Written Answers Nos. 477-489
477. 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 ministerial approval; the date each project was submitted; the total value of the projects involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36595/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has 42 projects at various stages in the assessment process . The total value of these projects is €10.3 million. Projects are being approved and new ones are being submitted on an on-going basis.
Projects submitted with incomplete documentation are now being returned to the Local Development Company for completion and are being categorised as rejected until full documentation is submitted. Of the 42 projects on hand some of these may yet be rejected due to incompleteness.
The table below details the projects currently with my Department .
|
Local Development Company |
Date Received |
Grant Aid Requested |
Stage |
|
Cavan-Monaghan LEADER |
05-Jun-13 |
€177,518 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Clare Local Development Company Ltd. |
18-Jan-13 |
€200,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta |
07-Jun-13 |
€200,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta |
08-Jul-13 |
€172,728 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Comhar na nOileán Teoranta |
08-Jul-13 |
€307,438 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd |
23-Aug-12 |
€431,888 |
Under Assessment |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd. |
11-Feb-13 |
€324,766 |
Under Assessment |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd. |
04-Jul-13 |
€500,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
FORUM Connemara Ltd. |
10-Jul-13 |
€200,000 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Kildare LEADER Partnership |
01-Mar-13 |
€200,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
05-Nov-12 |
€428,869 |
Under Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
04-Dec-12 |
€300,000 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16-Jan-13 |
€225,000 |
Awaiting information from LAG |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16-Jan-13 |
€255,384 |
Awaiting information from LAG |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16-Jan-13 |
€268,125 |
Awaiting information from LAG |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
16-Jan-13 |
€497,213 |
Awaiting information from LAG |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
03-Apr-13 |
€205,867 |
Under Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
03-May-13 |
€169,238 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
26-Jun-13 |
€200,000 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
26-Jun-13 |
€200,000 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Laois Community and Enterprise Dev |
16-Jul-13 |
€198,426 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Louth LEADER Partnership |
26-Jun-13 |
€188,055 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Louth LEADER Partnership |
26-Jun-13 |
€200,000 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership |
15-Jul-11 |
€196,387 |
Under Assessment |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership |
03-Oct-12 |
€194,726 |
Under Assessment |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
16-Jul-12 |
€407,675 |
Awaiting information from LAG |
|
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership |
18-Jan-13 |
€199,994 |
Under Assessment |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development |
27-Feb-13 |
€196,925 |
Under Assessment |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development |
13-May-13 |
€172,093 |
Under Assessment |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development |
28-Jun-13 |
€200,000 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development |
12-Jul-13 |
€154,187 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
South and East Cork Area Dev Ltd. |
28-Nov-12 |
€500,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
South and East Cork Area Dev Ltd. |
13-Mar-13 |
€330,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
South West Mayo Development Company |
19-Jun-13 |
€195,115 |
Under Assessment |
|
South West Mayo Development Company |
26-Jun-13 |
€200,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
South West Mayo Development Company |
03-Jul-13 |
€201,970 |
Under Assessment |
|
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. |
12-Mar-13 |
€198,624 |
Under Assessment |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
12-Jul-13 |
€200,000 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
12-Jul-13 |
€210,873 |
Awaiting Assessment |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Ltd. |
11-Mar-13 |
€194,400 |
Under Assessment |
|
West Limerick Resources Ltd |
26-Feb-13 |
€200,000 |
Under Assessment |
|
Wexford Local Development |
31-May-13 |
€193,384 |
Under Assessment |
478. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the local authorities act independently in respect of the nomination of schemes under the heading for group water or group sewerage schemes, small schemes or others; if approval or funding is required from his Department in respect of such schemes, the number of any such schemes submitted to his Department by Kildare County Council or groups or bodies under the aegis of said council; if capital funding or approval is required from his Department under any particular heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36597/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the administration of this Programme, which includes group water schemes, group sewerage schemes and small public water and sewerage schemes, has been devolved to local authorities since 1997.
My Department does not generally provide grants for specific projects under the Rural Water Programme but provides a block grant to local authorities. The investment priorities for this sector in any year are set out in the circular seeking proposals from authorities. In submitting their bids for funds, authorities generally list potential schemes to support the bids. However, the selection, prioritisation and approval of individual scheme proposals for advancement and funding under the programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, remains a matter for the water services authorities, Kildare County Council in this case.
My Department asked local authorities to include in their requests for funding under the 2013 Rural Water Programme proposals for pilot group sewerage schemes which might be viable.
Following an examination of the proposals received, with particular regard to the environmental justification provided and the estimated costs, I approved grant assistance last March towards eight pilot schemes in eight different counties, including one , with an estimated cost of €80,000, at Boston Cottages in Co. Kildare. The second proposal received from Kildare County Council (for Kilmacredock), which had an estimated cost of €800,000, was not selected as a pilot scheme. I approved a further three pilot schemes as a result of a mid-year Review carried out by my Department recently. None of these additional pilot schemes was located in County Kildare
Progress on the selected pilot schemes will be reviewed in due course with a view to deciding how best to proceed with the grant scheme.
479. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent, if any, to which cost-cutting is or was required by his Department affecting the quality of services directly or via the local authorities in the past two years; the extent to which this arises from arrangements entered into by his predecessors with the troika, when it is expected that such commitments will be entirely fulfilled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36598/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of funding available to my Department this year as provided for in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2013 , together with the spending outturns in 2011 and 2012, are set out in the following table.
|
REV |
Capital €m |
Capital Carryover €m |
Current €m |
Total €m |
|
2013 |
726 |
43 |
482 |
1,251 |
|
2012 |
768 |
34 |
450 |
1252 |
|
2011 |
1,017 |
- |
627 |
1644 |
While funding for my Department’s activities has been reduced in line with the constrained economic climate, it remains significant - €1.25 billion in 2013. It has been necessary to prioritise resources to ensure that our programmes contribute, to the maximum extent possible and with enhanced efficiency, to the overall Government objective of economic recovery and increased employment, while at the same time assisting those most in need of support.
The total funding of some €1.25 billion available in 2013 is being used to make maximum progress across the range of programmes for which my Department is responsible, including protecting the environment; providing necessary housing supports; investing in water services infrastructure; and fostering community and rural development in partnership with local government and other local development bodies.
480. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if grant aid may be available through the Leader Programme to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare towards the development and production of ethnic and church gospel music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36609/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra484. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if grant aid will be available through the LEADER programme to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare toward the development and production of ethnic and church gospel music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36731/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 484 together.
In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf, to deliver the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. 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 Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations. In this regard, the LAG for the area referred to in the question is County Kildare LEADER Partnership and their contact details can be found on my Department’s website www.environ.ie
481. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will approve an application by Westmeath County Council to upgrade the waste water treatment in Athlone as a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36662/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Athlone Sewerage Scheme is included in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013 as a scheme to start and is made up of several contracts, including a contract for the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant.
Westmeath County Council have submitted a project inception report to my Department and this is currently under consideration.
482. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm if he will be in a position to allocate additional funding for the grants for housing aid to councils who have the appropriate matching funds in place; and the timeframe for same. [36663/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been keeping the funding of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability under active review, and expect to contact all local authorities in regard to their allocation by the end of this month.
483. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the implementation of new wind energy guidelines; and if these guidelines will be put on a statutory footing. [36664/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department , in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is currently undertaking a review of aspects of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006. The indicative timetable for the publication of the draft guidelines is Quarter 4 2013. The draft guidelines will then – like all other new or revised guidelines – go out for extensive public consultation for a period of 6 weeks to 2 months. Once the consultation period is closed, the submissions received on the draft guidelines will be considered and taken into account in the final form of the guidelines. The revised guidelines will issue under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, which requires both planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála to have regard to them in the performance of their functions.
485. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that the level of funding for the Cavan/Monaghan LEADER Programme will be at least equal to the 2009 initial allocation in view of the many worthy and suitable projects that are eligible for grant assistance under this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36757/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra486. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concerns in relation to the reduction of funding for the Cavan/Monaghan LEADER Programme; if he will ensure that the level of funding will be restored to the original allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36769/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together.
The LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 commenced in February 2009 after a delay of more than two years which reduced the time available to allocate funding to less than five years rather than the original seven. Two main issues have impacted on the revised allocations recently notified to Local Development Companies (LDCs).
The first relates to overall Programme performance. During 2010 and 2011 it became evident that a significant number of LDCs, who were contracted to deliver the Programme, were not committing funds at the level required to ensure that all the funding would be allocated by the December 2013 deadline. Similarly it became clear that a number of LDCs were more than capable of allocating additional funding if it was made available.
In this regard, in January 2012 my Department notified all LDCs that the original allocations awarded in 2009 were no longer valid and that the Programme was being opened up on a ‘first-come first served’ basis to all LDCs in order to ensure that all the available funding would be allocated to eligible projects within the timeframe allowed. All LDCs were encouraged to maximise the opportunity this created for them. All LDCs had an equal opportunity to maximise funding in their respective areas, and some companies availed of this more than others.
The second issue relates to the change in co-financing rates. During 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-funding rate from 55% to 85% for the LEADER elements of Ireland’s RDP but only for expenditure incurred in 2012 and 2013. This had the effect of reducing the available funding under the Programme from €427 million to an estimated €370 million.
In January 2013 in light of all the changes to the Programme it became necessary to carry out a comprehensive review of the level of commitments and expenditure across the various measures of the Programme in order to apportion the remaining funds among the LDCs, taking into account the level of commitments already entered into.
