Thursday, 14 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 793-807

Pyrite Panel Report Recommendations

Questions (793)

Clare Daly

Question:

793. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to review the conclusions of the Pyrite report, given the experience since remediation started. [6937/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The pyrite remediation scheme, which was first published by the Pyrite Resolution Board in February 2014, was developed having regard to, inter alia, the recommendations set out in the Report of the Pyrite Panel (July 2012) and the relevant provisions of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013. The full conditions for eligibility are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website at www.pyriteboard.ie.

It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment, carried out by a competent person in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol, indicating a Damage Condition Rating of 2. There are no proposals to amend this eligibility criterion.

While a review of the pyrite remediation scheme is not under consideration, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has commenced a review of I.S. 398 -1:2013 in the light of practical experience since the standard was first introduced in January 2013. This standard sets out the national procedures for the assessment of pyritic damage and for the testing of pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material of dwellings and is a key document in both the operation of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 and the pyrite remediation scheme.

In August 2015, t he NSAI invited submissions from an expert committee on their experience and knowledge of I.S. 398-1 since publication. I understand that the expert committee, having considered the review submissions, made a recommendation to NSAI in support of a programme for the revision of the standard. A work programme was duly prepared for implementation and I understand that the expert committee commenced work on revising the standard in January 2016.

Water Services Funding

Questions (794)

Jack Chambers

Question:

794. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the capital investment in water services and water leakages, by local authority, over the last 15 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6940/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Water Services Investment Programme was a multi-annual investment plan for the provision of major water and sewerage schemes including water mains rehabilitation. The first rolling 3-year Water Services Investment Programme was launched in July 2000 to meet identified water services needs. The Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 was the last such plan, and is available in the Oireachtas library along with previous plans. In addition, capital funding was provided to local authorities under the Rural Water Programme for the provision of group water and sewerage schemes and some miscellaneous water related grants as well as small public schemes during this period and beyond.

Details of expenditure by each local authority, from 2000 to 2013 under the Water Services Investment Programmes and from 2000 to 2015 under the Rural Water Programme, are outlined in the table below. Local authorities would have also incurred expenditure from their own resources on public water services. As a general rule, when this local contribution is taken into account, the Exchequer spending represented about 75% of the costs of the majority of projects.

Local Authority		Water Services Investment Programme 2000 - 2013*	Rural Water Programme 2000 - 2015 €
	Wastewater €	Water €
Carlow County Council	29,435,892	24,123,612	33,744,441
Cavan County Council	29,111,754	30,448,865	96,505,561
Clare County Council	36,346,848	49,670,748	51,985,398
Cork City Council	270,674,790	6,937,536	-
Cork County Council	167,991,956	59,307,920	61,285,939
Donegal County Council	137,993,791	55,892,984	54,493,488
Dublin City Council	548,216,042	209,369,201	-
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Council	92,947,505	23,483,130	503,755
Fingal County Council	178,048,297	123,854,650	41,008
Galway City Council	91,517,496	17,979,964	-
Galway County Council	74,643,316	124,394,900	149,368,838
Kerry County Council	60,750,866	35,043,999	41,004,344
Kildare County Council	158,566,166	83,403,056	17,194,386
Kilkenny County Council	14,835,076	15,702,335	19,398,821
Laois County Council	68,061,567	14,170,916	28,645,428
Leitrim County Council	36,782,077	30,440,365	47,012,425
Limerick City Council	342,964,763	29,612,614	-
Limerick County Council	47,854,156	16,249,859	48,389,628
Longford County Council	23,313,455	25,403,994	15,699,898
Louth County Council	75,402,028	11,096,204	14,547,841
Mayo County Council	192,413,994	67,338,156	148,400,550
Meath County Council	186,275,075	69,530,730	25,138,009
Monaghan County Council	28,042,532	27,426,533	43,702,979
North Tipperary County Council	26,707,608	33,285,130	41,856,572
Offaly County Council	53,643,220	22,746,965	23,879,691
Roscommon County Council	56,956,607	26,944,144	54,110,369
Sligo County Council	44,563,102	32,824,070	36,225,373
South Dublin County Council	43,056,289	34,919,443	1,404,476
South Tipperary County Council	66,306,625	13,957,327	11,460,805**
Waterford City Council	69,295,384	17,596,463	-
Waterford County Council	70,341,469	25,860,974	14,134,234
Westmeath County Council	55,805,267	43,409,114	22,055,512
Wexford County Council	89,870,313	46,863,373	29,012,297
Wicklow County Council	43,895,288	44,023,617	32,417,349
Grand Total	3,512,630,615	1,493,312,893	1,163,619,415

* Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure.

**Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to [e-mail] or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.

Water Charges

Questions (795)

Jack Chambers

Question:

795. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the justification for Irish Water charging a flat charge of €125 on second homes; his views on the way in which the imposition of a flat charge encourages water conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6942/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

With 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. All dwellings connected to the public water or waste water systems are liable for domestic water charges. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers.

Section 3 of the Water Services Act 2014 provides that where a dwelling in receipt of services from Irish Water is unoccupied that the dwelling shall be liable to a charge of not more than €260 for receipt of both water and wastewater services, i.e. the supply of water to a dwelling and the removal of wastewater from it. The Water Charges Plan approved by the CER sets the minimum rate at €125 per annum and the maximum rate at €260 per annum for both water and waste water services where a not permanently occupied dwelling has been registered with Irish Water. A lower minimum charge of €62.50 and maximum charge of €125 applies if the dwelling is in receipt of a single service.

The use of capped charges rather than a flat charge supports water conservation as metered users of water services can beat the capped charge through efficient use of water. In the case of not permanently occupied dwellings, metered users through conservation measures can ensure that their annual charge does not exceed the minimum charge of €125 for both water and wastewater services. More generally, it is estimated that over 40% of metered households are currently beating the relevant capped charge.

Local Authority Housing Funding

Questions (796)

John McGuinness

Question:

796. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the funds he has allocated to Kilkenny County Council and Carlow County Council for purchasing houses for those on the housing list and for families with special needs; if he is satisfied with the progress being made in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6994/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In April last year, I announced over €1.5 billion in funding allocations in respect of social housing to be provided by all local authorities via a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes. Those allocations and associated targets for each local authority, including Carlow and Kilkenny, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/minsters-kelly-coffey-announce-eu15-billion-social-housing-targets-local.

Following this notification of targets, I made announcements for substantial new social housing projects in May 2015, in July 2015 and in January 2016. Between these three announcements, almost €680 million has been allocated for over 3,900 social housing new builds, turnkey developments and acquisitions. Details of these project approvals, including those for Kilkenny and Carlow, 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.

I am keen that local authorities advance these projects as soon as possible and have assured them that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard. While social housing construction projects are being advanced, acquisitions of new and second-hand houses and apartments remains an effective means of meeting immediate social housing need. In 2015, Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils secured the purchase of 37 and 19 new social housing units respectively. Some of these acquisitions, as well as some of the approved construction projects, were under the Capital Assistance Scheme whereby Approved Housing Bodies deliver social housing for those with specific needs such as elderly people, persons with intellectual or physical disability and homeless persons. 

Waste Disposal

Questions (797)

Noel Rock

Question:

797. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the details of the green bin charges that will come into effect from 1 July 2016 and if there is scope to delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7010/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Government waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, which places the prevention of waste at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented, in line with Government policy. The introduction of pay-by-weight (PBW) charges for the collection of household waste is one such measure.

From 1 July 2016 , collectors of household waste are required to apply PBW charges for the collection of the recyclate, food waste and residual bins. Requiring that a ‘visible’ charge is applied to the three bins removes the ‘hidden’ charge for collecting recyclate which is often concealed in other fees. There is a net cost associated with collecting and managing mixed dry recyclate. Waste operators do not currently collect recyclate ‘for free’ as such; some already charge on a per- lift or PBW basis, while other companies include the cost of collecting the recyclate bin in their charges for collecting the residual bin or as part of a flat fee or service fee. The introduction of PBW for the 3 bins will remove waste companies’ ability to conceal the charge of managing recyclate and incentivise the householder to reduce waste, including recyclable waste.

