Written Answers Nos. 435-447
435. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount distributed from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2011 and 2012; his plans to make distributions in 2013 and to what value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2294/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total amount disbursed from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2011 was €8.4m; €4.16m was disbursed in 2012. The Disbursement Plan of 2009, put in place by the Dormant Accounts Board, will be replaced by a new disbursement scheme in 2013, to be created in accordance with the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012. The 2012 Act, inter alia, amends Part 6 of the Principal Act, which relates to disbursement of monies from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Section 42 provides for the following:
- Making by me, as Minister of a disbursement scheme no later than 12 months after the “appointed day” relating to programmes or projects for which moneys may be disbursed;
- The scheme (or any subsequent amendment to it) must be prepared by me having consulted with the Minister for Health, the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Social Protection. I may also consult with other Ministers or persons;
- I must have regard to the policies and priorities of Government, the amount of moneys available or likely to be available, and the need to ensure value for money in setting out a scheme;
- The scheme must apply for a maximum period of 3 years, set out the objectives to be achieved by making disbursements and contain any other information considered appropriate by me;
- I may, from time to time, but must within three years of making a scheme and every three years thereafter, review a scheme or any part of a scheme;
- A scheme or an amendment to a scheme must be approved by Government;
- A scheme, including an amendment to a scheme, must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, and the Oireachtas allowed 21 days to consider it.
The legislation also provides for the preparations of an action plan each year following the making of a scheme. The plan, which will also be subject to consultation, must indicate the programmes or types of projects that may apply for disbursement and the maximum funds available. Different amounts may be specified in the plan in relation to a particular class or classes of programme or project. Once the plan is adopted, a copy must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, where it may be considered within a 21 day period. The plan must also be published. Provision is made, in addition, for adopting or not adopting a plan and for not proceeding to invite applications under a plan, if appropriate in particular circumstances. Any decision not to proceed must be approved by Government.
436. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a specific reason that credit unions remain exempt from the Dormant Accounts legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2295/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn practical terms, increasing the amount available in the Dormant Accounts Fund does not necessarily allow for the introduction of new dormant accounts measures or programmes. While applying the provisions of the dormant accounts legislation to credit union accounts would increase the amount available in the Fund, Government Departments and agencies would still have to source monies for dormant accounts measures from their existing Exchequer allocations, in the same way as with any other funding programmes. Given budgetary constraints , expenditures on new dormant accounts measures or programmes could therefore affect other existing programmes, and would increase Government debt levels.
437. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money spent on external public relations companies hired for branding, imaging and so on of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2361/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that following a competitive public tender process which concluded in October 2012, Bord Gáis Éireann retained the services of brand development agencies for the Irish Water Programme. A process to develop the vision for the new public water uitlity was initiated in November 2012, and will be developed over the coming year. The contract was put in place to deliver substantial research and consultation which will take account of the views of all stakeholders in the new public utility.
438. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the application forms for the upcoming septic tank grants be made available; where will the funding be coming from for these grants; the persons who will be administering this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2397/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra448. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the national inspection plan for individual waste water treatment systems will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2574/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra449. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will comment on any progress that has been made in fulfilling the commitments made to the European Court in the judgment of 19 December 2012, C-374/11, specifically those referred to in paragraphs 34 and 41 of that judgment; the reason for any delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2576/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 438, 448 and 449 together.
I recently announced my intention to introduce a grant scheme to provide financial assistance to households whose septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems require remediation or upgrading following inspection under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. I am making provision for the scheme in my Department’s Vote for 2013. The scheme will apply to treatment systems which have been registered by the due date of 1 February 2013 and which are deemed to require remediation having failed an inspection carried out under the 2012 Act. The grant payable will depend on the cost of the work necessary and the income of the household concerned, and the scheme will provide a higher level of support to households on lower incomes. Full details of the scheme will be set out in regulations which I will make in advance of inspections commencing this year. The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will make a National Inspection Plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. The judgment of the European Court of Justice highlighted in particular that the National Inspection Plan has not yet been developed. I understand that the Plan is very close to being finalised by the Agency . My Department will continue to liaise with the European Commission to ensure full compliance with our obligations.
439. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of requests Dublin City Council submitted to his Department for new fire appliances under the Fire Services Capital Programme 2013; the number of these requests that have been approved; the number that are pending and the number that have been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2437/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. 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 the approved purchase of fire appliances and emergency equipment as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations. Dublin City Council provides fire services on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority, given the current constraints on public finances. In order to deliver cost efficiencies in line with recommendations of the Local Authority Efficiency Review Group, and following the development of an agreed national fire appliance specification, a programme is currently underway for delivery of 17 appliances, which involves fire authorities aggregating demand nationwide. Two appliances are currently at tender stage for Dublin Fire Brigade and are expected to be delivered during 2013 . No other application is outstanding at this time. Further support from my Department’s fire services capital programme for any fire appliances, equipment or fire station projects will be considered within the constraints of available resources and will have regard to local authorities’ priorities, the value for money offered by proposals and the totality of requests from fire authorities. Fleet size, usage and age profile are also considerations in respect of proposals for appliance replacement.
440. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role that he is playing in the reorganisation and restructure of the partnership companies; if he will set out the process and if resources will increase if partnership companies areas increase (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2489/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPutting People First an Action Programme for Effective Local Government, provides for a more central role for local government in the oversight and planning of local and community development programming, in line with the recommendations made by the steering group on alignment between local government and local development. The alignment steering group proposed the implementation of shared service arrangements between local development companies and between local development companies, and county/city councils, to reduce the structures and resources required to administer programmes, freeing up specialised resources for frontline service delivery and thus achieving greater value for money in the delivery of services for the citizen. My Department has already contacted local authorities and local development companies in this regard and shared service arrangements are already underway in some areas. Separately in June 2012, in advance of the publication of Putting People First, my Department requested that CPLN Local Development Company, Dodder Valley Local Development Company and South Dublin County Council (SDCC) develop a plan to establish a single structure for Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) delivery in the two areas in question. The new structure will operate within the SDCC boundary and will facilitate the generation of efficiencies. In the longer term it will allow a more effective sharing of resources, reducing overall administration and operating costs, while at the same time preserving the core, front-line element of the LCDP. Following consultations between my Department, the Chairpersons, CEOs and Boards of Management of both companies and SDCC, an agreement was reached. This involved the establishment of a single Company by the end of 2012 to promote and deliver Local and Community Development Programmes in the South County Dublin Area. In advancing this work and the broader alignment initiative, I am concerned that the integrity of the local development model is protected as outlined in the Alignment Report, while bearing in mind our fiscal constraints.
441. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he can synchronise the following bodies boundary areas in order that there is greater overall accountability, local authority boundaries, vocational education committees boundaries, children services committees, child and family support agencies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2490/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile territorial configuration for the delivery of different services may, having regard to the particular requirements and nature of the activities, vary between different sectors and organisations, I have no overarching or coordinating function in relation to these matters. Nonetheless, the Action Programme for Effective Local Government Putting People First, which I published on 16 October 2012, envisages that new regional structures will have revised and strengthened functions ensuring that they play a significant strategic role, promoting greater cooperation and coordination between local government, central government and other agencies, thereby contributing to achieving better outcomes for citizens and better governance. Moreover, in the context of broadening the reach of local government in terms of collaborative work, with or on behalf of other agencies, the potential for a wider local government leadership and co-ordination role locally will be explored under the Programme to enhance public service delivery and achieve better results on the ground.
442. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the numbers of properties which have registered for the household tax per local authority administrative area, the number of waivers granted per local authority area and the number of cases where more than one property was registered. [2512/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government (Household Charge) Act 2011 provides the legislative basis for the Household Charge. Under the Act, an owner of a residential property on the liability date was liable to pay the Household Charge, unless otherwise exempted or entitled to claim a waiver. It is a matter for an owner of a residential property to determine liability and pay the Charge. The Local Government Management Agency is administering the Household Charge system on a shared service/agency basis for all county and city councils. The following table details the total number of payments and waivers registered for the Household Charge nationally and by local authority area on 18 January 2012.
I understand, from data provided by the Agency, that as of 18 January the total number of accounts to which more than one unit has been registered for the Household Charge is 784. However, as the system is based on a self-declaration format it permits a person to set up several accounts, each in respect of separate properties or sets of properties, and therefore such figures should be treated with appropriate caution.
|
County/City Council |
Properties registered and paid |
Properties registered for waiver
|
Total |
|
Carlow |
12,408 |
325 |
12,733 |
|
Cavan |
16,592 |
1,145 |
17,737 |
|
Clare |
33,496 |
435 |
33,931 |
|
Cork City |
28,463 |
176 |
28,639 |
|
Cork County |
94,496 |
2,636 |
97,132 |
|
Donegal |
37,480 |
540 |
38,020 |
|
Dublin City |
139,793 |
1,207 |
141,000 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
63,894 |
405 |
64,299 |
|
Fingal |
61,480 |
2,302 |
63,782 |
|
Galway City |
21,156 |
59 |
21,215 |
|
Galway County |
42,101 |
739 |
42,840 |
|
Kerry |
43,937 |
329 |
44,266 |
|
Kildare |
45,400 |
1,781 |
47,181 |
|
Kilkenny |
21,728 |
529 |
22,257 |
|
Laois |
16,600 |
377 |
16,977 |
|
Leitrim |
9,162 |
203 |
9,365 |
|
Limerick City |
14,168 |
227 |
14,395 |
|
Limerick County |
31,870 |
690 |
32,560 |
|
Longford |
8,653 |
596 |
9,249 |
|
Louth |
25,180 |
1,018 |
26,198 |
|
Mayo |
39,476 |
995 |
40,471 |
|
Meath |
38,727 |
988 |
39,715 |
|
Monaghan |
13,869 |
292 |
14,161 |
|
North Tipperary |
17,925 |
535 |
18,460 |
|
Offaly |
15,540 |
412 |
15,952 |
|
Roscommon |
16,822 |
422 |
17,244 |
|
Sligo |
18,410 |
283 |
18,693 |
|
South Dublin |
53,397 |
414 |
53,811 |
|
South Tipperary |
20,967 |
326 |
21,293 |
|
Waterford City |
10,716 |
169 |
10,885 |
|
Waterford County |
16,732 |
156 |
16,888 |
|
Westmeath |
20,498 |
364 |
20,862 |
|
Wexford |
36,454 |
1,253 |
37,707 |
|
Wicklow |
32,208 |
494 |
32,702 |
|
National |
1,119,798 |
22,822 |
1,142,620 |
443. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the funding for housing adaption grants for 2013 will be released to local authorities; the amount in total that is committed to this programme; the amount Dublin City Council will receive in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2532/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is currently underway on preparing the capital allocations under the housing programme for 2013. Earlier this month, my Department requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements for this year under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The information received is being assessed at present. I intend to announce details of the capital allocations to individual authorities as soon as possible.
444. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of the funding cuts to the Ballymun Regeneration Project, Dublin, since 2012 outlining in detail where exactly these cuts were and are to be made; the projects that will not be finished and the way it will impact on the completion of the regeneration of the area. [2540/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra445. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when will the remaining eight storey block on Silloge Road, Ballymun, Dublin, be demolished; it is out to tender at the moment and was due for demolition in 2012. [2541/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra446. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for all the empty spaces within the regeneration area in Ballymun. [2542/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra447. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the expected date that BRL will finish completion of projects on in Ballymun. [2543/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra450. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a report of the work of Ballymun Regeneration Limited, Dublin, to date including a report on the consultation process with local residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2582/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 444 to 447, inclusive, and 450 together.
My Department currently supports an ambitious programme of regeneration projects to deliver integrated physical, social and economic regeneration, ranging from large-scale urban regeneration projects such as Ballymun regeneration to smaller estate-wide regeneration projects in Dublin city and in a number of regional towns around the country. My Department has provided over €700 million to support the Ballymun regeneration programme to date. This has facilitated the demolition of all but one of the towers and nearly all the flat blocks as well as the construction of over 2,900 social, voluntary, private and affordable residential units, new local parks and playgrounds, neighbourhood centres and a new traditional style main street. The programme has also provided state of the art community facilities, such as the Axis theatre, the Leisure Centre and Civic Centre. The Ballymun regeneration project has now moved into the completion phase and my Department’s priority is to ensure that the remaining housing need is met while the investment provided to date is fully protected. All demolition and construction projects are expected to be substantially completed by end 2014.
In 2012, my Department committed to providing some €51 million over the period 2012 – 2014 to ensure that outstanding housing need in Ballymun would be met in full and that infrastructure projects needed to protect the substantial investment in regeneration to date would be provided. In 2012 funding of €30 million was provided to BRL to meet the costs of construction and demolition projects underway, ongoing social regeneration programme costs and the BRL administrative overhead. The 2012 outturn represented an increase of 20% on the initial 2012 allocation and demonstrates my ongoing commitment to supporting this important project. In August 2012 my Department issued approval in principle to Ballymun Regeneration Ltd (BRL) for the inclusion of a number of sites in Ballymun as part of an overall site reinstatement strategy and sought further information in relation to a number of additional sites. The overall objective is to protect the investment to date and concentrate on at-risk open spaces and areas which have the potential to become the focus of anti-social behaviour. A submission in this regard has recently been received from BRL and is currently under examination in my Department. In October 2012, my Department approved BRL’s tender recommendation for Demolition Contract 8, which provides for the demolition of the flat complexes on Shangan Road and Sillogue Road. It is now a matter for BRL to progress this contract. I understand, however, that the demolition of these units will be completed towards the middle of this year.
In terms of the consultation and communications process, given that this project is now moving towards completion, the emphasis has changed from the initial strategic level consultation with stakeholders, local community groups and residents associations in relation to the development and implementation of the regeneration masterplan to the local level of one-to-one engagement with residents in relation to relocation. Consultation and communication on matters relating to regeneration policy and practice is also facilitated by having local community and public representatives on the Board of BRL. BRL’s offices are located at the Civic Centre on Main Street and are open to the public from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.00 and 17.00. BRL have a dedicated Communications Team available at their offices to deal with telephone and email queries and also to deal with queries and complaints from members of the public in relation to any matter within its remit.
Notwithstanding the constraints on capital expenditure across the public sector, my Department will continue to support the National Regeneration Programme, including the completion strategy for Ballymun. I intend to announce details of the capital allocations for 2013 as soon as possible.
