Written Answers Nos. 512-534
512. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the decision to close the vocational school at Muine Bheag in County Carlow; the process which has to be followed; the stakeholders who must be consulted in such a process; if that consultation took place; her role in such a decision; if she will reverse the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5327/16]
View answerMy Department was recently advised by Kilkenny and Carlow ETB that in light of the number of students that have enrolled for the school year 2016/17 and due to the declining enrolments over a number of years, that the ETB will not be proceeding with the enrolment of new first year students in Muine Bheag Vocational School for the coming school year, 2016-17. The ETB propose that all of the existing students in 1st , 2nd, 3rd, Transition and 5th year will be catered for with a full range of existing subjects up to the end of their cycle in 2018. The ETB has indicated that this position has been reached following detailed deliberations concerning the viability of the school.
Following contact with the ETB, the Department was informed that the ETB is committed to working with the school's Board of Management, Parents, Students, Staffing and other relevant interests regarding the matter. It is my Department's intention to liaise further with the ETB in the matter.
513. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she was consulted by Bus Éireann relative to the changes being made by the company to certain bus routes affecting children with a disability; if she will ask the company to explain its actions and its long-term plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5329/16]
View answerBus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement. This includes school transport services performed by contractors under the School Transport Scheme, which Bus Éireann operates on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
Bus Éireann is satisfied that the tendering process is a competitive process which allows the Company achieve value for money, enables eligible parties to participate, provides transparency on how contracts are awarded, and facilitates equality of treatment All of those elements reflect public procurement requirements at both a national and EU level. The rules of the process and conditions of tendering are clearly outlined in the tender documentation. My Department was advised of this procurement policy.
The experience of the driver assigned to perform the service is one of the award criteria, and while previous experience with the company is taken into account Bus Éireann is not permitted to conduct a process which provides an incumbent operator with an unfair advantage.
Both my Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for children with special educational needs under the School Transport Scheme. This is reflected in the standard of service provided and by Bus Éireann factoring the individual requirements of the children concerned into the planning of these services which generally operate on a door-to-door basis.
Generally a five-year contract is awarded to the successful tenderer. This provides security for the duration of the contract to the contractor as well as stability, in terms of familiarity with transport arrangements, for the families, schools, and children concerned.
514. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacancies which exist within her Department for candidates who must display competence in the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5432/16]
View answerThe main grades at the Department concerned with the delivery of services to the Irish speaking community are in the areas of school inspections and the provision of educational psychological services by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to schools in Gaeltacht areas and the Gaelscoileanna. Currently there are staff at the grades of school inspector and educational psychologist that can provide their services through the Irish language and as such the matter of vacancies as mentioned in the Deputy's question does not arise.
In the event in the future it transpires that there are insufficient professional staff to deliver services to schools in Gaeltacht areas or Gaelscoileanna, a recruitment campaign to engage professionals that are proficient in the Irish language will be undertaken through the Public Appointments Service (PAS).
515. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the number of empty and void residential properties and units, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4915/16]
View answer520. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the number of vacant houses that are habitable, as per the last census, by county; and his efforts in bringing these houses on-stream to tackle the homelessness crisis. [4806/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 520 together.
While my Department collates and publishes a wide range of housing statistics, the full range of which can be viewed on my Department’s website at the following weblink: http://www.environ.ie/housing/statistics/housing-statistics, the data sought on the number of vacant units by county are not collected. The most recent information relating to vacant residential units can be found in the 2011 census data which is available on the CSO website, http://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2011reports/census2011profile4theroofoverourheads-housinginireland/. Insofar as Unfinished Housing Developments are concerned, the 2015 National Housing Development Survey and the Annual Progress Report illustrate that good progress is continuing to be made in resolving unfinished developments and the reactivation of sites is now evident throughout the country. The detailed findings of the annual surveys, annual progress reports and other useful publications and information in relation to Unfinished Housing Developments are available on the Housing Agency’s website at:
http://www.housing.ie/Our-Services/Unfinished-Housing-Developments.aspx. Since 2010, an annual national housing survey of unfinished housing developments has been conducted during the summer months to monitor progress. In that period, the number of unfinished housing developments has decreased by approximately three-quarters, from nearly 3,000 in 2010 to 668 in 2015.
