Parliamentary questions

Motor Tax Collection

Andrew Doyle

419. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered replacing the annual car taxation with an additional levy on fuel; if he has reports or figures available to evaluate the levy imposed on fuel to make up the shortfall if the annual car tax was abolished; the advantages and disadvantage he would envisage arising out of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22317/13]

Nitrates Action Programme Implementation

Éamon Ó Cuív

420. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to seek a derogation or a variation from the Nitrates Directive to allow slurry spreading dates based on suitable weather rather than fixed dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22536/13]

Nuclear Plants

Alan Farrell

421. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on An Taisce's legal challenge to a nuclear plant being built on the Bristol Channel in the UK; if his Department has had any consultation with the UK Government in relation to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22813/13]

Housing Adaptation Grants Funding

Finian McGrath

422. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the major collective effect of the cuts to housing adaption grant for children and adults with a disability; and if he will reverse these cuts. [22823/13]

Local and Community Development Programme Project Funding

Seán Kyne

423. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the success of the employment services delivered through the local and community development programme; the number of beneficiaries in 2012; and the projected number for 2013. [23059/13]

Planning Issues

Terence Flanagan

424. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a limit on the distance allowed between a petrol station and a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22148/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Michael McCarthy

425. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in a situation where residential estates currently pay for the maintenance of their green areas, if the respective local authority will now undertake this task in view of the additional revenue gained through the collection of the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22157/13]

Local Authorities Management

Patrick O'Donovan

426. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person who made representations to a local authority for assistance and funding has a right to have copies of the documentation on the decision process within the local authority provided to them; if the local authority refuses to provide the information, if the person has any other avenue open to them to obtain the information that was collated in respect of their representation. [22161/13]

Local Development Companies

Michael Healy-Rae

427. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to his proposed break-up of the local development companies under the realignment programme, if any consultations took place with the development companies themselves, with the Directors or with the community based voluntary organisations throughout the country who have benefited enormously from their administration of the EU programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22203/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Tom Fleming

428. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding to Kerry County Council for group sewerage schemes in the county in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22222/13]

Housing Adaptation Grants Funding

Patrick O'Donovan

429. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Wexford County Council has suspended grants for the housing aid for older people grant scheme; the reason for same; if it is a funding issue are there further funds available from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22244/13]

Local Government Reform

Brendan Smith

430. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the AMAI Policy Document on Municipal District Councils; if he will give further consideration to the request of this Association to retain town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22251/13]

Environmental Protection Agency Governance

Clare Daly

431. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will use his power under section 21 (16) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 to remove the Director General of the EPA from her position following her public comments that the EPA will not be racing to prosecute business for not complying with environmental licences and regulations. [22298/13]

Housing for People with Disabilities

Nicky McFadden

432. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Westmeath County Council will be involved in pilot projects to support persons with disabilities moving from institutional care to community based living during 2013; if she will outline the way the sourcing and delivery of units will be managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22346/13]

Leader Programmes Applications

Brendan Griffin

433. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person in a Gaeltacht Údarás catchment area will be permitted to apply for Leader funding from a development partnership. [22350/13]

Property Taxation Administration

Noel Harrington

434. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he intends to distribute the remaining 20% of the revenue received from the local property tax in view of the concerns of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22401/13]

Priory Hall Development

Finian McGrath

435. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on Priory Hall; and the reason he is not backing residents on Dublin City Council failings. [22406/13]

Local Authority Housing Loans

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

436. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the benefits, if any, available to first time buyers from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22440/13]

Recycling Policy

Paudie Coffey

437. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to update recycling regulations in order that the recycling of rubber, including car tyres would fall under a similar scheme that came about as a result of the WEEE directive 2002/96/EC; the way heintends to go about introducing such a scheme; if he will outline any possible timeframe for such a scheme being introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22470/13]

Planning Issues

Andrew Doyle

438. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the length of time it is currently taking An Bord Pleanála to hear appeals; the measures he has taken to alleviate this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22516/13]

Planning Issues

Andrew Doyle

439. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role of the newly announced Planning Regulator; if there will be a clear and transparent method of appointment; if he intends to publicly advertise for the position to be appointed by him; the salary the position will command; the term length of the appointment; the frequency with which a person may be re-appointed to the position; if he envisages any further delay in An Bord Pleanála applications as a result of a secondment of staff to support the new Planning Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22526/13]

Derelict Sites

Michael Colreavy

440. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to derelict buildings (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22661/13]

Household Charge Collection

Joe Higgins

441. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households broken down by local authority area that have currently registered for the household charge; the total number of households broken down by local authority area targeted by the Local Government Management Authority for registration for the household charge; if he will provide a breakdown of figures of those households that have registered for the household tax between those that are the registrations of single home owners and those that form part of multiple registrations by the same owner. [22663/13]

Household Charge Collection

Patrick O'Donovan

442. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the numbers in tabular form by county who have paid the household charge on each of these dates, 31 December 2012, 31 January 2013, 28 February 2013, 31 March 2013 and 30 April 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22691/13]

