Thursday, 30 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 183-193

Planning Issues

Ceisteanna (183)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

183. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he considers that, in circumastances in which he and his Department have no function with regard to individual planning decisions, he and his Department do have a function in relation to the overall credibility and integrity of the planning system and if he considers that the continued operation of facilities that are themselves egregrious examples of bad planning will tend to undermine public confidence in the planning system that he supervises and oversees; if he wil provide a look-back mechanism in the Planning and Development Bill 2013, whereby instances of questionable planning since the 1963 Act can be referred to the regulator for adjudication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26395/13]

Freagraí scríofa

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

I refer to the reply to Question No. 167 of 29 May which set out the position in this matter.

Housing Adaptation Grant Funding

Ceisteanna (184)

Michelle Mulherin

Ceist:

184. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will be in a position to provide funding to Mayo County Council to enable it to provide grant aid to persons to improve their housing conditions under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme and mobility aid grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26403/13]

Freagraí scríofa

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

On 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. This year I allocated local authorities the full amount of their contractual commitments which, in the case of Mayo County Council, amounted to €1,658,576 . The balance of the available funding was allocated on the basis of each authority’s share of the new applications on hand in January 2013. This brought Mayo County Council’s overall allocation to € 2,575,216. In order to deal with any acute or particular strain which might arise in the operation of the schemes over the course of the year I have set aside a small capital reserve. I recently approved supplementary allocations totalling €1.2 million for 13 local authorities. I will consider further applications from local authorities where similar difficulties have arisen. No such application has so far been received from Mayo County Council.

Derelict Sites Notices

Ceisteanna (185)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

185. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received an official request for permission to demolish a semi-derelict building block (details supplied) in County Dublin; when permission will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26430/13]

Freagraí scríofa

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

My Department understands that any such work would be carried out by Fingal County Council in accordance with Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 and my consent/approval is not therefore required.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Ceisteanna (186)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

186. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he envisages funding being made available to Fingal County Council in order to proceed with the construction of a scheme to divert sewage from Rush Harbour, County Dublin, to the Portrane sewage plant; if this will be addressed urgently due to Rush Harbour failing to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards in 2013 for quality of bathing water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26431/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the reply to Question No. 197 of 15 May 2013; it remains my Department’s intention to issue a decision to the Council on the relevant proposal shortly. In addition, Fingal County Council wrote to my Department on 20 May 2013 requesting approval to move two further elements of the Rush sewer network (North Beach and East Shore sewers) from planning stage to contracts to go to construction in the Water Services Investment Programme. This proposal is under examination and will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Election Management System

Ceisteanna (187)

Andrew Doyle

Ceist:

187. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the contents of a letter he has recently received from the Chairman of the Standards in Public Office Commission (details supplied) regarding the reform needed of SIPO; if he intends to widen the current legislation to bring third party groups taking part in political campaigns within the commission's remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26460/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Chairperson of the Standards in Public Office Commission, Justice Matthew P. Smith, wrote to me earlier this month about the provisions of the Electoral Act 1997 as they relate to third parties. In his letter he recalled recommendations previously made by the Commission for amendment of the legislation and in particular those in a March 2009 report titled Third Parties and the Referendum on The Treaty of Lisbon. In my response to Justice Smith I have confirmed that consideration will be given to the Commission’s recommendations in the development and preparation of the Electoral (Amendment) (Referendum Spending and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which is on the Government’s legislation programme. That Bill will provide, inter alia, for the disclosure of expenditure and donations at a referendum campaign.

Commercial Rates

Ceisteanna (188)

John Deasy

Ceist:

188. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of commercial rates outstanding for each rateable local authority; the timeframe that the rates owed in each of these rateable local authorities have been in arrears for periods of more than one year, two years, five years and longer; and the amount that has been written off over the past five years. [26481/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

2010 is the latest year for which audited local authority Annual Financial Statement data is available. Detailed information in relation to the value of commercial rates outstanding to local authorities for 2010 and the amount that was written off in the five years up to 2010, sourced from audited Annual Financial Statements, is set out in the table. Information on the periods of time that ratepayers have been in arrears is not available in my Department.

Rates Outstanding (€)

