Written Answers Nos. 180-199
180. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the interdepartmental working group recommended, on page 7 of A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, measures to minimise the impact of waste charges on low income households was ever established and if so, its recommendations; and if he will make available its report. [18106/16]
View answerAn interdepartmental working group, established in line with national waste policy to report to Government with options to minimise the impact of waste charges on low income households, has submitted two reports to date.
The working group, which comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Finance; and the Tánaiste's Office, submitted its second report to Government in July 2013.
That Government considered the report and, given the complexity of the issues involved, including the fact that the vast majority of households had moved away from local authority collection, with the service now largely provided by private waste collectors, on whom it would be difficult to impose any obligation to provide a waiver system, mandated the working group to continue to explore the issue.
During the period in which local authorities were directly involved in the collection of household waste, a minority of individual Councils offered different levels of discount to selected households, based on different qualification criteria. As local authorities exited the waste collection market, some required the private operators which took on the Councils’ customers to provide a level of discount for existing waiver customers only, and even then for a limited time.
The vast majority of such contractual commitments for private operators to provide a waiver have now expired. In that context, the number of households in receipt of waiver discounts is likely to decline over time, especially as some householders were able to take advantage of special reduced offers elsewhere which actually undercut the waiver price. However, selected private operators still offer some level of discount to former waiver customers on a voluntary basis.
In addition, a very limited number of local authorities make financial contributions towards the cost of, or pay for, the collection of waste from certain households. Again, the qualification criteria and level of support differ from area to area.
With the exception of one or two municipal districts, local authorities no longer collect waste and the market is now serviced by a diverse range of private operators, where the fees charged are a matter between service provider and customer and the services offered vary across the country. In that regard, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a national waiver scheme could not be imposed in the context of an open market for waste collection.
181. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the last formal review of the household waste collection market was undertaken by his Department or a body under its aegis as well as by the Competition Authority; and to provide an outline of the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the review. [18107/16]
View answerAltering the structure of household waste collection market was the subject of a public consultation exercise back in 2011. A comprehensive Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) from 2012 also considered options regarding the organisation of the household waste collection market and is available on my Department’s website at the following weblink: http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en//Legislation/Environment/Waste/WasteManagement/FileDownLoad%2C30784%2Cen.pdf.
The RIA recognised that there were some advantages to the ‘franchise bidding’ approach (also known as competition for the market) which scored marginally higher than strengthening the regulatory regime and keeping the existing 'side by side' competitive market structure (competition in the market). However, given the critical nature of the waste collection service, the risks associated with moving to ‘franchise bidding’ were judged to deem this option ultimately less desirable. Noting that there was a possibility that a switch from ‘side by side’ competition to ‘franchise bidding’ could incur costs that actually made household waste collection less efficient, the RIA ultimately made the recommendation to strengthen the regulation of the market, especially in light of the risks associated with competition for the market.
The then Competition Authority were tasked, under A Resource Opportunity – Waste Management Policy in Ireland, with carrying out a formal review of the operation of the household waste collection market during 2016. However, this review was deferred, pending the scheduled introduction of pay-by-weight charging, so as to provide sufficient time for the new charging system to take effect before undertaking such a review.
I have recently agreed with industry, as part of a ‘price freeze’ transition period , that customers will from 1 January 2017 be able to see, through a dual billing process, details in their bills about the amount of waste they are disposing of, their costs under the continuation of their current price plan and details of the comparative pay-by-weight charge with the option to move to pay by weight.
At the end of this 12-month transition period (in July 2017), the Government will review the operation of pay-by-weight and the wider market to inform decisions in relation to the arrangements beyond 1 July 2017.
182. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of areas for which the separate collection of organics is currently not a required waste permit condition; and the number of households this affects. [18108/16]
View answerUnder the European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015, household waste collectors are required to provide, or arrange for the provision of a separate collection service for food waste from households in designated brown bin areas.
In accordance with the Regulatory Impact Assessment prepared for these Regulations, the roll-out of the brown bin has been phased in on a progressive basis, commencing on 1st July 2013. The timetable for when the Regulations take effect is as follows:
- 1st July 2013, for population centres greater than 25,000 persons;
- 31st December 2013, for population centres greater than 20,000 persons;
- 1st July 2014, for population centres greater than 10,000 persons;
- 1st July 2015, for population centres greater than 1,500 persons, and
- 1st July 2016, for population centres greater than 500 persons.
By July of this year, brown bins will have been rolled out to most towns and villages across the country. Notwithstanding this fact, where it is technically and environmentally practical to do so, it is intended to introduce, in the coming months, the measures required to ensure a brown bin service is available to all householders wishing to avail of one, regardless of the size of the communities in which they live within the coming months.
184. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to allow private group water schemes to be taken over by Irish Water where the water group scheme wishes to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18113/16]
View answerThe Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides for the transfer of water services functions from the 34 water services authorities to Irish Water. Under the legislation, Irish Water now has the powers previously held by local authorities in relation to the takeover of Group Water Schemes. This means that Irish Water may acquire by agreement a waterworks or waste water works, subject generally to not fewer than two thirds of those entitled to dispose of it (typically the members of a group water scheme), giving their consent.
It is open, therefore, to group water schemes to contact Irish Water if they wish to have their schemes considered for take over.
During 2015, my Department established a working group involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector to address the development of the sector within the overall water reform programme to ensure that the programme responds effectively to current and future needs. Local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and my Department are represented on the working group. One of the tasks of the group is to ensure that there is appropriate integration of the Department's Rural Water Programme and Irish Water's Capital Investment Programme so as to fully support rural development and address any environmental issues that may arise.
The working group is also considering a number of areas where there are potential boundary issues with Irish Water or legacy issues which need to be addressed and new approaches in this area will be informed by a number of demonstration projects or pilot schemes. A number of pilot projects relating to the takeover of group water schemes have been undertaken as pathfinders to identify and standardise the processes and documentation required at each step of the taking in charge process. The information and experience gained has fed into an overall governance framework which is to be utilised by Irish Water and relevant local authorities on all future schemes to be taken in charge.
In January 2016, my Department wrote to local authorities advising them of a new multi-annual approach to the funding of group water schemes for 2016 and beyond under the Rural Water Programme. This will ultimately lead to the development of appropriate prioritised lists of schemes for funding and a series of demonstration projects which will assist in further evolving the programme of investment. Details of the new multi-annual programme are available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterServices/RuralWaterProgramme/.
My Department is currently considering local authorities' bids for funding and allocations to authorities under the new programme will be provided shortly.
185. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on issues raised by a person (details supplied) and if a meeting can be raised in this regard. [18117/16]
View answerThe organisation in question submitted an application to Pobal under the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector. In total 148 applications were received and assessed by Pobal on behalf of my Department with 70 organisations to receive funding. The standard of application received was generally of a very high quality ensuring the appraisal process was particularly competitive. I understand that the organisation in question was deemed ineligible as it did not meet the basic eligibility requirements of the Scheme. The application was deemed not to provide sufficient evidence of national reach in relation to engagement across the country as required under SSNO guidelines.
Pobal is available to engage with the organisation concerned if it requires further information on its application.
186. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of infringement action by the European Union Commission against Ireland on the State’s failure to comply with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive; the specific actions required to be taken to meet compliance requirements with the directive; and the amount it could cost to meet the requirements of the directive. [18129/16]
View answerThe Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive sets out the requirements for the collection, treatment and discharge of waste water from urban areas/agglomerations. Compliance with the requirements of this Directive is reported annually by the Environmental Protection Agency in their Urban Waste Water Treatment Report. In September 2013, the European Commission commenced formal infringement proceedings regarding non-compliance with the requirements of the Directive in certain agglomerations. An additional letter of formal notice issued from the European Commission in September 2015. The response to this additional letter of formal notice set out the plans in place in relevant agglomerations to ensure compliance. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. The Irish Water Water Services Strategic Plan sets out that achieving the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive is a priority. Irish Water has indicated that the total investment in urban waste water up to the period 2021 is expected to be in the region of €2 billion. This would be both in terms of addressing non-compliance where required, and ensuring continued compliance in all agglomerations.
With regard to the formal infringement proceedings, the current position is that 6 monthly progress updates are to be made to the European Commission.
187. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of design, build and operate water treatment water plants and the cost of these public-private partnerships. [18130/16]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. This includes design, build and operate water treatment plants. Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
In relation to the rural water aspect, responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, which may include design, build and operate water treatment plants, is devolved to the local authorities. In formation on these schemes would be available from the individual local authorities.
188. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce rent to buy schemes or other affordable house purchase schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18140/16]
View answerI recognise the difficulty faced by households in accessing the housing market. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment for the introduction of a new model of affordable rental to provide more housing options for low income households and to relieve pressure on the social housing sector. €10 million is being made available from the proceeds of the sale of Bord Gáis Éireann to fund a pilot scheme in 2016. The details of the Scheme are currently being finalised in my Department for roll-out in the coming months. The Scheme will involve an ongoing annual commitment to secure a long term increase in the supply of affordable properties to meet the needs of those households that would struggle to make rental payments under present market conditions. The pilot Scheme is expected to work on the basis of tenants paying the majority of the rental cost from their own resources, with the State helping to meet the shortfall. It is intended that the scheme would be made available to employed households on low to moderate incomes, as well as being a possible support option for some households who qualify for social housing support. A State policy intervention - such as a subsidy - would be applied to bridge the gap between what people can afford, and what the housing market charges. Such a scheme would also be expected to facilitate and incentivise private investment into this sector.
