Written Answers Nos. 525-544
525. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how many of the current-funded social housing units were transferred from the social inclusion and community activation programme and the National Asset Management Agency to local authorities and private developers. [4236/16]
View answer526. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the targets for current-funded social housing units in 2016 will be met, given that many of the units provided under the social inclusion and community activation Programme have come from the National Asset Management Agency, whose suitable social housing stock has mostly been transferred to local authorities for use as social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4237/16]
View answer554. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social housing units provided including those funded under the rental accommodation scheme, the sustainable cultural heritage through engagement of local communities project, the housing assistance payment scheme capital funded units, units transferred from the National Asset Management Agency, units brought back to productive use under his refurbishment programme and other capital assistance schemes in 2015, by local authority. [4461/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 525, 526 and 554 together.
The report Social Housing Output in 2015 contains details on the progress made under each of the social housing programmes last year and is available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,44105,en.htm.
Section 4 of the Report deals with Capital Programmes and outlines that 4,188 units were delivered in 2015. Details of unit delivery across the capital funded programmes broken down by local authority are contained in Table 1 below.
I assume that the Questions are referring to the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) rather than the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) or the Sustainable Cultural Heritage through Engagement of Local Communities project, neither of which are related to the provision of social housing.
Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP - previously referred to as the Social Housing Leasing Initiative) local authorities can enter into long term leases or rental arrangements and make them available for social housing. In addition, approved housing bodies can purchase, lease or construct housing units and make them available for social housing under the SHCEP. To the end of November 2015, over 6,700 housing units have been delivered under SHCEP since it began in 2009. While the total number of new units delivered and operational using all of the mechanisms available under SHCEP in 2015 is yet to be finalised, I estimate that the final figure will be in the region of 1,450 units.
At end November 2015, an additional 2,280 units had received full funding approval under SHCEP and an additional 93 were at approval stage. While the focus of the SHCEP in recent years has been on the acquisition and long term leasing of existing housing units, my Department is providing an increasing number of approvals for assistance under SHCEP to approved housing bodies for the construction of new units for social housing use. At end of November 2015 , my Department had provided approval for the construction of 589 new units by approved housing bodies under the Scheme.
In 2011, a process was established to identify units that could be used for social housing purposes from properties that are part of the security for loans that NAMA has acquired. NAMA sourced units are brought into social housing through existing delivery mechanisms, including SHCEP, and to date more than 2,000 units have been secured for social housing in this way. A special purpose vehicle established by NAMA, the National Asset Residential Property Services Ltd. (NARPS), acquires properties from developers or receivers in NAMA’s portfolio and makes them available to local authorities and approved housing bodies by way of a long term lease. My Department, through SHCEP, recoups to local authorities the cost of these units. By end November 2015, 800 units in total had become operational using this mechanism; 389 of which became operational in 2015. The remaining units are due to become operational in 2016/17 and will contribute to the achievement of the 2016-2017 targets for SHCEP under the Social Housing Strategy.
A detailed breakdown of NAMA – related delivery is contained in the Social Housing Output in 2015 report.
Table 1 - Breakdown by Local Authority of delivery under Capital Programmes in 2015
|
Local Authority |
Units |
|
Carlow County Council |
49 |
|
Cavan County Council |
45 |
|
Clare County Council |
160 |
|
Cork City Council |
403 |
|
Cork County Council |
228 |
|
DLR County Council |
63 |
|
Donegal County Council |
177 |
|
Dublin City Council |
1,096 |
|
Fingal County Council |
277 |
|
Galway City Council |
49 |
|
Galway County Council |
73 |
|
Kerry County Council |
147 |
|
Kildare County Council |
97 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
51 |
|
Laois County Council |
50 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
15 |
|
Limerick City and County Co |
157 |
|
Longford County Council |
27 |
|
Louth County Council |
63 |
|
Mayo County Council |
102 |
|
Meath County Council |
90 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
35 |
|
Offaly County Council |
66 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
53 |
|
Sligo County Council |
71 |
|
Sth Dublin County Council |
62 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
179 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
65 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
81 |
|
Wexford County Council |
50 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
107 |
|
Total |
4,188 |
527. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if officials of his Department or an authority under its aegis have expressed concerns to him that reliance on current-funded units rather than capital-funded units to meet the 2015 to 2017 targets for social housing output will restrict the supply of housing at the lower end of the private rental market; if he has undertaken or commissioned research on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4238/16]
View answerThe Social Housing Strategy 2020 provides a roadmap to 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 use of a flexible mix of housing provision programmes under the Strategy, including the Rental Accommodation Scheme, the Housing Assistance Payment and the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, provides for a more diverse delivery of homes and provides greater choice for households who require support to meet their housing requirements.
