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Wednesday, 7 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 131-136

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna (131)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

131. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role and function of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Local Government Management Agency; the persons who are members of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Local Government Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48803/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The role of the Finance and Audit Committee, as part of the on-going systematic review and development of the control environment and governance procedures within the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), is to promote good accounting practice, better and more informed decision-making and continued focus on regularity, propriety and value for money throughout the LGMA.

The Committee also has a role in overseeing and advising on matters relating to the operation and development of the internal audit function, and to report to the Accounting Officer in relation to the operation and development of that function.

The Committee is not responsible for any executive functions and has no executive powers but exercises an advisory role in relation to its duties and functions.

The functions of the Finance and Audit Committee of the LGMA are as follows:

- To act as a source of independent advice on matters relating to financial management and control

- To oversee the internal audit function

- To assess whether appropriate action is taken to deal with key issues identified by the Internal Audit Unit and by external audit

- To examine and monitor the implementation of the LGMA’s risk management strategy

- To review and advise on the programme of work for the Internal Audit Unit

- To facilitate improvements in internal audit and internal control

- To approve and periodically review a charter for Internal Audit which clearly defines the purpose, authority, role, responsibility and reporting relationships with the Audit Committee, Internal Audit Unit and relevant management of the LGMA

- To assess the results of completed internal audit reports and advise the Chief Executive, the Accounting Officer and the members of the LGMA Board of its conclusions thereon

- To monitor the implementation of the audit plan

- To request special reports from internal audit as considered appropriate

- To foster the development of best practice within the Internal Audit Unit

The membership of the Finance and Audit Committee is as follows:

- Mr. Eddie Breen – Wexford County Manager

- Mr. Hubert Kearns – Sligo County Manager

- Mr. John Tierney – Dublin City Manager

- Mr. E die Sheehy – Wicklow County Manager

Local Government Management Agency Remit

Ceisteanna (132)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

132. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the newly established Local Government Management Agency claims that it will be a national centre of excellence providing, procuring and coordinating a range of service supports, required in the local government sector; the person who is the Chairperson of the Local Government Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48804/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) was established in August 2012 under the Local Government (Corporate Bodies) Acts 1971 to 2012.

The Agency rationalises the functions of the Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board in line with the Public Service Reform Plan published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in November 2011.

The LGMA was established to provide centralised and shared services on behalf of local authorities, particularly in ICT and Industrial Relations / Human Resource Management.

As part of my Department's Agency rationalisation programme, the LGMA will take on the core residual functions of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, which has been dissolved as of 1 November 2012.

The joint Chairperson of the Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board was Mr. Eddie Breen, Wexford County Manager, who will continue as Chairperson of the Local Government Management Agency.

Local Authority Staff Issues

Ceisteanna (133)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

133. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of permanent and temporary staff employed by Kilkenny Borough Council in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48805/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The number of persons employed in Kilkenny County Council in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 to date is set out in a table on a whole time equivalent basis (WTE).

Kilkenny County Council

Permanent WTE

Temporary WTE

Total

December 2008

564.50

51.17

615.67

December 2009

550.55

17.49

568.04

December 2010

532.75

12.49

545.24

December 2011

523.49

5.6

529.09

September 2012

501.4

6.6

508.00

Staff numbers for Kilkenny Borough Council are included in the overall staffing numbers for the County Council and are not collected separately.

Legislative Programme

Ceisteanna (134)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

134. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the point made regarding the urgent need for climate change legislation in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48806/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I refer to the reply to Question 700 of 6 November 2012.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Ceisteanna (135)

John Halligan

Ceist:

135. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 427 of 23 October 2012, in view of increasing levels of anti-social behaviour being reported here at the moment, the number of warrants issued and evictions being sought noted in his response seems to be very low; if he will clarify the number of the noted complaints and evictions recorded for 2010 and 2011 that related to Waterford city and county councils respectively; if he will further clarify the number of anti social behaviour officers employed in city and county councils across the State; the number of staff allocated to these antisocial behaviour departments within local authorities and the cost to the relevant local authority. [48841/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Statistics compiled by my Department show that one warrant under section 62 of the Housing Act 1966 was sought by Waterford City Council in each of 2010 and 2011, with no resultant evictions. No warrants were sought by Waterford County Council during that period. As stated in the reply to Question No. 427 of 23 October 2012, my Department does not collect statistics on the number of complaints received by local authorities.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 (as amended) and section 35 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 confer a range of powers on housing authorities relating to combating anti-social behaviour in their housing stock. Authorities are required by the 2009 Act to adopt an anti-social behaviour strategy. The exercise of these powers, including the allocation of staff to deal with this issue, is a matter for the relevant authority.

Homelessness Strategy

Ceisteanna (136)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

136. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of homeless persons in Dublin city and nationally; the plans and budgets in place to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48844/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The extent of homelessness in the Dublin region, where numbers are most pronounced, was reviewed and updated using the now fully operational Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS) and crosschecked against each of the Dublin local authorities’ housing management data systems to give an accurate figure of the known homeless population in Dublin. Following extensive cross checking and quality control to remove duplications and ensure accuracy of all data entries, the confirmed extent of homelessness in the Dublin region as at September 2011 was 1,891 persons. PASS, which commenced operation in the Dublin region in 2011, is being extended nationally on a phased basis with work currently underway in other regions. The PASS system will in future provide good quality, timely, data on homelessness nationally as an evidence base for all homelessness services.

The Housing Agency’s Housing Needs Assessment 2008 and 2011 reports break down the categories of housing need, including in respect of homelessness, for all 88 housing authorities nationwide. These are available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.

This statutory assessment of housing need, carried out every three years by all housing authorities, only counts homeless persons where an application has been made to a housing authority.

On 6 September 2012, the CSO published its special Census report, Homeless Persons in Ireland and it indicated that 3,808 persons were either sleeping rough or in accommodation designated for the homeless on the night of 10 April 2011. The rough sleeper count was 64, with 59 of those people located in Dublin. It is not tolerable that anyone should sleep on the streets but it is important that the homeless figures released are not confused with the number of people sleeping rough. The vast majority of people classified in the CSO's report as homeless are in long-term or emergency accommodation.

Government policy envisages a move away from the traditional bed and breakfast accommodation with the emphasis on housing authorities adopting a housing led approach. This will reduce the amount of time spent in homeless services, in particular bed and breakfast accommodation, eliminate the need to sleep rough and place prevention at the forefront of the delivery of services.

I intend to issue a policy statement on homelessness shortly. That statement will take account of demands on existing housing and will assess how best to continue providing services in a manner consistent with the elimination of existing homelessness and to ensure more effective prevention strategies. I will be indicating what I expect from housing authorities and other stakeholders in accelerating progress towards realising the ambition of eliminating involuntary long-term homelessness.

My Department’s current funding provision for the running costs of homeless accommodation and related services for 2012 is €50 million, which, together with 10% provided from housing authorities’ own resources, brings the total available funding to €55.55 million in 2012. This level of funding means that there will be no reduction in the provision of essential frontline support services.

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