Written Answers Nos. 38-44
38. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent report from Dublin Region Homeless Agency on the number of persons sleeping rough in the city; his plans to address the growth in these numbers and to provide sufficient emergency accommodation spaces; and his Department's short, middle and long-term targets in relation to this issue. [27052/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe stubbornly high number of rough sleepers recently reported for Dublin reflects the significant challenge facing the Government, the voluntary sector and other agencies in tackling homelessness.
My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. Expenditure on homeless accommodation and related services of approximately €50 million will be funded by my Department and housing authorities in 2013. While it is clear that a proportion of funding must be used to provide sufficient bed capacity to accommodate those in need of emergency accommodation it is equally important that resources are channelled to deliver more permanent responses in a more focused and strategic way.
When I published the Homelessness Policy Statement, I outlined the Government's aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. The statement emphasises a housing-led approach which is about accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring sustainable tenancies and ending long-term homelessness. A set of indicators will be used to demonstrate the dynamics of homelessness as it is addressed. These indicators will give a clearer picture of homelessness in Ireland and, in quantifying its on-going extent, will support the bringing forward of realistic and practical solutions.
The arrangements for devolving homelessness funding to the lead housing authority in each of the 9 regions in 2013 will seek to ensure that the measures being pursued by housing authorities reflect the housing-led approach, that actions are in place towards achieving the target of ending long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 and that evidence to support progress will be presented through the reports on the indicators.
39. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in the context of the recent LEADER programme funding allocations, his attention has been drawn to the disparity of the new allocation of moneys to Comhar na nOileain Teoranta for Connemara and all Gaeltacht regions from the original allocation to Meitheal Forbatha na Gaeltachta Teoranta; and the steps that will be taken to ensure the communities served by Comhar na nOileáin Teo do not lose out on account of the delay in putting in place a new administration brought about by the legal complexities arising from the collapse of MFG. [28079/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra64. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Gaeltacht areas will be prioritised in the review of LEADER funding in August to take account of the inability of LEADER applications to be processed for communities located in Gaeltacht areas during the time consumed in winding up MFG and appointing a new administrative body. [28080/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 64 together.
My Department recently completed a full review of expenditure under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 in order to apportion the remaining funding among all the Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted to deliver the Programme. My Department used the LDCs' original percentage of the Programme to allocate the remaining funding. In the case of Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) this would have amounted to some €3.8 million. My Department, however, provided €6 million specifically for the Gaeltacht areas formerly served by MFG. Comhar na nOileán Teoranta has been allocated a total of €2,122,427 to fund both MFG legacy files and new projects. This equates to more than 35% of the total revised national allocation for Gaeltacht areas. My Department has undertaken to review the level of uncommitted monies in all LDCs in Autumn 2013. If there is funding to be reallocated, due consideration will be given to Gaeltacht areas in that regard.
40. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline in tabular form the funding his Department allocated to each local authority for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 for their respective fire service. [28064/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981.
My Department supports fire authorities through the setting of general policy and guidance, and the provision of capital funding, including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by fire authorities in relation to the approved purchase of fire appliances and emergency equipment as well as construction and upgrading of fire stations. Continued investment in the fire appliance fleet has been identified as a key national priority for the available capital funds.
The following table details funding allocated to each Local Authority by year from 2009 to date:
|
Fire Authority |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 to date |
Cumulative |
|
Athlone Town Council |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€205,509 |
