Gerry Adams
Ceist:421. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on his plans to release the 1926 census. [6817/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCensus of Population Publication
Ceisteanna (421)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department is continuing to work with the National Archives of Ireland and the Central Statistics Office with a view to progressing the preparatory work necessary to enable the publication of the 1926 Census in line with prevailing legislation.
Harbours and Piers Expenditure
Ceisteanna (422)
Michael Conaghan
Ceist:422. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding an application for a grant to extend the pier at an area (details supplied) in County Donegal. [7049/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On receipt of an application from Donegal County Council in 2008, my Department allocated a grant of €240,185 to enable the Council to appoint consulting engineers to prepare contract documents towards the development of the pier in question. This work has since been completed. My Department understands that Donegal County Council has not as yet received a foreshore licence for the proposed development and therefore no formal application has been made to my Department for funding to extend the pier.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Properties
Ceisteanna (423)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:423. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the location of all Údarás premises in counties Mayo, Galway, Waterford, Cork and Meath; if he will provide the breakdown by county; the size of these premises; when they were last occupied; the name of the occupying company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7282/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that Údarás na Gaeltachta has been requested to supply all information relevant to the Question. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that the details sought by him are extensive and it has not been possible to collate them in the time available. I can assure the Deputy that the information will be forwarded to him directly as soon as it becomes available.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (424)
Jim Daly
Ceist:424. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost incurred by his Department for assessing means of individual citizens for any reason on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7383/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised that my Department does not carry out any assessment of means of any individual.
Fisheries Protection
Ceisteanna (425, 426, 427, 428)
Martin Ferris
Ceist:425. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider instituting a compensation package for the Waterford estuary salmon fishermen similar to the 2006 package. [7064/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMartin Ferris
Ceist:426. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the criteria for salmon conservation on the River Barrow. [7065/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMartin Ferris
Ceist:427. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on salmon conservation targets for the Barrow, Nore and Suir rivers. [7066/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMartin Ferris
Ceist:428. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if drift net salmon fishing will resume on the Waterford estuary if conservation stock targets have been met. [7067/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 to 428, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Salmon Hardship Scheme he refers to was introduced by the state following a decision to stop the commercial salmon mixed stock fishery in the sea.
The scheme closed for applications on 31st December 2007. This scheme was targeted at commercial salmon fishermen who were active in the fishery at the time and funding was provided to fishermen for them to leave the fishery and diversify into some new activity.
The scheme was wound up in 2008 and all funds have been expended. The Deputy will also appreciate that in the current financial circumstances there is no prospect of revisiting such a scheme.
Conditions of the scheme included that nets had to be verifiably decommissioned to the satisfaction of the local Regional Fisheries Board and that no new licence would issue.
This scheme was administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and an independent appeals officer appointed for any applicant that was aggrieved by the decision of BIM.
The scheme was introduced because of Ireland’s requirement to comply with national and international legislation and obligations which meant a closure of the drift net fishery.
There were approximately 67 fishermen in the Waterford estuary who chose not to avail of the scheme. These fishermen had previously held public fishing licenses.
I am advised that the Waterford estuary is currently below its conservation limit and therefore there is no permitted salmon fishery in the estuary. Any future decision on a fishery could only be taken in the context of the estuary being above its conservation limit and at that stage national and international legislation and other obligations would have to be considered.
Salmon conservation limits are set similarly for all of Ireland’s 142 salmon rivers. The advice of the Standing Scientific Committee has regard to a range of considerations, principally, the size of the river (wetted area) and the latitude.
Other factors specific to each river include the proportion of one sea winter salmon and multi sea winter salmon in the population, and the average weight of these salmon.
Other inputs to calculating conservation limits nationally are proportions of male and female salmon and average numbers of eggs per female fish. The number of eggs required to spawn a given area of river is calculated from index rivers and then used to calculate the egg requirement on all other rivers.
The total egg requirement is then calculated for each specific river using the river’s wetted area and latitude. This total egg requirement is then calculated as total adult spawning salmon required (the conservation limit), split into a spawning requirement for one sea winter and multi sea winter salmon.
I am advised that the independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) for salmon revised the conservation limits for all rivers for the 2013 scientific advice.
New estimates of river wetted area were made in 2012 and the wetted area estimate of the River Barrow increased from 649 to 760 hectares. However, the proportion of multi sea winter salmon designated for the Barrow increased to 39%. Overall, these changes resulted in the salmon conservation limit of the Barrow reducing from 12,117 salmon in 2012 to 11,737 salmon from 2013 onwards.