With regard to the remediation of vacant social houses, the Social Housing Strategy provides for a target-driven voids retrofitting programme. Between 2014 and 2015, some 5,000 such units were remediated with the support of my Department and were made available to those on housing waiting lists.
In those two years, my Department has provided some €60 million in funding to local authorities for this purpose. This investment is a very significant support to deal with the backlog of vacant social units and a key element in the early addressing of social housing need.
In addition, the acquisitions programme is an important component of social housing supply and is particularly important as a parallel stream of supply while the construction programme builds momentum. All local authorities have been given approval to explore options for augmenting construction supply with carefully targeted acquisitions. In this regard, local authorities acquired some 1,000 units in 2015, as published in the Social Housing Output in 2015 report, which available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/social_housing_output_in_2015_0.pdf.
516. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to withdraw the current Irish river basin management plan which has been submitted to the European Commission for adoption by 22 March 2016, and to redraft the plan to remove the reference to individualised domestic water charges. [4725/16]
View answer549. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government given the results of the general election, whether he will amend the river basin management scheme currently before the European Commission in order to reflect the uncertainty regarding the future of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5306/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 516 and 549 together.
The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The overall aim of the Directive is to maintain high and good status waters where they exist and to restore waters that do not currently support aquatic ecosystems adequately. River basin management planning, structured in 6-year cycles, is the tool prescribed by the Directive for achieving these aims.
In July 2010, the first cycle River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) for Ireland were published, covering the period up to 2015. The RBMPs, which were adopted by all the local authorities, describe the measures planned to protect and improve Ireland’s water environment covering rivers, lakes, groundwater, transitional (estuaries) and coastal waters.
Member states are required to outline in RBMPs the planned steps to implement Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive which requires member states to take account of the principle of recovery of the costs of water services, in accordance with the “polluter pays” principle. This is in order to ensure that water-pricing policies incentivise the efficient use of water resources and thereby contribute to achieving the environmental objectives of the Directive.
The intention to charge for domestic water charges was set out in the first round of RBMPs and this was recognised in the European Commission’s 2012 report to the European Parliament and the European Council on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Ireland.
The second-cycle RBMPs for the period up to 2021 are in preparation at the moment, and the draft plans are due to be published in December 2016. A six-month public consultation process will take place in the first half of 2017 and the finalised second-cycle RBMPs are due for completion by the end of 2017, after which they will be forwarded to the European Commission. As such, the question of withdrawing or amending the second cycle RBMPs does not arise.
517. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the number of mortgages in arrears among local authority borrowers for the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4757/16]
View answer519. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the number of mortgages in arrears among local authority borrowers, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4765/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 519 together.
My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages and a breakdown of those in arrears by local authority. The statistics are available on my Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity.
The Central Bank’s Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears requires all mortgage lenders to ensure that it has in place a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) as a framework for handling such cases. My Department introduced guidelines for local authorities in 2012 and, subsequently, issued revised guidelines in June 2014. A Mortgage to Rent scheme, specifically for local authority mortgage borrowers, is available as part of the MARP arrangements. The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) scheme and the wider operation of MARP within local authorities are kept under regular review by my Department. Information on the LAMTR scheme and guidance on local authority mortgage arrears is also available at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/housing/home-ownership/mortgage-arrears/local-authority-mortgage-arrears-help-available.
In cases of acute mortgage distress, homeowners also have the option of seeking to avail of the legal process now also in place to deal with personal insolvency. The most important step any household in arrears can take is to engage early with the Arrears Support Unit of the local authority. Solutions are available and advice should be sought as early as possible.
518. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will grant approval for a project of 40 houses at Kells in County Meath to go to tender given that all information was provided by Meath County Council in early February 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4763/16]
View answerThe project in question is not yet at tender stage. An outline design proposal for this project was recently submitted to my Department. As part of its routine consideration of the submission, my Department is in contact with Meath County Council with a view to clarifying particular aspects of the proposed design and having the project advanced as soon as possible.
521. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the number of social housing units that were new-builds, by local authority, in 2015; the number of these which have been completed and allocated; the number of these which are still under construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4912/16]
View answerIn formation on social housing units constructed and acquired in respect of all local authorities and approved housing bodies and funded by direct capital investment by my Department, is published on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordable/overall-social-housing-provision. Data up to Quarter 3 of 2015 is currently published, including a breakdown across the different categories of delivery for all local authorities. Data for the full 2015 calendar year will be published shortly. Overall, in excess of 13,000 social housing units have been delivered across all programmes in 2015. This represents an 86% increase on the 7,000 units delivered in 2014. Further ambitious targets have been set under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 including for 2016, for which the target is to deliver 17,000 units. A full report on the 2015 outputs and targets for 2016 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/social housing_output_in_2015_0.pdf.
Following from the substantial announcements for new social housing projects that I made in May 2015, in July 2015 and in January 2016, we now have a strong pipeline of new social housing construction, acquisition and turnkey approvals in place. Between these three announcements, almost €680 million has been allocated for over 3,900 social housing new builds and acquisitions. Details of these approvals are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,42225,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/ministers-kelly-coffey-announce-further-1000-social-housing-units .
It is not possible to confirm at this stage the exact breakdown of local authority units to be commenced or completed in 2016 on a county by county basis. All projects must proceed through the planning process and this and other factors can have a direct impact on the timing for the advancement of construction projects.
522. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the timeframe for the turnover of social housing voids; the reason for differences in timeframes, by local authority; if he will introduce legislation to standardise and reduce turnover times of voids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4913/16]
View answer530. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how many council-owned domestic properties are vacant and fit for habitation; how many are vacant and in need of works, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5034/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 530 together.
Information in relation to ‘Total Social Housing Dwellings Stock’, including ‘Percentage Vacant’, is available on a local authority basis on the website of the National Oversight and Audit Commission, as is information in relation to ‘Average Re-letting Time & Cost; Maintenance Cost by Unit’, at the following link:
http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NOAC-Performance-Indicators-Report-2014.pdf. The most recent published information covering all local authorities is as at 31/12/2014. The information recorded and published is in respect of re-letting times and accordingly, the response of those on the waiting list to offers of such social houses, once remediated, can be a factor in the times recorded.
The time taken to turn around vacant social houses varies from property to property and depends on the level of refurbishment required for each individual property. I have placed a high priority as Minister on supporting local authorities to return vacant social housing units to productive use for those on the housing waiting list. Between 2014 and 2015, some 5,000 such units were remediated with the support of my Department and were made available to those on housing waiting lists. In those two years, my Department has provided some €60 million in funding for this purpose. This investment is a very significant support to deal with the backlog of vacant social housing units and a key element in the early addressing of social housing need.
I should point out that there will always be a level of vacant social housing stock and the numbers, the precise units and the times taken to return them to use will fluctuate on an ongoing basis dependent on, for example, the condition of the houses when vacated. As social houses become vacant, local authorities must establish the remediation work, if any, that is required for their early re-tenanting. Between the additional staffing resources I have made available to local authorities, as well as the € 60 million direct funding I have provided to date, local authorities are continuing to receive strong support to maximise the use of their stock and its early availability for tenanting.
523. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the immediate measures he will take to address the spiralling cost of rent in Dublin and other large cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4914/16]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, enacted on 4 December 2015, introduced a number of measures to address rent stability and housing supply. In relation to rent stability, the Act provides, inter alia, that the minimum period between rent reviews for tenancies is being increased from 12 to 24 months and this new provision will apply for a 4 year period. In addition, the minimum period of notice of new rent is increased from 28 days to 90 days and longer notice periods for the termination of long-term tenancies have been introduced. Each of these new provisions commenced on enactment. Further provisions to support rent stability in the 2015 Act include:
- that notice of new rent sent must be in a prescribed form, include details of dispute resolution procedures available through the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) and be accompanied by details of rent in respect of 3 comparable dwellings in the area;
- that notification of a rent increase to the PRTB will include, among other things, a signed statement by the tenant that they are aware of their rights in relation to rent and rent reviews;
The most recent PRTB rent index shows that in the fourth quarter of 2015, rents were 9.8% higher nationally than in the same quarter of 2014 although the rate of increase slowed in the final quarter of last year, with a slightly lower growth in Dublin than elsewhere. However, it is expected that the impact of the new rent certainty measures will be reflected in the statistics for the first quarter of 2016 when available in a couple of months.
