Written Answers Nos. 105 - 111
105. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to those who are living near vacant buildings which are not classed as derelict but are empty and causing a rise in anti-social behaviour in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51266/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIssues of anti-social behaviour should be directed in the first instance to An Garda Siochána. Public representatives may also wish to raise such issues with Garda management through engagement at meetings of Joint Policing Committees and local Policing Fora.
106. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the investment his Department is making to water services around the country; the way future water charges will be spent to improve our current water system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51286/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall strategy of investment in water services to date has been to ensure that the timing and scale of investment facilitates economic and other development, achieves compliance with statutory requirements and promotes environmental sustainability objectives, including meeting the requirements of relevant EU Directives. The main vehicle for achieving these objectives for public domestic water supplies is the multi-annual Water Services Investment Programme (WSIP). The current Programme runs to the end of 2013 and includes contracts to address deficiencies in the quality of supply, to improve the overall capacity of the system and an accelerated programme of mains rehabilitation.
From 1 January 2014 Irish Water will be responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure and is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014-2015. This Plan will include taking account of the transition of projects that are included in the current WSIP.
The Exchequer proposes a direct equity investment of €240m towards the capital funding of Irish Water in 2014. This will support projects to be included in Irish Water's Capital Investment Plan and will ensure that the entity is in a position to take on the water services investment programmes of the 34 water services authorities, including some 80 projects currently in progress. Irish Water will also finance some of its costs and the liabilities transferred from local authorities through borrowings in 2014.
107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51105/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that an application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received in respect of the minor referred to by the Deputy. The application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation are met and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
108. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the provisions in the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 regarding the new €15,000 monetary jurisdiction limit for civil matters in the District Court will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51117/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 3 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 provides for the revised monetary jurisdictional thresholds. Prior to the implementation of Part 3, the District Court Rules Committee decided to undertake a comprehensive revision of District Court civil procedure. I am awaiting the draft rules which, I understand, were recently approved by the Committee and are now being finalised before they will be formally submitted to me for concurrence. I intend to commence the provisions in time for the commencement of the new legal term in January 2014.
109. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application which is being dealt with by the international child abduction section of his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51119/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases that may be or have been the subject of an application under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Such applications are facilitated by the Irish Central Authority for International Child Abduction which is part of my Department but the decision on the outcome of such applications rest with the Courts of the relevant jurisdiction. I understand that the Irish Central Authority is in contact with the applicant and will continue to keep them informed as the matter progresses.
110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding residency status or eligibility for application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51125/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order, made on 15th October, 2009, following a comprehensive examination of her asylum and subsidiary protection claims and the detailed examination of the representations she submitted for consideration under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended).
Further representations were received from the person concerned requesting that her Deportation Order be revoked, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). The person concerned has also sought a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on the principles set out in the Zambrano Judgment. As a result of these submissions, the case of the person concerned is under review at present. In the event that the person concerned meets the criteria set out in the Zambrano Judgment then, all other things being equal, her Deportation Order will be revoked and permission to remain will be granted. However, in the event that the criteria set out in the Zambrano Judgment are not met, the Deportation Order will remain in place. In either event, once a decision has been made, this decision, and the consequences of the decision, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.
The Deputy should note that as the person concerned has no current right of residency in the State, she would not be in a position to meet the lawful residency criteria applicable to persons applying to my Department for a Certificate of Naturalisation.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and their eligibility to make an application for naturalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51126/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order, made on 5th November, 2007, following a comprehensive examination of her asylum and subsidiary protection claims and the detailed examination of the representations she submitted for consideration under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). On 27th December, 2012, the person concerned applied for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on the principles set out in the Zambrano Judgment. This application is under consideration at present. Once a decision has been made in this application, this decision, and the consequences of the decision, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned. The Deputy should note that as the person concerned has no current right of residency in the State, she would not be in a position to meet the lawful residency criteria applicable to persons applying to my Department for a Certificate of Naturalisation.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