The detailed governance arrangements outlined in the Strategy include a high-level Oversight Group to oversee implementation, which I chair, a Project Board and five work streams dealing with finance; approved housing body delivery and operations; local authority delivery and operations; social housing reform; and the private rental market. In the course of 2015, the work streams provided analysis, guidance and recommendations to the Project Board and the Oversight Group on all aspects of social housing delivery and considered, inter alia, the optimum approach to delivering on the Strategy’s targets within the current constrained housing market, bearing in mind the possible effects on housing supply.
A key objective under the Strategy is to increase social housing output in the immediate, medium and longer term. In order to meet this objective it is necessary to avail of a mixture of delivery mechanisms. In the immediate term the acquisition of homes and the refurbishment of local authority dwellings offer quick solutions to house households on the waiting list. Leasing and renting also offer much needed immediate supply. Over the medium to longer term it will be important that local authorities and approved housing bodies deliver on the 5,000 unit build programme which has been approved.
I recently published the Social Housing Output in 2015 report which documents how 13,000 units of social housing were delivered in 2015 and targets the delivery of 17,000 units in 2016 . In the report, the Housing Agency acknowledges its support for the rejuvenation of social housing in Ireland and also commits to monitoring closely the issue of affordability going forward. The report is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,44105,en.htm .
In terms of the housing sector in Ireland, more generally, increased supply across all markets is required. In order to stimulate the extra supply of houses, in line with the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy, 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 fully implementing both the Construction 2020 Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
529. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the Non-Principal Private Residence Second Home Tax including the charges and penalties which apply; if there is an appeal system for families who never knew of this charge or who were never asked or told about it, but who had a second home which was never rented but used by a family member free of charge who had mental health problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4240/16]
View answer557. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if persons who lived outside the State prior to the introduction of the Non Principal Private Residence were notified of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4595/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 557 together.
The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009, as amended, provides the legislative basis for the Non Principal Private Residence (NPPR) Charge. The NPPR Charge, which has since been discontinued, applied in the years 2009 to 2013 to any residential property in which the owner did not reside as their normal place of residence.
A residential property that was not in use by an owner as his or her sole or main residence is liable for the Charge. This may not necessarily be a second home; a person may have vacated a property and have been living in rented accommodation elsewhere for work or other reasons, for example, and, in such a case, the property that the owner was no longer living in is liable for the Charge, even if it was the only residential property that person owned. It is a matter for an owner, whether resident in Ireland or elsewhere, to determine if he or she has a liability and, if so, to declare that liability and pay the Charge and any late payment fees applicable.
The self-assessed Charge is set at €200 per annum and liability for it falls, in the main, on owners of rental, holiday and vacant properties. Section 6 of the 2009 Act, as amended, provides that the owner of a liable property who fails to pay the charge, in addition to him or her being liable to pay the Charge, is liable to pay to the relevant local authority a €20 late payment fee in respect of each month or part of a month in which the Charge, any late payment fee, or any part of such Charge or fee, remains unpaid.
Part 12 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 also deals with the collection of undischarged liabilities relating to the NPPR Charge. The Act provided for a period from 2 March 2014 to 31 August 2014 during which time no new late penalties were applied to existing liabilities. If payment was not made in full or if settlement terms were not agreed by the end of that period, an additional late payment fee of €120 per liability date applied on 1 September 2014. As the Charge applied in each of the years from 2009 to 2013, there were five liability dates - 31 July 2009 and 31 March for each of the years 2010 to 2013. In addition to this late payment fee to be applied per liability date, the entire NPPR liability is then increased by a factor of 50% and frozen.