Ultimately, the key to addressing rising rents in the medium to long term is through increasing the supply of housing and the Government is addressing this on a number of fronts, including through Construction 2020; A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector and the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
524. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government for information on State funding to the Ballybeg Community Development Project in County Waterford; if he is aware that the project is without core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4959/16]
View answerWhile my Department operates a range of community schemes and programmes, which are governed by eligibility criteria and rules, it does not provide funding to Ballybeg Community Development Project nor does it have any contractual arrangements with that organisation.
I am advised that Ballybeg Community Development Project had a contract under the Youth Capital Programme, which concluded earlier this year. As the Youth Capital Programme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Deputy may wish to follow up the matter directly with that Minister.
525. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will resolve issue to enable Leader to be rolled out nationally as some agencies are awaiting clarification on certain matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5016/16]
View answerThe submission of Leader Local Development Strategies and their evaluation by the Independent Selection Committee is at an advanced stage. Strategies have been received for all designated Leader areas at this stage. To date, 15 strategies have been evaluated and, of these, 11 have reached the standard required to enable discussions to commence on contracts and implementation arrangements. Additional work is required in respect of the four remaining strategies, and these will be reconsidered at subsequent meetings of the Selection Committee. The remaining 17 strategies will be evaluated on a rolling basis over the period March to May.
I expect the first contracts to be finalised towards the end of April. My Department has commenced pre-contract meetings with those Local Action Groups whose strategies have reached the required standard, with contract discussions progressing with the remaining Local Action Groups as their strategies are evaluated and selected by the Independent Selection Committee.
526. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the status of the tyre levy, including whether concerns by industry operators will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5017/16]
View answer537. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to address the concerns raised by those in the tyre industry regarding the full PRI scheme; if he will consider an industry-led scheme instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5116/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 537 together.
There is a serious problem with waste tyres in Ireland. In discussions prior to the adoption of the 2007 Tyre Regulations, it was made clear that this was the last opportunity for the tyre industry to embrace environmental compliance and take responsibility for the waste it produces. If the required improvement did not happen, it was made clear to the tyre industry that the system would be reviewed and replaced with a full Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI) model.
As part of a wider review of producer responsibility arrangements completed in 2014, the structural and environmental effectiveness of all aspects of the current system for managing waste tyres was assessed. The results of this examination were stark. The report, published for consultation in November 2013 and in final form in April 2014, found:
- A non-compliance rate with the Tyre Regulations of 46%,
- A lack of consistent and accurate data,
- That the current system was not tracking data flows well, and
- Between 25% and 50% of waste tyres were not accounted for with widespread illegal dumping.
Following extensive discussions with the tyre industry through the establishment of a Tyres Working Group, I announced my decision to establish a full PRI scheme for Tyres and Waste Tyres in Ireland on 30 January 2015. Since my decision, significant progress has been made in discussions with the tyre industry.
There will be no new tyre tax or levy under the new system being introduced; consumers already pay a disposal fee to their tyre retailer whenever they buy a new tyre. The model that I am introducing will formalise a charge that tyre retailers already apply but which does not currently go towards the cost of managing the waste in all cases, as it is supposed to. It is absolutely right and fair to provide a system that ensures that the existing levy is properly directed in the future, so that the consumer does not pay twice - once at the point of purchase and again when the taxpayer has to meet costs incurred by local authorities for the clean-up of illegally dumped tyres.
My Department is currently awaiting a submission from the tyre industry regarding the new structures.
527. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a boundary review will be carried out in advance of the 2019 local and European elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5023/16]
View answer528. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a Dáil constituency boundary review is likely to take place before the next general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5024/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.
Section 5 of the Electoral Act 1997 provides for the establishment of a Constituency Commission upon the publication by the Central Statistics Office of preliminary census results. Census 2016 is to be taken on 24 April 2016 and the Central Statistics Office expect to publish the preliminary results in July of this year. The function of the Constituency Commission is to make a report on the constituencies for the election of members of the Dáil and the members of the European Parliament having regard to Article 16 of the Constitution and to the terms of reference set out in section 6(2) of the Electoral Act 1997.
In accordance with section 9 of the Electoral Act 1997 the Constituency Commission must present its report to the Chairperson of the Dáil no later than 3 months after the publication of final census results. These results are expected in March or April 2017.
