Vol. 744 No. 3
6 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties with planning permission extensions, in particular on rural dwellings, that have been denied due to changed environmental standards subsequent to the granting of the original permission; the actions he has taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30366/11]
Under section 42 of the Planning Act, an extension of planning permission is given, on application, in a case where substantial works have been carried out within the original duration, subject only to the condition that an application complying with the relevant regulations was made before the expiration of the initial period. An amendment to these provisions was introduced in section 28 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 to provide that the duration of a planning permission may be extended where substantial works have not been carried out, or where the development has not even commenced, in cases where the planning authority is satisfied there were considerations of a commercial, economic or technical nature beyond the control of the applicant which substantially militated against either the commencement of development or the carrying out of substantial works pursuant to the planning permission, again provided that an application complying with the relevant regulations was made before the expiration of the initial period.
The new provision is, however, subject to a number of qualifications, including that the planning authority is satisfied there have been no significant changes in the development objectives in the development plan or in regional development objectives in the regional planning guidelines for the area of the planning authority since the date of the permission such that the development would no longer be consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area; and that the planning authority is satisfied the development would not be inconsistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to any guidelines issued by the Minister under section 28. I consider the new provision strikes an appropriate balance and that it is right that in cases where substantial works have not been carried out, or the development has not even commenced, the duration of permission should not be extended in respect of developments for which the planning authority would now refuse permission in respect of current applications.
I disagree with the Minister's assertion that the new provision strikes a balance. It is my contention that it does not do so. As I am sure is the case for other Deputies who represent a rural constituency and are involved in interactions relating to one-off rural housing applications, I have evidence to support my argument. I have dealt with approximately 20 applications for one-off rural housing developments since the legislation was introduced and planning extensions were denied in all but one instance. There is an inherent hypocrisy in the legislation which, I accept, was introduced by the previous Government. I voted in favour of it at the time but I would like to see it changed now. There is a need for a practical and reasonable approach in respect of this matter.
If a person's original planning permission has a year to run, he or she can build a house and live in it for as long as he or she desires. If, however, he or she cannot build it within the first five years and applies to roll the permission over into the following five years, he or she will be refused. That is a contradiction in terms. We are all aware that it is difficult to obtain planning permission. Regardless of how it is dressed up, the policy does not favour one-off rural housing developments. Everyone knows this to be the case and we may have participated in the development of the system through the creation of local area plans. Planning permission extensions were designed, in view of the prevailing economic circumstances, to give people an opportunity to proceed with their developments at some point. In addition, an appeal system was supposed to be put in place but provision in respect of it was not included in the legislation. We should re-examine this matter. If a person has planning permission, he or she should, regardless of the environmental standards that apply, be allowed to extend it, particularly in light of current financial circumstances.
I take on board what Deputy Collins stated in respect of this matter. I will be bringing forward a new planning and development Bill in 2012 and this will provide us with an opportunity to review some of the anomalies thrown up by the 2010 Act about which both the Deputy and I are concerned. I also take on board the Deputy's statement to the effect that he dealt with 20 applications since the latter Act was passed and that only one of these was successful. Perhaps we should survey all local authorities in order to determine their experience to date in respect of extensions to planning permission. I would be glad to facilitate the carrying out of such a survey.
7 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which the review of national policy on climate change will be finalised; and the date on which same will be published on his Department’s website. [30313/11]
The review of national climate policy, which is being progressed as a matter of priority, is designed to take stock of the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in recent years and to set out the challenge in the period to 2020 and beyond. We are demonstrating our commitment to the EU and wider international climate protection agenda by ensuring we will comply with our current greenhouse gas mitigation target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol. Beyond 2012, we have clear and challenging mitigation targets for the period 2013 to 2020. We are bound to meet these targets under EU law and to ensure the relevant issues must be addressed in the longer-term context of transition to a competitive, low-carbon economy.
