Written Answer Nos. 136-145
136. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the guidelines in the mortgage-to-rent scheme published in August 2015 are still being applied; if there are plans to change the guidelines for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29088/16]
View answer137. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the guidelines in the mortgage-to-rent scheme published in August 2015 are being fairly applied in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29089/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
Amendments were made to the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme in operation for borrowers from private lending institutions in August 2015 and then reflected in the operation of the Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) scheme with effect from March 2016. These amendments were made, in both cases, to enable more properties to qualify for the schemes and make them more flexible and accessible for borrowers. The changes included an increase in the valuation thresholds for relevant properties and flexibility in the size of the property which qualify for the scheme.
The amendments made also included a new provision for borrowers in negative equity. The effect is that, as a general rule, the criterion of the borrower being in negative equity remains. However, some flexibility is provided, on a case by case basis, to allow for a borrower who is in marginal positive equity to avail of the scheme. Under the new arrangements, under both MTR schemes, cases where the equity is no more than 10% of the Open Market Value to a maximum of €20,000 in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth, Cork and Galway and €15,000 in the rest of the country can be considered under the schemes.
In relation to the specific case raised, I wish to advise that section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that my power as Minister to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions shall not be construed as enabling me to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned.
The Government is committed to supporting households in long-term mortgage arrears to remain in their homes and has included a review of the MTR Scheme for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions as an action in the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The review will examine what amendments can be made to the scheme to make it work better for borrowers. My Department has commenced work on scoping the review and in this regard has begun early consultations with key stakeholders. The review is to be complete by the end of the year. Any amendments to the MTR Scheme for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions that may result from the review will also be reflected in the LAMTR Scheme, where appropriate and relevant.
138. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if, when an inspector from An Bord Pleanála visits a site and makes a recommendation to grant an application, the reason this decision is, in many cases, overruled and refused by other members of the board who have not visited the site and could not have any proper understanding of the position; if he will investigate the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29121/16]
View answerSince the establishment of An Bord Pleanála in 1977, planning legislation has clearly assigned final responsibility for decisions on planning appeals to the Board and not to inspectors making reports and recommendations to the Board. The Board’s Annual Report for 2015 states that the number of all Inspectors’ recommendations not generally accepted by the Board was 204 (12.7%) in 2015, compared to 229 (15.4%) in 2014.
In considering decisions on planning appeals, the Board must consider all submissions on the file, together with their own Inspector’s report and recommendation, and reach their own conclusion on the matter in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. If they do not follow the recommendations of the Inspector, the Board must be satisfied that the facts of the case support their decision. Under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), the Board must also give the reasons for their decisions and must specify the various reasons for not accepting the Inspector’s recommendations.
The Board operates these provisions with appropriate transparency, for example, through the publication of Inspectors’ reports and Board decisions on its website and the publication of well-documented Annual Reports.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned, other than in particular circumstances that do not apply in the type of case referred to by the Deputy.
139. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out the responsibilities and rates of pay for each of his ministerial advisers; if any of these are in receipt of salaries above the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform pay caps; and, if so, the reason the cap has been breached in each instance. [29126/16]
View answerIn accordance with the Guidelines and Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil, I have appointed two Special Advisers, Mr. Bob Jordan and Ms. Caitriona Fitzpatrick. Their salaries, along with those of all Special Advisers, have been published on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) website at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/special-advisers-pay/.
The appointment and role of Special Advisers are set out in Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. In general, both advisers have been tasked with providing advice to me and monitoring, facilitating and supporting the achievement of Government objectives that relate to my Department. In this regard, Mr. Jordan has a particular role in relation to policy issues relating to housing, homelessness and community, while Ms. Fitzpatrick has a particular focus on political communications, overseeing press information and liaison, advising on external communications and publicity and liaising with the Government Press Office and other advisers across Government on policy issues relating to my Department.
140. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out in tabular form the amount spent by each individual local authority on library services; the number of libraries under each local authority and if they are open on a full-time or part-time basis. [29170/16]
View answer141. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out in tabular form the number of staff employed in the library service in each local authority area; the number of staff that were full-time and the number that were part-time for each of the years from 2006 to date in 2016. [29171/16]
View answer142. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to set out in tabular form the total and per capita spend per council on the book fund for public libraries for each of their local authority areas. [29172/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 142, inclusive, together.