Unlike the position for Dáil and European Parliament constituencies, there is no constitutional or legislative requirement for the revision of local electoral areas. The most recent review of local electoral areas was carried out from November 2012 to May 2013 by a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee established under the Local Government Act 1991. The recommendations of that committee were implemented through 30 Statutory Instruments made in January 2014. I am not in a position to indicate, at this stage, when a review of local electoral areas might next be undertaken.
529. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on this Deputy's proposal entitled the rental renovation scheme, which was previously sent to him and which aims to incentivise the renovation of derelict properties to make them available for rental; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5033/16]
View answerThis proposal is currently under consideration by my Department and a full response will be provided shortly. In the meantime, tax relief is available for homeowners and landlords under the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) which provides an income tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure on repair, renovation, or improvement works. The HRI is intended as a support for homeowners or landlords who engage only tax compliant contractors to carry out qualifying work. Further information is available at www.revenue.ie.
531. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence concerning homelessness and tackling the housing crisis as a matter of priority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5040/16]
View answerA shortage of supply is at the heart of the current challenges in the housing sector and a comprehensive set of responses to increase the supply of all forms of housing, while also taking action to stabilise the rental market as that supply increases, was put in place during the last Dáil.
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 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.
Evidence that the strategy is delivering can be found in the report, Social Housing Output in 2015, which is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/social_housing_output_in_2015_0.pdf.
As a result of the focused approach adopted in 2015, some 13,000 social housing units were provided, representing an 86% increase on the 7,000 units delivered in 2014. I am committed, while I remain as Minister, to maintain 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.
A significant number of measures are being taken to address homelessness by securing a supply of accommodation to house homeless households and mobilise the necessary supports in order to deliver on the Government's target of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. These measures have been identified in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness (May 2014) and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness (December 2014). Substantial progress has been made in implementing these plans. Progress in implementing these plans is reported through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The plans and progress reports are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/housing/homelessness/policy/homelessness.
These plans represent a whole-of-Government approach to dealing with homelessness and the implementation of measures identified in these plans is being overseen by a group of senior officials drawn from key State agencies concerned including my Department, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Health , the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Health Service Executive, Tusla, the Irish Prison Service and housing authorities.
532. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide the necessary resources to Dublin City Council to create more playgrounds, especially in the Dublin Bay North area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5041/16]
View answerMy Department does not provide specific funding to individual local authorities for playground facilities. Local authorities derive a significant proportion of their income from local sources such as commercial rates, housing rents, environmental and other charges. The balance of the funding is provided through local property tax allocations from my Department and specific State grants from a range of Departments and agencies. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.
In relation to the playground facilities referred to in the Question, funding may be available from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which implemented a Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation through local authorities in 2015.
533. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the status of an application for a mortgage-to-rent by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if he is aware of the urgency of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5054/16]
View answerUnder the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme (AHB-mortgage-to-rent) an AHB can acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.
To be eligible for the scheme a household must have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process and agree to the voluntary surrender of their home. In general the mortgage must be in negative equity with some cases of positive equity considered on a case by case basis. The household must also be deemed eligible for social housing.
Once a case comes within the criteria and the householder has provide d consent to the lender to share information, the Housing Agency seeks an Approved Housing Body to complete the transaction and prepares a submission to my Department for funding approval.
In relation to the specific case raised, I understand from the Housing Agency that it has offered this property to an AHB and a survey has been carried out to ascertain both the condition of the property and to identify any repairs required. The AHB is currently considering the findings of the survey and is to revert to the Housing Agency shortly. At that point a funding request may be made to by Department by the AHB.
My Department frequently emphasises, to all parties concerned, the necessity for MTR cases to be dealt with in an efficient and timely manner.
534. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding for a closed circuit television pilot scheme for Birdhill, Burgess and Littleton in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5068/16]
View answerMy Department has provided an allocation of €55,000 towards the cost of pilot rural CCTV initiatives located in Birdhill, Burgess and Littleton subject to certain criteria being met. In addition, funding has been allocated to two other pilot projects in County Laois.
CCTV cameras will be located in strategic positions in rural locations, with the aim of increasing public safety and deterring criminal or anti-social behaviour. The images from the cameras will be reviewed at the request of An Garda Síochána in the event of a crime or incident occurring.
This will act not only as a deterrent but also assist with the possible prosecution of offenders through facilitating the detection and investigation of offences, as well as providing recorded evidence of occurrences of incidents and also facilitating quicker responses.
