Written Answers Nos. 808-830
810. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has received communication from the various local authorities in connection with the need to address the local authority housing crisis he inherited from his predecessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16905/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s housing policy statement, published in June 2011, clearly identifies that the priority for Government will be to meet the most acute needs of households applying for social housing support. I am determined to ensure that the social housing programme optimises the delivery of social housing and the return for the resources invested. To achieve this, it is essential that we tailor the use of available Exchequer supports to prevailing conditions and explore the full range of solutions to address housing needs.
The social housing capital budget has been reduced from €1.535 billion in 2008 to €332.7m in 2012, with an anticipated outturn of some €299m for 2013, and the financial parameters within which we will be operating for the coming years rule out a return to large capital funded construction programmes. The Government is committed to responding more quickly and on a larger scale to social housing support needs through a variety of mechanisms, including through increased provision of social housing. In spite of the challenging circumstances within which local authorities must operate, the projected outcome for 2012 is expected to be in the region of 4,000 to 4,500 housing units. Given the current volatility of the market and different challenges to the channels of supply, it is difficult to estimate the likely output of new units for social housing this year. However, it is provisionally estimated that in the region of 5,000 units will be provided for social housing in 2013.
Delivery of social housing will be significantly facilitated through more flexible funding models such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme and leasing, but the Government is also committed to developing other funding mechanisms that will increase the supply of permanent new social housing. Such mechanisms will include options to purchase, build to lease and the sourcing of loan finance by approved housing bodies for construction and acquisition. There is also obvious potential, across a range of housing programmes, for the Government’s objective of sourcing and providing suitable residential units for use as social housing to be aligned with the commercial objectives of the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). My Department and the Housing Agency are engaged with NAMA to ensure delivery of housing units for social purposes.
812. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any review is underway regarding the shared ownership scheme for previous purchasers of affordable and non-affordable homes; if the rental equity held by local authorities on these homes has been amended to reflect the changes in market values over recent years; if it is proposed to devise a mechanism for the conversion of rental payments by purchasers to mortgage type repayments each month; the total number of homes that were purchased under the shared ownership scheme in all local authority areas since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16936/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra813. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts to be published, which was announced in the context of the standing down of affordable housing schemes as part of his housing policy statement; if this report will examine the operational aspects of the shared ownership scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16941/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 812 and 813 together.
The Government's 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. That review is now almost concluded and I have also asked the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to provide me with a stand-alone analysis of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures.
Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, will be made in the context of both pieces of work and I expect to make announcements in this regard in the coming months.
Statistical information on the numbers of homes purchased under the shared ownership scheme, as well as other affordable housing schemes, can be found on my Department’s website, www.environ.ie.
814. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if persons who own homes affected by pyrite and already have had testing and visual assessments of their homes undertaken will have to get additional testing carried out in order to avail of property tax exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16952/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulations are currently being finalised in my Department which will set out the methodology for the assessment of dwellings in order to establish significant pyritic damage for the purpose of being exempt from the local property tax (LPT). It is anticipated that these regulations will be published shortly.
The primary route for homeowners to demonstrate significant pyritic damage will be in accordance with the recently published standard by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, IS 398 – Reactive Pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1. This standard provides guidance on the building condition assessment, sampling and testing to be carried out to establish the presence of significant pyritic damage.
To be eligible for an exemption from the LPT, a homeowner must obtain a certificate, from a competent person, confirming the presence of significant pyritic damage on the basis of a building condition assessment and the outcome of the testing and classification of the sub-floor hardcore material.
Conscious of the need to reduce costs to affected homeowners, I am making provision in the regulations for the use, where it is feasible to do so, of test results from sampling and testing undertaken to classify the hardcore material prior to the publication of I.S. 398-1:2013. However, a building condition assessment will be required to be carried out by a competent person if it has not already been carried out.
816. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of planning appeals to An Bord Pleanála that were refused against the recommendation of the Board's own Inspector, for the Fingal region from January 2011 until 4 April 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16981/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatistics in relation to the percentage of cases where the Board have reversed the recommendation of the Inspector are available in the Board’s annual reports, available at www.pleanala.ie.
In considering an appeal, the Board must consider all submissions on the file, together with their own Inspector’s report and recommendation, and reach their own conclusion on the matter in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. If they do not follow the recommendations of the Inspector, the Board must be satisfied that the facts of the case support their decision. Under the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2012, the Board must also give the reasons for their decisions and must specify the various reasons for not accepting the Inspector's recommendations. I am satisfied that the Board operates these provisions with appropriate transparency, for example through the publication of Inspectors’ reports and Board’s decisions on its website and the publication of well documented annual reports.
817. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way the Pyrite Resolution Board will deal with homeowners whose homes have significant damage as a result of pyrite, where they built the house themselves and have no structural insurance. [16989/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pyrite Resolution Board, which I have recently established under the chairmanship of Mr. John O'Connor, former Chairman of An Bord Pleanála, will oversee the effective implementation of a pyrite remediation programme for homeowners who have no alternative avenues for redress. I understand that the Board is currently working on developing the scope and detail of a pyrite remediation scheme. Issues in relation to eligibility criteria for homeowners will be considered by the Board in the context of that work. Under its Terms of Reference, the Board operates as an independent body.
818. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when funding will be provided for the sewer extension in Aghadoe, Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16997/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra839. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will prioritise investment in the extension of a waste water system (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17380/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 818 and 839 together.
My Department has received no proposals from Kerry County Council in relation to the extension of the Killarney Sewerage Scheme to serve the Aghadoe area.
819. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the funding will be provided for the sewer extension in Kilcummin, Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16998/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Kilcummin Sewerage Scheme is included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a scheme to advance through planning. The Council submitted a revised proposal to my Department in June 2012. My Department has examined the proposal and has requested further information from the Council. On receipt of this information the proposal will be further considered.
820. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing developments in respect of each local authority that have yet to be taken in charge; if he will provide a breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17036/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought in the question is not available in my Department and may be obtained directly from the local authorities.
821. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of value of bonds held by financial institutions in respect of housing developments in each of the respective local authority areas; the way these bonds can be accessed by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17037/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraConditions attached to planning permissions for residential development must require the giving of sufficient security prior to commencement of development. Existing guidance to planning authorities requires that they must ensure that they are in a position to draw down the security in cases where a developer fails satisfactorily to complete a residential development, or phase of a development, within the specified period.
The guidance specifies that it is a matter for the planning authority to determine both the level of the security and the type of security. This can take the form of the lodgement of a bond from a financial institution, a cash lodgement by the developer to the planning authority or a letter of guarantee.
While the form of the bond, the amount and the terms attached are matters for the planning authority concerned, the arrangement entered into must enable the planning authority, without cost to itself, to complete the necessary services (including roads, footpaths, water mains, sewers, lighting and open space) to a satisfactory standard in the event of default by the developer.
The information sought in relation to the value of bonds held is not available in my Department.
822. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form details by county of the number of effluent management plans that were carried out in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17053/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra823. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that all local authorities are administering on a consistent basis the implementation and completion of effluent management plans as part of the planning application process within their functional areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17055/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra825. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if effluent management plans are a requirement under the Planning Acts in respect of on farm developments for agricultural purposes; if there is requirement on all local authorities to have the plans submitted as part of the planning process; his views on whether a requirement for effluent management plans is duplicitous in nature in view of the role of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in compliance responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17068/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 822, 823 and 825 together.
The Nitrates Directive and Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme are given legal effect by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010, commonly known as the GAP regulations. The objective of these regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers.
Local authorities are the competent authorities for implementation of the GAP regulations and are also empowered under the Water Pollution Acts 1977 to 2007 to prevent or control pollution of waters. In fulfilling these roles, local authorities may request information, for example in the form of effluent management plans, to ensure the compliance of on-farm development proposals with the legislation.
It is incumbent on local authorities to ensure that all proposed agricultural developments comply with the Water Pollution Acts and the GAP regulations. There is no requirement under the Planning and Development Act 2000 or the associated Regulations in relation to the submission of an effluent management plan as part of a planning application. Planning authorities may, however, when considering a planning application seek such further information as they consider necessary to decide the application in question.
My Department has no role in this process and does not compile or keep data on the information sought by local authorities for this purpose. The principal role of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is to check compliance of farms with the GAP regulations.
Consistency of approach to the implementation of the GAP regulations is overseen by a working group consisting of representatives from my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, local authorities and the EPA.
826. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if septic tanks will have to be registered again in five year's time; if so, if this registration will carry a further fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17092/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra827. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if exceptional personal circumstances, such as ill health and hospitalisation, can be taken into consideration in individual cases where the 1 February registration deadline was missed in relation to the registration of domestic wastewater treatment systems; if not, if he will confirm if a person who missed the deadline due to such personal circumstances may be disqualified for future grant funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17098/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 826 and 827 together.
The Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 provides that a certificate of registration for a domestic waste water treatment system is valid for a period of five years from the date on which it was issued. The Act also provides that on or before the date on which a certificate of registration is due to expire, the owner of a premises connected to a domestic waste water treatment system will be required to renew the certificate of registration. The Act does not provide for a re-registration fee and I have no plans to introduce such a fee.
I have 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 which was published on 19 February 2013. Full details of the grants scheme , including eligibility criteria, will be set out in regulations which I will make in advance of inspections commencing later this year.
830. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will respond to a query (details supplied) regarding planning permission in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17142/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 30 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2012, I am, as Minister, specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case, including an enforcement matter, with which a planning authority is or may be concerned.
