Vol. 665 No. 1
1 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he plans to redraft the climate change strategy in view of recent information that calculated that Ireland will not meet Kyoto or EU targets with existing policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36814/08]
I refer to the reply to Question No. 68 of 9 July 2008 in which I indicated that, since publication of the current national climate change strategy, work has continued across Departments on the development of further measures to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. I also pointed out that, under the direction of the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, Departments have intensified their work on developing measures both for the Kyoto period and the longer term and, in that respect, work towards a new national climate change strategy is under way.
Ireland will meet its EU commitment for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol. While the latest data from the EPA point to a greater challenge than was previously projected, I stated in my carbon budget speech last week that the gap will have to be bridged by a combination of further measures and the purchase of carbon credits under the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. While this is a valid response, I have made it clear that the use of carbon credits must be supplementary to emission reductions and that we must not, under any circumstances, allow the option to purchase credits to deflect from the fundamental objective of taking the necessary actions towards a low-carbon trajectory in the longer term.
The carbon budget drew together the key national responses to greenhouse gas emission reductions for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol and beyond. Some responses will deliver emission reductions in the short to medium term but the longer term is even more important. The level of structural change needed to underpin a transition to a low carbon economy cannot be achieved overnight and my priority in the carbon budget was to put in place the type of drivers that are needed, such as the new 40% target for electricity from renewable sources, to achieve the objective as quickly as possible in a longer-term context.
When will the new climate change strategy be ready? When will the House have an opportunity to discuss it? What new initiatives has the Minister in mind to achieve the 3% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions promised in the programme for Government? Is the programme still the basic document towards which we should work?
The work is ongoing and I introduced the concept of a carbon budget in order that the Opposition and outsiders could see the progress we are making on the climate change strategy. As the EPA is better resourced, it has more accurate projections. Despite that, we achieved a 1% reduction last year. My ambition is greater than that and I would like a 3% annual reduction but that is a start.
The Deputy asked about specific measures. We introduced VRT and motor tax measures, which the Deputy and his party opposed.
We did not oppose the VRT increase. The Minister should try to be accurate.
The Deputy was vocal in his opposition to motor tax increases.
Yes but not in regard to VRT changes. The Minister should try to be accurate.
Excise duty has reduced our CO2 emissions and the Deputy was vocal in his opposition to increases in this regard. This was also the case when energy efficient light bulbs were introduced.
I still do not know the Deputy's position on the carbon levy. Perhaps he could outline that.
The Minister's position is more important.
We do not have the details of the Minister's policy yet.
The levy will be introduced in next year's budget. Reference was made to initiatives to encourage people to use bicycles. The Deputy is smirking again. Cycling is promoted in sophisticated European cities and it is a way of reducing emissions.
The Minister is not in the best of form this week but he should not provoke the Opposition. We are trying to be constructive about this important issue. I asked a basic question and he turned on me.
I did not turn on the Deputy.
The Minister decided to go AWOL for a few seconds. He recently stated he is not the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the Minister for Transport and he called on his colleagues to do something to meet the programme for Government commitment. He does not know much about collective Cabinet responsibility. The Minister has a key position in the Government to achieve the goals he talked about for long enough. Let us see the colour of his money.
When we are given the details regarding the introduction of a carbon levy, we will be glad to scrutinise it then. We will be glad to scrutinise any ministerial proposal. Will the Minister indicate in the context of the cutbacks in public transport, how he will achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to meet the targets, which are important?
The Deputy is correct that this is about collective Cabinet responsibility and we must act responsibly collectively. Everybody has a role to play and everybody must step up to the plate. The Deputy is correct to identify the agriculture and transport sectors. The agriculture sector is responsible for more than 28% of our emissions and 40% in the non-ETS sector, which is incredible. That is unique to Ireland, as no other European country produces that level of emissions. Similarly, emissions in the transport sector are escalating.
I stated in my carbon budget that it must be ensured we introduce a sustainable transport plan and I will work closely with the Minister for Transport in this regard. The sustainable transport action plan contains many initiatives, which will encourage greater bus use. People will be given real time information about the arrival of a bus. Most commuters will welcome this because the difficulty they face currently is they do not know when the next bus will arrive.
