Written Answers Nos. 154-161
154. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is a criminal offence to include false information in a planning application and, if not, his plans to draft legislation to make it a an offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54530/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMuch of the information provided by a planning applicant on a planning application form and, where relevant, in response to a further information request, is checked by the planning authority in the course of its consideration of the application.
The giving of false information by a developer could lead to a permission granted being deemed invalid by the courts.
I have no current plans to amend the Planning Act or Regulations in this regard.
155. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding funding for the Cork Harbour main drainage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54571/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services Investment Programme2010 – 2013(WSIP), provided for the development of a comprehensive range of new water services infrastructure in County Cork. The Programme includes contracts under construction and to commence to the value of some €230 million.
The Cork Lower Harbour Sewerage Scheme is included in the Programme as a scheme to advance through planning during the period of the Programme. I approved Cork County Council's design proposals for this scheme in March 2012. It is now a matter for the Council to proceed with the preparation of contract documents for the scheme with a view to seeking tenders at the earliest possible date.
From 1 January 2014 Irish Water will be responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Accordingly, Irish Water is currently preparing a Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2015, and this will provide for the transition of projects currently included in the WSIP.
156. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to address the concerns of those who purchased affordable homes through local authorities in the boom years who cannot resell their properties. [54591/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act. Details regarding the review are available on my Department's website www.environ.ie; the period for public submissions closed on 27 September 2013 and submissions made by a variety of interested parties are now under consideration.
I expect to be in a position to formulate future policy approaches and actions, taking account of the consultation process, early in 2014.
As an interim measure, my Department recently issued a circular to local authorities setting out some of the options that might be explored to alleviate the difficulties of those in shared ownership distress. These include clarification on renting of rooms and the announcement of the nationwide extension of the Local Authority Mortgage-to-Rent (LAMTR) scheme following the successful completion of a pilot scheme in two local authority areas. To support the national rollout of LAMTR, with the support of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Housing Finance Agency, I will be allocating an additional €20m to the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) fund in 2014 to significantly expand the capacity of that initiative to address mortgage distress.
157. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of affordable housing units purchased through Cork County Council; the number of these loans in arrears for three months or more; the number of these loans in arrears for six months or more. [54592/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics and data on the number of affordable housing units broken down by local authority area are included within this range. While my Department collates and publishes statistics on loan arrears in local authorities these are not broken down by loan type and I am unable, therefore, to provide specific data for affordable housing arrears.
158. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the input his Department has had to date into the preparation of the national landscape plan by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht; if, in view of the strong link between landscape protection and wind farm-grid development, he will consider the possibility of his Department taking over responsibility for landscape planning as an intrinsic element of town planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54634/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, along with other Departments and State Bodies, is currently participating in a Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht-led Steering Group to consider a number of relevant issues, including planning aspects, in developing a National Landscape Strategy for Ireland.
The assignment of ministerial responsibilities is a matter for the Taoiseach, who has assigned lead ministerial responsibility for developing a National Landscape Strategy to my colleague Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has viewed the independent report completed by Achilles Consultants in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Donegal; his views on the recommendations made by the report; the reason his Department have not acted on the recommendations in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54641/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will meet with a cross-party delegation to discuss the issues in relation to funding of a project (details supplied) in County Donegal; if he accepts that failure to resolve the issues with this project have consequences for future Leader funding of similar projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54643/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos.159 and 161 together.
In line with the 'bottom-up' approach to rural development 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 throughout the country. These groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding and compliance with the regulatory framework established by the European Commission. My Department is charged with ensuring that all decisions made at local level are compliant with both the National and EU regulatory frameworks and that there is a robust system in place to facilitate this. This includes a system of control checks as well a system for facilitating subsequent appeals on foot of such controls. The project referred to in the questions was subject to such control checks to the review and appeals process in place in my Department, and therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment on or to meet with a delegation on this issue. My Department has received the report referred to and it is an input into the Department's continuing consideration of this project.
160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 487 of 18 July 2013 and 269 of the 3 December 2013, if he will make public the findings of the Ombudsman in relation to the project in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54642/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn foot of correspondence from the Office of the Ombudsman, my Department undertook a further review of this project and, in light of this, the Ombudsman has not concluded his examination of the complaint. My Department's review is close to finalisation, and the Department will be writing to the Office of the Ombudsman on the matter early in the New Year. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment at this time.
