Wednesday, 15 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 506 - 517

Household Charge Collection

Ceisteanna (506)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

506. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason local authorities are not required to account specifically to central government for the usage to which the household charge has been put, or in the case of the local property tax where it will be put; if he has concerns that this contributes to a lack of transparency in relation to the areas in which the collected charge and tax is being spent; his plans to ensure that there is greater transparency in this area and that taxpayers are provided with information on where their money has been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1201/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources. The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which include adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority.

To enhance the financial management and audit control systems in local authorities, an audit committee, with both councillor and expert external membership, is now in place in each county and city council. The functions of an audit committee are to review financial and budgetary reporting practices and procedures within a local authority, foster the development of best practice in the internal audit function, review auditors’ reports and special reports and assess follow-up action by management, assess and promote efficiency and value for money, review risk management systems and make such recommendations to the authority as the committee considers appropriate in respect of such matters.

Optimising financial stewardship and value for money are cornerstones of the Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government. To this end, the Local Government (Reform) Bill, currently before the Oireachtas, provides for a more robust system of performance monitoring in the form of a National Oversight and Audit Commission for Local Government (NOAC). I expect that the Commission will provide, at a level not before seen, independent, high quality scrutiny of local government performance in fulfilling national, regional and local mandates. I anticipate the principal roles of the Commission to include oversight of the implementation of national policy by local government, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of public service reform and delivery of the efficiency agenda, and supporting the development and enhancement of best practice in the performance of local government functions. The NOAC will also have a role in overseeing the spending of monies provided by the Exchequer at local level.

The NOAC will report to me, and to other relevant Ministers in respect of services within their areas of responsibility discharged by local government bodies, which include local authorities, regional assemblies, and any trust or other body where a local authority or regional assembly exercises actual or effective control.  Reports will also be made available to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht and, as appropriate, to other Joint Oireachtas Committees with oversight responsibilities for the relevant policy areas.

I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and therefore a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision-making concerning service provision - in particular, the inclusion of the local variation mechanism from 2015 will further increase the autonomy of local authorities; and a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.

Register of Electors Data

Ceisteanna (507)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

507. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons currently registered to vote in each county; if he will break down the figures in tabular form between those registered to vote in different categories of elections and referenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1223/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The information requested, based on information received from registration authorities on the Register of Electors currently in force, is set out in the following table. The 2014 - 2015 Register of Electors, which will be used for the forthcoming European and Local elections, will be published on 1 February 2014 and will come into force on 15 February 2014.

Register of Electors 2013 - 2014

-	Presidential and Referendum	Dáil	European	Local
City Councils
Cork	77,453	78,269	78,613	81,224
Dublin	307,235	312,564	313,302	325,772
Galway	39,378	39,902	40,156	43,334
Limerick	36,181	36,435	36,487	37,963
Waterford	25,512	25,874	26,064	26,542
County Councils
Carlow	38,355	38,820	39,606	40,251
Cavan	53,058	53,665	53,742	55,475
Clare	83,691	85,580	86,089	88,492
Cork	286,375	292,677	294,398	303,574
Donegal	119,441	121,029	121,201	123,021
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown	146,179	148,835	149,876	152,849
Fingal	159,247	161,875	162,485	176,064
Galway	128,431	130,193	130,881	132,469
Kerry	107,288	110,183	112,417	114,612
Kildare	132,879	134,737	135,373	139,058
Kilkenny	66,757	67,623	67,847	55,106
Laois	54,749	55,429	55,974	57,256
Leitrim	23,941	24,897	25,083	25,722
Limerick	97,496	98,470	98,654	100,634
Longford	27,647	28,265	28,518	29,758
Louth	86,488	87,220	88,287	91,691
Mayo	95,138	97,566	97,908	100,346
Meath	131,984	133,580	135,348	137,490
Monaghan	44,495	44,745	44,790	47,332
North Tipperary	50,676	51,699	52,120	53,328
Offaly	54,083	54,756	54,896	56,332
Roscommon	45,504	47,118	47,252	48,241
Sligo	49,315	50,305	50,457	51,534
South Dublin	173,797	175,259	175,506	184,540
South Tipperary	61,756	62,917	63,335	64,500
Waterford	50,786	52,035	52,164	52,988
Westmeath	62,747	63,417	63,846	66,178
Wexford	104,943	106,532	107,773	109,411
Wicklow	88,867	90,853	91,565	92,793
Totals	3,111,872	3,163,324	3,182,013	3,265,880