The review is almost finalised and will be available on my Department's website as quickly as possible following its completion and submission to Government. The review aims to set the contextual foundation for the development of future climate policy and I hope it will stimulate constructive debate on the way forward. The clear priority is to develop policy that responds to the specific challenges that exist for Ireland. I am open to ideas on how best to address those challenges and am currently considering how best to engage all stakeholders in taking the process forward.
I welcome the Minister's statement to the effect the review is almost finalised. It is important that it be finalised soon because not only is the environment being damaged at present but also we are bound by EU law. Will the Minister indicate exactly when he expects the review to be finalised?
I expect to be in a position to bring the climate change review to Government in the next week or two.
8 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps being taken by him to maximise the social dividend from the National Asset Management Agency properties and their prospects for tackling the social housing waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30376/11]
On 16 June 2011, I launched the Government's new housing policy statement which will serve as a framework for a sequence of legislative and policy initiatives in the short to medium term. Based on a number of fundamental principles and goals that will form the foundation of a substantial reform programme, the new framework for housing policy responds to current and emerging conditions in the housing sector and takes account of the dramatic cycle of rapid growth and sudden collapse in the residential property market. The centrepiece of the approach is to chart a way forward for housing policy in Ireland by placing greater emphasis on choice, equity across housing tenures and delivering quality outcomes for the resources invested.
There is clear potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government's policy objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. My Department and I have been engaging directly with NAMA to discuss options for bringing unsold suitable residential stock controlled by it into productive use for social housing purposes. The first scheme of this nature, with property held by NAMA being purchased by an approved housing body through loan finance from the Housing Finance Agency, HFA, was launched in July 2011. Other proposals are currently being examined. I again met the chairman and CEO of NAMA to encourage them further to become involved in leasing options as well as the sale of units.
We are all aware that the housing list is growing year on year, with an associated cost for the rent supplement scheme to the Exchequer. The Minister mentioned that he met Mr. Brendan McDonagh, whom I listened to recently when he spoke at a conference. I do not want to misrepresent what he said but he indicated that the State would be offered first refusal on NAMA properties in commercial terms. That is my understanding but is that shared by the Minister? It certainly was not the wider understanding of the people and the view is that NAMA is handling many of these properties, many of which are vacant and close to being finished out at a small cost. Where do we stand with NAMA and will it have to operate on strictly commercial terms with the State with regard to social housing?
The Deputy knows that from legislation NAMA is required to have a commercial mandate for all activities. Notwithstanding this, I was very pleased with the meeting a week ago with the chairman and CEO of NAMA, when we outlined our requirements with regard to compliance with our business plan. Social housing lists are foremost in our minds in this respect. Many single families could be easily housed in some of the apartments in the major urban areas.
With regard to housing issues, my Department outlined very clearly to NAMA the importance of securing a social dividend from the overall NAMA process. There is also the reorientation of housing policy away from reliance on local authority new builds and acquisition to a more flexible delivery option, including leasing and rental accommodation schemes. There is an increasingly prominent role for approved housing bodies in overall social housing delivery. NAMA has been in touch with the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency in the past few days to identify properties and see where we can make progress on leasing options.
I have heard the Minister's comments on his plans for any properties we get from NAMA in this regard but many people expect much from the NAMA properties. Addressing the social housing issue is a priority for me and my constituents. The social end to which the Minister referred goes to voluntary housing rather than social housing, which is one of the problems I have with the Minister's comments. With NAMA we could address many of the homelessness problems and try to reach our target date of 2013 for the elimination of long-term homelessness. Some of these properties could be used in that regard.
There is a way to deal with NAMA and we can enter into five-year contracts on properties, letting the local authorities handle the issue and buy them out over a period. We can get people on the housing lists into properties, which will provide money for the local authorities. We would also eliminate much of the €500 million per year we spend on rental subsidies. There would be much advantage if we used these properties for social housing.
