Written Answers Nos. 337-352
337. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing adaptation grants distributed by county in the years 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3580/16]
View answer338. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mobility aid grants distributed, by county in the years 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3581/16]
View answer339. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing aid for older people scheme grants distributed by county in the years 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3582/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, together.
My Department provides funding under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. There are three separate grants available and local authorities receive an overall allocation, with the responsibility for the apportionment between the three grants being a matter for each authority.
The Exchequer funding provided to each local authority for these grants up to 2014 is available on my Department’s website at the following link; http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/StatisticsandRegularPublications/HousingStatistics/, by selecting ‘Social and Affordable Housing’, ‘Housing Adaptation Grants by Area 2008 to date’. Details of the 2015 figures are being finalised and will be available on my Department’s website shortly.
340. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households in counties Galway and Mayo who have paid their water charges; those who have not paid their charges, by the amount owed; the number who have availed of the water conservation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3596/16]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Irish Water customer billing is a matter for the utility and one in which I have no function. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 578 578.
The number of Water Conservation Grant applications processed for Principal Private Residences in County Galway is 42,513 and in County Mayo is 33,928.
341. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households in counties Galway and Mayo who have completed septic tank registration and paid the charge, the number of inspections carried out, how many availed of the grant in each year since it was introduced, and the number of households who would have been expected to have been required to register, but who have not done so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3599/16]
View answerThe numbers of domestic waste water treatment systems in Counties Galway and Mayo, as indicated under the Central Statistics Office’s Census 2011 report, were 43,506 and 26,659, respectively. The Local Government Management Agency, which administers the central registration bureau on a shared service basis on behalf of the local authorities, has advised that, as of 26 January 2016, the numbers of registered treatment systems for Counties Galway and Mayo are 40,330 and 28,030 respectively.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the supervisory body for the purposes of the National Inspection Plan 2015 - 2017: Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems, which is managed and implemented by the local authorities.
My Department does not have any direct role in monitoring the implementation of the EPA’s Plan by the local authorities. The EPA has published a report regarding inspections carried out in the period 1st July 2013 to 31st December 2014. The report can be downloaded from:
http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/water/wastewater/NIP%20Review%20Jul%202013-Dec%202014_web.pdf.
Responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided to recoup local authorities the grants they pay in respect of domestic waste water treatment systems, is devolved to the local authorities. Information is not, therefore, held by my Department on grant applications approved or paid by local authorities. However, details of the grant amounts recouped by my Department to local authorities since the scheme was introduced in 2013 are published on my Department's website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Water/FileDownLoad,44097,en.xlsx.
342. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount charged by Irish Water for connecting a new home to the public water supply; if local authorities have reduced their development charges by the corresponding amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3719/16]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Section 22(5) of the Act provides that a water charges plan may provide for charges in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to, or in respect of, a premises. In its decision on Irish Water’s Water Charges Plan, published in October 2014, the CER stated that, until it made a decision on Irish Water’s new connection charges, Irish Water should continue to apply the rates which were charged by the local authorities at 31 December 2013. The CER published, in its Water Charges Plan Decision Paper of 5 March 2015, the areas that it would be progressing, which includes the development of Connection Charging Policy.
Planning authorities were requested in Circular PS 21/2013 issued by my Department on 30 December 2013 to operate revised procedures in relation to the application of development contribution levies. In respect of planning permissions granted prior to 1 January 2014, planning authorities were advised that the full development contribution charge (where such was attached as a condition of the planning permission), including, where relevant, the portion in respect of water services infrastructure, must be paid to the planning authority in accordance with the terms of the permission.
In respect of planning permissions granted after 1 January 2014, planning authorities were advised that when granting planning permission, they should no longer include a portion in respect of water services infrastructure in any development contribution applied and that such charges would instead be levied by Irish Water. Planning authorities were further advised that new development schemes made after that date should not contain charges in respect of water services infrastructure.
I am not aware of any non-compliance by planning authorities with the terms of Circular PS 21/ 2013. It is intended to issue further guidance on development contributions in due course, to assist local authorities in the implementation of changes to the development contribution regime as provided for in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015.
343. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of development contributions collected in respect of private house building in each of the years 2012 to 2015 by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3720/16]
View answerDevelopment contributions are a key part of securing investment in enabling infrastructure required to facilitate future development. A planning authority may, when granting a permission under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), include conditions requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the planning authority. Local authorities are obliged to include data on current and long-term development contribution levy debtors in their Annual Financial Statements, and such data were set out for the Deputy in reply to Question 734 of 16 July 2015. However, the information requested by the Deputy on development contributions collected specifically in respect of private house building is not available in my Department.
344. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will provide for educational impact assessments as per the programme for Government; and the progress in implementing this proposal. [3729/16]
View answerIn light of the Programme for Government commitment regarding educational impact assessment on residential zoning to identify potential need for schools, the Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Local Area Plans, published on 25 June 2013, highlight the importance of local authority engagement and co-operation with the Department of Education and Skills, and recommend that local area plans provide a realistic phasing timetable to ensure that the provision of school facilities is delivered in conjunction with the phased construction of housing. In addition, prior to that, my Department jointly published with the Department of Education, The Provision of Schools and the Planning System - A Code of Practice in August 2008. The Code sets out co-ordinated actions to be taken in relation to forecasting future demand for school places by the Department of Education and Skills and planning for the provision of school sites within the planning system, as well as the efficient handling of planning applications and associated consultations by the relevant planning authorities to expedite school delivery.
With regard to assessing the implications of local authority development planning on the issue of schools and school provision in a given area, local authorities are obliged under the Code of Practice to take this matter into account in preparing and finalising their plans, working in conjunction with the relevant forward planning and new school sections of the Department of Education and Skills.
Furthermore, section 10(2)(l) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 requires a development plan to include objectives for “the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community including, in particular, schools, crèches and other education and childcare facilities”. This requirement is restated in my Department’s 2007 Development Plan Guidelines for Planning Authorities which, together with the Code of Practice, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad,14468,en.pdf
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad,17998,en.pdf
Both I and the Minister for Education and Skills are statutory consultees for the purposes of local authority development plans. My Department will continue to work pro-actively with the Department of Education and Skills in ensuring the issue of schools provision is properly addressed both in local authority plans and in assisting the Department of Education and Skills in ensuring that new schools are delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner and in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the areas in which they are needed.
In addition, a new Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed between the Department of Education and Skills, the City and County Management Association and my Department in relation to the acquisition of sites for schools by local authorities.
The Code of Practice is being implemented by local authorities, working in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills. I believe that the Code is working satisfactorily as evidenced by the many development plans and local area plans that have addressed the schools issue more comprehensively than in the past and as facilitated by detailed forecasting on school requirements now available from the Department of Education and Skills.
345. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011. [3766/16]
View answerThe information requested is set out in the following table.
|
Date of Commission |
Consultant/Author etc. |
Name/Description of Report/Review/Study |
Date or Expected Date of Publication |
Amount Spent Since March 2011 |
|
March 2011 |
Building Research Establishment Ltd |
Retrofitting Code of Practice. |
Published March 2014. |
(1) €21,190 |
|
March 2011 |
Malachy Walsh & Partners |
EIS Screening Report for site at Valentia. |
The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. |
€6,336 |
|
March 2011 |
White Young Green |
Annual Dust Impact Assessment Report (2011) at the Former Irish Steelworks Site, Haulbowline, Cobh, Co. Cork. |
Published March 2012. |
( 2 ) See footnote |
|
April 2011 |
Housing & Sustainable Communities Ltd. |
Toolkit for Local Authorities on regeneration. |