Severe Weather Events Response

Ceisteanna (508)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

508. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent storm damage at Rossbeigh, County Kerry, if he will seek emergency funding from Europe to carry out essential repair works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1245/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department is Lead Government Department for the emergency response to severe weather events and I presented a preliminary report to Government on 14 January setting out the meteorological background to the series of storms, the preparedness measures adopted by local authorities and relevant Government Departments and Agencies to the weather alerts from Met Éireann, their actual response, and an indication of the costs of the damage.  I am requesting all affected local authorities to provide more detailed reports, including related costings, by 14 February to enable Government, through the relevant Departments and Agencies, to support the authorities on recovery measures which fall within their areas of responsibility.  The Government will explore all possible sources of funding, including at European Union level, in order to assist recovery efforts.

The Office of Public Works operates the Minor Flood Mitigations Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to provide funding to local authorities to undertake flood mitigation works and coastal protection measures within their administrative areas, and will also engage with relevant local authorities in that regard.

Building Regulations Amendments

Ceisteanna (509)

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

509. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider amending S.I. No. 80/2013 - Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 to include architectural technologist in the schedule of those eligible to certify under this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1247/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

New Building Control (Amendment) Regulations will from 1 March 2014 strengthen the arrangements in place for the control of building activity, by requiring greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certificates of design and construction, lodgement of compliance documentation, mandatory inspection during construction and validation and registration of statutory certificates.

The statutory certificates of compliance must be signed by a registered professional i.e. a person who is included on the statutory registers of architects or building surveyors maintained in accordance with parts 3 and 5 respectively of the Building Control Act 2007 or on the register of chartered engineers established under the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act 1969. Architects, Building Surveyors and Chartered Engineers are the construction professions typically involved in the design of construction works in Ireland and reference to these professions in regulation is entirely appropriate.

Depending on their personal circumstances it may be open to persons who are members of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), and who possess the requisite experience and competence in the design of buildings, to seek inclusion on either of the statutory registers referred to which would enable a person to sign statutory certificates of compliance as provided for under the new regulations when they come into effect on and from 1 March 2014.  There is no question of persons who are not included on the statutory registers being permitted to sign certificates of compliance.

In May 2013 CIAT presented a case for recognition of Chartered Architectural Technologists as a route to inclusion on the register of persons entitled to use the title of Building Surveyor in accordance with Part 5 of the Building Control Act 2007, based on benchmarking the competence of Chartered Architectural Technologists against existing routes to registration as a Building Surveyor.  In June 2013 CIAT presented a similar case in respect of inclusion on the register of persons entitled to use the title of Architect in accordance with Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007.  The SCSI and the RIAI, as the registration bodies for the relevant professions under the Act of 2007, and as the competent authorities in Ireland for the purposes of the EU Directive on the recognition of Professional Qualifications, are currently considering the cases put forward by CIAT.  Neither I nor my Department has any role in the assessment or validation of professional qualifications in this manner and cannot pre-empt the outcome in either case.  However, should the SCSI or the RIAI as appropriate determine that the competence of the Chartered Architectural Technologists is equivalent to the requirements for inclusion on either register, it would fall to me as Minister to bring forward relevant suitable amendments to the Building Control Act 2007.

Severe Weather Events Response

Ceisteanna (510)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

510. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the recent storms which resulted in trees knocking down power and telephone lines, his views on whether it is time to bring in legislation to ensure no road side trees would be allowed to grow within a safe distance of the road where these service cables run; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1252/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I have no statutory function in relation to this matter. However, I understand that under Section 58 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 (No 20/2002), an electronic communications network operator or any person authorised by the operator may lop or cut any tree, shrub or hedge which obstructs or interferes with any physical infrastructure of the network operator.

Question No. 511 answered with Question No. 499.

Radioactive Waste

Ceisteanna (512, 513)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

512. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is in contact with his Northern Ireland counterparts with respect to ascertaining the impact to health and the environment on the local community as a result of the radioactive waste that was dumped in Culmore during the late 1970s and early 1980s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1319/14]

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

513. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has ascertained the impact to health and the environment on the Donegal community along Lough Foyle as a result of the radioactive waste that was dumped in Culmore during the late 1970s and early 1980s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1320/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together.

The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), which operates under the aegis of my Department, carries out an environmental radioactivity monitoring programme throughout Ireland and has regularly monitored levels of radioactivity in the Irish environment since 1982.

The RPII has been in contact with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to get further information on the waste sources disposed of at a landfill site at Culmore Point in Derry, adjacent to the River Foyle. The NIEA ha s confirmed that two batches of waste sources were disposed of at the landfill site and has provided details of the material involved. Based on the information provided, it is the opinion of the RPII that this waste poses no radiological risk to anyone in the surrounding area, including in County Donegal.

