Written Answers Nos. 162 - 169
162. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide assurances that the capacity of Westmeath Community Development to administer Leader funding will not be diminished should it be subsumed in Westmeath County Council; the way his Department is supporting community initiatives and workers co-operatives and the broadening, grounding and deepening of agri-business in the midlands. [54656/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposals for enhanced alignment between local government and local development are focussed on building on the strengths and capacity of both sectors, not a takeover of one by the other as suggested. There are significant amounts of public funding involved in the programmes referenced by the Deputy and it is appropriate that my Department makes the most effective use of available resources for their management and delivery. Putting People First – Action Plan for Effective Local Government recognised the strengths of local development companies such as Westmeath Community Development Ltd, while also recognising the need for enhanced local government involvement in local development activity. Through the reforms being introduced as a result of Putting People First, I look forward to the capacity of all key local partners being availed of in the effective implementation of publicly-funded programmes.
My Department administers a number of community initiatives, including LEADER, the Local and Community Development Programme, Walks Scheme and the Scheme to Support National Organisations. Details of all initiatives can be found on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.
163. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration has been give to persons with special needs who rely on additional quantities of water to assist with their condition when allocating free usage allowances to residential water customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54712/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. In regard to the water affordability issues which may arise with the introduction of domestic water charges, an inter-departmental working group has been established to advise the Government on the appropriate method for addressing water poverty issues.
The Water Affordability Working Group comprises my Department and the Departments of the Taoiseach, Social Protection, Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance. The Group is to prepare a report for consideration by the Government to enable decisions on the proposed approach to be taken in advance of proposed public consultation by the Commission for Energy Regulation on the approach to the design of domestic water tariffs in early 2014.
164. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the Water Services (No. 2) Bill to be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54728/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the metering programme. The Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013 will provide for the transfer of responsibility for the delivery of water services from the water services authorities to Irish Water. The Bill will also provide for the establishment of an economic regulator for water services within the Com mission for Energy Regulation. The Bill is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas, and, I expect that it will be passed by both Houses in the coming days.
165. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the Local Government Bill 2013 to be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54729/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommittee stage consideration of the Local Government Reform Bill 2013 is due to commence today in the Seanad. Following completion of all stages in the Seanad and approval by the Dail of any amendments agreed in the Upper House, I expect enactment to follow in early 2014.
166. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the serious failures by the local authority on an estate (details supplied) in County Wicklow as revealed by a 2007 fire and safety audit which the local authority conducted; if his attention has been drawn to the upgrades being made by the local authority to all local authority owned properties on the estate but has refused to do so for privately owned properties and will not provide details of the 2007 report to residents; if this matter has been previously raised with him, highlighting the disparity between public and privately owned homes in the estate; if the 2007 fire and safety audit has ever been provided to him, his predecessors or his Department officials; if he will release this audit into the public domain which highlights the dangerous building materials and electrical problems that have culminated in fires claiming several peoples lives since the estate was built in 1972 as temporary housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54734/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Oldcourt Estate in Bray was built by Wicklow County Council in 1972 in accordance with the building standards which obtained at that time. A refurbishment programme carried by Wicklow County was completed in 1988.
Following a number of fires in the Oldcourt Estate which resulted in fatalities, Wicklow County Council engaged consultants to carry out a condition survey of houses in the estate and to report on structural condition s including matters relating to fire safety. Wicklow County Council has advised that the cause of the fires was not attributable to the condition of the houses. While a copy of the report was received in my Department, I understand that details were not released to publicly as the report refers to specific properties where deficiencies were observed. I also understand that the non-disclosure of the details contained in the report is currently the subject of an appeal under the Freedom of Information process.
On 29 November, 2007, Bray Town Council advised my Department that, following the carrying out of the house survey, a report was compiled which recommended that certain improvement works were required to houses in Oldcourt Estate. On 12 December 2007, my Department advised the Council that proposals for the works should be advanced as a matter of urgency and included in the Council’s improvement works programme for 2008 and funded out of Internal Capital Receipts (ICR’s).
Following discussions between my Department and Bray Town Council, approval issued in July 2012 for a range of improvement and retrofitting works to local authority owned houses in the Oldcourt Estate. It was agreed that a suite of remedial works to include energy enhancements and fire safety improvements would be undertaken by Bray Town Council and funded out of ICR’s. Due to constraints on the available ICR’s, my Department subsequently agreed to assist with funding and to date almost €650,000 has been recouped to the Council. I understand that remedial works are continuing and that retrofitting work s been completed on almost half of the homes at this time. I also understand that the Council have no proposals to undertake remedial works to privately owned houses in the estate.
167. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the names and amount by which each programme manager-special adviser in his Department has exceeded the relevant pay guidelines as laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54750/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe appointment of ministerial staff in my Department was undertaken in accordance with the Instructions on ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil and the Guidelines on Staffing of ministerial Offices of March 2011.
Special Advisers were placed on a point on the Principal Officers’ standard scale for remuneration purposes, in accordance with the Guidelines.
168. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when updated legislation to control and licence gambling is likely to be introduced; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied ) has been guilty of criminal activity in relation to interactive gambling; and the plans he has to prevent such operators from being able to trade. [54632/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will understand, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on alleged breaches of the criminal law in a foreign jurisdiction.
My Department is preparing new legislation to control and licence gambling. The Gambling Control Bill will update and replace all existing laws on gambling (other than those relating to the National Lottery). The Government approved the General Scheme in July this year and it has been available on the Department's website since then. The Scheme has also been considered by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and the Committee's Report has been published. I hope to publish the Bill next autumn.
I will be including two particular measures in the Bill that are targeted at the regulation of online operators, especially unlicensed online operators. These measures are in addition to a comprehensive set of new measures applicable to all operators.
The first of the additional measures provides the basis for enhanced cooperation arrangements at the international level between regulators. These arrangements will facilitate contacts and exchanges of information between our authorities and their counterparts abroad, thereby making it more difficult for those operators trying to avoid detection.
I am also proposing that the regulator may apply for Court orders to prevent, disrupt or obstruct receipt of the unlicensed service; these orders will result in what is commonly referred to as "blocking" of the website. Orders may also restrict publicity, including advertising that refers in any way to the service, as well as prohibiting banks from executing financial transactions with the unlicensed operator. I believe these measures will be effective but I am prepared to consider additional measures if they can be shown to add to the controls on these sites.
169. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of all of the resources, salaries, vehicles, fuel and ancillary costs of the Garda used in the efforts to prevent, counter and fight the importation and sale of illegal cigarettes for the year 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54483/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraLaw enforcement in relation to the smuggling of tobacco products and the sale of illicit or counterfeit tobacco products and the sale of illicit or counterfeit tobacco products within the State is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. Penalties for these offences are set out in the Finance Acts and are a matter for the Minister for Finance.
In targeting the illicit tobacco trade there is close cooperation between the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána. Searches are regularly undertaken by An Garda as part of intelligence-led operations led by Revenue. An Garda Síochána also continues, on a district and divisional level, to target those involved in the sale and distribution of illegal products, at markets and via door-to-door sales.
In addition to national actions there is very considerable cross border co-operation in place among the relevant law enforcement agencies to tackle this illegal trade. In this regard, the Criminal Assets Bureau continues to actively participate in the Cross Border Tobacco Enforcement Group which was established in May 2010. This group also includes representatives from the Revenue Commissioners, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the National Crime Agency.
The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. In that context I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to isolate the costs incurred by the Force in combating illegal cigarettes and that the extraction of this information would require a disproportionate amount of Garda resources.