Authority Name	2010	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Carlow	1,973,035	4,247	48,659	63,701	84,558	65,201
Cavan	2,391,924	95,267	106,716	78,828	150,332	767,529
Clare	7,766,009	343,619	301,577	419,856	396,538	205,650
Cork	19,219,960	2,907,572	3,279,302	3,868,254	5,041,167	6,672,558
Donegal	8,978,984	2,011,539	2,137,878	2,302,580	1,363,280	2,492,414
Fingal	21,013,241	652,705	886,521	1,364,689	2,141,388	3,757,096
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown	19,242,061	0	1,464,053	1,161,247	1,712,032	3,325,110
Galway	5,067,072	1,746,905	1,951,482	2,636,068	2,727,353	4,043,523
Kerry	3,684,073	1,628,376	2,050,403	1,719,763	2,362,878	2,368,421
Kildare	8,422,162	0	0	0	0	0
Kilkenny	1,401,179	507,459	498,011	1,013,476	1,237,416	1,699,530
Laois	1,916,639	158,592	119,570	172,267	271,481	659,583
Leitrim	1,033,781	250,336	339,461	439,741	545,554	696,734
Limerick	2,614,285	1,577,716	1,720,067	1,948,681	2,644,874	4,028,917
Longford	624,804	278,783	272,432	410,706	204,541	117,420
Louth	2,877,506	519,162	617,097	654,051	756,462	946,116
Mayo	2,114,317	1,370,803	1,438,372	1,649,093	2,484,383	2,533,929
Meath	2,998,706	0	0	0	0	0
Monaghan	1,458,576	290,748	211,786	274,444	602,947	1,022,223
North Tipperary	1,020,703	38,921	44,232	77,122	188,260	316,956
Offaly	516,184	689,566	395,289	567,400	803,689	937,826
Roscommon	2,340,196	26,299	31,383	751,669	1,563,232	1,688,361
Sligo	1,085,081	386,217	176,004	283,838	579,355	671,143
South Dublin	27,360,624	2,453,856	2,192,432	-188,700	1,687,009	3,012,133
South Tipperary	966,969	72,961	3,716	2,380	1,760	24,720
Waterford	2,078,117	364,132	509,005	383,252	408,964	530,506
Westmeath	1,405,350	34,301	66,805	1,480	236,607	178,733
Wexford	4,630,691	532,622	606,820	509,989	660,644	398,791
Wicklow	4,123,984	408,539	579,045	1,260,842	1,464,190	1,730,389
Cork	12,864,927	216,922	188,362	313,373	1,852,616	3,483,443
Dublin	63,446,842	19,900,844	17,718,465	5,616,183	6,247,794	9,035,651
Galway	14,502,756	1,358,281	1,500,777	2,627,132	2,435,131	4,664,801
Limerick	14,349,874	2,454,506	2,742,128	2,079,954	1,823,528	2,676,147
Waterford	2,784,426	116,822	89,214	143,235	189,950	192,323
Clonmel	1,047,678	32,531	0	0	47,189	38,886
Drogheda	3,484,434	368,612	952,938	928,391	2,149,886	2,517,366
Kilkenny	1,575,708	148,418	234,328	457,958	555,533	838,460
Sligo	2,697,570	745,744	1,322,193	661,977	890,046	1,127,339
Wexford	3,317,643	292,330	303,771	209,381	467,995	714,075
Arklow	1,989,988	87,576	258,683	413,109	520,877	638,080
Athlone	1,066,455	0	14,374	0	0	99,142
Athy	376,238	0	0	0	0	0
Ballina	679,060	479,587	554,858	525,779	729,526	851,891
Ballinasloe	368,680	234,974	272,079	321,894	324,172	437,460
Birr	314,570	197,494	205,713	270,109	233,453	0
Bray	2,079,907	467,251	541,561	734,883	704,429	369,999
Buncrana	787,813	359,229	282,927	282,303	762,828	569,131
Bundoran	423,118	30,008	36,039	54,630	87,232	76,240
Carlow	1,741,387	62,202	58,618	161,463	110,825	116,322
Carrick on Suir	291,231	69,100	14,523	3,253	4,606	0
Carrickmacross	338,964	44,482	36,121	51,037	88,280	78,791
Cashel	98,900	0	0	0	0	0
Castlebar	731,267	374,745	424,300	537,165	682,085	800,826
Castleblayney	536,426	78,488	90,093	150,298	133,134	143,966
Cavan	704,417	85,465	259,398	213,192	300,985	271,722
Clonakility	322,179	20,874	12,773	12,343	52,862	159,339
Clones	222,016	113,373	65,752	51,175	128,492	121,380
Cobh	250,676	88,714	64,784	125,741	146,664	303,998
Dundalk	7,382,613	816,465	874,504	409,189	966,133	1,831,808
Dungarvan	2,084,189	372,368	434,906	276,356	311,792	478,296
Ennis	1,754,132	263,553	339,577	540,437	591,822	528,930
Enniscorthy	535,799	10,588	11,661	51,780	58,316	131,649
Fermoy	116,267	112,936	102,313	138,402	204,826	224,882
Kells	90,986	0	0	0	0	0
Killarney	2,880,804	759,775	715,466	654,326	833,203	918,274
Kilrush	186,646	16,304	4,793	1,970	7,777	12,820
Kinsale	479,229	19,041	15,216	51,171	14,472	309,488
Letterkenny	3,835,422	147,578	154,583	347,679	388,328	869,900
Listowel	242,301	96,957	103,557	217,702	209,707	244,837
Longford	914,715	117,150	339,919	339,023	591,740	526,848
Macroom	156,528	34,395	4,899	5,855	51,661	191,450
Mallow	498,038	54,023	56,559	135,168	171,242	246,973
dleton	356,423	42,296	94,332	80,524	108,601	159,674
Monaghan	781,009	234,785	308,221	299,864	538,040	566,891
Naas	1,477,192	27,490	5,473	886	0	3,828
Navan	1,147,224	0	0	0	331,598	996,615
Nenagh	529,237	310,078	177,348	247,242	377,330	386,733
New Ross	335,005	0	24,976	12,565	8,065	93,602
Skibbereen	238,477	89,479	118,618	133,064	161,644	168,981
Templemore	68,147	7,002	5,925	14,354	16,509	39,623
Thurles	610,362	92,734	121,320	215,490	344,008	409,940
Tipperary	123,768	0	1,278	0	0	39,348
Tralee	1,821,045	974,664	982,956	1,179,870	2,912,370	2,696,114
Trim	360,297	0	0	0	0	0
Tullamore	1,184,004	346,570	543,070	855,628	736,996	701,140
Westport	328,554	89,385	164,327	121,984	149,391	282,849
Wicklow	454,121	207,178	191,001	230,205	291,953	256,035
Youghal	265,473	178,204	182,887	440,598	339,981	321,338

