Written Answers Nos. 856-868
856. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the rate of invalidation of planning applications for west Cork being 61%, his views on this and if he accepts that accurate comparative statistics are a necessary tool in evaluating the degree to which water authorities are implementing the relevant guidelines he has set. [46844/15]
View answerAs indicated in the reply to the Deputy’s Question No. 552 of 10 November 2015, the annual planning statistics supplied by Cork County Council for inclusion in the national report published by my Department are not broken down on a Divisional basis. However, in order to be of assistance, the Council has supplied to my Department the following details of planning applications in its Western Division, which reflect a much lower - and reducing - rate of invalidations of planning applications in West Cork than that indicated in the Question:
|
Year |
Total number of planning applications received |
Number of applications received that were invalid |
Percentage of applications received that were invalid |
|
2013 |
769 |
220 |
28.61 % |
|
2014 |
771 |
194 |
25.16% |
|
2015 |
741 |
171 |
23.08 % |
857. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that due to delays in the planning process, including an invalidation because of an issue with a planning notice the works scheduled to be carried out in April to June 2015, in fine weather, on the harbour and pier in Cape Clear Island did not begin until October 2015 with storms and bad weather causing difficulties to contractors and workers and disruption to the residents with a limited ferry service because the work was not completed before the winter, as was the original intention. [46845/15]
View answerPlanning authorities are required to determine the validity or otherwise of individual planning applications submitted to them in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2015, while also having regard to Ministerial guidelines issued under section 29 of the 2000 Act. It is a matter, therefore, for applicants for planning permission to ensure that they comply with all statutory requirements in order to minimise the time taken to make decisions on their applications.
Cork County Council has informed my Department that the first planning application in the case referred to was invalid because of failure to comply with the following notice requirements prescribed under the Planning and Development Regulations:
- Article 239(b): A newspaper notice relating to a planning application accompanied by a Natura impact statement must specify that the statement will be available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy during office hours at the office of the planning authority concerned;
- Article 19(1)(b) and (4): A site notice in respect of proposed development on a site must generally be inscribed or printed on a white background. [The site notice for this planning application was inscribed or printed on a yellow background, which is a requirement only in the case of a second application where a valid planning application was made within the preceding 6 months in respect of the same site, or part of the same site.]
858. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will review the regulations governing local authority mortgages whereby only first-time buyers or builds are entitled to qualify, which discriminates against those who may have had difficulties in the past with previous mortgages and who are now cleared but because of their status cannot qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46883/15]
View answerThe terms and conditions governing the operation of standard annuity mortgages provided by local authorities to qualifying first time buyers are set out most recently in the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012. These are available on my Department’s website at the following weblink: http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/.
In 2009, a Credit Policy was issued, in accordance with the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009, to all housing authorities. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with this statutory Credit Policy in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches.
All applicants must complete a housing loan application form which can be downloaded from the relevant local authority’s website. As part of the loan application procedure, the Housing Agency provides an underwriting and support service to all local authorities. This shared central service processes loan applications, carries out credit checks and issues a recommendation to the local authority on each loan application in accordance with the credit policy. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Accordingly, the local authority issues the loan and the Housing Agency provides an underwriting and support service to the local authority during the loan application process.
To ensure effective targeting of limited resources, local authority loan finance continues to be available to first time buyers only. The Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2012 are kept under constant review. There are no plans, at this time, to alter the Regulations in this regard. The option currently available for non-first time buyers is to seek home loan facilities from one of the commercial lending institutions.
859. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to detail all North-South planning, investment and development that currently exists or is planned for regarding water and waste water facilities. [46913/15]
View answerThere is good on-going north-south cooperation regarding implementation of the Water Framework Directive. In the context of the development of second cycle River Basin Management Plans in Ireland it is intended that there will be a single national River Basin District (RBD) for the second cycle (resulting from a merger of the Eastern, South Eastern, South Western, Western and Shannon River Basin Districts) and that also a single administrative area will be established for the purpose of coordinating water management with authorities in Northern Ireland for the North Western and Neagh Bann International RBDs. The technical analysis and planning tasks are being advanced on the basis of the appropriate water or catchment management units as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency. Both jurisdictions are also keen to assist the further development of River Trusts and to continue to build on the success of on-going and previous initiatives to assist River Trusts in cross border areas.
In relation to public water and wastewater services, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels for public water services including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure.
I understand that Irish Water is participating in a joint application with Northern Ireland Water for funding for cross-border initiatives covering water and wastewater services under the EU's Interreg programme. The funding of such proposals is a matter in the first instance for Irish Water. Two joint applications are being developed, one water resources project which will address micro-pollutant in cross-border drinking water catchments and one addressing wastewater compliance towards achieving the Water Framework Directive objectives for Lough Foyle. Both proposals are in the application phase at this stage.
