Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 23-30

Official Engagements

Ceisteanna (23, 57)

John Browne

Ceist:

23. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date of the last meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20474/13]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

57. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the latest date on which he attended a meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe or the national co-ordinating committee of RAPID; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20475/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 57 together.

Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) continuously supports and oversees the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy and its associated schemes, programmes and activities, including the Walks Scheme. The last meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe was held in Dublin on 27 February, 2013. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 15 May 2013.

On average Comhairle na Tuaithe meets 4 to 5 times a year. All of these meetings have been chaired by my Department, and I have not to date attended a meeting. I am satisfied with the level of progress being achieved and the number of initiatives, such as the Pilot Mountain Access Scheme and the proposed National Indemnity Scheme being progressed on its behalf.

With regard to RAPID, the National Monitoring Committee for the RAPID programme met on 6 October 2010. My Department last met with RAPID Chairs and Coordinators at a conference in February 2012 as part of an extensive consultation process in the context of the development of local government reform proposals.  As part of my continuing engagement with both the local development and local government sectors, I have met with many of the Chairs and Coordinators at different times and in various fora.  No meeting of the National Monitoring Committee is scheduled at present.  However in implementing local government reform decisions, my Department will continue to consult as necessary with the relevant stakeholders, including local authorities, Local Development Companies, RAPID Area Implementation Teams and others.

Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues

Ceisteanna (24)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

24. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will explain the way Homebond may be involved in the pyrite resolution process established by him when they have recently informed homeowners that all previous inspections and tests which they carried out were being withdrawn; his views on whether this amounts to a conflict of interest. [20425/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

HomeBond is one of the construction stakeholders who have agreed to set up a not-for-profit entity to operate a remediation scheme under the supervision of the Pyrite Resolution Board (PRB) . Under the proposed process, it is intended that the entity will be the borrower of the loan facility, which a number of financial institutions have indicated their willingness to provide, to facilitate the early commencement of pyrite remediation works.

The PRB will have responsibility to oversee and ensure the effective implementation of a pyrite remediation scheme for homeowners who have no other viable option to have pyrite remediation works undertaken and will work closely with the entity to deliver the maximum possible progress in remediating dwellings affected by significant pyritic damage within defined priorities. The PRB will receive and assess applications for remediation under the terms and conditions of the scheme. Only applications that have been approved by the PRB will be forwarded to the entity to undertake the next stages of the remediation process in accordance with the terms and conditions of the remediation scheme as drawn up by the PRB. The PRB will have oversight of the various stages of the remediation process and will ensure that the scheme is carried out in a fair and transparent manner and that the remediation works are carried out in accordance with I.S. 398-2:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Methodology for remediation works.

Local Authority Staff Issues

Ceisteanna (25, 51)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

25. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount that would be saved by the public Exchequer if there was to be one assistant fire chief in each local authority. [20432/13]

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

51. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline in tabular form, the number of assistant fire chiefs who were employed in local authorities in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the cost per year. [20497/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 51 together.

Under Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001 each City and County Manager is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements to carry out the functions within his or her local authority. While the specific information requested in the questions is not available in my Department, I understand that, overall, the number of Senior Fire Officers in local authorities have decreased from 270 in 2008 to 202 in 2012 (a reduction of approximately 25%).

The current figure of 202 is made up of 30 chief fire officers, 72 senior assistant chief fire officers, 72 assistant chief fire officers and 28 assistant and graduate fire officers. The highly trained and experienced senior officers provide leadership over a range of specialist safety and emergency management functions and manage delivery of the operational fire service with an annual budget of €260m delivered by 3,200 fire fighters. While generally senior fire officer grades are analogous to local authority engineering grades information regarding the remuneration of senior fire officers in individual local authorities throughout the sector is not available in my Department. Under the changes in service delivery structures contained in the fire services policy document “Keeping Communities Safe” launched in February 2013, there will be a reduction from 30 to 21 (or 33%) in the number of chief fire officers.

National Spatial Strategy

Ceisteanna (26, 48, 50, 61)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

26. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he plans to address the impact of the removal of the gateway designation for Letterkenny-Derry as a result of the decision to abandon the national spatial strategy. [20297/13]

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

48. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an assessment was carried out on the impact of the removal of the gateway designation for Letterkenny-Derry in advance of the decision to abandon the national spatial strategy. [20298/13]

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

50. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the consultations he held with regional authorities and local authorities regarding to his decision to abolish the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20455/13]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

61. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the creation of a new national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20454/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 48, 50 and 61 together.

The 2002 National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is Ireland’s first national strategic spatial planning framework. It provides the spatial vision and principles to achieve a better balance of social, economic and physical development and population growth between regions through the co-ordinated development of nine gateway cities and towns, including the Letterkenny/Derry gateway, and nine hub towns together with complementary policies to activate the potential for lasting economic development in their hinterlands and wider regions. The NSS serves as a strategic context for spatial planning in Ireland by regional authorities in their regional planning guidelines role, and for planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála in their statutory planning functions. It also seeks to influence investment priorities particularly in transport, housing, water services, communications, energy, health and education infrastructure. The 2002 NSS has not been abolished or removed and remains in place. However, proposals will be brought to Government later this year for a roadmap to develop a successor strategy that will take account, inter alia, of our significantly changed economic circumstances and to contribute to sustainable national recovery.