I agree with Deputy Ellis and hope I did not give the impression that we are exclusively dealing with voluntary bodies. It is just one option for voluntary bodies to engage with NAMA and we engage directly with NAMA, with 8,000 to 10,000 apartment units available in major urban centres. Properly finished — not much money is required for this — they would be available for people on the social housing list. How we can use the money more effectively is a constant issue in the formulation of policy in the Department, as it will ultimately allow people to buy their homes. We will facilitate this. Voluntary housing associations may not be totally happy with the Government decision to allow people buy out their homes that way. I agree with Deputy Ellis and the Government is pursuing the sentiments he expressed.
9 Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on whether giving local authorities the power to regulate the scrap metal industry within their own jurisdictions is productive in view of the ease with which criminals can travel to neighbouring counties, which may have lesser regulation, to sell their stolen metal; if he will implement legislation to regulate those who purchase scrap metal, in effect disabling criminals from selling it at ease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30305/11]
Waste activities in Ireland are required to hold an authorisation in accordance with the Waste Management Act 1996; the terms of such authorisations are primarily derived from requirements of EU directives on waste and specific waste streams such as end-of-life vehicles or electronic waste. Depending on the authorisation required, these activities are controlled either by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, or by local authorities as competent authorities nominated by the State to implement such legislation. The purpose of these controls is to regulate the collection, recovery or disposal of waste in order to protect the environment.
Enforcement of waste legislation is a matter either for the EPA's office of environmental enforcement, OEE, with regard to waste licences or for local authorities with regard to waste permits. The OEE operates an enforcement network to foster co-operation between the various public service bodies involved in the enforcement of environmental legislation so that a higher and more consistent standard of enforcement is delivered throughout the country. I have asked my Department to examine the licensing and permitting legislation to ensure all necessary provisions, particularly relating to traceability, are in place to avoid situations that might be exploited by criminal elements.
Metal theft is a crime and is therefore a matter for An Garda Síochána in the first instance. A stakeholder forum on the matter has been set up by the Garda and is working to produce a metal theft crime prevention and reduction plan. My Department is one of the stakeholders participating in the work and will continue to play its part in supporting the work in this area, which is led by the Garda.
I am sure the Minister is aware that there is a great deal of theft in the countryside, in particular, but believe it or not it also happens in Dublin. A copper cable 22 mm thick feeding a crane 36 metres high was robbed from me a couple of weeks ago. Copper scrap is achieving €6,000 per tonne and although I do not know what price the thief got, it cost me €5,000 to replace the cable. In Wexford and Kilkenny people have contacted me about the issue. I know councils have done much work in regulating businesses that take in scrap but a person can still bring scrap to certain places and be paid cash. That practice should be stopped. Even if the practice is stopped in Wexford but continues in Kilkenny, people will drive to Kilkenny to get the cash.
We need a policy for the country in this respect. Anybody bringing scrap to a business should provide an RSI number and should only be paid with a crossed cheque so that it must be deposited in an account. It would also be a good idea to hold the money for two weeks as this would give the fellow taking in the scrap time to check it. The Garda could also investigate potential thefts as much material would have been stolen.
I can see Deputy Wallace's practical experience in these matters is coming into play. I thank him for that as what he described is exactly what is happening. The practice seems to be particularly prevalent in the south and south east. I am prepared to consider a permit system and take on board some of the suggestions made by the Deputy, such as an obligation to produce RSI numbers and so on. The Garda is leading a forum on the subject and I hope it will not be long before a report is given to me; I hope it will be weeks rather than months. We can then get on with making the necessary changes to legislation and licensing permits in order to tackle this growing problem.
This is an important issue raised by Deputy Wallace, who made some very good points. This does not just happen in country areas. We have had experience in the Ballymun regeneration project where steel doors worth thousands of euros were stolen and the city council lost a fortune as a result. A sculpture, "The Bronze Lady" has also been removed from the Moate roadside. St. Kevin's Church has also been stripped of metal. We have had many thefts and we should have a more coherent policy across the whole country. The local authorities should be involved and these permits should be watched more carefully. The rules should be more stringent
The Minister mentioned a review of the permit system in response to Deputy Wallace. Around the country GAA clubs have what is termed "scrap Saturday", and I am sure the Minister has heard of examples in Kilkenny. My local club, Patrickswell, organised a "scrap Saturday", where the community brings all the waste scrap to the local GAA grounds and it in turn sells it on and it is used as a fund-raising vehicle. The local authority pulled the plug on it because it did not have the correct permit. It was a disgrace. When the Minister is conducting a review of the permit arrangement, he should look at the activities of legitimate voluntary clubs and organisations because they are, in effect, providing an environmental service. The decision of Limerick County Council beat all. Other clubs in the county had been engaging in similar activities under the radar and raised significant amounts of money towards the running costs of the clubs which we all support and promote. I just wanted to make the Minister aware of this.
