Written Answers Nos. 172 -180
172. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the membership of the Local Government Management Agency and it's advisory groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46628/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe membership of the Board of the Local Government Management Agency is as follows:
Mr. Eddie Breen – Manager Wexford County Council
Mr. Peter Carey – Manager Laois County Council
Mr. Hubert Kearns – Manager Sligo County Council
Mr. Michael Malone – Manager Kildare County Council
Mr. Martin Riordan – Manager Cork County Council
Mr. Eddie Sheehy – Manager Wicklow County Council
Mr. John Tierney – Manager Dublin City Council
Mr. Michael Walsh - Manager Waterford City Council
Mr. Donal Enright – Principal Officer Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Mr. Paul McDonald – Principal Officer Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Mr. Barry Quinlan – Principal Officer Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
The membership of the Change Management Committee of the Local Government Management Agency is as follows:
Mr. Peter Carey – Manager Laois County Council
Mr. Danny McLoughlin - Manager Westmeath County Council
Mr. Jack Keyes – Manager Cavan County Council
Mr. Michael Malone – Manager Kildare County Council
Ms. Jackie Maguire – Manager Leitrim County Council
Mr. Conn Murray – Manager Limerick Local Authorities
Ms. Martina Moloney – Manager Galway County Council
Mr. Joe MacGrath – Manager North Tipperary County Council
Mr. Joe Crockett – Manager Kilkenny County Council
Ms. Mary Pyne - Head of HR (Corporate Affairs) Dublin City Council
Mr. John Walsh - Head of HR Cork County Council
Mr. Barry Quinlan – Principal Officer Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
The membership of the ICT Committee of the Local Government Management Agency is as follows:
Mr. Eddie Sheehy – Manager Wicklow County Council
Mr. Tom Barry - Manager Carlow County Council
Mr. Eddie Breen – Manager Wexford County Council
Mr. Tim Caffrey - Manager Longford County Council
Mr. Tom Coughlan - Manager Clare County Council
Mr. Pat Gallagher - Manager Offaly County Council
Mr. Brian Looney - Kerry Head of Information Services
Mr. Tim Lucey - Manager Cork City
Ms. Kathy Quinn - Dublin City Head Of Finance
Mr. Paul McDonald – Principal Officer Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Mr. Tom Mackey former Limerick City Manager
The membership of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Local Government Management Agency is as follows:
Mr. Eddie Breen – Co. Manager Wexford County Council
Mr. Hubert Kearns – Manager Sligo County Council
Mr. Eddie Sheehy – Manager Wicklow County Council
Mr. John Tierney – Manager Dublin City Council
173. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units in County Louth that have been identified as having a problem with pyrite; the number of persons this problem affects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46632/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the report of the independent Pyrite Panel, the pyrite problems appear to be confined to the five local authority areas of Dublin City, Fingal, Meath, Offaly and Kildare. The Panel was not informed of pyrite problems in County Louth.
174. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a geographical breakdown of the number of households in mortgage distress and for the number of households in mortgage distress in County Louth. [46633/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought in this question is not held by my Department.
175. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the provision of a new sewerage treatment plant (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46656/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Arklow Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a scheme to commence construction within the period of the Programme. My Department approved Wicklow County Council’s contract documents for the South Green and Harbour Road sewer network contract in June 2012 and I understand that the contract is now out to tender. Wicklow County Council must complete the planning and design for the proposed wastewater treatment plant in Arklow prior to submitting the tender documents for this contract to my Department for approval.
176. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his policy regarding incineration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46783/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his policy regarding mechanical and biological treatment of waste management; the supports his Department has in place to encourage this form of waste management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46784/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
The Government’s new waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in July 2012, sets out the actions through which Ireland will make the further progress necessary to become a recycling society, with a clear focus on resource efficiency and the virtual elimination of landfilling of municipal waste. The policy contains measures to ensure that prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery are favoured to the disposal of waste; the measures already in place to encourage the development of alternatives to landfill include a landfill levy of €65 per tonne and regulations which require the diversion from landfill of food waste arising on specified premises.
It is this policy approach, consistent with the waste hierarchy as set out in the Waste Framework Directive, rather than determination in favour of or against any particular process or technology, that must guide the necessary process of infrastructural diversification, which can be expected to involve the deployment of a variety of technologies and treatment processes across a network of facilities.
178. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans review the planning acts and regulations to ensure that the principles of public participation in environmental decision making is enshrined therein, in accordance with the terms of the Aarhus Convention 1998, which was ratified here in June and in particular in the context of the avalanche of wind farm applications throughout the country where consultation with citizens is mandatory under the said convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46788/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wind Energy Development Guidelines, which were published by my Department on 29 June 2006, provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for wind energy developments. This mapping of suitable locations is carried out through the development plan process which makes extensive statutory provision for public consultation.
Planning legislation provides for extensive public notification of proposed development at the development management stage. For example, article 17 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 – 2010 requires an applicant to erect a site notice in order to lodge a valid application for planning permission. Article 19 of the Regulations requires that this notice must be placed in a conspicuous position on or near the main entrance from a public road to the land or structure concerned, so as to be easily visible and legible by persons using the public road. Alternatively, if the land or structure does not adjoin a public road, the site notice should be placed so as to be easily visible and legible by persons outside the land or structure.
