Written Answers Nos. 133-140
133. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has instructed local authorities to provide on line web facilities for housing applicants to access information regarding their priority on the local authority housing list. [41160/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra134. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he has instructed local authorities to provide online web facilities to enable council tenants to access information regarding their rent accounts. [41165/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
It is a matter for the housing authority to communicate with both applicants for social housing support and current tenants, and I would expect such communication and access to information to be provided using all reasonable means to facilitate an efficient and effective service.
135. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when the previously announced grant for promised works at the fire station (details supplied) in Dublin 24 will now be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41205/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981 and 2003. My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to approved construction projects and the purchase of fire appliances and equipment. The current priority for capital funding is supporting the national fire appliance fleet, in respect of which Dublin Fire Brigade has been approved for 2 new appliances which are currently in the tender process.
A proposal to extend Tallaght fire station was approved in principle in 2006 under the Fire Services Capital Programme. However, given the current constraints on public finances it has been necessary, in keeping with other reductions, to reduce the fire service capital allocations in 2011 and 2012. Accordingly, my Department is not in a position to fund the significant investment (circa €3 million) to progress the extension of Tallaght Fire Station from the fire services capital programme. As an alternative, in light of the business case made by Dublin City Council in August 2011, my Department approved-in-principle grant-aid of €300,000, to supplement funding committed by the Council in respect of necessary and urgent works at the fire station. It is expected that the upgrading works will be completed in 2012. As grant-aid is paid to fire authorities on a basis of recoupment of monies expended, expect that the funding will be drawn down during 2013.
136. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government his plans to reintroduce the additional discount of up to 15% under the tenant purchase scheme for persons who have been tenants of their home for over 10 years and his plans for the tenant purchase scheme in 2013 and beyond. [41217/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to re-introduce the additional discount tenant purchase scheme. It is intended to introduce legislation to underpin a new scheme for the sale of existing local authority houses to tenants on incremental purchase principles. The new scheme will be a discount scheme based on household income, and it will mean that tenants will have the option of buying the house they currently occupy under the incremental purchase model. It is envisaged that this scheme will be in place from 1 July 2013, subject to the necessary legislation being enacted.
137. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government when he expects to publish the interim report of the National Economic and Social Council secretariat on climate policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41218/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 42 and 44 of 18 September 2012.
138. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the way the clawback provisions apply in the case of a person who purchases a house from a local authority under the tenant purchase scheme and where the property is subsequently sold. [41219/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo take account of the current housing market conditions, the Government's housing policy statement, published in June 2011, announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. That review is now underway and it is expected to conclude later in the year. Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes will be informed by the review. The clawback provision is intended to prevent short-term profit taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes. However, where a person is selling and the clawback amount payable would reduce the proceeds of resale below the initial price actually paid, the legislation provides for the amount of the clawback payable to be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid that result.
139. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will introduce a ban on the consumption of alcohol on all public transport vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41126/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraProvisions in relation to the sale of alcohol, including its sale on certain modes of public transport, are governed by the Licensing Acts 1833-2011. Some of these provisions may require updating and the Government legislation programme makes provision for the publication of the Sale of Alcohol Bill in mid 2013. I intend to consult with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure that it contains suitably updated provisions in relation to the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor on public transport vehicles. Under the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011 the Revenue Commissioners are empowered to issue licences in respect of a railway restaurant car in which passengers may be supplied with meals. Such a licence permits the sale of intoxicating liquor to passengers for consumption in the car.
While the regulation of public transport is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, it is my understanding that the consumption of alcohol is already prohibited under bye-laws covering the operation of public transport services such as Dublin Bus and Luas. The Deputy might note that the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 already provides for an offence of being intoxicated in a public place and for certain powers of seizure of substances by the Gardaí in relation to such an offence and 'public place' includes trains, buses and other public transport vehicles.
140. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will include the expertise, customer trust and practical experience of the Professional Insurance Brokers' Association as personal insolvency practitioners in relation to the Personal Insolvency Bill 2012. [41042/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would refer the Deputy to my answer to his Question No.1265 of 18 September 2012 which indicated the following:
"The precise details in regard to the regulation of personal insolvency practitioners require further consideration in the final development of the Personal Insolvency Bill 2012 in consultation with the Department of Finance, the Central Bank and relevant professional bodies. I will be bringing forward detailed proposals by way of amendments to the Bill during its passage through the Oireachtas. I can assure the Deputy that no decisions have been taken as to who may be licensed as personal insolvency practitioners."
I have nothing further to add to that reply at this point in time.