Under the Act, it is a function of a local authority to collect NPPR charges and late payment fees due to it, and all charges and late payment fees imposed and payable to a local authority are under the care and management of the local authority concerned. In this regard, application of the legislation in particular circumstances is a matter for the relevant local authority.
A number of exemptions from the charge are set out in section 4 of the 2009 Act and section 4(6) provides for an exemption from the charge in a situation where a residential property is occupied rent-free as the sole or main residence of a relative of the owner and the sole or main residence of the owner is either on the same property or within two kilometres of it.
The NPPR Project Board, in conjunction with individual local authorities, undertook a media campaign in 2014 aimed at reminding non-compliant owners that additional late payment penalties applied after 31 August 2014. The extensive radio and print media campaign reminded non-compliant owners of their obligations to come forward to regularise their affairs and to take advantage of this once-off grace period. While it is a necessary principle of law that all citizens are required to be aware of relevant legal obligations and duties in respect of such charges, as is the case in other jurisdictions, it remains my view that reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that property owners have been aware of the Charge and liability dates.
Under section 77 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014, my Department issued guidance to local authorities concerning matters relating to arrears of the NPPR Charge and late payment fees to ensure that a consistent national approach is adopted. The guidelines, which are available at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Administration/FileDownLoad,37899,en.pdf, encourage local authorities to take a proactive approach to ensure that any outstanding NPPR liabilities are discharged in the most equitable, efficient and economically beneficial manner and include guidance in respect of dealing with hardship cases. It is expected, in the majority of cases, that local authorities will collect the full NPPR Charge liability from owners. In some cases, this may be by means of arrangement by installment. All non-compliant owners or owners with queries should log on to www.nppr.ie or, alternatively, contact their local authority to discuss any matters they wish to clarify and to make any outstanding payments.
530. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons on the social housing list, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4245/16]
View answer532. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons on each social housing list, by county, over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4247/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 532 together.
The report on the 2011 Housing Needs Assessment contains details on waiting list numbers for each local authority which were recorded from 1993 to 2011 under the tri-annual social housing needs assessments carried out under Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988. The report is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,27864,en.pdf.
The latest social housing needs assessment was carried out as at 7 May 2013 in accordance with section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the results are also available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,34857,en.pdf.
The 2013 figures are the most up-to-date figures available on waiting list numbers. 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.
531. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons in receipt of the housing assistance payment, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4246/16]
View answerThe information requested on households supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme on 31 January 2016 is set out in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Commencement Date of HAP Scheme |
Active HAP Tenancies (31/01/2016) |
|
Carlow CC |
29/06/2015 |
134 |
|
Clare CC |
29/06/2015 |
307 |
|
Cork City Co |
29/06/2015 |
172 |
|
Cork CC |
15/09/2014 |
960 |
|
Donegal CC |
25/05/2015 |
579 |
|
Dublin City Co* |
18/12/2014 |
67 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown CC* |
18/12/2014 |
1 |
|
Fingal CC* |
18/12/2014 |
7 |
|
Galway CC |
16/11/2015 |
26 |
|
Kildare CC |
02/11/2015 |
64 |
|
Kilkenny CC |
01/10/2014 |
518 |
|
Limerick City & Co |
15/09/2014 |
1,089 |
|
Louth CC |
01/10/2014 |
685 |
|
Mayo CC |
16/11/2015 |
39 |
|
Monaghan CC |
01/10/2014 |
181 |
|
Meath CC |
02/11/2015 |
29 |
|
Offaly CC |
15/06/2015 |
109 |
|
South Dublin CC** |
01/10/2014 |
622 |
|
Tipperary CC |
29/06/2015 |
221 |
|
Sligo CC |
16/11/2015 |
23 |
|
Waterford City & Co |
15/09/2015 |
680 |
|
Total |
6,513 |
* Dublin City Council is operating HAP Homeless pilot on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.
