Written Answers Nos 61-80
61. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Sandra McLellan den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta soiléiriú a dhéanamh maidir le todhchaí Arramara Teo. agus cad atá á dhéanamh aige chun slí bheatha na mbainteoirí feamainne a chaomhnú. [43785/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDírím aird an Teachta ar an bhfreagra a thug mé ar Cheist Dála Uimhir 23 ar an 18 Meán Fómhair 2013 ar an ábhar seo. Mar a dúradh sa fhreagra sin, tugadh cead d'Údarás na Gaeltachta ar 29 Iúil 2013 scaireanna an Údaráis in Arramara Teo. a dhíol leis an gcomhlacht Acadian Seaplants Ltd., faoi réir go mbeidh na coinníollacha uile a bhaineann leis an díolachán comhlíonta go sásúil.
Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an tÚdarás ag dul ar aghaidh leis an díolachán a chur i bhfeidhm. Tuigtear dom fosta go raibh, go bhfuil, agus go mbeidh, todhchaí agus leas na mbainteoirí feamainne ag croílár an phróisis díolacháin sin atá idir lámha ag an Údarás.
62. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of Bills his Department has published since March 2011; the number of regulatory impact assessments that his Department has published since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43809/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 1 October 2013.
63. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was deemed ineligible for the turf cutting and compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43865/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was received by my Department on 23 August 2013 from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
I am advised that, on the application form, the applicant has indicated that he had not been cutting turf on the bog plot in question during the relevant five year period. However, he has indicated that he has inherited the bog plot. My Department is investigating this matter further and will be in contact with the applicant as soon as possible in relation to his application.
64. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding poor broadband speeds (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43805/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is, in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by a number of commercial service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. Details of broadband services available on a county-by-county basis can be found on ComReg’s website at www.callcosts.ie.
As the Deputy will be aware from my response to his previous Question on 10 July 2013, the Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing:
- a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and
- a State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest.
Since the publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector are underway in both fixed line and wireless high speed broadband services, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market fails to deliver such services. In order to progress the State-led investment for areas where it is not commercial for the market to invest, a full procurement process must be designed and EU State Aids approval must be obtained.
My Department is engaged in a comprehensive mapping exercise of the current and anticipated investment by the commercial sector to identify where the market is expected to deliver high speed broadband services over the coming years. The results of this mapping exercise will inform the precise areas that need to be targeted in the State-led investment as envisaged in the National Broadband Plan. Intensive technical, financial and legal preparations, including stakeholder engagement, are ongoing. The procurement process for the approved intervention will be carried out in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules and it is expected that it will be launched in 2014.
Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan, I am committed to ensuring that all parts of Ireland have access to high speed broadband, with a view to ensuring that all citizens and businesses can participate fully in, and maximise the benefits of, a digitally enabled economy and society.
65. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of bills his Department has published since March 2011; the number of regulatory impact assessments that his Department has published since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43811/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince March 2011 there have been three Bills initiated by me and brought through the legislative process to completion. The first was the Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011, which comprised two sections. While no Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIA) was completed specifically for this Bill, a full RIA was undertaken with respect to the provisions of the related Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act, 2010. That Act is concerned with the carrying out of certain functions by the Commission for Energy Regulation, in respect of which borrowings from the Central Treasury Funds are necessary. The 2011 Bill itself was enacted on 23 November 2011 as the Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Act 2011.
The second was the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011. A RIA for the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 was published with the Bill on the 27 September 2011. The Bill, Explanatory Memoranda and RIA were made available on my Department’s website and also on the Oireachtas website. The Bill itself was enacted on the 25 February 2012 as the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012.
The third was the Electricity Regulation (Carbon Revenue Levy)(Amendment) Bill 2012. This was emergency legislation on foot of a Supreme Court Decision and therefore was exempt from RIA requirements. The Bill itself was enacted on 25 May 2012 as the Electricity Regulation (Carbon Revenue Levy)(Amendment) Act 2012. In addition to the above, the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011, while not initiated by me, was enacted on 2 August 2011.