For further information on this matter and other aspects of capital investment, Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives and has contacted all Oireachtas members to provide details of an improved level of service which it is aiming to provide. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a new dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
As regards rural water, my Department's rural water investment programme supports the delivery of quality water services in rural communities. The selection and prioritisation of group water and sewerage schemes is a matter in the first instance for local authorities.
Earlier this month, my Department wrote to local authorities advising them of the new approach to the funding of group water and sewerage schemes for 2016 and beyond. This will ultimately lead to the development of appropriate prioritised lists of schemes for funding and a series of demonstration projects which will assist in further evolving the programme of investment. Details of the new multi-annual programme are available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterServices/RuralWaterProgramme/.
It is now a matter for local authorities to decide on the prioritised list of group water and sewerage schemes to be funded in their respective areas and to submit their funding applications for the period 2016 to 2018 to my Department by 29 January 2016. Allocations for funding under the new multi-annual programme will be provided to local authorities in due course and following consideration of authorities' bids for funding.
860. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when legal advice was sought initially on how to best deal with the foreshore issues arising at an area (details supplied) in County Galway; from whom the advice was sought; if any response of any type has issued since this request for advice; what his Department has done to follow this matter up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1020/16]
View answerMy Department has been engaging with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office since 2014 as to how best to deal with the foreshore issues arising at the area in question. During this time, some of the many complex legal and property issues that have arisen in this particular case have been researched and clarified. However, final legal advices are still awaited.
Upon receipt of final legal advices, which are expected shortly, my Department will be in a position to decide on the next steps to be taken in the case.
861. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the 2011 consultation document on spatial strategies on the island of Ireland being prepared by his Department and the Department of Regional Development in the North has been concluded; and if so, what aspects of the spatial strategy have been delivered. [1032/16]
View answerThe Framework for Co-operation: Spatial Strategies of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was jointly published by the Department for Regional Development (Northern Ireland) and my Department in June 2013 and is available to download at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/PlanningDevelopment/Planning/TopicalIssues/.
Implementation of the Framework is an ongoing matter for both Departments with regard to matters such as data collection and analysis for input to each jurisdiction’s planning processes, implementation of relevant EU Directives that have cross-border implications for example in the water quality and environmental impact assessment areas and support for local planning initiatives such as the North West Gateway Initiative where local authorities in Donegal and Derry/Strabane have agreed joint approaches to strategic development.
Furthermore, I would anticipate that the development of a new National Planning Framework to succeed the National Spatial Strategy will continue the process of close co-operation with the planning process in Northern Ireland so that the overall island benefits from a planned and sustainable approach to development in general.
862. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of households on local authority housing lists in receipt of rent supplement, by local authority area. [1055/16]
View answerThe 2013 Summary of Social Housing Assessments identified some 89,872 households nationally as qualified as being in need of social housing supports. These results are the most up-to-date and reliable figures currently available. Of this overall number, 46,584 or 52% were found to be dependent on rent supplement.
The results of the 2013 summary provide details on the number of qualified households in private rented accommodation and in receipt of rent supplement broken down by each local authority area. The full 2013 results are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
Further summaries of social housing assessments will be carried out on an annual basis from this year and will provide up-to-date and comprehensive data on the numbers of households qualified for social housing support on an on-going basis.
863. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the report (details supplied) indicating an 8.5% increase in house prices in 2015 and the measures he will introduce for affordable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1103/16]
View answerA shortage of supply is at the heart of the current challenges in the housing sector and the Government is addressing this on a number of fronts. A number of important measures have been taken already aimed at improving housing viability and increasing supply.
The Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, which commenced in September 2015, introduced a number of reforms in relation to, inter alia, Part V of the Planning and Development Acts; the retrospective application of reduced development contributions; and the introduction of a vacant site levy.
These measures were introduced to incentivise the development of vacant and underutilised sites for housing and regeneration purposes. Together, these legislative provisions are aimed at putting in place structural reforms of planning and land development processes that will support an increase in the output of housing to meet the needs of everyone in Ireland.
Given that these measures will take time to fully impact on supply, the Government agreed a comprehensive suite of shorter-term measures to improve the operation of the private rental sector and stimulate increased housing supply, as set out in the document Stabilising Rents, Boosting Supply (November 2015).
Details of the full package of rent stability and housing supply measures are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,43556,en.pdf.
I have enacted two major pieces of legislation to put the key elements of Stabilising Rents, Boosting Supply on a statutory footing, namely:
- The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2015, which strengthens the status of aspects of planning guidelines issued to local authorities on planning matters to ensure their consistent application, particularly in relation to Apartment Standard Guidelines. It also streamlines the process for the making of modifications to Strategic Development Zone planning schemes; and;
- The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, which provides for an increased rent review period from one to two years; increased notice periods for rent reviews and greater protections for both tenants and landlords. These measures will bring much-needed stability to the rental sector pending the coming on-stream of the supply of new housing.
