Written Answers Nos. 55-62
55. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the time frame for the roll out and completion of metering across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20452/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 402 of 30 April 2013 which sets out the position in this matter.
56. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the work he is doing to ensure that the regeneration of Dolphin House and St. Teresa's Gardens, Dublin, progress without delay. [20485/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraNotwithstanding the constraints on capital expenditure across all the various measures under my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme, I am continuing to support the National Regeneration Programme to the fullest extent possible. I am determined that there will be no loss of momentum in 2013 in progressing regeneration projects in Dublin City, including the Dolphin House and St Teresa’s Gardens projects, and the other priority projects in Limerick City, Cork City and in a number of regional towns around the country. I recently announced allocations of €80 million for regeneration projects nationally in 2013, including some €31 million for regeneration projects in Dublin City.
Draft schematic regeneration proposals for the redevelopment of Dolphin House and St. Teresa’s Gardens were developed by Dublin City Council and submitted to my Department in March 2012. Since then, my Department has been continually liaising with the Council to further develop these proposals for incorporation into an overall Masterplan. I expect this process to be completed shortly. The City Council will then be in a position to provide projected multi-annual funding requirements for the future regeneration of both areas. Funding for the various constituent elements of these schemes must await approval of the Masterplans which I understand have not yet been adopted by the City Council.
In advance of the completion of detailed Masterplans, my Department is supporting a programme of social inclusion initiatives and enabling works at both locations in 2013. In the case of Dolphin House this includes funding for a community worker and an interim programme of remedial and improvement works to the flats in order to improve living conditions and address issues relating to insulation, condensation and wastewater drainage. In relation to St. Teresa’s Gardens my Department is also supporting a programme of social inclusion initiatives in 2013 in addition to funding for demolition works. My Department is liaising with Dublin City Council on the compilation of an updated programme of works for 2013 for both locations and I expect this task will be completed very shortly.
58. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in the drafting of the local government Bill; and when he expects the Bill to be published. [20501/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWide-ranging and detailed legislation is required to provide for the range of measures set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government. Work on drafting the Local Government Bill 2013 is proceeding satisfactorily and I am firmly committed to ensuring that the Bill will be published in good time to enable enactment well ahead of the 2014 local elections.
59. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the delivery of the National Asset Management Agency units for social leasing; the number that are currently occupied, in the process of being occupied or ready for occupation with a breakdown based on the number that are in local authority or voluntary sector control respectively. [20481/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo the end of Quarter 1 2013, the transition of 263 properties from the NAMA portfolio has been completed, with contracts signed in respect of a further 76 properties. All but 24 of the 263 completed units are being made available for people that the local authorities have deemed in need of housing. These 24 units were part of a project of 58 apartments delivered in Sandyford. The other 34 apartments were delivered for social housing use and the project is a practical illustration of sustainable housing policy which aims to provide a balanced mix between social and private housing within a community.
Of the 339 units that have been completed or contracted to date, 257 units have been made available to Approved Housing Bodies with a further 82 available to Local Authorities.
A further 1,198 housing units are either under consideration or under negotiation.
62. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends making any money available from the dormant accounts fund for small projects in RAPID areas this year and also for flagship projects nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20471/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisbursements on dormant accounts measures are paid in the first instance “up front” from Departmental Votes in the same way as with any other spending programme. Therefore, Government Departments have to source funding for dormant accounts programmes from their annual Exchequer allocations. I have provided funding in my Department’s estimates for 2013 of €2 million for RAPID, which will be used to meet the Department’s existing contractual commitments on RAPID projects throughout the country, mainly Sports Capital top-ups and CCTV systems, jointly funded with the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Justice and Equality respectively. However this is not reimbursed from the Dormant Accounts Fund. At a time of severe budgetary pressures, resulting in reduced allocations across all Departmental Votes, there is a need to prioritise and keep all existing funding programmes under review. In this context I will also keep under review proposed new funding measures under the Dormant Accounts Fund.