The site notice must contain the date on which the site notice is erected and state that the planning application may be inspected or purchased at the offices of the planning authority and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing, on payment of the prescribed fee, within the 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application. The applicant must erect the site notice no sooner than 2 weeks before making the application for permission in order to facilitate third party inspection of the application. Where it appears to a planning authority that any notice does not comply with these requirements, they may require the applicant to give further notice and evidence in relation to compliance with such a requirement.
Article 18 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2006 also provides that a notice be published in a newspaper approved for this purpose. Each planning authority must decide which newspapers should be included on their approved list of newspapers in order to ensure that the newspapers used for the purpose of such notices have a sufficiently large circulation in its functional area. In addition the planning authority must, under section 34(3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, have regard to any observations or submissions received concerning the proposed development in accordance with the relevant regulations. Furthermore, any person who makes a submission to the planning authority may appeal the decision of the planning authority to An Bord Pleanála. The Board in some instances, at its own discretion, holds oral hearings in relation to cases being considered by it, further adding to the opportunities to participate in the decision-making process.
179. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the financial cost associated with the recent letters posted to homes in Waterford city this week in relation to the household charge; from whom the list of names was obtained; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of these letters were forwarded to persons who are now deceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46844/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe communication and advertising campaign for the Household Charge is a matter for the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and the local authorities. The Agency and local authorities are seeking to maximise compliance among liable owners with the Household Charge, and thereby secure much needed revenue to pay for essential local services. I am also informed by the LGMA that during the week beginning 15 October, Waterford City Council issued 8,500 letters in relation to the Household Charge.
Currently no single database exists in Ireland of registered property owners. The collection of the Household Charge via a self-assessment declaration provides for the collation of such information in relation to residential property, and local authorities are continuing to identify undeclared properties through appropriate data sharing provisions. Significant efforts have been expended in matching self-declared information with other data sets and in refining the resulting data.
I understand that the addresses and names used in the letters which are currently being issued by Local Authorities, including Waterford City, reminding people to pay the Household Charge, have been based on a data matching exercise with the Property Registration Authority. I understand that every effort has been made to try and ensure letters are sent to current property owners. However there are some instances where letters are being sent to previous owners of properties, due to the fact that the more recent property owners may not have registered their property with the Authority or the transfer of the property has not been completed. Thus in some cases the information contained within these data sets 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.
I understand that the letters which issued in recent weeks invite recipients who are not liable, or who have previously paid the Household Charge, or in the event of inaccuracy or error, to contact the Household Charge Bureau to allow the Agency to update their records accordingly.
180. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to tackle rural crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46662/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the incidence of crime is generally lower in rural than in urban areas, I am very conscious of the deep distress which burglary and similar crimes can cause to householders in rural areas, and the broader impact it can have in terms of fear of crime in our communities. I also share the widespread outrage at incidents of aggravated burglary in rural areas and am confident that the Gardaí are doing everything in their power to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.
The latest official crime statistics from the Central Statistics Office show that most types of crime are in fact falling, and this reflects well on the work of An Garda Síochána. In particular, crimes against the person are down including murder (down 8%), as well as assault and related offences (down 9.7%). Public order and damage to property offences are also down (by 13.1% and 10.8% respectively).
I remain concerned, as does the Garda Commissioner, about the incidence of burglary and therefore welcome the progress being made as part of Operation Fiacla, which is running for 12 months initially, with effect from February 2012. The Operation is the subject of regular monitoring and review by senior Garda management and is focused on identifying and targeting gangs involved in burglaries around the country so as to disrupt their activities and bring them before the Courts.
Operation Fiacla is intelligence driven, and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda Region to target suspect offenders. These initiatives optimise the use of existing structures and local Garda management ensure that all personnel are fully briefed on the initiative, with Divisional Crime Management Teams playing a key coordination and implementation role. I am further informed that, as of 19 October 2012, 2,493 persons have been arrested and 1,404 persons have been charged as part of the Operation, reflecting the very substantial efforts being made to tackle this problem by the Gardaí. These results show that the Garda Commissioner is effectively deploying the substantial resources available to him in a targeted approach to confront those engaged in this form of criminality. I am hopeful that the successes of Operation Fiacla will be reflected in future crime statistics published by the Central Statistics Office in relation to burglaries.
In addition to the concerted law enforcement efforts which are being pursued by An Garda Síochána, crime prevention is a key strategy in tackling crime, in rural as in all other areas. The Garda National Crime Prevention Unit and Crime Prevention Officers at Divisional level provide advice, information and support to organisations, businesses and individuals aimed at reducing burglary and property crime.
Furthermore, the Garda National Model of Community Policing plays a key part in responding to crime by taking into account and responding to local conditions and needs. Under this model there will be a community policing team in each District, headed up by a Sergeant. Clear objectives will be set, such as high visibility in the community, ease of contact by members of the public, and enhanced support for crime prevention strategies. In this regard the Gardaí continue to work closely with communities to enhance community safety in a wide range of local fora, including through partnership programmes such as Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch.
It is the Government's intention to ensure that front-line services are maintained at the highest level possible through the most efficient use of resources. The Commissioner has my full support in this regard and I have every confidence that he and everyone in the Garda Síochána will continue to deliver an effective police service in rural as in all other areas.
