Written Answers Nos. 250-267
250. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that local development companies will continue to have a significant role in local development; if he will outline the way in which alignment of local government and local development may develop a positive partnership approach to bring more effective delivery of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7789/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is my intention that the expertise and experience of local development companies will be retained in the new structures outlined in Putting People First - Action Programme for Effective Local Government, based on a stronger partnership with local government and other key stakeholders.
In its report, the recommendations of which are incorporated in the Action Programme, the Alignment Steering Group recognised the key strengths of local development companies, in areas such as service planning and delivery. Programme funding will continue to be available to local development companies in respect of their involvement in such work.
The Alignment Steering Group identified the need for a more joined-up approach to service delivery at local level, focused on the targeting of resources at locally identified priorities. The Group recommended inter alia the establishment of Socio-Economic Committees – partnerships of public-private, socio-economic interests – within each local authority area with responsibility for planning, oversight and management of all local and community development programming locally.
I believe these Socio-Economic Committees will bring greater strategic coherence to the broad range of local and community development supports at local level, for the benefit of our citizens and communities.
251. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when approval will issue in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7913/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is funding of €314m available under Axes 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for qualifying projects. Projects that request funding of €150,000 or more, such as in this case, are required to seek final approval from my Department.
The assessment of such higher value projects usually involves detailed consultations between my Department and the relevant local development company. It frequently necessitates the provision of further documentation or clarifications. I understand that my Department has requested further information for this project from Cavan-Monaghan LEADER and is awaiting its submission.
252. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list in tabular form the unfinished housing developments in County Meath; his plans to progress these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7936/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the housing estates taken in hand by Meath County Council in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7938/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 254 together.
The National Housing Development Survey 2012 identified a total of 84 unfinished housing developments in the Meath area, of which some 38 were substantially complete. Further details can be found in the Survey, which is available on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie
The resolution of the various issues presented by unfinished developments is one of the major challenges faced by my Department and local authorities. The National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments (NCC), which I chair, is charged with overseeing the implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. The NCC includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector, and real progress is being made with regard to the public safety works required to improve the living conditions of existing residents on some unfinished estates. Under the Public Safety Initiative (PSI), my Department has made allocations totalling some €3.88 million to 21 local authorities from the funding made available to address immediate public safety issues. The types of works that have been approved to date under the PSI include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. To date my Department has received no funding applications from Meath County Council in this regard.
Queries regarding the taking in charge and provision of services in individual estates should be addressed directly to the relevant local authority. My Department does not collect the information sought.
253. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options for residents in housing estates managed by private management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7937/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no function in relation to the operation of property management companies. The Multi Unit Developments Act 2011 , which falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, regulates the management and operation of such companies.
In the matter of the taking in charge of estates, the legislative provisions in relation to taking in charge are contained in Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Section 180 provides, in relation to estates which have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority in accordance with the permission, that the planning authority must, if requested to do so by the developer or by the majority of the qualified electors who are owners or occupiers of the houses involved, initiate the procedures in section 11 of the Roads Act 1993 for declaring the road(s) to be public roads, for whose maintenance the local authority will then be responsible. It is a matter for the elected members to decide whether or not to take in charge the roads in question. In relation to estates which have not have been completed to the satisfaction of the planning authority and where enforcement proceedings have not been commenced within the relevant period, section 180 also provides that the planning authority must, if requested to do so by the majority of the residents as defined above (but not the developer), initiate the procedures in section 11 of the Roads Act. Section 180 also provides that, where a planning authority makes an order under section 11 of the Roads Act, it must also take in charge any open spaces, car parks, sewers, water mains or drains within the attendant grounds of the development.
255. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the LEADER and RDP funding distributed in County Meath in the past five years; the amount available for 2013; the other funding streams available for local community groups and or sporting groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7939/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAxes 3 & 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013, for which my Department has responsibility, continue to facilitate access to significant financial resources for rural communities. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them. Accordingly, it may be possible to obtain funding under the RDP for the type of local community and sports groups referred to in the Question.
There are 35 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. €105 million has been allocated nationally for LEADER activities in 2013.
The table details the funds paid under the LEADER + and the RDP programme from 2008 to date for projects undertaken in County Meath.
|
Programme |
Year |
€ |
|
Leader+ |
2008 |
142,161 |
|
Rural Development Programme |
2009 |
393,739 |
|
Rural Development Programme |
2010 |
696,330 |
|
Rural Development Programme |
2011 |
928,640 |
|
Rural Development Programme |
2012 |
779,465 |
|
Rural Development Programme |
2013 ( to date) |
82,270 |
257. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will meet Killarney Town Council members to discuss his proposals to abolish the town council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7965/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First, sets out Government decisions for a range of measures in relation to local government reform including local authority structures, functions, and governance. Chapter 6 of the Action Programme details policy decisions to replace town councils with a new model of municipal governance to strengthen local government within counties and address weaknesses and anomalies in the current system.
