Written Answers Nos. 28-36
28. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the draft national planning strategy to replace the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18555/16]
View answerThe current National Spatial Strategy ( NSS ) was published in 2002 and was Ireland's first national strategic spatial planning framework, setting an overarching planning framework. The Strategy remains in force and as a result of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010, its statutory role and influence has been strengthened by new requirements for local authority and regional plans to align with the NSS.
Bearing in mind the elapsed time, as well as the changed circumstances and new challenges that have emerged in the planning arena since the NSS was adopted, the previous Government approved the preparation of a successor to the NSS - the National Planning Framework - and in December 2015, it published a roadmap for its preparation: this is available on my Department’s website at the following link;
http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/towards_a_national_planning_framework_december_2015.pdf.
The commitment to preparing the National Planning Framework was re-affirmed in A Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May.
I intend that the National Planning Framework will be a high-level nationally focused document, developed to ensure the optimal development of the country as a whole, while maximising Ireland’s economic recovery and on-going growth at national, regional and local level. It should contribute further to sustainable national recovery through an inclusive and participative approach with all relevant national, regional and local interests.
Furthermore, the National Planning Framework will act as the strategic planning context for relevant Government policies and investment in housing, water services, transport, communications, energy, health and education infrastructure, as well as the preparations by the three new Regional Assemblies of their new regional spatial and economic strategies, and for planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála.
Earlier this month, my Department undertook a series of key stakeholder consultation events as an initial step in identifying a range of issues for consideration ahead of preparing the draft National Planning Framework. Further consultation will take place with relevant stakeholders ahead of any formal national consultation programme being launched. An invitation will issue shortly from my Department to all Oireachtas Members to attend a briefing on the National Planning Framework next month.
In line with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment, it is anticipated that the National Planning Framework will be finalised by the first quarter of 2017, taking account of all relevant inputs and statutory requirements. It would be inappropriate at this early stage to comment on the likely content of the framework, until sufficient preparatory and consultative work has been undertaken.
29. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the start date for the regeneration projects in the Dublin city area (details supplied); and the amount of funding allocated to these projects. [18513/16]
View answerRegeneration projects funded by my Department in the Dublin City area target some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities, including those defined by the most extreme social exclusion, unemployment and anti-social behaviour. The projects seek to address the causes of disadvantage in these communities through investment in physical, social and economic regeneration.
In the Dublin City area, the two regeneration projects which the Deputy refers to in the details supplied, are now underway with estimated costs of some €32 million between them. Demolition and enabling works funded by my Department are being undertaken on both sites, with the main building works expected to commence later this year. Social regeneration activities are also being supported for both projects throughout the regeneration process.
30. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if arrears will be written off in the event of water charges being abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18478/16]
View answer51. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he discussed with Irish Water whether arrears would be written off in the event of water charges being abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18469/16]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos. 30 and 51 together.
The Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016, which commenced second stage debate in Dáil Éireann on 24 June 2016, seeks to implement water elements of the “Confidence and Supply Arrangement” agreed with Fianna Fáil in the context of supporting the current minority Government.
The Bill provides for the suspension of domestic water charges for a period of nine months to allow for the establishment of an Expert Commission to consider and make recommendations on the long term funding of domestic public water services. The Commission’s recommendations will be considered by a Special Oireachtas Committee and, ultimately, the Oireachtas will then determine the enduring funding model for such services into the future.
Any question of writing off water arrears has not been discussed with Irish Water in advance of these deliberations being concluded. The ‘Confidence and Supply Arrangement’ affirms that those who have paid their water bills to date will be treated no less favourably than those who have not.
31. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the implementation of eight recommendations by the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in relation to the Report of the Committee on Developing the Seaweed Industry in Ireland published in May 2015, which specifically considered the commercial aspects of harvesting seaweed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18476/16]
View answerThe May 2015 report of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Developing the Seaweed Industry in Ireland puts forward 8 recommendations for developing the industry. However, I have no statutory role in the promotion or development of the seaweed industry. Under the Foreshore Act 1933, I am responsible for regulating only the harvesting of wild seaweed and the report does make a number of recommendations in this regard.