Seeing is believing.
We have heard all this before.
This is happening and it represents progress. As a cyclist, I also welcome the progress in cycling initiatives in Dublin. The investment in upgrading the cycle ways is welcome.
2 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expenditure on the acquisition and the storage of electronic voting machines; if he will scrap electronic voting machines in order to save storage costs and to gain any residual value from their scrappage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36584/08]
The total expenditure on the development and roll-out of the electronic voting system to date is some €51.3 million, the bulk of which has been incurred on the purchase of the voting machines and ancillary equipment. In addition, based on figures received in my Department from returning officers, the total annual costs for storage of the electronic voting equipment, including the cost of insurance, service charges, rates and heating for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were €658,000, €696,000, €706,000 and €489,000, respectively. Provisional data from returning officers indicate that a total of some €139,000 was expended on storage in the first six months of 2008.
In 2007, more than 60% of the electronic voting machines or a total of 4,762 were moved to a central storage facility located at Gormanston Army camp. Costs incurred to date in respect of the movement and storage of this equipment are €328,000. These are largely one-off costs related to the preparation of the facility, transportation of the machines and the acquisition of storage containers. The available capacity at this location has been fully utilised. It was reasonable to make adequate and appropriate provision for the storage of the machines. The Government decision to proceed with the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised premises was, therefore, the right approach, taking into account a range of factors, including the costs of the previous and the centralised arrangements and the likely benefits to be realised.
As regards the project itself, I am considering the next steps to be taken in regard to the electronic voting and counting system. I am taking into account the detailed work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally. Given the scale of investment in the system to date, which I have set out, and the importance of the issues involved for our electoral system, it is essential the future of the project be examined objectively and in a thorough and comprehensive manner. The House will appreciate it is not possible to make more specific comment at this point pending completion of the necessary work and a decision by Government in the matter.
Any pensioners listening to this debate must be bewildered. In a week in which the House addressed the issue of medical cards, this might appear to be a small matter, but it is significant. Last week, the Minister cheerlead on the benches and gave the budget a standing ovation.
When I raised this matter in May, the Minister gave an identical response. The commission completed its report more than two years ago and the recommendations are before us. Due to the Minister's inaction at the time and his inability to make a decision, I suggested he consider giving responsibility to someone else, with the matter reverting to the Dáil after six months with an ultimate decision on whether e-voting would be pursued and used at the local and European Parliament elections next year.
The Labour Party's position is clear — the project should be scrapped, but we would have facilitated the Minister bringing alternative opinions to the table. None has been proposed. The Minister stands before the House this afternoon——
Does the Deputy have a question?
I will ask it. The Minister does not have a plan. He is prevaricating and sitting on the issue. Public money is being squandered, yet the Minister has not responded to a matter raised with him six months ago. He has done nothing in that period except to give me the same answer that he gave then.
Question.
When will the Minister make a decision, scrap the project and stop wasting taxpayers' money? Is he in a position to inform the House that the project has been scrapped and will not be used in the European or local elections and that he has an exit strategy?
Given the Deputy's response, I am trying to imagine what would have occurred had I made the announcement. I do not doubt that Deputy Ciarán Lynch would have been on the plinth screaming about the waste of money. He is only awaiting the opportunity.
It is a complex issue. I am pleased to report that the amount of money being expended has decreased, including significantly reduced storage costs. I am aware of people's discontent with the project. As the Deputy stated, it is a legacy issue and I am trying to address it as comprehensively as possible. Previously, I indicated to the Deputy——
I have the answer here.
If so, the Deputy should know of my indication that the use of the machines for the forthcoming local and European elections was unlikely, but he is asking me the same question. We must consider all the issues and I have been in discussions on the matter. A report on the Electoral Commission is almost complete, which must also examine this issue. All of these concerns must be considered before a comprehensive decision can be made.
Nearly six months ago, the Minister stated he was examining the issue and that the machines' use in the local elections was unlikely.
I did.
Since his statement this afternoon is the same, he has done nothing in the past five months. Since the matter was last raised during Question Time, what has the Minister done about it?
At the risk of repeating myself, we have examined storage facilities and reduced costs significantly by placing the machines in centralised storage facilities. I have discussed the issue with the high-powered academics who are preparing a report on the electoral process. That report has not yet been published.
