Written Answers Nos. 129-136
129. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of public servants in his Department who are paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43392/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no employees in my Department who are paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary or in excess of the Government's pay cap. In June 2011, the Government set pay rates for newly appointed CEOs to Commercial Semi State Companies. This information is available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website at www.per.gov.ie. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of CEOs in non-commercial Semi State Companies, including reductions arising from the implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, have been brought to the attention of the relevant State Companies.
The Annual Reports of the companies contain details of incumbent CEOs' salaries. Copies of the Reports are available in the Oireachtas library or on the websites of the relevant companies.
130. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the earlier response this Deputy received from him, if he will clarify the accessibility features for severely vision impaired persons that were specified in the recent procurement contract for water meters; if this contract is illegal, given that it contravenes the Disability Act 2005 which states that every statutory authority has obligations to ensure that the procurement of any equipment or services intended for use by the general public must be accessible, or at the very least, consultations and a subsequent report into matters of accessibility must be concluded to show the reason such accessibility is being denied; and the action he will take regarding same. [42851/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 459 and 476 of 1 October 2013, taken together, which stated that it is a matter for Irish Water to comply with all national and European legislation in the discharge of its functions in relation to the water metering programme. This remains the position. However, Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that water metering contracts are fully compliant with the Disability Act 2005 and that the water meters in use by Irish Water comply with the Measuring Instruments Directive.
Irish Water has also informed my Department that it has been liaising with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) with regard to any accessibility measures that need to be included by Irish Water in the wider water programme.
131. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties encountered by members of the Irish Showmen's Guild in obtaining motor tax and avoiding prosecution in respect of vehicles conveying funfair and circus equipment, due to the absence of a special vehicle taxation category; and if he proposes to follow most other EU states in providing a taxation derogation for vehicles used for this specific purpose. [42960/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans currently to introduce additional categories of motor taxation.
132. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a common process and common criteria across the local authorities for checking the accuracy of the electoral register each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42803/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra133. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the local authorities, when revising the electoral register, avail of other sources of information in addition to field workers calling to a property to determine if a registered voter is, or is not, resident at the property. [42804/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.
The law in relation to the register of electors, as set out in the Electoral Act 1992, provides for the preparation and publication of the register of electors in their areas by registration authorities – city and county councils. It is their duty to ensure as far as is possible, and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. My Department has issued guidance to registration authorities to assist them in managing the registration process.
For the purpose of preparing the register, each registration authority is required to make house to house or other sufficient inquiry in their registration area. As part of this process, they may require individuals to give any information in their possession which the authority needs and they may require individuals to produce documentary evidence, including a birth certificate or a certificate of naturalisation, or to make a statutory declaration regarding their age or citizenship.
The publication of the draft register in November each year in preparation for the coming into effect of the register on 15 February following allows for corrections to be made. The public is invited to check the draft during this period so that people can make sure that they are correctly registered. Any errors or omissions in the draft should be brought immediately to the attention of the registration authority. Claims for the addition or deletion of names are ruled on by the county registrar who is a legally qualified court officer. The ruling is made in public and any person may attend and give evidence.
Also, if a person is not included in the register of electors currently in force but considers that he or she qualifies for registration - for example if they have come of age to register or if they have changed address - the person may apply for entry in the supplement to the register which is open year round subject to certain practical limits in the weeks before a polling day.
134. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the proposals for the use of the civic offices in Tramore following the amalgamation of Waterford city and county councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42810/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's Action Programme for Effective Local Government sets out its policy for a range of local government reform measures, including the establishment of a new comprehensive model of municipal governance to strengthen local government within counties and address weaknesses and anomalies in the current system. Definitive details, arrangements and procedures in relation to the reform agenda are being developed in the context of the new local government structures generally, the implementation of the new sub-county system (including where appropriate metropolitan areas) and the preparation of the legislation in relation to the reform programme.
The full range of local authority functions and services will continue to be required to be delivered across each local authority area, and having regard to optimising the delivery of these functions and services, it is a matter for each individual local authority to decide on the utilisation of their assets, including existing civic offices.
135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of plastic drinking bottles used here annually; if he will provide a breakdown of the sizes of these bottles and the different categories of liquids used in each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42811/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department does not collect or collate the information sought, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produces the National Waste Report which provides some detail on waste streams in Ireland, on an annual basis. The most recent report, relating to 2011, is available for download from the EPA website.
136. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will publish the national housing survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42825/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2010, the National Housing Development Survey has been conducted by the Department's Architecture and Building Standards Inspectorate, in conjunction with relevant staff across all local authorities, over the summer months and published in the autumn. The 2013 survey data is being collated and analysed and it is expected to be published later in the year.