A further Bill, the Gas Regulation Bill 2013 was published on 25 July 2013 and is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas. A RIA on the Gas Regulation Bill 2013, setting out the policy context and rationale for the implementation of full ownership unbundling, including for the sale of Bord Gáis Energy, was prepared. Some of the material contained in the RIA was considered to be commercially sensitive in light of the ongoing transaction process. Therefore, it is not intended to publish the RIA at this stage.
There are a number of other Bills currently in preparation in my Department which will be brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course. My Department undertakes RIA in accordance with the procedures set out in the RIA Guidelines published by the Department of the Taoiseach.
66. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will intervene and request a company (details supplied) to provide a proper service to their customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43841/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within Ireland's competitive telecommunications market is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licenses, the imposition of terms and conditions to access that spectrum and the associated monitoring of compliance by licensed providers with those terms and conditions are matters for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is independent in the exercise of its functions. Accordingly, I have no statutory power to intervene in the manner suggested by the Deputy. I expect that with the continued significant capital investments being made by mobile operators, the quality of mobile services will continue to improve across the country. I note in this regard that Vodafone announced earlier this year, a phased programme to upgrade its network.
67. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the new guidelines and criteria are in place for taxing tractors and vintage tractors on the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43684/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013 , replacing the system whereby vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively when next being taxed with a procedure whereby vehicles must now be declared off the road in advance.
The Act provided for a three month transition period from 1 July 2013 to 30 September 2013 to allow vehicle owners to bring their motor tax status up to date by making both a retrospective and prospective off-road declaration. From 1 October 2013, the Act provides that only a prospective declaration may be made.
The Act makes no other change to motor tax liability in respect of any class of vehicle. Both tractors and vintage vehicles remain liable to be taxed if they are being used in a public place. Agricultural tractors and vintage tractors carry a concessionary rate of tax, with owners of the former liable to pay €102 per annum and owners of vintage tractors liable to pay €56 per annum.
68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role played by the Irish Credit Bureau in the determination of eligibility for local authority housing loan in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43860/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn advancing loans for house purchase by lower income borrowers it is of critical importance that local authorities make such funding available on the basis of sound lending criteria. My Department and individual local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that the borrower can sustain the loan over the full term. Of equal importance, in view of recent developments in the domestic property market, is the imperative for a local authority to ensure that prudence and pragmatism are applied to all aspects of the management of its housing loans book. In a time of limited resources, deploying those resources in a focused and effective manner ensures the management of its loans portfolio can be achieved as efficiently as possible.
The current credit policy has been in effect since 2009. It was deemed appropriate at that time to update the elements associated with local authority lending and to have a homogenous regime in place that ensured best practice was followed across the sector. All applicants are now assessed according to the same criteria, and their applications subjected to the same independent scrutiny. Underwriting of the application by the Irish Credit Bureau is an intrinsic element of that independent scrutiny. This approach represents prudent lending practice , and the current guidelines achieve equitable consideration of all applications. There is anecdotal evidence that loans issued since the introduction of the revised credit policy are more likely to be fully performing. I consider that the current mortgage loan model is fair, adequately meets the needs of prospective borrowers, and facilitates participation in housing acquisition initiatives such as the tenant purchase schemes.
69. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if specific funding is allocated to local authorities to demolish unsafe derelict buildings; if any such funding has been allocated to Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council; and if further funding is planned to allow derelict sites to be put to a community use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43683/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities are required to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become or continue to be a derelict site. To this end, they have been given substantial powers under the Act in relation to any such sites, including powers to require specified measures to be taken in relation to a derelict site, to impose a levy on derelict sites, or to compulsorily acquire any derelict site. I expect local authorities to use their statutory powers as they consider appropriate.