Is the Minister going on record to state he commissioned a report in the past five months?
3 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to deal with hazardous waste sites that need remediation, particularly Haulbowline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36815/08]
The recently published fourth state of the environment report states there are between 1,980 and 2,300 commercial sites where there is the potential for soil or underground contamination, the exact number being unknown as there is currently no national inventory. Two national initiatives are under way to establish such inventories of historic mines and unregulated waste disposal sites. Regulations in the latter category are at an advanced stage of preparation and will provide a legal framework for remediation of high risk waste disposal sites where municipal waste was disposed of in the period 1977-96. Ireland is also supportive of the proposed EU soils directive, which intends to put in place particular requirements for member states regarding historic contaminated land.
The position in respect of Haulbowline is exceptional in that my Department is addressing a specific Government decision in taking responsibility for the care and maintenance of that unique site, pending a decision on its future use. This is the only such site currently subject to any investigations or reports by my Department. In addition, the Department re-engaged consultants White Young Green to carry out an independent and rigorous assessment of site conditions following extensive unauthorised works earlier this year. In 2005, White Young Green carried out an extensive intrusive site investigation that indicated no evidence of any immediate threat to human health or the environment. Test results will be assessed against baseline data from the previous survey.
At the request of local residents and public representatives, I have arranged for the current ongoing site assessment works and the 2005 report to be peer reviewed by independent experts to offer reassurance to local communities that the scope of works, tests and analyses employed conform to best international practice in determining whether the site poses any immediate health or environmental threat. Both the White Young Green and peer review reports will be published once my Department has received and considered them. I anticipate the reports will be publicly available within a matter of weeks.
The Minister has confirmed that the Haulbowline report will be published in a few weeks and that its peer review, which is presumably still in draft form, is ongoing.
The Minister alluded to a serious matter raised in the Environmental Protection Agency's state of the environment report, namely, that between 1,980 and 2,300 sites could pose risks to ground water. What will be the cost of the sites' remediation, what action does the Minister intend to take to deal with the risk to ground water and public health and has the Department conducted a cost evaluation?
A risk assessment has been carried out and a code of practice produced. In 2007, the Office of Environmental Enforcement published a code of practice for environmental risk assessments of unregulated waste disposal sites. The code sets out a risk-based procedure that should be applied to sites identified in accordance with sections 22(7)(h) and 26(2)(c) of the Waste Management Act 1996. The code provides the framework to establish the intrinsic risk posed by old and previously unregulated sites.
The intention is to make regulations that would provide a mechanism for the remediation of old municipal waste disposal sites that operated between 1977 and 1996. These regulations will be completed shortly and will apply to an estimated 300 sites, which take priority over the other estimated 2,300 commercial sites where the holder of the waste, defined in legislation as the waste's producer or the natural or legal person in possession of it, has the responsibility not to "hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution". This duty is set out in section 32 of the Act.
I would have expected the Department, through the EPA, to have identified the sites in question, numbering between 1,980 and 2,300, and the costs arising for the Department in terms of an action plan in each case. Otherwise, we are saying to the public that we are satisfied to allow a situation to continue where ground water is contaminated. We will have more problems with the water supply in the future if we do not deal with these issues now. Has the Minister plans to deal as soon as possible with the sites that have been identified? Will he set up a national inventory of all sites which have not yet been identified? I understand it is difficult to get a handle on all the sites.
There is an acceptance that a proper inventory of contaminated sites is the least that is required. Two inventories are currently being completed. The first relates to old mines and is being prepared by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the EPA. It is expected to be published before the end of the year. The second relates to old municipal waste disposal sites which will be required to be identified by 30 June 2009. While the Department does not hold a list of sites that may require remediation, the sites at which the types of activities which potentially give rise to environmental legacy issues occurred include mines, railway yards, petrol stations, oil depots, gas works and chemical and other industrial installations.
Activity in this area is also under way at EU level. Under a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the European Council establishing a framework for the protection of soil, various initiatives are proposed which may require, inter alia, the identification and remediation of old contaminated sites. Ireland is supportive of this proposal, but our support is measured in that we are anxious to have a long lead-in time for the transposition and implementation given current financial and budgetary constraints.