** Includes some households supported through the HAP Homeless pilot.
533. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the targets for 2015 for the provision of social housing units under the rental accommodation scheme and through leasing, by local authority; how many units have been provided, by local authority, under these schemes in 2015; how much or how far under-target is the provision for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4254/16]
View answerThe report Social Housing Output in 2015 contains details on the progress made under each of the social housing programmes last year and is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,44105,en.htm.
Under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP), a target of 3,000 units was set for delivery in 2015. To the end of November 2015, a total of 1,084 units were delivered under the SHCEP. While the total number of units delivered to end 2015 is yet to be finalised, I estimate that the final figure will be in the region of 1,450 units.
The Social Housing Strategy 2020 identified a national target of 2,000 additional transfers from rent supplement to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) for 2015. To end of November 2015, 1,644 households had transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS. My Department estimates that when the December 2015 figures are finalised around 1,823 households will have transferred to RAS in 2015.
The Housing Assistance Payment is being introduced incrementally on a pilot basis to local authority areas. A total of 5,680 households commenced HAP in 2015, in addition to the 485 supported by the Scheme in 2014. A detailed breakdown on a local authority basis is set out in the Table below.
While overall supply in the private rented market may have had an effect on the achievement of targets in RAS and SHCEP in 2015, all efforts were made, working with delivery partners in local authorities, approved housing bodies and NAMA, to deliver maximum output under each delivery mechanism, and to put in place the enabling measures for a significant multi-annual construction programme.
Furthermore, to maximise the availability of social housing to those on the waiting list, I committed to supporting local authorities to remediate the maximum number possible of vacant and lettable units in 2015. Accordingly, I increased the initial 2015 target of 1,000 such units, to ultimately provide funding for almost 2,700 units to be brought back into use across all local authorities. Furthermore, I provided funding to local authorities to undertake suitable acquisitions of houses and apartments; over 1,000 such acquisitions were made in 2015 which, along with the return of vacant units, has delivered immediate housing to those on the waiting lists.
Units delivered under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHC EP) to end November 2015
|
- |
RAS to end of November 2015 |
SHCEP to end of November 2015 |
||
|
Local Authority |
2015 Target |
Delivery to end of November 2015 |
2015 Target |
Delivery to end November 2015 |
|
Carlow CC |
40 |
40 |
65 |
5 |
|
Cavan CC |
53 |
63 |
25 |
2 |
|
Clare CC |
57 |
41 |
75 |
42 |
|
Cork City Cl. |
105 |
86 |
128 |
25 |
|
Cork CC |
75 |
22 |
170 |
86 |
|
Donegal CC |
46 |
38 |
65 |
37 |
|
Dublin City Cl. |
110 |
99 |
425 |
211 |
|
Dublin South CC |
165 |
165 |
200 |
125 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown CC |
75 |
16 |
75 |
10 |
|
Fingal CC |
110 |
71 |
200 |
41 |
|
Galway City Cl. |
20 |
15 |
90 |
38 |
|
Galway Co. Cl. |
80 |
71 |
80 |
41 |
|
Kerry CC |
127 |
131 |
130 |
41 |
|
Kildare CC |
80 |
112 |
180 |
26 |
|
Kilkenny CC |
39 |
84 |
103 |
23 |
|
Laois CC |
15 |
4 |
35 |
11 |
|
Leitrim CC |
20 |
19 |
20 |
1 |
|
Limerick Ct & Co. |
34 |
17 |
100 |
0 |
|
Longford CC |
30 |
60 |
35 |
29 |
|
Louth CC |
23 |
2 |
115 |
28 |
|
Mayo CC |
115 |
35 |
50 |
26 |
|
Meath CC |
50 |
42 |
75 |
51 |
|
Monaghan CC |
20 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
|
Offaly CC |
15 |
5 |
73 |
51 |
|
Roscommon CC |
55 |
61 |
15 |
0 |
|
Sligo CC |
65 |
53 |
20 |
2 |
|
Tipperary |
100 |
86 |
90 |
31 |
|
Waterford City & Co. |
69 |
11 |
120 |
14 |
|
Westmeath CC |
52 |
119 |
72 |
34 |
|
Wexford CC |
110 |
29 |
89 |
48 |
|
Wicklow CC |
45 |
47 |
50 |
5 |
|
2,000 |
1,644 |
3,000 |
1,084 |
Number of HAP tenancies commenced in in 2015
|
Local Authority |
Commencement Date of HAP Scheme |