Not intended for publication. This was a report intended to provide assistance to Local Authorities in drawing up proposals for the regeneration of their areas. |
€12,300 |
|
May 2011 |
Indecon |
Regulatory Impact Analysis of proposed regulations for household food waste. |
Published June 2012. |
€24,725 |
|
June 2011 |
Barrow Archaeological Services |
Archaeological reports on Met Éireann site at Valentia. |
The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. |
€1,210 |
|
June 2011 |
National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) |
Audit reports for ISO9001:2008 in 2011 and 2012. |
Not intended for publication. |
€6,699 |
|
June 2011 |
Price Waterhouse Coopers |
Independent assessment on establishment of National Water Utility. |
Irish Water - Phase 1 report and appendices published January 2012. Implementation Strategy published December 2012. |
€179,584 |
|
June 2011 |
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2011 Report. |
Published April 2012. |
€61,077 |
|
July 2011 |
Murtagh & Partners |
Review of Dublin Region Homelessness Services and Funding in 2011. |
Published October 2011. |
€27,800 |
|
August 2011 |
Certification Europe Ltd. |
Compost Quality Assurance Scheme. |
Published October 2012. |
€139,142 |
|
September 2011 |
Dr. Eoin O'Sullivan, Trinity College Dublin |
Review of the Homeless Strategy 2008-2013. |
Published November 2012. |
€6,000 |
|
September 2011 |
Marine Institute |
Marine Strategy Framework Directive (1) Initial Assessment; (2) Development of a Monitoring Programme; and (3) Development of a Programme of Measures necessary to achieve Good Environmental Status in Irish Marine Waters. |
(1) Initial Assessment - the technical report was published on the Department's website in Q2 2013 and the summary report was published in Q4 2013. (2) Monitoring Programme – sent to the EU Commission in April 2015. (3) Drawing up of programme of Measures to be completed Q1 2016. |
(3) €2,676,479 |
|
September 2011 |
Pyrite Panel |
Report of the Pyrite Panel - Independent report to provide options for the Minister to deal with the pyrite problem. |
Published July 2012. |
€22,719 |
|
October 2011 |
Pembroke Communications |
Advise on, and assist tendering process for, Tidy Towns sponsorship. |
No formal report due for publication. |
€4,560 |
|
October 2011 |
SKM Enviros |
Irish Recycled Plastic Waste Arisings Study. |
Published September 2011. |
€37,566 |
|
November 2011 |
ARUP Consulting Engineers |
Study in respect of provision of fire detection and alarms systems in dwellings. |
Not intended for publication. It is a technical report, to inform work in the Department. |
€29,935 |
|
December 2011 |
RPS Group |
Provision of expertise concerning Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment techniques for the evaluation and revision of Regional Waste Management Plans. |
No formal document due for publication. The work comprises principally advice, guidance documents and technical expertise. |
€45,223 |
|
December 2011 |
Secretariat to the National Economic and Social Council of Ireland |
Analysis on national climate policy. |
Interim report released October 2012; final report released in February 2013. |
Nil |
|
2011 |
Mr. David Lovegrove |
2011 Report of the Dormant Accounts Board. |
Published July 2012. |
€9,689 |
|
January 2012 |
Fehilly Timoney & Company |
Bulky Waste Reuse Best Practice - Feasibility Study. |
Published July 2013. |
€55,289 |
|
January 2012 |
Inter-Departmental Group |
Design of a Local Property Tax – Report of the Inter-Departmental Group. |
Published December 2012. |
Nil |
|
January 2012 |
Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC |
Review of the management by the Department of an application by Wicklow County Council for loan approval in respect of the compulsory purchase of land at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 1. |
Published March 2012. |
€19,680 |
|
February 2012 |
Version 1 |
Evaluation of ICT Disaster Recovery configuration and capability. |
Not intended for publication. |
€9,363 |
|
March 2012 |
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Analysis of Property Tax Options - a report to the Interdepartmental Expert Group on Property Tax. |
Published December 2012. |
€60,280 |
|
March 2012 |
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Review of leasing model. |
Date of publication to be decided. |
€1,937 |
|
March 2012 |
RPS Group |
All Island Used Tyre Survey. |
Published March 2013. |
(4) €17,673 |
|
April 2012 |
Glas Ecology |
Environment Management Plan (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry). |
The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. |
€4,920 |
|
April 2012 |
Munster Archaeology |
Report on archaeological investigation/survey of Met Éireann site at Valentia. |
Not Intended for publication. Report for internal use only. |
€47,289 |
|
April 2012 |
Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy |
Preparation of EIA Guidelines. |
Published March 2013. |
€7,200 |
|
May 2012 |
DKM Economic Consultants |
Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. |
Published July 2013. |
€39,690 |
|
May 2012 |
Indecon |
Feasibility study on a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. |
Published November 2012. |
(5) €42,706 |
|
May 2012 |
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2012 Report. |
Published April 2013. |
€58,271 |
|
June 2012 |
Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC |
Review of the compulsory acquisition of land by Wicklow County Council at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 2. |
Published April 2013. |
€49,200 |
|
June 2012 |
RPS Group |
Review of the Producer Responsibility Model in Ireland. |
Final report published in July 2014. |
€292,306 |
|
September 2012 |
Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) |
Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas report on how to support the economic development of rural Ireland. |
Published April 2014. |
(6) €20,702 |
|
October 2012 |
Mr. Hendrik W van der Kamp |
Independent Evaluation of the Planning Review Report 2012. |
Published January 2013. |
€12,096 |
|
November 2012 |
AECOM |
Cost optimal study for non-domestic buildings. |
Published March 2013. |
€53,517 |
|
November 2012 |
Flynn Furney Consultants Ltd. |
Environmental Management Services re: review of CEMP at Valentia Site (Method Statement). |
The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. |
€3,167 |
|
2012 |
Mr. David Lovegrove |
2012 Report of the Dormant Accounts Board. |
Published March 2013. |
€1,120 |
|
January 2013 |
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Affordability aspects of the provision of water services in Ireland and subsequent analysis. |
Published in May 2014 as Appendix 2 and Appendix 5 of the "Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Affordability Measures". |
€57,655 |
|
January 2013 |
Userneeds |
Usage survey on the Met Éireann website. |
Not intended for publication - this was a report volunteered to Met Éireann by the survey company on a 'sample' basis. |
Nil - provided as a 'free sample' |
|
April 2013 |
KW Research & Associates |
NTACC Research into why Travellers leave Traveller-specific accommodation. |
Published on the Department's website April 2014. |
€11,938 |
|
May 2013 |
Garrett Fennell Solicitor |
Independent Review of the registration arrangements for Architects under the Building Control Act 2007. |
Published on the Department's website. |
Nil (report produced on a pro-bono basis) |
|
May 2013 |
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2013 Report. |
Published June 2014. |
€52,014 |
|
June 2013 |
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) & University College Cork (UCC) |
Technical support on developing low carbon sector roadmaps for Ireland. |
The project relates to technical support, with no formal document due for publication. |
€107,552 |
|
June 2013 |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
Article 29(2) Report on Progress on Implementation of the EC (Good Agriculture Practices for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010. |
Published April 2014. |
Nil |
|
June 2013 |
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Business Process Design of the Housing Assistance Payment. |
Date of publication to be decided. |
€54,938 |
|
July 2013 |
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
Review of CALF assessment process. |
Date of publication to be decided. |
€11,675 |
|
July 2013 |
Indecon |
Assessment of Potential Merits of New Initiative re Purchase of Local Authority Houses by Existing Tenants. |
Not intended for publication. |
Nil (report produced on a pro-bono basis) |
|
July 2013 |
SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Wind Energy in Ireland: Building Community Engagement and Social Support. |
Published July 2014. |
€50,451 |
|
September 2013 |
RPS Group |
Public consultation process on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and producing a report. |
Published November 2013. |
€9,000 |
|
November 2013 |
AP Env Econ Limited/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Ireland’s Environmental Data: Inventory, Assessment and Next Steps. |
Published April 2014. |
€35,178 |
|
December 2013 |
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) & University College Cork (UCC) |
Technical support for the purposes of advising Government on the proposed 2030 EU Framework for Climate and Energy Policies. |
This report was published in June 2015 as part of the consultation on the National Mitigation Plan to transition Ireland to a low carbon economy by 2050. |
€67,768 |
|
February 2014 |
MacCabe, Durney Barnes |
Independent Planning Review. |
Published December 2015. |
€94,521 |
|
February 2014 |
Ricardo-AEA |
NSMC Residential Solid Fuel Study. |
Expected to be published in February 2016. |
(7) €16,475 |
|
May 2014 |
Glas Ecology |
Environment Management follow up Report (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry). |
The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility. |
€1,599 |
|
May 2014 |
Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy |
Independent Review of Draft S31 Directions in Westmeath. |
Published May 2014. |
€5,000 |
|
May 2014 |
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2014 Report. |
Published July 2015. |
€52,014 |
|
June 2014 |
Institute of Public Administration (IPA) |
Peer review of Met É ireann's Operational and Strategic Review. |
This report is not intended for publication. |
€4,920 |
|
July 2014 |
Patricia Thornton Tom Philips Associates |
Independent Review of Draft S31 Directions in Limerick. |
Published August 2014. |
€4,151 |
|
July 2014 |
University College Cork (UCC)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Review of Environmental Social Policy Literature. |