As part of the implementation arrangements of the reform programme, a Working Group has been established to enable the local authority members’ associations to participate in the process of implementation of measures relating to local government structures and related matters and accordingly, I do not consider it appropriate to meet with individual local authorities on the matter at this stage.
258. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on progress being made in relation to Ireland's greenhouse gas mitigation target for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7972/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on current projections issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland faces a potential challenge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by some 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent ( Mt CO2 e) over the period 2013-2020 in order to comply with the legally binding requirements of EU Decision 406/2009/EC. In addressing compliance with the Decision, Ireland must follow an emissions reduction trajectory over the eight-year period and achieve an overall 20% reduction in relevant emissions by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. I am satisfied that Ireland is on course to comply with the mitigation trajectory in the first half of the compliance period and I will review progress in terms of meeting the compliance challenge in the years 2017-2020 in light of, inter alia, the updated projections which I expect the Agency to issue in the coming weeks and ongoing policy development taking account of the final climate policy analysis report from the NESC Secretariat which I will be releasing shortly.
259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the exemptions to paying the water charge and the criteria to determine same. [7977/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Affordability issues will be addressed by my Department and the Department of Social Protection, in consultation with the Regulator, Irish Water and other stakeholders, in the context of developing a water pricing framework. The agreed approach to affordability issues will then be reflected in the charging structure established by the Regulator.
260. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person who has had to carry out remedial works to a septic tank may apply for the grant at this stage or if he or she would have to have the tank inspected before works are carried out; if a homeowner discovers a problem with a system, whether he or she can contact an inspector to arrange a visit, with a view to making a grant application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7990/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 17 December 2012 I announced my intention to introduce a grant scheme to provide financial assistance to households whose septic tanks and other domestic wastewater treatment systems are deemed to require remediation following an inspection under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012. The grant scheme will only apply to treatment systems which are the subject of an Advisory Notice issued by a water services authority following an inspection carried out under the 2012 Act and based on the EPA’s risk-based inspection plan. Full details of the scheme will be defined in regulations which I will make in advance of inspections commencing later this year.
261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has monitored the situation at an association (details supplied) in County Kildare with particular reference to and assurance that the association is operating in accordance with the regulations affecting such companies; if he has received communication from the local authority or issued any directions or instructions to the local authority in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8021/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 115 and 116 of 7 February 2013 which set out the responsibilities of housing authorities in monitoring the operation of projects funded under the voluntary housing funding schemes and which are managed and maintained by Approved Housing Bodies (AHB’s).
My Department will be arranging a meeting with the Director of Service and senior housing officials in Kildare County Council as soon as possible to discuss the council’s social housing programme for 2013 . Issues pertaining to operation and management of the Léim an Bhradáin housing project will be a specific matter for discussion at this meeting.
262. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will give details of the number of social housing and private dwellings that would benefit from energy efficiency retrofitting to on a regional basis. [8044/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including the compilation and funding of on-going maintenance programmes and pre-letting repairs, is a matter for individual housing authorities. The information requested with regard to the numbers of social houses which would benefit from energy retrofitting works is not available in my Department.
Under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock. The programme includes a retrofitting measure aimed at improving the energy efficiency of older apartments and houses by reducing heat loss through the fabric of the building. Over the past two years, the retrofitting measure focussed on improvement works to vacant houses with the objective of returning as many as possible of these dwellings to productive use and combating dereliction and associated anti-social behaviour. Over that period some €52.5 million was recouped to local authorities in respect of improvements carried out to 4,774 dwellings.
I am currently reviewing the terms of the retrofitting measure, in the context of the energy retrofitting work programme for 2013, with a view to possible changes to improve the effectiveness of the measure. I will be asking local authorities to target those older properties which may lack adequate insulation.
My Department does not collate information on energy performance of private dwellings.
263. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the decisions taken by the previous Government in relation to private waste water systems on foot of the judgement in the European Court of Justice, in October 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8045/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the European Court of Justice judgment against Ireland in October 2009 in which the Court found that Ireland had failed to transpose into domestic legislation the requirements of the Waste Directive regarding the disposal of domestic wastewater from septic tanks and other individual treatment systems, my Department commenced the preparation of legislation to ensure compliance with the Court’s ruling; this included extensive stakeholder consultations between October and November 2010. On taking office in March, 2011, I prioritised the finalisation of the legislation and this culminated with the publication of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 on 3 November 2011 and its enactment on 2 February 2012.
264. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount spent on outsourced security services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8473/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra265. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount spent on outsourced cleaning services in his Department; and if he will provide details of the companies providing these services. [8487/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra266. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown by country of the number of holiday visas applied for to visit here in 2012; and the number that were successful. [7801/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2012, over 88,000 visa applications for travel to Ireland were processed, of which 91% were approved. Of that total, around 39,700 applications (49%) were for "Visit Visas", which include short-term visas for those who wish to visit family/friends as well as those who wish to visit as independent holiday makers. Just under 35,000 of these (88%) were granted. It is important to note that the grant rate for Visit Visas from prime growth tourist markets, i.e. the seventeen countries covered by the Irish Short Stay Visa Waiver programme, is significantly higher at 96.5% (approximately 21,800 visas granted from around 22,600 applications). Central Statistics Office figures for the first half of 2012 (latest available figures) show that, in total, 43,681 trips to Ireland were made by nationals of these countries. The total number of all types of visas issued to those nationals in the same period was 27,000 indicating that over 16,000 visitors availed of the Visa Waiver Programme in that time.