Public Sector Pensions

Ceisteanna (514)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

514. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the occasions on which he has signed off on the awarding of added years to public sector workers between March 2011 and December 2013; the grade of the persons awarded the added years; and the number of added years awarded in each instance. [1359/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In the period March 2011 to December 2013 I approved the awarding of added years to 5 local authority managers and the CEO of the National Building Agency. Details of the awards are set out in the table.

Professional added years are granted to certain grades in the public sector. The awarding of such added years does not require my approval.

Post	Date of retirement	Added years awarded
Manager, Waterford County Council	19/9/2011	8.3754
Manager, Limerick City Council	28/2/2012	8.9945
Manager, Fingal County Council	13/11/2013	10
Temporary Manager, South Tipperary County Council	15/11/2013	6.9971
Temporary Manager, Monaghan County Council	1/12/2013	3.2602
CEO, National Building Agency	31/12/2013	10

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (515)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

515. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of commercial and non-commercial State agency board positions under the aegis of his Department filled between March 2011 and December 2013; the number of these positions that were publicly advertised; and the number of female appointments. [1375/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

In the period of the Government’s term of office up to 30 September 2013, the latest date for which information is available, the appointments set out in the Table were made to the Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Agency / Board	Name of Appointee	Date of Appointment
	Dr. Mary Kelly (Chairperson)	29/08/2011
	Mr. Conall Boland (Deputy Chairperson)	01/01/2012
	Ms. Mary MacMahon	27/11/2011
	Mr. Michael Leahy	14/05/2012
	Mr. Nicholas Mulcahy	21/05/2012
	Mr. Gabriel Dennison	21/05/2012
	Mr. Paddy Keogh	21/05/2012
	Ms. Oznar Yucel-Finn	28/01/2013
An Bord Pleanála *	Mr. Robert Ryan	28/01/2013
	Prof. Niamh Brennan (Chairperson)	01/05/2012
	Mr. Niall Coveney	01/05/2012
	Mr. Dónall Curtin	01/05/2012
	Ms. Yvonne Farrell	01/05/2012
	Mr. Mark Griffin (Departmental staff member)	01/05/2012
	Mr. Brendan Malone	01/05/2012
	Ms. Catherine Mullarkey	01/05/2012
	Mr. John Tierney (Chairperson)	01/06/2012
	Mr. Gerry Grimes	01/06/2012
	Dr. Philip Matthews	01/06/2012
	Ms. Lucy McCafferty	01/06/2012
	Mr. Charlie Murphy	01/06/2012
	Ms. Imelda Reynolds	01/06/2012
	Mr. Michael Stubbs	01/06/2012
Dublin Docklands Development Authority Executive Board**	Mr. Frank Walsh	01/06/2012
	Ms. Laura Burke (Director General)	08/11/2011
	Mr. Dara Lynott (Deputy Director General)	12/07/2012
	Mr. Gerard O'Leary	08/05/2012
Environmental Protection Agency*	Mr. Mícheál Ó Cinnéide	25/08/2013
	Dr. Michelle Norris (Chairperson)	22/02/2012
	Mr. John Hogan (Department of Finance nominee)	22/02/2012
	Mr. Phillip Nugent (Departmental representative)	22/02/2012
	Ms. Jackie Maguire (CCMA representative)	13/03/2012
	Mr. Colm Brophy	13/03/2012
	Mr. Michael Murray	13/03/2012
	Mr. Padraic Cafferty	21/03/2012
	Dr. Mary Lee Rhodes	21/03/2012
	Mr. Jim Miley	30/04/2012
	Ms. Michelle Murphy Lawless	30/04/2012
	Mr. Gerry Leahy	30/04/2012
Housing Finance Agency	Mr. Barry O'Leary (CEO, ex-Officio)	26/08/2013
	Ms. Breda Collins (Chairperson)	21/11/2011
	Mr. John Considine	21/11/2011
	Mr. Michael Cuddihy	21/11/2011
	Mr. Tom Doyle	21/11/2011
	Mr. Brendan McGrath	21/11/2011
	Mr. Paul Murphy	21/11/2011
	Mr. Seamus O'Neill	21/11/2011
	Mr. Martin O'Sullivan	21/11/2011
	Ms. Anne Ryan	21/11/2011
	Ms. Lola O'Sullivan	21/11/2011
	Mr. Christy McDonagh	21/11/2011
	Mr. Tim O'Sullivan (Departmental representative)	21/11/2011
Irish Water Safety	Mr. Odran Reid	27/06/2012
	Mr. Rich Howlin (Chairperson)	21/12/2011
	Mr. Conor Skehan (Chairperson replaced Mr Rich Howlin))	01/07/2013
