Joe Sherlock
Ceist:6 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he intends to take to update the electoral register and to curb electoral fraud. [16476/06]
Other Questions.
Election Management System.
In law, preparation of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority, as was recently recognised in a press release issued by the Deputy Sherlock's party. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the co-operation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. In this, the broad approach has always been to ensure that people are entered on the register and can exercise their right to vote and I am sure that Deputies will continue to support this key objective.
Last week, I announced a package of measures, to be implemented over the coming months, aimed at assisting registration authorities to improve the register.
The measures include the use of census enumerators or other temporary personnel to support local authorities in preparing the next register as part of an intensive registration campaign to be conducted this summer. Related to this, I am prepared to make increased ring-fenced financing available to local authorities this year to update the register.
An early start will be made to the local authority registration campaign for 2007-08 and there will also be an intensive information campaign. My Department will issue updated and consolidated guidance to ensure that all local authorities work to the same template because it was recognised in a previous debate in the House that this has not been the case. The guidance will tell local authorities to make maximum use of databases available to them to cross-check the register. New information technology-based arrangements to delete deceased persons from the register have also been put in place.
My Department is now working with a group of local authority managers and senior officials to put in place an enhanced programme for improving the next register of electors. This would include ensuring that each household is visited and provided with forms and information at least twice if necessary. In the event that this process does not satisfactorily register the household, it is proposed that written notification would then be given cautioning of the danger of being omitted from the register. I recognise that Deputies of all parties will wish to avoid disenfranchising voters who have been on the register for many years. However, Deputies have equally expressed concern that a more rigorous approach to compiling the register should be taken, a concern with which I agree.
There should be a broad political consensus on these issues because sensitive matters will be raised in the editing of the register. For this reason, I have written to the chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government requesting that it arrange an early discussion of my proposals.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
I am looking for the controls at all polling stations at election time to be strengthened with updated guidelines in respect of voter fraud before the next election.
How much money will the Minister make available to local authorities for this new exercise? Has he considered a suggestion made by the leader of the Labour Party in the House yesterday, namely, that the Minister should introduce short legislation to empower the Central Statistics Office to transfer the names, addresses, nationalities and ages of the people included in the census to the registration authorities? It is not confidential information, could be readily transferred and from which an accurate new register could be compiled.
I thank the Deputy for his suggestion but I am not in a position to say precisely how much money will be made available. As the Deputy has suggested, it will——
Has the Minister not considered it?
I have considered it, but for a variety of reasons——
How much money is involved?
The Minister, without interruption.
I showed the Deputy the courtesy of listening to him and I am trying to answer his question accurately. If he would allow me to do so, he could then ask a further supplementary question. This is the way in which courtesy normally operates in conversations.
The Minister is very strong on manners.
I have always been very strong on manners. It is a way of helping to progress business.
It was the way he was born.
I will not mention the figure, which will run to millions of euro, because I do not know the precise cost. We do not know what the staffing requirements in each local authority will be. I have told the local authorities that I will make money available. I will discuss this issue with the Deputy, other spokespersons and the committee as required. Regarding the proposition to transfer names and addresses, data protection and privacy issues will arise post hoc, but I will consider the suggestion.
Before Deputies continue, there is a minute remaining. Deputies will have 15 seconds each to ask questions.
I welcome the Minister's acknowledgement that he does not know how much money is available. Does he accept that local authorities do not have the staff, facilities, resources and, in some cases, the will to have a correct register? What good will changing the register do? The current register will be in force for any election that takes place after February 2007. Will this supplementary register be adopted if any corrections are made? Will the Minister provide the necessary resources to do so?
Has the Minister turned down any request for funding from a local authority for the updating of a register?
The Minister obviously met the county managers' association, which would clearly advise the Minister on whether the registers are universally bad or just particularly bad in high development areas. Will varying amounts be allocated depending on this information or will there be a blanket response?