The inadequate level of housing supply is at the heart of the difficulties in the housing sector and, in that regard, measures have already been taken to boost new housing construction and enhance supply at more affordable prices. The “Stabilising Rents – Boosting Supply” package announced by Government in November 2015 included:
- A targeted rebate of development contributions in Dublin and Cork for housing supplied under certain price levels to enhanced supply of more affordable starter homes in key locations;
- New National Apartment Planning Guidelines to reduce the cost of apartment building in Dublin City,
- Changes to aspects of the operation of Strategic Development Zones to enable swifter adjustments to meet market requirements; and,
- The Government’s Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) to examine funding for housing infrastructure on a case-by-case basis.
The package also included a number of measures to support rent stability in the rented sector, pending additional housing supply coming on stream in the coming years.
Further actions aimed at increasing the supply of housing at more affordable prices are being examined in the context of drafting the Government’s new ‘Action Plan for Housing,’ which is to be published in the coming weeks.
189. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA, is invited to attend the local government review committee, which is being run by his Department on an ongoing basis. [18162/16]
View answerIn 2015, a process was established by my predecessor to review the operation of the revised local government structures. This involved a broadly based Advisory Group, consisting of members appointed in a personal capacity rather than as representatives of particular organisations, and a Local Government Forum for engagement with the Association of Irish Local Government, which is the statutorily recognised body to represent the collective interests of local authorities.
I will consider the question of a role for these groups in the development of potential measures regarding local government reform arising from the Programme for Partnership Government. Subject to decisions in this regard, it would be open to the Advisory Group and the Forum to engage with representatives of the Local Authority Members’ Association in a stakeholder capacity, where appropriate having regard to the different roles of that Association and the Association of Irish Local Government, as set out in sections 225 and 226 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by section 56 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014.
190. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it will still be compulsory to weigh bins where the zero cent per kilo option is employed for recyclable waste (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18179/16]
View answer192. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will allow an extra period of time for all waste collector businesses to complete the conversion of their lorries to pay-by-weight functioning given that some, particularly smaller entities, have found it excessively expensive and have been in the queue for said works to be carried out against an uncertain backdrop regarding its commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18181/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 192 together.
Under the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended, there has been a requirement since 1 July 2015 for collectors to weigh household waste collected at kerbside, using approved weighing instruments and to make this information available to the householder. The same refuse collection vehicles are often used to collect general waste and recyclable material, so in many instances the vehicle will have a weighing mechanism on board.
With regard to waste management costs, I engaged actively and intensively with representatives of the waste industry and have agreed a clear way forward that results in customers paying no more than their current rate for presenting the same amount of waste over the next 12 months - by means of a price freeze to end-June 2017.
It is my intention that customers from 1 January, 2017 will be able to see, through a dual billing process, details in their bills about the amount of waste they are disposing of, their costs under the continuation of their current price plan and details of the comparative pay-by-weight charge. This will necessitate the weighing of waste collected, a requirement which has already been in place for 12 months.
191. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if black bin bags will still be an option for persons with disabilities, persons living alone and infirm and persons living in a terrace of street houses with no rear access and with no space internally to manoeuvre a wheelie bin through their kitchen, living room and hallways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18180/16]
View answerUnder the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended, the collection of bags is being phased out from 1 July, 2016. Local authorities have been requested to designate areas as not being suitable for wheelie bin collections (i.e. designate areas which should remain on bag collections) in advance of the deadline.
In brief, the criteria they have been asked to use in undertaking the exercise to designate ‘bag collection areas’ are as follows:
- No space within the boundary of the property - front, rear or side - to store 3 bins.
- Physical features which make it difficult to move a bin to the front edge of the property or nearest boundary for presentation, e.g. steep gradient and or steps (the advice of a Roads Engineer should be sought) or that would present an unreasonable difficulty.
- The area (e.g. street) is too narrow for a refuse collection vehicle to access properties and the nearest Designated Collection Point or suitable presentation point is greater than 100m from the property (again, the advice of a Roads Engineer should be sought on this issue).
- Where the Local Authority is notified of exceptional circumstances by a householder / resident and the Local Authority certifies same.