Published July 2015. |
€4,305 |
|
October 2014 |
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Environmental Policy Integration: Case Studies Research. |
Report is being considered by NESC Council. |
€38,222 |
|
October 2014 |
National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)/National Economic and Social Council (NESC) |
Sustainable Urban Development. |
Published July 2015. |
€20,303 |
|
December 2014 |
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
Socio-Economic Impact of a nuclear accident in the UK. |
The intention is that the report will be published, but the specific date is not yet known. |
79,950 |
|
December 2014 |
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment - Netherlands (RIVM) |
Electromagnetic Fields in the Irish Context. |
Expected to be published in Q1 of 2016. |
(8) See footnote |
|
January 2015 |
AECOM |
Additional cost optimal calculations for domestic and non-domestic buildings. |
Published February 2015 |
€33,683 |
|
February 2015 |
Dr. Dagmar Stengel |
Best practice in relation to the sustainable exploitation and management of intertidal seaweed resources. |
Not intended for publication. |
€14,391 |
|
March 2015 |
ILC Sports and Recreation |
Review of Comhairle na Tuaithe and the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy. |
Publication to be considered. |
€15,341 |
|
April 2015 |
Deloitte |
Business Case Review for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). |
Date of publication to be decided. |
€28,939 |
|
May 2015 |
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2015 Report. |
Expected to be published July 2016. |
€24,539 |
|
July 2015 |
Independent Review Group |
An Bord Pleanala - Organisational Review. |
Expected to be published in February 2016. |
€5,000 |
|
July 2015 |
RPS Group |
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) services on the National Mitigation Plan. |
November 2016. |
(9) €23,192 |
|
September 2015 |
Behaviour & Attitudes Ltd. |
Market Survey to determine weather forecast consumption behaviour of the Irish public. |
Not intended for publication. Extracts may be published in the future. |
€19,865 |
|
September 2015 |
IT Executive Focus |
Review of the Structure and Delivery Model of the ICT Services for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. |
Not intended for publication. |
€33,173 |
|
September 2015 |
Rory Mulcahy, Senior Counsel |
Review Report in relation to Certain Planning Matters in respect of Donegal County Council |
Issue of publication to be considered following completion of report. |
€0 |
|
September 2015 |
Steering Group on Fire Safety Review (Chaired by Martin Riordan) |
Review of Fire Safety arrangements in multi-unit developments where concerns arise regarding non-compliance with statu t ory requirements. |
Date of publication to be decided. |
€25,000 |
|
October 2015 |
Mazars Consulting |
Inde pendent Review of Homeless Services (2015). |
Expected to be published on the Department's website in early 2016. |
€27,075 |
|
November 2015 |
DKM Economic Consultants |
Household Waste Management Costs in Ireland. |
Q1 2016 |
€10,763 |
|
November 2015 |
MartinPlan Consulting |
To consider the implications of the C-50 judgment in the context of waste water discharge licensing and to make any necessary recommendations. |
Not expected to be published |
€1,750 |
|
January 2016 |
Des Johnson |
Independent Review of Draft S31 Direction in Louth. |
Expected to be published in February 2016. |
€0 |
(1) The contract was in conjunction with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Total cost of the study is €169,302 (inclusive of VAT). My Department's contribution was €21,190 (inclusive of VAT) with the balance met by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (i.e. €148,112 inclusive of VAT).
(2) My Department previously provided funding to Cork County Council to support the production of an annual Dust Impact Assessment Report at the former Irish Steel site at Haulbowline Island. Following a Government Decision in June 2011, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine assumed the lead role in relation to the remedial works necessary to be undertaken on the site. Accordingly, funding provided to Cork County Council for the annual Dust Impact Assessment Report 2011 and subsequent years is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
(3) The Initial Assessment report, monitoring programme and programme of measures each arise from a broader process connected with Ireland’s obligation to implement the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The work primarily consists of a determination of the status of Ireland’s marine waters, the measures necessary to achieve, or maintain, the required Good Environmental Status by 2020 and a programme to monitor this. The preparation of a draft Initial Assessment (under Art. 8 of the MSFD) including proposals for Good Environmental Status (Art. 9) and for draft Environmental Targets (Art.10) is underpinned by a suite of monitoring measures to measure the maritime environment against these targets (Art. 11). Where human activities are preventing these targets from being met, a Programme of Measures is in the process of being drawn up to mitigate the effect of these activities, or halt them as appropriate (Art.13). A draft Programme of Measures document is currently available on the Department's Website for public consultation.