The Waste Management (Collection Permit) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 also require that the PBW charges reflect the waste hierarchy in terms of incentivising the use of the recyclate and food waste bins over the residual bin. Under the new charging system, the per kilogramme charges for recyclate and food waste must be lower than the ‘per kilogramme’ charge for residual waste. The Regulations further require that a minimum price per kilogramme be charged for the collection of each waste stream, so as to cover the cost of managing the waste after it has been collected and brought back to a facility. The minimum costs to be charged for collecting household waste are: recyclate 2 cent; food waste 6 cent; and residual waste 11 cent per kilogramme, to ensure that the polluter pays principle applies, in that at least the cost of treating the waste is being charged. A service fee may also be applied by an operator.

The PBW charging mechanism gives households more control over their waste costs. However, it is important that all households prevent waste where possible and ensure that they correctly use the food waste and recycling bins to minimise costs. The less waste you generate and the more you recycle, the less you will pay under PBW: an awareness and education campaign will be rolled out shortly which will assist householders in this regard.

It is also important to note that waste management costs may vary over time due to market factors such as fluctuations in labour, fuel, treatment or export costs, regardless of the charging mechanism used to collect waste. However, as set out above, under PBW, householders will now have more control over their costs and will have an opportunity and incentive to minimise such costs.

Wind Energy Guidelines

Questions (798, 811)

Robert Troy

Question:

798. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the actions he has taken since his Department sought submissions on the review of the wind energy guidelines; when these submissions will be assessed; and when he will publish the new wind energy guidelines. [7016/16]

Thomas Byrne

Question:

811. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about the current stage regarding the provision of guidelines on wind turbines; if the reason for delay of the provision is a case of a policy decision; if not, whether further background work is to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7113/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 798 and 811 together.

In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.

These draft revisions proposed:

- the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments,

- a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations, and

- the complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.

A public consultation process was initiated on these proposed draft revisions to the Guidelines, which ran until 21 February 2014. My Department received submissions from 7,500 organisations and members of the public during this public consultation process.

It is intended that the revisions to the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines will be finalised as soon as possible. In this regard, account has to be taken of the extensive response to the public consultation in framing the final guidelines. Further work is also advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the Wind Guidelines. My Department is advancing work on the Guidelines in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The revisions to the Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006, when finalised, will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála are required to have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions under the Planning Acts.

Local Authority Boundaries Review

Questions (799)

Robert Troy

Question:

799. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will publish the report into the boundary review of south County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7020/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 735 and 786 of 6 April 2016 which sets out the position in this matter .

Unfinished Housing Developments

Questions (800, 801)

Brendan Smith

Question:

800. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of funding he approved for Cavan County Council for 2016 to enable it to complete unfinished housing estates in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7034/16]

Brendan Smith

Question:

801. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the level of funding he approved for Monaghan County Council for 2016 to enable it to complete unfinished housing estates in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7035/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 800 and 801 together. 800 and 801 together.

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.

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.

To assist in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments, Budget 2014 contained a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF). The SRF was designed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not likely to be resolved in the normal way through solely developer/owner/funder action because of the presence of specific financial barriers. The SRF was particularly targeted to address the remaining unfinished developments with residents living in them and, in particular, any developments that local authorities identified, for the purposes of the Local Property Tax exemption, as in a seriously problematic condition.

The table below sets out the SRF allocations to Cavan and Monaghan County Councils:

Local Authority	Amount approved €		Unfinished Housing Development
Cavan	107,825.00	Glen Álainn Housing Dev.	Mullagh
Cavan	173,655.00	Swiftbrooke Glen	Virginia
Cavan	209,500.00	Lisgrey Gardens	Baileborough
Cavan	104,726.45	Loch Eala	Gowna
Cavan	54,054.37	Cnoc Alainn	Cootehill
Cavan	83,530.00	Sli Na Coille	Belturbet
Cavan	51,075.00	Drumlin Manor	Baileborough
Cavan	107,825.00	Lismeen Hills	Virginia
Monaghan	61,878.00	Rock River View	Rockcorry
Monaghan	95,630.00	Ascail Rois	Carrickmacross

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 that the reactivation of sites is now evident throughout the country. I have no plans, at this time, to introduce additional funding for the completion of the remaining Unfinished Housing Developments.

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (802, 803)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

802. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of social housing completions, by quarter, and by county, confirmed for each of the years 2013 to the first quarter of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7067/16]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

803. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses purchased, by quarter and by county, in respect of social housing allocations in each of the years 2013 to the first quarter of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7068/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos 802 and 803 together.

