relief for vacant properties, where such charges fall due; the number of vacant properties where commercial rates were due, were paid and the amount outstanding [46333/15]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on the occupiers of rateable property in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001.
The Local Government Act 1946 provides that where a property is unoccupied on the date of the making of the rate, the owner becomes liable for rates. However, the owner is entitled to a refund if the property is vacant for specified purposes i.e. if the premises are unoccupied for the purpose of additions, alterations or repairs; where the owner is bona fide unable to obtain a suitable tenant at a reasonable rent; and where the premises are vacant pending redevelopment. The collection of rates and the determination of eligibility for a refund in this context are matters for each individual local authority.
The Local Government Act 1946 provided that the owner was entitled to a 100% refund in most local authority areas. Separate legislation governs refunds in the cities of Dublin, Limerick and Cork, where the same criteria for refunds apply but only 50% of the rates paid was refundable.
With effect from 1 June 2014, when the relevant provision commenced, the Local Government Reform Act 2014 gives discretion to the elected members of individual local authorities to vary the level of rates refunds that apply in individual local electoral areas within the authority’s administrative area. This discretion allows elected members to respond to the differing characteristics of local commercial property markets. The Local Government (Financial and Audit Procedures) Regulations 2014 provide that the decision to alter the rate of refund should be taken at the annual budget meeting and that the rate of refund decided in respect of the relevant local electoral area shall apply to eligible persons for the year to which the budget relates. The absence of a decision to vary the refund means that the existing legislative provisions regarding the rate of refunds apply (either 100% or 50% as set out above).
Rates income data are published by local authorities in their Annual Financial Statements. 2013 is the latest year for which audited local authority Annual Financial Statement data are available.
The information requested in respect of the number of vacant properties where commercial rates were due in 2014, the amount of such properties where rates were paid and the amount outstanding, is not available in my Department.
663. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will establish a multi-fund cross-departmental green-deal agency responsible for accessing European and private funding sources, in order to finance a new scheme across all tenure types; the estimated cost of establishing such an agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46334/15]
View answerIn November 2014, the Government approved the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State’s social housing needs to the end of the decade. The Strategy includes a commitment to commence work on a financial vehicle, to be known as the Strategic Housing Fund, to raise funding for the social housing sector. The financial vehicle will be established to facilitate the aggregation of private investment into a fund for subsequent lending as project finance. It is intended that this funding would be lent on to qualifying Approved Housing Bodies, giving them access to long term finance.
Work on the development of this new funding model is being progressed under the oversight of a group which has been put in place to develop the financial aspects of the Social Housing Strategy. This group - the Finance Work Stream - comprises a range of key stakeholders including my Department, the Housing Finance Agency, the National Development Finance Agency and the Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure and Reform. The timing of the introduction of the new funding model will be dependent on the outcome of the group’s work.
Notwithstanding this, the Housing Finance Agency is a State-owned company established in 1982, which provides loan finance to local authorities and voluntary housing bodies for housing and related purposes. The HFA raises its funds on the domestic and international capital markets in structures and at costs that reflect its customers’ requirements.
In February 2015, a new initiative jointly backed by the Housing Finance Agency and the European Investment Bank was announced which is expected to support investment in 2,000 social housing units to be developed across Ireland over the next three years. The €150 million funding from the European Investment Bank will be matched by the HFA to provide €300 million available for lending to support investment by Approved Housing Bodies across the country to upgrade social housing and improve energy efficiency. By accessing EIB funding the HFA will be able to offer Approved Housing Bodies long-term finance at extremely competitive rates. This is just one of the methods of housing delivery in the Social Housing Strategy and underlines the Government’s commitment to tackling the acute housing need that currently exists.
664. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress in achieving each of the nine strategic aims set out in the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46339/15]
View answer665. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the implementation planning group for the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016 was established; the number of meetings the group has held; the number of annual progress reports the group has completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46340/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 664 and 665 together.
The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 was published in late 2011 and the associated National Implementation Framework was published in July 2012. These are joint publications by my Department and the Department of Health and set out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities through mainstream housing policy. They were developed as part of a coherent framework, in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change, the Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settings and the Value for Money Review of Disability Services, to support people with disabilities within community-based living with maximum independence and choice.
