Priority Questions
128. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total registration figures for wastewater treatment systems to date broken down by county; the percentage registered broken down by county; his plans for those homes that have not registered; the expected date of the Environmental Protection Agency national inspection plan publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5668/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 requires householders whose properties are served by on-site wastewater treatment systems to register their system with their local authority. The deadline for householders to register was 1 February. At the passing of that deadline, 373,954 applications in respect of the on-site wastewater treatment systems by owners who registered online, by post or in person at their local authority offices had been processed and approximately 25,000 additional registration applications were awaiting processing by the bureau operated by the Local Government Management Agency. The table below sets out details of the number of processed registrations for each county and city council by 1 February 2013.
My Department will in the coming weeks discuss with the local authorities the approach to be taken in respect of unregistered systems. The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, will make a national inspection plan for domestic wastewater treatment systems. I expect that the plan will be published shortly and that inspections will commence in the middle of this year.
Registrations processed as of 4 February 2013
|
Water Services Authority |
Estimated total number of on-site wastewater treatment systems |
No. of on-site wastewater treatment systems registered |
No. of on-site wastewater treatment systems registered as a percentage of the estimated total number |
|
Carlow County Council |
7,190 |
5,369 |
74.0 |
|
Cavan County Council |
14,477 |
12,064 |
83.0 |
|
Clare County Council |
19,769 |
17,579 |
88.0 |
|
Cork City Council |
586 |
496 |
84.0 |
|
Cork County Council |
57,993 |
39,309 |
67.0 |
|
Donegal County Council |
32,955 |
20,284 |
61.0 |
|
Dublin City Council |
2,718 |
102 |
3.0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
1,928 |
989 |
51.0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
5,213 |
2,821 |
54.0 |
|
Galway City Council |
1,145 |
645 |
56.0 |
|
Galway County Council |
42,161 |
30,895 |
73.0 |
|
Kerry County Council |
28,277 |
28,153 |
99.0 |
|
Kildare County Council |
16,795 |
12,165 |
72.0 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
15,368 |
11,705 |
76.0 |
|
Laois County Council |
11,309 |
8,557 |
75.0 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
7,005 |
6,149 |
87.0 |
|
Limerick City Council |
420 |
205 |
48.0 |
|
Limerick County Council |
24,207 |
17,949 |
74.0 |
|
Longford County Council |
7,556 |
5,849 |
77.0 |
|
Louth County Council |
11,633 |
7,530 |
64.0 |
|
Mayo County Council |
26,659 |
22,586 |
84.0 |
|
Meath County Council |
21,687 |
16,159 |
74.0 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
12,065 |
7,423 |
61.0 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
12,342 |
9,931 |
80.0 |
|
Offaly County Council |
11,170 |
8,286 |
74.0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
14,297 |
11,973 |
83.0 |
|
Sligo County Council |
11,192 |
9,196 |
82.0 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2,266 |
1,085 |
47.0 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
14,442 |
10,971 |
75.0 |
|
Waterford City Council |
488 |
343 |
70.0 |
|
Waterford County Council |
11,466 |
7,655 |
66.0 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
12,165 |
9,506 |
78.0 |
|
Wexford County Council |
26,267 |
20,282 |
77.0 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
12,070 |
9,743 |
80.0 |
The Minister said that the national inspection plan will be published later this year. He has also said in the past that the inspection system agreed with the Commission will meet the standards required in the European Court of Justice ruling. If it is the case that the Minister has on our behalf agreed a system with the Commission on foot of that ruling, he should then publish the plan to allow people on the ground understand how the inspection scheme is to be implemented. That being the case, would the Minister not retrospectively extend the deadline for registration? Why has the plan not been published?
Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and some Independent Deputies have for the past year opposed this registration and inspection regime for ground water quality. In spite of that, 80% of people who have septic tanks have registered.
I thank them very much for this response in spite of the advice given by people not to even register when the fee was €5 at the end of last September. Many people in the Opposition cost citizens €45 in additional expenditure because they gave them very bad advice. We have carried out a major campaign to alert people to the fact Ireland has a European Court of Justice ruling against it. It is important to have good quality groundwater and an important part of the judgment is that people register. Without having a database, I would say the voluntary response from people has been magnificent and I thank them for it.
Hear, hear.
The national inspection plan which was sent to the Department in recent days is being examined and I expect to publish it shortly.