4 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received reports into the level of water contamination, particularly lead contamination; the amount of finance required to upgrade water systems to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards, including future EU standards for lead levels in water; the action he will take to protect public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36816/08]
The EPA's reports on the quality of drinking water set out compliance levels across a range of parametric values, including lead. The most recent report for the years 2006 and 2007 is available in the Oireachtas Library.
Management of public drinking water supplies to ensure compliance with water quality standards is the responsibility of each local authority. I have put in place a rigorous supervisory framework to ensure good quality drinking water is available, and effective mechanisms exist to deal quickly and effectively with problems where they arise. Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations 2007, local authority drinking water supplies are subject to supervision by the EPA. I have given the agency the necessary resources to back up its new enforcement powers.
Each local authority is legally required to ensure that any failure to meet quality standards in its water supplies is investigated immediately to determine the cause. The authority is also obliged to inform the EPA promptly and to consult with the Health Service Executive, HSE. Where incidences of contamination occur the EPA can issue such directions to the local authority as necessary to prevent or remove any health risk. Failure to comply with such a direction is an indictable offence and subject to heavy penalties.
I understand the EPA is liaising with the HSE and the relevant local authority in regard to all reported lead exceedances. Where exceedances have been reported, the EPA has requested the local authority, inter alia , to clarify the ownership and composition of the service pipe, provide details of the short-term and long-term measures to deal with the exceedance, provide details of advice from the HSE and clarify whether the owner of the premises has been given appropriate advice.
A record provision of €560 million, an increase of 19% over 2008, will be available for water services investment in 2009. This is the clearest possible statement by the Government of the priority given to ensuring that water and waste water treatment schemes comply with the highest standards.
The current maximum level for lead in water is 25 micrograms per litre, with a reduction in this figure to ten micrograms per litre by 2013. In view of the various instances of lead contamination of the water supply throughout the State and notwithstanding the welcome increase of 19% in provision for water services investment, is the Minister satisfied he will have sufficient resources to ensure we meet our requirements by 2013 and that we will not end up dealing with this matter in the usual way, by paying fines to the European Commission?
I am confident that the record investment of €560 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 19%, in water services and infrastructure will allow us to make the necessary progress. The national development plan includes the objective of ensuring that "good quality drinking water is available to all consumers of public and group water supplies in compliance with national and EU drinking water standards, including any infrastructural improvements required to meet the 2013 parameter for the presence of lead in drinking water". Against the backdrop of the most difficult budgetary situation in decades, we have provided a record provision for water services and infrastructure. The Department is providing substantial funding of €288 million towards local authorities' water conservation programmes. It is open to each authority to prioritise any necessary pipe replacement works under these programmes in order to eliminate lead piping in the public water supply and deal with current and future lead standards.
The EPA's report on drinking water published last January indicated that 339 schemes out of a total of 994 are contaminated. The Minister will require substantial resources to rectify this problem. Will he engage with the local authorities in regard to the manner in which schemes are approved and, where the money is allocated, the length of time it takes before a waste water treatment system or water scheme is rolled out? It currently takes some four and a half years with the toing and froing that goes on in regard to design, detailed design and so on. Has the Minister any plans to expedite the process by which this money is drawn down so that work can get under way as quickly as possible?
I assure the Deputy that we have tried to telescope the timeframe involved by significantly reducing the number of criteria. I have spoken to the local authorities about this issue. Whereas cuts have been made in other areas, I was anxious that we continue and increase the investment in the water services programme. Were the impetus to be lost in terms of investment, the programme could be set back considerably. I am satisfied that the programme of investment in drinking water infrastructure and waste water treatment plants will continue.
5 Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the finance available via the local government fund; the impact reduced funds will have on services administrated by local government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36817/08]
In 2009, some €1.6 billion will be available for allocation via the local government fund. General purpose grants are the contribution my Department makes to local authorities to meet the gap between the cost to them of providing a reasonable level of day-to-day services and the income they obtain from other sources. A total of €935.2 million in general purpose grants will be provided to local authorities from the local government fund.