€89,421 |
€271,863 |
€345,252 |
€49,774 |
€961,819 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€589,072 |
€751,785 |
€315,689 |
€95,883 |
€0 |
€1,752,429 |
|
Clare County Council |
€2,012,619 |
€692,365 |
€852,194 |
€0 |
€16,504 |
€3,573,682 |
|
Cork City Council |
€459,071 |
€196,412 |
€313,335 |
€0 |
€0 |
€968,818 |
|
Cork County Council |
€1,150,287 |
€1,355,710 |
€349,899 |
€627,597 |
€555,091 |
€4,038,584 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€425,457 |
€1,185,592 |
€219,304 |
€219,998 |
€0 |
€2,050,351 |
|
Drogheda Corporation |
€103,500 |
€634,357 |
€69,797 |
€0 |
€21,284 |
€828,938 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€3,580,888 |
€1,096,167 |
€389,697 |
€512,807 |
€106,552 |
€5,686,111 |
|
Dundalk Town Council |
€130,000 |
€0 |
€204,448 |
€18,500 |
€0 |
€352,948 |
|
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown County Council |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€40,000 |
€0 |
€40,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€40,000 |
€0 |
€40,000 |
|
Galway County Council* |
€946,710 |
€680,207 |
€935,795 |
€878,221 |
€0 |
€3,440,933 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€179,301 |
€308,344 |
€358,414 |
€76,255 |
€0 |
€922,314 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€0 |
€1,796,426 |
€0 |
€633,067 |
€0 |
€2,429,493 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€880,323 |
€838,854 |
€654,923 |
€55,406 |
€0 |
€2,429,506 |
|
Laois County Council |
€948,577 |
€366,522 |
€192,356 |
€5,380 |
€0 |
€1,512,835 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€462,323 |
€522,653 |
€69,868 |
€71,156 |
€0 |
€1,126,000 |
|
Limerick City Council |
€94,921 |
€125,317 |
€567,690 |
€284,979 |
€0 |
€1,072,907 |
|
Limerick County Council |
€227,468 |
€1,747,827 |
€224,854 |
€160,609 |
€0 |
€2,360,758 |
|
Longford County Council |
€414,713 |
€833,971 |
€407,400 |
€119,032 |
€0 |
€1,775,116 |
|
Louth County Council |
€0 |
€161,402 |
€48,414 |
€16,781 |
€98,383 |
€324,980 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€150,695 |
€538,847 |
€403,237 |
€87,201 |
€24,905 |
€1,204,885 |
|
Meath County Council |
€264,392 |
€754,644 |
€179,712 |
€171,282 |
€0 |
€1,370,030 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€624,604 |
€955,678 |
€2,135,098 |
€240,626 |
€0 |
€3,956,006 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€412,649 |
€165,383 |
€136,591 |
€43,072 |
€0 |
€757,695 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€523,457 |
€295,088 |
€455,012 |
€156,925 |
€0 |
€1,430,482 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€408,913 |
€609,773 |
€1,052,349 |
€84,961 |
€0 |
€2,155,996 |
|
Tipp. North County Council |
€1,105,672 |
€170,800 |
€306,941 |
€4,360 |
€5,000 |
€1,592,773 |
|
Tipp. South County Council |
€832,854 |
€85,100 |
€409,506 |
€33,165 |
€0 |
€1,360,625 |
|
Waterford City Council |
€86,608 |
€401,855 |
€0 |
€22,656 |
€0 |
€511,119 |
|
Waterford County Council |
€1,122,601 |
€497,143 |
€93,482 |
€70,058 |
€0 |
€1,783,284 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€667,011 |
€198,946 |
€18,755 |
€23,063 |
€0 |
€907,775 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€484,515 |
€334,701 |
€440,271 |
€91,376 |
€0 |
€1,350,863 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€1,005,290 |
€308,710 |
€173,106 |
€560,142 |
€130,728 |
€2,177,976 |
|
Total |
€20,500,000 |
€18,700,000 |
€12,250,000 |
€5,789,810 |
€1,008,221 |
€58,248,031 |
*Includes Galway City.
41. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of LEADER projects of more than €150,000 that are awaiting his approval; the date each project was submitted to his Department; the total value of the projects involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28062/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding of approximately €370 million is available under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. There are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the local development strategy of the individual groups and in line with Departmental operating rules and EU regulations.
Projects that request funding of €150,000 or more are required to seek final approval from my Department. The assessment of these higher value projects usually involves detailed consultations between my Department and the relevant local development company. It frequently necessitates the provision of further documentation or clarifications. It may also, in some instances, result in modifications to the project proposed to ensure best value for money and compliance with all the necessary regulations, both national and European, governing the activities funded under the programme.
The policy in my Department is to work with the LAGs to ensure that the projects submitted are fully compliant and can be approved rather than to refuse approval for funding; it can therefore take some time to come to a final conclusion. My Department will continue to work with the relevant LAGs to make a full assessment of the eligibility of these projects and will advise the LAGs once all queries have been addressed satisfactorily. My Department currently has 44 projects at various stages of assessment to the value of €11. 5 million.