My question is simply if an inspection regime has been agreed with the Commission why has the Minister not published the inspection plan on how to rectify this situation? It must be the case that in announcing his grand scheme the Minister is sufficiently satisfied the grant amounts will be sufficient to meet the demands of the inspection regime. I accept the Minister has agreed an inspection regime with the EU and the Commission on foot of the ruling. I accept what he stated with regard to those who have registered, whether for €5 or for €50, but the Minister has agreed something in Europe and will not tell the public what it is. Why did we have to wait until now in the first instance and how much longer must we wait?
As I stated previously to the Deputy, inspections will not take place until after the registration process is complete. Inspections will not take place for several months. The plan will be published in the coming weeks and I have no difficulty agreeing this with the Deputy. It has been the subject of much detailed investigation with the Commission by the EPA and it was forwarded to the Department in recent days. It will be a national risk-based inspection plan and local authorities will be responsible for carrying out the inspections in their functional areas. Based on the number of people inspected, which will be a low enough percentage of those registered, people have nothing to fear; all they must do is ensure the system they have, under the conditions in which it was installed, is working.
129. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the development of primary legislation for dealing with the levies required to resolve the problems being experienced by families in pyrite contaminated homes; when a fully appointed resolution board will be in place; and if it will include a representative of the Pyrite Action Group in order to best address these continuing problems causing much hardship and concerns to the persons affected. [6050/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently received Government approval for the imposition of a levy on both the quarrying and insurance sectors, as recommended by the independent pyrite panel. Preparing the necessary primary legislation, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, is now under way and a priority for the Department. I intend to bring proposals to Government in this regard in the coming weeks. It is my intention that the Bill will be published and enacted in the shortest possible timeframe.
I previously announced the appointment of Mr. John O’Connor, formerly chairman of An Bord Pleanála, as chairman of the Pyrite Resolution Board, the establishment of which was also a recommendation of the pyrite panel. I am also appointing to the board Paul Forde, joint managing director of DBFL Consulting Engineers; Sean Balfe, a structural engineer with the National Standards Authority of Ireland; and Caroline Gill, a former Insurance Ombudsman of Ireland and deputy Financial Services Ombudsman. I will also appoint a representative of the entity being established by the construction sector to undertake a remediation programme as the final member of the board. The board will thus have membership with the particular range of skills and experience necessary to oversee the successful operation of the remediation scheme and to ensure the public interest, and the interest of the affected homeowners, is well served. Given the focussed nature of its particular role, I do not propose to include a representative from the Pyrite Action Group on the board. I am, however, confident the board will have the requisite mix of skills and experience, including in regard to consumer protection, to ensure an efficient and effective remediation process is delivered to all affected home owners.
It is disappointing not to have a date for when the legislation will be brought forward. Only the quarry and insurance industries are being levied. Part of the recommendation was to include the building industry. Why is it not included with regard to the levies? It is important that we move quickly because many people are stuck in the situations in which they find themselves.
Given what the Minister has said, we have agreement from the banks to a €50 million fund. Surely we can get that fund in place and work with the residents while we are sorting out the necessary legislative issues. I am sure that can be done. It is disappointing that we do not have a balance on that committee. I would like to have seen someone representing consumers, not just skilled people and those who are part of the industry. It is disappointing that we do not have a counterbalance in that regard.
I am disappointed that Deputy Ellis is taking such a negative view about a positive proposal. I would have expected that he would be supportive of the speed with which we are acting and getting money from those who are culpable in this regard - namely, the quarrying and construction industries and the insurance sector. Home owners' interests will be represented with great effect by Ms Caroline Gill, who is a former insurance ombudsman. She has a lot of consumer experience and has also been a member of the directorate of consumer affairs.
Contrary to what the Deputy has said, I will be proceeding as speedily as possible with the necessary legislation. For the first time, my Department will be acting to try to help home owners who have been affected, which is what this is all about. In addition, the Department will be monitoring the industry and those who are culpable regarding the type of product material that was supplied in this instance, which has contributed to the home owners' problems, as well as the financial institutions that will be making the necessary financial response to this matter. Although it is not directly responsible on behalf of the taxpayer, the State will be facilitating this process.
I have praised the Minister for moving this matter forward and have not been at all negative.
The Deputy is negative.
I am being negative from the point of view that the situation is serious.
The Deputy is still very negative.
I am also curious about how the household charge exemption for people with pyrite will be judged. It may be at an early stage but we will have a lot of people claiming exemptions which will be difficult to judge. Will the resolution board be examining that matter or will it be the Minister's call?
I hope the Deputy is not tempted to advocate that anybody and everybody should apply for an exemption on the basis that they allegedly have pyrite in their dwelling.
This will require a protocol to be put in place, so they will have to prove they have pyrite in order to get a property tax exemption. One would expect nothing less, otherwise we would have a serious problem with local government finance and I am sure Deputy Stanley would not like that.
130. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will advise the way in which the proposed transfer of the rent assistance scheme from the Department of Social Protection to his Department is intended to operate; the anticipated timeline of this project; if any local authorities have been selected for a pilot version of the new arrangement; the resources that will be required for the successful operation of the new arrangement; if the new arrangement will incorporate RAS application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5912/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2012, the Government approved in principle a joint proposal by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Social Protection to transfer responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with an established long-term housing need from the Department of Social Protection to local housing authorities. The new service would be provided using a new housing assistance payment or HAP.
It is envisaged that, unlike rent supplement, HAP would be paid on the tenant's behalf directly to the landlord within a stronger regulatory framework, with rental contribution from tenants set by reference to the differential rent for the local authority area. Some of the specific objectives of HAP included the following: to give local authorities greater flexibility to provide assistance to those in need of social housing support; facilitate removal of barriers to return to work for rent supplement recipients under a progressive graduated system; facilitate better regulation of the private rented sector, leading to improved standards of accommodation, better enforcement of levels of registration with the PRTB, and strengthened processes for ensuring tax compliance by landlords; and secure better value for money for the Exchequer in ensuring that rental payments are conditional on adherence to improved standards. The County and City Managers Association, which is represented on the project steering group, provides ongoing advice on the resources required by housing authorities to implement the new housing assistance payment. This input will continue as the detail of the scheme is developed this year.
It is intended that the scheme will be piloted by a number of housing authorities in the second half of this year, subject to the necessary housing and social welfare legislative provisions being in place including in regard to facilitating deduction of rents at source from welfare payments. After the pilot phase is complete, the scheme will be implemented generally, commencing in 2014.
In the first instance, it is very important that a decision is made in a single location as the dual process is causing serious problems. In this regard I fully accept that there are property traps within the rent assistance scheme. However, I note this is the single most prominent issue that arises in my interactions with individuals and I am sure it is the same with most Deputies, particularly in big urban areas. The housing list issue is not universally as bad nationwide as it is, for example, in Dublin, Kildare, Galway or Cork, which are really serious black spots. However, when the new scheme is being piloted, I ask that this take place in areas in which there is such a profile to enable the Department to ascertain what are the flaws in the system. For example, it takes months to process the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, in locations such as Kildare but yet it is very difficult to get landlords to come forward with their properties and-----
Thank you Deputy.
-----it is putting them off. I am more then somewhat disappointed that more details on this initiative have not yet emerged. I had hoped that in response to this question, I would have been given a timeline, the number of local authorities that will pilot it, the kind of resources that might be needed and how issues such as the embargo will be overcome. These are the questions on which Members need answers.
I call on the Minister of State to reply.
First, two legislative items will be necessary to introduce the scheme. One measure must come from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to introduce housing assistance payment, HAP, and the other must come from the Department of Social Protection with particular regard to deductions at source. As for the pilot areas, my Department is considering what would be appropriate pilot areas at present. I take Deputy Murphy's point that the Department should ensure it conducts its pilot schemes in areas in which genuine difficulties exist in order that we establish what are the problems and can learn from the pilots before implementing the full scheme. On her point regarding the lack of details, until the legislation is available and until the work with the County and City Managers Association has been done, this is as much detail as is available. However, more detail will be forthcoming as the year goes on and I will be happy to share it with Deputy Catherine Murphy and other Members of the House. On resources, deduction at source will be a big issue in terms of making it easier for the local authorities but obviously there also are other resource issues.
Will the RAS scheme be included or replaced and what will happen to it? Moreover, it is intended that all or some of those who currently are engaged in processing the rental assistance fund will be transferred to the local authorities? The kind of pressures that people are under in one local authority with which I am familiar is evident to me and there certainly will be a resourcing issue if this initiative is to be dealt with in a manner that produces the kind of results I believe everyone seeks.
In response to the question on RAS, it is intended that the HAP will replace the RAS system, albeit not absolutely immediately, as it will be a gradual process. However, it is intended that it will replace the RAS system because the housing assistance payment will be a similar way of paying, with a differential rent-type way for the tenants to pay. In effect, it will duplicate the RAS system and will take over from it. On the question regarding staffing, again this issue is under discussion. I acknowledge the local authorities will be under pressure but issues with regard to staffing have not yet been finalised.
