Parliamentary questions

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

352. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the value of the tourism sector to Ireland's economy and in view of the well documented detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking on water supplies, health, landscape and ecology seen in other countries, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking on the Irish tourism industry, Ireland's image as a tourist destination and Ireland's economy as a whole. [41971/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

353. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the highly toxic nature of many of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing or fracking process which has been documented in other countries, and in view of the widely documented evidence of the migration of chemicals into local and national water supplies causing irreversible water contamination, his views on the potential future ramifications of fracking for the country's health. [41972/13]

Rural Broadband Scheme Issues

Denis Naughten

354. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the rural broadband scheme; the number of applicants who received broadband from a service provider prior to departmental procurement; the number provided with a service and location following departmental procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41872/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Robert Troy

355. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when broadband will be rolled out in the Abbeyshrule area in Longford, Carrickboy and Ballymahon as localities nearby can avail of this service already; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41957/13]

Hydraulic Fracturing Policy

Robert Dowds

356. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the widely documented and detrimental effects of hydraulic fracturing or fracking seen in other countries on local and national water supplies, health, agriculture and environment including climate change, his views on the potentially catastrophic effects of fracking here. [41973/13]

Warmer Homes Scheme Funding

Patrick Nulty

357. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is grant funding available towards home insulation to assist former local authority tenants who are now mortgage holders with local councils, yet are living on very low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42071/13]

Departmental Funding

Willie Penrose

358. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding that is provided to community and voluntary groups for computer training through the BenefIT funding programme; the number of groups that benefited from same; if it will be continued in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42153/13]

Electricity Transmission Network

Andrew Doyle

359. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the EirGrid grid link project as part of the national electricity grid linking Leinster and Munster; if he will detail its proposed passage through an area in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42180/13]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Jim Daly

360. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that Eircom as the only cable communications provider in the country has no statutory power to enter private property to repair damaged equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42217/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Dominic Hannigan

361. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps his Department, along with private operators, are taking to make sure there is high speed broadband available in an area (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42285/13]

Warmer Homes Scheme Funding

Patrick O'Donovan

362. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland grants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42330/13]

Energy Resources

Willie Penrose

363. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will set out a clear and definitive timetable for the development of the SEA which will underpin the export energy national planning network; if he will clarify the position regarding the plans for classifying electricity export projects as strategic infrastructural developments so as to allow them to proceed directly to An Bord Pleanála, rather than to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42333/13]

Broadband Services Provision

Ciara Conway

364. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties with the 3 network and Internet connectivity in the the Nire Valley and Hanora's Cottage area; the measures being taken to remedy same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42361/13]

Mobile Telephony Services Provision

Michael Healy-Rae

365. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding mobile coverage in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42444/13]

Household Charge Yield

Barry Cowen

366. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of the total revenue raised by the household charge in 2012 and 2013. [41877/13]

Electoral Reform

Eoghan Murphy

367. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the extension of the franchise to overseas voters for elections taking place within the State. [41900/13]

Nitrates Action Programme Implementation

Robert Troy

368. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to extend the slurry spreading season from 15 October; and if he will to consider extending the season to facilitate farmers and agricultural contractors. [41976/13]

Library Projects

Tom Fleming

369. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will make funding available to Kerry County Council towards the cost of providing a properly controlled archive facility at Caherciveen library, County Kerry, so that important records such as the original Daniel O’Connell political cartoons may be preserved in their rightful home on a permanent basis, as intended by the benefactor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42110/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Michael McNamara

370. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is concerned that the first thing that will greet arriving tourists in Shannon Airport is a strong smell that has been attributed to the sewerage infrastructure in the town, following a preliminary investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42266/13]

Motor Tax Collection

Ciara Conway

371. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to revisit or to extend the deadline for off-the-road vehicle registration, to allow those who have been attempting to comply with the law to do so in the context of lengthy queues, in view of the fact that the paperwork involved is complicated and cannot be addressed online, and in the context of the ambiguity surrounding old farm vehicles and vintage tractors which might only be taken on the road on occasion for festivals and charity events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42283/13]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Derek Nolan

372. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any agreement, currently or historically, in place between his Department and Mountain Rescue Ireland in relation to insurance costs for the organisation; if he will provide all the details relating to the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42322/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Pearse Doherty

373. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems experienced by Donegal County Council in obtaining a foreshore licence for Burtonport; the reason for the delay in granting the foreshore licence; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the delay has resulted in the loss of funding for the establishment of a marina in the area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Donegal County Council paid in excess of €100,000 to secure the licence; his views on whether it is acceptable that Donegal County Council has been waiting in excess of four years for the licence; the steps he will take to investigate the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42383/13]

Foreshore Issues

Pearse Doherty

374. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has considered introducing a mechanism for the public to access foreshore licence records, particularly in respect of title, boundary and purpose of licence in order to avoid potential disputes between multiple foreshore licence holders in an area; if he considers such a mechanism to be a worthwhile development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42384/13]

Foreshore Licences Applications

Pearse Doherty

375. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the circumstances in which a foreshore licence application would be referred to the Chief State Solicitor’s office; the total number of foreshore licences applications referred to the Chief State Solicitor's office per year over the past ten years; the average length of time those applications referred remained in the Chief State Solicitor’s office; the current number of foreshore licence applications currently with the Chief State Solicitor’s office; if he considers the referral of a foreshore licence application to the Chief State Solicitor’s office to be normal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42385/13]