The SSC have advised that salmon conservation limits will not be revised for a period of five years. The achievement of the salmon conservation limit on the Barrow has been assessed previously using declared rod catch up to 2006 when the river was open to angling. Since then, catchment wide-electrofishing has been used to assess the levels of juvenile salmon throughout the catchment.
The SSC advice for 2013 was the Barrow is failing to meet its conservation limit but the river has been opened for catch and release angling in 2013 which will provide data on the strength of the salmon stock.
Salmon conservation limits for the Suir and Nore are set on a similar basis to that of the Barrow but using the wetted area and latitude for the Suir and Nore specifically.
The Waterford estuary has a number of rivers entering the sea in the same area. Prior to any commercial fishing being permitted in the estuary area it will be necessary for all the waters in the vicinity of the fishing location to be in surplus at the same time and for genetic analysis to have confirmed that no other stocks are mixed in the area.
If genetic assessment proves that the stocks in the area are specific to local rivers only, and that analysis shows that these stocks are above their conservation limit with a surplus available for exploitation, consideration could be given to a commercial fishery.
Angling Season
Ceisteanna (429)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:429. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will bring forward the date for the opening of the angling season on a river (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7070/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that, as each river has a genetically unique stock, Ireland’s salmon rivers are managed on an individual basis by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Available surpluses (if any) of salmon are calculated for each individual river annually.
The annual surplus of salmon available on the River Maine is divided between the commercial and recreational anglers. I am advised by IFI that any extension (earlier opening) of the recreational angling season would need to be based on robust scientific analysis of available surplus, catch returns, counter information, run timing, exploitation rates etc. With the majority of these parameters the time series of available data is considered by IFI to be too short to draw any meaningful scientific conclusions and therefore, in line with the conservation imperative, based on the precautionary principle, no recommendation can be made for an extension to the salmon angling season at this time.
The independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) for salmon provide advice on the criteria that should be evaluated when considering a proposal for an extension to the angling season in any salmon catchment.
Alternative Energy Projects
Ceisteanna (430, 431)
Michelle Mulherin
Ceist:430. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will prioritise the funding of a cable connection to the wave test site off the coast of Belmullet, County Mayo, in order to make it operational in view of the fact that the lack of a full scale test site is causing the country to be left behind other countries in the research and development of wave machines with the loss of associated employment/business opportunities notwithstanding the fact that we have some of the best wave energy in the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6607/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichelle Mulherin
Ceist:431. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects the designated wave test site off the coast of Belmullet, County Mayo, to become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6608/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.
Any funding as referred to by the Deputy would have to be provided for from the existing multi-annual capital envelope for my Department. In the years 2013-2015 this amounts to some €254.4 million in capital investment funds to meet all capital requirements for my Department including areas such as energy efficiency and broadband schemes. As the Deputy will appreciate, this level of available resources will require prioritisation in terms of specific allocations.
Wave energy technology is still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally. The Ocean Energy Development Unit (OEDU) in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is working to take forward Ireland’s ocean energy programme, in line with the Government’s commitment to realise the long term economic potential of Ireland’s wave and tidal energy resources. In that context SEAI is working closely with the Marine Institute and my Department as well as the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
SEAI is working in conjunction with ESBI, the Marine Institute and other stakeholders to establish a grid connected Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site Facility (AMETS) located off Annagh Head, west of Belmullet in County Mayo. The test site will be a key enabler for the development of an ocean energy industry in Ireland. An exploratory foreshore licence was granted to SEAI in September 2009, which enabled site investigation works to commence at the planned test site location. A foreshore lease application was submitted in December 2011 and SEAI has been working with the Foreshore Unit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government – the application is currently in the final stages of consideration by the Foreshore Unit and it is expected that this will be concluded in the first half of 2013. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) carried out for the project has also been published.
Developing the test site remains a key part of Ireland’s Ocean Energy Strategy to ensure that Ireland is a competitive player in the European ocean energy arena and in December I granted consent to SEAI to purchase the site on which the substation for the Mayo test site is to be constructed.
Further developments at the site will be made within the context of the prioritisation of available resources as referred to at the outset of my reply taking full account of the Ocean Energy Strategy.
Energy Policy Review
Ceisteanna (432)
Michelle Mulherin
Ceist:432. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the terms of trading agreed with the British Government pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding for the export of electricity generated from wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6611/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation that UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey and I signed on 24 January will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of Ireland and the United Kingdom. This will determine whether it is beneficial for both countries to enter into an Inter-Governmental Agreement under the Renewable Energy Directive to provide for renewable energy trading.