Number of HAP tenancies commenced in 2015 |
|
Carlow CC |
29/06/2015 |
106 |
|
Clare CC |
29/06/2015 |
246 |
|
Cork City Co |
29/06/2015 |
114 |
|
Cork CC |
15/09/2014 |
887 |
|
Donegal CC |
25/05/2015 |
499 |
|
Dublin City Co* |
18/12/2014 |
52 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown CC* |
18/12/2014 |
1 |
|
Fingal CC* |
18/12/2014 |
7 |
|
Galway CC |
16/11/2015 |
7 |
|
Kildare CC |
02/11/2015 |
32 |
|
Kilkenny CC |
01/10/2014 |
466 |
|
Limerick City & Co |
15/09/2014 |
910 |
|
Louth CC |
01/10/2014 |
637 |
|
Mayo CC |
16/11/2015 |
18 |
|
Monaghan CC |
01/10/2014 |
182 |
|
Meath CC |
02/11/2015 |
14 |
|
Offaly CC |
15/06/2015 |
98 |
|
South Dublin CC** |
01/10/2014 |
558 |
|
Tipperary CC |
29/06/2015 |
194 |
|
Sligo CC |
16/11/2015 |
9 |
|
Waterford City & Co |
15/09/2015 |
643 |
|
Total |
5,680 |
* Dublin City Council is operating HAP Homeless pilot on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities.
** Includes some households supported through the HAP Homeless pilot.
534. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has appointed a chairperson to the MICA expert panel; if not, when he will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4266/16]
View answerI recently announced that I have appointed Mr. Dennis McCarthy to chair the expert panel that is being established to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. Mr. McCarthy is a former Director of Services with Waterford County Council and has the necessary mix of skills and experience that will be required to direct and manage the work of the expert panel over the months ahead. Now that the chairperson in place, my Department will shortly be writing to a small number of professional bodies to seek nominations for suitable persons to participate on the expert panel.
535. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering a new scheme to allow for the purchase of individual houses by tenants of voluntary and co-operative housing schemes; if he will base this scheme on the incremental purchase model; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4297/16]
View answerUnder the terms of the various funding schemes overseen by my Department, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are the de facto owners of the properties concerned and are required to make them available for social renting for the duration of the mortgage or, as the case may be, the availability agreement. My Department cannot unilaterally make provision for their sale to tenants. On expiry of the mortgage period and subject to compliance with the terms of the funding agreement, the AHB becomes the owner of the property.
There are no proposals or plans at present for a tenant purchase scheme in relation to AHB houses. While Section 45 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for the sale by housing authorities and AHBs of designated new houses to eligible households, subject to specified terms and conditions, any proposals in respect of AHB properties would have to be developed in consultation with the Approved Housing Bodies concerned.
536. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to support a local community hall (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4306/16]
View answerMy Department is committed to working closely with local authorities in addressing issues around pyrite-related structural defects in buildings funded through programmes operated by my Department. As the Community Hall in question was not funded by my Department, it is a matter for Dublin City Council to address any issues arising in relation to pyrite in the building.
537. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to support a matter (details supplied) regarding a health and safety issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4307/16]
View answerWhile my Department has overall policy responsibility for the public library service, primary responsibility for matters relating to the operation and management of public libraries, including matters related to health and safety, rests with each local authority.
I understand, however, that this matter has been brought directly to the attention of the relevant local authority, including the Chief Executive, the acting County Librarian and the County Architect. The concerns raised have been noted and I am informed that a local authority facilities team will follow up on the matter at the earliest opportunity.
538. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of all alternatives which his Department considered in advance of introducing a full producer responsibility initiative for waste tyres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4317/16]
View answer539. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of all consultations that his Department held in advance of the introduction of a full producer responsibility initiative for waste tyres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4318/16]
View answer540. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the regulatory impact assessment which was undertaken to assess the impact of introducing a full producer responsibility initiative for waste tyres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4319/16]
View answer541. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce regulations to give effects to the full producer responsibility initiative to cover waste tyres; when he expects to introduce them; if a draft will be provided to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4320/16]
View answer542. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the other organisations, companies or bodies which his Department considered in conjunction with Repak to handle the introduction of the full producer responsibility initiative for waste tyres; if he will provide copies of those proposals from those entities to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4321/16]
View answer543. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how the confidentiality and commercial sensitivity of those participating in the producer responsibility initiative for waste tyres will be maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4322/16]
View answer544. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the decision was taken to introduce a full producer responsibility initiative for the tyre industry regarding the handling of waste tyres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4323/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 538 to 544, inclusive, together.
Prior to the announcement in November 2013 that a full compliance scheme for waste tyres would be introduced in Ireland various approaches to dealing with waste tyres were examined and considered in the context of the Review of the producer responsibility initiative Model in Ireland based on successful examples from other EU Member States. However, having considered the scale of the problem and options for its resolution, the Tyres and Waste Tyres Report was unequivocal in recommending a full compliance scheme. Other models put forward as separate proposals by the two industry associations were considered during the deliberations of the Tyres Working Group but these were rejected on the grounds that neither would deliver a fit for purpose management system for waste tyres. Subject to the consent of the industry associations to their release, I am happy to provide copies of these proposals to the Deputy.
The new arrangements have been the subject of multiple consultation processes. In June 2012 a public consultation took place seeking the views of stakeholders and the public on the future of the producer responsibility initiative Model in Ireland. The consultation document put forward an outline of possible policy initiatives for consultation and provided an opportunity, at an early stage, to stakeholders and the public to contribute to shaping Ireland’s future policy in the area of producer responsibility.
Following the publication of the report on Tyres and Waste Tyres in November 2013 a further public consultation period took place. The consultation period closed on 31st January 2014 , at which point my Department had received 16 submissions. The majority of these submissions were in favour of a full PRI for tyres.
The final draft report on the Review of the producer responsibility initiative Model in Ireland was published in July 2014 for a period of consultation which closed on 15th September 2014. On publication of the final report my Department established the tyres working group with membership drawn from across the waste and tyres sectors. Representatives of the two industry associations are also included. The tyres working group has met on seven occasions to assist my Department in the detailed design of the new arrangements. It is also proposed to undertake a further consultation on the draft regulations to give effect to the new compliance scheme arrangements. I expect the consultation process to take place in the second quarter of this year with a view to the regulations being commenced in the third quarter. In addition, work is on-going in my Department on a Regulatory Impact Assessment to supplement the very extensive analysis contained in the PRI review report. This work will be finalised by end of March this year.
The issue of security of data, particularly data that could be regarded as commercially sensitive, is of fundamental importance to the integrity of the model being developed for the tyre sector. The successful protection of extremely market sensitive data from the electronic and electrical industry will provide a sound basis on which to build the system for the tyre compliance scheme. The WEEE Register Society (WRS) developed the WEEE Black-box (WBB) in 2005 in response to Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) producers’ demands for a safe, secure and confidential site where they could report their confidential sales data. At present 1,320 producers report on a monthly basis across 10 categories and 30 sub-categories. The need to maintain confidentiality is so highly respected that the WBB is prohibited by Part II, Regulation 9(3) of the European Union (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014 from disclosing information to any third parties including WRS. WBB is a web based reporting system and secure precautions are taken to protect the producers’ data.
The exact detail of what information will be reported by tyre operators is still under consideration with stakeholders at sub-group level. Once it has been decided by the Tyres Working Group it will be outlined in the new tyre regulations.