Electoral Divisions Establishment

Ceisteanna (27)

Michael P. Kitt

Ceist:

27. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the release of the local electoral area boundaries in Dublin and across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20449/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I established a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee on 15 November 2012 to review and make recommendations on the division of each council area, other than Cork City, into local electoral areas, and to make recommendations on the number of members of each council to be assigned to each local electoral area. The Committee was requested to submit its report as soon as possible and, in any event, not later than 31 May 2013.

Proposed Legislation

Ceisteanna (28)

Michael Colreavy

Ceist:

28. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made on the Climate Change and Low Carbon Development Bill and if he will ensure this Bill will be brought before Dáil Éireann this year. [20495/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In line with the commitment in the Programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation, I have released the outline Heads of a Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill, together with the second and final policy analysis report from the NESC Secretariat, for consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht and stakeholders. I have asked the Joint Committee to play a central role in the national climate policy and legislation development process. Having considered the outline Heads of the Bill, the NESC Secretariat analysis and the views of stakeholders, I expect the Committee to forward a report to me around mid-2013. That report and the NESC Secretariat analysis will be key inputs for consideration by Government in adopting a national policy position on the transition to a low-carbon future, and finalising the introduction of climate legislation in the second half of 2013.

Unfinished Housing Developments

Ceisteanna (29, 44, 158)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

29. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for dealing with unfinished estates. [20491/13]

Michael P. Kitt

Ceist:

44. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money made available to upgrade unfinished estates in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20451/13]

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

158. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total amount of money made available to upgrade unfinished estates in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20596/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 44 and 158 together.

I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. The Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector. Real progress is being made in tackling and resolving the issues faced by residents of unfinished estates and the Committee is meeting on a regular basis to oversee this effort. The NCC has produced a Guidance Manual on Resolving and Managing Unfinished Estates, a Key Stakeholders Code of Practice, and a Guide for Residents Living in Unfinished Housing Developments, all of which are available at www.housing.ie.

Site Resolution Plans (SRP’s) have been identified by the NCC as a key tool in resolving issues associated with unfinished housing developments. Such plans enable stakeholders, including developers, local authorities, financial institutions, NAMA and residents to collaborate in determining how best to pursue resolution of problematic sites. The process also entails working with stakeholders in identifying the best long-term solution for developments in terms of their configuration, use of vacant buildings and ownership. Such solutions also take account of the best interests of residents.

Under the Public Safety Initiative for Unfinished Housing Developments my Department has made allocations totalling some €3.877 million to 21 local authorities from the funding made available to address immediate public safety issues. In 2011, €2.49 million was approved, in 2012 €1.38 million was approved, and my Department will continue to examine and approve claims in 2013 as they are submitted by Local Authorities. The types of works that have been approved to date include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. To date, a total of €2.515 million has been drawn down by local authorities. It is not considered necessary to allocate any additional funding to this scheme at this time as the funds currently available are adequate to service this initiative. This funding is targeted at those developments where a developer has abandoned the development and serious public safety concerns exist. In circumstances where a developer is still active it is the responsibility of the local authority planning department to pursue the developer for completion of the development in line with the terms of the original planning permission. Similarly, where a developer is inactive but still in place the enforcement of the planning conditions is a matter for the relevant planning authority.

As outlined in the National Housing Development Survey 2012, the results of which I published in November 2012, real progress has been made in tackling the issues faced by the residents of unfinished housing developments, with a 37% decrease in the number of unfinished developments since 2010 and nearly 300 developments effectively resolved in the last 12 months. I am satisfied that the work carried out through the NCC continues to tackle the problems associated with unfinished housing developments.

Voluntary Housing Sector Issues

Ceisteanna (30, 156)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

30. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of houses provided under the capital allowance schemes and handed over to various voluntary housing bodies throughout the country since the inception of the scheme on a county basis; the full extent of the total cost of all such schemes to the Exchequer; the extent to which all such bodies continue to comply with regulations governing their operation; if the State investment is guaranteed and returnable to the State directly or via the local authorities in the event of non-compliance with regulations, articles of association or company law; the extent to which any breaches of the relevant regulations have been discovered and addressed by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20417/13]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of voluntary housing organisations, the companies for which were in abeyance or struck off in the past ten years, the capital for which was provided for in its entirety through the capital allowance scheme; if in such cases the housing stock concerned reverted to the local authority as provided for under the scheme; if any specific action under the provisions of company law followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 156 together.

At the end of 2012 a total of 25,371 units of accommodation had been provided by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies under my Department’s capital funding schemes since the inception of the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) in 1984 and the Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) in 1992. Exchequer funding of €1.3 billion was provided under the CAS for the provision of some 15,262 units of accommodation for persons with specific categories of housing need such as older people, the homeless and persons with a physical, intellectual or mental health disability.