Many local authorities have now completed the process of designating areas where bag collections may continue, if applicable, and should be contacted for further information.
Question No. 192 answered with Question No. 190.
193. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will lift the recruitment embargo in Roscommon County Council to allow the hiring of outdoor staff, as since the embargo was put in place in 2008 Roscommon County Council has lost a significant number of staff and front line services have been severely affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18205/16]
View answerAs announced in Budget 2015, the moratorium on recruitment has been lifted throughout the Local Authority Sector.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for each individual Chief Executive to recruit and assign staff to specific divisions.
My Department works closely with all local authorities to ensure the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence.
194. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount provided to councillors for conference expenses by local authority in each of the years 2012 to 2015, inclusive, in tabular form. [18207/16]
View answer195. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to the State and a breakdown by local authority of the representational payment made to councillors in each of the years 2012 to 2015, inclusive, in tabular form. [18208/16]
View answer196. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the cost to the State and a breakdown by local authority of the annual allowance made to councillors in each of the years 2012 to 2015, in tabular form. [18209/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 to 196, inclusive, together.
The amounts payable by local authorities to elected members in support of their role as public representatives in respect of conference expenses, representational payments and annual allowances are as set out in the Local Government (Expenses of Local Authority Members) Regulations 2014, the Local Government (Representational Payment for Members) Regulations 2001 and other associated regulations/circulars issued by my Department.
Under the 2014 Regulations, since 1 June 2014 the maximum amount payable by a local authority in annual conference expenses is €700 multiplied by the number of members of the authority.
The amount of the representational payment payable to members of county councils, city councils and city and county councils has been set at €16,565 per annum since 1 July 2013.
Elected members also receive an annual allowance designed to defray in a structured way reasonable expenses incurred by them in attending meetings associated with their council business. This is calculated using a formula based on the distance from their home to the council offices, standard travel and subsistence rates and a notional number of meetings which a local authority would be expected to hold in a year based on 4 meeting bands. It is supplemented by a fixed amount which varies depending upon which of the 4 meetings bands applies to the local authority concerned. The fixed annual rates are €2,286, €2,413, €2,540 and €2,667. Once 80% or upwards of the relevant number of meetings are attended the member qualifies for the full allowance.
The costs incurred by individual local authorities in making these and other payments to their elected members are a matter for the authorities themselves and are not available in my Department.
197. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new tenant purchase scheme transactions entered into by local authority tenants with Cork City Council and with Cork County Council in each of the years 2011 to 2015, inclusive, and in 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18231/16]
View answerThe information requested on the sale of local authority houses for each of the years 2011 to 2014 is available on my Department’s website, and can be viewed via the following link: www.environ.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
The data for 2015 and for the first quarter of 2016 is being collated by my Department and will be published shortly on my Department’s website.
198. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of first-time lettings of local authority housing and of lettings as a result of casual vacancies from 2010 to 2015, inclusive, as used to be published by his Department until 2009; if in 2014 and 2015 lettings as a result of casual vacancies are counted separately from lettings as a result of renovated voids and refurbishments or if they are included in those figures; and if so, the number of lettings as a result of voids and casual vacancies which are made up of voids and casual vacancies respectively. [18232/16]
View answerMy Department collects and publishes annual data on the opening and closing stock of rental properties by local authority, including the amount of these that are occupied. These are available at the following link: www.environ.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-rented-sector-activity. The other categories of data requested by the Deputy are not collected by my Department.
The routine turnaround of vacant social housing stock is a matter for each local authority and is carried out under their ongoing maintenance programme. Lettings to such properties are carried out in accordance with the rules that pertain in the housing authority regarding its scheme of letting priorities.
In addition, my Department introduced a funding programme in 2014 to support local authorities to deal with the build-up of vacant social housing units, the remediation cost of which is beyond the means of the local authorities. This programme also supports the retrofitting of insulation to such houses so that they are returned to use in a very energy efficient condition. Between 2014 and 2015, a total of 5,000 such units were remediated with support from my Department to an overall cost of €60m. This funding by my Department is conditional on the accommodation being tenanted by the local authorities as early as possible following the works, with priority given to homeless families.
199. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new local authority units that were acquired and the number that were leased under the Part V scheme in 2015. [18233/16]
View answerMy Department collects statistics from local authorities in relation to Part V outputs which are available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie/housing/statistics/affordable-housing/affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics. The returns for 2015 have been received and the information is being checked and will be published shortly.
The option for a local authority to lease units from a developer under a Part V agreement was only introduced last September and information on the use of this option was not included in the request for information sent to local authorities in respect of 2015. This information will be collected in respect of 2016 and subsequent years.