The lack of common sense in such matters displayed by Limerick County Council is not worthy of the work being done. Given that there was no criminal involvement and that it was clear the activity was community-related, the local authority should have been much more flexible in its arrangements. I invite Deputies, in particular Deputy Wallace, to make submissions on such matters to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and feed into the forum we have established under the Garda Síochána. I hope we will be in a position to deal with these matters. It used to be the case that one followed the money, now one follows the metal.
Yes.
Metal is money.
10 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to restructure the waste management market; and his plans to place control on the market with local authorities. [30318/11]
The programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, by which service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. A public consultation process on the issues involved, designed to inform the policy development process, has recently concluded. The responses received are being examined and I intend to bring policy proposals to the Government before the end of the year.
The role of local government in the waste collection system has changed considerably in recent years. Most local authorities have withdrawn from the waste collection market and no longer offer a service to householders. A number of local authorities have entered into arrangements to sell their household waste collection service to private sector waste collectors, in effect transferring clients to a private sector collector.
Section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996 requires local authorities to provide household waste collection services unless specified conditions, including unreasonably high costs, pertain. The future role and responsibilities of local authorities in the household waste collection sector, including in any system of competitive tendering, is under consideration in the context of the policy development process to be concluded by the end of the year.
My question was motivated by the fact that in housing estates one could have up to four collectors driving in and out on the same morning, which is not best practice. My question is whether the proposed change will damage competition and if there will be significant price increases. The Minister appears to suggest local authorities would licence one operator for Kilkenny, Drogheda or wherever else and that it would have the franchise for the area. What measures are being taken to prevent that from happening? What guidelines are in place for operators? Will local authorities control the franchising of the service? Will Louth County Council or Drogheda Borough District Council be responsible for the waste collection service in Drogheda? I would welcome more detail in that regard.
Has the Minister advanced any plans for a waiver scheme for low income households as part of the review process? Some local authorities provide waiver schemes for pensioners and other low income households.
As part of the review, I am considering a waiver scheme for low income families. There is an Ombudsman's report on the matter which will feed into the process. The intention is to regulate the market in such a way that we can achieve maximum efficiency and, therefore, reduce prices.
We must also be mindful of the fact that under the landfill directive, we have to move away from landfill. Therefore, we have to find greater means of recycling. We must deal with and dispose of waste other than on landfill sites. There are big issues to be considered. I am conscious of the fact that we need a competitive tendering arrangement to keep prices as low as possible and include a waiver scheme for people on social welfare, those living alone or on low incomes generally.
This week I met the largest service provider in the Limerick region, Mr. Binman. The company had to apply for examinership last week and is now in the examinership process. I am sure the Minister is aware of this. The case is due for mention in court tomorrow. It is a family business with more than 300 direct employees and more than 300 indirect employees. It is an employer of major significance in the region, with 65,000 customers who are happily served and are happy to continue their custom with the company. We all hope it will come through the examinership process successfully. I met the company to discuss a number of issues. I referred to the consultation process which the Department was undertaking in the context of the issue raised by Deputy Stanley of licensing a single operator in an area. It was indicated to me that the waste collection service had originally been acquired from Limerick County Council and Limerick City Council when they opted for privatisation. An issue arises for service providers which, as they see it, have purchased an asset they are now entitled to utilise and on which they seek a return. I wish to inform the consultation process in that regard.