Owing to the fact that urban areas are worse than rural areas in respect of registrations, built up areas and apartment blocks especially so, will the Minister immediately employ students to start the work instead of waiting until September as suggested by the Taoiseach yesterday? Thousands of young people out of college would be ready, willing and able to do the work. We should not wait for the cold weather and dark nights.
I asked the Minister a question during last week's debate. Is there some way in which the An Post database could be utilised, given that it definitely includes every adult in the country?
I will address the last point first because some confusion arose from comments made by an official in a newspaper during the week. I have made it clear that I want every possible database examined. Deputy Broughan is right, as the suggestions that it would cause an outcry are not valid. I have asked that all databases be examined. Every possible option to cross-check the information should be used. Deputy McCormack's proposition that local authorities, which are better funded and staffed than ever before, do not have the money is nonsense.
And busier.
I do not accept that the Deputy is correct regarding local authorities not having the will.
Some of them.
Some local authorities do the job very well. If Deputy McCormack believes that a local authority does not have the will, he should let me know. I will deal with the authority's manager because I take this matter quite seriously.
Good man. The Minister will give them a slap on the hand.
Regarding Deputy McCormack's point about staff, it was for this reason that I have proposed to give local authorities the funding and authority to take on enumerators.
Deputy O'Dowd raised the issue of whether we should engage new personnel. This is unwise for the following reasons. The enumerators have been around the country, are very familiar with the space and have established a lot of knowledge that should be used. As Deputy Broughan stated previously, if we cannot use enumerators, we should consider other personnel. Postal staff would be the best way to address the issue.
Deputy O'Dowd was correct when he stated that the situation in urban areas would probably be different, a matter raised by Deputy Catherine Murphy. In certain areas where there are many apartments or gated estates, the issue will be more challenging. As such, it is not possible to say where resources will go. Deputy Murphy asked whether the amount will be specific to each authority or if an average will be given. Giving an average is not a proper way to do this. I will examine the requirements of individual circumstances, which the amount given will reflect. For example, it would not be sensible to suggest that a small county should get as much as a county with a large urban area.
Deputy Cuffe asked whether I refused funding to any authorities. I refused a specific blanket request from Kildare County Council because it is not appropriate to dole out money to local authorities on an asked-for basis. As was pointed out in Deputy Gilmore's press release yesterday, there is a statutory requirement on the local authorities to do this job, which some are doing in a spectacularly good way. However, while they make real efforts, others do not. I do not intend to reward those who are not doing their jobs. Rather, I intend to force them. I stated previously that I have spoken to a number of local authority managers and franchise officers and I am convinced that all of them have a serious interest in resolving this issue.
It is important to say that over the years, we have concentrated on putting people on the register, which is as it should be. We will now concentrate on editing the register and including those who should be on it. This will require the co-operation of members of the public. I do not want Deputies informing the House next November that X, Y and Z has been written off the register. There is a challenge to get it right. For example, if two visits are made to a household, an official notification and a warning that people could be taken off the register are sent and the people are then removed from the register, we should discuss it. I have written to the Chairman of the committee and suggested that we sit down and discuss the matter in detail. It would provide us with a better opportunity than Question Time.
I am sure that they are shaking in their boots.
House Prices.
Joan Burton
Ceist:7 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he is taking to assist persons in housing affordability black spots, such as Dublin, in view of the fact that house prices in the capital have risen by 2.8% this year compared to a rate of 2.4% elsewhere in the country. [16455/06]
First-time buyers' access to affordable home ownership is a Government priority and the delivery of more than 500,000 new homes since 1997 has enabled an unprecedented number of first-time buyers to access home ownership during that period. Affordability has also been improved through other specific action targeted for first-time buyers, including improvements in tax reliefs and stamp duty, as well as investment in affordable housing initiatives.
Increased delivery in Dublin is being supported by addressing infrastructural deficits and opening up new areas for development. Some 18,000 new homes were completed in Dublin in 2005, which is more than double the rate for 2001. The Government has prioritised the particular affordability issues of the Dublin area by establishing a new agency, the affordable homes partnership, during 2005 to co-ordinate and add impetus to the delivery of affordable housing in and around the capital. The partnership is now well established and is making good progress on the implementation of its work programme.