Section 23 of this Act provides that a levy may be charged by a local authority on any urban land which is entered on the derelict site register and in respect of which a market value has been determined. This levy must be paid by the owner of the urban land to the local authority in whose functional area the land is situated. The levy is payable until the dereliction ceases.
The National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments (NCC), which I chair, identified the 1990 Act as a potential legal instrument that could be used by local authorities as part of a range of measures to deal with the problems generated by, for example, unfinished housing developments. Part of the work of the NCC involved an assessment of the adequacy of existing legislation in tackling the issues associated with unfinished housing developments. Its remit was to review legislation such as the Derelict Sites Act 1990; the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1964, the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010 and the Water Services Act, 2007 with a view to strengthening or amending provisions to take account of the issues associated with unfinished developments. It concluded that the existing legislation was adequate and no amending legislation was necessary.
While I have no plans to amend the Derelict Sites Act at this time, I will keep the need for further legislative reforms to assist local authorities in addressing the issues of dereliction, including unfinished or unoccupied estates, under review.
70. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the local authority national partnership advisory group undertook and funded an international trip to New York from 7 to 15 September 2001; if it has been brought to his attention that the total cost of flight and accommodation for the six person delegation was €31,970; if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the €31,970 expenditure; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in addition to the expenditure of €31,970, each participant in the delegation received a sum of €1,303.42 travel and subsistence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43685/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra71. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation to regulate access to the countryside; if he supports in principle the Private Members' Bill introduced in the last session of Dáil Éireann; if it his intention to propose amendments to this Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43687/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Expert Group, established by the then Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to examine and make recommendations on the Legal Issues of Land Access for Recreational Use and issues around legislating for countryside access, submitted its report in May 2007.
It did not set out specific recommendations but examined existing legislation, such as the Occupiers’ Liability Act, 1995, and explored the implications of introducing legislation, such as granting a right of access to recreational users. The report is available on my Department’s website. The Minister at the time formed the view that the best way forward was to develop permissive access with the agreement of landholders through various initiatives such as the Walks Scheme and Pilot Mountain Access Projects.
The consensus approach adopted is underpinned by the principle of mutual respect between landowners and recreational users, with acceptance of the rights of landowners regarding access to their land and the need for recreational users to have reasonable access to the countryside.
My Department continues to work with stakeholders through Comhairle na Tuaithe and is currently negotiating the implementation of a National Indemnity Scheme which will indemnify private landowners against claims from recreational users for injury or damage to property. The Occupiers Liability Act, 1995 already provides significant protection to landowners, but the up-front costs of successfully defending a claim can be significant.
My Department is currently reviewing a number of options in relation to countryside access and I will give careful consideration to all options put forward. I have a large number of Bills in the current legislative programme which are very demanding on my Department’s resources and those of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. When next reviewing my Department’s legislative programme I will consider the Bill referred to in the Question alongside the other legislative proposals of my Department. I will also engage further with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the matter.
72. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he intends to introduce a national indemnity scheme for land owners against recreational users of their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43688/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA National Indemnity Scheme for Landowners to facilitate access to private lands for recreation purposes is currently under development through Comhairle na Tuaithe and the State Claims Agency. The Occupiers Liability Act of 1995 already provides significant protection to landowners, but the up-front costs of successfully defending a claim from a recreational user can be significant. In that regard, the proposed indemnity scheme would remove the burden of dealing with insurance companies and engaging legal advisors from any landowner faced with the prospect of a claim arising from injury or damage to the property of a recreational user.
There are a number of important issues and technical matters to be addressed as part of this process. In addition, a comprehensive and robust risk assessment model must be developed and subsequent risk management processes identified and put in place. Initially it was envisaged that individual indemnity schemes would be provided to facilitate Mountain Access and other recreational projects in specific areas. However, due to the administrative and financial costs associated with such a fragmented approach, it was determined that the possibility of introducing a National Indemnity Scheme that could be administered in a more efficient and cost effective manner should be investigated.