The terms of trading in the context of an Inter-Governmental Agreement are among the matters to be addressed in the coming year. A key principle in this consideration would be to ensure no financial cost or risk to the Irish State or consumer.
Online Business Voucher Scheme
Ceisteanna (433, 435, 436)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:433. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the proposal made by Eircom to ComReg to reduce telephone line rental; if he will ensure that this proposal, if approved, will be applicable to all customers irrespective of location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6942/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Tom Fleming
Ceist:435. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will intervene with Eircom regarding a proposal (details supplied) to drop the price of telephone line rental by €4 per month to its customers in cities and towns as part of the broadband roll out in order to extend this €4 reduction to all its customers countrywide to also include its 440,000 rural customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7182/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Willie Penrose
Ceist:436. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will take the steps to instruct the telecommunications regulator, ComReg, to reject the attempt by Eircom to discriminate against rural dwellers by reducing the price of telephone line rental by €4 per month specifically for customers in cities and towns as part of their broadband roll-out plans; if he will ensure that the same reduction will be afforded to rural dwellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7187/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 433, 435 and 436 together.
In June 2012 the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) extended until June 2014, a universal service obligation (USO) addressed to Eircom, which among other things, requires that line rental for basic fixed line telephone services is available to end users at a standard price across the country. There are no proposals to amend this obligation.
Separately, ComReg published a decision (ref. no., 13/14) on its website last week, which allows Eircom greater flexibility in setting wholesale rates for bundled services offered to its competitors at telephone exchanges where there is already active competition among service providers and/or exchanges where next generation access services are available. The retail price for basic fixed line telephone services is not altered as a consequence of the decision and remains at a standard price across the country in line with Eircom’s universal service obligation. This was an independent decision reached by ComReg in accordance with its mandate. I had no statutory function in the process.
Broadband Services Provision
Ceisteanna (434)
Regina Doherty
Ceist:434. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in bringing broadband to rural areas (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7179/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and since then has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available on a County-by-County basis can be found on the website of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) at www.callcosts.ie .
The Government has undertaken a number of initiatives to bring broadband to those parts of the country where operators have been unable to offer services on a commercial basis.
The State only becomes involved in the provision of services in instances of clear market failure, such as in the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). My Department entered into a contract in late 2008 with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (“3”) for the delivery of the NBS. The Scheme offers a basic broadband service, in line with EU State aid clearance, to fixed residences and businesses located within certain designated Electoral Divisions.
In County Meath, NBS services are available within 18 of its 92 Electoral Divisions. The area of Kilbride was excluded from the NBS as it was deemed, at the time of the comprehensive mapping exercise carried out prior to the launch of the Scheme, to be already served by at least one private operator. Under EU State Aid rules, the NBS is prohibited from providing a service in served areas where to do so would give rise to an unacceptable level of market distortion.
The 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 broadband provision. This Scheme was aimed at making a basic broadband service available to un-served premises in rural areas, not already covered by the NBS. Commercial service providers were in a position to offer services to almost all applicants under the Scheme who agreed to engage with them, including applicants from County Meath. In addition to consumer services, there are State-funded Metropolitan Area Networks in Navan, Dunboyne, Clonee, Dunsaughlin, Kells and Trim. These networks provide high capacity fibre connectivity for businesses and telecoms operators in the region.
The combination of private investment and State interventions means that Ireland has met the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013, and the focus is now on accelerating the roll out of high speed services.
The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, 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.
Specifically, it commits to: 70Mbps to 100Mbps available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by 2015; At least 40Mbps, and in many cases faster speeds, to at least a further 20% and potentially as much as 35% of the population; and A minimum of 30Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country.
During the preparation of Ireland’s National Broadband Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70Mbps to 100Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015.
The commercial sector is already making these investments in high speed services, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. The Government is also committed in the Plan to investing in areas where high speed services are not commercially viable and will not be provided by the market.
My Department is making preparations to commence a formal national mapping exercise to identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years. This will inform the level of Government interaction that may be required and the areas that need to be targeted for a State-led investment. It will also form a critical input to an EU State Aid application in respect of any State-led intervention.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, we are committed to increasing the availability of next generation speeds significantly, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and business can participate fully in a digitally enabled society.
I would reiterate that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to above, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including Kilbride and other rural areas in County Meath, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.
Questions Nos. 435 and 436 answered with Question No. 433.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (437)
Jim Daly
Ceist:437. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost incurred by his Department for assessing means of individual citizens for any reason on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not involved in any means testing of individuals.
Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility
Ceisteanna (438)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:438. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if women who flee domestic violence situations in their own homes are entitled to be placed on a social housing waiting list; the legislation this is governed by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6883/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are a range of services available to deal with needs arising in cases of domestic violence, both in terms of protection of the abused partner and any children, and any need for emergency accommodation. Persons who are subjected to domestic violence do not need to go on the general housing waiting lists to avail of short-term emergency housing.Where a social housing assessment is an appropriate longer-term response to a case of domestic violence, the household concerned may be determined to be in need of social housing support where, in accordance with the 2011 social housing assessment regulations, a housing authority considers that the household’s current accommodation is unsuitable in terms of adequate housing provision, having regard to particular household circumstances or on exceptional medical or compassionate grounds. The household must also meet other relevant need and eligibility criteria prescribed in the 2011 regulations in order to qualify for social housing support, and be entered on a housing authority list of qualified households.
Mortgage to Rent Scheme Application Numbers
Ceisteanna (439, 451, 467, 468)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:439. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm the number of mortgage to rent transactions that have been fully completed to date; if he will confirm the number currently at an advanced stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Simon Harris
Ceist:451. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of implementing the mortgage to rent scheme whereby a homeowner who is unable to pay their mortgage can hand possession of their home to a local authority and continue to reside in their home; the way a person would go about applying for this scheme and if this scheme is now available in all local authorities; the number of persons he envisages being able to avail of this scheme and the criteria which needs to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6721/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Barry Cowen
Ceist:467. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of people that have taken up the mortgage to rent scheme by the end of 2012; the number expected to take it up in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7194/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraBarry Cowen
Ceist:468. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of people that availed of the mortgage to rent scheme by the end of 2012 broken down on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7195/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 439, 451, 467 and 468 together.
On foot of the recommendations of the Keane Report on mortgage arrears the Government launched a mortgage to rent scheme on a pilot basis in February 2012. This scheme was extended nationally in June 2012, targeting those low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. The scheme ensures that the family remains in their home, while ownership is transferred to an approved housing body who in turn rent it to the original owners.
Householders seeking to avail of the mortgage to rent scheme must:
- have been involved in the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) with their lender and agree that they can no longer afford to pay their mortgage loan now or in the future;
- own the property they live in, with a current market value of less than €220,000 in the Dublin area or less than €180 ,000 in the rest of the country;
- have their property in good condition, in a suitable location and which must suit their current needs ;
- not own any other property or have assets in excess of €20,000;
- be eligible for social housing;
- have a long-term right to remain in Ireland.
At the end of 2012, 558 cases had been submitted by lenders. Of these, 289 were being processed, and 136 borrowers had been engaged with or were in the process of being engaged with by the lender. Sales had been agreed on 8 properties, with 2 of these having been completed. Full details of those availing of the Scheme by end 2012 on a county basis are set out in the table below.
The numbers of completed transactions is low but significant progress has been made. All of the main lenders and so called sub-prime lenders are fully engaged and have instituted the necessary internal processes. It is also important to bear in mind that the transition from being a homeowner to a social housing tenant is a major one for families. Mortgage to rent or other such interventions cannot be rushed for any party. For example, the process provides a 60 day decision period and a 28 day cooling off period within the timeframe of the scheme. My Department estimates that the overall timeframe per case from start to completed transaction will be up to eight months. This compares favourably to the timeframes in other jurisdictions operating similar schemes.
My Department has budgeted for the resolution of roughly 250 Mortgage-To-Rent transactions in 2013.
Breakdown of MTR applications at end 2012 by local authority:
|
County |
Submitted by Lender |
Being Process |
Engaging with Borrower |
Social Housing Support |
Valuation |
Sale Agreed |
Completed |
|
Carlow |
16 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
22 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare |
15 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork City |
14 |
11 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork County |
43 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Dublin City |
66 |
42 |
23 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
Dublin Dun Laoire |
9 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
40 |
24 |
16 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Dublin South |
48 |
31 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
Donegal |
15 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway City |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway County |
27 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
13 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
34 |
25 |
13 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
15 |
10 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Laois |
14 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick City |
16 |
12 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick County |
20 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Longford |
9 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Louth |
32 |
20 |
13 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
13 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath |
59 |
37 |
18 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
8 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
21 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
10 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tipperary North |
16 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Tipperary South |
19 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford City |
9 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford County |
9 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
19 |
12 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wexford |
30 |
15 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
21 |
15 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
708 |
369 |
182 |
48 |
25 |
16 |
8 |
Water Charges Introduction
Ceisteanna (440)
Joan Collins
Ceist:440. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm as per the IMF staff report on Ireland of December 2012, that he has given a commitment to bring in water charges in the near future; the way in which charges will be calculated; the methods of collection that have been proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7110/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government and the Memorandum of Understanding with the EU, the IMF and the ECB provide for the introduction of domestic water charges. It is not intended that domestic water charges will commence before 2014. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Government has also decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the metering programme.