Under section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision and management of library services is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. Accordingly, expenditure on library services and book funds by local authorities, the number of library branches in each area and whether they open on a full or a part-time basis are generally matters to be determined by each local authority. My Department has no direct role in these matters and the information sought is not available in my Department. Information is compiled by the Department on annual revenue budgets adopted by local authorities, which includes a breakdown for library and archive services. Data in respect of 2016 are available at the following link:http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/local_authority_budget_publication_2016.pdf.
In order to support the development of new library projects, capital funding is made available by my Department each year; in 2016, €2.75m nationally is provided for this purpose. In addition, limited funding is available to support local authorities in meeting the costs associated with libraries including the costs of operating from leased premises; in 2016, approximately €1m nationally is provided for this purpose.
Under section 159 of the Act, each local authority Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of their local authority. My Department works closely with each local authority to ensure the right number of staff are in place for optimal service delivery. However, it is a matter for each Chief Executive to recruit and assign staff to specific business areas within their organisation, including in the library service.
My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. This data does not provide detail on the number of personnel employed in the library service within each local authority. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.
Further information in relation to staffing and funding of library services may be obtained from individual local authorities.
143. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to outline his plans regarding a matter (details supplied). [29174/16]
View answerMy Department has worked closely with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and other stakeholders to meet the accommodation and other needs of the bereaved families in the aftermath of the Carrickmines tragedy. Temporary emergency accommodation for the surviving family members has been in place in Ballyogan since shortly after the tragedy. Following discussions with the family around its preferred options, the Council proposed to develop a permanent four-bay halting site at Glenamuck Road, Carrickmines, which is in accordance with its Traveller Accommodation Programme. The planning process was completed in July and, following a submission from the Council, my Department has given approval to the Council to proceed to tender. The Council expects that the accommodation will be ready for these families by mid-2017.
In addition to the accommodation needs, a number of actions were implemented in the days following the tragedy and there has been on-going engagement with the bereaved and those affected by the events at Carrickmines over the last twelve months. My Department co-ordinated the State’s response across a range of Departments, Agencies and NGOs in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. This included Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the Departments of Justice and Equality and Social Protection, the HSE, Traveller Counselling Service, An Garda Síochána and St Vincent de Paul. This collaborative approach proved very effective in tackling the range of issues faced by the families and in planning for medium and longer term delivery of supports and services.
A Steering Group, hosted by Southside Traveller Action Group (STAG) and including the Departments, Agencies and NGOs mentioned above, is in place since the tragedy to manage and oversee the response to the immediate and subsequent needs of the bereaved. This has ensured that vital health, financial and other supports, such as pastoral care and counselling services, were provided as a priority, as well as actions to meet the longer term needs. Other supports provided by my Department have included practical assistance to Southside Travellers Action Group (STAG) and to Bray Travellers Community Development Group in respect of costs related to, inter alia, provisions, utilities, Counselling Services (including psychotherapy supports for the bereaved children) and media costs. The costs of the funerals were met on the basis of one third each by my Department, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Social Protection. The Steering Group remains in place to ensure a continued co-ordinated range of supports is available to support the bereaved families.
144. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government whether a use it or lose it by year-end rule is or has been in operation within his Department when devolving funding to agencies under his remit on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29195/16]
View answerThe funding of agencies under my Department’s aegis is subject to financial controls and governance as set out in the Public Financial Procedures, the Public Spending Code and Circular 13/2014; Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds.
All funding unexpended by an agency at the end of the year must be surrendered to my Department. However, in certain circumstances, on foot of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanction, where it is deemed necessary to meet financial requirements (such as salaries), an agency may retain all or a portion of a year-end balance. In these circumstances, any retained balances are kept to a minimum and factored into the level of financial support provided to the agency in the following year.
145. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an application from a person (details supplied) for an invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29036/16]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 14 July 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 13 October 2016. Any arrears due from 14 July 2016 to 12 October 2016 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 3 October 2016.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