Progress to date has been positive following meetings with farming organisations and with the State Claims Agency but a number of issues still remain to be finalised. It is hoped that a National Indemnity Scheme can be implemented in 2014.
73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the pilot scheme for mountain access in County Kerry and Connemara, County Galway, will be fully operational; the reason for the three year delay in progressing this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43689/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThese pilot schemes for mountain access have been developed with the purpose of facilitating access to the uplands for hill walking and similar activities. A pilot scheme has been developed at Mount Gable in Connemara where 94 landowners are involved; a second pilot is under development in Carrantuohill and the McGillicuddy Reeks in Co. Kerry. The pilot in Kerry was expanded over time from an initial 8/10 landowners to approximately 150 landowners, considerably increasing the area encompassed to that of about 1002Km2. A report on the Kerry Mountain Access scheme is currently being prepared and should be available towards the end of 2013.
74. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to develop a national plan for Traveller housing in view of the housing crisis that exists for Travellers and the urgent need that 819 units of housing be provided for them; if it is intended to set up a national housing agency for Traveller housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43690/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra75. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total budget allocation provided in the estimates each year for the past ten years for traveller accommodation; the actual spend each year; the total cumulative underspend in that time and the reason for same; his views on whether this underspend indicates an inability by the local authorities to deal with this issue in view of the crisis in traveller accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43691/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra76. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he will take to deal with the fact that 3,600 or 11% of the traveller population of the State are officially homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43692/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 to 76, inclusive, together.
In accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller accommodation programmes, designed to meet these needs, rests with individual housing authorities. My Department’s role is to ensure that there is an adequate legislative and financial system in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation.
Accommodation for Travellers is provided across a range of options including standard local authority housing which is financed from my Department’s capital allocations for social housing, Traveller-specific accommodation, private housing assisted by the housing authority or voluntary organisations, private rented accommodation and through their own resources. It is open to Travellers to opt for any form of accommodation; including Traveller-specific accommodation and local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes are intended to reflect these preferences. My Department provides 100% capital funding for Traveller-specific accommodation and also provides funding for accommodation related supports to operate in tandem with the capital programme.
In accordance with the 1998 Act, housing authorities are statutorily required to prepare and adopt multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes for their areas. The current round of Traveller Accommodation Programmes for the period 2009 - 2013 are due to be completed in December and authorities are currently making arrangements for the next round of programmes which will run from 2014 to 2018. In preparing their Traveller Accommodation Programmes, housing authorities are required to identify the accommodation needs of Traveller families within their functional area and to set out how these needs are to be met, using all the housing supply options available to housing authorities including through Traveller-specific accommodation.
The Government remains committed to meeting the accommodation needs of Travellers. Since the adoption of the third round of programmes in 2009, it is estimated that over 450 units of Traveller-specific accommodation had been provided to end 2012, supported by the provision of approximately €50 million in capital funding from my Department. Over €7 million is being provided for Traveller accommodation purposes this year. This is in addition to expenditure on standard local authority housing and other housing supports. The results of this substantial financial commitment are reflected in the significant reduction in the numbers of Traveller families on unauthorised sites, notwithstanding the steady increase in the numbers of Traveller families nationally over recent years.
The National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee (NTACC) is a statutory body established for the purposes of advising me on all matters relating to housing for Travellers. This committee includes representation from local authorities, other Government Departments and Traveller groups. The fifth such committee since the enactment of the 1998 legislation held its first meeting last week and has already set about preparing its work programme for the next three years. A proposal for a statutory Traveller accommodation agency, as set out in the 1995 Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community, was considered by my Department. However, it was subsequently decided not to establish such an Agency and, having regard to the inclusive and effective consultation arrangements already in place through the NTACC, I have no plans to review the matter.