131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the changes made to the RAPID programme since he came into office; the funding provided for this programme in each year since its inception; the provision for 2013; the number and dates of the meetings held of the national monitoring committee of RAPID since he took office; the number of these meetings he attended; the number of meetings he has had with all the chairs and co-ordinators together since coming to office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5669/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion in RAPID areas nationally. The programme was launched in 25 urban areas in February 2001. It was extended to 20 provincial towns in February 2002. Ballyfermot was added in 2006 and in late 2009, following an independent review of the findings from the 2006 census returns, five new areas were brought into the programme, namely, Ballina, Dungarvan, Enniscorthy, Mullingar and Rathkeale. This brings the number of designated RAPID areas to 51.
RAPID seeks to bring about significant improvements in the lives of the residents in RAPID areas and does so in three main ways, namely, giving, where possible, priority access to available resources to RAPID communities, improving the delivery of public services through integration and co-ordination and improving the opportunities for communities to participate in the strategic improvement of their areas.
I have not made any changes to the RAPID programme since coming to office. My Department officials last met the RAPID chairs and co-ordinators at a conference in February 2012 and the national monitoring committee has not met in the past two years. As part of my continuing engagement with both the local development and local government sectors, I have met many of the chairs and co-ordinators at different times and in various forums.
I will circulate a table indicating the funding provided for the RAPID programme for the years from 2004 to 2012. An indicative allocation of more than €2 million will be made available for RAPID in 2013 and it will be principally used to meet my Department's existing contractual commitments on RAPID projects throughout the country. These are mainly sports capital top-ups and CCTV systems, jointly funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Justice and Equality, respectively.
Funding for the RAPID Programme 2004 - 2012
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
|
Year |
Funding |
|
2004 |
€3.278m |
|
2005 |
€5.509m |
|
2006 |
€5.877m |
|
2007 |
€6.873m |
|
2008 |
€9.578m |
|
2009 |
€10.406m |
|
2010 |
€6.067m |
|
2011 |
€2.269m |
|
2012 |
€3.077m |
Does the Minister believe the RAPID programme provides a useful vehicle for dealing with issues in deprived communities? Will the Minister indicate if he believes the programme gives buy-in for local communities into their future? What certainty has been achieved since the withdrawal of funding for RAPID co-ordinators that the local authorities will continue to fund dedicated RAPID co-ordinators in each one of these communities, which are scientifically recognised as being the most deprived communities in Ireland? As there has been no meeting of the monitoring committee, is the Minister willing to have a collective meeting of the chairs and co-ordinators of the RAPID area and implementation teams to discuss the future of the programme, as was done under the previous Government?
I know Deputy Ó Cuív has a very serious interest in these matters, which I acknowledge, and the RAPID programme has made progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities, bringing forward important local projects in response to relevant needs. The Deputy brought forward a few projects in his time but did not provide money for them.
I did.
I subsequently found some money for certain projects in the five designated towns identified in 2009, arising from the same criteria mentioned by the Deputy. The Deputy was associated with leverage schemes and we had to seize the leverage that money could provide with regard to projects like traffic calming, graffiti removal and provision of play groups. That came from other Departments because of existing financial commitments. Social inclusion measures will continue to play a major role and I will ensure this is the case with local authorities when RAPID and other agencies are more closely aligned with the local government sector.
I will repeat the question. Is the Minister certain that local authorities will fund the RAPID co-ordinators from their funds? These co-ordinators are vital to the scheme. Will the Minister meet the chairs and co-ordinators of the RAPID area implementation teams to get their views?
I am glad to consider the matters raised by the Deputy and I will undertake to ensure that with the local government fund, measures taken to improve the areas identified by RAPID will continue to be prioritised under social inclusion measures in 2014 and beyond. In 2013 all we have is the money necessary for existing contractual obligations. The Deputy knows that when money runs out, as it did under his watch-----
It is top-slicing.
Much slicing was done in the Deputy's time and we have had to do a fair amount of salami slicing since to make up for what was done in those 14 years. We do not have money for everything and there must be priorities. I will ask local authorities to prioritise the RAPID areas for funding and I will consider meeting the chairs under the auspices of the national monitoring committee. I will revert to the Deputy.
132. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason for the delay in producing heads of a climate change Bill as promised in 2012. [6051/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on developing provisions of progressive climate legislation is at an advanced stage and I will issue outline heads shortly for consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and stakeholders. The short period of additional time which I am taking before issuing the outline heads of the Bill is related to the importance of ensuring that we get the proposed provisions right; that is the absolute priority. It will also provide the opportunity for me to bring forward the final climate policy analysis report from the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, secretariat to be released in tandem with the heads of Bill. As I have stated previously, I envisage a central role for the joint committee in the policy development process, most importantly on the critical issue of coming to a clear national understanding of how to meet our binding EU and wider international mitigation commitments, as well as pursuing our national objectives in a low carbon global economy.