We used to have a well regulated waste disposal service before 2000 when the bin tax was introduced. Does the Minister expect private companies to challenge the new system that it is intended to franchise? Is he aware of the significant opposition to Dublin City Council's move towards tendering from 5 December when the waste collection service will be privatised?
It is a matter for Dublin City Council to decide the collection arrangements for households. It is working on the basis of existing policy, but it must also be mindful of the draft document issued for consultation. What we are trying to do is minimise the volumes of waste generated in the first instance, as we wish to divert waste away from landfill. We also wish to maximise the value from waste because it is no longer just a product for disposal; it is a resource in which so many people are interested in developing technologies to generate businesses from waste disposal. The aim is also to achieve a positive environmental outcome.
I take on board the concerns of people living in the Dublin area in which there is uncertainty. I have gone through the consultation process and I am considering the submissions made. I will not delay in removing the uncertainty between now and the end of the year.
In response to Deputy Niall Collins, I am also conscious of the fact that people have invested a significant amount of money in infrastructure in recent times, not just confined to the Limerick area but throughout the country, and that this must be taken into account before a final decision is made.
11 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for regulating bodies and persons in view of the sizeable role that voluntary housing associations, private landlords and developers will be playing in the new social housing policy [30408/11]
The Government's new housing policy, launched in June, is predicated on a more integrated, choice-based and tenure-neutral approach to social housing provision. It will mean a much greater role for approved housing bodies in the voluntary and co-operative sector as providers of social housing. As such, I intend to develop an enabling regulatory framework for the sector that will provide support and assurance both for the sector and its external partners as it takes on an expanded role. I will develop this framework in consultation with the sector, but I expect that it will assist approved housing bodies to develop key governance and management structures to facilitate an expanded remit; provide independent scrutiny and validation of such bodies' competences; and place sustainable housing management policies and practices at the heart of a co-ordinated approach to the development of the sector.
The move from capital funded programmes of construction and acquisition to more revenue-funded options presents challenges for the sector. The regulatory framework will assist in meeting these challenges and facilitating the sector in attracting the loan finance necessary to deliver on its expanded remit. The development of a regulatory framework will take time. In the meantime, I wish to work with the sector on the development of a voluntary code to which, I hope, most approved housing bodies will sign up over time. This code which I would like to agree in 2012 will serve as a learning opportunity for the sector and my Department as we develop a longer term statutory framework that will best support the sector.
It is also my intention to extend the remit of the Residential Tenancies Act to those segments of the voluntary and co-operative housing sector that most closely parallel the Act's current remit.
A shocking 96,000 people are on housing waiting lists, many for as long as ten years. Most of the people on the list believe that at the end of their unacceptable wait they will get a council home with proper standards and a housing authority that is accountable to the public in terms of the condition of that housing. They do not realise that the Minister ended those hopes in June with his proposals on outsourcing social housing to private landlords' leasing arrangements and now with the new proposals on the banks, they may even have bankers as landlords. This makes no sense in light of the rental revenue lost to the State and the stupidity of handing over €600,000 per year to private landlords.
Can we have a question? The Deputy is running out of time.
Given that the Minister seems intent on these reforms, what assurance can he offer that we will not end up with a repeat of the 19th century style of slum landlord? If there is no regulation, we will return to the tenements of the 19th century. I have heard appalling stories about the conditions that people face when renting from private landlords, although I do not want to tar all of them with the same brush. These stories have included RAS tenancies. What assurances can the Minister give tenants that they will get proper, high quality housing rather than slum landlords?
If Deputy Boyd Barrett was here earlier he would have had information about what we are doing.
I followed the debate.
I know he is busy. We have engaged with the over-supply in the housing market. We do not need to construct new homes because we already have them. We have to match supply with demand from people on the social housing lists. We have engaged with the National Asset Management Agency to assign the over-supply of housing it controls in major urban areas to local authority lists. We are working in a proactive way to make supply meet demand. We will use State resources to assist people into proper accommodation. It is costing us a significant amount of money but we want people to get high quality accommodation and, equally, be able to own their homes in time. Our first port of call is to ensure people on local authority housing lists are able to get good accommodation in the private market. Ultimately these properties may be sold to their occupants.