Details of the capital allocations to housing authorities over the past 10 years for Traveller-specific accommodation, the amounts recouped by my Department and the overspend/underspend in each of these years are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Allocation €m |
Amounts recouped to LA’s €m |
Underspend/ Overspend €m |
|
2002 |
23.12 |
26.64 |
3.52 |
|
2003 |
30.00 |
28.95 |
-1.05 |
|
2004 |
40.00 |
35.69 |
-4.31 |
|
2005 |
45.00 |
37.00 |
-8.00 |
|
2006 |
45.51 |
35.56 |
-9.96 |
|
2007 |
39.00 |
35.00 |
-4.00 |
|
2008 |
40.00 |
35.00 |
-5.00 |
|
2009 |
35.00 |
19.60 |
-15.40 |
|
2010 |
35.00 |
16.11 |
-18.89 |
|
2011 |
15.00 |
9.32 |
-5.69 |
|
2012 |
6.00 |
4.00 |
-2.00 |
|
Total |
353.63 |
282.87 |
-70.77 |
Over this 10-year period, housing authorities have drawn down almost 80% of the available capital allocations. Due to a range of issues associated with the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation projects, some local authorities were unable to draw down their full capital allocation. When requested by my Department to account for variations between Traveller accommodation targets and output, housing authorities cited a number of reasons including Traveller families refusing offers of accommodation, families only willing to live in certain areas where housing availability may be an issue, difficulties in obtaining Traveller agreement locally, planning and legal problems, difficulties in obtaining site access and anti-social behaviour by Traveller families which can delay development of projects.
The Central Statistics Office’s special Census report, Homeless Persons in Ireland, which was published on 6 September 2012, indicated that on Census night, 10 April, 2011, a total of 3,808 individuals were sleeping rough or housed in accommodation defined as emergency, transitional or long-term. Of this total, some 163 Irish Travellers were enumerated as homeless, making up just over 4 per cent of the homeless population.
77. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will evaluate the merits and de-merits of a special non-haulage taxation rate for quad bikes that are used by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43695/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to introduce a new motor tax rate for quad bikes used by farmers.
Quad bikes are taxed at the private rate of motor tax, based on engine capacity, if the vehicle is being used for private, domestic or pleasure purposes, which includes road usage by farmers. The rate of motor tax for a quad with engine capacity of less than 1,000cc, not used for haulage, is €199 per annum. If the vehicle is being used to haul another vehicle or trailer, it then becomes taxable at the general haulage tractor rate, currently €333 per annum. If the quad bike is not used in a public place, motor tax is not payable.
78. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government following the recommendation of the advisory group on unfinished estates report, if he intends to review and amend the existing legislation where appropriate to ensure that there are adequate measures available to address unfinished developments; if he will consider this in the context of the relevant legislation which includes the Planning and Development Act 2000-2010, Derelict Sites Act 1990 and the Litter Act 1997-2003, Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964, Water Pollution Acts 1977 and 1990 and the Building Control Acts 1990-2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43703/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government following the recommendation of the advisory group on unfinished estates report, if he intends to consolidate legislation with regard to unfinished developments with a predetermined lifespan of operation be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43704/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government’s response to the recommendations. The Committee has met on 12 occasions since it was established in June 2011 and has harnessed the input of members representing the banking, construction, and local authority sectors as well as NAMA and residents.
As part of the work of the National Co-Ordination Committee, a legislative review group was set up to assess the adequacy of existing legislation in tackling the issues associated with unfinished housing developments. Its remit was to review legislation such as the Derelict Sites Act 1990; the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1964, the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010 and the Water Services Act, 2007 with a view to strengthening or amending provisions to take account of the issues associated with unfinished developments. The review group concluded that the existing legislation was adequate and no amending legislation was necessary.
80. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will encourage the provision of green graveyards by local authorities, as are common in England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43707/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision and approval of burial grounds is entirely a matter for each local authority concerned and one in which my Department has no direct function.