Considerable progress has been made since the Strategy was published. Implementation of the Strategy is being driven primarily by the Housing Agency. A dedicated Housing Subgroup chaired by the Housing Agency was established in 2012 to progress implementation and includes representatives from my Department, the HSE, the Department of Health, local authorities, the Irish Council for Social Housing and various disability representative organisations. The Housing Agency sub-group has met on 25 occasions since its establishment.
National Guidelines for the Assessment and Allocation Process for Housing Provision for People with a Disability, a key output under the NHSPWD, have been developed and was adopted for implementation by housing authorities with effect from November 2014.
Implementation of the Congregated Settings Report, led by the HSE, is supported by my Department through the NHSPWD. My Department is represented on the HSE Working Group and is supporting the ongoing work to progress the transitioning of individuals from congregated settings. In addition, the Housing Agency subgroup has established two task groups to progress the priority actions in relation to mental health and in relation to actions for individuals with a disability living in the community. Much work has been done to deliver on these issues and this will continue.
The majority of housing authorities have now established Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs), chaired by the authority and including the HSE and disability representative organisations, to achieve a co-ordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with disabilities. All HDSGs will be up and running in the coming months. As part of the priority action to ensure equitable access for people with disabilities, each HSDG must prepare a Strategic Plan for each county/city area which aims to identify the housing needs of people with a disability, both current and emerging over the next five years, and develop specific local strategies to meet the identified needs. Most of the Strategic Plans have now been prepared and it is intended that they will be collated by the Housing Agency into a draft National Plan.
An Implementation Monitoring Group was established in 2012 to monitor and report on progress, and has met on seven occasions since then. The group is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives of the Department of Health, the HSE, the National Disability Authority, the National Service Users Executive and disability representative organisations. The first progress report of the Implementation Monitoring Group was published in 2014 and is available on my Department’s website at:
www.environ.ie/e n/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,37210,en.doc .
It is intended to hold a meeting of the IMG early in 2016 with a view to further updating progress.
666. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the case of motor tax for a commercial vehicle (details supplied) based on the Court of Appeal reduction in tax for articulated goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46365/15]
View answerThe Court of Appeal ruling referred to was made on 21 October 2015 and had the effect that from that date articulated goods vehicles fell to be taxed at the general haulage tractor rate. This category attracts an annual rate of €333.
The Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act 2015 was subsequently enacted to provide for such vehicles to be reclassified as goods vehicles and to put motor tax reductions announced as part of Budget 2016 on a permanent statutory footing. Owners of articulated goods vehicles, as well as owners of all other heavier goods vehicles, will benefit from significantly reduced rates of motor tax for discs commencing on or after 1 January 2016.
The position in relation to payments of motor tax for articulated goods vehicles made prior to 21 October remains under consideration.
667. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if city managers or area managers in local authorities are allowed to be biased against city councillors; if all councillors have to be treated in a fair and balanced way by management in all local authorities; if there are sanctions if management acts in an unfair manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46374/15]
View answerSection 132 of the Local Government Act 2001 states that it is the duty of every chief executive of a local authority to carry into effect all lawful directions of the elected council in relation to the reserved functions of the local authority. Furthermore, it is the duty of the chief executive to advise and assist the elected council, corporate policy group, strategic policy committees and local community development committee on any matter relating to their functions.
Section 169 of the Act provides for the issuing of codes of conduct for elected members and employees in performing their functions. The Code of Conduct for Employees is available on my Department’s website at the following weblink: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Administration/FileDownLoad,8776,en.pdf.
The Code states that mutual respect and courtesy between all employees (including the chief executive) and councillors is essential to good local government and should be maintained at all times. It also states that it is important that employees at all times act in a politically neutral way in performing their official duties and in their dealings with councillors.
668. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 for all employees directly employed by or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46405/15]
View answerPayment of salaries to staff of my Department is made in line with pay scales approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. If a minimum payment of €11.50 an hour were introduced, the additional costs for my Department are estimated to be in the region of €10,850 (not including Employer’s PRSI). This figure reduces as and when the staff concerned progress along an incremental scale.
