Written Answers Nos. 163-71
163. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views regarding the urgent need to invest in upgrade of Ardnacrusa power station in order that electrical generation output can be increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46639/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a day to day operational matter for the ESB and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role or function.
164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the rural broadband scheme for an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46842/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched last year in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive affordable broadband provision. In total, there were 67 applications from persons living in County Kerry (4 of whom listed their address as Tralee, none listed their address as Camp), who consented to receive offers of service from Internet Service Providers participating in the Scheme. Offers of service were made to all of these applicants during the period from April to the end of July this year.
The response to date by industry suggests that virtually all eligible applicants under the Scheme are capable of obtaining a broadband service from a supplier using one of the available technology platforms i.e. DSL, fixed or mobile wireless, cable or satellite. Obviously, where a commercial service is shown to be available, the State cannot intervene with a subvention for alternative services as to do so would be a breach of State Aid rules. The combination of private investment and State interventions means that Ireland will meet the EU Commission’s "Digital Agenda for Europe" target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.
The Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key requirement in delivering future economic and social development. With basic broadband services now widely available across Ireland, the challenge is to accelerate the roll out of high speed services. The Government's National Broadband Plan, which I published recently, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible.
165. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the estate known (details supplied) in County Meath is exempt from paying the household charge, due to the fact that the estate is unfinished and the developers are in receivership; if he will outline the estates in Laytown, County Meath which are not eligible to pay the household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46553/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 and the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012 provide the legislation underpinning the household charge. Under section 4(4) of the 2011 Act, a person is currently entitled to a waiver if the residential property is situated in an unfinished housing estate. The 2012 Regulations prescribes a list of all such developments, which are based on a number of factors, including whether the development is in receivership, whether the developer is active, and:
- The state of completion of roads, footpaths, public lighting facilities, piped water and sewerage facilities and open spaces or similar amenities within the development;
- The extent to which the development complies with the terms of applicable planning permission;
- The extent to which it complies with the provisions of the Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007;
- The provisions of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964 as they pertain to dangerous places and dangerous structures within the meaning of the Act;
- The extent to which facilities within the development have been taken in charge by the local authority concerned; and ,
- Where there is an agreement regarding the maintenance of such facilities, the extent to which this agreement has been complied with.
My Department has been working closely with the Local Authorities to ensure a revised list of unfinished estates for 2013. Again, this will refer to relevant factors such as completion of roads, footpaths, public lighting facilities, piped water and sewerage facilities and open spaces or similar amenities within the development. The development in question is not among those listed in the 2012 Regulations, which lists the prescribed developments in all local authorities, including Meath.
166. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the expenditure of regeneration funding for an area (details supplied) in County Kerry in each of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 spent on project staff salaries and wages, project office overheads and consultant fees; the total funding for the regeneration project recouped in 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46567/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 412 of 16 October 2012 which sets out the position in relation to the disaggregation of consultant and project management/supervision fees in the case of the various regeneration projects which were being progressed by Tralee Town Council over the course of the years in question. Details of the amounts allocated and recouped to the Council for the years 2008 to 2010 for the Tralee Regeneration Project are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Amt Recouped |
|
2008 |
€ 6m |
|
2009 |
€ 2.3m |
|
2010 |
€4.9m |
167. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timescale involved in the redesign of local election boundaries; when the proposed boundary commission will furnish its final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46585/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 86 of 23 October 2012, which sets out the position in this matter.
168. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households that have already paid the household charge directly at the local authority offices who have been subsequently contacted to pay the charge; the steps that have been taken to ensure adequate information and registration of payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46599/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of households who have paid the household charge to date, broken down by county relative to the total number of households in each county; the compliance rate in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46600/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
The Local Government Management Agency is administering the Household Charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. The collection of the Household Charge via a self-assessment declaration provides for the collation of information in relation to residential property. Local authorities are however continuing to identify undeclared properties through appropriate data sharing provisions and significant efforts have been expended in matching self-declared information with other datasets and in refining the resulting data.