The fund also provides significant funding to local authorities for the improvement and maintenance of local and regional roads. An amount of €564.5 million has been allocated to the Department of Transport from the fund for 2009 for this purpose. An additional amount in the region of €80 million will be allocated for particular purposes including the operation of water services, group water schemes and the vehicle registration unit.
General purpose grants are important in assisting local authorities to balance their budgets. However, they comprise only about one fifth of the funding required by authorities to provide their day-to-day services, although the proportion varies between authorities. Local authorities receive income from a range of sources including rates, charges for goods and services, specific State grants and general purpose grants from the local government fund. It is a matter for each local authority to prioritise its spending within the resources available to it, across the range of services it provides. Equally, local authorities must ensure full value for money for the resources invested and seek the maximum efficiency across their operations. I am satisfied that the general purpose allocations provided for 2009, together with the income available from other sources, will enable local authorities to provide an acceptable level of service to their customers.
The Minister will be aware that the local government fund is down 5% on what it was last year. Also, there has been a 6% reduction in the Estimates for local government despite the fact that a 5% decrease was provided for in the Estimates volume pre-budget. I am not sure if the amount has been subtracted from or added to since then. We will not know the position until the Finance Bill is published.
Will the Minister clarify if he proposes to prioritise additional resources for the home improvement scheme for the elderly and disabled and for the adaptation grants scheme, which is under pressure in each local authority area? Every local authority has received a flood of applications in this regard. We should either allow people in the local authority system to issue letters of approval in order that works can be undertaken or we should scrap the scheme. While I acknowledge the scheme is now much more attractive, following changes introduced last year, funding has not been increased and this has resulted in a huge backlog of applications. Whereas previously people could get only a €5,000 to €6,000 grant, they can now get up to €20,000.
Does the Minister plan to encourage the rationalisation of quangos across the board in other Departments or at local level in an effort to make savings?
First, I must correct the Deputy in respect of his estimate of the reduction in the local government fund for 2009. Some €1,580 million is available to the local government fund in 2009, a reduction of 1.4% when compared to the total of €1,603 million expected in 2008.
The Deputy may have been referring to the general purpose grants for which I will now provide the figures. The total amount allocated to general purpose grants for 2009 is €935.2 million, a reduction of 6.4% on the record amount of €999.2 million allocated in 2008. The Deputy also asked about a number of matters which come within the bailiwick of my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Michael Finneran.
I am trying, as best I can, to ensure a sound economic base for local government. The Deputy will be aware the current system is strange in that part of the money received from motor taxation goes to local government. This is one of the reasons — I was up-front about this — for the increase in motor tax which will go to the local government fund. This measure was actually opposed by the Fine Gael Party.
The Minister is correct.
One cannot have it every way.
That is correct.
One cannot oppose a measure and then direct councillors, as I understand Fine Gael has done, not to co-operate in regard to the striking of a rate.
That is not what I said. I will send the Minister a copy of the letter.
Let us try to interpret it benignly. Fine Gael is trying to ensure there is no major rate increases for businesses. I agree with the Deputy on that point.
Good.
However, if Fine Gael is trying to incite councillors not to co-operate in the striking of a rate, I would regard that as the height of irresponsibility.
I will allow a brief supplementary from Deputy Hogan.
Perhaps I can clarify the position for the Minister who is, in his usual way, trying to twist what was said.
Deputy Hogan should be asking rather than answering questions.
I suggest that the Minister reads accurately what I said.
I read about the matter in a newspaper.
I know the Minister reads the papers every day. He has many people available to him to provide him with cuttings from the papers. However, I suggest he reads the article accurately. Fine Gael takes seriously its responsibilities at local level. We want to ensure charges for commercial rate payers and customers of local government services remain low.
The Deputy must ask a question.
Does the Minister agree with this? Also, will he indicate if he has plans to increase the resources of the various schemes under the remit of his Department in respect of housing for elderly and disabled people?
As the Deputy will be aware, I am trying to broaden the revenue base of local authorities. We are commencing the process this year with the introduction of the €200 levy on second properties, some of which are holiday homes. It is hoped this will net €40 million, although the final amount could be higher. This is an innovation which I hope will start the process of broadening the financial base for local government. I agree with Deputy Hogan that there is too much of a burden on some rate payers.