	Mr. Eddie Lewis (Departmental representative)	21/12/2011
	Ms. Marie McLaughlin (Department of Public Expenditure & Reform representative)	21/12/2011
	Mr. Peter Carey, County Manager, Laois County Council	21/12/2011
	Ms. Ann McGuinness	21/12/2011
	Ms. Clodagh Heneghan	21/12/2012
	Mr. Dermot Nolan (Department of Public Expenditure & Reform representative)	21/12/2012
	Mr. John O Connor	21/12/2012
	Mr. Donal McManus	21/12/2012
	Mr. Michael Layde (Departmental representative)	01/08/2012
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	Mr. Tony O’Brien	01/07/2013
	Mr. Eddie Breen (Chairperson), County Manager, Wexford County Council	01/01/2012
	Mr. Michael Malone, County Manager, Kildare County Council	01/11/2011
	Mr. Barry Quinlan (Departmental representative)	23/11/2011
Local Government Computer Services Board***	Mr. Enda Holland (Department of Public Expenditure & Reform representative)	22/02/2012
	Mr. Eddie Breen (Chairperson), County Manager, Wexford County Council	01/01/2012
	Mr. Donal Enright (Departmental representative)	01/11/2011
	Mr. Michael Malone, County Manager, Kildare County Council	01/11/2011
Local Government Management Services Board***	Mr. Barry Quinlan (Departmental representative)	23/11/2011
	Mr. Eddie Breen (Chairperson), County Manager, Wexford County Council	20/09/2012
	Mr. Peter Carey, County Manager, Laois County Council	20/09/2012
	Mr. Hubert Kearns, County Manager, Sligo County Council	20/09/2012
	Mr. Michael Malone, County Manager, Kildare County Council	20/09/2012
	Mr. Eddie Sheehy, County Manager, Wicklow County Council	20/09/2012
	Mr. John Tierney, City Manager, Dublin City Council	20/09/2012
	Mr. Barry Quinlan (Departmental representative)	24/09/2012
	Mr. Donal Enright (Departmental representative)	24/09/2012
	Mr. Paul McDonald (Departmental representative)	24/09/2012
	Mr. Martin Riordan, Cork County Manager	18/10/2012
	Mr. Michael Walsh, Waterford City Manager	18/10/2012
Local Government Management Agency***	Mr Danny McLoughlin, Westmeath County Manager	21/02/2013
	Ms. Catriona Walsh (Chairperson)	16/04/2013
	Mr. Tim Ryan	17/02/2012
	Ms. Tricia Sheehy Skeffington	17/02/2012
	Ms. Paula O’Reilly (Departmental staff member)	22/03/2012
	Mr. Noel Merrick	01/04/2013
	Mr Paul Flood (HSE)	01/04/2013
	Mr. John Fitzgerald	01/04/2013
Private Residential Tenancies Board	Ms Rhonda Donaghey	16/04/2013
	Professor William Reville (Chairperson)	16/01/2012
	Dr. Maurice Fitzgerald (Dental Council)	19/10/2011
	Dr. Paraic James (public servant)	16/01/2012
	Dr. Patricia Cunningham (public servant)	20/02/2012
	Mr. John O'Dea	30/11/2012
	Ms. Darina Muckian	30/11/2012
	Ms. Adi Roche	30/11/2012
	Dr. Patrick Gilligan	30/11/2012
Radiological Protection Institute Ireland	Dr. Stephanie Ryan	16/09/2013

* Appointments to An Bord Pleanála and to the Board of the Environmental Protection Agency are of a full-time executive nature and are governed by statutory processes

** The board of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority was reappointed for an additional month from 1 May 2012 and replaced by a new board from 1 June 2012 which will continue in place until 30 June 2014.

*** Appointments of the Local Authority Manager members of the Boards of the Local Government Computer Services Board, the Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Management Agency (which was established on 1 August 2012, replacing the LGCSB and the LGMSB), are made by the County and City Managers collectively.

A notice was placed on my Department’s website on 19 July 2011, seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department. Vacancies on the boards of other bodies under my Department’s aegis will be notified on the website as they arise. However, expressions of interest can be made at any time and will be kept on file in my Department for consideration as vacancies occur. In considering applications, due regard is had to the requirements of the position, the qualifications, experience and expertise of applicants. In considering applications, due regard is also had to Government policy regarding gender balance on State boards.