Departmental Budgets

Ceisteanna (189)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

189. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received any indicative figure from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the fiscal adjustments his Department will be asked to make in 2014 and 2015; the size of those adjustments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26547/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In the context of the forthcoming Budget, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has asked my Department to identify savings which will feed into the expenditure decisions by Government for the Estimates 2014 and the setting of future ministerial ceilings. The scale of proposed savings for 2014 was set out in part 1 of the Expenditure Report 2013, which was published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in December 2012.

Juvenile Offenders

Ceisteanna (190)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

190. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered the findings of recent research by a team from the Central Mental Hospital on the mental health needs of inmates in St. Patrick's Institution; if he has plans to ensure that his Department will assist St. Patrick's Institution to make a drug-free unit available for inmates under 18 years of age in the institution without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26364/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to advise the Deputy that the report referred to has not yet been received by the Irish Prison Service. Notwithstanding that I can confirm that the National Forensic Mental Health Service has been providing an in-reach service to St. Patrick's Institution for the last two years. Currently a consultant forensic psychiatrist attends one day a week, a community psychiatric nurse attends one and a half days' a week and a non-consultant hospital doctor attends for a half day. In addition a multi-agency healthcare meeting is convened on a weekly basis in St. Patrick's Institution attended by the prison doctor, a representative from the psychiatric in-reach team, nurses, psychologist, addiction counsellors, probation officer and chaplain for the purpose of addressing healthcare issues pertaining to the inmates which includes mental health.

It is Irish Prison Service Policy not to mix under 18s with adult prisoners and while there is a dedicated Drug Free Unit in St. Patrick's Institution it facilitates those over 18. However, there are a range of drug rehabilitation programmes available to those under 18 in St. Patrick's Institution which involve a significant multidimensional input from general primary care, mental health services, psychology, addiction psychiatry and addiction counselling. Any inmate who is engaged with services whilst in prison are referred to community addiction services as part of their pre-release plan. Once the report is received it will be given due consideration by the Irish Prison Service.

Garda Equipment

Ceisteanna (191)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

191. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda vehicles that are fitted with automatic number plate recognition; and his plans, if any, to increase the number of vehicles fitted with ANPR in 2013. [26293/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have sought the information referred to by the Deputy and I will contact him in relation to this matter as soon as possible.

Immigration Policy

Ceisteanna (192)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

192. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the reasons given to the 2,240 persons who were refused entry into the State in 2012; and if he will provide, in tabular form, the nationalities of the various persons who were thus refused. [26294/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The legal provisions governing refusals of permission to land are set-out in Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act, 2004. I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the principle reasons persons are refused permission to land are as follows:

– that there is reason to believe that the person intends to enter the State for purposes other than those expressed by the non-national concerned;

– the person is not in possession of a valid Irish visa and is not exempt from this requirement;

– the person concerned is not in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document; or

– the person concerned intends to travel (whether immediately or not) to the UK and would not qualify for admission had they come directly to the UK.

The principal nationalities of persons refused permission to land in the State and subsequently removed were Brazil, South Africa, China, Bolivia, and Albania. I might add that in all cases, removals from the State, whether in respect of those who are removed on arrival at ports of entry or those already in the State, are conducted in accordance with the law with removals at the Port of Entry being, essentially, an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

The removal of illegal immigrants from the State is a necessary feature of the enforcement of immigration legislation with the purpose of upholding the integrity of the immigration system. In enforcing the law in this respect, Ireland is no different from other countries who also remove individuals who have no lawful right to remain within their territory.

Road Traffic Offences

Ceisteanna (193)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

193. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed penalty notices that have been issued to motorists in each of the past four years for the offence of breaking a red light. [26295/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of fixed charge notices issued for the offence of breaking a red light for the years 2009 to 2012 and in 2013 up to 30 April. Figures provided are operational and liable to change.

The number of fixed charge notices issued for the offence of breaking a red light for the years 2009 to 2012 and in 2013 up to 30 April

Year	Fixed Charge Notices
2013 (up to 30 April)	1,264
2012	5,516
2011	6,236
2010	7,416
2009	8,667