Under the CLSS, mortgage finance was provided to approved housing bodies by way of loans from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to meet the cost of providing social rented accommodation for low-income families. At end 2012, approved housing bodies had provided some 10,109 units of accommodation and loans to the value of around €1.4 billion had been drawn down from the HFA. The CLSS was terminated in 2009 and expenditure in respect of projects over the period 2010 to end 2012 relates to projects at construction or approved to commence construction prior to the decision to terminate the scheme.

A breakdown of expenditure and the number of house completions on a county basis is not readily available for the period 1984 to 1992. Information in respect of individual CAS projects completed over that period is held on file in hard copy format only and disaggregated on the basis of the relevant approved housing body. Compilation on a county basis would involve an inordinate amount of time and resources.

Details of overall expenditure and numbers of units provided across all local authorities under the CAS scheme from its inception in 1984 to 1992, together with details of the funding and numbers of units provided under the CAS and CLSS on a county basis from 1993 to end 2012, are set out in the table below.

My Department’s role in relation to the voluntary housing capital funding schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds to support the annual construction and housing acquisitions programmes by the sector. It is a matter for the relevant housing authority to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the schemes and to have appropriate oversight and liaison arrangements in place for the effective administration of the schemes and for ensuring that the investment in voluntary housing is safeguarded.

Funding for both schemes was provided by the relevant housing authority to the Approved Housing Body (AHB) in the form of a 30 year annuity mortgage loan. The terms of the scheme provide that repayments of principal and interest charges due from the AHB may be fully waived, provided the AHB continues to comply with the terms and conditions of the schemes. Should the AHB fail to comply with the terms and conditions of the schemes at any time during the term of the mortgage, the AHB will be liable for the principal and interest charges and which will be recoverable by the housing authority.

704 housing associations were approved by my Department under Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 for the provision and management of housing. In 2012 my Department identified 86 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) that neither produced housing stock nor applied for any funding from my Department. These companies were no longer registered with the Companies Registration Office and their approved status with my Department was rescinded.

My Department is now proceeding to examine the status of more than 100 additional bodies that also appear to be inactive, and I expect to de-list further bodies in 2013 in order to present a more accurate picture of the size of the sector operating in Ireland.

My Department is developing an enabling regulatory framework for the voluntary housing sector that will provide support and assurance both to the sector itself and to its external partners. The development of this framework will take some time to complete. In the meantime, my Department has been engaging with the sector on the development of a voluntary code of good governance. The code will outline minimum regulatory standards that will apply to all approved housing bodies with additional standards and requirements applying to larger bodies. It is intended formally to launch the code in the coming weeks once all the issues raised during the consultation period have been considered.

My Department has not been notified of any case where an approved housing body was required to repay the mortgage loan to the housing authority. Any actions in relation to company law would be a matter for the Companies Registration Office.

-	No. of Units CAS 1984-2012	Expenditure under CAS 1984 - 2012	No. of Units CLSS 1993 - 2012	Expenditure under CLSS 1993 - 2012
CAS only 1984 - 1992	2,691	54,817,822	-	-
CAS and CLSS 1993-2012	-	-	-	-
Carlow	187	23,364,742	254	25,682,642
Cavan	125	11,909,588	48	7,572,783
Clare	203	24,779,683	131	13,817,865
Cork	844	75,339,448	585	87,407,333
Donegal	533	53,128,700	420	49,411,695
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown	543	56,704,986	372	88,359,392
Fingal	381	54,229,236	598	98,490,645
Galway	359	26,115,817	171	20,720,741
Kerry	402	36,308,949	169	24,040,126
Kildare	366	41,355,713	469	51,869,479
Kilkenny	437	30,448,702	137	11,601,074
Laois	212	23,618,197	271	41,994,935
Leitrim	64	5,200,152	44	6,794,422
Limerick	572	49,603,768	101	13,970,969
Longford	112	13,844,653	173	29,025,738
Louth	190	20,836,439	694	82,738,833
Mayo	409	44,465,905	193	24,495,541
Meath	206	24,795,248	180	19,176,925
Monaghan	211	23,565,241	76	9,586,442
Offaly	133	13,233,005	270	27,404,840
Roscommon	98	10,661,606	25	2,870,331
Sligo	237	22,270,981	237	20,578,029
South Dublin	263	48,069,356	992	140,695,928
Tipperary N.R.	233	19,312,943	132	32,351,024
Tipperary S.R.	262	22,342,762	390	43,128,519
Waterford	125	9,475,820	139	12,953,603
Westmeath	202	15,942,046	0	0
Wexford	230	18,229,776	284	24,218,602
Wicklow	265	20,585,094	85	8,060,232
City Councils	-	-	-	-
Cork	656	76,978,644	249	35,144,913
Dublin	2,465	246,492,029	1651	328,462,037
Galway	292	32,276,542	182	19,182,759
Limerick	335	32,227,110	99	8,599,823
Waterford	419	45,368,387	288	27,399,228
TOTALS	15,262	1,327,899,090	10,109	1,437,807,448