Nationwide, local authorities are working through their housing action plans to deliver affordable housing in areas where market provision does not meet demand for lower income groups. Output is growing under these schemes, with 2,900 households assisted in 2005. A sharp increase is expected in the next three years, with 15,000 households likely to benefit under these schemes.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Was he disturbed by the report in this morning's edition of the Irish Independent, which indicated that at present, up to one eighth of first-time buyers take out 40-year mortgages? These mortgages are of an amazingly long duration and such people may pay up to €120,000 more for their houses. As the newspaper noted this morning, effectively, young buyers will end up renting their house for the entire term.
Second, does the Minister of State accept that amazingly, house prices are rising 3.5 times faster than one year ago and that the average price in Dublin is approaching €400,000? It stands at €385,000 at present. Does he agree this is a daunting prospect for young buyers and couples?
The Deputy should be brief. Four other Deputies wish to contribute.
Very well. The Minister of State read out last year's record on affordable housing, which constituted an improvement. However, does he agree there is still an issue regarding the Part V loophole?
The answer in respect of the Deputy's point concerning the percentage of people with 40-year mortgages is "Yes". I am concerned and have said so several times. While it is easy to blame the developers for rising prices, in the past 12 months, the amount of credit provided by financial institutions through various gimmicks, such as 40-year mortgages, 100% mortgages, interest-only mortgages and other initiatives in an extremely tight market has been extremely inflationary. It has increased prices. Buyers always wish to join the housing market and some gimmicks, such as 100% mortgages, have brought forward demand. People may decide to opt to take out a 100% mortgage now, whereas previously they had been considering the purchase of a house in 2008 or 2009. When this is added to the additional 90,000 people participating in the economy, as well as the 70,000 people who entered the country last year, I accept that enormous pressure exists.
The national average price for a new home is €287,000, while it is €360,000 in Dublin.
The figure I have is €384,000.
These are official figures. I accept that some estate agents have produced figures based on their own data. In any event, this constitutes the average price for a new or second-hand home. First-time buyers opt for cheaper homes. The average prices are beefed up by second-hand established homes, of which there is always a shortage. As the careers of those people who may have moved 20 or 30 miles out of the city progress, they return to Glasnevin, Clontarf, Clonskeagh or wherever. There is particular pressure on such established second-hand homes.
Overall, we are in a spiral at present. Early last year, most predictions were for an annual increase of 5% or 6%. However, prices took off last year in the middle of the year. While this may have been partially due to the state of the economy, it was also due to the financial institutions, particularly those which introduced 100% mortgages. This appears to have propelled us into a new cycle in which we remain at present. While there have been many predictions to the effect that we will escape from it as the year progresses, at present, as the Deputy noted, prices are rising by more than 1% per month. We are doing everything in our power to slow that down.
Does the Minister of State agree that we are now faced with the first generation of young people, particularly in Dublin, who cannot afford a house in their own locality and have been driven out to surrounding counties such as Wicklow, Louth, Meath and even Wexford, as well as Portlaoise and other cities and towns? Should the Minister of State draw up a new strategy for first-time buyers as they are not the dominant force in the housing purchase market? Does he have any special strategy to assist first-time buyers?
Does the Minister of State not admit that, in effect, the continued increases in house prices constitute a tax on the young? While older people benefit, younger people feel the pinch. Does he accept that his brother, the Taoiseach, has added fuel to the fire in recent weeks with his comments concerning house price increases? May I ask the Minister of State——
Sorry, Deputy, you may not because I wish to call Deputy Finian McGrath and six minutes have already elapsed. You have asked two questions.
My last question took only approximately five seconds.
Yes, however, that would make three questions and the Minister of State would seek additional time in which to answer them.
The first two questions were rhetorical remarks.