The detailed breakdown of these visa applications is currently being processed but I can inform the Deputy that rounded figures for the countries with the top ten highest number of Visit Visa applications are as follows:
|
Country |
No. of applications |
No. approved |
Approval rate |
|
Russia |
6500 |
6370 |
98% |
|
India |
5300 |
5050 |
95% |
|
Nigeria |
4300 |
2900 |
68% |
|
China |
3400 |
3250 |
95% |
|
Philippines |
2075 |
1650 |
79% |
|
Saudi Arabia |
1630 |
1625 |
almost 100% |
|
Pakistan |
1600 |
1040 |
65% |
|
Turkey |
1450 |
1400 |
97% |
|
Ukraine |
1200 |
1070 |
90% |
|
Thailand |
950 |
850 |
90% |
267. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the value of the individual contracts to providers of direct provision accommodation; and if these contracts were advertised and awarded as per the EU public procurement regulations. [7792/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question relates to the spending and procurement policy of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, which is responsible for the accommodation of persons while their applications for international protection are being processed. Currently there are 4,836 persons accommodated throughout the State in 35 centres under contract to RIA.
Of the 35 centres in the State, 7 are State owned. That is to say, while the centres are managed by private contractors under contract to RIA, the land and buildings are owned by the State. Details of all centres currently under contract to RIA are available on its website - www.ria.gov.ie
A list comprising the value and other details of all contracts for commercial centres, issued by RIA between 2000 and the end of 2010, has been prepared for the Deputy. Because of the size of this table, it is not possible to insert it into this answer and it is therefore being forwarded to the Deputy separately. As explained in replies to previous Dáil Questions, it is not in the interest of the taxpayer that details of current individual contracts are known to the public or to other parties who are, or may be in the future, engaged in negotiations with RIA. Therefore, details of current contract rates are not provided. The policy is that at the end of January each year a table of contracts is updated to show all financial information up to the end of December two years previously, i.e. at the end of January, 2013 the records are updated to end of December 2010. This policy has been upheld by the Office of the Information Commissioner.
In relation to RIA's procurement policy, it is important to note that RIA does not lease or rent premises from commercial contractors. Rather, it 'contracts-in' a comprehensive range of services and facilities, which include accommodation, food provision, housekeeping etc., for a fixed sum over the period of the contract.
A distinction needs to be drawn in relation to procurement processes as between RIA's State-owned accommodation centres and the commercially owned and operated centres. The most recent tender process for the management of the State owned centres was carried out last year by way of public competition in accordance with EU Council Directive 2004/18/EC (co-ordinating procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts) as implemented into Irish law by Statutory Instrument 329 of 2006.
In relation to the commercially owned and operated centres, RIA had in the past advertised in the national press for expressions of interest from persons interested in providing accommodation and other ancillary services for asylum seekers. That procurement process was subject to scrutiny in the Value For Money (VFM) review in respect of spending by RIA on asylum seeker accommodation which was published in May, 2010. A copy of this review is in the Oireachtas Library and is also viewable on the RIA website: www.ria.gov.ie. The Review acknowledged the unique challenges in this particular area of procurement, e.g. the unpredictability of demand, the requirement to disperse asylum seekers around the country, local opposition to the opening of new centres, children settled in schools and so on. Among the recommendations of the VFM report was the introduction of a mix of ‘contracts for capacity’ and ‘contracts for availability and occupancy’ as well as a 'more open' tendering system in respect of the commercially owned and operated centres in the RIA portfolio.
The completion of the tender competition last year in respect of the management of the State owned centres enabled RIA to begin preparatory work, now well underway, on devising a more open tendering process for the commercially owned centres. As an interim measure, existing contracts are being carried over on short term bases. The contracts, as far as practicable, have introduced a number of elements recommended in the VFM report, for example, contracts involve a mix of ‘contracts for capacity’ and ‘contracts for availability and occupancy’ which have the dual purpose of maximising the occupancy of the centre while minimising RIA's expenditure. The task of devising a long term 'open' tender process is a difficult exercise as it has to take account of "non-money" issues such as access to social, educational and health services; adherence to long standing Government policy on dispersal of asylum seekers; as well as a recognition that other State agencies may have already committed resources in a particular region or area.
It is worth noting generally the decline in the number of persons seeking accommodation in the RIA system in recent years which has necessitated the consolidation of the accommodation portfolio. At the end of 2008, RIA was accommodating 7002 persons in 60 centres. At the end of 2012 RIA was accommodating 4,841 persons in 35 centres. During that 4 year period RIA had closed 25 centres and was accommodating 2,161 fewer persons. In that same period, spending on the RIA system declined from €91.5 million to €62.3 million i.e.32%.
