Written Answers Nos. 123-131
123. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his immediate plans to renovate or demolish the flats at O'Devaney Gardens, Dublin 7; if he is aware of the level of anti-social behaviour in that area, including regular fires being started in abandoned flats; if he will consider allocating some funds to refurbish the flats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21388/16]
View answerIt is a matter for Dublin City Council, in the first instance, to develop and put forward plans for the O’Devaney Gardens site. Any funding proposal made to my Department will be given full consideration.
124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons who renewed their motor tax on a quarterly, bi-annual and annual basis in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21403/16]
View answerThe numbers of motor tax discs issued from 2011 to the end of June 2016 are set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Annual |
Half Yearly |
Quarterly |
Total |
|
2011 |
1,480,747 |
705,846 |
2,436,273 |
4,622,866 |
|
2012 |
1,448,517 |
682,496 |
2,481,073 |
4,612,086 |
|
2013 |
1,460,913 |
684,899 |
2,588,493 |
4,734,305 |
|
2014 |
1,506,614 |
697,278 |
2,739,728 |
4,943,620 |
|
2015 |
1,567,264 |
687,030 |
2,738,292 |
4,992,586 |
|
2016 (to 30 June) |
923,601 |
349,204 |
1,355,832 |
2,628,637 |
125. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to make funding available through the Health Service Executive or Fingal Council to assist persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21457/16]
View answerThe funding provided by my Department to local authorities towards the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability assists eligible applicants to have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out to private houses to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. The detailed administration of the Scheme , including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grants to applicants, is the responsibility of the local authorities and the maximum funding of €30,000 per application is geared towards spreading the benefits of the scheme as widely as possible. Local authorities will consider any available options in responding to a person’s circumstances, depending on their precise nature, and that should be followed up directly with the relevant local authority.
I am aware that the Minister of State at the Department of Health arranged for the referral of the Deputy's Parliamentary Question on this matter, which the Deputy raised on 5 July last, to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply to the Deputy, in the context of the provision of health and personal social services. I have been informed that the Health Service Executive will issue a reply to the Deputy shortly.
126. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the prices paid for social housing units in an estate (details supplied); if he achieved value for money in this instance.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21460/16]
View answerThe project referred to in the Question involves the acquisition of units by an Approved Housing Body (AHB) in a new residential development, which will be made available to the local authority for social housing under long-term lease arrangements associated with my Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). Prior to my Department’s approval of these lease arrangements, the project was assessed by the local authority who confirmed that there was a very strong need for social housing in the area; that the AHB in question has developed an excellent reputation in the management of their existing units; and that provision of these units for social housing use will not negatively impact the existing tenure mix in the area. In addition, the A HB also received approval for assistance under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) towards the cost of the acquisition costs of these units. The CALF provides an up-front capital payment of up to 30% of the relevant construction or acquisition cost of a project, facilitating AHBs in raising private finance, including from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA), to acquire or build new social housing units. The capital advance is repayable by the AHB to the local authority at the end of a payment and availability agreement, usually 30 years.
All applications for CALF are subject to a detailed independent financial appraisal conducted by the Housing Agency on my Department’s behalf. This review includes examination of the acquisition or construction costs and other details relating to the market rents and availability payments sought by the AHB, in order to ensure that the project is sustainable in the long-term and represents value for money.
The units secured in this particular development represent good value for money and will provide secure high quality social housing for 68 households, including many families currently living in emergency accommodation, in an area of high social housing demand. In addition, as the development includes ground floor units it is suitable for adaptation for people with disabilities.
127. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the policy on legacy development contributions, in particular contributions owed by persons on their principal primary residence whose contributions are in arrears for a period of seven years plus; if local authorities should enforce the conditions of planning relating to development contributions once they run over seven years; if they are in effect statute-barred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21463/16]
View answerDevelopment contributions are a key part of securing investment in enabling infrastructure required to facilitate future development. A planning authority may, when granting a permission under section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), include conditions requiring the payment of a contribution in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefitting development in the area of the planning authority. Development contributions are levied by planning authorities on the basis of a development contribution scheme approved by the elected members which sets out how contributions are to be applied in their respective functional areas. My role as Minister with regard to development contributions is to provide the necessary statutory and policy framework, within which individual development contribution schemes are adopted by each local authority. The level of contribution, and the types of development to which development contributions should apply, including any exemptions from charging in specific circumstances if that is deemed appropriate, are therefore determined at local authority level, in accordance with the powers vested in elected members in this regard.
Similarly, and as with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of any outstanding development contributions are matters for the planning authority concerned to manage, in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal financial procedures. Where any payments required in respect of development contributions are not settled, such payments may be pursued by the planning authority through the courts as a contract debt and until such time as amounts outstanding are discharged in full, the conditions of the relevant planning permission are regarded as not having been met with the development concerned being unauthorised.
128. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the research he conducted into the environmental cost of the domestic water metering programme prior to that programme commencing. [21523/16]
View answer129. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the research he conducted into the environmental cost of the domestic water metering programme since that programme began. [21524/16]
View answer130. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the research he conducted to measure the environmental cost of the domestic water metering programme including the carbon footprint of same against any potential environmental benefits arising from that programme. [21525/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 130, inclusive, together.
Since 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 the domestic water metering programme.
The programme was initiated in August 2013, as the previous Government had determined that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water. This policy decision was informed by the likely cost of a domestic metering programme and the likely economic and environmental benefits from savings which would accrue from tackling customer side leakage and encouraging water conservation which would lead to a deferral of some capital expenditure.
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.
131. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new recruits to the local government sector in each of the years 2011 to 2013; the number of whole-time equivalent recruits [21976/16]
View answerUnder 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, following the sanction for staff by my Department, their recruitment and assignment is a matter for each individual Chief Executive.