Does the Minister of State accept that we face a major housing crisis in this State and that something must be done in this regard? Matters have gone out of control. While the NESC has recommended that 10,000 units be built each year, the current provision is for half that amount. Does the Minister of State accept that we face a major housing crisis and what does he propose to do about it?
Deputy O'Dowd referred to people's inability to buy in their own locality. That has always been the case.
I referred to first-time buyers in Dublin.
That has always been the case. I have been around for some time and one must always——
They cannot buy houses within the city of Dublin.
——buy elsewhere. However, I accept that some Dubliners have moved to the vicinity of Drogheda. They are all right, if one speaks nicely to them.
In footballing terms, they fly the wrong flag.
The Deputy should not be scared of them. However, the first-time buyer is still a major player in the market. Although prices have risen, it is a question of affordability. The real test concerns the percentage of one's take home pay which one spends on one's mortgage. If one reviewed the position that obtained 20 or 30 years ago, one would probably find that in many cases, it was not significantly different, particularly in those cases where two people work. That is the key point. While prices have risen, interest rates and personal taxes have fallen and salaries have risen.
I am not happy and I do not think it fair that developers and financial institutions were the entities which made large amounts of money based on falling interest rates. However, the key question pertains to the affordability index and the percentage of people's take home pay which is involved.
Young people are doing reasonably well. While they buy new homes which appear to be extremely expensive, they appear to be able to furnish them etc. It has been some years since I bought my home.
They are obliged to commute from Wexford to Dublin.
They do not appear to be overly deprived and seem to manage. I accept that expectations are higher. The potential problem with mortgages concerns future increases in interest rates. This is where real concerns may arise. Financial institutions are supposed to conduct stress tests. However, I have heard rumours — I do not have the facts — that they do not perform stress tests as thoroughly as they should in all cases. The danger is that if interest rates rise, people could encounter difficulties in cases in which stress tests were not conducted properly, if take home pay remained static and the economy weakened. However, it is hard to cope with a situation in which the economy powers ahead in tandem with such high demand. We now face an entirely different world. I do not use words like "crisis".
What crisis?
In the main, Question No. 7 pertains to affordable houses. My understanding is that Deputy Finian McGrath has attempted to raise the issue of social housing. This year's budget for social housing is €1.4 billion, which constitutes a significant sum of money. The output for local authority houses last year was the highest for 20 years. The number on the waiting list was down 10%, and if we could double the output, we could allocate houses to all these people. We are making progress. The various methods in place are helping. While the average price of houses keeps increasing, a study states that the average price for first-time buyers has decreased by 13%. As a result of the affordable schemes, there are a number of houses for first-time buyers throughout Dublin which cost under €200,000. To promote the schemes more, local authorities must advertise them strongly.
Election Management System.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:8 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the latest figures on the cost of storage of electronic voting machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16628/06]
Historically, responsibility for the security and safe storage of voting equipment such as ballot boxes, stamping instruments etc. has been a matter for returning officers who are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls. Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to returning officers for the storage of the electronic voting equipment. It is important to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to protect these instruments.
Information provided by returning officers to my Department indicates that the total annual storage cost for the electronic voting machines and ancillary equipment, which includes rent, insurance, service charges, rates, heating etc. is €696,000. This is the figure calculated last September. I have asked my Department to explore, in consultation with the Department of Defence, the options for centralised storage of the equipment. I am pleased to tell the House that a premises suitable for centralised storage of voting machines has now been identified and arrangements for transport and storage are being discussed.
On the system itself, a programme of further assessment, testing and validation is under way in my Department to address issues raised by the Commission on Electronic Voting. The timing of the further use of the system is dependent on the progress made on this work and the ongoing work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which was mandated by the Oireachtas in 2004 to continue its work and whose report is expected shortly. I expect the CEV to have a report shortly and, at that stage, further decisions will be made on the future use of the machinery.