Information 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-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.

Data up to the end of 2015 are currently published, including a breakdown across the different categories of delivery for all local authorities. Data relating to quarter one 2016 is in the process of being gathered from all local authorities and will be published on my Department’s website when available.

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (804)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

804. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of vacant houses acquired back by local authorities, by quarter, and by county, in respect of social housing in each of the years 2013 to the first quarter of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7069/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Dealing with vacancies that occur within existing social housing stock is a normal part of the management function of local authorities. However, in 2014 my Department recognised that a backlog of such units had built up over several years and accordingly, we introduced a funding programme to support the efforts that local authorities make through their own resources in this regard. The programme is co-funded by the Exchequer and the EU Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020.

In the two years since this funding programme was introduced, over 5,000 units have been supported nationally and returned to use at a cost of some €60 million. Information in relation to this programme is collected on an annualised basis and the details for 2014 and 2015 are set out below. This represents the numbers of units returned to use by local authorities with funding support from my Department and it does not encompass those which are returned to use by local authorities within their own resources, as part of the day-to-day management of their stock.

-	-	-	2014	-	2015
-	Local Authority	No. of Units returned	Funding Provided	No. of Units Returned	Funding Provided
1	Carlow	42	€325,111	28	€300,650
2	Cavan	23	€349,137	28	€307,018
3	Clare	65	€995,829	96	€1,472,533
4	Cork City	212	€2,872,027	281	€4,522,819
5	Cork County	155	€1,539,364	199	€2,091,578
6	Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown	5	€89,896	24	€262,768
7	Donegal	167	€919,797	146	€1,003,576
8	Dublin City	467	€6,163,464	787	€10,858,088
9	Fingal	165	€1,938,780	139	€1,624,632
10	Galway City	24	€474,050	25	€222,025
11	Galway County	76	€958,263	59	€705,347
12	Kerry	79	€718,938	103	€884,736
13	Kildare	49	€503,463	20	€359,808
14	Kilkenny	25	€484,430	23	€381,639
15	Laois	43	€257,013	12	€61,228
16	Leitrim	15	€229,072	9	€177,474
17	Limerick	98	€915,969	52	€500,689
18	Longford	16	€313,250	22	€426,535
19	Louth	18	€113,620	21	€292,279
20	Mayo	80	€464,508	86	€878,600
21	Meath	59	€1,037,501	54	€855,565
22	Monaghan	21	€92,751	13	€100,502
23	Offaly	35	€514,000	55	€551,532
24	Roscommon	34	€224,028	36	€258,773
25	Sligo	29	€311,648	39	€439,924
26	South Dublin	92	€627,408	27	€216,838
27	Tipperary	86	€935,801	115	€1,299,180
28	Waterford	42	€605,428	56	€488,724
29	Westmeath	56	€396,518	74	€650,813
30	Wexford	20	€316,307	24	€294,811
31	Wicklow	35	€650,204	43	€857,499

Social and Affordable Housing Data

Questions (805, 806, 807)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

805. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the longest amount of time in years and months that a single person has been waiting for an allocation of social housing, by county, for each of the years from 2010 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7070/16]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

806. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the longest amount of time in years and months that a couple or one-parent family with one child have been waiting for an allocation of social housing by county, for each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7071/16]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

807. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the longest amount of time in years and months that a couple or one-parent family with two or more children have been waiting for an allocation of social housing, by county, for each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7072/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 805, 806 and 807 together.

The oversight and management of housing waiting lists, including the allocation and transfer of tenancies, is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. My Department does not collate the detailed data sought on an ongoing basis. The numbers and household breakdown on housing waiting lists in individual local authorities are subject to on-going fluctuation as households are allocated housing and new households are added to the list.

The results of the statutory assessments of housing need carried out at as 31 March 2011 and 7 May 2013 provide details on the number of households on waiting lists in each housing authority area on these dates, including the length of time spent by households on each housing authority list.

The 2011 and 2013 results are available on my Department’s website at the following links: 2011 Housing Needs Assessment (Table A6 refers) :

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,27864,en.pdf

2013 Summary of Social Housing Assessments (Table A2.8 refers):

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 forward and will provide up-to-date and comprehensive data on the numbers of households qualified for social housing support on an on-going basis.