Parliamentary questions

Water Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

612. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will indicate, on a county basis, the capital expenditure required in respect of domestic and industrial water needs over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5969/13]

Waste Management Expenditure

Bernard Durkan

613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total cost of remedial works in respect of illegal or unregulated landfill sites in each of the past five years to date; the likely cost in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5970/13]

Water Quality

Bernard Durkan

614. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which provision has been made to address the issue of groundwater pollution from septic tanks or other sources of any such pollution; the degree to which provision is now in place to meet such requirements in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5971/13]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

615. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has engaged with or received submissions from the various local authorities, management and elective, to identify capital or current budgetary requirements on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5972/13]

Housing Adaptation Grant Applications

Bernard Durkan

542. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which a disabled persons grant can be administered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4366/13]

Water Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

91. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position in regard to the future development of an adequate and reliable domestic drinking water supply with particular reference to sourcing of supply, purification, storage and transmission; if it is expected to realise the required objective in this regard in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54205/12]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he continues to monitor the need to address the shortage of housing stock available to local authorities arising from failure by his predecessors to make adequate provision in terms of a comprehensive house building programme together with a proper local authority housing loan fund; if it is recognised that the current situation with upwards of a hundred thousand families remaining on housing waiting lists for several years which in turn necessitates subsidisation in the form of rent support from the Department of Social Protection on an annual basis; if he will further examine the prospect of restoring to local authorities the necessary resources and responsibility to make adequate provision through the local loans fund in respect of housing loans and by way of direct enhancement of the housing building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54204/12]

Household Charge Collection

Bernard Durkan

410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will endeavour to ensure that the collection of household charges is structured and streamlined in such a way as to ease the burden on the public in recognition of the on-going economic difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54549/12]

Water Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

411. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects to be in a position to proceed with the upgrading of existing domestic water supply networks such as the replacement of defective pipelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54550/12]

Climate Change Policy

Bernard Durkan

412. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that the impact of carbon reduction is minimised on domestic households until the economic situation improves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54551/12]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Bernard Durkan

413. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects to be in a position to restructure the shared ownership loan scheme in such a way as to prevent the anomalies that have emerged in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54552/12]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Bernard Durkan

414. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has evaluated arrears in respect of the shared ownership mortgages operated by the local authorities; the action he proposes to address issues emerging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54553/12]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Bernard Durkan

415. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authority housing loans issued in each of the past four years to date; the number of shared ownership and other loans in this period; the extent if any to which provision will be made to increase availability of such loans in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54554/12]

Waste Management Regulations

Bernard Durkan

416. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the various forms of waste management are currently being used with particular reference to the maximum use of reduction, recycling, reuse, land fill or thermal disposal; the extent to which current practice is in accordance with international guidelines in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54555/12]

Air Pollution

Bernard Durkan

417. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which air pollution level at various vantage points throughout the country continue to be monitored; the degree to which increases have been noted at specific locations; the action actions proposed in response thereto; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54556/12]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

418. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he hopes to be in a position to provide adequate funding for local authorities in the coming year notwithstanding the economic difficulties he inherited from his predecessor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54557/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Bernard Durkan

419. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which funding for group water and sewerage schemes and small schemes is likely to be available to the local authorities throughout the country with particular reference to addressing any backlogs or schemes that have not received adequate attention over a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54558/12]

Register of Electors Administration

Bernard Durkan

420. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which inaccuracies in the voter's register continue; his plans to review the issues with the possibility of enlisting the assistance of An Post to bring the register up to date and maintain a high degree of accuracy on an on-going basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54559/12]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Bernard Durkan

421. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if and when he expects to be in a position to introduce a local authority loans system to facilitate the needs of first time house buyers in the medium to lower income sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54560/12]

Planning Issues

Bernard Durkan

657. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that all local authorities are applying the same regime in respect of planning levies associated with compliance with animal welfare regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47928/12]

Household Charge Cost

Bernard Durkan

666. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any particular alleviation measure that will be put in place in respect of the household charge where the householder is entirely dependent on income from the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47580/12]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

62. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which the full requirement in terms of local authority housing needs are being met at present with particular reference to the means of those who may have lost their jobs and their homes through repossession as a consequence; if he will review the procedures whereby such persons are admissible to the local authority housing waiting list; if it is anticipated that extra housing units can be accessed or provided directly by whatever means with the objective of ensuring that empty housing estates around the country are utilised to obviate the need for rent support; if he has quantified the extent of the requirement both in terms of the existing housing waiting list and those seeking to access this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46186/12]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

449. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he continues to receive information from the various local authorities in respect of arrears of shared ownership or annuity loans; if as a result he will initiate proposals in the forthcoming year to address the situation whereby borrowers are expected to meet repayments in respect of the rental equity which are greater than that applicable to the mortgage equity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46524/12]

Fire Service Issues

Bernard Durkan

450. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he expects to be in position to maintain the Fire Service, part time and full time, throughout the country in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46525/12]

Housing Adaptation Grants Funding

Bernard Durkan

451. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that adequate funds are available to the local authorities to meet requirements arising from disabled persons grant applications in the forthcoming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46526/12]

Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists

Bernard Durkan

452. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of persons currently on local authority housing lists throughout the country; the average length of waiting time on such lists; his future plans to ensure the provision of local authority housing as quick as possible to suitable applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46527/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Bernard Durkan

453. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent, if any, to which he will be in a position to support the funding of local group water or sewerage schemes by the various local authorities throughout the country on a county bases in the forthcoming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46528/12]

Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists

Bernard Durkan

454. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent, if any, to which he has examined the possibility of enhancing the local loans fund as a means of facilitating those on local authority waiting lists who might be in a position to provide themselves with a home in the event of mortgage availability; if he will examine the methods used in the 1980's to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46529/12]

Community Development Initiatives

Bernard Durkan

455. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which his Department continues to engage with locally based community groups with a view to addressing and supporting areas of social and economic deprivation throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46530/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Bernard Durkan

456. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which it is intended that local household or other service charges will go directly towards the provision of services currently or previously provided by local authorities or likely to be so provided in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46531/12]

Pyrite Panel Report Implementation

Bernard Durkan

457. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which progress is being made to address the ongoing issue of pyrite; if the full extent of the problem is being identified, quantified or costed; if he has studied the points raised by the Pyrite Action Group with a view to identifying a financial structure and a comprehensive plan to deal with the issues arising with particular reference to the need for the adoption of a fully integrated system to deal with issues in order that householders can be reassured and that the financial impact on them can be minimised by way of home bond or other insurance provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46532/12]

Water Services Provision

Bernard Durkan

458. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made to date in the creation of water management facilities throughout the country with particular reference to the need to recognise the importance of adequate drinking water supplies into the future; the plans afoot to provide storage and treatment facilities to meet the requirements interms of domestic drinking water over the next 50 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46533/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Bernard Durkan

411. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which funding has been provided directly or indirectly to the various local authorities in respect of group water or group sewerage schemes; the number of such applications awaiting approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44430/12]

Household Charge Exemptions

Bernard Durkan

429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the assistance he will provide to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is not in a position to pay the household charge in a single instalment but who is willing to pay in a number of instalments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43165/12]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Bernard Durkan

150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a practice that couples who are divorced and separated and entering a new relationship are being barred from obtaining a local authority house purchase loan or mortgage in the grounds that such loans are exclusive to first time buyers; if he recognises that such persons in a new relationship under equality law should be regarded as first time buyers notwithstanding the fact that they may have had a mortgage previously from a local authority in a previous relationship; if he will address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39374/12]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

49. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he will engage with the various local authorities now facing the possibility of cuts in services arising from the ongoing economic situation; if he will provide the local authorities with some means whereby they can take steps to improve their financial position; if he has received submissions from or exchanged views with the County Managers Association or the various local authorities' members representatives with a view to the identification of the best practice to be pursued whereby savings can be made or other measures taken to maintain the maximum level of services provided by the various local authorities throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39014/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Bernard Durkan