|
LAG |
Date Received |
Grant aid requested |
Status |
|
Cavan-Monaghan LEADER |
05-Jun-13 |
€177,517.61 |
Under Assessment |
|
Clare Local Development Company Ltd. |
18-Jan-13 |
€200,000.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Clare Local Development Company Ltd |
20-May -13 |
€185,000.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta |
30-May-13 |
€182,599.35 |
Under Assessment |
|
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta |
07-Jun-13 |
€200,000.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Donegal Local Development Company Ltd. |
18-Apr-13 |
€200,000.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership Co |
30-Oct-12 |
€493,385.02 |
Under Assessment |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd |
23-Aug-12 |
€431,887.50 |
Under Assessment |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd. |
11-Feb-13 |
€324,766.19 |
Under Assessment |
|
County Kildare LEADER Partnership |
01-Mar-13 |
€200,000.00 |
Awaiting Information |
|
County Kildare LEADER Partnership |
03-May-13 |
€356,450.24 |
Awaiting information |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
04-Dec-12 |
€300,000.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
04-Dec-12 |
€268,125.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16-Jan-13 |
€497,212.87 |
Awaiting information |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
12-Jan-13 |
€200,000.00 |
Awaiting information |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
03-Apr-13 |
€205,867.43 |
Under Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
05-Nov-12 |
€428,868.75 |
Awaiting information |
|
Kilkenny Leader Partnership |
16-Jan-13 |
€225,000.00 |
Awaiting information |
|
Kilkenny Leader Partnership |
16-Jan-13 |
€255,384.18 |
Awaiting information |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
03-May-13 |
€169,237.50 |
Under Assessment |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Co Ltd |
20-Feb-13 |
€376,641.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership |
03-Oct-12 |
€194,725.50 |
Under Assessment |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership |
03-Nov-11 |
€196,386.75 |
Under Assessment |
|
Meath Community Rural and Social Dev. |
19-Mar-13 |
€196,934.79 |
Awaiting information |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
16-Jul-12 |
€407,675.25 |
Under Assessment |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
18-Jan-13 |
€199,993.63 |
Awaiting information |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Co |
27-Feb-13 |
€196,925.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Co |
13-May-13 |
€172,092.85 |
Under Assessment |
|
South and East Cork Area Dev Ltd. |
28-Nov-12 |
€500,000.00 |
Awaiting information |
|
South and East Cork Area Dev Ltd. |
13-Mar-13 |
€330,000.00 |
Awaiting information |
|
South Kerry Development Ltd. |
21-Dec-12 |
€500,000.00 |
Awaiting information |
|
South Kerry Development Ltd. |
25-Jan-13 |
€168,392.50 |
Under Assessment |
|
South Kerry Development Ltd. |
25-Feb-13 |
€194,538.96 |
Under Assessment |
|
South West Mayo Development Company |
24-Jan-13 |
€196,911.00 |
Awaiting information |
|
South West Mayo Development Company |
21-Dec-12 |
€200,000.00 |
Awaiting information |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
01-Mar-13 |
€183,310.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
12-Mar-13 |
€198,624.04 |
Under Assessment |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
14-Mar-13 |
€154,927.50 |
Under Assessment |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
10-Apr-13 |
€200,000.00 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
11-Mar-13 |
€194,400.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
West Limerick Resources Ltd |
21-Dec-12 |
€196,313.77 |
Under Assessment |
|
West Limerick Resources Ltd |
26-Feb-13 |
€200,000.00 |
Under Assessment |
|
Westmeath Community Development Ltd |
27-Mar-13 |
€461,809.41 |
Under Assessment |
|
Wexford Local Development |
31-May-13 |
€193,383.86 |
Under Assessment |
42. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has met with the Department of Social Protection in relation to the development of a dedicated pathway as suggested by Focus Ireland to provide sufficient support to those under 25 years living in emergency accommodation to move to more stable and suitable housing. [27054/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I nor my Department have met with the Department of Social Protection in this regard and no such meeting has been proposed.
43. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the cost of establishing Irish Water, including wages, contracting out services and programme spending. [28063/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 implementation strategy is being rolled out under a range of work streams which involve local authority, Departmental and Bord Gáis personnel and using the range of skills and experience in these organisations. Bord Gáis are also engaged in an on-going process of seconding staff from local authorities and the Department to support work on the Irish Water programme. A process of direct recruitment has also commenced. 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. The Department is not providing funding to Bord Gáis for the establishment costs or the metering programme.
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 as part of the process of setting the tariffs for both the domestic and non-domestic sectors in the future. It is envisaged that the Commission will engage in public consultation as part of this process.
44. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way he expects local authorities to cover the cost of the local property tax on their social housing stock; and if he will issue a directive that local authority rents should not be raised as a result of the property tax bill. [27061/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, housing authorities are responsible for determining the rents of their dwellings, subject to complying with broad principles laid down by my Department, notably that the rent payable should be related to income and that low-income households should pay a lower proportion of income in rent. Within these parameters, it is a matter for housing authorities, as an integral part of their housing management functions, to ensure that their rental income reflects, as far as practicable, the cost of managing and maintaining their housing stock.
The current arrangements for determining local authority rents will be substantially replaced on the coming into force of section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which predates, and does not refer to, the Local Property Tax legislation. On enactment of the Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013 currently before the House, I will be arranging to make regulations under section 31 re-affirming the principle that rents should be related to household income and composition, and reflecting the requirement that housing authorities should set rent levels that take account, as far as practicable, of the cost of providing works and services to, and managing and maintaining, their rented accommodation. I intend to ask the Housing Agency to provide the relevant guidance to housing authorities to assist them in making their rent schemes to ensure that they comply with the these Regulations.