Given that the Minister, Deputy Cullen, insisted on purchasing the electronic voting machines, despite the opposition of Deputy O'Dowd, Deputy Gilmore and me at the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government, and that €696,000 was the cost of storing the machines up to September last year, what is the cost of storing each machine in Waterford compared with other areas? Now that the machines have been written off, they will be sold at a loss because they will not make €52 million which they cost and which was a waste of taxpayers' money. Will the Minister who was responsible for pushing this programme through, despite the opposition, be surcharged for the loss incurred on the sale of the machines? Is it intended to store the machines in the same manner next year and what will be the storage cost next year? Would it be more economical to sell the machines, even at a loss, rather than paying €700,000 to store them again next year? I hope the Minister will be able to give me the figure for the storage of the machines in Waterford, which I understand is exorbitant.
The figure for the storage of the machines in Waterford was announced in a reply to a parliamentary question some time ago. The Deputy is correct that the figure was significantly higher than it was in other cases. For example, the cost of storing the machines in Waterford in 2005 was €52,888, whereas in other counties it was significantly lower. The cost in Louth was the lowest.
What about Wicklow?
The cost in Wicklow was €42,000, which was very high also.
What was the cost per machine?
I do not have the cost for each machine, but if the Deputy wishes, I will get it for him.
I will give them to the Minister.
That is fine. However, if the Deputy knows the figure, I am surprised he asked the question.
It was €172,000——
The Deputy knows the answer, yet he asks the question. He would make a good barrister. He would make a better barrister than he did a Deputy.
On whether it would be better to sell off the machines, I remind the Deputy that the Oireachtas charged the Commission on Electronic Voting to carry out an analysis of the system. Therefore, it would make no sense to decide to make that decision in advance of the CEV completing its work. I anticipate that the CEV will complete its work in a short time, and at that stage I will make a decision.
The third question the Deputy asked related to whether the cost for storage will be as high in 2006-07 as it was in 2005. I hope the figure will be less. However, contracts have been entered into in some cases and there will be a cost for breaking these. I have already indicated that my view and determination is to bring the machines to an individual storage place as quickly as possible. I repeat what I have said in the past, namely, that I do not see the circumstances arising whereby we will be using the machines in 2007. Therefore, it would be appropriate to bring them to a single storage place.
On scrapping or giving away the machines, having set up the Commission on Electronic Voting, it would be much better to wait until the commission, which has spent a significant amount of money on its work, reaches a conclusion, after which I will make a final decision.
Given that the Minister is effectively saying the machines will be held in publicly owned storage, what will be the net cost to the State from now on? Most Deputies are having their computers in the House upgraded to Microsoft XP. Is there a situation whereby the Minister might consider upgrading the machines, or can they be upgraded given the original comments by the commission? In other words, is there any possibility that the machines will be used and, as Deputy McCormack said, would it not be better to charge it to the Ministers, Deputy Noel Dempsey and Deputy Cullen, and write them off as depreciation?
To follow on from Deputy Broughan's point, computers in Leinster House appear to be recycled after five years, while they are recycled in the commercial world every three years. Is the Minister happy to stand over using computers that will be at least ten years' old by the time they are first used in a real life situation? Given that cars depreciate by one third from the moment they are purchased, I suspect the voting machines are worth just one tenth of what they cost. Does the Minister have any figures in this regard?
To answer Deputy Cuffe's last question——
What is the cost of the analysis the Minister is now carrying out?
The Deputy must allow the Minister to reply because we want to get to Deputy Crawford's question.
The Deputy knows that I will not know the final cost of the ongoing analysis until it is concluded.
Why?
The Deputy should have a little bit of logic in the way he approaches life. The Commission on Electronic Voting was set up by the Oireachtas to do a job. It is an independent body and we all expect it will do its job without interference from the Deputy or me.
On Deputy Cuffe's question about depreciation, it is not normally applied to equipment like this. He is correct that equipment depreciates over time. He asked a related question to Deputy Broughan's question, namely, could the machines be updated? There is a significant difference between simple enumerating machines, which is what these machines are, and computers. They would not require the same updating as computers. The final response to the question of the future use of the machines will flow from the CEV's report. I will not delay making a final decision after I receive that report.