(4) Survey jointly commissioned and funded by Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland and my Department.
(5) This report was co-funded by my Department and the Private Residential Tenancies Board. The cost to my Department of €42,706 represents 50% of the total cost.
(6) This report has been co-funded by my Department, Teagasc and the Western Development Commission. The cost to my Department of €20,702 represents 40% of the overall expenditure.
(7) This report has been commissioned by my Department under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council and in conjunction with the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The cost is being evenly split and the final charge to my Department is estimated at €40,000.
(8) The cost of this project , which is estimated at €66,950, will be met by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
(9) The Report will cost €90,440 in total (including 23% VAT) and is being co-funded on an equal share basis by the Departments of Transport, Energy and Agriculture.
346. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations for which he or his Department have been responsible by name; by terms of reference; by cost including the cost to date where an inquiry has not been concluded; by date including the projected date of conclusion where an inquiry has not been concluded from 1991 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3781/16]
View answerThe Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) was established by order of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to inquire into and report on various planning matters, set out in resolutions passed by Dáil Eireann and Seanad Eireann on 7 and 8 October, 1997 respectively. The final report of the Tribunal was published in March 2012.
The Tribunal estimated in 2014 that the total costs of its deliberations would amount to approximately €159m once all costs have been agreed and paid. The total cost of the Tribunal as at end 2015 amounted to €116m. It is expected that the majority of the remaining expenditure in respect of the Mahon Tribunal will be settled by end 2017.
347. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the expenses claimed, including the amount of mileage and the amount claimed, by him and Ministers of State of his Department, by calendar year, during the current Dáil Éireann, in tabular form. [3809/16]
View answerTravel expenses claimed and paid to date, including the amount of kilometres travelled and the amounts claimed, by Ministers and Ministers of State of my Department, by calendar year, during the current Dáil are as follows:
|
Minister Kelly |
- |
|
|
Year |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Foreign Subsistence |
€865 |
€5,232 |
|
Domestic Subsistence |
€211 |
€818 |
|
No. of Kilometres |
28,694 |
65,420 |
|
Travel Expenses Paid |
€8,166 |
€20,589 |
|
Minister Hogan |
||||
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Foreign Subsistence |
€2,365 |
€3,893 |
€3,213 |
€1,122 |
|
Domestic Subsistence |
€772 |
€683 |
€544 |
€290 |
|
No. of Kilometres |
31,103 |
58,638 |
65,511 |
44,428 |
|
Travel Expenses Paid |
€10,822 |
€18,659 |
€20,615 |
€14,615 |
|
Minister of State O'Dowd |
|||
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Foreign Subsistence |
€380 |
€2,047 |
€1,303 |
|
Domestic Subsistence |
€0 |
€73 |
€0 |
|
No. of Kilometres |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Travel Expenses Paid |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Minister of State O'Sullivan |
||||
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Foreign Subsistence |
€0 |
€671 |
€666 |
€390 |
|
Domestic Subsistence |
€0 |
€179 |
€294 |
€210 |
|
No. of Kilometres |
1,368 |
29,782 |
33,152 |
17,210 |
|
Travel Expenses Paid |
€632 |
€10,208 |
€11,405 |
€6,868 |
Furthermore, my Department has reimbursed the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of certain expenses claimed by my colleague Minister of State Phelan in her capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for rural economic development issues, details of which are as follows:
|
Minister of State Phelan |
|
|
Year |
2015 |
|
Foreign Subsistence |
€478 |
|
Domestic Subsistence |
€1,274 |
|
No. of Kilometres |
Not Available |
|
Travel Expenses Paid |
€8,225 |
348. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount he spent on media clipping and media monitoring services in each calendar year from 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3824/16]
View answerThe amount spent by my Department on media monitoring and clippings for the years requested is as follows:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€14,305.94 |
|
2012 |
€15,689.27 |
|
2013 |
€17,507.02 |
|
2014 |
€16,116.82 |
|
2015 |
€15, 816.77 |
349. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given any directive or guidelines on social housing provision for 2016 to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; if he has taken such action in relation to the number of apartments and houses which will be provided and allocated to citizens and families on homeless lists in housing area B of Dublin City Council and in the Howth Malahide housing area of Fingal County Council in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/16]
View answer350. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given any directive or guidelines on social housing provision for 2016 to Dublin City Council and to Fingal County Council; if he has taken such action in relation to the number of apartments and houses which will be provided and allocated to citizens and families on housing and transfer lists in housing area B of Dublin City Council and in the Howth Malahide housing area of Fingal County Council in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3834/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together.