60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent, if any, to which agreement has been reached or arrangements put in place to set the levels and methodology for collection of the household charges which arise as a consequence of the memorandum of understanding and the general economic situation arising in the wake of the ongoing economic crisis which he inherited on assuming office; if he will try to ensure that the level of such charges will be cognisant of the many serious financial obligations and cutbacks now faced by the people; if he intends to have regard to the ability to meet the payments in such circumstances; if it is expected that payment can be made on a monthly basis or other deferred basis; if it is expected that the relevant local authorities are likely to benefit in a meaningful way from such charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39015/12]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Bernard Durkan

1113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if, arising from the report of the Pyrite Panel, he intends to proceed with a particular plan to mutualise or share the responsibility for pyrite damage between the various bodies including the insurers and HomeBond with a view to achieving the highest possible level of protection for the householder; if it might be feasible to compile a federation of suppliers of product, builders, HomeBond and any relevant insurers culminating in the creation of an insurance bureau which might share any liability arising and thus protect the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36902/12]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

1114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will consider a major update in housing policy with particular reference to the need to provide an adequate supply of affordable housing through the capital programme or a suitable equivalent in order to address the long-standing number of persons on the housing lists of the various local authorities; if he will furthermore repeal the shared ownership house purchase scheme having particular regard to the inequalities that have emerged whereby the rental portion of the equity is costing more to the borrower than the mortgage; if some action will be taken on this matter in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36903/12]

Local Authority Charges Application

Bernard Durkan

1133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the extent to which it is intended that local household or other service charges will go directly towards the provision of services currently or previously provided by local authorities or likely to be so provided in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39313/12]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

1134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if it is intended to give any particular financial recognition by way of incentives to local authorities with a better than average record in terms of budgetary control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39314/12]

Local Authority Funding

Bernard Durkan

1135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will indicate those local authorities now faced with the most serious level of budgetary cutbacks; the extent to which the cause or causes have been identified; the measures available or likely to become available to the local authorities directly or through the aegis of his Department to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39315/12]

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Bernard Durkan

1136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the extent to which progress is being made to address the on-going issue of pyrite; if the full extent of the problem is being identified, quantified or costed; if he has studied the points raised by the Pyrite Action Group with a view to identifying a financial structure and a comprehensive plan to deal with the issues arising with particular reference to the need for the adoption of a fully integrated system to deal with the issues in order that householders can be reassured and that the financial impact on them can be minimised by way of home bond or other insurance provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39316/12]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

Bernard Durkan

1137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will identify and provide for a reorganisation of the shared ownership loan system which is currently penalising holders of such mortgages in a most unfair fashion whereby the rent being charged in respect of the local authority equity in the dwelling is vastly in excess in some cases of the mortgage on the remaining equity; if he will identify the ways and means of addressing this issue as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39317/12]

Voluntary Housing Sector

Bernard Durkan

1138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when it is expected to bring the structures appertaining to the operation of voluntary housing associations into line with the operational rules operated by local authorities with particular reference to the determination of rent and the governance structures of such organisations in line with company law and their articles of association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39318/12]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Bernard Durkan

1139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when it is expected that a local authority house building programme can be put in place in view of the vast number of applicants currently on local authority housing lists; the extent to which these numbers are likely to increase in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39319/12]

Fire Service Issues

Bernard Durkan

1140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the extent to which the future development of the fire services operated by the local authorities continues to be examined with particular reference to the increasing need to ensure adequate strength, equipment and compliance with modern health and safety requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39320/12]

Water Quality Issues

Bernard Durkan

1141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the position regarding the upgrading, improvement and development of the quality and quantity of domestic drinking water in all areas throughout the country with particular reference to the need to ensure adequate supply and storage; the extent to which provision can now be made for such requirements in the future in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39322/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Bernard Durkan

1142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the extent to which he has received submissions from the local authorities in County Kildare in respect of their prioritised requirements in respect of group water schemes, group sewerage schemes or other such small schemes; the degree to which any such plans have been awaiting approval in the past ten to 15 years such as the proposed scheme at Ballyna; if costings have been submitted to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39323/12]