I understand that the addresses and names used in the current batch of letters which are being issued by Local Authorities reminding people to pay the Household Charge have been based on a data matching exercise with the Property Registration Authority. In some cases the information contained within these datasets might not have been updated with the most recent and relevant details. As a consequence the data matching exercise can give rise to situations in which people may receive a letter where they have already paid the charge.
In respect of the numbers of residential properties, the liable owners of which have been contacted subsequent to having made payment at local authority offices, it is not possible to disaggregate these properties and provide the requested statistic. However, the Agency and the local authorities are working to their fullest extent to ensure adequate information concerning registration of payments is exchanged promptly. The table provides, as of 22 October 2012, the total number of payments and waivers registered for the Household Charge nationally and by local authority area. The figures are also presented as a percentage of the estimated total number of liable properties nationally and per local authority area.
|
County/City Council |
Estimated number of liable properties |
Number of paid registrations for Household Charge |
Number registered for waivers (as of 18 October) |
Total registered (paid + waivers) |
Registrations as a % of total estimated liable properties |
|
Carlow |
18,257 |
11,262 |
288 |
11,550 |
63% |
|
Cavan |
25,611 |
15,242 |
972 |
16,214 |
63% |
|
Clare |
45,786 |
31,581 |
409 |
31,990 |
70% |
|
Cork City |
41,649 |
27,342 |
183 |
27,525 |
66% |
|
Cork County |
143,887 |
87,617 |
2,365 |
89,982 |
63% |
|
Donegal |
65,331 |
34,429 |
526 |
34,955 |
54% |
|
Dublin City |
190,685 |
134,382 |
1 , 215 |
135,597 |
71% |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
74,390 |
62,158 |
431 |
62,589 |
84% |
|
Fingal |
90,286 |
57,670 |
2 , 081 |
59,751 |
66% |
|
Galway City |
27,086 |
20,120 |
89 |
20,209 |
75% |
|
Galway County |
62,851 |
39,751 |
723 |
40,474 |
64% |
|
Kerry |
58,792 |
42,254 |
348 |
42,602 |
72% |
|
Kildare |
68,215 |
42,298 |
1,569 |
43,867 |
64% |
|
Kilkenny |
32,067 |
20,271 |
504 |
20,775 |
65% |
|
Laois |
26,185 |
15,185 |
333 |
15,518 |
59% |
|
Leitrim |
13,069 |
8,809 |
228 |
9,037 |
69% |
|
Limerick City |
20,380 |
13,613 |
196 |
13,809 |
68% |
|
Limerick County |
46,473 |
30,150 |
640 |
30,790 |
66% |
|
Longford |
12,928 |
8,028 |
509 |
8,537 |
66% |
|
Louth |
41,176 |
23,467 |
886 |
24,353 |
59% |
|
Mayo |
51,363 |
36,027 |
911 |
36,938 |
72% |
|
Meath |
60,652 |
35,475 |
889 |
36,364 |
60% |
|
Monaghan |
20,176 |
12,896 |
274 |
13,170 |
65% |
|
North Tipperary |
24,839 |
17,089 |
548 |
17,637 |
71% |
|
Offaly |
25,224 |
14,082 |
342 |
14,424 |
57% |
|
Roscommon |
23,888 |
15,530 |
375 |
15,905 |
67% |
|
Sligo |
25,281 |
17,164 |
265 |
17,429 |
69% |
|
South Dublin |
81,822 |
50,266 |
369 |
50,635 |
62% |
|
South Tipperary |
30,368 |
20,002 |
324 |
20,326 |
67% |
|
Waterford City |
15,753 |
10,104 |
149 |
10,253 |
65% |
|
Waterford County |
24,777 |
15,950 |
170 |
16,120 |
65% |
|
Westmeath |
29,872 |
19,755 |
397 |
20,152 |
67% |
|
Wexford |
56,030 |
34,094 |
1138 |
35,232 |
63% |
|
Wicklow |
45,665 |
30,402 |
494 |
30,896 |
68% |
|
National |
1,620,814 |
1,054,465 |
21,140 |
1,075,605 |
66% |
170. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46616/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to North/South co-operation arises mainly in relation to the operation of the North-South Ministerial Council established under the Good Friday Agreement. With regard to the North-South Ministerial Council (Environment Sector), work is co-ordinated by a unit within the Environment Division of the Department. The unit is headed by a Principal Officer who also has responsibilities in relation to international environment matters and sustainable development. The main work of the unit is carried out by one Assistant Principal Officer, one Higher Executive Officer and one Clerical Officer. There is also input as required at Assistant Secretary level. Other areas within the Environment Division provide input on specific issues as they arise. These arrangements have been in place since the institutions under the Good Friday Agreement were established.