Local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the households needs in their respective areas. In this case, it is a matter for Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council to identify the appropriate initiatives to respond to the housing need. This includes consideration by them of options to acquire available properties, as well as building, leasing and the provision of housing supports through the private rental sector.
The allocation of social housing support to qualified households is, in the first instance, a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with its allocation scheme made in accordance with section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Regulations.
However, I did issue a Ministerial Direction, under Section 22(17)(a) of the 2009 Act, which applies until 31 January 2016, requiring key local authorities to prioritise homeless and other vulnerable households in the allocation of tenancies under their control. The four Dublin local authorities have been directed to allocate 50% of all available dwellings to such households. I am currently reviewing the operation of the Direction.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out a strategic framework for meeting the State’s social housing needs to the end of the decade. The Strategy sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the social housing list.
351. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will declare a national housing emergency before he leaves office to address the totally unacceptable living conditions of the tens of thousands of citizens and families on homeless and housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3835/16]
View answerA shortage of supply is at the heart of the current challenges in the housing sector and the Government has put in place a comprehensive set of responses to increase the supply of all forms of housing while also taking action to stabilise the rental market while that supply increases. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out clear, measurable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list with flexibility to meet future demand. In total, 110,000 new social housing units are targeted for delivery with 35,000 new units to be delivered and 75,000 households to be supported mainly through the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme.
The Strategy has been supported by two successive budgets with €1.7 billion allocated to housing. Given the pressing need to recommence a house building programme almost €3 billion in capital funding will be provided in support of the Social Housing Strategy through the Government’s Capital Plan - Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021.
Evidence that the Strategy is delivering can be found in the report, Social Housing Output in 2015, which I published on 26 January 2016 and which is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,44105,en.htm.
As a result of our focused approach in 2015, 13,000 social housing units were provided, representing an 86% increase on the 7,000 units delivered in 2014. I am committed to maintaining the momentum achieved in 2015 and to that end an ambitious target of a further 17,000 units has been set for delivery in 2016.
The Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy is aimed at addressing issues in the property and construction sectors and ensuring that any bottlenecks that might impede the sector in meeting residential and non-residential demand are addressed. A number of important measures have been taken aimed at improving housing delivery viability and increasing supply.
The measures include the introduction of a vacant site levy; reductions in development contributions and a targeted development contribution rebate scheme in Dublin and Cork to encourage large scale developments at affordable prices; revised Part V provisions; initiatives to improve financing; implementation of new apartment guidelines; and legislative amendments to introduce greater flexibility and streamlining to the Strategic Development Zone provisions of the Planning and Development Acts. In addition, NAMA is aiming to deliver 20,000 residential units before the end of 2020, with 90% of these units to be in the greater Dublin area.
The Government strategy to address housing supply is comprehensive in terms of policy, legislation and funding. The focus for the period ahead will be on securing full implementation.
352. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contacts he has had with the Dublin city manager in relation to the new north east arterial water main, the Sutton to Sandycove cycleway, the final resolution of concerns expressed by the local community in relation to the sea wall being erected west of the causeway on James Larkin Road, Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3836/16]
View answerI understand that this project comprising a cycleway proposal as well as flood alleviation works to address higher tides and sea levels was originally approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2011 under section 226 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, relating to foreshore developments.
Dublin City Council subsequently made some alterations to the cycleway aspects of their proposals which were progressed under the Part VIII requirements of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, relating to local authority own developments. Planning approval for the revised proposals was granted by Dublin City Council in May 2013.
I have had no contact with the Dublin City Chief Executive in relation to the matter concerned.
Under section 30 of the Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular planning case with which a planning authority, including An Bord Pleanála, is or may be concerned.
