Written Answers Nos. 152- 158
152. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to notify all local authorities to accept cheques for payment due for vehicle tax, rates and so on from small and medium enterprises which have normally made these payments by this method and that are major financial contributors to their councils each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2625/16]
View answerThe Government’s National Payments Plan was launched in April 2013 with the objective of reducing the cost of Ireland’s payment system through the increased use of more efficient payment systems to improve competitiveness and efficiency. In September 2013, ‘eDay’ was launched and gave businesses and public sector bodies 12 months to prepare for the smooth transition to electronic payments. In this regard, the Department of Finance advised all public bodies, including local authorities to neither write cheques to business users nor to accept cheques from business users commencing from 19 September 2014 (eDay). Responsibility for the administration of motor tax rests with the relevant motor tax offices as licensing authorities. It is a matter for each individual motor tax office to put in place payment arrangements for motor tax receipts. Local authorities facilitate the payment of commercial rates by instalments, including direct debit, standing order, and cash.
Local authorities facilitate a range of alternative payment methods such as cash, credit cards and, in certain instances, in instalments through direct debit and standing orders.
153. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the consideration of proposals contained in the Irish League of Credit Unions’ social housing strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2629/16]
View answerI and my colleague, Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, met with the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) on 1 December 2015 to discuss a submission containing a proposal setting out a means by which funding could be provided to Approved Housing Bodies, by credit unions, for the development of social housing. My Department has since had a further meeting with the ILCU to address technical aspects of its proposal.
Conscious of the independence of the Central Bank in its regulatory role in respect of credit unions, bilateral engagement has taken place between my Department and the Department of Finance to consider the potential regulatory and legislative implications of credit union involvement in the social housing sector.
The Central Bank commenced a number of new regulations for credit unions on 1 January 2016. Prior to their commencement, following careful consideration, the Central Bank made a number of modifications including to Regulation 25(2) which makes reference to the fact that the Central Bank may prescribe, in accordance with section 43 of the Credit Union Act 1997, further classes of investments for credit unions which may include investments in projects of a public nature. The effect of these modifications is that regulation 25(2) now provides that investment in projects of a public nature can include, but are not limited to, investments in social housing projects.
I acknowledge the recent modifications made by the Central Bank and the willingness of credit unions to actively seek a role in financing the delivery of social housing. I look forward to the ILCU’s further engagement with the Central Bank on foot of the regulatory changes made and my Department will continue to engage constructively with the ILCU in relation to their proposal.
154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funding or assistance he has provided to Irish Water for the proposed construction of its treatment plant in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2639/16]
View answerIrish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure such as the treatment plant in Clonmel. Irish Water's costs are funded through a mix of revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, third party finance (including bank lending and capital markets facilities) and State support which may be in the form of both equity and subvention. The main aspects of the Irish Water funding model are set out in a detailed fact sheet published on my Department’s website.
The capital contribution agreed by Government for Irish Water in 2015 and 2016 is €406 m. This financing is intended to support increased investment in public water services infrastructure by Irish Water. €222 m in respect of 2015 was provided to Irish Water in December 2014 by the Minister for Finance and the remaining €184 m is due to be provided in 2016.
155. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to develop a shared ownership scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2656/16]
View answerThe Government announced in 2011 the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the Shared Ownership Scheme, given the changes in the property and lending markets. There are no plans at this time to develop a new shared ownership scheme.
156. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of enhanced redundancy for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo. [2665/16]
View answerMy Department has no role in the internal operations of any private organisations and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage. In relation to the details supplied by the Deputy , discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are on-going. There is also on-going engagement with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the legal issues arising. Consideration of the matter will be finalised in light of the outcome of these consultations.
157. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will establish the investigation panel to examine the issue of mica in construction materials; what the process will be for home owners affected by mica to notify the investigation panel of details of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2666/16]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 35 of 10 December 2015 which sets out the position in relation to this matter and remains relevant. Arrangements for the appointment of the chair of the expert panel are advancing and I expect to be in a position to announce the chairperson shortly.
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will launch a new tenant purchase scheme. [2668/16]
View answerThe new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016 in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The scheme is open to tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme, and who have been in receipt of social housing support for a minimum period of one year and who have a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum.
Similar to other incremental purchase model schemes currently operating, the scheme involves progressive discounts for purchasers linked to household income, with the housing authority placing an incremental charge on the house equivalent to the discount given.