We are not involved with any slum landlord class. I do not know where the Deputy got that idea. We are trying to help people into quality accommodation.
I am concerned about the cost of leases. Accommodation is being taken from the private sector in three ways, namely, RAS, social leasing and the rent allowance. When that is totted up at the end of the year it will be a substantial amount and the costs will mount over several years.
I also wish to ask about the property portfolio of voluntary housing organisations. New voluntary housing bodies are popping up or coming from other jurisdictions to set up shop here. They are acquiring substantial property portfolios with taxpayer subvention. The taxpayer might end up funding these organisations without being able to exercise control over them. What percentage of the tenants of voluntary housing organisations have to be taken from the local authority waiting lists?
I do not understand why we do not build 6,000 houses for the €600 million we are paying out between RAS and the rent allowance. We would recoup the rental revenue on these properties.
We have them already.
We do not have social houses. There are 90,000 people on the housing lists.
The Deputy was not listening earlier.
Even though there are 90,000 people on housing lists, the Minister does not want to build social housing.
Sorry Deputy, it is Question Time.
Instead we will possibly lease property from bankers, private landlords and these private bodies. In some cases we are paying for the housing that will be managed by the voluntary housing bodies but we will not receive rent. It does not make sense.
Has the Deputy a question?
If we are paying out €600 million per year——
It is Question Time. Ask a question.
——over ten years, we could build all the social housing we need.
Ask a question, please.
We would have the asset and the rental revenue instead of outsourcing to organisations over which we have no control.
I am surprised Deputy Boyd Barrett is against the involvement in the housing market of not-for-profit organisations like voluntary housing associations.
In England they are big business.
I am surprised that he is against not-for-profit.
I am not.
We are working with the resources available to us but because of the reckless policies pursued previously, we are where we are. We have an over-supply of housing which we are trying to marry with the lists of people who genuinely need social housing and we are doing this proactively with rent support, leasing arrangements and, ultimately, allowing people to purchase their own homes and live in good quality accommodation. We are doing no more and no less than that.
Why will he not make them council houses?
We will not do that. We will not do everything the Deputy suggests. We are working with not-for-profit organisations as well as the public sector to deliver quality housing and accommodation through State supports administered by the Department of Social Protection and the local authorities.
12 Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of any meetings he has had with his Northern counterpart, Alex Atwood MLA; the purpose of each meeting; and his plans for future co-operation with him. [30308/11]
I met Mr. Alex Attwood, MLA, in his capacity as Minister of the Environment in Northern Ireland at a North-South Ministerial Council plenary meeting on 10 June 2011 and at a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, environment sector, in Armagh on 1 July 2011. A further meeting of the council is scheduled for tomorrow, 21 October 2011, and will be attended by Mr. Attwood. I also had the pleasure of launching jointly with him the Irish recycled plastic waste arisings study, which was undertaken under the North-South market development programme when we both addressed the Environment Ireland 2011 conference in Dublin last month.
The North-South Ministerial Council was established under strand two of the Good Friday Agreement to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest. Meeting in its environment sector format, discussions in the council have concentrated to date on waste management, including illegal dumping of waste from the South in Northern Ireland, implementation of the EU water framework directive and joint approaches to environmental research and monitoring. Arising from our positive meeting on 1 July 2011, Mr. Attwood and I are working to broaden this agenda in the areas of co-operation mandated under the Good Friday Agreement and I hope we will make good progress in this regard at an early stage.
I am glad to hear there is active engagement between the Minister and his counterpart north of the Border. The Minister answered my question about waste management in Border areas. My party is concerned about the illegal dumping that has occurred north of the Border. I welcome the initiatives being taken to deal with that issue. Unfortunately, the taxpayer will face the cost of cleaning up the waste.
I ask that we take a joined up North-South approach to the issue climate change. Has the Minister raised the issue of the closure of Sellafield with his Northern counterpart? New proposals have been made in this regard.