Will the cost be €44,000?
The Deputy asked about storage in a centralised location owned by the State. I presume there would be some cost involved, because the Department of Defence might have other use for that space. The Deputy will agree that in the circumstances it makes much more sense to bring them back to a central location and store them there, though normally the electoral equipment is distributed among the returning officers. The circumstances in this instance are such that it would make much more sense to bring back the equipment to a central location. There will be some cost in breaking contracts but we will have to bear it.
Local Authority Housing.
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:9 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of households in the rental accommodation scheme; the cost of the project to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16587/06]
John Perry
Ceist:100 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the response he has received from local authorities regarding the operation and implementation of the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16636/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 100 together.
Under the rental accommodation scheme, or RAS, local authorities are providing accommodation for certain recipients of SWA rent supplement who have been assessed as having a long-term housing need. The RAS is an additional housing option and eligible persons can indicate their preference to be accommodated by local authorities under the RAS or social housing, or to be considered under both.
The initial project to transfer rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration is due to be completed by the end of 2008. The implementation of the RAS is a collaborative project between my Department, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive. Roll-out commenced in an initial group of lead authorities, namely Dublin, Galway and Limerick city councils, South Dublin, Donegal, Offaly, Westmeath county councils and Drogheda Borough Council. In addition, South Tipperary, Fingal, Louth, Kilkenny, Monaghan, Wexford, Wicklow and Leitrim county councils and Waterford and Cork city councils are now implementing RAS. These authorities collectively cover 79% of the transferable cases.
The total cost of the scheme to date is €1.73 million of which €842,000 has been spent in the current year. There is a budget of €19 million to support the implementation of the scheme in 2006.
More than 1,000 cases have been transferred to RAS since the initial transfers in September 2005. A further 340 households in the target group for the RAS have been provided with local authority housing. The target is to have 5,000 cases transferred to the RAS by the end of the year. A further 5,000 prospective RAS households have had their cases reviewed. Work is ongoing on interviewing tenants, the inspection of properties and meeting and negotiating with accommodation providers.
Implementation of the scheme will accelerate as local authorities procure new accommodation through the development of new public private partnership or PPP arrangements. The procurement process for PPP projects to deliver some 100 units of accommodation on long-term lease-type arrangements has commenced, with three local authorities having issued procurement notices.
The RAS scheme is not working in many areas. Last year's budget of €6 million was significantly underspent. Many local authorities such as Drogheda Borough Council for example have asked that the amount of rent they are allowed to pay be increased. On the periphery of Dublin, landlords are demanding rents far higher than rural or non-urban rents. That is a serious issue which must be addressed. It is one of the issues in these two questions asked by Fine Gael Members.
With regard to the waiting period of 18 months, I have had representations from people in their 50s who have recently been separated, or people who might have serious mental or other health problems. Will the Minister of State consider excusing people in certain extreme conditions from the 18-month waiting period and allow them in much earlier, so that they would not have to wait in awful, appalling accommodation, and be fast-tracked into RAS accommodation if it were available to them?
There is no problem with the budget. It is not a case of resources if many local authorities are not using the money.
They cannot use it. The Minister of State will not let them use it.
The scheme has been started by 19 local authorities.
How many people are involved?
I gave the figures. There are about 60,000 people on rent supplement. There are about 33,000 of those who are over the 18-month waiting period. About 1,000 people have moved so far. This will be a very slow process, and to date it is slower than we expected. One has to negotiate case by case with each landlord. Much of the accommodation for which people were receiving rent allowance is very poor. The local authorities will not touch it or take responsibility for it. Some of the tenancies are not registered with the PRTB and other landlords are sitting on the fence and do not necessarily want to do business. Overall, the process is slow. It was always meant to take about four years, and is a major project.
Will the Minister reduce the 18-month period?
No. We are trying to deal with 33,000 people.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.