Cognisant of the difficulty faced by some households in accessing the housing market, an affordable rental pilot scheme was announced as part of Budget 2016 with €10 million being made available to fund a pilot in 2016. This will be an on-going annual commitment to secure a long- term increase in the supply of affordable properties to meet the needs of those households that would struggle to make rental payments under present market conditions.
The pilot Scheme is expected to work on the basis of tenants paying the majority of the rental cost from their own resources, with the State helping to meet the shortfall. It is intended that the scheme would be made available to employed low to moderate income households together with being a possible support option for some households who qualify for social housing support. Details of the Scheme are currently being finalised in my Department.
In addition, NAMA is aiming to deliver a target of 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020 with 90% of these units to be in the greater Dublin area, with approximately 75% of the units being starter homes.
The approach taken by Government is a comprehensive one and I am committed to doing all that it is possible to overcome the difficulties faced by households in accessing the housing market so that every household will have access to secure, good quality housing suited to their needs at an affordable price in a sustainable community.
864. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of the €5 million emergency funding being disbursed by Red Cross has been recouped. [1105/16]
View answerThe €5 million Humanitarian Assistance Scheme for Small Businesses is being administered by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Defence.
My Department, therefore, has no responsibility for the management or administration of this Scheme, which is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Defence.
865. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has any concerns about the proposed construction of the northern distributor road in the Clare County Council Development Plan given the extensive recent flooding in the Shannon catchment area and especially around the Clonlara area in County Clare; if he has the power to veto such a proposal in the county council's development plans if they exacerbate flood risk in an area; and if he has considered vetoing this proposal, given that Limerick City and County Council rejected the proposal on the grounds that it will increase flood risk in the Shannon catchment area. [1117/16]
View answerWhere a planning authority is making a new Development Plan or varying a Development Plan, my Department considers the plan in light of government guidance and policy, including compliance with flood risk assessment guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
I understand that An Bord Pleanála approved the project referred to in the Question on 16 September 2011. In this connection, I am specifically precluded, under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned.
866. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of private cars paying motor tax in 2015 by year of registration, for cars registered in the years 1995 to 2015, in tabular form. [1122/16]
View answerThe number of private vehicles taxed at 31 December 2015 is set out below by year of vehicle registration between 1995 and 2015.
|
Year of vehicle registration |
No . of vehicles taxed at 31 December 2015 |
|
2015 |
115,957 |
|
2014 |
92,951 |
|
2013 |
77,665 |
|
2012 |
93,507 |
|
2011 |
113,478 |
|
2010 |
118,555 |
|
2009 |
85,883 |
|
2008 |
182,668 |
|
2007 |
178,177 |
|
2006 |
170,203 |
|
2005 |
160,976 |
|
2004 |
136,071 |
|
2003 |
113,654 |
|
2002 |
97,950 |
|
2001 |
75,848 |
|
2000 |
77,243 |
|
1999 |
40,227 |
|
1998 |
21,312 |
|
1997 |
13,430 |
|
1996 |
7,287 |
|
1995 |
3,739 |
867. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of motor tax collected from private cars in 2015 by year of registration, for cars registered in the years 1995 to 2015; the percentage of overall motor tax paid by motorists, by year of registration, in tabular form. [1123/16]
View answerThe amount of motor tax, including arrears, collected from private cars in 2015 is set out in the table below by year of registration for vehicles registered between 1995 and 2015.
Total gross receipts from motor tax in 2015 were €1,124,351,805. The total below represents just under 82% of that figure.
|
Year of vehicle registration |
Motor tax paid in 2015 (€) |
|
2015 |
44,026,549 |
|
2014 |
39,271,161 |
|
2013 |
34,434,153 |
|
2012 |
34,391,012 |
|
2011 |
39,112,052 |
|
2010 |
41,753,727 |
|
2009 |
40,865,200 |
|
2008 |
88,072,421 |
|
2007 |
109,838,150 |
|
2006 |
97,566,117 |
|
2005 |
83,514,068 |
|
2004 |
65,265,462 |
|
2003 |
51,439,662 |
|
2002 |
44,310,989 |
|
2001 |
33,795,572 |
|
1999 |
17,523,132 |
|
1998 |
9,740,650 |
|
1997 |
5,621,473 |
|
1996 |
2,988,530 |
|
1995 |
1,527,807 |
|
Total |
918,799,705 |
868. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the establishment of an expert technical group to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in County Donegal and in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1138/16]
View answerArrangements are being advanced within my Department with regard to identifying a suitable chairperson for the expert group and I intend to make an announcement in this matter shortly. Following the announcement of a chairperson, I will be seeking nominations from a number of professional bodies for suitable persons to participate on the expert group.