Using an estimated final programme allocation of €370 million the total spend to date and outstanding contractual commitments under the Programme were established and deducted from the €370 million. €6 million was provided for the former MFG legacy files, new Gaeltacht projects and associated administration costs. Funding was also provided for projects that were greater than €150,000 in value that had been submitted to my Department for assessment. The original percentage of the Programme which was awarded to each LDC in 2009 was then applied to apportion the remaining funding. Where an LDC would receive less than 80% of its original allocation, an adjustment was made to bring the revised allocation up to 80% of the original.
In the case of Cavan Monaghan LEADER the revised allocation represents a decrease of 17.5% from their original allocation. The redistribution of available funding was conducted in as fair and equitable a manner as was possible with many LDCs experiencing similar reductions.
I am committed to the continued monitoring of this situation and my Department will conduct another formal review of commitments and expenditure levels at the end of August 2013. If LDCs are not performing with regard to the Programme commitment levels, allocations will again be revised in the context of maximizing commitments to the end of the Programme by December 2013.
487. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a report on the investigation by the Ombudsman carried out in respect of a community project (details supplied) in County Meath has been communicated to his Department; if the Ombudsman has recommended to the Department the funding that should be paid in respect of the community project in question; if he will advise if his Department has taken any action on foot of the investigation by the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36772/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, there are 35 Local Action Groups (LAGs) contracted, on my Department’s behalf to deliver the Programme throughout the country. 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 Programme’s Operating Rules and EU regulations. My Department is charged with ensuring that all decisions made at local level are compliant with both the National and EU regulatory frameworks in place and that there is a robust system in place to facilitate this. This includes a system of control checks as well as a subsequent appeals system on foot of such controls.
The project referred to in the question was subject to such control checks and was deemed ineligible. The initial decision was subject to the review and appeals process in place in my Department and the decision was upheld at each stage of this process. The matter also involved a review by the office of the Ombudsman. Following receipt of the Ombudsman’s decision, and legal advice, further investigations are now underway. The results of these investigations will be made available once complete.
488. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the present gender balance of the total members of State boards under the aegis of his Department; if the ratio has changed significantly over the course of the present Government's term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36789/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation in respect of gender balance on Boards of agencies under my Department’s aegis for the years 2007 to 2012 is set out in the table below:
|
End Year Figure |
Total Board Membership |
Men* |
Women* |
% Women |
|
2007 |
272 |
167 |
96 |
37 |
|
2008 |
281 |
174 |
101 |
37 |
|
2009 |
241 |
149 |
84 |
36 |
|
2010 |
259 |
152 |
90 |
37 |
|
2011 |
278 |
172 |
91 |
35 |
|
2012 |
158 |
98 |
49 |
33 |
* Total numbers of male and female Board members do not take account of vacancies arising on some Boards.
Under the Department’s agency rationalisation programme, 21 agencies have been reduced to 10 through a series of measures , with a consequent reduction in Board membership from 281 in 2011 to 158 at the end of 2012, representing a decrease of 123 or 43%. I anticipate that this will be further reduced when agency numbers fall to eight bodies , with the Government decision to wind up t he operations of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) by the end of 2013 and with the merging of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland by mid-2014.
489. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has any plans to develop an up to date cadastre of all land here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36009/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA cadastre is a public record, survey, or map of the value, extent and ownership of land. A cadastral map is a map that shows the boundaries and ownership of the individual land parcels.
We do not operate a cadastre in Ireland at present and no individual State organisation holds all of the relevant data. However, the data which could potentially form elements of a cadastre is established through the functions of different State Agencies, including the Property Registration Authority, the Valuation Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland.
Our system of Land Registration, which was established in 1892 and is now under the control of the Property Registration Authority is based on an "open" register underpinned by a State guarantee and was designed to gradually replace a registration of deeds system which had been in place since 1707. Since its introduction, the programme of land registration in Ireland has been both extensive and very successful and almost 2.8 million land parcels, representing approximately 95% of all property in the country, are now registered in the Land Registry of the Property Registration Authority.
When title or ownership is registered in the Land Registry, the legal ownership is entered on folios which form the registers maintained in the Land Registry. In conjunction with folios, the Land Registry also maintains Land Registry maps. Where title is registered in the Land Registry it is referred to as "registered property" and is open to public inspection.
As the Deputy is aware, the radical streamlining of State bodies is a key deliverable of the Public Service Reform Plan, published in November 2011. As part of the implementation of the Reform Plan, the Government announced on 31 October 2012 that it would proceed with the merger of the Property Registration Authority with the Valuation Office and Ordnance Survey Ireland. Work is underway to advance the implementation of the merger under the supervision of a Project Board comprised of senior officials from the three Government Departments concerned and the Chief Executive Officers of the three Agencies. Among the issues to be examined in the context of the merger are the strategic goals and priorities of the prospective merged organisation. It is anticipated that it will be possible to derive significant added value from the bringing together of the rich data holdings of the three organisations concerned. It is possible that the development of a cadastre system for Ireland may be considered in that context. I should note that full implementation of the merger will require significant legislative change in due course, and that any move to a cadastre system could potentially have very significant implications in relation to land and property law in Ireland.