The Water Services Bill 2013, consideration of which will continue in Dáil Éireann this week, will assign the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme. The Bill also assigns to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) the power to advise the Government on the development of a regulatory framework for water services. The Government intends assigning to CER a full range of regulatory powers before the commencement of domestic water charges. This will include powers to set tariffs as well as the establishment of customer protection and dispute resolution measures. The framework for water charges will be developed, consulted on and approved by CER as part of the regulatory process.
Irish Water will be required to have a range of options in place to assist householders in paying their bills. For example, a wide range of flexible payment options is available for the other utility services and it is expected that these will be replicated for water services.
Water Charges Introduction
Ceisteanna (441, 455, 470)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:441. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to assess water charges until water meters are implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6579/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Peter Mathews
Ceist:455. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if apartment complexes will have individual water meters installed for each unit throughout the complex or will one unit be installed and the cost of water used be charged to the management company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6845/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Eoghan Murphy
Ceist:470. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the way he intends to deal with water charges in apartment buildings; and if he will give a commitment that each apartment will have its own meter. [7226/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 441, 455 and 470 together.
The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has therefore decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the domestic water metering programme and for the collection of water charges from households from 2014.
The Government has also decided to assign responsibility for the economic regulation of the water sector, including the setting of charges, to the Commission for Energy Regulation. The primary role of the regulator will be to protect the interests of customers and to ensure a consistent and appropriate level of service is provided to them.
As the metering programme will still be underway in 2014, an appropriate approach to charging customers who are not metered at that stage will be put in place. This will be structured in such a way as to ensure that it represents a reasonable proxy for usage and is fair. The approach to charges for both metered and unmetered properties will be included in a public consultation taking place this year as part of the regulatory process.
My Department estimates that up to 300,000 households may not be metered in the initial metering programme due to either the high cost or the technical difficulty of doing so. Where conventional meter installation is not possible, it is intended that alternative approaches will be considered. For example, for housing units in apartment complexes, internal metering may be considered.
Water and Sewerage Schemes Status
Ceisteanna (442)
Michelle Mulherin
Ceist:442. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the provision of a sewerage scheme for Belmullet, County Mayo; if he will prioritise the funding of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6583/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 201 3, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library, includes a contract for wastewater treatment plants and associated networks for the Belmullet, Foxford and Charlestown Sewerage Scheme to advance to construction during the period of the Programme at an estimated cost of €14.3 million.
The Environmental Protection Agency granted a discharge licence for Belmullet on the 20 December 2012 and this will allow my Department to finalise its examination of Mayo County Council’s application for a foreshore licence in respect of the outfall for the wastewater treatment plant.
A decision on Mayo County Council’s design brief for the appointment of consultants to advance the procurement of the three wastewater treatment plants and associated works under a single Design Build Operate (DBO) will be made by my Department as soon as possible. This decision will also assist the Council to determine the scale and scope of the works to be carried out on the collection systems at the three locations, and whether to incorporate those works into the DBO contract or to procure them under separate contracts.
Planning Issues
Ceisteanna (443)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:443. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider measures to assist the construction industry by increasing the planning permission exemption dimension limits for extensions to private houses, such as the recent UK initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6592/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2011, all development, unless specifically exempted under the Acts or associated Regulations, requires planning permission. Article 6 and Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development Regulations, 2001 set out certain classes of development which are exempt from planning permission requirements. Class 1 of Schedule 2 of the 2001 Regulations provides an exemption from planning permission for the extension of a house, by the construction or erection of an extension (including a conservatory) to the rear of the house or by the conversion for use as part of the house of any garage, store, shed or other similar structure attached to the rear or to the side of the house. This exemption applies where the house has not been extended previously, and the floor area of any such extension does not exceed 40 square metres. The exemption is subject to compliance with a number of other conditions and limitations.
There is a balance, in providing for exemptions from planning permission, between streamlining the consent process for minor works and supporting proper planning and sustainable development, including the need to ensure adequate third party participation rights. While all aspects of the existing regime for exempted development are kept under on-going monitoring and review, I have no plans to amend this exemption at this time.