All appointments are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister, or appointments are made with the consent of another Minister.

The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) under the Companies Acts. The Memorandum and Articles of Association, provide that the appointment of directors is the responsibility of the Board of BGE, with the approval of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. 12 directors have been appointed to the Board of Irish Water by BGE, for the period to July 2014, and these appointments were approved in advance by the Minister and the Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources.

The following have been appointed to the Board of Irish Water:

Agency / Board	Name of Appointee	Date of Appointment
	Ms. Rose Hynes (Chair)	July 2013
	Mr. Michael McNicholas	July 2013
	Mr. John Tierney	July 2013
	Ms. Margaret Rae	July/2013
	Mr. Philip Lee	November 2013
	Ms. Hilary Quinlan	November 2013
	Ms. Regina Finn	November 2013
	Mr. Colman Sheehy	November 2013
	Mr. Billy Moore	November 2013
	Mr. Brian McKeown	November 2013
	Mr. Sean Kelly	November 2013
Irish Water	Ms. Jacqueline Hall	November 2013

In addition, although not a State Board in the traditional sense, appointments to the Board of Pobal, a not-for-profit company, fall to be made by the Government having considered nominees from a range of stakeholders. The following persons have been appointed to the Board of Pobal during this Government’s term:

Agency / Board	Name of Appointee	Date of Appointment
	Mr. Séamus Boland (Chair)	03/11/2011
	Mr. Tommy Maguire	03/11/2011
	Mr. Liam Keane	03/11/2011
	Ms. Jennifer McHugh	11/01/2012
	Ms. Mari Hurley	11/01/2011
	Mr. William Cotter	09/10/2012
	Mr. Gerald Quain	09/10/2012
	Cllr. John Kelleher	23/10/2012
	Ms. Ann Costello	23/10/2012
Pobal	Ms. Mary Mooty	05/02/2013

In addition, the following members were appointed to the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee on 11 September 2013;

- Dr. Eoin O'Sullivan (Chairperson)

- Mr. Conor Smith

- Mr. Séamus O'Connor

- Ms. Ronnie Fay

- Mr. Eugene Cummins

- Ms. Philomena Poole

- Cllr. Finnan McCoy

- Cllr. John Kennedy

- Ms. Catherine Linehan

- Mr. Tom Coughlan

- Ms. Colette Spears

- Mr. Jim Ganley (Departmental representative)

- Ms. Mary Connors

Finally, the following members have been appointed to the Building Regulation Advisory Body:

Name of Appointee	Date of Appointment
Mr Aidan O’Connor (Departmental Staff representative)	19/04/2011
Paul Kelly	19/04/2011
Conor Taaffe	16/06/2011

National Internship Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (516)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

516. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide, in tabular form and year on year, the number of JobBridge interns taken on in his Department in 2013. [1391/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The table shows the number of JobBridge interns taken on in my Department from the beginning of the scheme.

Year	Number of JobBridge* Interns
2011	7
2012	5
2013	3

*2011 figures include scheme that preceded JobBridge – FÁS Work P lacement Programme.

Walks Scheme

Ceisteanna (517)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

517. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current status of the walks scheme in County Donegal; his future plans to further develop same; the level of funding allocated for the walks scheme in County Donegal in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1400/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Walks Scheme was introduced in 2008 and is being administered in County Donegal by Donegal Local Development Company Ltd. The Bluestack Way in Donegal was one of the first walks to be brought onto the Scheme. In 2010 the Pilgrims Path at Sliabh Liag and Mc Swynes Gun Loop at Horn Head were added bringing the total number of walks in Donegal on the scheme to three, with 86 participating landowners.

The following table outlines the level of funding made available under the Walks Scheme in County Donegal for 2011, 2012 and 2013. Projected expenditure is included for 2014.

Year	2011 (€)	2012 (€)	2013 (€)	2014(Projected) (€)
Participants Payments	68,840	80,288	70,077	61,865
Materials Payments	0	2,800	0	7,100
Administration/Service Level Agreements	48,450	48,500	48,500	48,500
Total	117,290	131,588	118,577	117,465

Following the withdrawal of access by a landowner on Mc Swynes Gun Loop at Horn Head in May 2013, every effort was made to resolve the situation, but, unfortunately, a resolution could not be found and the route closed in November 2013. Due to public funding constraints, it has not been possible to add any significant number of participants to the Scheme since 2010. It is my intention to renew the initial 5 year contracts as they expire. There are currently 1,809 participants on the Walk Scheme, 70 of which are in County Donegal.