Voluntary Housing Sector Issues

Áine Collins

376. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he intends to link in the voluntary housing sector with the new structures being established at local authority level. [41800/13]

Voluntary Housing Sector Issues

Áine Collins

377. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the balance of money outstanding will be paid to an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41805/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Andrew Doyle

378. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on a sewerage scheme (details supplied) as part of the Water Service Investment Programme 2010-2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41838/13]

Motor Fuels Issues

Terence Flanagan

379. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the regulations that are in place to check the quality of diesel before it is sold to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41858/13]

Water Meters Issues

Anthony Lawlor

380. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the quality standards being imposed on the installation of the water meters which are being rolled out nationwide to ensure they comply with best international practice, that water does not freeze in the winter months or that disruption of services will occur; if he will give an assurance that all meters will be installed to the same standard and the monitoring of the work that is being undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41870/13]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Barry Cowen

381. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a county breakdown of the number of properties identified by the National Asset Management Agency as being suitable for social housing; the number of properties accepted by local authorities for transfer; the number of properties transferred to date; the amount of money spent by his Department on NAMA properties for social housing use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41881/13]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Micheál Martin

382. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way in which the €250 million allocated in 2012 for the refurbishment of social housing was spent; the local authorities to which funds were allocated and the number of housing units owned/managed by each local authority to which funds could potentially be applied; the criteria used to determine the allocation of these funds; if he will provide similar information for the 2013 allocation of €275 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41884/13]

National Strategy on Volunteering

Nicky McFadden

383. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a national policy or strategy on volunteering will be developed in order to address barriers to volunteering and to set objectives and goals to ensure that volunteering is measured and valued; to provide for consistent and sustainable nationwide supports for volunteering; if he will provide strategy and direction for the existing volunteering infrastructure to deliver national priorities at a local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41889/13]

Climate Change Policy

Robert Dowds

384. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his response to the recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, and its implications for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41890/13]

Dublin Docklands Development Authority

Eoghan Murphy

385. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the transfer of the assets of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority to other bodies; and if he will confirm that the public spaces, and other property such as parking spaces and social housing apartments, will be transferred to Dublin City Council. [41902/13]

Dublin Docklands Development Authority

Eoghan Murphy

386. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current financial position of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority; and if it can currently meet its day-to-day requirements such as providing street lighting within its functional area. [41903/13]

Irish Water Establishment

Andrew Doyle

387. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if projects that have been approved in County Wicklow under the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2013 but have yet to commence will be included in the Irish Water capital investment plan for 2014-2015, currently being drafted; if an agreement has been put in place between his Department and Irish Water to ensure the projects in County Wicklow under the existing programme are complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41913/13]

Security of the Elderly

Micheál Martin

388. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been spent on the senior alert scheme from January 2013 to date; if he expects the full allocation of €2.45 million to be used this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41917/13]

Planning Issues

Brendan Griffin

389. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will conduct an investigation into the procedures followed by An Bord Pleanála in regard to the N86 road improvement scheme; if his attention has been drawn to irregularities at the oral hearings; if he is concerned about this and whether he believes the decision making process in this case was tainted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41936/13]

Planning Issues

Brendan Griffin

390. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will direct local authorities not to accept objections to one-off rural planning applications from persons who do not have a connection to the area in question, using the same criteria that apply to deciding a prospective dweller's eligibility to build in a rural area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41937/13]

Wastewater Treatment Issues

Sandra McLellan

391. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason raw sewage is being released into the River Bride in Tallow, County Waterford; the person responsible for this; the actions that will be taken to end this practice immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41940/13]

Wastewater Treatment Issues

Sandra McLellan

392. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the commencement and completion dates for the waste water treatment plant in Tallow, Co Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41968/13]

NAMA Social Housing Provision

Maureen O'Sullivan

393. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any work has been done by his Department, by the National Asset Management Agency, by Dublin City Council, or by all three, working jointly, to identify NAMA owned/controlled properties in Dublin 1 and Dublin 7 that have particular potential for such community and social uses as adult education, community arts, resources for persons with disabilities, resources for community development, sports, family support and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42000/13]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Michelle Mulherin

394. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the review of the planning guidelines for wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42049/13]

Motor Tax Yield

Joe McHugh

395. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will declare the total motor tax take on a category of vehicles (details supplied); the rationale that determines the rate at which this tax is set; if he will review this item in view of the on-road to off-road usage ratio that typically applies in respect of utilisation of these vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42059/13]

Motor Tax Collection

Nicky McFadden

396. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an extension will be made to the initial deadline for registering the non-use of motor vehicles, particularly in view of the large queues present at motor tax offices recently and the possibility that some persons may have not had the opportunity to register on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42080/13]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Regina Doherty

397. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the form public consultation will take during the review into planning guidelines for wind turbines, currently underway; the way he will ensure that it will involve all interested parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42096/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Jim Daly

398. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the construction of the main drainage scheme will resume and be completed at a location (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42117/13]

Planning Issues

Catherine Murphy

399. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of ongoing cases of unauthorised development presently being handled by each planning authority in the State; the way this information is being tracked; the number of such unauthorised developments that are commercial in nature as opposed to individual-residential in nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42119/13]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision

Michael McNamara

400. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if funding will be made available to upgrade the sewerage treatment system in Shannon following preliminary investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency which attribute the smells in the town to its sewerage infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42264/13]

National Strategy on Volunteering

Pat Deering

401. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider the establishment of a national strategy to support volunteering. [42280/13]