Household Charge Collection

Clare Daly

443. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline on a local authority basis, the number of persons that have paid the household charge since 26 April 2013. [22711/13]

Air Pollution

Joe McHugh

444. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with reference to the Air Pollution Act, if he will update Dáil Éireann on the impact of the new regulations on activity in the black market; if he will advise businesses that legitimately operate in this sector whose customer bases have heretofore been drawn from within and outside of the restricted area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22760/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

445. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of personnel in whole-time equivalent terms in his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the following earnings brackets: less than €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,001 to €90,000, €90,001 to €100,000, €100,000 to €125,000, €125,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €175,000, €175,001 to €200,000, €200,001 to €250,000, €250,001 to €300,000, €300,001 to €350,000, €350,001 to €400,000, €400,001 to €450,000, €450,001 to €500,000, and more than €500,000. [22788/13]

Local Authority Housing Provision

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

446. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of local authorities together with the number of grant applications made for works in lieu of housing in 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22831/13]

Water Services Funding

Sean Fleming

447. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the allocation for County Laois under the 2013 rural water programme; the way these funds are to be used; when the allocation will be confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22833/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Sean Fleming

448. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when tenders will be approved for a group sewerage scheme project (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22834/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Sean Fleming

449. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when tenders will be approved for a group sewerage scheme project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22835/13]

Departmental Expenditure

John McGuinness

450. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the individual amount of overtime paid in the case of each political-ministerial appointee for the period 2007 to date in 2013 relative to his office and the office of the Minister of State; if such payments were made to the Secretary General and advisers, and if so, the amounts for the same period. [22874/13]

Local Authority Staff Remuneration

Andrew Doyle

451. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list all the city and county managers of city and county local authorities serving at present; the salary of each manager currently serving; the names of retired city and county managers and the terms they served from 1996 to 2012; their respective retiring salaries and their annual pension figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22887/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding

Tony McLoughlin

452. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will be advanced to Sligo County Council to proceed with the construction of a waste water treatment facility at Mullaghmore, County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22914/13]

Planning Issues

Brendan Griffin

453. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will direct local authorities to include provision for easier fibre rollout in their development plans via a policy of the provision of ducting in road, water and sewer infrastructure networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22921/13]

RAPID Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

454. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of meetings organised since March 2011 at national level between his Department and the chairs and co-ordinators of the RAPID teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23003/13]

RAPID Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

455. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the dates on which the RAPID national co-ordinating committee has met since he was appointed Minister; if he has attended these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23004/13]

Local Authority Housing Mortgages

John McGuinness

456. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the arrangements that are in place in each local authority to assist those that have fallen into arrears with their mortgage or other loans; if interest only or deferred payments or other options are offered to borrowers; the number of repossessions obtained or being considered by local authorities in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23033/13]

Immigration Status

Derek Nolan

457. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the opportunities for appeal or reconsideration of an application, either within his Department or through the courts, that exist for a person (details supplied) who has been issued with a deportation order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22151/13]

Naturalisation Applications

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

458. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in making a determination in the naturalisation application of a person (details supplied); and when a decision is likely as they have supplied all required documents. [22164/13]

Road Traffic Legislation

Michael McGrath

459. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Road Traffic Acts apply and are enforced in areas controlled by certain commercial State companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22283/13]

Courts Service Properties

Andrew Doyle

460. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline what he envisages the future of the Green Street Courthouse will be, following the moving of the Special Criminal Court to the Criminal Courts of Justice in recent years; if he considers retaining the site in view of the role it has played in Irish history; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/13]

Immigrant Investor Programme

Derek Nolan

461. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the facilities for acquiring visas or citizenship for persons from outside the EU who want to invest here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22320/13]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

462. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers that have been summoned to court for failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within 56 days of receipt of the notice. [22335/13]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

463. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers, who following failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within a period of 56 days of receipt of the notice were consequently summoned to court; and if these drivers received double the original number of penalty points on conviction in court in accordance with the Road Traffic Act 2010. [22336/13]

Road Traffic Offences

Thomas P. Broughan

464. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of drivers who received a fine in substitution for additional penalty points being imposed on their record following a failure to pay a fixed charge penalty notice within 56 days of receipt of the notice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22337/13]

Departmental Bodies Reports

Pearse Doherty

465. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 2 May 2013, if he will confirm the latest annual report and accounts laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas for the Irish Film Classification Office and if he has any concerns regarding late reporting by the organisation. [22375/13]

Deportation Orders

Bernard Durkan

466. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in determination of eligibility to residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22381/13]

Departmental Correspondence

Clare Daly

467. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action he has taken in relation to allegations which have been brought to his attention, that a company (details supplied) issued invoices to another company for the procurement of alcohol which was distributed to members of An Garda Síochána on the company's behalf. [22395/13]

Departmental Records

Richard Boyd Barrett

468. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to ensure that officials keep accurate visa statistics regarding the number of tourist visas being issued in the Beijing office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22418/13]