Written Answers Nos 176-184
176. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the costs associated with the establishment of Irish Water; if he will outline in detail the areas of spending his Department has approved for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17911/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that Irish Water and local authorities will spend on external consultancy contracts during the process of establishing Irish Water and transferring responsibilities and assets; if he will outline details of any tenders already awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17912/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the assets that will be transferred from Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council and Fingal County Council to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17913/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the properties transferred from the Dublin local authorities to Irish Water will be subject to local authority rates; if so, if he will provide an estimate of this cost to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17914/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 179, inclusive, together.
The Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy, which is published on my Department’s website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. A key objective is to rationalise the cost of the current service delivery and ensure more efficient operation of water services by moving from 34 water services authorities to a single body; following enactment of comprehensive legislation later this year, Irish Water will, therefore, become the water services authority from 1 January 2014.
The transfer of assets from the existing water services authorities to Irish Water supports the overall objective of delivering efficiencies within the sector by allowing Irish Water to control assets, revenues and costs, thereby supporting better economies of scale in terms of both capital investment and operating costs, and optimise borrowing capacity. The identification and valuation of the relevant asset base and the development of policy and legislation for the transfer of these assets is being progressed. Work is also underway on the boundary issues between functions which will transfer to Irish Water and those remaining with local authorities. The financial implications for the local government sector following the transfer of functions are also under consideration including the treatment of rateable assets which are transferred to Irish Water.
The implementation strategy is being rolled out under a range of workstreams which involve local authority, Departmental and Bord Gáis personnel and using the range of skills and experience in these organisations. Bord Gáis are also in the process of seconding 80 to 90 staff from local authorities and the Department to support work on the Irish Water programme. External service providers, appointed by Bord Gáis by way of public procurement processes, will be involved in various aspects of the programme including company establishment, customer service and billing and the water metering programme. It would be expected that all expenditure incurred by Bord Gáis would be subject to rigorous assessment prior to being incurred and to strict control procedures with a view to ensuring that the required work is undertaken in the most economically advantageous way.
It will be a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation in due course to satisfy itself in relation to the appropriateness of costs incurred in the operation of Irish Water.
A Local Authority Transition Office has been established by the City and County Managers Association to coordinate local government input into the water reform programme. The Department has agreed to provide funding for the work of the Transition Office, including the use by it of external service providers where necessary, subject to appropriate budgetary control procedures.
180. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if European standards regarding panic/emergency exit doors and fire rated doors are mandatory here; if it is mandatory that only locks and accessories to fire rated doors which have been successfully tested in a fire can be used; his plans to clarify building regulations in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17917/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Regulations set out the minimum legal requirements that apply when a new building is being constructed or when an existing building is being extended or undergoes a material alteration or a material change of use. Part B of the regulations addresses fire safety and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document B (TGD B) outlines how the legal requirements may be achieved in practice. Where works are carried out in accordance with TGD B, this will, prima facie, indicate compliance with Part B of the second schedule to the Building Regulations. Alternative approaches to that outlined in TGD B are permitted but in such circumstances the onus is on those availing of the alternative approach to establish that it complies with the requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations. A full review of Part B/TGD B is currently being undertaken by my Department and I anticipate that detailed proposals will be brought forward for public consultation by the end of the current year.
181. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider reducing the minimum turnover required for a company to be eligible to tender for any future contract for the installation of water meters, in order to open the competition to smaller companies. [17918/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procurement process for the sub-contractor panel has been developed by my Department, in consultation with Bord Gáis Éireann, to ensure that SMEs have an opportunity to compete for contracts. The tender criteria have been developed to ensure that sub-contractors have the capacity to carry out the scale of work involved to the necessary high standard. The approach being taken for the sub-contractor panel is consistent with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on facilitating SME participation in public procurement (that Department’s Circular 10/10 refers). A significant number of SME contractors have pre-qualified following the procurement process. It is expected that the successful regional management contractors will be utilising the resources of these sub-contractors for the purpose of delivering the meter installation works. As the procurement process is currently underway it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.
182. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the local property tax and its collection and distribution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17955/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 157 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, commencing in 2014, the Minister for Finance will pay into the Local Government Fund an amount equivalent to the Local Property Tax paid into the Central Fund during that year. Questions concerning the use of Local Property Tax revenue raised in 2013 should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Finance. The Government has recently indicated an intention to move, from 2014, to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax receipts within the local authority area where the Tax is raised. The remaining 20% of the Tax collected nationally will be re-distributed on an equalised basis to local authorities within the context of the annual allocations of General Purpose Grants.
I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including, a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and therefore a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision making concerning service provision - in particular, the inclusion of the local variation mechanism from 2015 will further increase the autonomy of local authorities; and, a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.
184. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of motoring fines issued by An Garda Síochána in 2012 and to date in 2013 for passengers aged over 17 years for not wearing a seat belt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17757/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that 1,419 fixed charge notices issued in 2012 and 234 notices issued in 2013 (to 31 March) by An Garda Síochána, for the offence of not wearing a seatbelt, committed by adult passengers of vehicles with seats for not more than 8 persons, not including the driver. It should be noted that the figures provided by An Garda Síochána are provisional, operational and liable to change.
I am further informed that An Garda Síochána conducts awareness campaigns and dedicated enforcement initiatives targeting high risk behaviour such as non use of seat belts with a view to promoting an improved compliance culture amongst road users and reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
