Written Answers Nos. 228-239
228. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the actions being taken by his Department to encourage the development of new private houses in the State, particularly in Dublin, after a reported decline of 17% of new houses for sale in 2016; the current level of participation in any State programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17045/17]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 339 of 4 April 2017 which sets out the position in this matter.
229. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of the cost to the State of the water metering programme, including the cost of the meters and the cost of installation to date. [17059/17]
View answerThe expenditure incurred on the domestic metering programme, including the cost of meters and installation, amounted to €467m (including VAT) resulting in Irish Water installing over 891,500 meters on completion at the end of January 2017. The domestic metering programme was funded by Irish Water borrowing facilities.
230. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if, in view of the recent statement by the UN Commission on the Status of Women, he will commit to publishing data on gender segregation within our local authorities on a regular basis; the details of a gender breakdown of employees at each grade (details supplied) for each of 31 local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17060/17]
View answerMy Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered does not provide detail on gender breakdown. My Department will however, be working with the sector to collect the data with a view to publishing the figures later this year and on an annual basis thereafter.
233. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the degree to which commercial rates legislation has changed in the past three decades; if schemes to incentivise or disincentivise certain behaviours, for example, dereliction, vacancy, conversion of part into accommodation, have been attempted and the way in which they have fared; the degree of flexibility local authorities have in designing or applying such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15998/17]
View answerLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
The legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, dating back to the Poor Relief (Ireland Act) 1838. There have been six enactments relating to commercial rates in the past 30 years. The following table sets out the enactments and the relevant sections where appropriate.
|
Enactment |
Relevant Sections |
|
Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993 |
Section 37 |
|
Local Government Act 1994 |
Sections 45 and 47 |
|
Urban Renewal Act 1998 |
Section 10 |
|
Local Government Act 2001 |
Section 103 |
|
Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Act 2006 |
Section 7 |
|
Local Government Reform Act 2014 |
Sections 29 to 34, Schedule 1 Part 2, Schedule 2 Part 6, Schedule 4 paragraphs 14 and 15 |
With regard to the specific issues raised by the Deputy, section 10 of the Urban Renewal Act 1998 allowed local authorities to remit rates in support of the objectives of an integrated area plan, developed under that Act. With regard to relief for vacant premises, section 31 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 introduced changes to the legal provisions in this area. It provides the elected members of individual local authorities with the power to vary the level of rates refunds that apply in individual local electoral areas within the authority’s administrative area. The Local Government (Financial and Audit Procedures) Regulations 2014 provide that the decision to alter the rate of refund should be taken at the annual budget meeting and that the rate of refund decided in respect of the relevant local electoral area shall apply to eligible persons for the year to which the budget relates. The absence of a decision to vary the refund means that the existing legislative provisions regarding the rate of refunds apply. A derelict property would not be capable of beneficial occupation and hence would not be liable for rates.
I have asked my Department to develop proposals for a consolidated Rates Bill to modernise and consolidate the legislation in this area. Among the measures being considered for inclusion in the General Scheme of the Bill are provisions to allow a local authority to introduce rates alleviation schemes to support local and national policy objectives. I hope to bring proposals in this regard to Government shortly.
234. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the publication of updated setback guidelines for wind farms; the reasons for a delay in publishing the guidelines; the setback distance to be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13946/17]
View answerSince May 2016, I have been liaising closely with my colleague Minister Naughten, having regard to his responsibility for renewable energy policy, on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines relating to noise, setback and shadow flicker, recognising the need to bring the review to a close to give certainty on the matter to all stakeholders, local authorities, the energy sector and the wider community.
In light of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to finalise the Guidelines and on-going policy and legal developments in this area, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, is continuing to advance work on the Guidelines and related matters in order to bring the various issues to a conclusion as early as possible.
I expect to be in a position to make a statement on the matter in the coming weeks, outlining the proposed revisions to the Guidelines and the timelines for implementation of the various elements.
It is important to note that as part of the overall review, and having regard to a recent ECJ Judgement on the Belgian/Wallonian wind energy guidelines, it is proposed to undertake a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the proposed revisions to the 2006 Guidelines before they come into effect. This is in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, the SEA Directive. SEA is a process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process.
In light of the SEA requirement which will take approximately 9 months, it is likely that while the proposals for revisions to the Guidelines will be available shortly, the Guidelines will not be finalised and come into effect until approximately the end of the year.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines 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 have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts.
235. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the referendum in respect of voting rights in presidential elections for Irish citizens outside the State, which was announced recently, will be held. [13986/17]
View answerThe Government recently decided to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to give the right to vote at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State, including Northern Ireland.