From the outset of the programme on the development of national climate policy and legislation which I announced in January 2012, I have been very open that there are no easy answers to the greenhouse gas mitigation challenge we face. My intention is to ensure that the ultimate decision on the way forward will be taken on the basis of a fair hearing for all stakeholders and will provide a platform for a strong stakeholder and wider society consensus on the fundamental objective of becoming a low carbon, climate resilient society with a competitive low carbon economy over the period to 2050.
I am disappointed by the Minister's answer as he informed me previously that climate change legislation was at an advanced stage and would come before the House shortly. Trying to nail down the Minister on this issue is like trying to nail jelly to a wall.
It is like trying to nail what to a wall?
It is like trying to nail jelly to a wall.
I thought the Deputy said "gelignite".
The Minister is being highly evasive on this issue. This time last year, he promised the Bill would be ready before the summer. The summer came and went and we did not see it. He then published a roadmap and promised the legislation, which is in the programme for Government, would be ready by Christmas. This Bill was a Fine Gael priority in opposition and is also a priority for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney. The effects of climate change are no longer disputed. It had a serious impact on farm incomes last year when weather conditions caused farm incomes in some areas to fall by up to 20%.
Ireland holds the Presidency of the European Council and the Minister noted that we must meet our EU commitments on climate change. Last Thursday, I published a climate change Bill very similar to one to which the Minister put his name previously. The Government repeatedly challenges the Opposition to produce solutions. Sinn Féin has produced a solution to this issue and we ask the Minister to examine it. Will the legislation the Minister proposes to introduce include legally binding five year targets? Will it provide for carbon budgets to ensure the Government does not kick the can down the road, as previous Governments did, and leave a future Government to face a carbon cliff at some point? I do not want the Minister to continue this practice of putting off dealing with climate change. Will the legislation provide for clear, science based targets for 2050? Will an independent advisory commission be established to advise the Minister and Taoiseach on these matters? Will the legislation provide for accountability to the Dáil? Those are the questions I want the Minister to answer.
The Deputy has pre-empted some of the points I will make when Deputy Catherine Murphy moves her Bill on Friday.
I ask the Minister to answer the series of questions I asked arising from his reply to my original question.
I will answer them. However, I also wish to correct a number of points the Deputy made. I did not promise legislation last June.
The Minister did so in this House.
No, I did not. I have before me, in writing, the promise I made in the House, including with regard to the roadmap.
The Minister's roadmap is in a cul-de-sac.
I fully acknowledge that I am a few weeks behind time. While slippage sometimes occurs, I am bringing forward the policy analysis done by the National Economic and Social Council from the end of February 2013 to next week. The Deputy failed to refer to this document, which is the outcome of a process that involves the various stakeholders drawing up the necessary policy options and doing an analysis of how Ireland will achieve mitigation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a sectoral basis against a background of economic difficulty. There are challenges which legislation alone will not solve. People in various Ministries and sectors must produce solutions to ensure we meet the legally binding targets set out in EU legislation. We must comply with certain targets provided for in legislation as failure to do so would result in the European Commission bringing a case against Ireland for infringements to the European Court of Justice. Some of Deputy Stanley's ideas will feature among the proposals being put to government. However, I must secure the agreement of the Cabinet before I can inform the House.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I am pleased he will introduce legislation relatively soon. Sinn Féin is putting him under pressure on this issue because we believe it is important. Notwithstanding that the country is in economic difficulty, as the Minister noted, this issue is affecting incomes, particularly farm incomes.
Climate change is having a negative effect on their sector. Will there be an independent advisory commission and is a target of 80% being set for 2050 or, as with other EU countries, is it between 80% and 95%?
I am anxious to work in step with our EU partners to ensure that we have a competitive, low carbon economy. If we are out of step with them and fall behind the leaders, it might damage our competitiveness. We are working in step with our EU partners to comply with targets to which we are legally bound.
The outline heads of the low carbon Bill will be brought to the Government next week. I will then be in a position to inform the House of its precise details. Many of the ideas mentioned in the course of Deputy Stanley's contribution - I am sure I will hear them from Deputy Catherine Murphy on Friday - will form a major part of any proposal tabled by the Government. I acknowledge the contribution made in the previous Dáil by the Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, which did a significant amount of research on this matter. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, has engaged with stakeholders and put together policy analyses and options for various Departments. Hopefully, all of this work will feed into a broad consensus in the House on where we need to be in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions for our society and economic development.