I have discussed the issue of Sellafield and we have made substantial progress between Ireland and the UK authorities. We have included the Sellafield projects in the stress tests carried out by the European Union in the aftermath of the recent problems in Fukushima in Japan. The International Atomic Energy Agency is helping Ireland to deal with the risks associated with Sellafield. I am satisfied with the arrangements and the results of the stress tests will be reported to us next year.
Other issues raised at the meetings include water quality and river basin management systems, environmental impacts of agriculture and waste management in a cross-Border context which is a serious problem. The Department will spend €20 million on repatriating waste dumped illegally to the north of the Border. These issues feed into the research programmes we have established to deal with environmental matters in the context of climate change.
13 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will bring forward legislation to introduce the household tax; and if he has reconsidered the position he has enunciated in previous statements regarding the threat to impose severe penalties on those who do not pay the tax. [30244/11]
The EU-IMF programme of financial support commits the Government to introduce a property tax from 2012. The programme reflects the need, in the context of the State's overall financial position, to put the funding of locally delivered services on a sound financial footing, improve accountability and better align the cost of providing services with the demand for them. A property tax would take some time to introduce, in the light of the complex issues involved, including the need for a comprehensive property valuation system. Accordingly, to meet the requirement in the EU-IMF programme, the Government has decided to introduce a flat-rate household charge as an interim measure in 2012. Proposals for a full property tax will be considered by the Government in due course. The legislation to underpin the household charge will contain the precise details of the charge. It will be published and brought before the Oireachtas before the end of the year. Similar to the charge on non-principal private residences, it is intended that the household charge will be administered on a self-assessment basis. It will be a matter for owners of residential property to register and pay the charge by the due date. In the event of non-payment, penalties will apply. Unpaid household charges will remain as a charge against the property concerned.
When the Minister announced the proposed household tax in August, there was a huge uproar. People said they could not afford it. Therefore, the proposal needs to be reconsidered by the Minister. We have just discussed the issues of mortgage debt, credit debt and the burden on families as they try to stay in their homes. People are facing an austerity package of a minimum of €10 billion — it could be up to €14 billion — in the next three years. As Mr. John FitzGerald of the ESRI has said, it is likely that the tax will increase to €1,400. Therefore, the Minister should be honest with the people. He has said the household tax will be €2 a week, but if it is €1,400, it will be between €20 and €25 a week. That is the austerity the people are facing. I, therefore, ask the Minister to reconsider this proposal, as it is not an option for most. If we are talking about it in the context of household debt, it is clear that an holistic approach has to be taken. The suggestion penalties could be imposed over a period of time is an absolute disgrace. There have been many meetings on this matter in Dublin city. Some 18 meetings have been held in response and people have said they will not pay this tax. Almost 200 people opposed to the imposition of a household tax attended a meeting in Gaoth Dobhair. The Minister should reconsider.
I am not surprised that so many people are attending meetings if they are being told by the Deputy and others that the charge will be €1,400.
That is what Mr. John FitzGerald has said.
I do not know. He did not hear it from the Minister and neither did the Deputy.
He knows how much tax the Government will be bringing in in a few years time.
We will introduce a charge of €100, or €2 a week, in 2012. I do not know from where the €1,400 figure came.
We can say he said it if we want.
If Deputy Joan Collins wants to tell people at public meetings that is how much it will be, I am sure she will draw a crowd. I advise her to proceed on the basis of what is accurate.
We know it is an accurate reflection of the plans for this charge.
The list of exemptions and waivers from the household charge will include people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement. They will not have to pay it. People living in social housing will also not have to pay it. I am sure the Deputy is telling people at meetings about this. People living in voluntary and co-operative housing, residential property owned by a charity and who have had to vacate their homes to move into nursing homes will not have to pay it. People with a physical infirmity or long-term mental illness will also not have to pay it. There are many exemptions. If the full information is given to people accurately, I am sure their fears will be allayed.
Some 1.6 million people will be affected by this tax. It will be a heavy burden.
I wish I did not have to introduce it, but I am being forced to do so by the circumstances in which the country finds itself.
Written Answers follow Adjournment.