Material in respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the bodies concerned and is not available in my Department.
669. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will contact Eircode to have a person's Eircode address corrected; if Eircode will review all details in an estate (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45739/15]
View answerCapita Business Support Services Ireland was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop and implement the National Postcode System " Eircode". The case referred to by the Deputy is one for Capita to review and resolve if an issue exists. The person concerned can contact Eircode by e-mailing hello@eircode.ie, by post to Block C, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, W23 F854 or using the contact phone number 0818 300 015.
670. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount his Department has received in fees from freedom of information requests in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45755/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Upfront Fees |
Search and Retrieval Fees |
Internal Review Fees |
Total |
|
2014 |
€640 |
Nil |
€150 |
€790 |
|
2015 to date |
Nil |
€244 |
€180 |
€424 |
671. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of political staff working in his Department, including the role and salary of each staff member. [45782/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is as follows: one Special Advisor to the Minister is employed with a Gross Salary of €91,624 and another Special Advisor to the Minister is employed with a Gross Salary of €82,587.
Special Adviser appointments are undertaken in accordance with the Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil (July 2014) and the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices (March 2011) issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
672. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of Bills his Department has published since 9 March 2011; the number and Title of those Bills that included a regulatory impact assessment in advance of publication; the regulatory impact assessments published; the number of promised Bills for publication; the Bills that will include a regulatory impact assessment; the regulatory impact assessments that will be published before publication of the relevant Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45804/15]
View answerSince March 2011, there have been eight Bills published by my Department of which seven Bills have been brought through to completion. My Department undertakes Regulatory Impact Assessments in accordance with the procedures set out in the RIA Guidelines published by the Department of the Taoiseach. The following is a list of the eight Bills which have been published to date:
- The Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011 was enacted on 23 November 2011. No Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) was required for this Bill. A full RIA was undertaken for the related Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act, 2010.
- The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 was enacted on 25 February 2012. A RIA for the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 was published with the Bill on 27 September 2011.
- The Electricity Regulation (Carbon Revenue Levy) (Amendment) Bill 2012 was enacted on 25 May 2012. This was emergency legislation on foot of a Supreme Court Decision and therefore was exempt from RIA requirements.
- The Gas Regulation Bill 2013 was enacted on 3 December 2013. A RIA on the Gas Regulation Bill 2013, setting out the policy context and rationale for the implementation of full ownership unbundling, including for the sale of Bord Gáis Energy, was prepared. Some of the material contained in the RIA was considered to be commercially sensitive in light of the ongoing transaction process. Therefore, it has not been published at this stage.
- The ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013 was enacted on 18 March 2014. A RIA was completed in respect of the Bill and was published on my Department’s website.
- The Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015 was enacted on 2 July 2015. A RIA was completed in respect of the Bill and was published on my Department’s website.
- The Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2015 was enacted on 22 July 2015. A RIA was completed in respect of the Bill and was published on my Department’s website.
- The Minerals Development Bill 2015 was published on 9 July 2015. A RIA was completed in respect of the Bill and will shortly be published on my Department’s website.
There are two Bills currently in preparation where draft Heads of these Bills have been approved by Government and the Bills are expected to be published in Spring 2016. Regulatory Impact Assessments have been completed in respect of both of these Bills.
In addition, there are four Bills currently in preparation in respect of which Heads of these Bills have not yet been submitted to Government. It is expected that a Regulatory Impact Assessment will be published for each of these Bills.
673. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 23 September 2015 and given that it is recorded that 975,000 of the 2.1 million calls made to the emergency call answering service are referred to the emergency services, what happens with the balance and why are they not referred to the relevant emergency service. [45843/15]
View answerThe Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) responds to all calls to 112/999 in the State in under one second. Having identified the nature of the emergency and the location, calls are connected to the correct Emergency Service, on average, in under 6.5 seconds.
The remaining calls are filtered and not forwarded to the Emergency Services. The majority of filtered calls occur where the caller does not speak to the ECAS operator, or where the number is dialled accidentally. Misdialled calls, children playing or abusive calls are also filtered out by ECAS Operators. This is to ensure the Emergency Services can concentrate their efforts on genuine and intended emergency calls.