Any regulatory regime must seek to balance existing rights and commercial potential while ensuring sustainability of the resource and compliance with the State’s obligations under EU environmental law. In that regard, the interaction between the Foreshore Act 1933 and traditional rights to harvest seaweed that may exist in certain places is under consideration by my Department in the context of advice from the Office of the Attorney General.
Options for the future licensing of seaweed harvesting, including the relevant recommendations contained in the Oireachtas Committee’s report, are currently under review.
32. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the issue of remote voting for those persons such as fishermen and seafarers who cannot be ashore when voting is taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18454/16]
View answerElectoral law provides that a person who is entitled to vote at an election or referendum shall vote in person at a polling station allotted to him or her unless they are included in the postal voters list or in the special voters list for the constituency concerned. While electoral law is subject to on-going review, I have no proposals at present to amend the existing arrangements for voting to provide for remote voting.
33. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will broaden the expert commission on water services' terms of reference as the current terms are too narrow and should include issues such as how best to avoid water poverty, how to increase water conservation through investment in green technologies and how to ensure that water and sanitation services are kept in public ownership and are fully accountable and transparent. [18491/16]
View answerUnder the 'Confidence and Supply Arrangement' agreed with Fianna Fáil in the context of supporting a minority government, the Government is committed to establishing an Expert Commission to consider and make recommendations on the long term funding of water services. The proposed terms of reference form part of that 'Arrangement', and I am satisfied that they cover all of the issues relevant to the consideration of the future funding of domestic water services.
34. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will introduce rent controls; if so, the form they would take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18471/16]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015, enacted on 4 December 2015, introduced a number of measures to address rent stability. The Act provides, inter alia, that the minimum period between rent reviews for tenancies is increased from 12 to 24 months and this new provision will apply for a 4 year period. In addition, the Act increased the minimum period of notice of new rent from 28 days to 90 days. Each of these new provisions commenced on enactment. Further provisions to support rent stability in the 2015 Act include that a notice of new rent must be in the prescribed form, include details of dispute resolution procedures available through the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and be accompanied by details of the rent sought in respect of 3 comparable dwellings in the area.
The rental market in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years and now accounts for around 20% of total Irish households. In Dublin rents are now back to 2007 peak levels. The most recent RTB rent index shows that in the first quarter of 2016, rents were 8.6% higher nationally than in the same quarter of 2015. Data for Q1 2016 show that rents have continued to increase, although the rate of growth slowed in most sectors.
Ultimately, the key to addressing rising rents in the medium to long term is through increasing the supply of housing. Housing is an absolute priority for this Government and, accordingly, a key priority of the Programme for a Partnership Government is the preparation and publication of an ‘Action Plan for Housing’ within the Government’s first 100 days. The Action Plan will be drafted with input from a number of key Departments, and will draw on the work of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness, which submitted its final report to the Dáil on 17 June 2016.
In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government also contains a specific commitment to review the regulatory regime for the rented sector to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between the rights, interests and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords.
35. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to reintroduce apprenticeship schemes in local authorities. [18501/16]
View answerThe matter of apprenticeships in local authorities is subject to ongoing discussion at the Local Authority National Council (LANC), which is the sectoral management/union forum for discussing industrial relations matters pertaining to the sector as a whole. My Department is positively disposed to apprenticeships in local authorities and will support the outcome of the ongoing process at the LANC.
The specific content of any apprenticeship scheme is a matter for the relevant Government Department.
36. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on expanding the income limits for social housing to allow more low and middle-income workers to benefit from differential rents in tandem with a large-scale programme of direct building and acquisitions of vacant properties by the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18474/16]
View answerThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of income needed to provide for a household's basic needs plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.
I am satisfied that the current income limits generally provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. However, these limits will be considered in the context of the review of social housing assessment procedures currently being undertaken by my Department, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda outlined in the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
My Department is preparing an ‘Action Plan for Housing’ which aims to address the challenges in the housing sector in a targeted and meaningful way. The Plan will include actions to expedite and boost supply of all types of housing, including social housing, in the immediate, medium and longer-terms, focusing in particular on those experiencing most difficulty in accessing the housing and rental market at the moment.