In order to inform public discourse on the significant policy change proposed, I published an Options Paper on 22 March 2017, which is available on my Department's website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/presidential-elections/voting-presidential-elections-citizens-resident. The Options Paper sets out the range of options available to give effect to the recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution. It will also provide a basis for a discussion on voting rights, which will be one of the topics to be addressed at the Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin in May. These considerations will inform the preparation of the necessary legislation for a referendum. No decision has been taken by Government in relation to the timing of the referendum.
If approved in a referendum, the extension of the franchise, as proposed, would require modernisation of the voter registration process and the introduction of arrangements to facilitate those eligible to vote to exercise their franchise from outside the State. Accordingly, the Government has agreed that my Department should now commence work to effect improvements in the registration of voters.
236. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times for appealing decisions on State pension contributory applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16829/17]
View answerThe average processing time for state pension contributory appeals to the end of March 2017 is 39.3 weeks for appeals requiring an oral hearing, and 27.5 weeks for appeals which were determined by means of a summary decision.
Appeal processing times are kept under constant scrutiny by the Chief Appeals Officer and significant effort and resources have been devoted in recent years to reducing the length of time taken to finalise an appeal. This has resulted in a marked improvement in processing times.
Average processing times for state pension contributory appeals have reduced from 55.3 weeks for an oral hearing in 2011 to 46.0 weeks in 2015, 45.9 weeks in 2016 and 39.3 weeks to date in 2017. The average processing time for state pension contributory appeals determined by way of a summary decision increased slightly over the same period from 24.9 weeks in 2011 to 26.0 weeks in 2015, 25.6 weeks in 2016 and 27.5 weeks to date in 2017.
The quasi-judicial nature of the appeals system means that there are inevitable time-lags involved. However the system is designed to be flexible and fair and allows for review and submission of further information at all stages. The time taken is proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which require a high level of judgement, and the need to ensure due process and natural justice.
The Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
237. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection his views regarding the fact that private hearing aid companies are unregulated in the State in view of the fact that grants for the purchase of hearing aids are made available to these companies through the PRSI system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16881/17]
View answerThe treatment benefit scheme provides for a contribution towards the purchase of medical appliances, such as hearing aids. In 2016 some 9,500 people benefitted from this element of the scheme, at a cost of over €7.5m.
The scheme currently has over 100 providers, who are required to operate under the terms of their contractual agreement with the Department. This contract covers the qualification of persons providing the service, the scope of the examination provided and the resolution process in event of a dispute or complaint from a customer.
The HSE, who also supply a large number of devices under their corresponding medical card scheme, has convened a group of stakeholders who are working on developing agreed standards in relation to the provision of hearing aids. The group has representatives from the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (ISHAA), the Irish Academy of Audiology (IAA) and DeafHear (who advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing in Ireland), working along with the HSE on developing standards. The group are currently finalising best practice guidelines to ensure a code of practice code is in situ for the profession in Ireland.
The Department welcomes the development of agreed guidelines for the provision of hearing aids; such guidelines will make a significant contribution to the provision of consistent clinical practice and service delivery to the Department’s customers.
238. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will allow cystic fibrosis to be listed as a disease in which minors with the condition avail of the free travel scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16891/17]
View answerThere are currently approximately 877,000 people in Ireland in receipt of free travel at an annual cost of €80 million per annum.
The free travel scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. Applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to qualify for the scheme. The qualifying payments for those aged under 66 are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement. Free travel is provided for people in receipt of carer’s allowance to facilitate their caring role and support their social inclusion.
Children with disabilities may qualify for the domiciliary care allowance. This is a monthly payment of €309.50 to the carer of a child with a disability. The allowance may be used for the additional costs involved in caring for the child and this may include additional transport costs. On most transport services children under sixteen years of age are charged fares at special concessionary child rates.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) the Department of Social Protection may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
Any decision to extend the free travel scheme to persons who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
239. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) participating in JobPath can be released from the programme in order to take up a community employment scheme position in view of the fact they have previously completed a different CE scheme placement; if consideration will be given to such requests in situations in which difficulties have been encountered in having the available CE scheme position filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16931/17]
View answerThe aim of the JobPath service is to assist participants in finding sustainable full-time paid employment by providing intensive individual support and assistance. It is distinct from the Community Employment scheme which provides part-time employment and training opportunities in local communities for people on a range of Social Welfare payments including long-term unemployment payments as a stepping stone back to employment. Community Employment does not, nor is it intended to, provide full-time sustainable employment.
Jobseekers can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time; this is to ensure that the best use is made of the available places and to allow the scheme and service providers time to work with the participants. However, people who on the date of their referral to JobPath have a written offer with a start date within four weeks for CE will be facilitated to take up their placement.
In these circumstances the person in question cannot be released from the JobPath programme.
If any CE scheme is having difficulty filling a position they should contact the Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