Under the re-organisation of departmental responsibilities in May 2011, my Department assumed responsibility for aspects of rural development which come within the remit of the North South Ministerial Council (Agriculture). Work in this regard is co-ordinated within the Department’s Community Division by a unit headed by a Principal Officer who also has wider responsibilities in relation to rural development. The main work of the unit is co-ordinated by one Higher Executive Officer with input from one Assistant Principal Officer. The staff of this unit also attend regular meetings of the Steering Committee on Cross Border Rural Development.
Also, within the Community Division, work is undertaken in relation to my Department's responsibilities as an Accountable Department under the PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Programmes. The main work of this unit, which is headed by a Principal Officer who also has wider responsibilities in relation to local development, is carried out by one Higher Executive Officer, with input as required by an Assistant Principal Officer.
171. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the success of the smoky coal ban in areas where it has been introduced, if he will consider a complete ban on the importation of smoky coal as a means to improve air quality throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46627/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous fuel (or ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known) was first introduced in Dublin in 1990 in response to severe episodes of winter smog that resulted from the widespread use of smoky coal for residential heating. Air quality monitoring carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the ban has proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels in Dublin and the ban was subsequently extended to other urban areas.
In April 2012, my Department undertook a public consultation to inform and assist a review of the smoky coal ban regulations to ensure that they remain fit for purpose in safeguarding air quality by limiting harmful emissions of air pollutants arising from the use of residential fuels. A total of 49 submissions were received, including submissions from local authorities, health groups, the solid fuel industry and the general public.
On 31 August 2012, following the review of submissions received under the public consultation process, I gave effect to new consolidating solid fuel regulations , the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 326 of 2012). Under the new Regulations:
- most existing smoky coal ban area boundaries were revised to take recent urban development into account;
- seven new towns will be added to the ban from May 2013 - Greystones, Letterkenny, Mullingar, Navan, Newbridge, Portlaoise and Wicklow Town; and
- a prohibition on the burning of bituminous or smoky coal was provided for, to complement the established ban on its marketing, sale and distribution.
The Regulations also require that all bituminous coal sold outside smoky coal ban areas for residential use outside those areas must have a sulphur content of no more than 0.7%. This consolidates the environmental and related human health benefits achieved by an earlier voluntary agreement with the Solid Fuel Trade Group (SFTG), representing the majority of major coal importers.
Some submissions received under the public consultation did suggest a nationwide ban on smoky coal. While I can see merit in this suggestion, it would have market implications and as such would require advance consultation with and the consent of the European Commission under the terms of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
A nationwide ban would also be difficult to implement effectively while smoky coal continues to be freely available in Northern Ireland. However, there is scope for improved co-operation and policy alignment with authorities in Northern Ireland in relation to air quality generally. This is an issue I have raised with the Northern Ireland Minister for the Environment, Alex Atwood MLA, who has himself in the past called for people to burn only smokeless coal. Our two Departments are working together to further explore options for improved co-operation to mutually benefit air quality on an all-island basis.
